Spirit Caller
Chapter Ten
10
"What!? You had to take a failing grade!?" Syrus exclaimed as Connar explained the situation to him after having been checked out by the nurse to allow visitors.
"Not a failing grade." she said," Just an incomplete."
"But...what's the difference?"
"Connar will still receive credit having taken the written exam." Bastion explained,"But because her duel with Norika was technically not concluded, she will not be able to receive credit for the field exam." he said,"Since she passed her written exam however, while the grade may not be pretty...she won't fail."
"Dammit, Connar the next time you say you're not feeling well, STAY HOME!" Norika huffed, "it's better than having you pass out in the middle of an exam!"
"Perhaps it's best I do that from now on..." she sighed softly, but as Jaden seemed to pick up on her expression...something else was bothering her.
"That wasn't any normal ailement...was it Connie?" he asked. Having been caught in her thoughts, Connar gasped, and shot a look straight up at Jaden, who now wore a very serious expression.
...There was no way she could lie to him...
He'd call it right away.
"Not a normal ailement?" Norika blinked, "What's that supposed to mean.
But Jaden said nothing, just held his gaze intensely on Connar's eyes.
She sighed.
"I... had a strange dream involving duel monsters and...I dunno." she sighed,"Maybe it's just because I'm stressing myself out...?"
Thank goodness for high marks on the written exam though!
she thought to herself.
If I didn't have book smarts there's no way I would pass and no way Father would be able to simply bypass the spectacle I pulled out there today...
She groaned.
Still...I've got to do better than that...or I'll just make everyone look bad...
She sighed.
"...So...What about the rest of the exams?" she asked.
"Oh it was crazy!" said Syrus, "After the situation that happened to you, all of the teachers had to calm the students down!" he stated, "And because the count was thrown off for Slifer after that, Jaden wound up dueling Chazz!"
"What!?" Connar blinked, "Really!?"
"Which I call total bull on that!" Noria huffed, "If the faculty were able to pull strings to let Jaden, a Slifer Red like us, Duel Chazz, an Obelisk Blue, then I don't see why they couldn't let me duel Bastion of Ra Yellow!"
"...You do know you can just challenge Bastion whenever you'd like outside of class, right?" said Connar.
"But it's not the saaaaaame~!" Norika whined playfully, "I wanted to beat him down in front of the whole schooooool~"
"perhaps you will have better luck next time, my dear!" Bastion chuckled.
"How can you say You want to beat bastion in front of the school when you couldn't even beat Connie, a Slifer Red like you, huh!?" said Syrus.
Norika blushed.
"Th-That duel was dubbed inconclusive!"
"Sure~" said Syrus, "The officials can dub it how ever they want~ But we were all watching, Norika." said Syrus, "And I dunno about everyone else, but from MY point of view- it looked like you were about to lose that duel, to me!"
"Come on now, SyRy...that's enough." Connar chuckled awkwardly.
But all of the real action had already taken place on the duel field, with the duel between Chazz Princeton and Jaden Yuki.
"...So...how'd that duel go?" asked Connar, a little depressed that she didn't get to see it herself due to having been passed out in the infirmary.
"Oh, Jaden won!" said Syrus.
"Really!?"she gasped.
To think Princeton...lost...
"Yeah, but it was still a pretty intense match!" said Jaden, "it's not too often someone gets to go up all those rare cards!" he beamed, "Talk about lucky!"
"Rare cards?" Connar blinked.
I don't recall Princeton having too many rare cards that I know of...
Connar thought to herself.
That seems a little suspicious to me...
"Listen, Chazz may have lost, but I can't help but think that maybe he was distracted." said Jaden, "He seemed really worried about Connie."
"Princeton?" Connar blinked, "Worried about me?" she chuckled, "I highly doubt it."
"Yeah I mean... no offense but...I find it hard to believe that guy knows how to care..." said Norika.
"You didn't see what I saw." said Jaden, "He got to Connar before I did!"
"That's true." said Syrus, "Come to think of it, it was Chazz that carried Connar away for medical attention wasn't it?"
"Really?" Norika blinked. She must not have noticed due to her own shock. She could hardly believed what happened to Connar. She knew her friend was acting strangely, she had seen some similar situations before, back at Duel Prep School...But things seemed to be gradually worsening since then...and she wondered if she should say anything about it.
"I see..." said Connar, "I suppose I better thank him properly, later."
"Anyway, the nurse was pretty adamant about keeping here for the night for rest." said Syrus, "We should leave and let her rest, guys."
"Good point." said Bastion, "I do hope to see you well soon, Ms. Connar."
"Thank you, Misawa." she smiled, "See you later."
"We better go too." said Syrus, "Chumley might worry if we don't get back to the room."
Good point." said Jaden, "We're gonna go now Connie...but let's talk more about this later, okay?"
"...Okay." she said softly and nodded.
"Good." he said with a smile before placing a palm on her cheek, "Until then...get some rest."
She nodded.
"Are you gonna be okay without me for the night, Nori?" Connar teased after the two girls were left alone.
"Are you kidding me~" Norika grinned, "Without your sleep talking I should sleep really well tonight!" she laughed, "Still that doesn't mean you shouldn;t get better fast though." she stated, "It's not about me getting good sleep...it's about me being bored without you around." she chuckled, "Later."
"Right...okay." Connar giggled, "...Later."
XXXXX
The wind blew cooler later that night. Connar made her way to the beach, sneaking out of the infirmary. That sort of setting always creeped her out when it was night time. The beach was where she would usually go to think and clear her head. However, she soon found that she was not there alone.
"Ah...Princeton...!" She was surprised to see him there. Gazing off over the sea with his hair and coat tails fluttering in the sea breeze.
He darted his eyes in her direction, taking in her surprise.
"...So...You're awake." he stated, "Shouldn't you be resting?" he asked.
"I should, but..." she sighed, "I dunno...it's just creepy in the infirmary at night."
"Pff..."
It was feint, but Connar could make out the small lining of a curved smile on his lips. only for a moment before it faded and he spoke again.
"...So..." he began,"...Did you come to laugh at me too?
"Why would I do that, Princeton?" she asked softly, "I heard you dueled really well-"
"It wasn't good enough!" he grumped and kicked the sand into the sea like an angry child throwing a temper tantrum, "That Slacker...will regret making a fool of Chazz Princeton!" He growled, panting softly.
Connar wanted to comfort him, but there was no doubt any word from her would mean nothing to him. She simply sighed and stood beside him, facing the sea, watching the waves slowly come in and recede.
"I...heard you were the one that rushed me to get medical attention..." she said softly, "...Thank You."
"Yeah that...uh..." he blushed awkwardly, "Y-You're welcome..." she scoffed, "...Think nothing of it, okay!?" a silence rested between them before he clered his throat to speak again, "S-So uh...what happened, anyway?" he asked, "You and Norika stay up all night doing each other's hair?" he blinked, "'Cuz you look terrible."
"You try passing out in the middle of a duel and waking up looking good!" she huffed, " It's more complicated than that."
"Oh really? Enlighten me!"
She silenced herself. She didn't even know how to begin let alone how it would come across to someone like Chazz Princeton, who most likely had no interest anyway.
"Forget it..." she said softly.
Chazz twitched and let out a huff before folding his arms.
"Fine!" he scoffed, "I've got better things to do than worry about you anyway-AND I DON'T NEED YOUR PITY EIETHER!" he stated as he stormed off in a huff.
"Pity?" Connar blinked sighed as she watched him walk away. she clenched her chest while she watched him. She wanted to tell him, really... But she could feel the pressure he was under, and didn't think it was her place to unload her concerns on him.
But...I've always admired you, Princeton...
She thought to herself as she clenched at her chest which suddenly constricted, causing her to release a pained grunt that brought her to her knees. Thousands of echoes trying to speak at once, and no one was near by to help her silence them. One particular voice rose above the rest...
One she heard loud and clear even back when she was dueling Norika. Every time her heart pounded and tightened, three words from within her made their presence known.
"Let...me...Out!"
She curled her fingers into the sand while she clutched her chest.
"N-No...please..stop..." she whispered, curling into herself with a silent sob.
I wish you were still here with me...Jesse...
She gripped at her chest tighter and gritted her teeth.
...I'm Scared...
To be Continued