Blair had seen that look before...
But never on him...
Was that even possible? For a man to have that look?
"Blair?"
"Yikes! Yes?" She was catching her breath.
Jesse smiled. "Have I got sumthin' on my face?"
"No, no, no!"
Jesse laughed at her reaction and quickly jumped off the grass. "Jim!"
Jim faltered a step and looked at them, sitting in the shade of the large forest. Jesse and Jaden were running to him. Axel and Adrien stood far apart from the group in two different directions, and brooding alone, go figure. Blair, Alexis, and Atticus were huddled around a book. Hasselberry and Syrus were, like always, arguing with each other about something or other. Chazz was sleeping in the tree, his foot dangling down.
They were a group alright.
Jim managed to dodge to tackle coming. "Hi, boys."
Jesse looked at him funny. "Why're ya'll wet, Jim?"
Jim shrugged. "I went swimming with Shirley again."
There it was! Blair saw that look in Jim's face. What could he possibly be hiding?
-Jim-
He peeked around the tree and then ducked again.
Water exploded on the tree and he jumped out and threw his water balloon and hit his target as he splashed into the shallow water.
"ACK! Jim! No fair!"
Jim sat up, his hat crooked on his head and laughed. "So? That wasn't fair, waiting for me to show myself!"
For a moment, he was still sitting up, until-
Julisa and Jim went flying into the deeper water. She had tackled him and was kneeling in the water. She was just tall enough so her head could stay above the water.
Jim popped up further out, but swam back to her as she ducked under. He smiled as she reached up and grabbed his shoulder to pull herself up. He got up with her and smiled warmly, causing her face to change colors. He scooped her up and went back to shore.
"Julisa!"
The duo looked up to see Ember and Inez peeking through the ivy hanging as their curtain.
Julisa was speechless, but Jim just waved. "G'day."
"Wow..."
Julisa suddenly shoved Jim aside and stood up. "Hey! I told you to leave me alone!"
"But he's so... cute."
Jim saw the pieces fit. His heart, which had always felt lonely when he was with her, suddenly became lighter and he scooped her up again. "If you wanna watch, fine, but don't tell anyone else." He knew they wouldn't believe him. He put her on one of the high stones and walked over to them. "If you tell anyone else, I won't be nice about it, mate." He gave them a sly smile before he went back to Julisa, who was squeezing water out of her hair.
"What'd you say to them?"
"Nothing." Jim put his hands on his hips. "Whatever happened to the happy-go-luck girl I knew? You didn't care way back when."
"Well, here's different." She looked down at her knees. For a moment, she was silent before she hugged her knees and closed her eyes. "Here, they expect things of you. Things I can't achieve or do anymore. Things I could've done back home." She suddenly made two fists and held them up to Jim. "My hands never shook when I dueled at home! Here they're like earthquakes waiting to happen!"
Jim blinked and then laughed. "That sounds like an excuse!"
Julisa didn't mean to, but her fist went up and came down, knocking off Jim's hat. "Eek! Jim, I'm so sorry!"
Jim didn't stop laughing. He just fell back and tried to contain it behind his hands, but it still was escaping. "S-sorry, I-I just c-can't help i-it."
Julisa blinked and stared at him.
His sides were hurting like mad, but he was able to sit up. He smiled. "Julisa I knew was a strong girl. Not physically, but in her respect. She respected everyone and everything. You changed on the outside, but you're still there." He reached up and touched his chest. "On the inside, you're still right here."
Julisa felt the hot tears and smiled. "Jim, you say the strangest things. Weirdo."
Jim burst out laughing again and Julisa followed suit.
