~The Beginning of Life~

~ Chapter 43 ; IT'S JOEY ~

After a few minutes, I decide to head to the arena. I forgot where Walton told me to meet him, if he even did, but, the arena's fine.

Thankfully, I reach the arena just as Walton leaves the armoury. He sees me, and walks over.

"You ready?" He asks excitedly.

I nod once. "Yep."
I hope we're not going to duel.
I suck at that.
"So... target practice?" I ask tentatively.

"Of course! I'm terrible at duelling."

I grin. "As am I. But, really? Target practice with me? Good luck," I roll my eyes.

Walton merely shrugs and enters the arena.
I follow him, keeping a hand on one of the three daggers hanging from the chain around my waist.
Quite fashionable.

We head for the arrows first.

"So, we just shoot?" I ask, remembering my encounter with Will that day.
Just shoot.
Quite helpful.

"Yeah. Ten shots. And it's not a competition," he adds.

"Alright, fine," I smirk.

Walton picks up a bow and arrow, and takes aim.

Meanwhile, I look around. Walton shoots and-
HE SHOOTS
HE-
Doesn't score.
Joking, joking.
He scores.
NOT.

Okay, yes, he does.
...
Yes, he does.
Quite surprising. I guess.

Walton whoops when I suddenly sense something behind me. I turn around and see-
OH MY GODS IT'S NICO AND HE HAS A KNIFE
AND
OH MY GODS ARTHUR
HE KILLED-

No wait
What the hell am I seeing-
Gods, it's just Joey.
OH MY GODS IT'S JOEY
AND
OH MY GODS
IT'S JOEY.
STOP SHOWING UP GODSDAMMIT
Quite suspicious.
Joey just walked in and he's acting like we don't exist.

I groan (internally, must I add?) And quickly turn back.
Walton shoots again AND

I'll save you the crap, he misses.
The third he doesn't.
The fourth he doesn't.
The fifth he does.
The sixth he doesn't.
And then SEVEN EIGHT NINE
Meaning he missed shot eight yet nailed shot seven and nine.
Ten he misses.
You see a pattern? I don't.

This is what I call my crazy 'undrunk' mode. I've never been drunk anyways, mind you. Or high. Like, high by... you get it.

Walton grimly puts the bow back. I step forward and bring out a small bow clip made of gold and black ribbons from my jeans pocket. I don't like wearing clips. MY HAIR SHALT REMAIN FREEEEEEE
I flip it and it turns into a sleek silver bow with a golden grip. I know, my bow had a black grip but it does. It changes. Sometimes black or gold.

I don't keep my arrows on me so I pick up one that Walton had used.

I aim.
And shoot.
And score.
No capitals because that was not surprise.
Well, crap aside, I missed two out of ten shots.
Smiling triumphantly, my bow transforms back into a ribbon bow and I pocket it.

Walton sighs. "Alright, let's try javelins now." Walton eagerly moves on. I turn around to follow him when I spot Joey staring at me with his arms crossed.

"Good shot," he says grimly.

I shrug. "Thanks."
I casually walk past him towards Walton. He's examining a javelin.

I pick one up.
"Do you know how to throw these?"

"Not really..." Walton admits. "Hey, let's ask Joey!"

I was about to ask how he knew Joey when I remember they were groupies. I was switched with Joey.

Joey looks up from his daggers at the mention of his name.
Walton calls him over.
"Hey man, what's up?"

Joey shrugs, pretending to not notice me. "Nothing much. You?"

"Just the usual training. Say, you know how to throw a javelin, right?"

Joey nods. "Easy."
Without asking, he takes Walton's javelin and swiftly throws it. It goes halfway through a target.

Walton's eyes widen. "Nice. Oh, have you met Khristine yet?"

Joey fixes his dark eyes on me. "Not really."

"Okay, so that's Khristine, and Khristine, that's Joey," Walton says brightly.

I smile at Joey.

Joey merely nods silently.

Walton happens to notice we're not becoming instant buddies. "You wanna join us in training?"

Joey looks at him again. "Alright. The competition would be good," he says haughtily.