By the time Joey reached the cafeteria it was already 15 minuets into lunch. The queues where bustling, the seats where taken, and he was starving. By the time he reached the front of the queue all of the decent food had gone and there was only 5 minutes left of lunch. He asked for 'whatever' grabbed it, and whatever it was they'd given him, he would eat going to class. By the time he'd paid the bell had gone, putting him in a rush to climb two flights of stairs at the other end of the school. It made it especially hard trying to eat garlic soup when doing this. Who actually ate garlic soup anyway!

He slung the carton of soup in the first trash can he found and decided he could go to the burger bar after school. He was late for the second time today when he finally reached the classroom.

When he arrived he noticed everyone was sat in pairs talking and laughing. He walked over to Yugi, before Mr Brannon, a stout old man in tweed grabbed his shoulder.

'And where do you think you are going, Joseph?'

'To see what's happenin' by askin' Yugi?'

'Nice try Joseph but I might be more knowledgeable in that field. If you don't mind, Joseph, you have been assigned partners. Seen as you where late you will be assigned with whoever is left.'

'Aww Jeez. Who's dat then?'

'Well Joseph, it appears a few students are absent today, so there a few to pick from…' Mr Brannon waddled over to his desk and began scanning the register,

'Right then Joseph, you will be assigned with…' just then the door burst open and Kaiba flew in. He made eye contact with nobody and sat down at a desk in the corner. He immediately pulled out his laptop, documents and began to type.

'Joseph you shall be paired with Seto Kaiba. Seen as he also doesn't understand a class schedule I am sure you can find enough in common to work on the assignment.'

The room went dead, and everyone's head whipped to look at Joey, as no one dared to look at Kaiba. The blue eyes boy slammed shut his laptop,

'Do you seriously think that is a wise move as an educator, Mr Brannon?' Kaiba stood up and sneered.

'Sit down Seto. I have no time for your shenanigans. The project is due back in two weeks, and I do not want any excuses. Are we clear, Mr Kaiba?'

'I don't think you understand me, Mr Brannon…'

'Are we clear, Mr Kaiba?' Brannon's voice was slowly raising, and Seto's eyes seemed to boil and flame up with anger.

'I am not working with that snivelling excuse for an animal. I have business to attend to and he will get in my way. He is uneducated and a waste of oxygen. I will not work with it, and that is that.'

'Well, seen as your so smart Seto, I am sure you can help Joseph raise his grade for this project. It is on British poetry as part of your literature section. It is due on Friday the 4th. It will be back by then, with both of your names on, and that is final.'

'Do you value your job, Brannon?' Kaiba was now beyond pissed.

'Sadly not. I am to retire next year, so do your worst Seto. That project will be on my desk on the 4th, or I will see to it you are held back a year, and I am pretty sure you do not want that on your file. Now sit down Mr Kaiba and discuss your assignment with Joseph. This discussion is over.' Kaiba was infuriated. He sat down with a thud, whipped open his laptop and began to type at an alarming rate. Joey sighed. Kaiba had tried to get them out of this. Despite being feisty, he knew he was no match for Kaiba in this sort of debate. He gathered his courage and pulled a chair next to Kaiba. He wasn't going to start conversation if he could help it. He sat rocking back and forth on his chair pulling at his finger nails, wondering how this day could possibly get any worse. He was starving. He was tired. He had been late twice. He had been paired with Kaiba and worst of all he had to spend time with Kaiba between school and work. His time had been filled with everything he hated. It had been a while since he had had any real time to spend with his friends, so time with Kaiba seemed impossible. It would be hell trying to get the time, and it would be hell doing the time. Joey rocked forward on his chair and let his head slump into his hands. It would all be better if he knew something about British poetry. Sadly, this was not his forte. Literature never had been, unless playboy and FHM where classed. In a way he decided working with Kaiba might be ok, for the grade. He was sure that the posh rich bastard knew something about poetry, hell the snob probably had a library full of poems in his mansion somewhere.

'For the 4th time Wheeler, are you deaf as well as dumb?'

'Uhh wha'?'

'I said, be at my house at 7 tonight. I won't stand for you been late as I have an incredibly busy schedule. Do I make myself clear.' It wasn't a question.

'Sure. Whatever.'

'Wheeler.'

'What?'

'Make sure you look…normal. Get a bath or something. I have guests to entertain tonight, and I don't want the appointment to overrun and some mongrel appear. It's bad for my image.'

'I'll make sure of it. Oh and Kaiba?'

'What.'

'Make sure you take that pole out yer ass before I arrive. It looks awfully uncomfortable and as you said, it's bad for yer image.' Kaiba's eyes narrowed before he closed his laptop and packed up his things.

'Make sure you bring paper. You know what that looks like right?' and then he left. Joey was left staring at the door. Ass hole. How dare he. Where the hell did that rich bastard get off thinking he was so much better than the rest of the whole damn world? The final bell had wrung and Joey was more than hungry. There was no point waiting around, and three quarter pounders had his name on. He would need the energy to deal with Kaiba anyway.