Chapter 2

Jaden knew something was wrong with Jesse the minute he closed his eyes. His face went deathly pale and he appeared to be shaking. Just as Jesse went to blow out his candles, Jaden could see the pain in his friend's eyes and quickly took action. Just as Jaden stood up, Jesse too stood only he didn't remain standing. Instead, he went falling towards the floor and would have landed hard if Jaden hadn't caught him with lightning fast reflexes. Catching Jesse in his arms, Jaden positioned him so that Jesse's upper body was lying in his arms.
"Jesse, are you okay?" he asked leaning closer to his friend. Jesse didn't say anything and Jaden panicked. Looking around the room, it was then that Jaden noticed all of their friends were surrounding the two. Taking charge, Jaden began issuing out orders.
"Syrus, you and Alexis go get Ms. Fontaine. Jim, I need you to help me carry Jesse upstairs into my room." Jim looked at him confused.
"Why aren't we takin' him to Ms.Fontaine? Wouldn't that be the smart thing to do mate?"

"No way. Jesse is suffering from an unknown sickness. Moving him would be very unwise right now." said Zane coming to Jaden's aid. Jim stared at him for a moment before the words began to sink in.
"Oh. That makes sense. Well, if you need help then I'm your man." said Jim moving beside Jaden and gently grabbing Jesse's right arm. Jaden copied Jim's actions and placed Jesse's arm over his shoulder. Looking around, Jaden noticed the rest of his friends waiting for their orders. Alexis and Syrus by this time had already left for Ms. Fontaine's office and Zane had apparently disappeared into the kitchen to get Jesse a glass of water.
"What should we do Jaden?" asked Axel moving beside Jaden. Jaden thought for a moment before shaking his head.
"I honestly have no idea. I guess you can come upstairs in case we need something." said Jaden moving Jesse towards the stairs with Jim's help. Axel nodded his head and followed right behind them. The rest of the gang watched as Jim and Jaden escorted the Obelisk Blue student upstairs and disappear around the corner. The group was silent a moment before Hassleberry spoke.

"So what do we do know?" he asked looking around the room. Everybody had the same answer.

"I don't know." said Atticus with a look of concern upon his face.
"You can start praying." said Zane coming out of the kitchen with a glass of water. Everybody turned and looked at him.

"Pray?" said Aster confused. Zane nodded.
"That's right. From the looks of things, Jesse doesn't seem to be doing so well. The best thing to do right now is to pray that he'll be okay." Chazz sighed.

"The Chazz doesn't believe in praying." he said crossing his arms in front of him and sticking his nose up in the air. Everyone glared at him and Chazz felt the full force of their glares. Letting a bead of sweat fall down his face, Chazz scratched the back of his head.

"Umm...on second thought..." Chazz moved to one of the couches in the living room and sat down.
"Anyone up for praying?" Zane shook his head and headed upstairs to see if Jaden and Jim needed any more help.

Meanwhile, Jaden and Jim had just gotten Jesse upstairs and had laid him down on Jaden's bed. Covering him up, Jaden sat on the edge of the bed and placed a hand on Jesse's forehead. He gasped in surprise at how hot his face was and quickly pulled his hand back.
"He's burning up!" he said looking back at Jim and Axel. Jim gasped and he too moved beside Jesse. Placing a hand on Jesse's forehead, Jim shook his head.
"This isn't looking good mate." Looking back at Axel, Jim had an idea.
"Axel, we need a bowl of cool water and a washcloth. We gotta try and bring his fever down." Axel nodded and quickly left the room in search of these items. Jim watched Axel leave before turning his attention back to Jesse's sleeping form.

"What do ya think is wrong with him?" Jaden bowed his head in shame.
"This is all my fault." Jim looked at him confused.

"What do ya mean mate?" Taking a deep breath, Jaden explained to Jim the earlier incident with Jesse under the oak tree. When he finished, Jim was shaking his head.

"I wouldn't say its your fault. I mean, you didn't know how severe Jesse's condition was." Jaden shook his head.
"No! I should have known something was wrong and taken him to the nurse."

"Jaden..." Jim didn't get to finish his sentence because at that very moment, Axel came back with the requested objects.
"Here you go Jim." he said handing Jim the bowl and washcloth.
"Thank you mate." Jim said placing the bowl on the nightstand and dipping the washcloth in the cool water. Jaden watched him for a moment before speaking up.
"Umm Jim, do you mind if I do that?" Jim looked at him confused.

"Why? Afraid I might hurt him or something?" Jaden blushed and looked away.

"It's not that...it's just that..." Jim seemed to know the real reason Jaden wanted to cool Jesse down and he smiled. Tossing the washcloth at Jaden, he smiled.
"Alright mate. He's all yours. Me and Axel are gonna go downstairs and fill the gang in on what's goin' on." he said standing up and heading towards the door. Axel followed his lead and pretty soon Jaden and Jesse were finally alone. Once Jaden heard Jim and Axel's footsteps going down the stairs, he placed the cool cloth to Jesse's forehead and used his other hand to start slowly caress Jesse's cheek. Feeling Jesse's soft skin against his fingers made Jaden's blush come back with a vengence and Jaden had to shake his head to try and hide it.

"Oh man, why am I doing this now? Of all times." he said pulling his hand away and taking a seat beside Jesse's side.
That night, the moon happened to be full and the light filtered in from a window in from in front of Jesse's bed. The light basked Jesse in a white glow and Jaden couldn't help but shudder at how it made Jesse look even more sickly.

'He's deathly pale.' thought Jaden to himself. Leaning in closer to Jesse, Jaden placed his elbows on the edge of the bed and got down on his knees.
"Jesse...can you hear me?" Jesse murmered something in his sleep but didn't say anything. Clearing his throat, Jaden continued.
"I don't know if you can hear me or not but...there's something I have to say. Jesse, I..." Before Jaden could say anymore, the door flew open and Ms. Fontaine and Jim came running through the door.
"He's right in here Ma'am." said Jim motioning for Ms. Fontaine to follow him to Jesse's bedside. Ms.Fontaine quickly moved beside Jaden and through her bag down beside her.
"How long ago did he fall unconscious?" she asked opening her bag and pulling out her stethoscope.

"About twenty minutes." said Jaden watching her place the stethoscope on Jesse's heart and listening to its beat.
"Twenty minutes?" Jaden nodded. Taking the stethoscope out of her ears, Ms.Fontaine then pulled out a folder and opened it up.

"What's that?" asked Jaden peeking over her shoulder in curiosity.
"Jesse's medical history form. All transfer students are required to have one before arriving here at Duel Academy." said Ms. Fontaine skimming over the papers. About halfway through her reading, she gasped.
"Oh my!"
"What's wrong Ms. Fontaine?" asked Jaden not liking the look in her eyes. Ms. Fontaine shook her head.
"I don't believe it. It says here that Jesse has the Shadow Virus."

"Shadow Virus? What does that mean?" asked Jaden becoming more and more concerned. Ms. Fontaine turned and faced him. A look of seriousness and sadness filled her eyes.

"That means that if Jesse doesn't get the antidote within 48 hours...he'll die."

To Be Continued...

A/N: If I seem to be rushing this story, I apologize. It's just that I honestly have no idea what is going to happen so when I write this story up, I write the chapters super quick and I feel like I'm rushing it. Anyway, hope you enjoyed chapter two and keep a look out for chapter three.