Helpless

Well, here is the sequel to sleepless. Not all stories have a happy ending and sometimes happy endings are just illusions, something transparent and empty. Events of the past can change a person but can blank pages be filled with something short of a miracle?

Authors note: I want to thank all those that previously review Sleepless. You've no idea how you helped me to want to keep up with this story, so thank you. I hope you enjoy this one as well. I will say this as a warning, Jaden Yuki (Huggles Plushie tightly while Jaden cringes in the corner) is not himself in this story.

Jaden: Not fair!

Me: Oh well...enjoy!

"Talking"

Thoughts

Chapter 1 - Why

The chilly air of fall came slowly as the season carefully removed the bright green from the leaves. October was already five days in and the buzz about the schools Halloween dance was already flying around. Students, even some teachers, were planning their costumes so that they were the best ones at the party. The only thing that seemed to be more time consuming then the dance and costume planning was dueling, but considering that was a school specifically targeting and training dueling skills it wasn't too surprising.

The old red dorm these days appeared to be a mix of all dorm types. Most of the dorms were empty, due to most people getting their costumes planned and scouting out what everyone was being. The exceptions to this were Jaden, Chazz, Alexis, Syrus and Hassleberry. That was surprising considering Jaden and Chazz spent maybe five minutes in the same room with each other these days. Today was a rare occurrence since they all had to work on a group project together. Alexis insisted that they be in the same room and work together or the consequences would be, in her words, very damaging.

Both boys took it in a very different way she did but she would never tell them that. She glanced at them, hoping the task she set them both was getting done. She had a vain hope that they would at least talk to each other but neither had shown signs that one was going to give in. Oddly enough, every task assigned seemed to be better than the task she and Syrus were working on. They had already completed three steps out of the eight that had to be done and that was saying a lot. This project weighed very heavily on their mark for this term.

"We're done." Jaden gave her the folder for the fourth step. She wasn't surprised when she took it from him. Looking it over she was really impressed and knew that for sure this project would gain them an A. They had agreed as a group that both pairs would have four tasks to do each. "I'm going to my room." Jaden left the room quickly, pain in his eyes. Whenever those two even saw each other they would go in opposite directions even if they were late for whatever they had to do. Not one of their friends inquired about the other when around them.

"Whatever. Run away, like always." Chazz mumbled something under his breath; something that Jaden must of caught because he turned away and slammed the door to his room. Chazz smirked but if fell to a frown and he retreated to his own room. Syrus looked back down at his work and stopped talking to Alexis.

"What happened between them? At least they used to be civil to each other." Alexis glared at her mistake.

"I don't know. Once I asked Jaden about it, a little while after he was really sick," Syrus shuddered at the memory, "And he just stopped talking and looked at me. I haven't asked again."

"Why?"

"The look in his eyes told me to stay away from the subject then he just went back to his old hyper self." Syrus looked upstairs to the room Jaden was in. "I keep telling myself that he's his same old self but I know it's not true. You know, you just hope if you tell yourself something enough you believe it."

"I'm sure our Jaden is in there somewhere, it's just a little burried right now." Alexis cast one more worried glance at his bedroom door before returning to her work.

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Morning was always rough in the mixed dorm but by now they had a routine. Alexis would go first, then Syrus, then Hassleberry, Jaden and Chazz. Now though the mornings seemed a bit screwed up. Jaden was always up extra early taking a shower and was out the door by the time Chazz went to take his. He would be gone before Chazz had breakfast and would show up for class ten minutes early and took a seat by Aster. Said teen didn't really mind and the two seemed to becoming friendlier with each other.

By the time the rest got there no seats were available by Jaden or Aster. Girls had crowded around them and would continuously pass notes to the silver haired teen. Any notes Jaden received were reward with a smile but a gentle shake of his head that he wasn't really interested. The girls didn't seem to mind and would still pass notes to him on occasion. Most girls preferred to stare and dream about what could be.

This particular day the girls edged away from Aster and Jaden. It wasn't because of them but more the fault of one Chazz Princeton who seemed to be irritating Jaden more these days. He didn't know why he was doing it, maybe to see that look of hurt cross his face so he could feel the guilt or maybe it was because, for once, he could tell what Jaden Yuki was feeling. He knew one thing though; he didn't like the fact that Jaden was hanging out with Aster.

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Class was over and the first two to leave were Jaden and Aster, but not before telling everyone they would meet later and discuss plans for the Halloween dance. Atticus was busy planning costumes for everyone, despite their unwillingness to let him make the costumes at first. Halloween was certainly going to be interesting and, sad to say, dates were required. Crowler had even managed to scrounge up a date though most assumed he was bringing a sister or a aunt. The GX crew didn't believe that but did nothing to stop the rumor. Crowler seemed to be fed up with the rumor as well and this caused the teacher to be a little crueler in homework than usual.

"Why?" The rain was falling heavily weighing the two down.

"It's not worth it." He looked away causing the other to feel confused. He started to walk away and leave him behind.

"Why? Why are you saying that?" The figure didn't stop walking till they were a good twenty steps away from the other. It wasn't till then that he turned around. His eyes were cold; empty.

"Look it's-"

"Is it me? Don't do this, not after we've-"

"Jaden!" The brown-eyed teen looked at Aster, "I asked if you were going to the dance with anyone? Has anyone asked, dates are getting pretty narrow."

"I thought you weren't interested in the dance," his voice a hint of slight annoyance. Aster glared at him; Jaden looked away. "No. I don't want to go." He took his red jacket off the back of the chair and started to walk away. "Just to pass on a message from Atticus, the costumes are supposed to be killer." Jaden walked out the door into the pouring rain; eventually he broke into a run. He had made it pretty far by the time he fell to the ground. The puddle he landed in added mud to his soaked appearance. He heard footsteps and broke into a run again, hiding behind a building.

The footsteps faded away and Jaden feel to the ground, unshed tears clouding his vision. He covered his ears; he didn't want to hear those words, not again. Damn it! When did I become so weak? Why did-No! I don't want to hear it. NO!

"Why?"

"Stop!"

"Look it's-"

"Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!" Jaden punched the soaked earth as angry tears fell down his face.

"Jaden?" The teen looked up and watched as concern grew on Alexis face. "Jaden are you okay? I heard someone shouting and I came to see; Jaden what's wrong?" Jaden stood up and wiped his eyes.

"Nothing, I just fell."

"You never used to lie so why start now." He turned toward her quickly, a new look growing on his face.

"I'm not lying," Jaden smiled and walked toward her, "I just stumbled and really hurt. I need some time to myself tell the others I'm sorry, I wont be meeting them later." Jaden walked off leaving Alexis there and unsure what to say.

"Why are you lying? Why are you trying to hide your pain?" She pulled her arms close to her body and decided to go in and get dry. She only hoped he would be back soon, the storm was supposed to be picking up. She looked down on the ground and sighed at the small pattern of crimson. "Why are you torturing yourself?"

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Alexis dried her hair with the towel as she watched her brother running around, frantic that some of them were late. She didn't have the heart to tell him Jaden wasn't going to come. She knew it had to be done but she didn't want to damper the mood was in. She started noticing a couple weeks after Jaden had gotten out of the infirmary. He had changed, like part of his light that brought people to him was gone. The light in that made people cheerful seemed to be disappearing quickly these days and she wasn't sure why. No one asked Chazz or Jaden about the other so the problem wasn't being solved.

"Were here." Chazz threw down a folder, another part of their project.

"Where's Jaden?" Chazz grunted and threw himself unceremoniously onto the couch.

"Who cares."

"Chazz!" Atticus screeched, "Jaden is a huge part of this group meeting. How dare you! Syrus does have a point though, where is he?"

"He's...he's not coming. He said he wanted to be by himself for a bit. He'll probably see us tomorrow." Alexis looked at her brother, "Now what is this meeting about?" Atticus didn't appear to be listening.

"Hey! Where is Aster?" The door burst open and Aster had to push the door shut. "You look winded."

"Shut...up..." Aster fell to his knees trying to catch his breath. "Jaden...where is...Jaden?" Aster was still trying to catch his breath. "Where..." he looked around the room, "He's not here?" He looked around again and charged toward Chazz. None of them saw it coming. Aster picked Chazz up by the collar of his neck and started to shake him. "It's your fault he's out there!" He dropped Chazz and ran right back out the door, going to look for the teen. Aster seemed a bit out of sorts and everyone noticed it. None of them bothered to close the door as they turned to Chazz.

"What does he mean this is your fault?" Alexis gave Chazz a look. He looked away, ashamed.

"I didn't know...I didn't know he'd turn out like this...I didn't know things would turn out this way." He buried his face in his hands, "He's right. It's all my fault. All my damn fault!"

TBC...

I hope you enjoyed the first chapter of the sequel to Sleepless. I finished this chapter at 3 am in the morning so I hope you enjoy it. Chapter 2 is currently in the works so I do ask for paitence as sequels are very hard to write. Arigatou

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