Chapter 3

"So, before I forget, how'd it go with Alexis?" Bastion asked slyly as we walked out of the locker rooms after gym class let out.

"So, you saw that?" I asked carefully.

"No, but I've overheard several whispers about how you asked out Alexis Rhodes today before gym class, not to mention the texts I've been getting." Bastion informed me politely.

"You do realize that those are literally just rumors, right?" I retort brusquely.

"That is what I wish people would believe, but it seems that they for whatever reason will not do so without some kind of proof." My roommate lamented.

"So maybe someone should just ask one of us what it was we were talking about." I huffed getting annoyed at the situation.

"That is exactly what I intend to do." Bastion answered resolutely.

"How?" I summed up my many questions with one word.

"What do you mean by, how?" Bastion asked.

"You know what, never mind I don't have the time or patience to listen to you tell me how convoluted your plan for accomplishing this task is going to be, I've got places to be." I retorted pushing past him.

"Such as?" My roommate responded evenly.

"The Blue Eyes Cafe." I replied, "you know the way?"

"I believe that I can help you find it, but may I ask why you want to go there? The place isn't exactly cheap." My friend supplied politely.

"I'm sure you'll figure it out, but until that happens lead the way would you, I get lost rather easily." I replied smoothly.

"So long as I don't have to pay for your drinks, I'll be happy to guide you, now follow me." My friend chuckled.

We got there in a record time of under five minutes thanks to Bastion's eidetic memory and navigational skills. Now all I had to do was find Alexis without buying anything super expensive.

"Dylan, would you mind explaining to me why Alexis Rhodes is waving us over to her table?" My roommate breathed at me through gritted teeth and a nervous smile.

"I guess you'll just have to find out now, won't you?" I answered smartly as I took my seat at the table with Alexis, Jasmine, and Mindy; Bastion thankfully said nothing as he took his seat at the table and for a moment no one said anything.

"So, you must be Bastion Misawa." Alexis started, turning to my roommate.

"Yes, and you, I take it are Alexis Rhodes." Bastion replied politely.

"Which means these two must be?"

"Jasmine." The red head said.

"Mindy." The dark-haired girl supplied.

"So now that introductions are out of the way maybe we could get to discussing the study group." Alexis said driving the conversation to it's intended goal.

"Study group?" The boy genius interjected clearly surprised.

"Yes, did your friend not tell you that was why we were meeting today."

"No, we came straight here," I responded quickly. "We are all okay with doing this right?" I asked the table causing all eyes to shift towards Bastion.

"I have no objections towards bettering ourselves as students, so long as we all at least try to grasp the material and do the work ourselves before coming here and while in the attendance of the group." Bastion answered succinctly.

"I think we can all agree to that since anything less would be disrespectful to the time of the group." I said to which Alexis and her friends nodded in agreement.

"Good, now since I'm assuming I'm the only one who has no notes for Banner's class perhaps I could get those from all of you to copy down at some point."

"Uh sure, but maybe we should put a pin in this until later I've noticed the barista has started to give us dirty looks." Jasmine pointed out and looking down at our table I could see why, we hadn't gotten any drinks.

"Yeah, all right we can work out the rest of the details over text anyways, let's just all be sure we have each other's contact info." I agreed.

"So, what do you say we go back to the dorm and get something to eat?" Bastion asked as we exited the cafe.

"Works for me." I shrugged.

"Good because I don't know about you but I for one am rather hungry." Bastion said leading the way back towards the yellow dorms.

"And maybe afterwards we can get me a job at the card shop?" I asked.

"Well, I certainly don't see the harm in you applying." Bastion replied supportively.

"Hey there he is, get him!" A blue clad boy that I didn't recognize shouted just before Bastion and I were mobbed by a throng other blue garbed males.

"Can we help you gentlemen with anything?" I asked cautiously.

"Sure, you can Charity Case, you can help us by dueling each and every one of us and then by staying the hell away from Alexis and her friends." One of the Obelisks spat.

"Well since you said please, why don't we do this on your home turf after I have a chance to eat and grab my duel disk?" I asked with a calm facade.

"You don't have it with you?"

"Nope." I replied candidly.

"Fine! Go get your duel disk, your decks, your affairs in order and have your last meal while you're at it, because when you get to the Blue Arena you'll officially be a dead man in waiting." The mob leader snarled at me as he and the Obelisks behind him slowly dispersed as if nothing had happened.

"Well come on, let's eat." I said turning to Bastion who looked troubled to put it mildly.

"I, suppose a change of scenery would do us both some good."