Hey guys! I hope you guys enjoyed the previous chapter. Something amazing happened recently. Take A Chance On Me has reached more than 20,500 views! I never thought that something that I'D written would get that many views, so a HUGE thank you to all of you who've been reading that story, as well as any of my other ones. Your support means the world to me. This chapter will be kind of boring, but the Memory World arc (that's what it's called I believe) is coming up and I can't wait for it 'cause it's one of my favorites. I hope you enjoy this chapter guys!
xxxx
The following afternoon, Joey stood outside of the Todd's apartment. He and Alissa had been attending the same summer class at the Domino Community College and she had been absent that day. He fixed his grip on the decently sized stack of papers in his arms and knocked. The door opened and Abigail appeared in the doorway.
"Oh, hello Joey."
"Hey Mrs. Todd. I was wonderin' if Alissa was okay. She wasn't in class today. I mean I know dat she just went through a kidnapping last week but she was back earlier dis week. I jus' wanted ta make sure she was okay."
"She's fine Joey. She's just feeling a little under the weather."
"Oh, well I brought her da rest of da assignments for dis week and some of da assignments for next week."
"That's very sweet of you. Here, come in." She stepped out of the way to allow Joey entrance to her and her daughter's apartment. Joey followed Abigail down the hall. The duo stopped in front of the younger Todd's bedroom door. Abigail knocked before speaking.
"Alissa? Sweetie? You have a visitor." Footsteps were heard very briefly before the door was opened. Alissa stood there in a pair of baggy sweatpants and an old tank top. Her hair was thrown haphazardly on the top of her head and mascara was smudged under her eyes.
"Yeah?"
"Hey Alissa. I brought ya da rest of dis week's assignments and some of next week's." He presented her the stack of papers.
"Oh, um thanks Joey. I'll see you whenever." She grabbed the papers from him. Joey looked at her with a small frown. She didn't sound sick. She didn't look sick. In fact, it looked like she had been crying.
"Uh actually, I just remembered we learned some new thermos today and it's kinda confusin'. I should explain it ta ya." He turned his attention to Alissa's mother. "It'll only take a few minutes."
"Alright, but only a few minutes. Alissa needs to rest." Alissa tossed a glare at her mom. Wasn't it obvious that she wanted to be alone?
"Thank you Mrs. Todd." As soon as Abigail disappeared down the hallway, Joey stepped into Alissa's room and shut the door.
"You aren't really sick."
"What are you talking about? Of course I'm sick." She coughed into the bend of her elbow to prove a point.
"Alissa."
"Alright fine, I'm not really sick. So I wanted to stay home for a day or two, watch movies, and eat some ice cream. What's the matter with that?" She reclaimed her place on her bed and grabbed the carton of Ben N' Jerry's from her nightstand. Joey grabbed the empty DVD case from the foot of her bed and frowned.
"Ben N' Jerry's Chocolate Therapy and The Notebook? Whateva' 'appened must've been pretty bad. Now spill, what's buggin' ya?"
"I'm fine."
"I'm not buyin' dat. Somethin' is buggin' ya." She sighed and put the nearly empty carton down on her nightstand.
"Kaiba and I are through. We broke up."
"What? Ya can't be serious? What happened?"
"We had an argument and there were some things said that shouldn't have been so we made the mutual decision to break up."
"So ya guys are done for good?"
"Yeah, we are."
"Is dat really what ya want?"
"Why do you even care Joey? I thought that you didn't like him anyway."
"I don't. I jus' know how much ya like 'im."
"Yeah, well he's an ass." She crossed her arms and dropped her gaze as tears prickled against the back of her eyes. He noticed her distress and sat next to her before pulling her tightly to his chest. She lost her resolve and began to sob into the sandy haired boy's chest.
"Shh Alissa, don't cry ova' him. He ain't worth it." Her response came out muffled. "Ya know I can't understan' ya when ya mumble." She pulled her face out of his chest and sniffed.
"I loved him."
"I know ya did," he replied, pulling her into his chest again and rubbing her back sympathetically. "Seriously, he ain't worth it Alissa. It's his loss." She pulled away with a scowl.
"That's what everyone always says to someone after a break up."
"I'm serious. You have more of a personality den he'll eva' have. You deserve someone who'll actually treat ya right."
"I guess."
"Do ya wanna watch a Disney movie? I could probably convince your mom ta let me stay longer."
"Only if I get to pick it."
"Sure, but ya need to get yourself cleaned up first. Da sarcastic Alissa we all know an' love wouldn't be caught dead with mascara smudged under her eyes." She snickered softly and wiped her nose.
"Thanks Joey." She hugged him again.
"No problem. I love ya, stupid. I hate seein' ya upset."
"I love you too." She pulled away from him and climbed off her bed. "I'm going to go get cleaned up."
"Alright." She exited her bedroom and headed down the hall to the bathroom. She wiped the smudged makeup from under her eyes and brushed through her messy hair. She found Joey in the living room once she was done.
"Hey, where'd my mom go?"
"She went ta get stuff for dinner. She said I could stay till she got back."
"Okay. I'll go grab my laptop and some DVDs." As she was walking back to her room, the doorbell rang.
"Can you get that Joey?"
"Sure Alissa." She reached her room and began sorting through DVDs as he answered the door. She frowned when she heard start yelling.
"What da hell are ya doin' here Money Bags?"
"I could ask you the same thing Wheeler," a cool voice responded. Her frown only deepened. She knew that voice. She entered the living room to find Joey staring up at Seto hatefully. His fists were clenched so tightly that his knuckles were turning white.
"What are you doing here? If you think coming here would help me to forgive you then you're sadly mistaken." The hard eyed brunet turned his attention to Alissa as she spoke.
"You're seriously diluted if you think I came here to ask for your forgiveness. I came here to give this back to you." He paused to hold up the key to her apartment that she had given him. "I won't be needing it any longer."
"You're a real piece of work ya know that Kaiba? Who da hell do ya think ya are? She's obviously upset and den ya come here just ta add insult to injury. You're a real asshole!" Joey stepped closer to Seto as he spoke.
"Joey, it's fine."
"No Alissa, it's not. Dis asshole has crossed da line one too many times. I'm kicking dis bastard's ass!"
"Hmph, I'd like to see you try Wheeler."
"Wid' pleasure Rich Boy!" Joey flung his fist at Seto but Seto dodged it and shoved Joey face first into the wall.
"Stop it!"
"Oi let me go asshole!" Seto smirked at Joey's inability to push him away.
"You'll never beat me Wheeler. You're a joke and that's all you'll ever be."
"Stop it!" Joey finally shouldered Seto off and turned his attention to Alissa. She looked like she was barely keeping her emotions in check.
"Get outta here Kaiba."
"Hm, gladly." The door slammed behind the brunet as he left. As soon as the door shut, Alissa began to sob. Joey hugged her with a frown. He couldn't believe the nerve that Kaiba had showing up at her apartment. Sure, he knew that Kaiba was always a jerk, but he never knew he could be that heartless.
"Come on Alissa, let's watch da movie."
xxxx
Weelll I'm just going to end it here. I was originally going to start the Memory World arc in this chapter but I decided it would be better if it started at the end of next chapter because I want to get a look into Seto's head to see how the breakup is affecting him. I know this chapter was short, but I'll make up for it next chapter. Let me know what you guys thought of this chapter, and I'll talk to you next update.