Chapter I

Hidden Secrets

"Ow!" the boy shouted as he accidentally rested his hand on the stove.

"What was that, you ok?" came a girl's voice from over the phone.

"Yeah, I'm just a retard or something."

"Hey now mister, don't call yourself retarded! You're James The Great!"

"The Great? When did I earn that title?"

"You've always had it in my book."

James smiled at this. "Thanks Iz, I needed that today."

"Any time. So what DID you do?"

"Put my hand on the stove."

"Ok, I take that back, maybe you ARE retarded."

James laughed, "This is why I put up with you, you always find a way to make me laugh."

"I try. So what are you doing this weekend?"
"Magic tournament on Friday and work on Sunday."

"That's it?"
"That's all that's set in stone. I was kinda hopein we could hang out on Saturday,

but if you don't want to…"

"Of course I want to! What would put that into your mind?"
"I don't know, maybe I'm just insane"

She laughed, a music sound to his ears, "I think were both insane."

James smiled at this, "You see Iz, this is why I love you."

He suddenly stopped short, realizing what he just said. He stopped breathing he was so shocked at what his own lips had uttered. He had been holding that deep down that that no one would ever know until he was ready to tell. 'Well, I guess my body decided it was time for me' James thought.

James was no the only one surprised by this, Iz caught her breath in her thought and had to cough to get it back. She had always liked James and had hoped to be more then just friends, but she had never thought that he felt the same.

"Do… do you really mean that?" she said softly.

James had to think quickly, if he says no he may loose her forever, yet if he says yes she may reject him.

"Ye… yes. Yes I do" he heard himself say.

Iz nearly dropped the phone in glee. Grinning wide she said "I'll be right over!"

"You'll, wha? Wait what?" but it was too late, she had already hung up. Sighing, James turned back to building his deck for Friday.

"Tap three, play stone rain, burn that untapped plains." Said James as he played his third turn with his LDB deck.

He was into the fifth round for the tournament, the semi-finals. He was doing very well for himself; usually he didn't even get past the third round.

James quickly disposed of this played by keeping him at two to three manna, all the while burning him with spells. To everyone's surprise, James actually won the entire tournament. He was awarded with a Savior's box.

Feeling very happy with himself, James set off to begin his trading.