Chapter Thirty-Six
36
Connar pretty much spent the entire winter break locked away in her dorm room. Her father was too busy during the season, as it was one of the company's most popular. But then Kaiba Corporation was pretty much popular year round. But some seasons had bigger spikes than others. She could have gone home with Norika...but it would only have been her alone at the mansion as they let the help go for their Holliday vacation, so she was better off staying at the school, especially since she pretty much planned on spending the entire break alone anyway either there or at home. She didn't go out much, as it was too cold to hang out on the shore line. Besides that...it pained her to be there, since it was a special place where she spent quiet moments with Princeton.
So it's really true...
she sighed.
Princeton really is gone...
He really left.
She didn't know how to organize the complicated feelings in her head. Or her heart. She was confused. Who was he really? Apparently he wasn't who she saw since they first met...
She wondered if he ever was at all.
"Ms Connar?"
The familiar call of her spirit partner called for her attention.
"Perhaps you should meet with your friends..." he stated.
"That's right, you haven't spoken to anyone lately...we're worried." the familiar female magician spirit's voice chimed in as well.
She gave them a glance as they appeared on either side of her but then just let out a sigh.
"...No thank you..." she said softly as she curled herself back up under her blankets.
I wonder if they even really are my friends...
She thought to herself.
It's not like I dislike them...
We get along just fine...
And we have fun together...but...
They don't really know anything about me...
...But Princeton did.
She sighed and rolled to her back.
But then... I haven't told my supposed friends about me, have I? How can I? I haven't even told Norika...
And She's supposed to be my best friend.
And if I do...
...Will they ever look at me the same again?...Would Norika?
XXXXX
The days came and went and before long, the break was over and classes started up once again. Connar remained silent, distant and to herself. It began to worry her friends. Finally Jaden had enough of the silent treatment and started chatting it up with her as though nothing were different. It didn't leave her much choice when she was cornered in the dining hall.
"Seems I missed a lot recently." She was listening...but not really connecting to anything.
That's right...
Yuugi-jii's deck went on tour recently.
She thought to herself as Syrus and Jaden mentioned the duelist who stole his deck and impersonated the king of games himself. Norika said it was wild and Connar should have been there to see it.
I've seen it so many times before that I didn't really think about showing an interest in going to see it...
I guess I can see how that may come off as a little strange.
That Duelist impersonator now runs around dressed like Jaden.
This explains why. Still she didn't show much more reaction as she twirled her utensils around in the food on her tray.
"Yeah you did miss a lot!" Syrus huffed,"But you wouldn't have if you hung out with us and talked to us again!"
"Sy's right..." Jaden sighed,"You've been locked away long enough...I can respect needing time to sort yourself out..." he blinked,"But is it worth worrying your friends?"
There's that term 'friends' again...
She sighed. That was a situation she still couldn't figure out. She wanted friends. She really did. And she really enjoys spending time with them...But it took being lied to herself by someone who she thought was sort of a friend, to realize that she had been lying to her own "friends" all along.
How can I even expect to consider myself their friend after that... let alone see them as mine...
She fiddled with her food in silence and Jaden's own silence was slowly becoming a hum of irritation. But he didn't even know what he could say or do at this point that could even be comforting. It's not like he knew anything about Connar's previous History with Chazz. He even tried asking Norika...and even she couldn't clarify it all. All he could get when he asked her about it was "It's complicated." Which really was just Norika's way of saying she didn't really know either. While Connar did share some things with him, he could still tell she had a lot on her mind, and was hiding something else. So he knew that she didn't share everything.
"What have you been doing anyway?" Jaden asked,"Locking yourself up all by yourself?"
"Studying." she answered softly,"My father was pretty mad before so...I figured this would be the best way to not cross him."
"Boooring..." Jaden sighed. But the truth was he was torn. He didn't really know the first thing about handing a female friend. Guys didn't show their emotions much. Unless their name was Syrus.
He sighed.
The Professor soon walked out infront of the students and began speaking.
"Attention children...would you mind looking up here for a moment?"
the muttering ceased and the room fell quiet,"Good." said Banner,"Now please join me in welcoming a new transfer student, Blair Flanagan."
A small statured student stepped in front of the crowd and looked up shyly. He was cute. Like a little kid on his first day at a new school.
"Aww man..." Syrus sighed,"He's smaller than me, dresses goofier than me, my side kick gig is up."
"Hm?" Jaden blinked,"Be nice~" Jaden stood on the table and began the welcome cheer which threw everyone, even Blair, for a loop. He then ran to greet him,"We're the best dorm on campus!"
"Hold on, Jaden, you don't understand." the Professor stated.
"Huh?" Jaden blinked,"What's not to understand, Professor Banner?" Jaden asked,"I'm just trying to help Blair feel at home..."
"But this isn't his home."said Banner,"At least not for long...he scored near perfect on all of his entrance exams."
Connar blinked as she listened closely.
Wait...Blair Flannigan?
she thought to herself.
Why does that name sound familiar...?
"See it is custom that all transfer students start out at Slifer, but with his high marks, he will be bumped up to yellow within a couple days."
"Haha riiight." Jaden laughed,"Next you'll say he can crash in our room because of all the extra space~ good one teach."
"Excellent idea."said Banner,"Blair you can stay with Jaden during your time with us." he chuckled,"Go on and say hello to your new room mates."
"...Hello."
XXXXX
The students were all gathered into groups with their designated dorms as The Chancellor called for an announcement about the upcoming "School Duel" with North Academy.
North Academy...!?
Connar felt her heart clutch.
That's the school that Jesse...
She quickly silenced her thoughts and shook her head.
The murmur about Zane's big win against them in the previous year took into a slight uproar which gave Syrus an excuse to boast about his big brother to the new student.
"Hey, Blair~" Syrus nudged,"Did you know Zane is my big brother?"
"Really!?"
Needless to say the new student was excited to hear about it.
Still something rang suspicious to Connar and she kept eyeing him from time to time. Not in malice, but more along curiosity.
"Now I want to win against North Academy once again this year!" said the Chancellor as he beamed on the big screen,"But we still haven't decided on anyone to represent us...so if you keep hitting the books and dueling hard, it might just be you!"
With that the monitor shut off, and the murmur began once again.
"All right!" Jaden beamed as he burst between his Slifer mates and threw an arm each around Syrus and one around Connar as well,"Did you hear what he said!? It could be me in this match!"
"Hey, it could be me too!" Norika huffed.
"But let's face it, it will probably be Zane who gets the spot again." said Syrus.
"How come?" Jaden blinked.
"Because he's amazing~" said Blair as his set his gaze fixated on the older Obelisk male. Once again raising Connar's suspicions.
"Not only that." Connar stated,"Why fix what isn't broken?" Jaden and Syrus gave Connar a sideways glance as she still seemed to be down and out.
"You know Connie...we really need to work on getting your bubble back." said Jaden.
"Yeah...you just don't seem like yourself lately..." said Norika.
Once the class meeting was over the usual menagerie gathered together and walked out, while Blair had some how separated himself from the group.
"Amazing!?" Jaden scoffed,"What's that got to do with anything!? It should be about who's best!"
"Well Zane did beat you in a duel, Jaden." said Syrus.
"Maybe so, but it was a totally close match." said Chumley.
"That's true." Syrus sighed. Connar remained silent.
"Say, Connie? You wanna weigh in?" Norika blinked, "I mean...You seem to be on Team Zane too right?"
"Huh?" she blinked. it seemed she was tuning out the rest of the world once again and everyone let out a heavy sigh.
"Wait...is that Blair?" Jaden muttered as he noticed a small red blur dash across the court yard.
"Huh? Jaden?" Syrus and Chumley both blinked as the brunette seemed distracted by something and took off after it.
"I'm gonna check something out." He called back,"See you later!" suddenly he stopped short,"Oh, right." he said and quickly ran back to grab Connar by the wrist.
"What!? Hey!?" she gasped as he pulled her along.
"I'm gonna borrow her for a sec...Later!"
"WHat gives, Jaden!" Norika huffed, but they had already run off ahead too far for her to catch up.
Syrus and Chumley stood dazed beside her, blinking as the twosome took off in a dash. Though Connar's situation was more against her will.
"You know...if Jaden wanted to be alone with Connar..." Norika sighed,"He could have just asked."
"Yeah, no kidding." Sighed Chumley.
"Guys..." Syrus blinked, "You're really not helping." he sighed.
To Be Continued...