Disclaimer: I don't own YuGiOh GX. I only own the OC's Savannah and Copper.

Growl

Savannah woke up to Copper growling at something in the bushes. "What's up Copper? You spot something?"

She looked over to the bushes and saw it rustle, she stepped closer and closer until a large crocodile poked it's head out.

"Ok, that's not something you see everyday" Savannah said slowly backing away, shaking slightly.

Copper stayed in front of Savannah to protect her and unsheathed his claws ready to pounce, the crocodile must have seen this as it started to growl back.

Before things could go any further an Australian accent could be heard in the distance shouting "Shirley!"

A boy with spiked hair and a cowboy hat appeared from the same bushes where the crocodile came from.

"Shirley, what's gotten into you? Oh, hello miss" he said tipping his hat slightly.

"Hello, um, is this your friend?" Savannah gestured to the snarling crocodile.

"Oh yeah, this is Shirley and I'm assuming that there is someone you know" he said while pointing to Copper.

"Yeah, that's Copper" replied Savannah.

Both the animals continued to growl at each other so Savannah and the boy calmed down their friends so that they wouldn't tear into each other.

"You're that new student aren't ya?" Jim asked.

"Yeah, the name's Savannah" she answered.

"That's a beauty of a name, mine's Jim" he held out his hand for Savannah to shake but noticed that she was shaking ever so slightly. 'Huh, it's not cold so why would she be shakin'?'

"Ya alright Savannah? Ya look like you're shakin' " Jim asked. He saw her eyes quickly dart between Shirley and him.

"I-I'm fine" she stuttered, not entirely convinced herself.

That's when it clicked in Jim's mind.

"Are you scared of Shirley mate?" he asked.

"You'll laugh if I told you" Savannah mumbled while sitting down and looking to the ground.

Jim crouched down and placed his fingers underneath her chin to make her look at him. "Now what makes ya think that?" he softly said.

"Because most people always do" she whispered.

"Well in case ya ain't noticed, I ain't most people" he laughed while gesturing to Shirley.

She laughed along with him and decided to tell him the truth. "Ok fine, I'm slightly scared of crocs" she admitted.

"Well now we know the problem, we can fix it" Jim said standing up.

"What do you mean 'fix it'?" she wearily asked.

Jim asks Shirley to come over to them and she starts to walk over.

"Jim, I don't like where this is going" she said while hiding behind him.

Copper began to walk over as well so he could keep an eye on Savannah and make sure nothing happened.

"It'll be fine Savannah, I promise" Jim honestly said.

Memories of her past experiences with crocs began to creep forward into her mind and Jim must have seen the fear flash across her eyes as he gently took hold of her and tried to calm her down.

"Savannah, what happened to make ya so scared of crocodiles?" he asked.

She sighed as she gathered the courage to explain "When I was 9 my mother and father disappeared on an expedition to Africa to try and save Cheetahs from going extinct. They were zoologists and wanted to help every animal they came across, I guess that's why I feel most relaxed around animals. After they didn't come back I had to stay with my brother who always saw me as a burden and ignored me" she gulped before the next words were spoke.

"He owned a vicious crocodile who he used to threaten people with, I had later found out that he was poacher and the people he threatened were ones who were trying to save the animals he took. One day, I couldn't stand to hear the animals cry or scream in pain any longer so, I snuck into his room while he was asleep and stole the keys to the animals cages and let them out. Unfortunately, he had woken up and realized that the animals had somehow escaped. I tried to hide but he found me and threw me in a dark room. I heard a growl behind me and saw that his crocodile was locked in with me, I tried banging on the door and pleaded for him to let me out but he refused. The croc attacked me and got my shoulder, nearly ripping it off… I almost died. The only reason I'm still alive is because police had heard reports of screaming, my screams, and arrested my brother. It took months for my wound to heal and I still have the scar that will never fade away" Savannah rolled up her sleeve and showed Jim the scar on the shoulder.

"Crikey mate, sounds like ya went through hell" Jim stated with a shocked expression on his face. "But ya know, Shirley ain't nothing like that one ya described"

"Are you sure?" Savannah asked with tears welling up in her eyes from having to remember her past.

"I'm positive" Jim smiled.

"Ok, I'll try" Savannah nervously agreed.

Jim nodded and brought Shirley closer to both of them, he noticed her shaking again so he took her hand in his.

Copper growled at Jim's contact with Savannah but she explained that Copper is just protective and asked him to settle down. He did as he saw that Savannah seemed to be relaxed with Jim but he kept a close eye on them.

Jim held out their hands in front of Shirley and waited for her to come to them.

When she started walking towards them Jim felt Savannah tense up, "Ya doin' great" he whispered.

She slightly relaxed which in turn calmed Copper down as well, Shirley bumped her nose against Savannah's hand and then after a minute started to nuzzle her hand like a dog.

She started to giggle at how silly Shirley was acting and spoke out loud "She's nothing like the other one"

Jim smiled " Ya did great Savannah! Shirley must really like ya, she's never acted that friendly to complete strangers"

She turned around enveloped Jim in a hug while whispering "Thank you"

He returned the hug after a moment of hesitation. "No problem mate"

They stayed like that for a bit until they felt something trying to get in-between them, when they looked down they saw it was Shirley who wanted in on the hug.

Copper came and sniffed her and before long the two of them were playing together!

Jim and Savannah laughed as they watched their companions play what looked like tag.

"Have ya been shown around the school yet?" Jim asked.

"No, all the teachers were busy so they just gave me a map to get around, it's so confusing especially since I'm not that good at reading maps" Savannah admitted.

"Well I suppose I'd better take ya on ya very own exclusive tour" Jim smiled.

"That'd be helpful, thanks" Savannah accepted.

He stood up and held out a hand to help Savannah up which she gladly took and they started the tour.