I'm so horrendously sorry, everybody!! School is determined to make war against me! I'm lucky if I can update once a month! Sorry, guys...BUT! I guarantee that I will not abandon it! So don't give up on me! Ahem...Chapter 2...
Alexis groaned at the sudden light exposure to her eyes. After a few moments, her eyes adjusted to the two young duelists who had just entered Chazz's hospital room. The first, the one who had asked her if she had stayed here all night, stared at her with a worried expression in his brown eyes. The second had a huge smile on his face and carried a very large, slightly suspicious-looking picnic basket in his hands.
"Howdy!" the second greeted, running his hand through his teal-colored hair. Alexis shook her head to shake off the sleep, and stared up at Jaden before her eyes returned to her lap. The other set the picnic basket down on the floor and walked over to the hospital bed to see what happened to Chazz. Finally, he said in his heavily accented voice, "So Chazz's laid up this bad, huh? I heard it was bad, but I didn't expect this."
After a few moments of silence Alexis drowsily mumbled, "You didn't bring Syrus or Hassleberry? I would've thought that they'd tag along with you guys."
Jaden shook his head, "Nah, Syrus is doing some big test right now and you know Hassleberry, he'd rather not come 'til he's good and ready."
Alexis nodded as if she was listening and understood. Finally, after a few silent moments, she inquired, staring over at the obnoxious picnic basket on the floor, "What's in that thing?"
As if reminded of something important, Jesse rushed over to the picnic basket and picked it up, smiling broadly as he pulled out a package from the depths of the little basket. With no hesitation whatsoever, he put it down energetically on Chazz's nighttable. Alexis had to stare at it for some time to realize what it was.
"You brought BACON as a 'Get Well' gift?"
Jesse shrugged and nodded, "Yeah, why not? Anyone who hasn't had bacon hasn't lived."
Alexis groaned inwardly. He just HAD to say something to remind her of the whole living and dying thing. She sighed and stared back at Chazz. True, he was annoying and cocky and even slightly lame, but Jesse was on to something. Chazz was way too young to die now. His whole life was knocking on the door, waiting for him, she had to have faith, or something, that he would wake up and he would be fine. Maybe in just a little while he'd be up and be his cocky old self again! He just had to...he HAD to wake up. She wouldn't be able to live with herself if he didn't. She was having the hardest time forgiving herself right now. Looking at him now, she didn't know if she could. All this was her fault and the only way she'd forgive herself is if he woke up and automatically returned to not-so-good ol' Chazz. If only he could wake up, at that very moment, she would...
"I never knew potatoes could be so delicious!" Jaden's exclamation broke her concentration very abruptly and obnoxiously.
Jesse held up one of his Western-style Home Fries and replied, pleased, "And you haven't even tasted Hash Browns yet!"
Alexis stared at the both of them with her mouth agape. No wonder Jesse had taken great care to watch over his picnic basket! Those two twerps were sitting on a tablecloth on the floor and having a very American-style PICNIC in middle of the hospital room!
She could only gape as she watched her two friends stuff their mouths with mouthwatering western goodies. After a while, she finally regained her voice, "WHAT do you think you two are doing?"
Jesse shrugged, "Havin' a picnic, what does it look like?"
Alexis scoffed, "Why?"
Another shrug, "Why not? I don' think Chazz'll mind."
Jaden piped in, "What's the worst that can happen?"
The young American duelist chuckled, "He'd get jealous? But I DID give him the bacon!"
Half of a fried chicken leg in his mouth, Jaden seemed to just remember something. He stood up and reached into his back pocket, pulling out a couple things and putting them on the nighttable next to the bacon.
Jesse bit his lip, trying with all his might not to laugh while Alexis stared at it, flabbergasted, "A sheet of Mr. Yuck stickers and a RUBBER CHICKEN?!"
Jesse burst out laughing, eventually coaxing Jaden into a chuckle. Jaden didn't give any explanation to his strange Get Well gifts and joined Jesse in a laughing fit. Alexis rubbed her eyes and her temples, beginning to feel a headache coming on. She slumped in her seat and turned to Chazz, staring at his closed eyes, mumbling, "If you only had a clue..."
"So how long do you think it'll take fer Sleepin' Beauty ta wake up?" Jesse joked, munching on a Peanut Butter sandwich.
Jaden shrugged, "I dunno, it shouldn't take long...you got that thing, right?"
After taking a moment to swallow a bite of sandwich, Jesse nodded, reaching into the picnic basket and pulling out something that he made an effort to keep Alexis from distinguishing. He set it on the nighttable and pushed a button.
The little figure began playing its big golden saxophone and dancing to a familiar tune. Alexis glared daggers at it, perplexed and annoyed at the same time. That white rabbit with the black tuxedo mocked her pain with its obnoxiously loud tune.
Jesse chuckled again, "I gotta hand it to ya, Jay. This wasn't a bad idea. If this don't wake 'im up, nothin' will."
Now Alexis began to get a bit irritated. She couldn't take much more of this insanity. Whatever these guys were thinking, she wanted to stuff them in cardboard boxes and ship them off to the psych ward. "Look, if you guys can't be serious, then take your picnic and get out of here!"
Jaden tilted his head, "Are you alright, Lex?"
Alexis rose quickly to her feet, so much so that she got a bit lightheaded. She growled and glared at her friends. "You guys so immature! I can't stand to be around you for more than a few seconds without feeling like I've gone to the circus! I feel like I'm going crazy every single time!"
With that, she turned and walked briskly out of the room, slamming the door behind her.
Jesse and Jaden exchanged glances. Jesse gave a sigh, "Just let 'er cool down, Jay. She's takin' Chazz's injury pretty hard. I don't think she thinks that he's gonna wake up. And perhaps she hasn't heard of the concept of Gag gifts." he snickered, "Chazz probably hasn't heard of them either..."
Jaden frowned, "Jesse? You think maybe she's right? That Chazz might NOT wake up?"
Jesse grinned, "You kiddin' Jay? You honestly think that somethin' like that would stop him?"
After a minute of thought, he added, "Maybe you'd better go after her."
Alexis slumped her back against the gravestone, burrying her face in her knees. Here she was, worrying herself to death, and they were up there having a picnic, LITERALLY! They just didn't understand. They didn't know what it was like to almost kill someone. They had no idea what she felt.
Speaking of which, why DID she feel this way? Why did she feel so close to him? This was Chazz she was talking about! Arrogant, self-centered, ignorant, pigheaded, aggravating, ignorant, stupid, greedy, high and mighty Chazz! But...the way he looked at her, as he was falling. She couldn't get it out of her head. All this really was her fault. Everything that happened to him was her fault. And there was nothing she could do about it.
"Alexis?"
The rather timid voice jolted her out of her thoughts with a slight gasp. She looked up to find Syrus standing there, staring at her with a rather worried expression on his face. Alexis wiped her eyes, "Oh, hi there, Sy."
She scooted over a couple feet to let him sit down beside her. He sat and stared at her with a determined expression. After a minute of silence, he spoke unnaturally boldly, succeeding in surprising her, "Alexis, you have to stand strong! What happened to Chazz wasn't your fault, so get over it!"
"Huh? How did you-"
Despite her confusion, Syrus continued, "I know you think it! Why would you be out here moping in a graveyard if you didn't want to escape the guilt you feel?"
She sighed, "Sy, I just-"
"Stop pitying yourself, Alexis! The best thing you could do for Chazz is to stay there until he wakes up! Nothing can change the past and nothing could've stopped it from happening, not even you. Now get back up there!"
"But-"
Syrus softened, "He needs you, Alexis. In case you haven't noticed, you're one of the only people he cares for. Stop staring behind you to what's already done and start looking forward, okay?"
Alexis bit her lip, then smiled softly, "Geez, Sy. I would've never expected a pep talk like that from YOU."
Syrus blushed, diverting his eyes to the ground, "Well, someone had to say it...and we all know that Jay-"
"Alexis?"
Coincidentally, Jaden approached Alexis, panting a bit. Apparently he had been running, probably looking for her. Syrus stood and walked away, giving Jaden a knowing smile as he walked past. Jaden reached out his hand for Alexis to help her off the ground, "C'mon, Lex, let's go."
Alexis sighed and took his hand before brushing herself off and heading back towards the on-campus hospital.
She leaned her head sleepily on the side of the mattress. It was evening once again and once again she had spent all day there, not at all caring about her classes at the moment, which was very unlike her. When Jaden came back, he and Jesse had packed everything up. Jesse left with the stuff, laying a reassuring hand on Alexis' shoulder before heading out. Jaden stayed for a while. He had pulled up a chair and just sat there silently while Alexis absorbed herself in her thoughts. Eventually, he had to go back to the Slifer Red dorm again.
Now all was silent again and Alexis was left alone. She had been given permission to stay, for what reason, she didn't know. She took a glance back up at her unconcious friend. Dare she call him that?
She reached up to gently brush her hand through his ebony hair. If only she had started caring about other people sooner. For so long, she truthfully only thought of herself. Now she realized how small and imperfect she was. She couldn't even do something to keep him from falling.
Alexis grasped his cold, near lifeless hand and closed her eyes. She had to believe things would work out. Maybe Syrus WAS right. Maybe she just needed to believe.
She gave his hand a gentle squeeze before sleep took her once again, the saxophone rabbit toy and the rubber chicken, along with the other Get Well gifts, still sitting on the nighttable. Tomorrow, she thought, she should go out and get him something herself.
As she drifted off to sleep, his hand twitched; and slowly closed around her warm, delicate fingers.
What do you guys think? I'm soooo sorry it took so long! Mwahahaha! Slight cliffhanger! To be honest, I just thought it would be funny if Jaden and Jesse came in so nonchalantly like nothing was wrong and everything was going to be fine...and brought the strangest Get Well gifts known to man. Well, actually it was the first things I could think of, and I felt that it would be like Jesse and Jaden to come in with Gag gifts, so viola! Anywho, here's the preview, guys! Thanks for being so patient with me!
Chapter 3 Preview: Alexis resolves to get Chazz a Get Well present, and one that he would actually appreciate! Trouble is, she's having problems finding something! And when an unexpected and unwanted encounter presents itself, Alexis is forced to finally coming to grips with herself about how she really feels.