Please Leave a Message
:Chapter Two:
Joey lay upside down on the couch of his new apartment, mentally thanking whatever was holy out there that his job was paying him so well. As long as Kaiba didn't realize Joey was working for him, there was no problem for the blonde.
Nope, none at all.
Ring!
Joey found the energy to roll an eye towards the phone.
"Go away!"
Ring! Ring!
The telephone didn't seem to want to shut up as he was hoping it would.
"Traitor." He told the offending object.
Two more rings, and at last, the answering machine kicked in.
Beeeeep!
"Wheeler residence. Not home. Leave message." The machine said in Joey's voice. Nice and short, just the way he liked it.
"Joey, this is Tristan."
Joey gave a long-suffering sigh. What did Tristan want today?
"I know you're there, buddy." There was a long pause, and Tristan sighed as well.
"Joey! Pick up the stupid phone!" Tristan screamed into the receiver.
Joey winced, but made no move to get off the couch.
Another pause.
"Fine. Be that way. It's your sister's birthday, so I thought I'd give her a call, say hi, wish her happy birthday…maybe ask her on a date…"
Joey leapt off the couch with an enraged growl. "Oh no you don't!" He shouted, before realizing that Tristan, talking to the answering machine, could not possibly hear him, unless he shouted so loud the boy could hear him from across town.
But it was such a waste of energy.
Tristan continued, oblivious. "But I can't seem to find her number."
Joey grinned. "Hah! Serves you right."
"I was hoping you could-"
Beeeep!
Tristan glared at the phone, the dial tone buzzing in his ear.
"-tell me." He finished. "Stupid answering machine."
Joey glared, as if the answering machine could transmit it all the way to the residence of his best buddy Tristan.
"If I could what? Tell you? Tell her for you?" he ranted. "Not. A. Chance."
Then, he was struck by a thought.
He knew how Tristan's mind worked. The brunette would be calling anyone, everyone he knew in hopes of getting the number.
Well, Joey Wheeler would just have to be a step ahead.
With fervor he hadn't possessed a few minutes ago, Joey leapt off the couch, reaching for his phone.
He dialed the first number that came to mind- the one person most likely to have access to Serenity's number- duelist extraordinaire, bane of all things evil, savior of the known world…
"Hey Yug, 'sup?"
On the other end, Yugi groaned. "What do you want, Joey?"
Joey chuckled nervously. "Come on, man. Can't I call my best buddy now and then without him getting suspicious?"
"No." Yugi told him flatly. "You want something, I can tell."
Joey flapped his free hand. "Alright, alright. I need ya to do me a favor, Yug. Will ya?"
"Depends…" Yugi started slowly.
"Tristan's gonna call you in a minute."
"Ok…"
"I need you to do somethin' for me, 'k?"
"Get to the point, Joey!" Yugi exploded.
Joey held the phone away from his ear. "Alright! Geez. Don't blow a fuse, Yug'. Don't answer the phone when Tristan calls."
Joey could almost see Yugi blinking.
"That's it?" Yugi asked incredulously. "What else is there?"
"Nothin'! I swear!" Joey protested. "It's just that…it's Serenity's birthday, and Tristan wants to ask her out."
"Oh."There was some murmuring, during which Joey assumed that Yugi was relaying his wishes to the rest of the Moto household. "Well, Grandpa and Yami agreed to not answer the phone either so don't worry." Yugi beamed.
"Thanks bud." Joey told Yugi, feeling slightly relieved.
He hung up the phone.
Alrighty, who's next?
You better give up Tristan, cause Joey Wheeler's a step ahead.
:End Chapter Two: