I'm baaaaaaack! XD I really didn't know what to name this chapter because it's all over the place, so I just went with this:
Chapter 8: Cafeteria
Two teenagers, arms wrapped around each other, slowly made their way to the school's infirmary. The smaller of the two was fighting the urge to succumb to the unconscious as his blood continued to drip off his arm, leaving a trail of red splatters behind him. "We're almost there Bakura, just hang on a little longer." Marik comforted, but the injured boy was barely holding on and had let the Egyptian support most of his weight across the lengthy halls. "Next… right…" The white haired boy instructed weakly. Marik picked up the pace with Bakura's feet now dragging on the floor as he made his way to the infirmary room. It was easy to find, needing only to spot the red cross lit above the door. Luckily it had been left open by the previous injured couple and Marik was surprised to find a shirtless boy with a familiar hair style standing in the back of the room. "Atem?" Marik called and the boy flinched before returning his quizzical look. Marik wasn't wearing a shirt and he was holding a pale boy bleeding heavily in the threshold. "Don't move." Cecelia scolded as she pressed her palms harder against the Egyptian's injury, hands glowing green as she swept them over the wound. She hadn't taken her eyes off her patient and only noticed the bleeding boy when Yugi exclaimed his concern for his friend. "Bakura! What happened?!" he asked leaping across the room, but the pale boy was too exhausted to answer.
Yugi had all his strength back since Atem refused to be treated before his smaller companion. The blond lady grimaced at the sight of Bakura and pressed on harder on the Egyptian's back to speed up the healing process, she knew that leaving in the middle of a healing procedure would only worsen the patient's case. "Set him on the bed!" She shouted over to the trio who obeyed instantly. Cecelia finished a few seconds later and shoved past Atem, knocking him over as she rushed to Bakura's side. "This is going to sting a little." She told him. Not wasting another second, she gripped onto the bleeding wound, rubbing the deep gash with her glowing green hands. The pale boy instinctively screamed at the top of his lung and squeezed Marik's hand that was conveniently close by.
The procedure drew to an end several minutes later. Bakura lessened his grip on the Egyptian's hand and his screams were dulled down to small whines. "How does it feel?" Cecelia said gently after removing her hands so that Bakura could move his arm around slowly. "I-it's a little sore, but I should be fine. Thank you." His smile soon disappeared and his face turned bright red when Marik gently pulled his hand away. Bollocks! The boy didn't realise he had grabbed it while he was in pain and was deeply embarrassed about it, although Marik was smiling at him which slightly cheered him up. "Oh dear Bakura, you've gone all red! Do you have a fever?" Cecelia brought her hand up to the boy's forehead, but he quickly moved it away. "No, no, I'm fine, honest!" Bakura didn't think he could turn any redder, but there he was, red as a tomato. "You sure?" Marik asked leaning over to also feel the white haired boy's forehead. The blush deepened once more as he stared at the Egyptian's approaching exposed chest. "Your nose is bleeding." Atem pointed out, having made his way next to the others. "Oh bloody hell!" Bakura swore, tired of people fussing over him. The nurse handed him a tissue before making her way to the door and closing it behind her. "Mrs. Cecelia, what are you doing?" Yugi asked confused. "It's not every day I get a bunch of students injured the way you all were. I'm going to have to report this to the principal obviously, but why don't you tell me what happened first. It'll save us all a lot of trouble."
The four boys all stared at each other, wondering what to say and who to say it. In the end, it was Atem who spoke up. "Weevil was the one who attacked Yugi, I can only assume Rex was the one who attacked you, Bakura?" The pale boy nodded. His aggressor had never told him his name, but he remembered Marik calling him 'Rex' a couple of times. "I see," Cecelia continued, "if your story checks out, which I've no doubt it will, those two might be transferred back to Darkwing High, but then again, that's just my opinion." Another silence. "Is… Is there any way they could still participate in the tournament tomorrow?" Everyone turned to face Marik, confusion clear in their wide eyes. "It's just, I want a fair shot at beating those twerps!" He explained and Atem nodded in agreement. "That's true, I too wouldn't mind kicking their ass in a fair duel." Cecelia seemed to be contemplating their request. "I'll mention it to the principal," she said, "but he'll has the final say." "Thank you." Marik and Atem said in unison.
Bakura leaned down to pick up Marik's shirt that had been thrown away by the nurse and handed it back to him. "Sorry, I didn't mean for your shirt to get all bloody…" "Don't worry about it." He smiled as he took the black tank top from the pale fingers. He was about to slide it over his head when Bakura stopped him. "What are you doing?! It's covered in my blood!" "Well then I guess I have no choice but to walk around shirtless for the rest – of – the – day!" He smirked and winked at the pale boy, who didn't stay that way very long mind you, quickly returning to his usual red shade from embarrassment. "I'm pretty sure there's a rule against that…" Yugi added in nervously, but Marik turned around and winked at him too, making the small boy blush a light shade of pink. "Oh please, I've never been one to follow the rules, right Atem?" "Hey don't bring me into this!" "Boys that's enough!" Cecelia cut in, crossing her arms. "None of you are leaving here looking like that!" The four teenagers looked at each other wondering what exactly the nurse had in store for them…
Joey and Mai had been sitting in the garden a while, chatting about little things like movies and pastimes. That's when Mai confessed she used to be a great singer and being the hyperactive teenager that he was, Joey insisted on hearing her sing. Mai looked away and held back the tears forming in the corner of her eyes. "What's wrong Mai? Did I say something wrong?" "No Joey, it's just… I… can't sing anymore…" "I'm sorry to hear that Mai… Truly I am… You don't have to tell me anything, but if you ever do want to talk about it, I'll listen." "Thank you Joey." She said, but her voice was barely audible over the sound of the harsh wind blowing over them. "Man, where is this wind coming from?!" Joey shouted so that the blond girl could hear him, "Let's go inside!" Mai nodded and the couple dashed for the building. "What do we do now?" she asked once inside, combing her hair with her fingers. "Well, it'll be lunch soon, why don't we wait in the cafeteria. I could introduce you to my friends!" "Are you sure that's alright? I don't want to be a bother." "You? A bother? Never! Don't worry about it, they're really swell guys!" Mai wasn't convinced, but she appreciated Joey's efforts and decided to give it a shot.
The two waited patiently for Joey's friends to arrive. They had already been waiting ten minutes, and another twenty after the bell rang. "That's weird, they don't usually take this long to get here." Joey said checking his cellphone for any missed calls or texts, but there weren't any. "Maybe they're just out there looking for me, they didn't exactly know I was going to skip class…" "Or maybe they saw me and thought to sit elsewhere…" Mai said looking down at her hands disappointingly. A warm pair of fingers soon trailed over to hers and offered her comfort. "Nobody in their right mind would ever do that Mai I promise! Besides, Yug just texted me saying he's on his way." The blond girl smiled at this and turned around in surprise when a familiar voice called out to her. "Mai! Joey! I didn't know you two knew each other!" Tea beamed as she approached the couple with her lunch tray in hands. "Ya! Mai and I had gym class together this morning!" Joey said giving her a thumbs up, but Mai went back to staring at her hands. "Sorry for running off on you this morning Tea, there was something I needed to do…" "Don't sweat it Mai, I'm sure that whatever it was it had to be very important!" "Would you like to sit down with us?" She offered with a glint of hope and the brunette sat down next to her ecstatic. Mai couldn't believe how friendly and forgiving everyone was at Silverwing High… If she had faced the same situation at her old school, not doubt would the person have scolded her! This was a rather pleasant change…
"Hey, do you know if Seto and Mai will be joining us?" Marik asked the smaller Egyptian next to him as they made their way down the hall. "I don't know. I texted Seto, but I haven't heard anything back. He's probably making out with Mai or something." Atem rolled his eyes at the thought. They made a final turn left leading to the wide room known as the cafeteria. "Oh…shit!" "What is it Atem?" Yugi asked from behind him. "See for yourself." He said pointing to the gorgeous blond sitting with another guy in the middle of the room. "Who is she?" Bakura asked looking over Yugi's head. "Mai, Seto's girlfriend." Marik answered. "And boy, will Seto be pissed when he sees this!" Atem added with a smirk. He wouldn't be surprised if the two had already broken up, it would explain a lot of things… He soon found himself and his three friends making their way to that table with a tray of food in hand. Joey was the first to notice, "What da! Have you guys joined a club or something without tellin' me?! Why are you all wearing… that! Seriously what the heck!" "Sorry Joey," Yugi said as he sat down next to the blond, "we had to change our clothes at the infirmary." He glanced over at their matching baby-blue colored nurse coats which made them look ridiculous... "The infirmary!" Tea gasped. "Why?!" "Did you get into a fight or something?" Mai asked just as curious. "You know how Rex and Weevil can be, Mai?" Atem stated crossing his arms to match Marik, looking superior as he did so. "But we sure thought them a lesson!" The bigger Egyptian smirked, but was then taken aback by the sudden slamming of hands on the table. "You have got to be kidding me!" Joey raged, "I missed all the action again!" "Please don't worry about it Joey," Yugi tried to comfort his friend by patting his shoulder, "we're alright now! Atem and Marik helped us out." The boy relaxed under his friend's touch and composed himself. "I guess I should be thankin' you guys then huh?" "Don't sweat it, anyone would have done the same thing were they in our shoes." Atem said, genuinely smiling for once.
"Wow! You guys must be really brave to just take anybody on like that!" Tea smiled as she leaned closer to Atem across the table, resting her chin on her fingers. "Oh that's right!" Mai cut in, "I don't think you've been introduced yet! Tea, Joey, this is Atem and Marik." "Nice to meet you both." Atem replied and the other simply nodded. "So then Atem, how do you like it here so far?" The brunette continued, leaning closer ever so slightly across the table. "It's nice, I mean aside from that incident, I don't think I'll hate it here." "So do you guys know if you'll be taking anyone to the dance Friday? I mean it is a good way to get to know someone." Tea continued, asking both Egyptians this time to not seem too clingy to Atem. "I might give it a few days, I wouldn't feel comfortable asking just anybody." "Same." Marik nodded in agreement, although he wouldn't mind getting to know better a certain white haired boy.
Tea clapped her hands cheerfully and Joey knew she could babble for hours, so he preferred changing the subject. "Hey Tea, where's Serenity? I thought she was with you." The blond raised a good point, the two were inseparable most of the time. "Oh! She told me she had to go study with someone today, but if you ask me, I think it's a date! I mean they're studying under the cherry blossom tree behind the cafeteria for crying out loud!" "A date!" Joey gasped horrified, "Ma sista can't be on a date! She's too young! What's the guy's name, I'll clobba him!" "Joey, stop being an overprotective brother for a second." Tea snapped, "She said this guy was really nice. She didn't give me a name, but she said he was handsome and had long black hair. Also he's one of the new guy's from Darkwing High!" "Darkwing High! And long hair?! That's terrible! I have to stop her!" "Joey please calm down, you're overacting." Bakura said with a hint of insult in his tone, "I have long hair and I'm a perfectly trustworthy person." "Yes but Bakura you can pull off the whole long-hair thing…" Joey said softly hoping to redeem himself in his friend's eyes, but was then face with Marik who leaned over the table on his forearm, "What about Darkwing High students? You seemed to be getting along just fine with the three of us!" "I'm sorry I don't mean to insult you guys! I just feel uncomfortable with my sister hanging around with a new student, especially after Yugi and Bakura got hassled by those jerks from dis mornin'. I'm just going to go check up on her, ok? I'll see you guys later."
"Joey wait!" Mai cried out to the boy, but he was already too far gone to hear her over the loud chattering students. The blond sighed and dropped her hand in her palm. "What's wrong Mai?" Atem asked confused, "Mokuba's a good kid, I'm sure Joey won't have a problem with them hanging out together." "That's not it," the purple eyed girl sighed, "you haven't seen Joey and Seto going at each other, honestly! They despise each other! I can only imagine what would happen if their siblings started dating…" "Oh… I see what you mean, this can't end well." Atem copied Mai and sighed, but Tea already had a friendship speech prepared to cheer him up. She scooched down closer to Yugi now that Joey was gone and put her hand over Atem's arm to support him, although he didn't really need any comforting. "Don't worry Atem! Serenity isn't the type to just give up on someone, and if Joey really loves her, he'll let her see Mokuba!" "You guys forget that this is if they are dating!" Yugi said angrily separating the two. He used to hate seeing Tea drool over somebody else, especially since she would often give him signs, but would never make a move. He was still waiting for her, but a blind man could see she was more interested in his taller, stronger Egyptian look-alike. He felt angry, but not for the reason he originally thought. He wasn't so much upset by the fact that Tea was all over Atem, but rather that Atem didn't seem to mind! All these jumbled feelings inside his heart confused the poor soul who wished he had the answers written in front of him instead of waiting for events to unfold themselves to learn who it was he actually liked…
Ok, let me just start off by saying Bakura is so damn cuuuute! I love making him turn red and I laugh everytime I read back the scene where he's blushing over the fact the nurse thought he had a fever! HAHAHAHA
I just love Joey in this Chapter! He's super sweet to Mai, then he's overprotective of Serenity (awe! XD) and then manages to get marik angry with him! Classic Joey!
Hope you guys liked it! I think I'll be posting a new one each day up until Christmas, i have three more written up and another one on the way. Consider it my Christmas gift to you! ;)
Please leave a comment/review! I'd like to know what you think! :D
