If Atem Lived in my Head

The Sleep Over

Joey grunts in frustration, Tristan doesn't seem to care too much and Taya seems to be watching Yugi rather than playing the game. Yugi, however, is neck and neck with me.

"How are ya doing that?" Joey shouts in frustration sliding over another banana peel. I drift around a corner and pass Yugi.

"Nice one!" Yugi laughs a full hearty laugh. He has no problem losing to me. He quickly reclaims the lead on the next turn.

"That was slick." I hand it to him.

"Well thank you, Nuni." Yugi and I take the next turn and I reclaim my lead.

What is this? Atem asks me,

It's a type of racing game I tell him

You seem to be very good at it. He notes.

I am, I was better but... well, you've seen what home is like for me.

"No way!" Joey and Tristan exclaim when I cross the finish line just a smidge before Yugi.

"We have a new champ." Taya laughs and Yugi extends a hand toward me. I glance at it and he's still got the same smile on his face.

"Great job, Nuni." He says without the slightest hint of sarcasm. "you were amazing."

I reach for his hand waiting for the slap in the face but I don't see anything from him.

This is how people should be. Atem prods my arm forward friendly, encouraging.

I don't know what to do with this I tell him honestly

This he takes my hand and guides it into Yugi's. We shake and I smile at him.

"Alright." Joey says, "kid's gloves are coming off "let's go again."

Yugi laughs and smiles at his friend and Tristan takes a seat beside me, he doesn't try putting his arm over my shoulders again. Atem smirks, I think he may have been more aggressive than necessary, not that I really care.

            They passed out one at a time. Taya first, curled up on the couch. Tristan propped back against the couch and Yugi slept curled up on the floor. I climb up on the couch and curl up the on the opposite end of Taya.

"Not asleep yet?" Joey asks walking back in with two cups, he passes one to me, it's hot tea.

"thanks." I take a sip, it's nothing special but it's okay.

"no prob." He waves me off and takes a seat on the floor, he fiddles with his own cup before he sighs and looks back to me.

"Your mom an alcoholic?" He asks me. I don't know if it's because I'm tired or because I actually kind of like Joey but I find my head nodding without my permission.

"My dad too." He sighs and takes a sip of his tea. "sometimes you just get the short end of the stick." He chuckles without humor and shakes his head. "she ever try to put hands on you?"

"A few times, when she's especially drunk." I drink my tea, draining more than I mean to.

"Sounds familiar." He drinks more tea "look." He says "I know you don't know us all that well but we're good people, Yugi there." Joey points to Yugi "he's small, but he's got the biggest heart I've ever seen and her." Joey points to Taya "she can be annoying but she knows more about friendship than any one person has the right to know and him..." Joey chuckles a bit "Tristan has a bit of a crush on you and he might be a little annoying toward ya but there's not a better person to have your back than him." he takes another drink with a smile on his face.

"What about you?" I ask.

"Me?" Joey shakes his head. "not a whole lot to me but I never turn my back on my friend, you can always count on me to help in any way I can." He offers me a smile "so if you need something don't hesitate to let old Joey know, got it?" he asks me. I nod.

"Eh." He snaps, I jerk my head toward him.

"You got it?" he demands.

"Yeah." I tell him "I got it."

"Good." He smiles. "you should get some sleep." He sets his tea down and lays back near Yugi. "yeah." I agree but I don't move to put my cup down.

He's right, Atem says you should rest

I know I roll my eyes at him I just want to enjoy this for a few minutes more.

It's nice here. Atem notes.

Yeah

"Hey, Nuni?" Joey yawns.

"hmm?" I glance at him

"What song is that?" he peeks at me with one eye squinting open.

"What song?" I ask.

"That song you were just humming." He yawns again, his eye drifting back closed.

"Not sure." I admit "I just start humming when I'm thinking."

"Really?" Joey struggles to stifle his yawn "what were you thinking about?"

I look out at these people I barely know, who invited me to sleep over and play games with them. I smile slightly "this is nice." I whisper. I can hear Joey's soft snores. I get up to flip the light off and curl myself up in the corner of the couch. I feel Atem's fingers in my hair as I let myself drift into sleep.