We Love In Vain

Chapter III: Are You The Rabbit Or The Headlight?

A/N: This one is a bit shorter than what I usually write for this fic, I usually make these chapters around 5k, and this one is about 3k.  I hope you like it!

If anyone had ever asked him if Yugi Muto could glare at a friend, Joey would have laughed. "Yugi? Nah I can't even imagine!" But as Joey walked into class, late as usual, mumbled a half thought out excuse to the teacher and sat beside his friend, he was most certainly being glared at.

Joey was usually quite oblivious to things, but it was clear that Yugi wasn't happy with him. Opening his notebook and scribbling, Joey spoke softly while still looking straight ahead, "Look Yugi..."

"This better be good," Yugi glanced at Joey and his eyes absolutely burned holes into the guilty blond.

"Okay," Joey started off slightly too loudly and earnt himself a glare from their teacher, he continued in more hushed tones, "Okay...so...I know I said I'd be at the arcade."

"See that's what I can't get past Joey. If you say you're going to do something, you should do it." Yugi pursed his lips. Joey couldn't remember Yugi ever being this mad at him before.

Joey felt bad immediately. What was he supposed to say? There was no excuse...and the truth was well...not something he was going to go into. Ever. "I lost track of time..." Joey tried, knowing it was weak.

Clearly Yugi knew it was weak too because the tri-colour haired teen didn't speak to Joey until it was time for lunch. Even then, it was about him, not to him.

Kaiba was harassing Joey as usual, and, as was becoming more usual now, Joey was pretending to argue back.

"What did I tell you about coming near me, you filthy stray?" Kaiba sneered down at Joey.

"What the heck am I meant to do? My locker is right near yours, Kaiba!"

"Maybe if you were smart enough to manage a schedule you wouldn't end up here every time I am. I wouldn't expect you to have any level of intelligence though, Wheeler."

As angry as Yugi was at Joey effectively standing him up, there was no way he would let Kaiba insult him, "Back off, Kaiba! It's not Joey's fault his locker is near yours!"

Seto Kaiba took his cool blue gaze from Joey and looked down at Yugi. Great, now the little runt thought he was doing Joey a favour. Kaiba laughed inwardly, this boy thought he knew Joey. He didn't. Seto was the only one who knew Joey. He reminded himself this fact, firmly before honouring Yugi by speaking to him, "Don't push your way into things that don't concern you."

Kaiba's voice was even harsher than usual...and if Yugi didn't know any better he would have said that Kaiba sounded defensive. Yugi replied with a frown, "Well, Joey is my friend, so it does concern me. Let's go, Joey."

"I-" Joey cleared his throat, "This ain't over, Kaiba, no one insults me."

"Phft," The CEO scoffed and let Joey be led away from him.

"I didn't need ya help," Joey told him as they walked outside.

"Sorry," Yugi shrugged.

The two of the sat down at one of the benches, and Yugi played with the chain of his Millennium Puzzle, waiting for Joey to talk to him.

Joey sighed, "Where's the others?" He asked.

"Tea's got dance practice and Tristan is cleaning the halls," Yugi said.

"Oh."

A few minutes of silence passed, Yugi silently split his sandwich with Joey and in return Joey gave Yugi half of his coke.