Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Yu-Gi-Oh characters…just some trading cards
Bad Boy
Chapter 4: Friend or Foe?
When Yugi and Téa arrived at the Wheeler residence, Serenity had just got off the phone with Tristan.
"Well, I am feeling a little better, but I don't want to risk getting you sick. Do you think it'd be ok if I canceled this week's plans too?"
Serenity agreed to this so she could have a another G.N.O. with Mai and Téa, it was really fun. When she hung up she heard the doorbell ring, since Joey didn't hear it she answered the door. To Serenity's surprise it was Yugi and Téa.
"Hey guys! Come in, come in! Joey! Téa and Yugi are here!" A second after Serenity called Joey the blonde rushed to the scene. He was beaming and seemed to be bursting with excitement for unknown reasons.
"Hey guys!" Joey greeted them with his Brooklyn accent.
Téa and Yugi exchanged greetings, then Téa cut to the chase.
"Let me guess, your sister told you everything, right?"
Joey's response was a confused look.
"What do you mean? When she got home she fell right asleep on the couch. I wasn't told anything. Wait did I miss something important?" Joey gave the girls a menacing look.
Serenity turned to Téa, "I didn't want to tell him anything in case you didn't want me to, or if you wanted to tell him yourself."
"Its ok, I understand. I actually didn't want to tell Joey, but with that look he's giving us, I guess I better explain it."
After repeating her story for the third time, Joey was looking at her expectantly.
"What Joey? Stop looking at me that way."
"Its nothing, but why didn't you ask him any questions? I mean I feel happy for you, but you know practically nothing about the guy!" Yugi nodded in agreement, Serenity looked down.
"Well, I couldn't help it! He walked off before I had a chance."
"Sorry." They all turned to see the younger Wheeler, she was looking at the ground.
"Serenity? What for? You didn't do anything wrong." Téa gave the younger girl a hug. "Its ok, I get to see him next Friday anyway, remember?" This made a small creep up on Serenity's face.
"No Téa, I saw him and I think he saw me and Mai that's why he walked away. He knew you guys wouldn't be able to talk in private anymore. I'm sorry, I messed up your…'romance'? Yeah I guess it's a romance."
Joey joined into the comfort circle with a kind big brother attitude, "Listen sis, I know just what'll cheer you up. Lets go to the ice cream shop down the street."
Serenity perked up, "Ok Joey."
Téa smiled at Joey's wishful thinking, the Wheelers' were lucky to have each other. Suddenly, she remembered that the cheerful Kaiba brothers were also in the ice cream shop. This made Téa think, Uh oh, lets just hope Joey doesn't start a fight and ruin the happy Kaiba mood…
When they all arrived at the ice cream shop Joey was happy, then he saw Kaiba sitting in a booth. Téa saw Joey scowl at Kaiba, Uh oh. When the group walked past Seto's table Joey couldn't help himself he did the immature thing.
"Kaiba." He sneered.
Joey was shocked at Seto's response like Téa not too long ago, and to Téa's surprise Seto was still in a cheerful mood.
"Hello, Joey." Seto smiled at him. "Hey Yugi, Serenity, and Téa."
They all gaped at him, he called them by their first names not the mean names he came up with, not their last names, their first names.
Yugi and Serenity made a small wave.
"Hi Seto. Hi Mokubah!" Téa greeted hoping to make it less awkward.
"HI GUYS!" Mokubah responded, clearly sugar high. "SIT WITH US! YEAH! SIT WITH US! CAN THEY SETO CAN THEY? PLEAAAAASE!"
Seto shrugged, "That's up to them, two rounds of ice cream on me guys, what do you say?"
They hesitated but sat down, Joey and Serenity sat with Mokubah hoping to calm down the sugar high kid. While Téa squeezed in the middle between Seto and Yugi. Seto slid over a bit to give her more room.
To break the silence Seto suggested, "You guys should try the banana split," he gestured to Joey and Yugi, "and you two should try the sundae."
Téa thought about it, "Alright I'll take that suggestion, I'll have the sundae."
Seto grinned at her, it made the others think he was the sugar high one.
Joey rudely asked, "Kaiba what's WRONG with you? You've been acting so weird!"
Téa glared at his rudeness, after all Seto was treating them to ice cream. He even spoke their names right instead of smirking and starting a fight!
Joey went on with everyone's eyes on him, "First, you decide to not call me names, or make fun of me and my friends! Then you invite us to sit with you and Mokubah! You even said you would pay for our ice cream! I don't get it! How do you go from being a mean selfish bully, then suddenly turn into Mr. Perfectly- nice- and- perfect- in- every- way?"
Téa was about to hit him but stopped short when Seto laughed. He had a sweet laugh, it wasn't the kind he usually did when he was boasting, it was a sincere happy laugh. She was attracted to it, it sounded very familiar. Not that it mattered, Seto was in a good mood which was good enough for anybody.
"Well Joey good to get that off your chest right? The thing is I'm feeling better than I have in a very long time."
Unconvinced Joey persisted, "How so?"
Seto smiled, "I just been having the best weekend."
Before Joey could ask any more questions, the waitress came to take their orders. The girls had what was suggested for them. Yugi had a banana split, but Joey decided to get a root beer float. Mokubah got the same, and Seto ordered a chocolate milkshake. Téa couldn't help but stare at the waitress, Seto noticed this, when the others were in their own conversations, he asked her about it.
"Hey Téa why were staring at that waitress?"
She stared into his deep blue eyes, she could tell he was very happy and relaxed it showed.
"You probably already know, I was a waitress for Burger World. It was stressful but I stuck with it for a bit for some extra money. I was saving my pay checks for my New York dream. If it weren't for that I'd probably quit sooner, the outfits were…never mind."
Seto just nodded, and added sincerely in a quiet voice so only she would hear, "I'll bet you looked pretty cute in that outfit."
The two brunettes blushed at his comment, and Téa couldn't help but let out a small giggle.
Seto thought Did I really just say that? Wow…
Téa thought, That was awkward, but he was serious, I guess it's the thought that counts. Well he just made my day better…
Everyone's thoughts and conversations were interrupted when the waitress returned balancing a tray with their orders on it.
"One chocolate milkshake," the waitress began to read off the orders.
Seto took the tray from the waitress and told her he could handle it, he handed her the tray back with a smile.
They began to eat and converse, when they finished they ordered a second helping. Téa and Seto ordered vanilla milkshakes, Mokubah decided to get another root beer float, Serenity and Yugi got chocolate ice cream cones, and Joey ordered a few things. A banana split, a sundae, an ice cream cone, and a milkshake. Seto didn't care he paid for all of them.
Téa couldn't help but think about Seto his attitude was great but, what will happen when he goes back to his mean anti-social self? Will he deny this entire afternoon? Would he forget the comment he told her about the waitress outfit? She hoped he wouldn't, she knew he would never forget it but denying it was definitely a possibility.
Seto checked his phone for the time, one-eighteen. He looked at his brother, he seemed pretty sugar high. Well he has to come down soon, he thought, I should probably take him home before he crashes.
Yugi looked at his watch, one-eighteen. Uh oh! Yugi thought, Grandpa! The shop is usually busy now, I should get back there to help him.
Joey was feeling a bit woozy from eating too much ice cream, more at his expense than Kaiba's. Serenity saw her brother's sickened face and realized she should probably bring him home.
Téa didn't really have anything to do, until she saw everyone shuffling a bit to leave. She sighed, everyone else had somewhere to go but her.
Serenity asked Joey if he felt ok, he shook his head.
"Hey guys, I'm going to take Joey home. I'll see you guys later." Serenity and Joey waved goodbye, she nudged Joey to remember his manners.
He shifted on his feet, "Kaiba," Seto looked up at him, "I wanted to thank you for paying for our ice cream…". The others also joined in with thank you.
Seto smiled, "Your welcome, it was my pleasure. Maybe we could do this again."
Everyone looked at him, was he crazy? Was the question that circled through all their thoughts. Isn't once enough? Joey thought. Instead he nodded and left with his sister.
Next Yugi got up, he explained that the shop was more busy at this time of day and that he should probably go to help him. After thanking Seto for treating them he left.
Mokubah just sat there, Seto sensed he was about to crash.
"Mokubah? Do you want to go home and rest?"
Mokubah nodded, Téa sighed. Seto looked at her with interest.
"What's wrong with you?"
"Nothing, its just funny how everyone else has something to do, somewhere to go, and I don't." Seto chuckled, he left a tip on the table, and the three of them left the shop.
Mokubah started to fall asleep, but Seto quickly caught him. After putting Mokubah in a piggy-back position, he looked at Téa who was staring at him curiously.
"What?"
She smiled, "Nothing, its just cute how you take care of him."
Seto blushed. They ended up having a conversation about some schoolwork. Until they were on Téa's street.
"Well, this is my stop, I guess I should leave you two alone…" she said with a slight tone of depression, that Seto heard.
"Well, you could come with me to drop Mokubah off," he smiled at her, with his sincere smile, "afterwards I could hang out with you. Besides I don't have much to do today." Her face brightened up.
"Ok!" Téa nearly bursted with excitement, which was weird. Why was she so excited to hang out with Seto Kaiba?
She argued with herself, It's not the usual Seto Kaiba, its his good side, the positive, happy Kaiba. That's why you want to hang out with him. Not because he is cute, or is able to do just about anything he wants. Besides all my friends are busy at the moment…
The Kaiba residence happened to be a good twenty minute walk from Téa's house. Along the way to their house Seto and Téa chattered about various things. After they got to the gate with the letter "K" adorned in the center they walked up the long driveway. It was lined with the most beautiful flowers Téa ever saw. Noticing this Seto decided to start a conversation.
"Like them?" he asked.
She nodded.
"They all happen to be native plants, I could give you a few for your garden."
This made her smile grow even wider.
When they entered the mansion Roland greeted them, he gave a questioning look at Kaiba's female guest, but Seto paid no heed. Instead he gestured Téa to follow him to Mokubah's room.
Seto opened the door to the younger Kaiba's room. Téa gasped at how spacious it was. It was larger than her house! They was a queen sized bed on the far side of the room, in the middle with a great view from the window.
Téa stopped when she saw Seto gently place his little brother under the covers of his bed. When he stood up straight, he saw her staring at him. It made him a bit nervous.
"Téa?" he raised an eyebrow.
She snapped back into reality.
"What?" she walked to him.
"You tell me, you were…never mind. So where would you like to go?"
Téa thought about it.
"How about the park?"
Seto nodded, and gestured again for her to follow.
He lead her downstairs to his garage. She gasped, WOW! Look at all these cars! Seto wasn't finished yet, he turned on another switch and a row of sweet street bikes were lined up in the spotlight.
"Do you want to walk, or ride in a car?" Seto asked, thinking she wouldn't ride a motorcycle. He was confused when Téa walked over to a black street bike with a bluish white streak on it.
"Or we could take my bike…" Seto walked over to a door, and opened it and there were a couple shelves filled with motorcycle helmets. He grabbed a white one for Téa and grabbed a blue black one for himself.
"Here you go." he said as he handed her the helmet.
"Thanks…um Seto?" she asked nervously.
"Yes?"
"I've never ridden one of these before…"
He chuckled, "It's not that hard when you're a passenger. All you do is hold on to me and I do the driving."
"Oh…"
Seto got on the bike and maneuvered it to the garage door, he activated the remote and opened the door. He put his helmet on, and gestured Téa to put hers on, and get on the bike. She hesitated but got on, and clung tightly to Seto.
...nothing to say but review...