Chapter 5: New People
Ever's pvo
When I woke up Jaden wasn't there. I knew that he was upset that I didn't want to do anything with him. I also knew that, he was acting weird. I looked up at the clock on my bedside table. It was one in the morning. I stood up and got dressed in this: fixing_things/set?id=20800461.
I found him standing on the balcony outside his room. The sun was just coming up, red in gold colors mixed the sky; highlighting some areas. J was staring at it. I knocked on the door and he turned quickly. "Hi." I said "Hi" he replied. An awkward silence settled upon us. "J… I know that I didn't want to last night and I don't want you to be mad. But don't you think we were moving a little fast?" I asked. I was kind of nervous… I really loved Jaden and I knew that he knew. I just wasn't sure if he loved me anymore. I started to cry silently. He walked over and hugged me, rocking me slowly on the spot. "Shh… there's no reason to cry…" he said, startled at my behavior. I gulped and spoke again "Yeah, right…" I wiped my eyes with my free hand, then went on " Im sorry." He released me and smiled that sweet smile of his. I looked in his brown eyes and he replied "No, im sorry. Ever… I feel like the world's biggest jerk for doing that to you and you have every right to hate me. I was stupid for trying to make you do that. And im really, really sorry." I could tell he meant it. I was the one that should be mad at him, but I wasn't. "You're forgiven." I kissed his cheek, and then said "I love you." He smiled, I smiled. He hugged me once more and said as loud as he could "I love you too, Ever Yumi."
We walked back in the house and sat on the couch together for a long while. It was about 6 when Lily walked out of her room. I watched her walk out the door, under the cover of pretend sleep. She seemed in a hurry to get out unnoticed. Jaden had fallen asleep on the couch next to me. I wiggled out from under his arm, and then walked towards my sister, my almost-daughter, my doom.
"Hey." I said to her. Lilly whirled around and her eyes went wide at the sight of me; much like a doe who had heard a gunshot. "Ever, please… you don't know me anymore!" "The hell I do! Lilly, what's going on, I can help!" I yelled. She retreated a few steps back. But she quickly recovered from her shock and shot back "It's not your concern! I don't need your help! Im not a little kid anymore!" I was flabbergasted at the low blow. I retorted angrily "I've been the one who has taken care of you! I've been there for you! It was always me! Not Mom, not Dad, me!" Though my heart wasn't in the words… she wasn't completely wrong. I didn't know my sister anymore. The Lilly I knew wouldn't have said that. I couldn't blame myself however; she wasn't the person I grew up with. Her voice pulled me back from my thoughts as she said "It's different… Im not your sister anymore, I can't be. Im sorry." She walked out the door.
My heart felt like it had been ran over by a Mack truck. Sinking back into the couch, I nestled closer to Jaden and fell asleep again.
Lilly's pvo
"I swear she's getting suspicious." I replied in to my pink i-phone four. "Well then, dear… you're going to have to get more creative." He told me. A shudder ran down my spine at that cold voice. "You must. Otherwise, I… may have to force my hand." He continued. "Don't you dare!" I snarled into the receiver. He chuckled and then said "My dear Lilly, that horrible school must have made you forget your manners, we must fix that." I was afraid, my outburst might have caused… bad things. I sighed and agreed by saying "Yes… father." I hung up.
Ever's pvo
I woke again around noon. Jaden was still asleep, typical. Fuming form my sister's stupidity, I decided to make 'breakfast'. Walking to the kitchen without punching anything was the real challenge. I let myself rant for a little while to calm me down, and then began to fry some bacon. The smell was intoxicating. Dino Boy and Jaden would be on it like starving animals. I smiled at the thought.
As soon as the pancakes were done and everything was set on the table, J ran down the inside steps. He kissed my cheek quickly and sat down. Licking his lips, Jaden began to pile up his plate with food. I smacked the back of his head in a chastising way, and then asked him "Are you going to wait for everyone else or are you going to eat all by yourself?" J scowled at me and placed his knife and fork back on the table. I patted his head in approval.
J still seemed a little upset at me when we were all eating. I nudged his arm with my elbow. I knew something was wrong when his eyes met mine. They didn't have their usual care-free sparkle. They looked… worried. "What's up?" I whispered. Jaden shook his head. Did he know something about Lilly?
I moved my eyes to April. Noticing me, she bent lower over her plate and shoveled food in her mouth as quickly as she could. I then fixed my attention on Alexis. Who, was in deep discussion with Zane about a new duel technique that she had came up with. Syrus looked scared, which was normal for him. But he looked much more than scared… horrified is a much better description.
I stood up and pushed my chair in. I wasn't hungry anymore. I walked into my room and changed into this: storming_out/set?id=21044927 . Grabbing my I-pod, I walked into the sunlight. Taking the stairs two at a time, I was thinking of where to go. I didn't want to duel or walk around pointlessly. Making my choice, I passed by the Ra dorm and the Obelisk dorm. Sea air reached my nostrils. I inhaled it deeply, the saltiness was strangely calming. I breathed in once more, savoring the effects. I looked down at the end of the dock. There, was a girl, round 'bout my age sitting there with her feet over the edge and staring at what I thought was her reflection in the water. I reached the mystery girl. She was a Ra. 2nd year, I think. She's in my advanced special summoning class. Her sister was in one of Lilly's classes too.
I sat next to her and said "Hi, Im Ever. You look familiar… Aren't you in my one of my classes?" She pulled her ear-phones out and replied, smiling "Yeah, Im Ella… Ella Ichebell." Ella held out her hand to shake mine. But her mp3 slipped. I picked it up and peered into the screen. It was playing Kelly Clarkson's 'Since U Been Gone.' I handed back to her. She muttered her thanks but I waved it away with my hand. "So, what are you doing on a wet dock, listening to a break-up song?"I asked and pulled one of my ear-pieces out, only half hearing Evanescence's 'Everybody's Fool'. Ella's face fell; she moved her eyes down and answered "Bad break-up." I laughed and replied "Yeah, I gathered that, who with?" She blushed. I couldn't be as bad a Syrus. Ella finally answered me however. "Umm… D-Dimitri." She turned even redder. I shrugged "So? What's so bad about Dimitri? He's a Ra, it shouldn't be embarrassing." She shook her head vigorously and said back "No. He loses a lot so… I've become the social outcast." I was sorry I brought it up… but Ella went on "And now, I have no place to go! My sister and I aren't welcome at our dorm anymore!" I got an idea, so I asked, "Why don't you come and live with us at the Slifer dorm? We've got an extra room and everything." Her face brightened into the first real smile I had seen from her. "Really? Are you sure it's ok with your room mates?" She inquired, probably thinking that it was too good to be true. I grinned and nodded.
Ella pratically jumped up from her spot. She began to run towards her dorm then stopped to yell "Im gonna go get Kimmy! Meet you in a few?" I put up my thumb to show I had heard her and she sprinted away.
*Ten minutes later*
"Welcome back." J said. I hugged him then smiled cutely. Jaden asked, as though he already knew the answer, "House meeting?" I nodded and pulled him into the next room. Lilly was back and she was talking to Sy about his hair. Everyone else chatted animatedly with each other. The door swung open and Ella walked in threw with the girl who I could only presume was Kimmy. She definitely looked like her sister.
All eyes were on the newcomers. Bastion apparently knew both girls. He walked over and introduced them to the others by saying "This is Ella and Kimiko Ichebell. 2nd and 1st year Ra's." he looked at the both of them, then asked Kim "But why are you here?" She smiled and replied in a sweet high voice "Well…Ella said that we could move in here… seeing as we're not welcome in our dorm anymore." She seemed a little sad now. Dino Boy moved towards Kimiko and put an arm around her, then addressed the rest of us. "I say, that they should stay, might be nice to have a few new recruits around." I giggled at Kim's reaction to his words and his arm placement. "Let's vote! All in favor of Ella and Kimiko staying raise a hand!" Atticus yelled from the couch and put his own hand in the air. April followed suit. Dino boy did the same. Zane lifted a finger. Sy smiled and stuck his hand up.
Everyone had their hands reaching towards the ceiling. Everyone except Lilly. I stared at my sister in disbelief. She folded her arms and said hardly "No, we already have enough people." Both new sisters' faces fell. Jaden stepped in before I could retort. "This is what I like about voting, majority wins." His smile was dangerous. I didn't know what he was going to do or what Lilly was going to say, but I knew that it would be bad. Lil shot him the bird, J held up a card, and then said "Don't like it? Then duel me." Her face turned into a malicious smirk. I grabbed J's arm and said "Jaden, leave it. Let me duel." Ella piped up at that moment "No, its ok… we don't have to stay here." She moved towards the door. Chazz stood up and replied "Don't leave on account of E and Lil. They're just having some issues." When had Chazz cared for someone else than himself? It was Alexis who asked "Huh? Are you being… nice?" Bastian started laughing and then added "This defies all the laws of nature." He blushed and didn't say anything back. I didn't care about Chazz so much; I was still focused on my sister. Jaden's expression was still protective yet challenging."So are you going to duel me or not?" he asked. She continued to grin evilly. April and I shared looks of horror.
The rumors around school were that Lilly was a good a duelist as Zane. Unfortunately those rumors were true. I had a duel with her once... it was very close but I managed to win, although just barely. I still didn't know if she was holding back or not, but this time, I was sure that she would have no problem crushing Jaden… or I for that matter, Syrus would have told her about every card in J's deck. Shit. "No." I said louder and stepped infront of Jaden to look at Lilly directly. "Duel me sister, unless… you're scared." Her smirk faltered a little but she regained her attitude quickly. "Duel?" I asked again, putting my disk on my arm and shoving my deck in. The circle glowed red. "Duel." She agreed.
We stepped outside in front of the dorm. I handed my i-pod to Atticus. He nodded and walked back inside. Lilly activated her duel disk. 'Hey there Delilah' came on. "Atticus!" My sister and I yelled at him simultaneously. "Sorry!" he yelled back and changed it to 'You're Gonna Go Too Far, Kid' by The Offspring. "Much better!" I shouted as he ran back out. He smiled and stopped to hug Lilly and I. He sat next to April who gave him an appreciative nod. Jaden walked towards me. "Thank you." I said and he grinned. J hugged me and whispered, so I was the only one who could hear him "I love you, good luck." I then whispered back "I don't need luck." His grin became more pronounced. He wrapped his arms around me and his lips met mine. I could hear Lilly making puke noises behind us; she yelled "Can we get this duel going? I have places to go and a boyfriend to kiss." I knew Syrus went red at her comment. I ended the kiss with difficulty. J embraced me once more and retreated to our friends Dino boy high-fived him as he sat down.
I faced my sister once more. Let's see how much I could get out of her I thought. "Why don't we make this more interesting, hmm?" I asked. She seemed interested, good she fell for it I thought. "What kinda bet are we talking about?" She questioned. I smiled slyly, and replied "If I win, you tell me what your plans are and who gave them to you, no lies." She sighed and said "I figured you say that. What's in it for me?" My smile grew, and I offered "Easy, I leave Duel Academy for good. And I'll stay at home… with dad." Everyone gasped, including Lilly. She smirked and answered by saying "You're on." I drew my first card.
*Middle of the Duel*
Things weren't going well for me. I had 3 cards in my hand, which were all traps. I was facing Lilly's Rainbow Dragon with only Dark Magician Girl on my side. 1100 life points left… damn. And her points were at 4000, untouched. It all mattered on this one draw… either way it would be my last. I closed my eyes and drew.
*After the Duel*
Lilly fell to her hands and knees. The last of her life points washed away with the smoke from her dragon's move. The card I drew earlier was 'Happy Ending'. It blocked the opponent's attack, and then allowed me to pay 1000 life points to redirect the damage my monster would have taken directly to Lilly's life points.
Syrus ran to Lilly, he tried to help her up, but she refused. Lilly motioned for me to come over. I walked to my sister, she looked really bad. Had that Dragon's attack actually hurt her? "Come closer." Lilly whispered. I obeyed and sat on my knees. She didn't make a sound until everyone was standing around her. They all bent down too. Lil finally sighed and she laid her back in grass. "Im sorry everybody… but I couldn't do anything to fight him." She said. I was confused "Our deal?" I asked, wanting to know the subject of her words. Lilly nodded slowly, as though the smallest movement caused her great pain. Her eyes were beginning to un-focus. She continued however. "I never wanted to hurt anyone… I was instructed to make you leave the school Ever, I couldn't say no. When you caught me sneaking out this morning, I was supposed to update him on my progress." Her breath was slowing; I needed to know who would be sick enough to do this to my little sister, though I already had a very good idea. I needed to be sure so I pressed on "Who Lilly, who made you do this?" She smiled up at me and replied quietly "Dad." Then she fainted.