A/N: Ok, I don't think Chazz liked how Atty treated him. (sweatdrops) So now, he will go out w/ Zane. We'll see what chaos ensues….XD

Chazz: When will this hell end?

Me: NEVER! XDDDDDDD


Chapter 3:

Chazz sighed as he sat on the steps of Duel Academy, waiting for Zane. The previous night had not gone quite as expected, and now, much to his dismay, Atticus thought they were a couple. Not to mention Alexis had tried to get him to, well, touch her all night long. This just wasn't fair.

"Damn, where is that bastard?" Chazz muttered, glancing at the time. "I hate him!"

He stood up to leave.

"Chazz, wait!"

Chazz turned around to see Zane come up.

"Well, you're a little late." He scoffed, turning his nose up indignantly in the air.

Zane sighed heavily. "It's not my fault, Chazz. Alexis wouldn't stop interrupting me every time I tried to tell her I had to go. And she really needed to talk…"

Chazz bristled. "What'd she say?"

Zane fell momentarily silent. Finally, he answered awkwardly, "It was about you."

"What about me?"

"Well," he looked reluctant to say, "she says she's sorry to have misjudged your worth. She wants a second chance."

"Why?" Chazz said scornfully, "Because she knows she can't have me now? She had her chance. If I go back to her, and fawn over her, she'll just ignore me again. You know that. She only wants my attention and affections, nothing more."

"I don't know," Zane muttered, running a hand uncertainly through his teal hair, "she seemed pretty serious to me. I don't think she'd do that."

"HA!" It was so ridiculous, Chazz had to laugh. "Really? Yeah, right. She's playing all of us. We should know better by now. Besides, she's in love with you."

Zane blushed. "Well, I knew that. It's obvious. I can't say I feel the same. I feel sorry for her, but I'm not going out with her for sympathy. I love her as a person and nothing more."

Chazz began to take pity on Alexis. "You know, maybe we should just leave her alone. I have a feeling that there's something we don't know about her."

Zane shook his head. "Chazz, don't you know?"

"What?" Chazz blinked, confused.

"She wasn't exactly treated right as a child."

"What do you mean?"

"You and Alexis have more in common than you think. I won't say who, but certain members of her family abused her."

Chazz looked stunned. "Oh." Was all he could say.

"I don't want you to let on that you know. I wasn't supposed to tell that much. However, I trust you and I think it's necessary that you know what she's been through so you won't hurt her. Despite her flaws and her mistakes, I want you to treat her as respectfully and gently as possible. She's not as independent and callous as she seems. She's actually quite fragile. She doesn't like to admit it, but she needs us. So be nice to her."

Chazz nodded. "Ok. Wow. I'd never have guessed…"

"And Chazz? If you hurt her…I'm afraid I'll have to hurt you, no matter how much I like you."

Chazz just nodded. "I'd never hurt her…"

"Well," Zane told him, looking him right in his eyes, "It looks like you have. Unintentionally, of course. And it can't be helped, I suppose. After all, you can't be expected to return her feelings after what she's done. I guess she deserves it in one sense. But all I'm saying is: be gentle with her. Her heart's pretty delicate. That's why I didn't want to tell her that I'm gay…not yet anyway. I want to wait for the right moment, and now is not the time."

Chazz swallowed, and shifted uncomfortably. "Ok…."

"Excuse me for that." Zane shook his head and smiled a little, "I shouldn't have made you so uncomfortable. After all, we are supposed to be going out. Right?"

Chazz nodded. Then, grimacing, "Where are we going?"

"Oh, just this nice Italian restaurant I know of. You don't have to dress up, and it's not very expensive, but the atmosphere's pleasant and good for conversation. There won't be any of THOSE types, if you catch my drift."

Chazz shuddered, remembering Atticus. "Right."

"Come on." Zane gestured for Chazz to follow him.

Indeed, the restaurant was nice. However, Chazz felt slightly uneasy. He felt as though someone were watching him. He really hoped it wasn't the fanboys.

Once they were seated and their order had been taken, Zane leaned over and looked at him right in the eyes. Chazz's heart thumped nervously. He never had quite realized how attractive Zane was until then. He swallowed nervously, finding himself strangely, and strongly, drawn to Zane's quiet nature.

"So, Chazz," Zane began, "What do you like most about Duel Academy."

Chazz raised an eyebrow. What sort of question was that? Suspicious, he carefully constructed a response.

"I'm not sure. I guess the fact that we don't have classes like regular schools. We can actually concentrate on our dueling skills. And I guess the fact that there's so many people enrolled." He paused a moment to smirk, "That gives me more people to look up to me or that I can put down because I'm a better duelist."

Zane shook his head. "I should've known. You don't really like Duel Academy, do you?"

Chazz blushed. How had Zane seen through his response? Quickly, he tried to invent an excuse.

"Well, I never really said--"

"It's written all over your face," Zane remarked, "And why else would you leave so suddenly and go to North Academy? Just be honest with me, Chazz. I'm not here to play games. I'm serious about dating you. I don't want to find someone to fool around with, I'm trying to find someone to spend my life with. And if you're not serious about that…."

Chazz gulped. "Sorry. I didn't want to offend you…"

He didn't like to admit it, but since he'd never talked to Zane this much, he didn't exactly know what to say. He didn't know how he should behave. Perhaps it was best to be himself.

"Chazz," Zane said, smiling a bit and resting his hand over Chazz's, "please don't try to impress me. Please don't walk on eggshells around me. All I want is for you to be yourself. That's all I ask. I don't require anything else of you. Don't you want to be able to relax around me? I don't care. I like you for who you are, not who you pretend to be. And, since I'm not as dense as Atticus, I know when you're putting up a front. Relax, Ok?"

Chazz nodded, blushing as Zane stroked his hand. After a moment, he grabbed Zane's hand. Their eyes met, charcoal gray and dark teal. Zane laced his fingers with Chazz's and smiled very slightly, a rather dignified smile. Somehow, this captivated Chazz. He squeezed Zane's hand tighter, feeling his heart begin to race.

Looking deeper into Zane's eyes, he saw that he really cared. He saw respect. He saw…love. Zane was in love with him. Looking into those eyes, Chazz knew Zane would never do anything to make him uncomfortable. He began to relax.

At that moment, their food arrived. As they took it, Chazz noticed something oddly familiar about the girl in the booth a few tables down. She was wearing an ill-disguised brown wig and Atticus' tan "Inspector Gadget" trench coat. Chazz groaned.

"Don't look now, Zane, but it looks like a certain somebody followed us." He pointed indiscreetly towards the girl.

Zane glanced nonchalantly at the girl. "I can't believe she actually…"

"Zane," Chazz hissed, "did you tell her about our date?"

"No," Zane answered, "I think she heard from Atticus."

"You bragged to Atticus?"

"No. He found out because he read my journal. There's nothing I can do to stop him."

Chazz groaned softly. "This sucks. Now I'll have both of them on my case about this."

Zane looked at Chazz evenly. "Let me take care of you."

Chazz blushed and snapped, "Hey, I can handle it myself! I'm not a girl, ya know."

Zane sighed. "What I meant was, well, I'm really close to Atticus and Alexis. I can explain it to them. I can get them to leave you alone. If you talk to them about it…"

"Besides, " Chazz sighed, "Atticus thinks we're a couple now. I don't wanna be with him! He took me to a gay strip club for a date!"

"So I heard," Zane said bitterly, looking jealous, "and he got you in bed, didn't he?"

"Yeah, I don't know why I did it. And Alexis was there too."

Zane frowned. "I'd rather you didn't sleep with them again."

"I'd rather I didn't either. I feel pretty slutty about it. Not that I'm--"

Zane held up a hand. "Please spare me. I know you're not the type to sleep around. I know you didn't do anything."

"Dammit! Now I do sound like a girl!"

"Chazz," Zane said, trying to suppress a small smile, "you were always sort of like that. You always were overdramatic and…er…"

"Don't you dare say it!" Chazz shot him dagger eyes.

"All right, all right." Zane chuckled softly, "No need to get so worked up."

Chazz opened his mouth to say something more, however, he stopped when he noticed that Alexis had moved up to the booth directly behind Zane. He jerked his head towards her. Zane threw a quick glance over his shoulder and rolled his eyes. Just as he was about to get up to confront her, she whirled around.

"Ah-HA! I KNEW it!!! Chazz, are you really gay or something?"

Chazz blushed, staring at her angry face. "NO! Look, I'm not--"

"Zane," she turned to the elder, "what are you doing? Why are you going out with him?"

Zane sighed, "It's none of your business, Lex. I'm sorry, but I am not entitled to tell you."

"But, Zane, I thought we were best friends and you could tell me anything…" She looked pretty pathetic.

"Alexis, I was waiting for the right time. But since it appears I have no choice," he took a deep breath and clasped Chazz's hand again, "Alexis…I'm gay."

Alexis caught her breath and turned very pale. "You're….what?"

"I'm gay," Zane looked uncomfortable.

Chazz hated to see this. He couldn't let Alexis hurt Zane. At least, he hoped she would accept him. Squeezing Zane's hand, he opened his mouth.

"Zane Truesdale!" Alexis sputtered, "I love you! And you knew it! And what do you do?"

"It's not my--"

"It's a choice!" she snapped, looking injured, "And you chose to be gay! And you failed to tell me when I admitted my feelings for you. I thought you liked me too!"

"How did you--"

"Remember?" She looked up at him with teary amber eyes, "It was a few weeks ago. We went to the dock and stood. I told you how I felt and you told me that you loved me too…"

"But I meant--"

"But you said…"

"I knew that you were in love with me, but I thought that, at that moment, you meant it in a different way. I meant that I loved you as a person. I thought you were upset."

"I was! Because of my feelings for you! And then when you said that, I was so happy. But then you didn't act like it, and it hurt so badly. I wanted to die."

"Oh." Zane looked sheepish, "I'm so sorry, Lex. I didn't mean--"

"Yeah, whatever. Couldn't you see the way I treated you for the next few weeks?"

He blushed. "I was so busy with--"

"I don't care!"

"I guess I didn't want to have to tell you that I wasn't interested, that I was gay…I just didn't know how to say it. I'm really sorry."

"You suck, Zane! You said you understood me. You said you'd never hurt me. But you did, because you didn't want to tell me you were gay?!"

Zane bit his lip. "Alexis, I never meant to--"

"Ok, I understand that. Ok, I understand that it must've been hard for you to admit it to yourself. But still, could you at least have told me about this date before you went through with it? Zane, I love you! You know I would accept you no matter what!"

As she began to cry softly, Chazz began to feel bad about wanting to spite her. With all she'd been through, no wonder she'd been acting so strangely.

"And then, seeing that you weren't returning my affections," Alexis sniffed, "I was so confused. It hurt so much. I couldn't help but take it out on others, I didn't know how else to respond. That's why I was so mean to Chazz…that's why I treated him so badly. I hoped that by lashing out at others who had these same feelings, I wouldn't feel alone in my misery. Someone had to understand me. Then I felt bad for what I'd done, knowing how much it'd hurt. And now I'm confused because I love you, Zane, but I also want Chazz too! I'm so confused!"

"You're hurt…" Zane told her, putting a hand on her shoulder, "I understand. It's going to be all right."

"I know now you never meant to hurt me…" Alexis sobbed, "that's just not your nature. And I know you weren't clueless about it. I guess it was all hopeful delusions and misunderstandings. I'm sorry, Zane. I'm sorry, Chazz."

Zane stood up and hugged her tightly. She clung to him, sobbing harder. Chazz began to feel awkward watching this.

"Zane, please know that I'm not mad anymore. I was wrong to have spied on you. I was wrong in everything I did. Why do I always have to be so stupid?"

Zane stoked her hair as she continued to cry pitifully into his jacket. "Alexis, it's Ok. Nobody is mad at you. Nobody blames you for anything. Do you need me to take you back?"

She shook her head. "I'll be Ok. I'll leave now. I h-hope you find someone you l-love."

Zane squeezed her then let her go. "I'm sorry, Lex."

"I'm s-sorry, too."

Hanging her head, she went over to Chazz and seized him in a hug. "I'm so s-sorry, Chazz."

Awkwardly, he hugged her back. "It's Ok, I forgive you. I know, I know, you're stressed and in love. It makes you lose your mind."

She gave him a quick kiss on the cheek, causing his to blush. "I'm sorry for last night. I won't bother you or Zane anymore. I wish you…best of luck."

Chazz felt horrible for her. He held her tightly for a moment, then released her and squeezed her hands.

"Take care, Lex."

She nodded and walked out of the restaurant, ignoring the stares that people threw in her direction.

"Poor Alexis," Chazz murmured, "I never knew…"

"It's my fault," Zane sighed, "I should've been more attentive. I'm a terrible friend."

"No, it's not your fault. How could we have known she would snap like that? It's Ok, Zane, you weren't sure how to tell her. It was all a big mistake and it's over now. So let's forget about it."

Zane nodded. "I hope she'll be all right."

"She'll be fine," Chazz assured him, waving it off, "She still has Jaden. He'll take care of her."

Zane relaxed. "Are you sure?"

"Yeah, I know that slacker likes her anyway. It'll all work out. She'll fall for him and they'll live happily ever after." He really couldn't believe he'd just said that.

Zane seemed calm again. "If you say so."

They finished their meal then headed back to their dorm. Before they went inside, Zane slipped his arms around Chazz's waist, and drew him near.

"Chazz…I--"

"Are you sure you should say it?" Chazz raised an eyebrow.

Zane blushed, and fondled his cheek. "I need to say it."

"If you must." Chazz rolled his eyes.

"I love you, Chazz."

Despite the fact that he'd expected it, it still made his heart skip a beat. "Zane…I can't say…"

"I know."

Zane looked at him tenderly and took his chin between his finger and his thumb. Slowly, he tilted Chazz's head up and leaned down. Chazz let their lips touch in a gentle kiss. They stood in the hall kissing gingerly. It tasted much sweeter than the kiss he'd shared with Atticus.

Down the hall, a figure peered out of a dorm room jealously.

"Zane won't get away with this," Atticus muttered, "Chazz is my boyfriend."

Shutting the door, he went to plan his revenge. Little did Zane know, the battle had only begun.


A/N: Hope you liked! XD

Next time: (note to self so I won't forget) Atticus begins his campaign to win Chazz's heart. And how else to do it that by original Atty charm? What will water balloons, crème pies, and love ballads have to do with it?

Chazz: I AM NOT THE UKE!

Me: Not all the time.

Chazz: Am I in this story?

Me: If you are, I don't mean you to be. You kind of switch around from being seme to uke. It's not my fault, it's not your fault, it's the way things work out. Sorry.

Chazz: You suck. XP