Too Much

Chapter 8 – Anyone but You

Inside the car it was very dark. All Joey could see of his savior was a vague outline, caused by the creepy green glow coming from the dashboard. He was wearing a hood over his head, but that’s the most of what Joey could make out. Buildings and stoplights streaked by as they sped down different streets, Joey, too shocked to notice where they were heading. Neither of them spoke for what seemed like an eternity, the driver staying focused on the road and Joey sitting on the edge of his seat, uncomfortable, ready to bolt at any second. Finally the silence was broken.

“Here,” the driver said quietly, in a deep irritated voice. He whipped open the glove compartment, revealing a packet of tissues, while not taking his eyes off the road. “You’re bleeding on my seats.”

Joey snapped out of his daze as he came to and brought a heavy hand to his face, feeling the signature warm liquid and realized that a stream of blood was dripping off of his chin, the source was located just above his temple. Joey said nothing as he grabbed the tissues and applied pressure to his head wound, knowing how to slow the bleeding from previous experiences. Joey knew that voice, but he couldn’t figure out who it belonged to. For some reason, it made him feel safer than he did before in the silence. Out of his stupor, Joey had about a thousand questions to ask. But before he could ask any, the driver had a few of his own.

“What the hell do you think you were doing?” The driver spoke in the same quiet voice, but seeing as the only noise they heard was the soft purring of the engine, Joey had no trouble hearing it.

“Nothing … it was nothing, just a fight.” Joey said after a pause, not knowing how much to tell the stranger.

The driver seemed extremely dissatisfied with this answer, their cool demeanor wearing off to reveal a very flustered attitude.

“Yeah? And before that?” he asked a little louder, letting his temper get the best of him.

“Jus’ hangin’ out with a friend. Then we were ambushed,” Joey lied quickly, not knowing how much this person knew about him or his nights expeditions.

“I hardly consider grand theft auto ‘just hanging out with a friend’.” The driver snarled, saying the last part in a mocking tone, never taking his eyes off the road.

Shit, thought Joey. He knew a lot, way too much actually. This was not only dangerous for him but also for his gang. He had no particular love for them, but if this person knew about him, he probably knew about them as well.

The driver let out a long sigh, not particularly angry, but almost sad.

“What are you doing with your life?” The driver asked after Joey had no response for his last comment, confirming it was true.

“I’m jus’ tryin’ to get by, alright,” Joey said defensively, not appreciating the judging tone in the others voice. He hardly even knew him and was already judging. Joey couldn’t stand it when others judged him but it seemed to happen all the time.

“Oh, yea,” the driver remarked sarcastically.

“Why do you care anyway?” Joey asked now, suspiciously.

“I don’t,” the driver said coldly, tone turning from angry to cold from Joey’s words. This however, did not stop his onslaught of questions.

“Who did that car belong to?”

“I have no idea,” Joey replied honestly.

“And you just stole it for fun, or were you told to.” The driver asked. Joey realized what he was trying to do. He wanted to know if there were more people involved with the theft. He was practically asking if he was involved with gang activity, he just didn’t state it straight out.

“Are you an under cover cop or somethin’?” Joey stated, thinking out loud. That would make sense if he wanted to question Joey before the local cops got to him. Maybe he was a detective busting gangs and wanted to get to Joey before the others could, so he would get the credit for the information he revealed. Joey wasn’t going to tell him nothing.

For the first time the driver actually laughed. It was a strange laugh, one Joey had never heard before.

“You’re thicker than you look, Wheeler.”

“How do you know my name?” Joey asked, feeling more uncomfortable by the second. This person clearly knew more about him than he thought.

“That’s irrelevant.” He answered shortly, the moment of amusement he had almost vanished.

“Who are you and where are you taking me?” Joey asked now. He did not want to push his good fortunes before by asking too many questions, but now this guy was beginning to piss him off.

“It doesn’t matter and I don’t know.”

“What do ya mean it doesn’t matter! It matters to me. I don’t know who you are, you’re … you’re kidnapping me,” Joey yelled, flustered and confused by the situation.

“Did I force you into my car?” the driver started, becoming angry again.

“No, but-,” Joey began before he was cut-off.

“Then I’m not kidnapping you.” The driver said with finality.

“Well … You’re holding me against my will,” Joey remarked.

Joey was thrown against the glove box seeing as he never got around to putting his seat belt on as the car skidded to a quick halt.

“Get out.” The voice said, words dripping with venom.

Joey took a look out the window. They weren’t in the city anymore, and Joey had no idea where they were. Trees surrounded them and the houses down the road were sparse. Joey internally cursed himself for not watching where they were going, being too caught up in the chain of events that occurred. Joey stayed in his seat and looked down, not moving, and not saying a word.

“That’s what I thought,” the driver snarled as he stepped on the gas again.

Time passed without either of them saying anything. Joey couldn’t really barter with the driver seeing as he held all the cards; Joey was just along for the ride. After awhile of this, Joey became very tired, and was beginning to become desperate so he swallowed his pride.

“Can you take me home? My dad is probably worried about me.” This wasn’t exactly true, but Joey wanted this night to end.

“Not yet, the cops won’t have given up just yet. It’s safer here out of town.” The driver said just as calmly.

“Can you at least tell me who you are?” Joey asked again, eyes drooping, his voice almost sounding pitiful. He had been through a lot that night and he was feeling so drowsy he was having trouble staying awake and remembering where he was.

Seeing Joey lying against the seat, no fight left in him, the driver let a long breath escape his lungs, and then slowly took his right hand and pulled down his hood. It was dark but Joey had no trouble recognizing who that was. He no longer felt tired. He felt like screaming but nothing would come out. Instead a terrible angry expression contorted his features. Seto Kaiba turned towards Joey and gave him a look as if to say ‘Oh calm down, mutt’.

Joey would not calm down.

“You!” He finally spat out. “Anyone but you!” Joey was horrified. His worst enemy, the person he hated the most, had saved him from the cops. Even worse is that Joey had talked with him and now he can assume some of the darkest parts of his life. Joey couldn’t stand it; he couldn’t stand being in the same vicinity of the person he loathed the most. Joey’s angry face was replaced by a determined one as an idea popped into his head. He opened the car door of the speeding car and was planning on jumping out.

Kaiba peered over to see what his captive was doing. “What the! – ” He yelled out before speeding the car up.

“Don’t do it,” He warned as Joey was preparing to jump.

“You can’t stop me,” was all Joey said.

“Don’t. Do. It.,” Kaiba said again, putting heavy emphasis on every word, speeding up the car even more.

“Fuck you, Kaiba!”

They were having a battle of wills. The longer Joey was prepared to jump, the faster Kaiba would speed up the car, neither one of them wanting to give in. Joey refused to close the car door and Kaiba refused to slow down the car. Each one of them stubborn and not ready to let the other win.

Joey could hear nothing but the roar of the engine and the whipping of wind in his ears. His heart had accelerated again, for what felt like the hundredth time that night. His hair was blowing and eyes were watering from how fast he was going. He looked at the ground. They were still in a rural area, so the side of the road was dirt and grass, much more plushy than concrete. He wasn’t going to let that bastard win but Joey really wasn’t planning on jumping. He already hurt badly enough from that night; he didn’t need any more reasons to suffer. If it only looked like he as going to jump, than maybe Kaiba would stop the car, and then he could walk away with some dignity still intact. Knowing that prick, he probably wouldn’t, and was probably hoping for Joey to jump and break his neck, but it was a risk he was willing to take.

“Get back in the fucking car!” Joey vaguely heard behind him. Kaiba sounded like he was really getting pissed off now. Joey internally smiled; pissing Kaiba off was one of his favorite pastimes. This was different though. Joey had never heard him so angry; even some of their best arguments weren’t as heated as this.

“I can … do whats … ever.” Joey replied, voice suddenly more slurred than it had been all night.

Kaiba knew something wasn’t right.

Suddenly, Joey’s exhilaration from the cold air whipping his face was draining and he was feeling the same drowsy feeling he was feeling earlier in the car. His heart rate dropped and the undeniable push on his body to slip into unconsciousness was very hard to ignore. Dizziness overtook him and Joey lost focus for one second. That’s all it took. He heard screeching tires once more and something trying to pull him back into the car but it was too late.

“Oh fuck!” Kaiba swore loudly as he saw the blond beginning to slip out of the car. He slammed on the brakes and leaned over to grab the back of that green jacket he always wore. He gripped it but it slipped through his fingers and Joey fell out of the car. His car had been through a lot that night he thought as he killed the engine and jumped out of the car, quickly running to the spot where the blond fell.

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I know, short chapter. BUTTTT I did it so I could update faster and the next chapter is coming very soon because I’m staying with my sister at her university this Wednesday to Friday so I won’t be able to update because I probably won’t be writing then. I may write when I go to her classes though. Bio Chemical Engineering isn’t one of those programs that I think will be very riveting.

I’d like to thank everyone who has reviewed. You make writing very fun and rewarding and I appreciate it very much ^_^

THANK YOU!!!