Over The Rainbow
5
A/N For anyone who is reading/has read "Spirit Caller"
YES. This story is canon to Connar's story!
"Over The Rainbow" is a side story that takes place about 3 years BEFORE she started Duel Academy. It places itself during the summers and time she spent at Duel Prep School. As such: IT CONTAINS SPOILERS.
So. Spoiler Warning. Enjoy^^
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHA~"
"Don't laugh, Jesse! it's not that funny!" Connar blushed shyly as she tried to hide her face with her one free hand while her other was clasped firmly into Jesse's. They walked together hand in hand, barefoot while Connar carried both of their boots since Jesse was walking closer to the water and was worried about dropping his leather boots into the sea. Ruby pounced playfully on the wake as the waves gently caressed their toes along the shore line.
"Hold on...Let me make sure I heard you right~" he snorted,"You heard me callin' for Ruby at that party...and thought she was my girlfriend!?" he heaved,"I'm sorry, but I find a hard time not seeing that as funny! he snickered,"Though I dare say...I'm mighty flattered that you concerned yourself with the thought that I possibly had a girlfriend~" he smirked.
"Th-That's not-" she blushed,"What I mean is that-Why would I be concerned!?" she blinked,"I-I mean it's none of my business if you have a girlfriend...or not...or whatever...!"
"Hmmm..." Jesse blinked, snickering in his amusement of her flustered reaction,"I don't~" he stated.
"Really!?" Connar beamed and blushed immediately after catching herself.
"Why is that so hard for you to believe?" he chuckled.
This one oughta be good...
He thought to himself.
"W-Well I mean..." she shifted her gaze between his eyes and the sand,"Y-You know..."
He snickered as he cocked a brow.
"Uhm...no~ I don't think I do~" he teased,"Maybe you oughta explain..."
"I-I mean, i-it's-Whatever!" she huffed and quickly turned her gaze away while he burst out laughing.
"My gawd you are too cute!" he laughed,"I swear I don't think I can ever get enough of teasing you~!" he grinned and shook his head before finally catching his breath,"Well since we're bein' honest here, I also find you mighty attractive." he teased,"Though I'm not sure if you believe that with the amount of times as I've said so already~!" he teased.
"I-I never said I found you attractive!" she blushed.
"Didn't have to~" he smirked,"So now I guess I'll ask the same question..."
"I never asked-" he silenced her with a playful tap of his finger to her lips.
"...Didn't have to." he whispered and winked as she blushed a heated crimson.
"So...what about you, Connie Girl?" he asked as he pulled his hand away,"Any strapping young fella occupying your heart by chance~?"
"Uh..." Connar blushed as she looked down shyly,"Sure there have been a few, but...not like what you're thinking."
"Explain." he said curtly.
"Well I mean..." She blinked and let out a heavy sigh,"I'm a corporate heiress." she stated,"As such...what with those parties I'm forced to partake in, there is often a line of suitors for me." she said as she rolled her eyes,"My father's advisors tend to 'advise' him into trying to set up arranged marriages for me in order to 'strengthen our company'." she huffed.
"So...wait." Jesse blinked,"You mean you don't even get a choice in who you get to date!?"
"Oh I get the choice all right!" she spoke out rather proudly,"Thanks to my father, he won't take any of that nonsense...much to my relief." she giggled,"Still though." she sighed,"That doesn't mean they don't try."
"Well...I'm relieved to hear that it's not a requirement." he chuckled,"Still didn't quite answer my question." he teased as he poked her cheek,"Is there a guy in your life?"
"There was a suitor whose agent tried to press an arranged marriage." she said softly,"Aster Phoenix...but that kid is younger than me, and these guys are here trying to push marriage on us!" she huffed,"No offense to him, pretty boy looks and all that but not quite a personality I'm interested in." she rolled her eyes and puffed her cheeks in a pout.
It seems she found that particular suitor to be rather unpleasant. Still though, she respected his game play as a duelist. He was a year younger than she was and already had agents showing interests in him in the pro leagues. Still they were barely 12 and 13, not like either one of them fancied an interest in married life. She had no idea what these advisors were trying to push.
"Hahaha, so anyone you like then?" Jesse chuckled.
"Well...she blushed shyly,"I-I dunno..." she said,"It's not like I had much chance to get to know anyone so...I can't really say if I 'like' them." she blinked,"There was someone I met at the last party we had before this one." she said,"His family name is Princeton...and he'll be in my class when school starts." she said softly,"He was okay but my father is wary of the Princeton family." she stated,"Apparently they have been trying all sorts of ways to weasel in on his company." she sighed,"Though...I don't really get that feeling from him."
"...So...you're interested in this fella?" Jesse blinked as he averted his gaze awkwardly, slightly biting his lip.
"Well...not exactly." Connar blinked obliviously,"I only met him recently and we haven't talked since then except for at the school for a brief moment while we were cleaning." she said,"Interested maybe, but like I said..." she chuckled and glanced at the nervous bluenette next to her,"Since I don't know much of anything about him...I can't really say 'I like him'." she blinked,"Besides even if I did somehow develop feelings for him, My father would never allow it. He isn't fond of Princetons," she smiled awkwardly,"He thinks they are sneaky snakes that wouldn't hesitate to try and use me against him in some way so he has his guard heavily standing up against them...and besides." she sighed,"He doesn't even know about...well...you know." she motioned toward Ruby who leapt back and let out a growl when some of the water splashed up into her face and Connar giggled.
As Jesse watched this he felt as though that small wave washed relief all the way through him and he tightened his hand warmly around Connar's in a gentle squeeze while he stroked the top of it with his thumb.
"Somehow...that makes me feel better." he chuckled.
"Oh shut up!" Connar giggled and gave him a playful shoulder bump as she let out a happy little sigh.
"I don't know what it is about you, Jesse..." she said softly,"But I feel safe with you, somehow." she stated.
This caught his attention and he turned his focus onto the pinkette's rosy cheeks and shimmering eyes that reflected the light of the water beneath their feet.
"Like I can trust you." she said softly resting gently against his shoulder,"I can talk to you as myself and it's okay." she said,"Like...you just get it you know what I mean?"
"Yeah...I think I do." he chuckled as he rested his cheek gently against the top of her head and continued to squeeze her hand in his,"I feel it too."
"You won't...tell anyone, will you?" she blinked as she pulled away and looked up to find his eyes.
"Connar...these aren't my stories to tell." he stated firmly as he locked his gaze on hers,"I'm just glad you feel safe enough to tell me." he said softly,"So...!" he grinned and pointed to himself, "Where does that leave me on the person-of-Connie-Girl's interest~' list!?" he teased.
"Pfff...well seeing as we also met recently but have been messaging with each other every night since, I feel more comfortable with you at this moment than I do with a guy a met a month before you~!" she stated with a playful smirk while popping him on the arm. He snickered and shared a warm smile with her, a gesture that she returned, though, it soon turned into laughter when a flash of splashed water made contact with his face followed by the playful purrs of Ruby.
"Pffft~ " Connar snickered and clapped her hand over her mouth as she giggled.
"Oh you think that's funny, do you!?" Jesse smirked as he scooped her up into his arms twirling her until he got about shin deep into the sea.
"Jesse! Noo!" She squealed giggling,"I'm still holding your boots, you dummy! They'll get wet!" she laughed as he plopped her down into the cold water with him and held his hands on her hips to keep her steady.
"If I'm bein' honest, Connie-Girl...I wish we could stay like this forever." he said softly, looking deeply into her baby blues as she stood against the sunset behind her. The coloring of its light and the sky gave her a warm glow and the heat resonating between them was enough to melt his heart.
"Just like this..." he smiled and stroked away a bead of water that was rolling off her cheek from the splash when he plopped her down into the ocean.
"W-Well...why can't we?" she asked blushing heatedly before averting her gaze, feeling her heart quiver a bit when his presence seemed to suddenly take on a saddened expression.
"Well Connie...I'm only here for the summer." he said softly,"I'm not from here." he stated and she blinked and met with his green eyed gaze once again,"See...I'm only here because I was formally invited to that party your daddy was hostin'." he chuckled with a small cheeky grin, that somehow felt a little sad too,"I'm gonna have to leave soon so I can go and get ready for my school term too."
"Oh...I see..." she blinked and gazed down sadly,"I-I'm sorry...I didn't know."
"Hey..." Jesse blinked as he cupped her cheek to get her to look up at him,"Now, ain't no one said that means this is the end of us!" he chuckled,"Just because the summer is about over and I gotta head home don't mean we can't make lasting memories in this very moment, does it?"
She blinked and blushed, sharing in his smile.
"I guess not." she said softly.
"No it doesn't." he stated,"We'll work on that confidence." he winked and playfully ruffled up her hair as he noticed the light diminishing into a slow darkness and the festive lights of the boardwalk lighting up not far from them.
"In fact...I know just the memory to leave off with." he grinned and clasped her hand into hers once again,"Come with me!" he he said as he took off running with her in tow toward the boardwalk.
XXXXX
"Now that's what I call a view!" he said softly letting out a whistle as the bucket of the ferris wheel slowly rose up and lingered above the sea and the festivities that come with the boardwalk at night.
"Yeah...it's beautiful." Connar said softly, watching as the light of the stars speckled across the ocean's waves below like a sheet of glitter.
"Not near half as pretty as you are Darlin'." he teased her playfully slowly inching a little closer to her so that he could smoothly drape his arm around behind her and she giggled.
"I bet you say that to all the girls." Connar joked.
"Naw." he shrugged," Only the ones I know." he chuckled.
"And?" she blinked,"How many would that be?"
"Just the one~" he teased as he gave her a playful boop on the nose.
"I find that hard to believe." she said with a pout as she rubbed her snoot.
"But it's true!" he laughed,"Honest! Despite what you may think, I'm not exactly known for charmin' the ladies back home!" he laughed.
"Could have fooled me!" Connar snickered,"You haven't turned the charm off since we met!"
"Just wanted to ensure I caught ya~!" he grinned,"Hook, line and sinker~" he said playfully poking her until she giggled and pushed his hand away lightl.
"Fishing metaphors?" she said with a raised brow.
"Whats'a matter?" he blinked," I thought you liked seafood!"
"Har Har." Connar rolled her eyes and rested against him while they laughed together.
"Though, I think next time I come around, I'm gonna introduce you to barbeque." said Jesse and Connar blinked, feeling the butterflies flutter ticklishly inside her stomach.
"Oh, so...there will be a next time?"
"Oh, you can count on that!"Jesse chuckled,"Unless you give me a reason why I shouldn't show up?" he smirked teasingly and she gently nudged him with her elbow to which he snickered,"And I'll be sure to grill you up the best steak you ever had!"
"Not sure if a T-bone can top a fillet mignon." she chuckled and Jesse let out a hardy laugh.
"Damn girl, it's obvious you and me come from two crazy different worlds!" he laughed.
"Our worlds may be different...but not as much as you may think." she said softly,"After all...I wasn't born into this 'fancy life' as you call it..." she blinked,"Just...brought up into it."
Jesse blinked as he listened carefully to what she said.
"So you mean...you were adopted?"
She nodded.
"I see..." he said softly,"Still a very different world from mine." he blinked.
"Maybe so." she shrugged as she chuckled,"But I still feel like our souls are the same...is that weird?" she asked as she fiddled with his hand in hers carefully sliding her fingers back and forth between his as she asked.
"You mean...like kindred spirits?" he asked.
"Yeah..." she blinked."Something like that."
"Nah." he said softly as he moved his hand to capture her fingers in the empty spaces between his in a firm squeeze,"That's not weird at all." he smiled and leaned forward, still keeping her hand locked within his as he used his other to cup her cheek and tilt her head up into looking at him.
"Connie-Girl...If I may say...it was a down right pleasure meeting you." he smiled warmly.
"Y-yeah..." she blushed and exchanged a smile while carefully placing her free hand on top of the one of his that held her cheek and gently rubbed against it,"I'm glad I met you too...so I hope you mean it when you say you plan to see me again..."
The bluenette blinked his emerald greens and gave a warm smile before moving in on her. Startled by his sudden action she turned to face him only to find her lips captured by his in a position that she couldn't so easily escape. Not that she even wanted to. She let out a satisfied moan, like the kind one would make when they found themselves full of that pleasure of tasting something that just tasted so delicious that they only wanted more of it. More of each other. Without even realizing it, she found her eyes closed, melting further into him while he stroked her cupped cheek, his other hand squeezing onto hers as his thumb gently rode slowly back and forth across her knuckles. They gently rocked together in the bucket of the ferris wheel as it slowly rose up to the top and rested where they finally released each other for a breath of sea air, hungry eyes locked on each other.
"...You better believe I do, Darlin." he said with a grin as he gently rubbed his nose into hers,"You can consider that one my down payment..." he said softly, releasing her hand to rest his second on her other cheek tilting her head back a little further as he pushed in a little closer and whispered against her lips,"And consider this one my guarantee." he flashed her a cheeky grin before capturing her lips once again, more aggressively. But she couldn't get enough of it. She pressed back, gripping at his shirt tightly in her fists, clinging at the cloth between her fingers in a heated passionate wave of kisses that never released until their bucket made landfall once again.
XXXXX
The night fell darker around them as Jesse escorted Connar safely to her waiting limo where her uncle seemed to be waiting to relieve him of her.
"I hope you had fun." he chuckled as he opened the door for her and motioned her inside. She nodded smiling, the heat still very apparent on her cheeks, which her uncle left alone with a knowing chuckle while she climbed inside after saying her farewells to Jesse. He closed the door gently behind her and turned to the bluenette.
"Thank you for keeping us updated." he said to Jesse gratefully.
"Of course!" Jesse beamed with a wink and a wave,"Anyway it's about time I head back to and start packing up to prepare for my school term..." he sighed,"But I thank you kindly for inviting me to such an extravagant event!" he smiled,"And it was a down right pleasure to have been granted the honor of meeting Connie too." he stated,"I'm glad we became friends."
"Me too." said Mokuba,"She doesn't really have many and doesn't make them easily so it's a relief for us to see her being able to act and feel like a normal teen girl once in a while." he chuckled,"It was an honor having you as a guest at our party, Jesse Anderson and we certainly hope to see you again."
Jesse gave the boy a smile as he gazed at his reflection on the tinted glass of the Limousine window. He couldn't see her at that moment, but he knew she was there and it filled him with a warmth he couldn't describe as he let out a happy sigh.
"Definitely." he stated with a grin as he turned with a wave,"Later, Mokey~"
Mokuba gave a slight leer at the boy's call of his pleasantry name but shook his head with a chuckle as he waved him off and joined Connar on the other side of the ride. She sat silently with her head facing the window, heavily focused on watching Jesse walk away until she could no longer see him anymore and she gave a saddened sigh.
"Don't worry, Connie." Mokuba sighed as he placed a gentle hand on his niece's shoulder. That nickname grew soft on him too.,"Seto's got a real interest in that boy and his dueling capabilities." he said softly,"I guarantee you that party, won't be the last one he gets invited too...so I'm sure you'll see him again."
Connar didn't respond with any words as she turned to meet her uncle's gentle gaze. She only exchanged a tender smile with him as they drove away into the night toward home.
To Be Continued
