Disclaimer: This is a complete work of fiction. There's no resemblance to actual persons, places and / or events. If so, it is utterly not intended. We do not claim to own Yu-Gi-Oh or anything to do with it at all. Character exposure in this story is completely non-profit and just for fun. We own nothing but our own story plot-bunnies! Thank you.

Author's Note(s):

CreativeWritingSoul: I have teamed up with the lovely 'DanoR1392' and together, we have come up with this story to give our readers in a section that I personally, am debuting in. My co-writer has experience here however. Thank you for stopping by to read! If you could read & review that'd be lovely!

DanoR1392: For those of you who managed to trip and stumble onto our lovely story... HI! Thank you for taking an active interest! The story is awesome! Trust me, I know. If any of my old readers managed to find this story, sorry for my random 3 year hiatus -laughs nervously- I'm not dead, I was just busy with crap. Thanks everyone who reads our story, and especially thanks to those who review! I hope you enjoy it and look forwards to your thoughts! WOOT!

Warning(s): Mild Violence, Coarse Language

Genre(s): Drama, Angst,Friendship, Hurt/Comfort, Romance

Rating: T, for now. May increase.

He kicked a pebble on the pavement. He could've sworn it was the same pebble he kicked just yesterday on his way home from school. Only now he was on his way to school. It wasn't his favorite thing at all, but without an education he wouldn't be able to go anywhere. But when you graduated from school - what did you walk away with?

Think about it for a moment, after graduating high school, college, or university - what do you truly leave with?

Some leave with jobs, some leave with that one special love, their best friends. And yet, all those very same people, get left behind themselves.

He kicked another pebble. All his life Joey Wheeler was a living being who most people liked, other's didn't take him seriously but there was one person whom he thought for sure loathed him. Seto Kaiba.

Did Joey give a crap about it? Well, he'd be lying to himself if he said he didn't. He wanted to be someone in the world, not just another no-good punk. He wasn't asking for his name in lights or anything, but for someone to remember his name would be nice.

It didn't take long until Joey reached the outskirts of Domino College, he walked very fast on the norm but especially at times like this where he didn't want to be so early. He cursed under his breath but kept walking anyway. Luck was never his friend so skipping class and getting away with it successfully were two very different things for him.

Within mere minutes he glanced up to see his reoccurring group of friends standing around outside. He didn't feel like greeting them first today, that'd take up too much energy for his liking.

Yugi noticed him first, his usual grin spreading across his face. "Hey Joey!" He gave a wave, the others glancing up towards the blonde.

"Oh! Hi Joey! You're awfully quiet!" Tea looked at him accusingly. "What did you do?"

A slow smile appeared on his face where it hadn't moments ago. "Hey, I didn't do nothin'!"

Tristan Taylor was next to join the group, taking his friend by surprise he remained calm and cool. "Your mission young Joey, should you choose to accept it - is to help your best friend get some tail today!"

"Tristan!" Tea cuffed the back of his head, glaring at him. "Don't be so rude!"

"Aweh, come on Tea," Yugi chuckled, shaking his head "they're just playing around." She crossed her arms defiantly, puffing her cheeks out in irritation.

Yami - who was near the group of friends but hadn't yet approached - snickered to himself. That sounded like the typical group of guys he'd gotten to know. Right alongside the typical Tea response he'd heard before. He shook his head, "He could have chosen more vulgar options than the one he did, I believe he's getting increasingly better at consideration."

Joey chuckled, "This jerk? Yeah, okay. You should focus on your studies." Everyone was perplexed at him of all people - would suggest focusing on studies. "You gotta be able to spell flirt before you can do it numb-nuts."

Yugi burst out into laughter before coughing and trying to cover up the response. "It's true! I've heard far worse come out of his mouth!"

Yami smiled to himself, there was nothing more notable than Yugi's laugh. It meant he was happy and it was how he should be.

"Ha. Ha. Ha." Tristan replied dryly, narrowing his eyes.

"That's not the point!" Tea said distressed. She frowned though, knowing there was no way she'd win this argument. The young woman had finally started to learn how to pick and choose her battles, and frankly, this one just wasn't worth the effort.

"Hike your skirt up and get a life, Gardner. Or put your mouth to use in a much less annoying way." Mai Valentine, the school's Queen Bee walked by, giggling at her own comments. It didn't matter what age they were - whenever she was around, people either flocked to her, hid from her, or were socially tortured by her. It was anyone's guess as to which category Tea Gardner fell under.

"Now, now Mai, not everyone can be as rich and popular as us!" Duke laughed as he stepped up, toothpick between his lips, as if that made him cool.

Tea rolled her eyes and clamped her mouth shut. If she spoke, it would only get worse.

Mai sighed dramatically, "Oh I know! It's exhausting, but the least she can do is not have such a strong virginal glow. Nun's are more tainted than this poor excuse for a woman."

Joey stepped in, "Hey - listen here," he began, showing Mai his hand. "More than a handful's a waste. And you're just a diseased wasteland aren't you?"

Mai's mouth dropped ajar. "Oooh, you little weasel."

"Close your mouth and put it to a less annoying use, Valentine."

Yugi stared at the mini battle between the two blondes. Although he'd never admit it out loud, their verbal fights always amazed him. He never could understand how someone could be so quick witted or so careless with their words.

"You should really be more conscientious about what you say, you know, after all, words can scar you." He noted.

Mai pouted, "Yeah Joey, listen to your father over here." Leaning up against the lockers, she feigned worry. "What would your mother say about your atrocious behaviour, hmm?"

It was too quick to foresee, but the locker merely inches away from Mai's head was dented and Joey Wheeler was the cause of it. Fear flickered in her eyes and she couldn't move.

He backed away from the lockers, a scared Mai Valentine, and departed from his group of friends. No matter how loud they called after him - he wasn't going back. Not now. He just needed to be alone.

Blue eyes scanned the hallway, a few stragglers lingering in his path. He scowled as he pushed past. Didn't they realize who he was? He walked over to his locker and froze. "What the fuck?!" A glare was sent at the occupants who all glanced away. He turned back to the large dent on his borrowed property and vowed to find the asshole that dared to dent Seto Kaiba's locker.

Seto angrily undid the combination to the lock and yanked. He yanked again and let out a frustrated sigh before pulling the handle hard. Everyone covered their ears and yelled as a horrendous screeching sound filled the area, followed by a clang.

"Seriously?!" Seto barked when the door fell off. He growled and threw it aside, a louder crash bouncing down the hall's walls. He grabbed his bag and jammed his belongings in it. He'd find the little bastard that did this, and repay him by punching their damn face in!

"What's up with you?" None other than Tristan Taylor snorted, looking at the floor where the smashed locker door lay. It all came back to him as he remembered Joey snapping on Mai, almost taking her face off - figuratively - and realized it was Kaiba's locker. It was decision time, should he cover Joey or not?

"Nothing." Seto snarled at him, turning his back to the shorter, and muttering to himself.

Tristan kicked the locker door, it not moving nearly as much as he hoped it would. "Y'know how this happened?"

"Nope." Seto looked to the side, avoiding eye contact. "It was like that when I got here." He lied. He cleared his throat and checked his watch. He always was a shitty liar.

Tristan raised an eyebrow, "Sure. Joey did it." Blurting out his final answer.

"Joey?" He paused. "I thought you were Joey." His anger faltered for a moment, confusion taking over. "Who the hell is Joey and why's he breaking my shit?" He glared at Tristan, his mood back to its normal irritated state.

"No man, I'm Tristan. Many ladies around would tell you that I'm the love doctor, my diagnosis for you friend - is that you need to get laid." He stated, miming the action of writing on a prescription stared at him for a moment and blinked ever so often. What the heck?

"I don't have time for your foolish antics! Who is Joey and why is my locker dented?" He demanded, crossing his arms defiantly. He mentally cursed when his backpack suddenly slipped off his shoulder, knocking him off balance for a moment.

Tristan shrugged, "I guess that's for me to know and you to try and find out, since you don't have time for my 'antics'." Nonchalantly shoving his hands into his pockets, walking away.

The taller gaped at him and frowned. "Wait! I'll pay you." He offered. He wasn't really sure why he cared so much. It was just a damn locker. However, he always was curious and he always had the money to find out what he needed to know.

Stopping right in his tracks, he turned around. "You'll pay me huh, how much?" It wasn't often that anyone else had the power of anything, let alone knowledge - over Seto Kaiba and Tristan was going to ride it as much as he possibly could.

"Fifty. Tell me who he is and I'll give you fifty right now." He grabbed his wallet from his back pocket and pulled out the money for proof.

"Done deal!" Tristan accepted the money and walked around with Seto a bit, until he came to a familiar young man. Smaller than most, always giving great pep-talks and was a great friend. Yugi Muto. "There he is, have fun. Later 'gator!" And down the hall Tristan nearly ran with his newly gained fifty dollars.

Seto reared on the short boy. "You!" He barked. Yugi gasped and jumped back, shocked. "Why the hell did you dent my locker shrimp?!"

"P-pardon?!" He stared and gaped a few times at the abnormally tall guy. "I-I didn't!" He all but squeaked out.

"Bullshit!" He shoved the shorter, Yugi's eyes widening.

"I didn't dent it!"

It wasn't long before Mai came around yet again - surveying the halls like it was her hunting ground and she was in search of prey. "Oh, you wanna know who dented the locker pretty rich boy?" She asked an angry, irritated Seto Kaiba. "You'll have to follow the stench of poor mixed with lost puppy and little bitch, that'll lead you right to him but it's not this shrimp."

Yugi glared at Mai. Did she ever stop putting people down? Seto glanced back at the short boy and gave a nod, as if that was a decent apology. "What's he look like?" He asked Mai.

It was as if rich people had radar for their own kind. Suddenly he straightened up, looked proper and sounded decent.

Mai gave a nod of her head, her blonde locks draping around her in sheer perfection. "Blonde hair, brown eyes, lost puppy-like. Would be attractive if he wasn't dirt poor." She stated informatively, as if that was a full description of the guy.

Seto seemed in thought. "Thanks." He gave a nod and checked his watch, a displeased look crossing his face. "I've got to run. I'll find him later. If you see him, tell him Seto Kaiba is looking for him."

She turned to Yugi after the young rumored-to-be million trillionaire was out of sight. "You heard the man... the very attractive, rich man... when you see the filthy mutt, tell him Seto Kaiba's looking for him. Thanks sissy, uh - I mean Muto." She didn't even give him a chance to reply as she made her own dramatic exit with a seemingly forced hip wiggle.

Yugi rolled his eyes and sighed. He'd never understand why they always had to put Joey down. He was a good guy but it seemed like only a couple people in the whole school knew it. It saddened him with this entire generation - how stereotypes could be thrown around quicker than a standard greeting. Nothing more he could do now but try to find Joey and get to his last classes before the day's end.

:: Yu :: Gi :: Oh ::