Summer Freedom-part 2
*At the lake*
Joey excitedly jogged to the grass colored gates. It had been way too long since their last trip. There was a white metal sign attached: 'Welcome to the lake at the hills. To ensure safety, please read and follow the rules: ...' Joey did a quick skim before turning away. "Meh, it's pretty common sense. Besides, we're just going for a swim." There was a rickety clang as he closed the gate behind him.
He looked around and saw a few people in camp chairs fishing along the edge not too far from him. There was one guy in a small boat that made gentle skims as it moved across the lake. After not seeing Tristan or Yugi, he sat on the sand and closed his eyes. The water felt refreshing as he dipped his feet. A few minutes passed before he heard the gate's rickety clang. He looked over at the source of the sound and wasn't surprised to see Tristan, but he didn't expect was...
"Serenity?! The two made their way towards Joey and sat by him. What are you doing here sis? I thought you were at home!"
The red haired girl giggled, "I was, but when I heard that you guys were headed to the lake, I just couldn't resist tagging along; so I had Tristan come pick me up."
He looked puzzled, "Pick you up? But he doesn't drive!"
Tristan reached into the bag he brought along and pulled out a thin piece of paper. He smiled widely and said, "Cha-ching!"
"What! No way! You're not fifteen yet! How did you get your permit this early"?
The brunette smiled, "well when your dad works at the DMV, there's some things that you can do."
"Okay...but even then aren't you supposed to have at least an eighteen year old with you in the car"?
"Well...technically yes, he confessed. But what my parents don't know won't hurt 'em. But enough of that, where's Yugi"?
"I don't know...he told me he was going to his house to change and then he'd meet us here. But that was like a half hour ago."
"You haven't heard anything"? The blonde looked at his feet and shook his head.
Tristan stood up. "Well I think we should go look for him. For all we know, he could be in trouble."
"Right. Serenity, I think we should take you home, I don't want you to get hurt."
She nodded. "Please be careful Joey." She looked at him with large worried eyes.
"I promise, he reassured her. Let's go."
With that said, the three gathered up the beach bag and cooler Tristan brought and rode quickly back to the Wheeler's. "Okay I think he would have gone up this way", said Joey pointing up the long stretch of road. The green jeep sped up the road, not having to go very far before they spotted something on the sidewalk. They stopped and got out. The thing became clearer as they got closer. It began to take its shape and when they saw the spiky hair, they knew.
"Yugi!" He could hear shoes running against the pavement towards him.
Yugi rolled over on the sidewalk, moaning from the pain. "What happened to me"? He looked down and gasped. Both of his knees were skinned, dried blood ran all the way down to the tops of his flip flops like nails on a chalk board. There were deep cuts and various scrapes that covered the undersides of his arms. He prayed he wouldn't have to go to the hospital and closed his eyes. There was no way he'd be able to get up on his own.
"Hey man, are you alright"? He recognized the voice belonged to Tristan.
Joey shot back, "Does he look alright to you?! It coulda been a lot worse had we waited around any longer! Joey got on his knees next to him. Come on, man." Tristan also sat down next to them and put the back of his hand to Yugi's forehead. Yugi seemed to respond to Tristan's touch. He slowly opened his eyes and looked into the two worried faces of his friends.
"Yugi! Thank goodness you're alright! The blonde looked as though he was tearing up. He pulled Yugi off of the pavement and squeezed him. "Ow!" Yugi clenched his teeth together, eyes closed. He held his stomach and winced.
Joey backed up, embarrassed. "Sorry Yug. I'm just glad you're okay."
Tristan scoffed, "Way to go dude. Put him in more pain!"
Yugi responded, "It's alright Tristan. I'm just glad to see you guys."
Joey examined him up and down before questioning, "So, what happened? If I had to guess I would say that you get jumped or something."
He looked down and sighed at his shirt that was now torn on the sides. "That's exactly what happened, he stated. He looked down at his feet and continued, I was on my way to my house when a big white van stopped next to me. I wasn't sure who it was or what they wanted, but all I remember was a man dressed in a plum colored robe. There might have been a few more in the car. The next thing I knew, was tossed across the pavement and I blacked out."
Joey threw his hands in the air. "In probably the most brutal way possible! Look at those nasty gashes down your legs! Whoever did this was not messing around. He eyed the injuries with a worried look. I'm sorry we didn't make it sooner."
"It's okay, Joey. Next time I'll be sure to take someone with me." Yugi mentally kicked himself for not listening to Seto's advice.
"Did they take anything..."? Tristan asked.
Yugi reached into his pockets and was relieved to feel that everything was there-almost.
"It can't be-it was just here!" Yugi's eyes grew wide as he began to panic. He was frantically searching his shorts for something.
"Uhh...what was"? The two stood dumfounded.
"My tin with my deck is gone! Those guys must've taken it while I was out cold."
"Why would they be targeting you, though? And why for just some cards"?
Yugi paused before answering, "...I don't know. I had some pretty rare cards, but like you said they're just cards. No matter, we've got to get it back. Grandpa gave me those cards as a gift! He will be furious when he finds out."
"We will find them and we will get your stuff back, Tristan reassured. Come on...we need to get you home and take care of those injuries." With that said, he took Yugi's arm and put it across his back. Joey took the opposite and did the same.
"Whose jeep is that", he asked weakly.
Tristan spoke up, "It's my dad's. I'm kinda driving it without his permission...But I have my permit now!"
Xxx
