Part Two
I strode through the big double doors to the canteen and looked around to the usual table we all sat at for lunch. The long table, we always commandeered a corner of it for ourselves when it was lunch. I sighed with relief, a great long breath that took away the, frustrating, uncomfortable conversation that had occurred only 10 minutes ago in the back-way corridor. Steadily I walked silently up to my seat they had saved for me, next to Joey as always, and opposite, Tristan.
As I came closer Yugi noticed me first looked up and gave me a smile. Joey stopped a little irritated that Yugi wasn't listening to his obviously hilarious joke that he had probably saved up all lesson to tell. Joey turned round and grinned showing all his white, glistening teeth as he saw me approach from behind him.
"Where have you been? You missed half the lesson", he asked pulling out my seat next to him.
I threw my self heavily down on the small plastic chair and shoved my school bag on the table, tossing my long auburn locks over my shoulder before I answered.
"uh", I paused thinking of what to say to all the questioning pairs of eyes waiting for an answer.
"I got … distracted", "by a book in the library" I answered shifting my eyes away from the faces of my friends. 'It was not really lying, it was more a half truth or a bent truth. Yes. I did get distracted. By a book in the library I saw. I took it out before running back to class so I wouldn't be late back, that's why I took the short cut. It was then that I literally ran full pelt into Mr Seto Kaiba, the rich and stunningly handsome Seto Kaiba, but also the rude, arrogant, Mr 'I'm to good for anyone' Seto Kaiba that infuriated me so much. I wasn't lying but guilt pressed against my conscience, like that hot prickly feeling you get on the back of your neck, or the tight feeling you get in your chest when you get caught doing something naughty when you were a kid.
I tried not to notice those irrepressible, illogical feeling as the gang carried on there normal conversation, and only came out of my trance of wondering when the whole group erupted with laughter at Joey's long held joke. I laughed but it was hollow and false and sounded like it came from someone else.
Scenting something wasn't right I chanced a glance up to see scowling faces looking up above me. The false laughter still rang out in till it came to an abrupt end. That's when I realised that the sick, masochistic laughter was not coming from my mouth. Quickly I turned my head, too quickly as the canteen swarm before my eyes, the colours all blurring together. The only thing that stood out was a deep voice saying,
" Such a funny joke, Wheeler", in a sarcastic voice from behind me. I could feel Joey tighten and almost growl at the man. It was only then I knew who it couldn't possibly be. Focusing I could finally see Seto Kaiba, the source of the tension in the group.
"settle down 'pup'," he said with an icy glare shot in his direction. "I only wanted to speak to Katalina," there was a pause while everyone looked at me with accusing eyes and dropping jaws from everyone especially Joey. Joey opened his mouth about to ask why when Kaiba added. "She left her book when we met earlier."
I could feel the hot prickly sensation come to the back of my neck once again and the intense heat in my checks as I flushed at being singled out by the man that everyone at the table despised and continued to glare at. I watched with steady, unwavering eyes as he walked around the table to the side and waited. His eyes fixed on the blank wall in front of him avoiding eye contact with the others with a strict dignity. Slowly as if in a dream I rose from my seat, eyes fixed on his broad, brave back. Giving a small apologetic smile to the staring faces of my friends before leaving my place and taking the short walk over to where Seto Kaiba was waiting patiently for my arrival.
As I approached he turned round to face me and his face softened and a small smirk that could almost be a smile crept over his lips at my pursed annoyed expression that was blatant upon my face.
"Here's your book", he said his smile broadening into a wider grin. As he handed it to me the binder facing upwards, its shining embellished title glinting in the bright light of the canteen. "Its a good read" he said his eyes meeting mine as I took the book from his hands.
"I know. Its one of my favourites" I paused shocked at how harsh I sounded when he was being suspiciously nice to me he didn't have to give me my book back he could have just left it there.
I felt wired with this new Seto Kaiba he wasn't being rude and aloof. I chanced a glance over my shoulder at the gang to see if they had noticed this change. 'Apparently not' I thought as I saw Joey half way through a conversation with Yugi probably about Dual Monsters or something.
" Why did you do that?", I asked in a hushed voice not wanting anyone else to hear.
"Do what?", he asked faking confusion at my hushed tone although his tone was at the same level as mine.
" Why did you single me out like that. In front of everyone" I asked feeling irritable that he didn't know what he had done and the repercussions that would follow.
"Why not?" he asked in the same deep, masculine tone that made me feel embarrassed and blush like a little girl, which made me even more annoyed. I could feel the phoenix stirring in me, its golden wings fluttering feebly as it raised its golden head.
" Enjoy your book", he said once again and walked away down the walkway between the tables and through the double doors and out of site.
Going back to the table, I felt cheated, he didn't answer my question, it was simple enough, 'Why single me out in front of everyone'. It was only when I sat down that I realised why. As soon as I sat down I was bombarded with questions upon questions from Joey.
"What did he want?" was the first huffed question of the interrogation.
I spluttered a short reply of "to give back my book"
Joey didn't look impressed "Why did he have your book in the first place?"
"I" I spluttered "I must have left it in the library"
Joey huffed and pointedly turned his back to me and continued to ignore me to talk to Yugi. Yugi lent me a sympathetic small look before turning his whole attention to Joey.
I just sat there down-funded that Joey could be like that with me. Every-time I wanted to talk with him, or be with him alone, he would make an excuse, or invite the whole gang as if it were a group outing. And now that someone's showing me a little attention he cant stand it. I sat in my seat fuming. The beast inside of me roaring to be let free and tear away the straight angry person that had engulfed my nice, normal Joey and had replaced him with this jealous, angry one. Then it hit me 'maybe this is what he wanted' I thought as the words Kaiba had said to me earlier came back to me 'He's loud, stupid and ignorant, especially to you' and then when he had said 'look at the way he treats you,more like his friend then his girlfriend.' At the time I hadn't realised what he had meant. I thought he was being arrogant and stuck-up, but now I looked back what he said had rang a little true and even I had to admit it no matter how much it pained me.
I kept quiet and opened up my lunch box and chewed on my sandwiches even though my hunger had long gone. It hadn't always been this way with Joey and me. It had once been great when we first got together he was so sweet and romantic and considerate towards me if I was having a bad day he would of came around to mine after school and cheer me up with lots of kisses and cuddles, what had gone so wrong that now I had become more a friend then a girlfriend. I instinctively knew why he was jealous. Any other guy he wouldn't of batted an eyelid, but no it was Seto Kaiba the worst person in the world according to Joey, he's rich, arrogant, rude, chauvinistic, selfish as well as many other things the worst thing about Seto Kaiba is he's one of the best duellist in the world second to Yugi anyway, and that's why he hates him so much.
