Here you go everyone!! The chapter I promised before I left. Its 10,581 words long!! O.O I have outdone myself once again… :P Careful though when reading this chapter, don't want any of you going blind ;P
Thanks for all the lovely reviews everyone:D Hope you enjoy it!!
Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh! Gx
"Jaden?"
The brunette looked up with tear stained cheeks and red rimmed watery eyes as the occasional tear dribbled down one cheek. A couple of twigs and leaves stuck out of his hair, his uniform in tatters with the various cuts and scrapes he'd sustained. His eyes widened as he saw that he was in a very familiar clearing and the one person he had been searching for the whole night was climbing out of the well situated in the middle.
"What happened to you?" he asked sounding just a tad harsh as he climbed the rest of the way out of the well. Dropping the length of rope he had with him onto the ground, he cautiously approached the brunette still lying on the ground staring at him in shock.
"Jaden?" called Chazz again lowering and softening his voice a little as he slowly crouched down.
Jaden snapped back to himself, angrily telling shock to fuck off (in his mind) and never come back. Tears suddenly poured down his cheeks again as he threw himself into the others arms (much to Chazz's surprise), wrapping his own arms around a black uniform clad body, while ignoring the pain from his stomach.
"I'm so sorry! I didn't mean any of it! I'm sorry!" he sobbed over and over again into the others shoulder as his grip on the other tightened.
Chazz sat there for a moment, listening to the slightly muffled apology and not knowing what to do, the crying brunette practically in his lap.
What the hell was this? Some sort of trick? It could easily have been one, had the person playing it been anyone else but Jaden. He didn't do those kinds of things. Not only that, but he had never seen the brunette cry, ever. Yet here he was balling his eyes out and soaking his shoulder in tears, apologizing like he thought he was dead or something. Slowly, without even conscience thought of what he was doing, Chazz wrapped one arm loosely around the brunette's waist while his other hand began to rub slow soothing circles on the brunettes back.
It was only now that he noticed how tattered the other's red school uniform really was. There were scratches all over the sides, some on his back and sleeves as well as the legs of his pants. The brunette's sobbing was slowly beginning to subside, making the brunette's apology clearer as it was no longer muffled by the constant sobs.
"Alright, I heard you." whispered Chazz trying to sound gentle and not sure if he had managed as he was unfamiliar with acts of comforting another person, while picking out the debris stuck in the others hair. "Calm down."
He tried to pull the brunette back a little so that he could look at his face, only to find the brunette worming his way further into his embrace.
"Jaden…" he said as he tugged at the back of Jaden's school uniform jacket.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean it!" was strangled whisper that sounded like he was going to start crying again.
"It's alright you dumb slacker, calm down. I heard you." he said as he resumed his caress of the others back thinking he'd have to try calming him down again.
This time Jaden leaned back a little, looking him in the eye before saying "No it's not Chazz! Those were horrible and stupid things to say! Especially when they weren't even true. I let my emotions get the best of me, and I shouldn't have! Believe me the last thing I wanted to do was hurt you!"
"Alright—"
"You're really important to me Chazz! I can't believe I let myself say something like that to you!"
Hearing those words swept any doubts the black Slifer might have had right out the proverbial window.
"I'm sorry…" whispered the brunette, blushing slightly as he looked down at the ground, or where the ground should have been considering how close he was to the other teen. Uh oh…
"You're forgiven… I suppose though it's partly my fault seeing as I upset you with my constant pestering of something you obviously didn't want to share. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying I'm sorry, I still want to know what's wrong with you, and don't regret badgering you about it."
Jaden couldn't help but smile as he hugged him again, even though he was absolutely dreading what he would have to say next. At least the black Slifer was back to normal, his eyes crackling with their unique fire again, bringing him warmth even in the cool night air.
Chazz let himself hug Jaden back, even if it was only a small quick squeeze. He didn't see the smile that had spread itself on the others face.
"Come on, let's get out of here before morning comes." said Chazz as he let go and began to get up.
After offering his hand he pulled the brunette up before noticing how clammy his hands were. He slowly looked at Jaden's face again to see that it was still flushed. He'd thought the brunette had blushed, but it seemed he'd been wrong. Maybe. He slowly lifted his hand and pressed it to the brunette's forehead. He had to support said brunette with his other arm as the guy was barely able to stand on his own.
The brunette's forehead was very warm, and Chazz's expression turned into one of surprise as he found it warm enough to mean that Jaden was running a high temperature.
"Jaden you're burning up, what the heck have you been doing? And how did you get you're uniform into this condition?"
The brunette took another deep breath to steady himself, but found he just barely had enough strength to stand and that he knew he wouldn't be able to walk all the way back to the Slifer red dorm unaided.
"I've been looking for you…" he answered breathily.
"You're really tired aren't you? Can you walk?"
Jaden took a step and would have fallen if Chazz hadn't been supporting him.
"Umm… I can try, but I'm really tired, so not without some help."
"Alright, but I still need you to do your best, I am not carrying you all the way back to our dorm. I can support you, but you're going to have to do some walking."
"Hehe… alright." said Jaden feeling happy that Chazz had forgiven him, and basking in the attention the other was now showering him in. 'In you're face Alexis!' he thought triumphantly before giggling like a school girl.
"Looks like you're fever's worse then I thought." muttered Chazz as they walked slowly out of the clearing, his expression that of someone who just saw a horse drinking from a vodka bottle.
"It's not the fever, I was just thinking about something stupid…" said Jaden smiling happily. After all, apparently Chazz had given up on Alexis. He'd have to ask him about that particular issue later.
Chazz looked at him before answering, the smile dazzling him. It was Jaden's first true smile (that he'd seen) in a while, and it was making him want to grin like an idiot. Instead he let a small smile of his own grace his lips.
"You're always thinking about stupid things, or being stupid, but you certainly never giggled while doing it."
"I do not!" protested Jaden weakly.
"Sure your don't." said Chazz smirking.
"Hey Chazz… about that place I disappear off too…"
"Yeah?"
"It's close to the well."
Chazz raised an eyebrow at the brunette, he didn't know why, but that piece of information settled in his brain before exploding into happiness, which spread a warm feeling all the way to the tips of his toes. Jaden was opening up to him. His curiosity caused him to want to know more, but decided that he'd question the brunette about this later. Right now, they both needed to concentrate on getting to Slifer red dorm, and taking care of all the cuts and bruises the Slifer slacker had acquired before he nodded off.
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They managed to arrive at the Slifer dorm with no incidents except for Jaden suddenly realising half way through their trip that he had forgotten the flashlight he had dropped, to which Chazz replied that they'd get it later. Then Jaden had also remembered Chazz forgetting his rope, to which Chazz had replied that they'd get it later.
Up the stairs they went, and through a door. It was only after the door had been closed and then locked that Jaden realized that they weren't in his dorm room, nor did it seem, that Chazz had any intention of taking him there. Jaden recognized Chazz's bedroom as they went through another door, and he was sat on the raven haired teen's luxurious bed. Had the brunette had the energy, he would have been nervous, but seeing as he was absolutely exhausted, it was all he could do not to fall over and go right to sleep.
Window shutters were pulled shut, and then the lights came on, causing Jaden to whine a little about being blinded, his eyes, watering slightly as he rubbed them. Chazz ignored him and left the room. He soon returned with a first aid kit. Jaden looked at it, or tried to still rubbing his eyes, when his hands were pulled down, and his red Slifer jacket was slipped off his shoulders. Jaden blushed, his embarrassment beginning to wake him up, and the impending tenseness began spreading through his body as he looked anywhere but at the black Slifer.
"What are you embarrassed about?" asked Chazz snappishly as he began to remove the brunette's shirt. "You certainly didn't mind staring at me while I was changing in P.E. class so why would you be embarrassed about taking your shirt off so I can get at all the cuts you've managed to get yourself?"
Jaden's blush deepened and he stayed quiet as Chazz began work on his arm. After a few more moments, Chazz let out an annoyed growl as he finished the brunette's arm. The damn brunette was still keeping things from him. It occurred to the black Slifer that they were in his room, and Jaden was supposed to be dead tiered, especially seeing as he was running a high fever, yet he seemed to be wide awake, and nervous about something. Was it because he was in Chazz's room again? Or was it that the brunette was suddenly extremely uneasy around him for no reason?
"Humph! First you bowl me over and now you act all tense and scared like I'm going to kill you or something stupid like that…" he muttered annoyed.
Jaden looked up at him as he showed his other arm.
"I'm sorry…" he sighed; he knew he was tensing up, and blushing, but it wasn't like he could stop it. How many people in the world would be perfectly calm when the person that they are in love with leads them into his/her bedroom and then starts stripping clothes off of them? Granted Chazz was tending to his various scratches, and probably going to give him something for his fever, but pampering was pampering and it felt very nice, and at the same time, made him very embarrassed and nervous. "I'm just… nervous…"
"About what?" asked Chazz pausing and momentarily looking up from the various scratches on Jaden's arm.
"Uhh… well… um… uh…" Jaden opened and shut his mouth a couple more times till he shut it a final time and remained silent looking at his lap, looking slightly ashamed. He wanted to tell him, he had a right to know, but it seemed his voice didn't want to cooperate.
"How about you try again later?" said Chazz as he moved to the brunette's chest before gasping suddenly, staring at Jaden's lower abdomen.
Jaden tensed.
'Oh no! Please don't tell me it's up and hard!' thought Jaden blushing so hard he feared his body would shut down on him due to the lack of blood flow.
"Where did you get this bruise?! What the hell have you done to yourself??"
Jaden yelped and flinched as he felt a warm hand rest on his stomach, barely applying any pressure to it.
"Lay down, maybe we should get the nurse to look at this." he muttered as he helped Jaden lay down before sitting next to him on the edge of his bed.
"No! She'll ask how I got it, and I already had a hard time getting her to leave me alone about my face."
"…I'm sorry I hit you so hard…" muttered Chazz quietly after a moment as he applied some kind of cream to the massive bruise now forming on Jaden's stomach.
"It's alright… I guess I deserved it for being such a bad friend."
"Well then I take my apology back."
Jaden chuckled at that, before yelping as pain shot up from his stomach.
"Geeze, how were you even able to look for me, and how the hell did you do this to yourself? Did you punch yourself in the gut? Or ask someone else to?" asked Chazz as he began to apply antiseptic to the cuts on his chest.
"I really wanted to find you, is how I got around… Oh! Did you take that rope you had from the P.E. storage room?" Jaden stayed on his back, but tried to strain his neck so he could look at Chazz better without tensing his stomach muscles, which wasn't really possible so he let his head drop back onto the pillows.
"Yeah so?"
"How'd you get in?"
"The same way we got out before our argument." said Chazz wondering how Jaden had managed to go around the DA main building looking for him (because that could be the only reason he could have been in there, and the brunette had definitely been in there since he knew about the rope) without getting caught. "I climbed up the tree and through the window. It was unlocked."
"Yeah… well I was checking the DA main building to see if you were there and everything was fine until I got to the storage room. Then one of the campus security guys was coming up the stairs so I ran up onto the roof. I almost got caught, but then I threw myself off the roof and into that tree you climbed up to get in… and well… it didn't work out all that well… but I did manage to get away before they found me."
"You jumped off the ROOF??? Are you crazy?! You could have DIED!!!" yelled Chazz looking at the brunette incredulously. "That is the dumbest thing I have ever heard you do and if you weren't so beat up already I'd hit you!"
"But I couldn't let myself get caught I had to find you!" defended Jaden pouting slightly.
Chazz stared, caught off guard. He felt… weird. Jaden looked…. cute? Suddenly his mind drifted back to the conversation he'd had with Alexis 2 weeks ago in the haunted house. He felt blood rushing up into his face and suddenly turned to rummage around in the first aid kit like he was looking for something.
"Thanks, but next time I'd rather you get caught then die." stated Chazz trying to sound scolding.
"But I didn't die." said Jaden looking confused. 'This is annoying, how am I supposed to see his face if I can barely see him on my back like this.'
Without another thought, Jaden attempted to get up, whimpering slightly from the pain of his stomach. An arm steadied him as a pillow was placed behind his back, propping him up so he could actually properly see the person he was talking to.
"Thanks…" said Jaden looking up at Chazz and smiling.
It was another dazzling smile, bright and happy, and Chazz again found himself completely pulled in by it. Why in the world was the dumb slacker affecting him this way? Had he really missed his smile that much?
"Humph, you dumb slacker, can't you stay still for more then 2 minutes? You've already irritated you're stomach muscles enough, stay still." muttered Chazz as he got off the bed and went over to his closet. He was blushing slightly, but was quite sure the brunette hadn't noticed. Hopefully. "When you fell something must have hit your stomach pretty hard. You might have even suffered internal damage. We might just have to take you to the nurse tomorrow morning even if you don't want to go. Or maybe I'll just call the chopper and have you sent directly to a hospital…" (A/N: Chazz may be disowned but he's still rich, and he owns a chopper.)
Jaden cringed internally at the thought of maybe having to go to the nurse again tomorrow; after all he'd only just been there. He waited for the black Slifer to come out of his walk-in-closet, while wondering what on earth he was looking for in there.
"But I don't want to go to the nurse's office again, and I'm fine, there really isn't any need to make such a huge fuss, you're starting to sound like Syrus."
Chazz emerged carrying a light blue t-shirt and white pyjama pants.
"Humph, if you don't want to go to the nurse's office, fine, but then you'll go to a hospital. You could be seriously hurt, and I mean there might be more damage then just stomach muscle bruising. I just want a doctor to check that everything is alright with your body nothing more." said Chazz as he pulled the light blue t-shirt over Jaden's head. "And don't compare me with you're roommate, if he was here right now he'd have had a heart attack at seeing you in this condition."
"Alright… but don't you think it's a bit mu—Aaahhhh!"
Jaden jumped and then yelped in pain, as his hands caught Chazz's who had been at his pants and had already managed to unbutton them and slide the zipper down.
"W-what are you doing?!" asked Jaden in a half shout, his face colouring again to the shade of fire truck red.
"What does it look like I'm doing? I'm taking your pants off! And would you stop being so embarrassed and jumpy? Geeze, you'd think I'm trying to rape you." said Chazz as he began to try and tug Jaden's pants off despite the brunette's hands still trying to keep his away.
"Alright, why are you trying to take my pants off?" squeaked Jaden his head lowered slightly, face still very much red, and eyes on the black Slifer's face. 'And it wouldn't be rape… I'd probably get very willing very fast…' Jaden blushed harder at his own thoughts, he could have kicked himself for having them, but what was a hormonal teenager to do? Especially when on his secret love's bed with said person taking his clothes off.
"Why? Isn't it obvious? You've got scratches all over your legs! I need to treat them too you know!" said Chazz raising an eye brow at the struggle the other was putting up.
He finally let go, but didn't back away.
"What is it with you? Do you go commando or something? Why the heck are you so embarrassed?" asked Chazz looking annoyed, his hands resting on Jaden's legs, just itching to get back to brunette's pants.
"How can I not be embarrassed!" burst out Jaden staring at the black Slifer incredulously "I'm in your bedroom, behind a locked door, on your bed, and your trying to take my pants off!" he practically shouted.
Chazz stared at him, one eyebrow raised, before his own cheeks began to flush a little red. But that didn't stop him from staring at the brunette for several moments with unreadable eyes. Causing Jaden to want to squirm uncomfortably but he had to restrain himself on account of his stomach.
"Jaden…" the raven haired teen began, looking at the brunette with curious eyes. "You have hormones?"
Jaden almost fell off the bed.
He asked him if he had hormones… How was he supposed to reply to that?
('Why yes, I do Chazz, in fact it's because of these hormones that I have been acting so strange lately. You see I've fallen madly in love with you, and after witnessing two gay guys having sex in the haunted house 2 weeks back, I've been dreaming of you sticking your--------up my------and you--------my brains out. That sound good? In fact it's been on my mind since the moment you started to take my clothes off!')
He almost felt like laughing hysterically, but didn't want to hurt Chazz's feelings for a second time that night, but what else could he say? If he went ahead and said what he'd just thought he'd scare the black Slifer back into the well in the forest.
"Yes I do… d-doesn't everyone?" stuttered Jaden under the others scrutiny.
"I thought yours where dormant…" said Chazz surveying him as if in new light.
"Oh, they're anything but dormant." muttered Jaden looking at Chazz's nightstand, his eyes landing on the glowing digital alarm clock. It read 5:30 a.m.
Chazz's interest piqued. "Do your hormones have anything to do with why you've been acting depressed lately?"
Jaden's eyes snapped to him, completely wide, the answer obviously written all over his face.
'That would be a yes.' thought Chazz, he was finally getting somewhere. He only wasn't sure whether it was right to try and get it out of him now, but if he didn't now then maybe later on he wouldn't tell him. One thing was for sure, if this whole thing all occurred because the stupid brunette had developed a silly crush on some girl he was definitely going to smack him over the head, even if he was quite badly beat up from his fall. He then decided to ask the brunette now, just to get it over with so he could smack him one so hard that it would hopefully render him unconscious in order for Chazz to be able to tend to the brunette's scratches in peace.
"Well… not just my hormones…" muttered Jaden timidly, as he turned to look at Chazz's nightstand again. This was it… and he couldn't even look him in the face. He was so close, but after he was through telling him, he'd probably move over to the other side of the room. Unbearable sadness gripped him again, his tiny ray of hope flickering like a candle in the wind. (A/N: Thank you Elton John, you're songs are an inspiration to us all. (I had to give credit somehow))
"What else?" asked Chazz, deciding to go with it. The brunette no longer looked very feverish, and he was sure that the intense flush covering his cheeks was due to excessive blushing.
"…um… love…" the brunette muttered. Damn that sounded stupid. He might as well have turned to the black Slifer all starry-eyed while some random person threw confetti, flower petals and glitter behind him.
Chazz stared. He wanted very much to make fun of him, but noticed by the look the other had in his eyes (even if he wasn't able to meet them) that he was serious, and he was expecting ridicule, already hurt. The black Slifer decided to go with slightly offended. He understood that having strong feelings for someone for the first time was a big deal, but it still wouldn't have been that crucial to hide. The brunette should have been able to tell someone human about this waaaaay sooner.
"Let me get this straight." He started, in his slightly offended tone, which already slightly surprised the brunette enough to turn his eyes to meet his. "Your problem, this whole thing that's caused pain for both of us, is over the fact that you've fallen in love with some girl?"
Jaden turned to him, opening his mouth to speak but Chazz wouldn't let him as he continued his rant.
"I know it's a big deal to like someone for the first time Jaden, but don't you think it to be absolutely ridiculous to bottle this secret inside of you, and blow it so out of proportion?! Honestly you could have easily told me or even one of your closer friends sooner!"
"Chazz! It isn't out of proportion!" said Jaden, calmly, although his voice was slightly raised so that Chazz would listen. "And I have no friends that are closer then you…"
"Oh really? How is keeping your crush on some girl bottled up inside to the extent that you go into depression not blowing it out of proportion?" asked Chazz sternly ignoring the other's last statement.
"For one, it's not a stupid crush. I'm in love." Jaden held up his hand to stop Chazz's oncoming protests of how it hardly made much of a difference "For two," he could no longer look Chazz in the eye, and turned his head away, lowering it at the same time so that most of his face was hidden behind his dark copper mist auburn hair "it isn't a girl."
Chazz's eyes widened. He looked at Jaden completely surprised, the other still not looking his way, Chazz had a sneaking suspicion the brunette had his eyes closed. Now that explained a lot of things, his embarrassment at being stripped, the depression (he must have fallen for someone who he was sure did not swing his way, not to mention he had to think about what everyone would think of him), the unwillingness to share it with anyone.
"…So, you're gay?" Chazz finally asked, his voice containing no malice, only curiosity and surprise.
Jaden lifted his head a little and looked at him cautiously. As if waiting for the raven haired teen to lash out at him any second. When the black Slifer didn't and continued patiently waiting for an answer and not even backing away from him, Jaden decided it was safe to reply.
"I… I don't really know… I'm just in love with this one guy… any others just don't interest me, and neither do any girls…" he could feel the pressure mounting, soon Chazz would ask who it was, and he would tell him. Then the weight would finally fall off his shoulders, and he could kill himself in peace.
There was moment of silence, which then was shattered by a surprised yell that came from Jaden, followed by a small yelp of pain (still form Jaden).
"Oh would you at least hold on to your boxers while I'm pulling these off?" said Chazz like what he was doing was absolutely normal as he tugged some more on the brunettes pants that were now at his thighs.
"You didn't even warn me!" yelled Jaden blushing bright red again, as his hands went to his boxers which were now dangerously low on his hips, yanking them up quickly.
"Of course not, you wouldn't have let me pull them off." replied Chazz nonchalantly as he pulled the brunette's pants the rest of the way down tan legs. "See that wasn't so hard now was it? Probably a little more painful then it had to be, but that's your problem."
Jaden was so red he felt he should have died right on the spot. Had Chazz just used their serious conversation as a way to distract him enough to get his pants off? Didn't he believe Jaden to be completely serious? It was like it was all a big joke to him.
He jumped a little when he felt wet cotton touching one of the cuts that was pretty high up along his inner thigh.
"Would you relax already?" said Chazz who was still kind of leaning over him as he worked; looking up at Jaden like nothing had changed. Like the conversation they'd just been having never even happened.
"Get me the whole pack of that Prozac drug you were offering before and I will." said Jaden, still blushing and not looking at the black Slifer.
This just caused Chazz to laugh and continue his ministrations.
A few more minutes of silence was all Jaden could take.
"Do you think this whole thing is some sort of joke? I'm serious Chazz!" said Jaden, still completely red but now staring straight at the other, looking slightly hurt.
The black Slifer merely moved on to the other leg.
"I know." he said simply. After another moment of silence he looked up to meet the brunette's deep brown eyes. "Did you really think it was going to change anything? You're still a stupid Slifer slacker who's beaten me twice in a duel, and I'm not going to suddenly start hating you just because you're in love with some guy. We're friends now right?"
Jaden felt the full weight of the world crashing onto his shoulders as he turned away. A stray tear rolled down his cheek. Why did he have to come out and be so nice? What he was going to say next was going to completely wreck their friendship; he was a couple sentences from losing the black Slifer for good.
"You only say that because you don't know who it is." he said softly. "But, seeing as I've already told you this much I want to check if my own piece of gossip is true."
"Jaden, no matter who it is, it isn't going to change anything. Really." said Chazz having finished up with Jaden's legs and helping him into the white pyjama pants.
Jaden continued to look disbelieving, but before Chazz could rectify that by saying something the brunette spoke first.
"Did you really give up on Alexis? And is it true that you like someone else now?" asked Jaden quickly. He wanted to know whether what Alexis said was true before he dropped the bomb.
Chazz's eyes widened, thrown completely off guard by the questions.
"Who—? How'd you know about that?" he asked as he fumbled inside his mind for an answer.
"Alexis, she told me before she let me go looking for you." said Jaden, waiting for an answer. He might have given up on Alexis, but that still didn't mean that he hadn't just shifted his feelings to another girl. But at least he'd get a somewhat of a fair trade for his most precious secret, even if it meant that they'd no longer be friends.
"Why on earth would she tell you about that?" asked Chazz buying himself some more time to formulate some type of response. Yes, he had given up on Alexis, it was very clear now, but whether his feelings had shifted to someone else was a completely different ballgame. So far he knew that he regarded Jaden as a very important friend, and that he would do just about anything to ease his suffering. He definitely wouldn't let him loving a guy come and snap their bond of friendship. No matter whom the guy was, and no matter how much he may dislike or hate him. Apparently though Jaden didn't believe him, which would only be fixed when the brunette would tell him who he had a crush—was in love with so that Chazz could accept it and wipe doubt out of the brunette's mind. Oops… he'd gotten off topic. Feelings for someone else, well his worry for Jaden had certainly eclipsed his… crush on Alexis, but it wasn't like he had those kinds of feelings for Jaden. He'd just been a very concerned friend and the only one truly there for him.
"I don't know…" Jaden was saying, breaking Chazz out of his quickened thought process. "She thought it would help us resolve our argument."
"Why?" asked Chazz completely confused, what the heck had been going on in that girls mind?
"I don't know, she didn't really know either, but she thought I should know." said Jaden averting his eyes. Alexis had picked up on him not wanting Chazz to like her, but as far as he knew, the black Slifer was completely clueless about it. He had absolutely no idea that Jaden was in love with him. Though if he didn't tell him now, then it wouldn't be long before he figured it out for himself.
"Did it make sense to you?" Chazz asked, thinking that the brunette was probably just as confused as he was.
"Well, not so much… but she did pick up on something that even you haven't picked up on." said Jaden.
"What's that?" asked Chazz curious. He'd missed something? What could it possibly be? Of course he didn't feel as bad knowing that it had been Alexis who had picked up on it. She actually used here brain, had it been someone else, he would have been severely disappointed in himself. He fished out some fever medicine from the inside of the first aid kit and put it on the nightstand. This conversation was far too interesting for him to interrupt, although the brunette did need his rest, but it seemed that Jaden wanted to get some things off his chest before going to sleep.
"That I didn't want you and Alexis to get together." stated Jaden as he stared at the black Slifer steadily, warning bells going off in his head telling him that if he kept giving all these hints, Chazz would figure his secret out before he came out and told him.
At these words Chazz looked surprised again, but then made a connection.
"I see," he paused, Jaden gulped uncomfortably.
'Shit! He figured it out!' thought Jaden wishing he could take everything back. He felt so exposed.
"Alexis probably thought we were fighting over her." finished Chazz.
Jaden almost fell off the bed again. How long did the black Slifer intend to torture him? Or perhaps the better question was how long he intended to torture himself.
"But why wouldn't you want us together?" asked Chazz finally completely bewildered. After all Jaden was in love with some guy, not Alexis.
"You didn't answer my question." countered Jaden, looking at him expectantly. 'That's it! Distract him! Besides he avoided it completely, and I still don't know whether what Alexis said was true.' he thought as he waited for his answer again.
"Oh… well, yes. The part about me giving up on Alexis is true, but not the part about my feelings shifting to anyone else." said Chazz finally.
"Alexis did say that you wouldn't admit to it." said Jaden, not really knowing why he was prodding Chazz about it, but feeling the need to do it all the same.
"Wha— well she was wrong! I was worried and confused at the time so I didn't really know what I was saying, there is absolutely no-one I have feelings for right now." said Chazz defensively. "And no matter who it is that you li— that you're in love with, it won't make a difference. Our friendship won't change."
Jaden's amusement at seeing the black Slifer get so defensive was crushed under the weight of what he was about to do. He took a deep breath.
"Oh but it will." he said sadly as his eyes and face turned away.
"No it won't! Believe me! No matter who it i—"
"Chazz!" Jaden cut in turning to meet the black Slifer's eyes straight on, mentally prepared to leave as soon as the words left his mouth. "It's you."
Chazz seemed to freeze for an instant, his face telling Jaden that the information was having problems getting processed by the other's brain.
"What?" asked Chazz, he definitely thought he'd heard wrong.
"I fell in love with you. Do you understand? The person I love… is you." Jaden felt tears streaming down his cheeks again. He looked into those dark ebony eyes for a few more moments, or perhaps they were minutes, before he slowly got off the bed. His stomach hurt, but it was nothing compared to the pain in his heart, and in the end he felt it to be a nice distraction, as he began to make his way towards the door.
Chazz just stared for a minute. He felt like head just been buried under a mountain of bricks.
'Jaden— What?— Love— But— Him??' His brain was working so fast his own thoughts didn't make sense to him. But somehow it was like the last piece of a giant puzzle that he had very much wanted to complete, fell into his hand. The brunette's strange reactions to him, the blushing, the angry glare at the beach where he'd been flirting with Alexis, the sudden dive the brunette's enthusiasm for life in general had taken after his karaoke number, why he didn't want Alexis and himself to get together. Chazz dimly felt the bed shift, and suddenly found himself staring at the wall behind his bed, open mouthed like it was the most shocking thing in existence. Gone were the deep chocolate eyes bathed in tears and utter sadness. He then registered footsteps before they stopped, and the door handle began jingling.
Jaden cursed himself for making so much noise, how was he supposed to get out of here if the door was freaking locked! He almost panicked and started fiddling with the door handle with both his hands.
Suddenly he felt two hands upon his own. They pulled the brunette's hands away form the door handle, making them rest at his sides, the others hands still not letting go.
"Jaden…"
He was slightly surprised to feel the other behind him, but he soon got over it and began to fight the desire lean back into that chest and pulling those arms around him. Why did Chazz have to make this so hard? Maybe he could make him see by turning around and kissing him, it would probably knock some sense into him, and make him let Jaden go. He wanted to, really badly, but he couldn't. Not only would the black Slifer not return the kiss (unless it was out of pity, which the brunette really didn't want), but he could never bring himself to steal something Chazz wouldn't willingly give him. There was just no way.
"Jaden, wait… you hit me with a train, you have to give me time to absorb this."
"Then you might want to be alone for that." said Jaden, feeling he'd made an excellent point, and the black Slifer could now unlock this confounded door, and let him the hell out of here so that he could head for the cliffs.
'That's true…' thought Chazz. Why was he stopping him? 'Well for one I want him here… Even after the love confession? Apparently so… Then there's the fact that he's injured, and sick, and shouldn't even be standing. He should be asleep. In your bed. Right… my………bed…'
"I know Jaden, but I'm still confused, and I want you to wait before either of us does something stupid." said Chazz finally deciding that all he could do was say what was on his mind seeing as he had absolutely no idea what else to do.
"I'd really much rather get out of here so I can throw myself off the nearest cliff." said Jaden. He suddenly slapped a hand over his mouth, wishing he could take it back. His tone of voice had been serious, conveying that he really meant what he'd just said. He himself didn't think he'd meant it… but his voice had sounded so serious, even to his own ears that it scared him. Jaden then realized that he had been thinking of it all along; he just hadn't taken it seriously until now.
Before he could so much as formulate another thought, Jaden found himself being whirled around, his back hitting against the door. A hand that was not his own was gripping his shoulder rather tightly another hand slammed, palm first, next to the brunette's head, against the door. His mouth opened in protest, his tears continuing to flow down his face, but found that he wasn't able to utter anything coherent because of his hand, which was still firmly placed over his mouth. Slightly embarrassed, he removed his hand so that he could speak. Chazz was leaning close, very close.
"Do you mean that?" was the whispered question. Hidden just beneath those dark eyes, out of sight from the brunette, was a torrent of worry and fear. The brunette wanted to throw himself off the nearest cliff? That couldn't be possible, Jaden was always happy, always overcoming his difficult times with a smile on his face and determination sparkling in his eyes. How could anything make the happy go lucky brunette suicidal?
"Why are you leaning so close? You know what I feel for you now, so why are you doing it? Do you know what it does to me?" asked Jaden softly, dodging the question, and doing his best to not look away from the black Slifer. "If you're still trying to teach me what humiliation feels like, I can tell you now that you've done it. I know what it feels like. I'm sorry I made you feel this way, I never knew that it would feel so bad."
There was a moment of silence, during which Jaden tried to maintain contact with slightly surprised and searching ebony eyes. However keeping eye contact proved to be too much, and the brunette closed his eyes, more tears pouring down his already stained cheeks.
Chazz watched the crying brunette. He was so heart broken, so sad, and he didn't want to see him sad. The black Slifer wanted Jaden happy, like when they'd had the tutoring sessions together, when he duelled someone, or when it was that time of day when they would go eat. Seeing the happy, energetic individual like this tore at his own heart, and made him angry at himself for causing the other so much pain.
His arms wound their way around the weeping brunette, pulling him tightly against his own chest in a tight comforting hug. The black Slifer had no idea what else to do, so he relinquished control and let himself do whatever he felt would help.
"Jaden," he whispered into the other's ear "I'm sorry. I don't want you to feel humiliated; I haven't wanted that in a long time. I may have wanted you to take life more seriously at times, but you aren't that type of person. I don't want you to feel bad. All I want is to see you smile again. To hear you laugh, and be the idiot you always were…. And, if you think that because of this, I'm going to want to end our friendship and start to distance myself from you, then you're wrong."
Jaden pushed himself away, still crying, only now he was blushing as well. The words seeped into his heart making him happy and sad at the same time, the feeling of them being whispered into his ear just made him blush. It was the first time Chazz had ever hugged him properly, and it felt good, so right that the tears running down his cheek were there because he had to pull away. Chazz wasn't in love with him, and was only trying to comfort him, but what the black Slifer didn't seem to get, was that proximity right now was doing just the opposite.
"Stop getting so close to me… it's hard enough knowing you're only doing it because you pity me." mumbled Jaden looking at the floor. "It's in the same category as leaning close."
"What does it do to you?" asked Chazz. He had no idea why he was asking this, or how it had any relevance to the situation. But for some reason or another it seemed like the right thing to ask.
"…It makes want to lean….." said Jaden, wondering why Chazz had asked such an obvious question. "I really wish Syrus hadn't dared you to steal my fired shrimp." he said softly, he had no idea what possessed him to start talking about random stuff like that, but he had to keep talking, so that he could distract himself from the fact that his back was still against the door, and Chazz was still very close to him, despite his attempts at pushing him away. "You were so close, and then you started eating the shrimp and I thought you looked at me in a strange way, but I know now that it must have been my imagination… Gosh I'm desperate…" he trailed off, one hand rising to hide his face, abruptly running out of things to say.
Chazz continued to watch the brunette intently, raising a hand pulling the brunette's arm down and wiping the brunette's tears away with his thumb, before the memory of the entire incident flitted into his head. The shrimp had been better then usual, but he had been yearning to taste something entirely different. He remembered the strange hunger that had seized him, and had him almost meeting the brunette's lips. The memory triggered Chazz to relive the bathroom incident in his head, Jaden had been blushing so cutely, and to his astonishment he remembered thinking the exact same thing at the time, only he was too shocked to notice. The past weeks he hadn't let himself dwell on those memories, too worried about what was hurting the brunette to want to examine his own emotions. Had he had feelings for Jaden the entire time? Was he confusing friendship with something that could possibly be a deeper bond? He'd been so sure that it had been worry that had obscured his feelings for Alexis, but now he suddenly wasn't so sure. Quickly he tried to picture Jaden with someone else, only to be brought out of his thoughts by Jaden squirming uncomfortably under his expressionless and yet penetrating stare, still not looking up at him.
"Can I kiss you?" the words tumbled out before he was even able to fully process what he was thinking. That didn't even make sense. What the hell was he thinking? Jaden was hurting badly over the love he felt for him, and he was thinking about testing his feelings? Was that even what he was thinking? A part of him was waiting for the brunette's answer with something akin to anticipation, while another wished the words had never come tumbling out of his mouth.
Jaden's head shot up, his expression was almost frightened, and showed how vastly he was confused.
"I'd say yes, I really want to say yes… but I want to know why." said Jaden, he steadily stared into the others eyes, waiting for him to say something like 'because I feel bad', or 'I suddenly find you very attractive, which I don't but I want to give you what you want so that you'll be happy again'. At least it seemed, that the black Slifer was willing to let him leave with a kiss, but he couldn't help wondering what on earth was going through the others head. Before, when he had been staring at him, it was like he had completely spaced out. What could possibly do that during such a serious conversation? If he wanted to space out then he could do it just fine without Jaden in the room.
"…because… well…. when you mentioned Syrus' dare, you reminded me of some things I hadn't had the chance to think about after they happened. I was too worried about your emotional well being to examine…" he wanted to say 'my feelings' but couldn't get himself to form the words with his mouth or his voice box to sound them out, so he ended up saying "these events."
"What events?" asked Jaden, sensing that there was something that Chazz had wanted to say at the end, but hadn't.
"Things that happened between us, like for example the day before the festival…" said Chazz, he wasn't sure how he was going to tell Jaden about his weird feelings without making him believe that he felt the same way. It could go very badly and he might end up hurting the brunette worse then he had up until now.
"Ok… What about the events?" asked Jaden, now absolutely sure Chazz wanted to tell him something but was unsure about it. The black Slifer kept shifting from one foot to the other nervously, as if not sure if he actually wanted to tell him.
"Alright… well… uh… that l-look I had you said you imagined… during the fried shrimp dare… well…you didn't… imagine it." said Chazz, it was his turn not to be able to look Jaden directly in the eyes, he felt a blush rising to his own cheeks, and dropped his eyes to Jaden's lips.
"What do you mean I didn't imagine it? Chazz, I don't think you know what kind of look I was talking about. It looked… um…" Jaden gulped, unsure of how to word it, and very embarrassed at having to say it.
"Hungry." finished Chazz, his embarrassment dissipating with very move the brunette's lips made, as he decided that it was enough talking for now, looking into the Jaden's deep brown eyes and leaning a fraction closer, slowly tilting his head. His lips were not far from the others, and he could see it affecting the brunette as well as himself. Jaden was blushing very hard, his eyes wide and staring, his lips slightly parted.
The brunette's thought process stopped, his breathing becoming irregular and his heart hammering so hard in his ribcage that he was sure it would burst out any second now. What was the black Slifer doing???
Chazz leaned his left forearm against the door close to Jaden's head, and leaned in closer still, but without touching the others lips, letting his nose rub slightly against the brunett's.
"What's your answer?" he breathed, waiting patiently for the brunette's mind to catch up to him, he was getting impatient, and he could feel the same hunger he'd felt during the midget's dare. His eyes most likely showed exactly how he felt, and he let them. He wanted Jaden to see this look, and the way he was affecting the brunette just made the fire that was suddenly consuming him spike and flare even more, burning its way up from his chest and spreading to the rest of his body.
Jaden's mind sputtered and flickered. He'd been asked a question, a question about what? What was the question he was waiting the answer too? Try as he might Jaden couldn't remember. What was the right answer? What did he have to say to get him to close the distance? He wanted to lean in, but his brain wasn't currently processing commands to the rest of his body. The brunette could feel his mouth hanging a little open, he decided to try and say something, but ended up nodding dumbly. It didn't seem to satisfy the black Slifer, if his command "Say it.", uttered in a low sultry voice, was anything to go by. So he started trying to voice the word 'yes'. He wasn't sure that was the right answer, but he had to be on the right track if his nod had almost satisfied him.
Connection lost, connection lost.
It was like his brain was a malfunctioning computer. Weren't computers supposed to be smart? Yes, but not malfunctioning ones. Desperately he started moving his mouth, but it seemed that the command from his brain to his voice box, had somehow gotten lost somewhere. He tried again, his expression of flushed complete confusion and shock staying the same throughout his struggles.
"……….yes…" it finally came out. The tiny operant in Jaden's head toasted to a job well done.
Chazz smirked as he could visibly see the brunette struggle to form one single word. It was the most endearing sight he had ever seen and it only made him want this even more.
When he heard the response, he descended, eyes falling shut. His mouth coming down on the brunette's gently at first, but almost instantly growing in pressure. He moved his lips against the others, and felt Jaden begin to react almost instantly. This fuelled his growing passion; it was like he couldn't get enough and wanted so much more. He gently began to nip at the brunette's bottom lip, hearing said brunette gasp slightly, before he pulled it into his mouth.
His right hand couldn't stay still by his side, and moved with a mind of its own, up Jaden's thigh, over his hips, up to his chest, before disappearing up the light blue t-shirt he had on, and finding its way to caress the brunette's back. From there, the hand pressed the brunette closer, or maybe it was Chazz that moved. Either way he ended up chest to chest with the brunette, as his tongue began to slide between Jaden's lips. The brunette moaned, opening his mouth, and allowing the questing appendage inside. The hand at Jaden's back moved lower, while its owner pressed the brunette harder against the door. Moving lower and lower the hand came to the brunette's backside, grabbing hold and adding pressure.
The black Slifer running purely on instinct had no idea what he was doing, but he did know he wanted to press in against the other body as much as possible. He wanted to feel everything, as he tilted his head further, and deepened the kiss. Jaden's tongue seemed shy, and Chazz couldn't blame him, he barely knew what he was doing himself, but sliding the two appendages together felt very good, and soon even Jaden realized that. They began pressing against each other, between moans and gasps emitting from the brunette, and grunts and low growls from the black Slifer.
Chazz briefly pulled back, taking a gulp of air, before diving back in, not giving his or Jaden's conscious mind time to react to the temporary break, much less take over and inject some sense into the whole situation.
They're tongues pressed and slid against each other again, before Chazz pulled the other's slick tongue into his own mouth, following a sudden urge to suck on it. Jaden moaned and mewled as the pleasurable ministrations consumed him, his hands, which at some point had wound their way around the black Slifer's neck, moving up into the other's hair, gently massaging the other's scalp, and fisting some of the silky ebony locks.
They finally broke apart for some more, much needed, air. Each panting to regain their breath as they stared into each others glazed passion inflamed eyes. A few more moments, and both their brains came back online.
Jaden was beat red, his eyes wide, and Chazz was also blushing like crazy, wondering what the hell had possessed him to… go that far. Well, he knew what made him go that far; he just couldn't believe he could feel that way from one simple kiss. If they hadn't stopped when they had, Chazz was sure he would have gone further; his body was still humming with liquid fire flowing through his veins. Only now most of that was obscured by his embarrassment, and his brain coming back online. What the heck was he supposed to say to the brunette now? Could he just act like nothing happened? No… if he did that he'd just end up hurting Jaden really badly, and he really didn't want that. Not when the tears had finally stopped flowing. But then what was he supposed to say? 'That felt nice let's do it again sometime'? He still wasn't sure about his feelings… he had definitely liked the kiss, but he wasn't sure what kind of feelings he felt for the brunette.
Silence stretched between them once again, both still looking into each others eyes, which was quite the miracle as they were both very embarrassed and would have liked nothing better then to look away, or perhaps runaway.
Finally Jaden spoke, "So… what did you feel?" he wasn't even sure if he needed to ask. There was no way the black Slifer would have done that, and not felt something; it wasn't in Chazz's nature. He wasn't a sex-crazed playboy. But then, what did he feel? That was a lot of passion, but it wasn't the same as love, and he had the sneaking suspicion that maybe that was what Chazz had been trying to figure out. Apparently he had no idea, if the sudden stiffening of his posture was anything to go by.
Chazz stiffened, what on earth was he going to say? He needed more time! Hmmm… maybe he could tell him that… anyways, they should both be asleep, and by the looks of it neither of them was going to be heading out to classes tomorrow. He wasn't entirely sure that was a bad thing, and was completely sure that he wanted Jaden to stay with him. Now he just needed to see whether Jaden was willing to stay. He knew it must be kind of painful for the brunette, but Chazz couldn't seem to help himself.
"I… I need more time to think, and feel I guess…" said Chazz finally breaking eye contact with the brunette youth. "It felt… good… but I don't know the extent of my feelings."
Jaden stared, hope lighting his eyes. He felt happier then he had in days, even if it wasn't love, the other had still felt something!
"At the haunted house, when I had that conversation with Alexis, even though I was alone with her, I kept thinking about you. I was so... worried." continued Chazz, thinking he might as well tell him about it. He wasn't sure why, he didn't want to get the brunette's hopes too high, the hope and happiness in his eyes already making his heart melt. He felt like he'd do anything to protect that happy smile, especially when he'd had to live 2 weeks without it.
"You were thinking… of… me?" asked Jaden looking at the other, slightly blushing, but feeling his heart flutter and soar.
Chazz nodded and almost backed up when Jaden took a step right into his personal space. He was staring into the black Slifer's eyes with beautiful hopeful brown eyes that were shinning brightly with wonder. Chazz gulped the other looking incredibly cute, almost edible. He wasn't sure what Jaden expected him to do, and had no idea what to do himself, so he merely looked back for a time. Then he stepped away, bringing a hand up to ruffle the brunette's hair, catching the other completely off guard. Why had he ruffled Jaden's hair? Who knows, maybe it was to make sure he didn't take Chazz stepping away badly. He walked back over to the nightstand to find that it was almost time to wake up to go to classes. Like hell they were doing that. He retrieved the fever medicine pills from where he'd left them and turned around to see Jaden looking at him confusedly. He walked back over to the brunette, a playful smile tugging at his lips in reassurance.
"Come on, it's time for you to take your fever medicine, we can talk more later, once we've both had some sleep." said Chazz as he walked over to his bedroom door and unlocked it.
"Why bother sleeping, class is bound to start in a couple hours." said Jaden, watching as Chazz walked through the door before following him, obviously thinking he was going to be leaving for class.
"We're not going. You need your rest, so you're staying with me here." said Chazz as he walked over to his bathroom and got a cup from the cabinet located inside.
"Wha-What do you mean stay with you? Am I gonna sleep on the couch?" he asked eyes wide as he watched Chazz fill the glass up with water from the tap and then pop a pill out of the fever medicine package.
"No, you're sleeping in my bed." stated Chazz noncommittally as he handed Jaden the medicine waiting for him to take it.
"WHAT? I can't sleep in your bed!!" said Jaden instantly turning red again, almost dropping the glass of water.
"Why not? It's huge." said Chazz looking at the medicine in Jaden's hand willing him to take it. "And if you don't take that now, I'll make you."
Jaden sputtered something incomprehensible as he tried to think of something to say, before resolutely taking the pills. How could he possible sleep in the same bed… without snuggling up to the black Slifer? He probably wanted some space, yet was doing everything in his power to make it so that Jaden couldn't give him any.
Chazz walked over and grabbed his arm, dragging the embarrassed brunette back into his room, locking the door once again behind him.
Jaden watched apprehensively as Chazz began to walk towards the closet. He disappeared inside it and after a while walked out in a dark blue t-shirt and black pyjama pants. The black Slifer got into bed, and then waited expectantly for the brunette to move.
Jaden sighed.
"Chazz, I don't understand. I thought you wanted space." he said staring at the other with serious confused eyes.
Chazz merely looked back at him for a moment. "Yes, some space, no invading questions about my feelings for a time. But Jaden, I'm still worried about you. You had a fever, and you're still injured. You're stomach still hurts I can tell, and you haven't slept at all. There is no way you're leaving here, and despite how much I want to figure my feelings, I want you here with me. It was bad enough when I thought you wished you'd never met me….. I felt very alone…. and I don't want to be alone…."
Jaden could just barely make out the pleading look in the others eyes, before he slowly got into the bed. Settling down next to the raven haired teen, he looked over at the black Slifer with a shy blush. A third person could have comfortably slept in between them at this distance. He continued staring until Chazz finally asked him what he wanted.
"I know you want this space… but… c-can I… um…" Jaden blushed harder, but saw Chazz patiently waiting for him to articulate his question. He took a deep breath,
"CanIsnugglewithyou?"
Chazz blinked, the words had been said so fast that it took him a few minutes to decipher what the other had said. He blushed slightly too, but one look at how cute Jaden looked, staring at him like that, had him turning off the lights.
Jaden took this as a sign to mean no, and closed his eyes. After all he'd been expecting it. He felt the bed shift and opened his eyes (only to see nothing but darkness) when he felt something land close to his pillow. A second later, a warm arm wrapped around him, pulling the brunette to the others warm body. Jaden blushed again, before smiling and snuggling closer burying his head into the others chest, just below his chin. He gave a content sigh eyes closed, and listened to the others heartbeat. Soon the black Slifer's breathing evened out, and Jaden smiled contently as he too drifted off to sleep.
And that's the end! (OF THE CHAPTER!!) Hope you guys liked it! I think it was kind of choppy on some bits, but oh well :P
Till next time! Have a good summer:D
