Too Much

Chapter 7 – Just Like Old Times

Joey Wheelers heart was pounding so hard it was all he could hear. He was breathing quickly and his face was burning hot. He stood on the corner of a dark street, his legs so numb he felt like he was floating there, while his hands were shaking. Joey was feeling a mixture of fear, anxiety and excitement. He usually felt like this right before he did a job for the old street gang, but never this bad. Maybe it was because he hadn’t worked for the gang in such a long time, but Joey felt very nervous.

He then remembered something and threw his hand into his pocket on the inside of his jacket and pulled out a plastic baggy. Inside were a few small tablets that he dumped into his mouth and swallowed. They were Lorazepam, a sedative pill given to people with anxiety disorders. It would help calm him down a bit so he could keep a cool head and get the job done.

That’s why the gang liked him, he was very reliable and was a lot smarter than some of the other recruits they had. Joey had been very deeply involved when he was younger, seeing as when he was younger and didn’t have Yugi and felt like he had very little options. He was trying to slowly ease his way out, sick of what he had to do. It was dangerous, but Joey had to do it, and continued these odd jobs to keep the gang leader appeased because it’s typical that once you’re in a gang, you’re in it for life.

He twisted his head quickly in the opposite direction, looking behind him. He swore he heard a scuffle of feet behind him and what looked like a dark figure dart behind a building, but he could have been imagining it in his anxious state. He was supposed to meet another gang member here, and the anticipation was killing him. A lot of times the waiting is a lot worse than actually doing the deed.

He’d been putting off working for the gang for quite some time, trying to make the time between jobs longer and longer, but the gang wouldn’t have it. On his way home from school, a few day’s after him and his buddies had their falling out, he was confronted by a member Joey had never seen before. He didn’t say a single word. He simply slipped his hand into his jacket, making Joey flinch out of habit. When he pulled his hand out, it was only a piece of paper that was clasped in his hand which he slipped into Joey’s hand very fluently as he passed, while giving him a nod of acknowledgment. Joey already knew who it was from before unfolding it and finding the information he would need for his next job. It’s not like Joey could refuse to do it; not if he knew what was good for him and he didn’t have much time to think about it either, seeing as it was scheduled for that night.

Joey was beginning to become impatient. The cool night air was weaving its way through the thin material of his green jacket, causing him to shiver, even though his face was burning. Just then a figure emerged from across the street that was moments ago obscured by the darkness. He was a short skinny guy, who had a spring to his step, one of those spirited people always filled with energy. As Joey peered closer he recognized him and recalled that his name was Matthew, but everyone called him Matty. It was kind of a mockery of him because of his small stature. He wore a black jacket with black jeans and a toque, making Joey wish he dressed in something more low-profile. Joey knew him, but not very well. He only worked with him a couple times before, and knew his specialty was electronics. Joey was a good all around fighter, making him acceptable for many jobs, seeing as confrontation can often be involved, especially when they worked outside their turf. That is why getting beat up, especially by Kaiba, was particularly embarrassing. Joey was also good at breaking into places. Cars, stores, buildings, houses. That’s why he was paired with Matty; they were a good combo for stealing cars. Joey bowed his head as he thought about what he was about to do.

“You ready?” was all Matty said when he reached Joey. “Yeah.” Joey tried to make his voice come off confident.

“Oh yea,” the younger teen said as he reached into his coat pocket. He thrust the silver handle of a Glock 17 towards Joey. Joey took the handle of his old pistol in his hand slowly, not completely wanting to accept but knowing its better to have a gun than no gun when performing grand theft auto. He got this gun when he seemed like just a kid, but gave it back when he went away for Duelist Kingdom. Apparently now that he’s doing jobs again they felt like he needed it back. He took the gun and placed it in his coat pocket, where the pills he already took used to be.

They began walking in the direction of the richer side of town. They only stole cars from the rich, seeing as they had the best. They get reimbursed from their insurance companies for their stolen cars, Joey always told himself, trying to make him feel better. He was just causing a minor inconvenience for the car owners and making the overpaid insurance companies pay out. It seemed like Joey was always justifying everything he did lately. They were now walking past lot after lot, looking for the address that was scribbled on the paper of the car they were supposed to steal. They walked up to the lot with a shiny silver Lexus parked up a long driveway outside of a garage that was quite a far way from the lavish looking house. It was a few years old, but it would do. The real money was probably parked inside the garage, but that would be exceedingly more difficult to pull off.

“Not bad.” Matty commented, as he walked up to the vehicle and took a look inside. “Alright, do your stuff, but if the alarm goes off, we run for it, kapeesh?”

“Don’t you know how to dismantle it or somethin’?” Joey asked, panicked, assuming Matty would know something like that. “Yea… not so much,” he replied shortly. They were both on the passenger’s side, ducked down low so if anyone looked out from the house, they wouldn’t see them.

Joey gave a frustrated sigh and pulled out a folded up coat hanger from the inside of his jacket. He bent it until it was straight and carefully put the hook end in the space between the side window on the passenger’s side and the door. Once it was in the slot he started wiggling it around, looking for the pin to hook with the hanger to unlock the car. After a few minutes of this, he still couldn’t find it.

“Hurry up man!” Matty whispered as his usual upbeat demeanor began to diminish, having spent a dangerous amount of time trying to break in. “Jus’ give me a second!” Joey whispered, disliking the fact he was being rushed and pressured, especially because he was having difficulties. Joey heard voices far away, but thought nothing of it, concentrating hard on the task at hand. He was becoming more frantic, his careful quiet movements becoming loud and violent. Joey heart palpitations worsened and his hands started shaking uncontrollably, his fear increasing every second as his hands were jerking.

Joey repositioned, rising a bit higher and pushing the hanger in a bit farther, and felt the hook get caught on the pin. Joey let out a huge sigh of relieve as he pulled up on the hanger and unlocked the door. He pulled the hanger out of the gap and carefully opened the door. Matty climbed in and began his work. “Let’s get the hell out of here.” He said, as he hotwired the car. Joey jumped in the other side and a few moments later, the engine purred to life. They pulled out of the driveway and rolled down the next street in their newly stolen car. Matt began laughing as his spirits returned, knowing the worst was over. They just needed to drive the car to a warehouse out of town and they were done.

Up ahead they saw an obstruction. A few people were standing in the middle of the road and did not appear to be prepared to move for them. As they pulled up closer, Joey knew who they were. It was a couple of members from another gang. They were from a rich group, unlike the members of Joey’s gang who were all from poor families.

“Uhh, what should I do?” Matty said nervously, completely shedding his positive attitude. “Turn around,” Joey said, panic in his voice. Joey knew a confrontation from this group wouldn’t be good. Matthew started to turn the car around but it was too late, the car was already surrounded. Matthew stepped on the brake, causing both inhabitants to rock forward. What seemed like the leader of the group tapped on the window of the Lexus and Matt rolled it down, noticing that some of the members had bats.

“What do you think you are doing stealing from our side of the city, huh”? He said slowly and deliberately. He was wearing a very big hoody and had it pulled over his head, so it was hard to make out his features.

“Uhhh, we didn’t, this is mine.” Matty lied, very poorly.

“Do you take me for stupid? I know whose car that is.” Matty began to sweat, not used to confrontation. “Now how about you step out of that car and we settle this.” Joey knew he had to do something. Matty was not a fighter, being so small and he couldn’t risk him losing in a fight. He leaned over and whispered something to Matty who looked like he was going to pass out before Joey stepped out of the vehicle, “How about me?” he said, the pills he took earlier making him feel confident, just like old times. “I want both of ya!” the leader yelled, becoming agitated.

“Go!” Joey yelled, right before punching the gang leader in the face. The screech of tires squealing filled the air as he spun the car around and bolted in the opposite direction, the members of the gang jumping out of the way. “Follow him!” The gang leader yelled to the other members of his gang as he picked himself up after Joey’s onslaught. The others ran back to their own vehicle, located a little down the street, while Joey was left to deal with the gang leader and another burly member. “Let’s take him down,” The gang leader spat, furious after being attacked. Joey put his fists up, his eyes shifting from the furious gang leader to the burly guy. Joey’s mind converted back to its defense mechanism mode. It’s either them or him, and he’d much rather it be them.

Joey was at a huge disadvantage. Two against one was tough enough, not to mention he was already injured. The air was now silent and the three of them stood uncomfortably, staring at each other. Joey waited for their next move, not wanting to take on more than he could handle. It seemed like the gang leader wanted to take on Joey by himself, his pride hurting from Joey’s surprise attack and wanting revenge. He threw a punch which Joey saw coming and dodged. Joey seized the moment to deliver a punch to his opponent’s right kidney, causing him to veer away. Joey didn’t wait this time and took another swing with his fist, colliding with the leaders face, causing him to fall back. Joey’s plan was to keep him overwhelmed.

To Joey’s surprise he was swept off of his feet and plummeted to the ground, landing on his back while a heavy weight landed on top of him. He had been tackled by the burly member who had taken the place of his fallen comrade. Joey received some powerful blows to the face before he was able to throw him off and jump back to his feet. He took his advantage when the second man was still down and kicked him before stumbling back from the punch delivered by the leader, who had reestablished himself and was back in the fight. That’s when Joey saw the bat that one of the other members must have dropped when they went rushing after Matty. He picked it up, causing his bruised opponents to circle around him tentatively, not wanting to be on the receiving end of its swings.

They were both after him now, seeing as Joey had a lot of fight in him. Joey stepped slowly, knowing they wouldn’t attack him. He planned on using this weapon to subdue them, allowing him to escape. The leader, becoming impatient, lunged at Joey, determined to knock him down. Joey gave the bat a great swing, connecting with his stomach and winded him. The burly member ran up and grabbed the bat with both his hands, leaving him wide open for Joey to kick him in the stomach, sending him falling backwards. They both stayed back this time, finally defeated. Joey was about to run for it before the leader straightened up again and an ugly, cocky smile replaced his defeated face. He pulled out a gun from his pants and pointed it right at Joey, his sidekick picking himself up and doing the same. Joey acted instinctively and pulled out his own, the Glock he had received about an hour previously, and pointed it back. They stood like that for what seemed like forever, even though only moments had passed. Joey was breathing hard; swear pouring off his face, waiting. He knew he wouldn’t shoot anyone, but it was his only form of protection. They all stared at each other, at what seemed like a stalemate.

Just then the sound of sirens closing in on them fast pulled them out of their daze and Joey’s opponents bolted as fast as they could in the opposite direction. Joey put the gun back in his jacket and began to run as well. Joey ran from the side street to the next road as he saw where the cops were coming from. They were closing in fast and Joey ran for all he was worth, knowing he couldn’t go to jail. The sound of sirens were getting louder, alerting Joey that there were more than one cop car out there as he heard one coming in behind him.

He turned another corner and ran down the sidewalk. He dared to look behind him as he ran but a cop car was not what he saw. A black, sleek, very expensive sports car came speeding up quick behind him. Joey couldn’t see who was inside because of the tinted windows. As it passed him it screeched to a stop, swerving onto the sidewalk as the passenger’s door flew open, right in front of him. A very urgent voice yelled from within, “Get in!” It took Joey a split second to decide. Jail or a stranger’s vehicle? His mom used to always tell him to never enter a strangers car but she probably never expected Joey to be chased by cops either so he was going to take his chances. He threw himself into the passenger’s seat and the car veered off before Joey could even close the door.