As usual while Joey walked down the school corridor, glancing around the hall he saw couples everywhere. Yugi was talking away without a care in the world he seemed so happy since he and Yami got together. 'Why couldn't he find someone?' Unconsciously Joey stopped, his blond locks falling over his eyes. Concerned Yugi placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Are you alright Joey?" Yugi asked. "I'm fine. I've got to go. See ya buddy." Without lifting his head Joey turned around and left, his lanky body emerging in the crowd. Yugi stood there, not knowing why Joey's attitude had suddenly changed.
-Split-
Joey just kept walking. In his mind he was confused. He was so wrapped up in his own thoughts that he didn't notice the CEO walking in the opposite direction. Before Joey knew it, he was on the floor and staring up at icy sapphire eyes.
"Watch where your going mutt!" Kaiba said. For some strange reason Joey was embarrassed. He quickly stood up, muttered a soft 'sorry' and bolted past Kaiba. For once Kaiba was speechless. Where was the usual 'I'm not a mutt'? 'What was wrong with his puppy? Wait… his puppy.' Kaiba rubbed his temples, 'I need more sleep.'
-Split-
After running for who knows how long, Joey leaned against a locker trying to get his breath back. Usually the sight of all those couples and that familiar pang of loneliness never really affected Joey this much. To top it all off he was embarrassed because he rammed into Kaiba. 'What the hell was going on?' As Joey was pondering over his very confusing actions he caught sight of the time on his watch. 3:50? 'Oh shit, the school bell went ages ago. Dad's gonna kill me.'
Hastily Joey skidded around the corners of the school halls, yanked his locker open, grabbed his bag and burst through the school doors. And just his luck… it was raining. Absolutely pouring. Although Joey loved the rain today was definitely not the right day for this to be happening.
Joey just shrugged and ran with his jacket over his head. 'Rain won't kill me but if I don't make it home soon my dad will.'
-Split-
Mr. Wheeler was sitting slouched on the couch, beer bottles scattered everywhere and cigarette smoke lingering in the air.
"Where the hell is that son of a-.' Suddenly the door swung open and a very drenched and exhausted Joey burst into the living room.
"Sorry dad, I got caught up at school and then-." Mr. Wheeler stood up.
"I don't want to hear any of your goddamn excuses." He grabbed Joey by the collar and pushed him up against the living room wall. There was fear in Joey's eyes. In seeing this Mr. Wheeler smirked. He thrust Joey on the floor. By instinct, Joey put his hands out in front of him. Unfortunately he was pushed so hard he fell forcefully onto his left hand. He screamed in pain. 'This is not good.' Mr. Wheeler laughed as his terrified son clung to his injured wrist. Kicking Joey once he sat back down on the wore-down couch before commanding Joey to get out of his sight before he did some more damage.
Joey quickly nodded and limped to his room. Clutching his wrist Joey winced as he rubbed his now swelling and bruised wrist. He desperately needed ice but he couldn't get to the fridge if his dad was still out here. An hour later, Joey couldn't bear the pain any longer so he opened his bedroom door ever so slightly. Luckily his dad was sprawled on the couch asleep. Trying not to make any sound Joey edged the freezer door open, grabbed some ice, painkillers from the cupboard and then tiptoed back into his room.
-Split- Next day
Kaiba studied Joey as he walked in with Yugi and co. He sighed in relief in seeing the old Joey back. He was about to concentrate on his work when something caught his attention. 'Is it just me or is Joey limping?' Kaiba mentally slapped himself. What was wrong with him it wasn't like he cared what happened to the mutt? Anyway his 'heart of the cards' obsessed friends would have noticed it by now. But still…
"Hey mutt! You look happy today, did you just learn a new trick?" Kaiba noticed Joey's eye twitch and smirked. "Or is it true that old dogs can't learn new tricks?" With that Joey grabbed Kaiba by the collar, anger evident in his honey coloured eyes.
"I'm not a mutt Kaiba!" To Joey's surprise Kaiba didn't smirk.
"Why are you limping Joey?" Joey dropped Kaiba. The question had surprised him. Was it that obvious, was he limping that… wait had Kaiba just called him Joey?
"D…Did you just call me J…Joey?" he stuttered. Before Kaiba could reply Yugi grabbed Joey's left hand. Joey winced but forced a smile, hoping no one had noticed.
"Joey, are you alright? Forget what Kaiba said, let's just go." Joey glanced at Kaiba, who was frowning at him. 'What if he saw me wincing?' Joey shoke his head. 'It's nothing' Joey thought. He mumbled a quiet, "See ya later moneybags," before walking to lunch with Yugi and the others.
Kaiba just stood there. 'What the hell's going on?!'
-Split-
Joey, Yugi and co. were chatting away in the cafeteria. Well everyone except Joey, he seemed to have drifted away from the conversation. He still couldn't figure out what was with Kaiba…
"Joey…Joey?" He snapped back to reality. "What?" He said, not knowing what they were talking about. Yugi just smiled, amused at his friends short attention span.
"I just asked what you were doing tonight?" Yugi asked.
"Nothing," Joey said. An idea popped into his head.
"How about we all go to the arcade and then to the movies and…" Joey stopped abruptly when he saw everyone shake their heads. Yugi spoke first, "Sorry, I've got a date with Yami." Honda and Tea nodded their heads in Otogi's direction saying they were helping him with his new game. Joey considered asking Bakura and Marik what they were going to do but he didn't want to go there. Whatever they were planning on doing Joey suspected it wasn't good, legal for that fact either. Joey sighed, he felt so alone. Without even glancing at his friends or saying goodbye Joey got up and left. Yugi got up to follow him but Yami grabbed his hand and shoke his head.
"I think we should leave him alone for now."
-Split-
Joey headed for the Nurse's office. He really needed ice for his aching wrist. When the nurse saw his wrist she was immediately concerned. Once she gave him the ice she keep pestering about how he hurt himself, was he in unbearable pain, did he want her to call his parents. Restraining himself from rolling his eyes he headed for the door.
"I'm fine, thanks for the ice, see ya!" Joey called over his shoulder. He just wanted to be alone. As he was walking around the campus he caught sight of the library. He beamed, 'the library. This is just the place where I can be alone.'
-Split-
Kaiba stared in wonder as he saw Joey attentively looking around the library before sitting down at a table in the corner. Kaiba frowned when he saw the ice package. 'So I was right about the wrist. Obviously the mutt hasn't seen me yet but what is he doing here and where are his "friendship crazed" friends?'
-Split-
Joey carefully opened the library doors and stepped inside. It smelt of old and new books everywhere Joey walked. 'At least it's peaceful and I'll be alone.' Joey thought. He quickly scanned the library for anyone he knew. He sighed in relief as he sat at a secluded table in the corner. Joey didn't mind just sitting there doing nothing just as long as he could have time alone to think about the previous day.
-Split- 10 minutes later
Joey looked up when he felt someone staring at him. That's when he made eye contact with none other than Seto Kaiba. Joey mustn't have seen Kaiba because he was typing away on his laptop. 'Why is Kaiba staring at me? Does he always come to the library by himself?' Curiosity got the better of him so he headed over to Kaiba.
-Split-
'Now what?' Kaiba thought as he saw Joey coming over to him.
"Hey Kaiba, do you always come to the library by yourself?" Being the jerk he's always been Kaiba answered back coldly.
"Look, mutt. I don't have time to answer any of your petty questions because unlike yourself I have a life and I'm very busy." As usual Kaiba was expecting 'I'm not a mutt!' But it never came. All he heard was a gentle padding of shoes walking on the carpet. Kaiba glanced up just as Joey walked out of the library. He was left speechless…again.
-Split-
Joey headed to the rooftop; wondering why he hadn't thought of it before, instead of being humiliated by the jackass Kaiba. Joey sat down on the concrete floor with his back against the wall. He had to sort out his issues and confusing thoughts all revolving around Kaiba. On one hand Kaiba is a jerk when he's cold and distant but on the other had when Kaiba's nice and concerned it's just plain scary. 'Not in a bad way,' Joey thought. He blushed when he thought it was kind of nice. Joey wasn't completely naïve and oblivious to his surroundings so of course he knew that Kaiba was extremely handsome, smart and rich. But when Kaiba's nice and joined with all those qualities…'He's perfect,' Joey thought. He smacked his head against the wall. 'I can't,' SMACK! 'Think of,' SMACK! 'Kaiba like that,' SMACK! Joey massaged his sore head.
"Owww."
-Split-
Kaiba hadn't made any progress on his work after Joey had left. Unless writing 'Joey' over a hundred times is considering progress than by God he'd done an excellent job. Kaiba was pondering why he cared what Joey thought of him. 'I mean it's not like we have anything in common,' Kaiba thought. Kaiba was rich, Joey was poor, Kaiba was smart and Joey was dumb. The only two things they had in common were their unconditional love for their siblings and they were both…attractive. Kaiba blushed. 'Thought Joey has more of a roguish look. I mean with his wild hair, his clothes and the way he brushes his hand through his hair in such a cute manner…' Kaiba's blush deepened the more he thought about Joey. Then again, opposites attract. 'Wait,' Kaiba thought, 'did I just suggest Joey and I as a couple.' By now Kaiba's face was red. He knew that Joey was jealous of his life but then again who wasn't. Kaiba could understand why but that doesn't mean he would want it. Kaiba craved a carefree life, just like Joey's. No one would believe that Seto Kaiba is jealous of Joey Wheeler. 'Does that mean,' Kaiba contemplated, 'I fight with Joey only because I'm jealous or–'
-Split-
'–do I really only desire to be near Kaiba?' Joey questioned. 'This is so confusing!' Joey smacked his head against the wall before realizing the bell had already gone.
-Split-
'Damn Kaiba! Why does he have to be such a jerk?' Joey thought. Luckily he was able to avoid everyone for the rest of the day, especially damn Kaiba. All through the last period Joey could swear someone was staring at his back. 'Probably the ass Kaiba, trying to find another one my flaws so he could humiliate me.'
When Joey arrived home he cautiously stepped into the living room hoping he could get a good night sleep. Joey let out a sigh of relief when his dad was nowhere to be seen. He was probably passed out in a chair or on the floor of a bar. Where or how he was doing, frankly Joey didn't give a shit. Joey had a peaceful night not having to worry about his drunken father. By 10:30pm Joey's dad still hadn't returned home so he headed to bed. Joey doubted his dad would disturb him considering he wouldn't even make it to the couch let alone Joey's room. That night Joey slept peacefully for the first time in years without having nightmares.
