"It was really you who trashed that Golem at the entrance exam?" Sarah asked Jaden with glee after Bastion had introduced them to the rest of the gang and told them it was Jaden who took on Dr. Crowler.

"Haha sure was!"

"Alright class can I have your attention please!" A strong male voice called from the bottom of the class. "As Dr. Crowler is sick today I am here to teach your class but rather than a theory class. Why don't we all have a practical class?"

A loud cheer rang from the whole class as Chancellor Shepard, herded them outside to where they could duel. "Now can... Chazz Princeton and Sarah Snow come up and show the class your technique."

"Ha! Beating this Ra chick is going to be easy as pie."

"Think again Prince. I don't go down without a fight. Let's duel!"


Chazz 4000


Sarah 4000

"Ladies first so I draw. Next I summon Broken stealth-bot in attack mode!" A heap of junk rose from the ground in a form that barely resembled a robot.

(ATK 0. DEF 500 Level 2)

"Thanks to it's effect I can bring out one monster from my hand As long as it has less Defence then Stealth-bot. And I choose Mechanised mechanic. When my mechanic is summoned while I have a Machine monster on my side of the field. I can destroy him to inflict 500 points of damage to both of us and once I reveal three equip cards you choose one. To banish. One to go to my hand and the other gets shuffled back to the deck."

Three cards appeared in the middle of the field one resembling an arm with a machine gun attached to it. One was a large canister with a three rockets and the third a bomb.

"I'm picking the rocket launcher to banish. The bomb to your hand and the gun shuffled into the deck."

"Not a great choice. See whenever Modular rocket launcher gets banished we both take 500 points of damage.


Chazz 3000

Sarah 3000


"What is she doing? She's whittling down both her Life points and Chazz's" Bastion mused as he watched.

"Trust me Bas. Sarah knows what she's doing."

"And as for my Modular self destruct device. I equip it to my Broken Stealth-bot. Now whenever he is attacked. We both take damage equal to the attack of your monster and I take no battle damage. I'm laying down a face down and ending my turn."

Chazz drew and grimaced. Not a good hand at all. Guess this is the best I can do "I summon Cthonian battle mage in attack mode!

(ATK 1500 DEF 1200 level 4)

Attack her Broken Stealth-bot!" The mage fired off a blast of energy but the robot suddenly sprang to life and charged the mage. It's only arm hanging useless at it's side. It leaped on to of the mage and detonated sending shrapnel flying stabbing into both Duellists.

Chazz 1500

Sarah 1500

"I'll lay down a face down and end my turn."

"Well it's all tied up so let's see what I can do... Aha!" Sarah jumped into the air with her arms raised. "I activate System Reboot. With this I can special summon any Machine monster from my deck with two more levels than a monster in my grave that was destroyed by battle and equip it with a spell card from my deck. I choose my Repaired Mecha Puppy! And equip with with the rocket boots card. Now my puppy can attack you directly but these boots aren't made for walking and the back blast kicks me with 1000 points of damage!."

(Repaired Mecha Puppy ATK 1500. Def 900 Level 4)

The definitely not puppy sized robot dog shot off into the air sending dust and fire all across Sarah's side of the field. Everyone watched as the dog shot high above the field only to stop, suspended directly above Chazz.

"Huh?" Was all he managed before a Lazer beam hit him directly in the face knocking him to the ground.

Chazz 0

Sarah 500

"So both of you use cards that hurt yourself and your opponent?"

"More fun that way Bas." Sarah chuckled as she made her way over to Bastion and Noel.

"Uhh Sarah. You got a little bit of dirt on your face." Noel pointed out while Bastion tried not to laugh.

"Oh whoops." She smiled and wiped where Noel pointed leaving a clear streak in her otherwise soot covered face. "Did I get it?"

"Not exactly come on let's get you cleaned up." Noel led Sarah off while Jaden and the others watched.

"What's the deal with them? They related or something they seem really close." Jaden asked. Syrus nodding to show he agreed.

"I would certainly hope not Jaden. Isn't it obvious they are going out?"

"They what?" God he can be clueless

"They're dating." Bastion dead panned.

"Oh right that makes sense." The rest of the group sweat dropped and watched as Chumley faced off against his opponent.

Over the few weeks that followed the group became very close, Jaden and Alexis more so.

"I was expecting this conversation." Noel stated as Jaden sat uncomfortably on Noel's and Sarah's bed. A mix up in the dorm system cause them to be bunked together. They just pushed the beds together and ignored the comments people threw whenever they saw the arrangement.

"Well you had a girlfriend before coming here and still do, so who else can I ask?"

"I dunno. Maybe somebody who likes getting involved in other people's business?"

"You gotta help me."

"Alright fine Jaden what do you wanna talk about specifically?"

"Getting Alexis to like me." Noel groaned and put his hands in his head. "What?"

You can't just make somebody like you. For a start if you do like Alexis, chances are she likes you but before you go asking her out. Do you actually like her?"

"Well yeah I do."

"What about her do you like?"

"Well I guess she's cute, doesn't take crap and I dig long hair."

"That sums up about half the girls in the school. The other half have shorter hair. Think about what you like about her. Not what she's like."

"That makes no sense."

"Personality, how she makes you feel." Jaden shifted when he said that one. "I'm not gonna ask."

"I've never had a girlfriend before so it's all new to me."

"Yeah I was there once. I'll talk to her later without directly implying you like her. She's probably going to be hanging out with Sarah after this class, they have it together."

"Thanks, Noel I'll see you around." Noel waved in response and took out a notebook and began writing.

Jaden Seems to be a risk taker and a people person but when it comes to girls and relationships he knows next to nothing, wouldn't surprise me if he didn't know the difference between a Noel was socked in the jaw by Sarah as she saw what he was about to write.

"Every time Caleb isn't around you punch my lights out. Do you ever get bored of it?"

"Nope!" Sarah beamed while rubbing her bruised knuckles. "I really need to by boxing tape."

"Please don't."

"Uhh is this a bad time?" Alexis called from the door where Sarah left her standing.

"It's fine really."

After an hour and a half of idle conversation and several games of Blackjack. Noel being the dealer. He decided to bring up Jaden. "Hey Alexis, you and Jaden going out or something cause you're awfully close." He commented off handedly while shuffling for the next round.

"What!? No we're not why would you think that?" Alexis tried to gain her composure but Noel caught her poker face instantly.

"I already said why. So what's the deal? Don't worry you can tell us Sarah wont tell and I wont but for added insurance Sarah will punch me if I do." Sarah silently cheered for two reasons. One she got to punch Noel with no complaints and two she had an Ace and a nine.

"Well alright... I guess I like him more than a friend but he's too oblivious to notice any of my flirting."

Dumbass "Well I'd say just tell him how you feel." Noel shrugged and dealt a knew hand. Alexis having drawn too much and ended up with twenty two.

"What about you Sarah?"

"I suck at this stuff. Despite what he might say Noel was the Love doctor back where we used to live."

"You and my brother would get along great if that's the case. I better go it's getting late. Thanks Noel." The pair waved as Alexis left striding with confidence in the direction of her dorm.

"She's right. It is late. But not too late." Sarah grinned, waggling her eyebrows and crawling over to Noel.

"I swear sometimes I don't know what to do with you." He chuckled as she sat in his lap on the bed.

"You could always kiss me." She winked before they locked lips with Noel falling back, pulling Sarah with him so she was on top of him when they parted for air.

"I'll come back tomorrow." Jaden blushed hard as he backed out the door. Closing it behind him. The couple blushed after realizing their position and settled down with Noel lying on his back and Sarah holding him from the side as they dozed off for the night.

The entire group, sans Sarah, was in the couple's bedroom. Despite having told Jaden how Alexis feels and telling Alexis to tell Jaden, neither had made a move causing an awkward atmosphere between them.

"So why isn't Sarah here Noel?"

"I don't keep track of everything she does dude." Noel laughed to Syrus' question before spinning the bottle in front of him. "Alright next game is decided by... me. Fair enough. Truth or dare people."

"Dibs first!" Jaden calls raising his fist in the air. "Truth or dare Noel?"

"Truth."

"Hmm... How is it that you let Sarah hit you with a knock-out punch on a regular basis?"

"Cause she makes it up to me." After a few moments of silence the group went red. "Not like that perverts. She just does nice stuff. Alexis truth or dare?"

"Dare."

"Take either Jaden or Syrus out that door and make out with them for a minute." She went beet red, Syrus subtly crossed his fingers and Jaden froze. She hesitantly stood and took Jaden's hand, the room was silent while Syrus deflated in disappointment. "Don't worry bud. I've been planning this for a while and couldn't outright tell her to make out with J-man. Tell you what. How about I hook you up with a copy of casino girl?"

Syrus went wide eyed as Noel flashed a copy of his scantily clad deck mascot. "Alternate artwork~" Syrus saw that the girl was winking with a cute smile and her midriff was exposed. Quickly pocketing the card he blushed while Noel tried not to laugh as Alexis and Jaden walked back in. Alexis fixing her shirt and Jaden with a dumb smile on his face. Both flustered as hell.

"Oh man that was funny." Alexis scowled but when nobody was looking mouthed Thank you to Noel.

"Okay Sy. Truth or Dare."

"Truth."

"Is it true you have a collection of alternate artwork female monster cards hidden in your closet."

Syrus paled and ran from the room repeating gotta hide it gotta hide it.

"Where did you hear about that?" Jaden asked the girl to his side.

"Syrus left Casino girl hanging out of his pocket and I knew it looked more revealing than Noel's copies. I just took a wild guess."

"Why did you give him that card anyway? Why not keep it for yourself?"

"Consolation prize. That and I have another two copies anyway."

"Wow three of the same rare card. That's so liscious. How did you get them?" Chumley asked in awe of the two beautiful ladies on the cards in Noel's hand

"My dad picks up all sorts of cards related to my deck at work."

"Where does he work?"

"He owns the lucky 38 Casino in new Domino city. The card holograms are all over the place, the casino girls especially. The dirty versions made specifically for the casino are only used at night. For obvious reasons."

"Hey Noel can I talk to you for a second?" Sarah's voice called from the door.

"Sure thing Shorty." He grinned getting him a playful glare.

"So what is it you wanted to talk about?"

"Us." Noel's heat skipped a beat.

"Us?" He asked uncertain.

"Yeah... We've been dating for a year now and I really appreciate everything you've done for me, You were always the perfect gentleman. Waiting patiently and stuck with me as a friend through thick and thin even before we started going out. But after all this time I have to say what I've wanted to say for a long time. I just didn't want to say this in front of everybody because they don't understand me like you do... Noel I love you." Sarah stood uncertain and rubbed her arm, not looking at Noel, instead focusing on a rock in front of her.

"You really mean that Sarah?" A quick nod in the affirmative made Noel burst into a grin that would put the Cheshire cat to shame. "I've waited so long to say the same to you and it means so much that you said it. I understand how hard it must have been for you."

He grabbed waist with one hand and moved close and cupped her cheek with the other. "I love you too." Their lips locked and the two lost themselves in each other.

By the time they returned Truth or Dare had already long passed and Syrus had returned saying he forgot about some homework he had to do. Jaden spun the bottle and it landed on Sarah.

"Pick a game Sarah."

"Huh? Oh ummm how bout monarchy?"

"What the hell is that?"

"It's like a unisex version of kings game but rather than calling out somebody's number you directly tell or ask the person or people whatever you want them to do or answer depending on what they pick."

"Sounds fun. Anybody got straws?"

"No but I do have laying cards. Highest Value draw is the Monarch."

Once everybody had drawn Jaden drew a king. (To which he shouted about being the king of games.)

"Alright Sarah seeing as this is your first game of the night. Task or question."

"Both! You said it's my first game so why not go big."

"Okay question is... What's the most embarrassing thing somebody has seen you do? It can be anything from dancing bad to screwing up monumentally in a duel."

"not going to say directly but it involved a one on one strip poker game I was losing and my dad came home from work early." The group collectively gasped and went slack jawed. Sarah burst out laughing and wiped a tear from her eye. "I'm kidding. What actually happened was I slipped on my ass when Ice skating and I was wearing a skirt."

Once the everyone calmed down Jaden thought about what he would get her to do. Alexis leaned over and whispered something in his ear giving him a wicked grin. "Stand up and hug Sy." The tow in question stood up and when Sarah pulled him in for a hug she soon realized the thought process behind this. Syrus had ended up smothered in Sarah's sizeable breasts. Her eyes widening in shock she pushed the poor red faced boy away and kicked him in the stomach knocking him to the ground coughing.

Noel stood up quickly and wrapped his arms around her waist and stopped her from lashing out while calming her down by talking softly into her ear.

"What the hell Sarah! It was a joke." Jaden yelled as he helped his friend up.

"You guys outta leave. I'll explain tomorrow." Noel's voice held no emotion. He wasn't mad at them, they couldn't have known what happened to her but he sure wasn't his usual calm self. Noel knelt beside Sarah who was trying her hardest not to cry.

"Holy crap guys what the hell was that about?" Jaden asked as the group left. Dropping Bastion off at his dorm.

"I don't know Jay but I sure hope Sarah doesn't hate us." Syrus mumbled as Jaden led him along with his arm over his shoulder.

"That girl probably isn't capable of hating anybody, she's the most light hearted person I know." Deep down though Alexis doubted her own words. She had seen the look of pure anger mixed with something else in Sarah's eyes. But she couldn't figure out what it was exactly. All she knew was Sarah wouldn't be the same around them.

A/N Hope you enjoyed the much longer chapter if you want a character added in send me a profile and what deck they would use. If you have an Original card deck just send me the decklist with the character. Feedback on what I'm doing right or wrong would be great.