Chapter Twenty-Eight

28

Regrets and Awkward Encouragement

"You gotta duel too!?" Jaden exclaimed from the other end of the PDA communication function,"That's crazy!"

"Yeah, they figured since you and Syrus were given the opportunity to tag duel, since I was there too then as a student I should share the same punishment."

"Hey, at least we're not kicked out yet!"

"Yet, being the key word Jaden." Connar sighed,"This duel will determine if I get expelled."

"That's so lame!" Jaden stated,"Sy and I should come cheer you on!"

"I don't think that will work, Jaden." Connar sighed as she fell back onto her Slifer bed,"The Chancellor had to call my dad, he's the one arranging for my punishment duel against my uncle and I'm pretty sure he has it set for the same day as yours." she sighed once more,"Besides I am pretty sure Crowler is making a spectacle event of yours and Syrus's match...all students-with the exception of myself-" she muttered,"Are required to attend yours. It's like an assembly or something."

"Then Sy and I can come after!" he stated,"We'll wipe the floor with our opponent's quickly then rush to your duel!"

Connar couldn't help but crack a smile, hearing her friend dispute about insisting to cheer her on.

"I Appreciate the sentiment Jaden," she said softly,"But my father has arranged it. There are to be no spectators. No exceptions."

"LAME!" Jaden huffed,"Why not!?"

"As- uh...part of my punishment!" she defended quickly with this excuse. She didn't know how she would explain the situation being because her father is Seto Kaiba and he would be watching. Plus...it wasn't entirely a lie.

"Since you and Syrus have been dubbed the reason I got in trouble-his words not mine-until the final verdict is in we are not allowed to see each other." she stated,"We can't meet in the morning, we can't hang out in the evening, we can't eat together in the chow hall, we can't sit together in class..." She counted on her fingers the many things they weren't allowed to do as she listed,"In fact we aren't supposed to have any contact at all during this time so we are already violating the punishment with this phone call." she chuckled.

"Man, your dad takes grounding to a whole new level!" he chuckled,"Seriously strict. We can't have any contact at all even though we're practically neighbors!?" he laughed,"I'm not a bad guy! Honest! I can meet your dad myself and apologize formally if you want-"

"NO!" Connar said that louder than she meant to and quickly covered by clearing her throat," It's okay Jaden, really, I made my own bed with this one...I'll lay in it."

"Well all right..." Jaden sighed,"Just hang tight Connie, we'll definitely hang out again soon!"

"I sure hope so." she said softly,"I like hanging out with you and Syrus."

"Hey, what about me!?"

Connar giggled as she heard Chumley's voice bellow through the other side of the PDA clearly using Jaden's.

"And Chumley too."

"See if I make you a grilled cheese again!"

"HaHa come on, don't be cruel, Chum!" Jaden joked.

"Yeah, my father specified on Jaden and Syrus. He didn't say I couldn't hang out with you, Chumley!"

"Well I figured as their room mate who was also at the abandoned dorm, the same rules applied."

"Speaking of Syrus, he's back now so I better split." Jaden grinned.

"Hey...is that Connar?" Syrus asked.

"Later, Connie!" Jaden laughed.

"Hey, let me talk to her!" said Syrus as he tried to fight for Jaden's PDA.

"Then call her on YOURS Sy!" Jaden laughed.

"Come on, Jay, you know we're not allowed!"

"So you'd rather use mine!?" Jaden laughed.

"You already have her on! Come on, Jay!"

"HaHa well, I think you see our point, Connar." Jaden laughed as he continued playing keep away with his own PDA, "Everyone misses you!" he stated,"And we're all really glad you're okay."

Jaden gave his pink haired friend a warm smile to which Connar returned the gesture.

"Thank you, Jaden." she said softly,"Good night."

Once she powered off the screen on her PDA she placed it on her night stand and heaved a heavy sigh. She rose from the bed after and stretched. It had been days since she last saw her friends. And until the matters were resolved, her father said she wasn't allowed to see them. They lived about two doors down, but she still missed hanging out with them. She lifted herself off her mattress and made her way to the window to look out toward the beach, when a familiar silhouette caught her attention.

"...Princeton?" she blinked and let out a soft gasp. She then quickly moved to put on her house slippers and sneak her way outside toward the area she saw him heading.

xxxxx

Chazz stood firmly planted in the sand in a spot just before the water washed the land. The sea foam barely kissed his boots. He gazed out into the evening sea, his hair feathered softly with the ocean's light wind and his tailcoats fluttered a bit as well. He shifted his eyes at the soft sound of approaching footprints in the sand and turned his head slightly to greet the arriving guest.

"Connar." he said in a soft tone,"You're looking well...in your... Academy sleep wear." he snickered.

She blinked and glanced down at her clothing, realizing then that she was wearing the school's pajamas.

"Oh!" she blushed and quickly buttoned the light sweater she had draped over her shoulders, "My father took away my silk pajamas as...part of my punishment." She chuckled awkwardly before taking her place next to Chazz.

"Jeez..." Chazz chuckled,"He doesn't joke around when it comes to punishment, does he?" he laughed lightly. His eyes hung on her a while as she stood silently next to him. Distant blue eyes reflecting back the light off the water's surface. She wasn't wearing her head band this time, so her hair looked less pulled back and more flowing with the breeze. Actually he thought it looked kind of nice. Though he would never tell her that...

"...Thank you, Princeton." she said softly.

"For what?"

"You were the one who kept bringing me the missed lesson notes from class, right?"

"...I was just returning a favor from when you lent me your notes. Nothing special there." he stated.

"I still wanted to thank you properly." she said softly," So I'm glad I found you here."

"...Whatever." he scoffed and continued his silence.

Though deep down, he really did appreciate it.

"And that's not all."

"Huh?" he blinked curiously.

"I heard you..." she said softly,"In my room...You...wanted to offer yourself to be my tag partner...?"

He twitched as she reminded him of that little earlier outburst and he tilted his head slightly in hopes to properly hide his flushed cheeks.

"Oh...that." he huffed,"That was just...I figured if that slacker got to tag duel you should too, If you're aiming to have the same treatment as the scrubs-I mean...other students." he grumbled,"Besides if you're gonna get kicked out of school because of something stupid led by that slacker, then I should be the one to get you kicked out instead!"

Connar blinked a few times and stifled a chuckle.

"But...if you heard that, I take it you also heard that I got declined."

Her eyes shifted slowly downward and she nodded.

"...So then..." he blinked as he readjusted his position,"What will your punishment be?"

"I have to duel my uncle." she said softly,"Same conditions...win and I'm cleared, lose and I'm expelled." she sighed,"That and no matter which situation occurs in the end...either way, I'm grounded."

"HaHaHa!"

He didn't mean to laugh at that part and quickly covered his mouth before regaining his composure.

"I mean...not about the situation...well sorta but more on..." He snickered and muttered,"...Grounded at a boarding school..." the way he stated this made him feel certain that Connar wouldn't be going anywhere. He wouldn't tell her out loud, but he felt certain she could win and didn't feel he needed to worry about her losing and getting expelled anyway.

"You know who my father is." she muttered,"Don't you dare put it passed him."

"I'm not~ I'm not!" he chuckled,"It's funny because I can actually see it happening."

"Nice to know my expulsion is amusing to you, Princeton." she sighed.

"Well that's what you get for sinking down to slacker level." he huffed,"So... you better not lose!"

"Huh?" Connar blinked and looked over at Chazz who kept his facing direction on the coming and going sea.

"I said, you better not lose." he huffed and turned on his heels in the sand, taking his leave, "If you're gonna get yourself booted off of the island...I should be the one to do it." he mumbled, "You...and that slacker too...so DON'T YOU DARE LOSE, CONNAR ROSE!" he practically shouted that part once he reached a certain distance away, leaving Connar alone and in a wide eyed daze as she watched him walk away.

Call me crazy...

She thought to herself.

But I think that may have been his way of encouraging me and wishing me luck...?

She continued to stare in the direction he walked and ponder for a bit before letting out a sigh and giving a feint smile.

Well then...I suppose I can't really lose here can I?

She thought to herself.

Otherwise Princeton may not ever let me hear the end of it.

To be Continued