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Chapter 10

The next morning Ryan and Alexis were sitting across from each other when Jaden walked in.

"Good morning," Jaden yawned, his hair a complete mess. Neither of the others replied. Jaden poured himself a bowl of cereal and sat next to Alexis. He leaned in to kiss her but she pulled away from him. He tried again but she pulled away even further.

"What's wrong Lex," he asked, baffled at her behavior. She said nothing. "Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed," he sighed. "So what's on the agenda today Ry," Jaden said turning his towards Ryan now. Ryan didn't respond either.

"What's up with you two," Jaden cried. They still didn't answer. "Whatever," he said and left the room.

The rest of the trip for Alexis was spent avoiding Jaden, and for Ryan, avoiding Jaden and Alexis. No one really talked to each other for the rest of the time spent in Colorado. Neither Ryan nor Alexis could get that night out of her mind and Jaden couldn't understand why either of them were avoiding him. On the plane ride they didn't sit next to each other. Ryan stared at Alexis from afar when they got back to the academy. It was as if they had never met, and Jaden started to put together the pieces. Something had to have happened between the two when he hadn't been around. But, he didn't know who to confront first, his girlfriend, or his best friend.

Two Weeks Later . . .

Ryan was walking to Crowler's class. He had pushed the night in Aspen to the back of his mind. Things hadn't been going well with Alexis and Jaden. They fought more often and you didn't see them together as much you normally would. A part of him interpreted this as his chance to get closer towards Alexis, but the other part just wanted to leave her alone. He was almost at Crowler's class when a hint of gold caught the corner of his eye, it was a poster. Ryan walked to take a closer look. The words were written in a bright red velvet and fancy cursive. It read:

Wanna have a romantic evening with the guy or girl of your dreams? Come to Duel Academy's Annual Valentine's Day Ball! Tickets: $15.00 each. Come have a night of fun and maybe romance. 2/14/06

Ryan stood in hallway staring at the poster to think.

Ring. Ring, the bell chimed. "Shit," Ryan said to himself and ran to class.