Chapter 4

It was after all of Chazz's classes on that warm Tuesday afternoon. He promised he'd wait for Jasmine at the front of the school. He looked up to see Jaden coming without Alexis by his side for once. Chazz wondered I wonder if they broke up. Not like it matters, she still hates me sadly. Jaden looked at the boy in the black trench coat. "What are you waiting for?" asked Jaden hoping that one of his best friends didn't totally hate his guts.

"Jasmine, she's taking forever," said Chazz grumpily. Jaden looked at Chazz and nodded. He hadn't noticed that Chazz and Jasmine spent a lot of their time together. I mean he had seen Mindy without Jasmine, but he didn't know she hung out with Chazz.

"Why?" Jaden asked confused. Chazz shook his head; he didn't want to explain things to him. I mean, Jaden would most likely take it offensively, or he would be utterly confused.

"Why do you care, slacker?" snapped Chazz. Jaden smiled, Chazz was still his old meanie-head self, so the Jaden and Alexis thing couldn't have affected Chazz greatly.

"Because you hate waiting for others," Jaden explained. He grinned as Alexis came to greet him. Alexis looked shocked, why was Chazz talking to her boyfriend. They were supposed to hate each other, and she was surprised that Jaden and Chazz were still friends. Alexis kissed Jaden on the cheek thinking let's leave the loser, Jaden. Come on.

"I know that much," said Chazz as he rolled his eyes, "I don't know why, probably because, oh I don't know, she's the most normal one at this school." His voice was harsh as he just spat out the words without really thinking. His heart was beating either because Alexis was there or out of anger. He couldn't tell. Alexis looked shocked, who was this girl? How did that happen? It wasn't that she cared, but she didn't expect that ever to happen. Jasmine came out of the school looking exhausted.

"Hey, Chazz," Jasmine said and looked over to Alexis and Jaden. This has to be a bit hard on him; it had to be. It's even awkward to be here, and I'm just trying to help Chazz. She smiled at Jaden and Alexis; she really didn't ever talk to them.

"Jasmine, why is Chazz waiting for you? I want to know! Please, tell me. Pretty please with a cherry on top?" begged Jaden. He hated not being in the loop. Chazz started laughing thinking Jaden is such a dumbass. I think I feel bad for him.

"Well…he…I am helping him with his studies, and he is helping me with my dueling," she lied quickly. This should be a feasible excuse she assumed.Alexis raised an eyebrow. It was obvious that Jasmine was lying.

"Wow! Chazz never helps anybody!" Jaden exclaimed happily, "You must be special, Jasmine!" Jasmine looked down at her feet; her straight hair gleamed in the sunlight. She contemplated the idea of her being extraordinary to Chazz. It was unrealistic, but it was a nice thought. She smiled and looked at the spiky black haired kid with cold grey eyes. He was studying Jasmine's smile. It's fake, we know it. She has to be happy around Alexis, just so the blonde won't see what a mess she's caused. Damn gorgeous Barbie doll.

"Is she special to you?" asked Alexis to Chazz. Chazz reddened. How do I answer that question Chazz wondered I mean Jasmine is great, and seems to always be there for me, but I really don't know if she is. I guess so. Chazz glanced at Jasmine, and he thought he figured it out if Jasmine was something special.

"Yeah," Chazz replied simply. Jasmine smiled and hoped he meant those words, and he wasn't just lying to get Alexis away. Jasmine wondered why the blonde beauty actually cared. She had Jaden that was supposed to be sufficient enough.

"That's great, Chazz," said Jaden happily, "She seems like your type of girl." Jasmine's face turned a bright shade of pink and Chazz's face turned into a deep red. He wanted to punch Jaden. Jasmine was his friend not just some girlfriend that any loser could get. Jasmine was picky, and Chazz had just realized that when she had said in lunch that she thought a lot of guys were gorgeous, but she wanted a guy with substance.

"We aren't dating," Jasmine said quickly. There was no way that she could lie about that. Alexis looked shocked and thought they spend so much time together, and she's special to him. This makes no sense whatsoever. God, does Chazz still like me enough to not like Jasmine. Chazz nodded.

"Why not?" asked Alexis. Easy, because I'm not special, I'm not you, Alexis Rhodes. He wants more than me Jasmine answered Alexis in her head. She wished she could say that to Jaden's girlfriend, but she was far too civil.

"Why should we?" asked Chazz. Jasmine was hurt, but tried the best she could to hide it. Chazz hadn't gotten over Alexis, even though he hid it very well. Jasmine could sense it. There wasn't anything she could do about that, and besides he deserved more than little ole' her. She didn't want to explain it at all, truth was, and all she wanted to do was run away.

"You just seem right together," responded Alexis with a shrug.

"Like us?" Jaden inquired like a little boy with his eyes glistening with hope.

"Just like us," Alexis answered before she kissed his cheek.

"Gag me," said Chazz rudely. He did not want to witness this. He wished they would respect the fact that Jaden and Alexis were freaking gross together. She would even look good with a fat guy, just not him Chazz almost murmured, but he needed to control himself if he valued his life.

"It can't happen," said Jasmine weakly. She did not want to say it, but she felt that was the ultimate truth. Today, she had many boys talk to her, and wanted to get with her because she looked good. She liked the attention, but it was from the wrong source. He will never love me her brain screamed to her heart. Chazz looked confused. He wondered why Jasmine seemed so depressed. She was fine earlier today, but what had happened to her now was beyond his comprehension. Jaden noticed this and said his goodbye's and dragged Alexis with him. She looked shocked.

"What are you doing?" she asked Jaden shocked and confused. Jaden looked at his lovely girlfriend.

"Easy, Jasmine got depressed. I think she may like Chazz, but if he still likes you, she knows she can't be with him. Look, the same thing happened to my cousin, and she acted just like Jasmine," Jaden said. He knew how girls were about this from his cousin, and his friends, and the courses he had been taking from Mindy.

"Really?" Alexis asked, "I had no idea. I didn't even know she liked him."

"Atticus told me. Look, just do them a favor and stay away from Chazz," said Jaden trying to sound serious. Alexis didn't know what to think of Jaden telling her what to do, but she felt guilty and decided that she wouldn't until the proper day came.

Meanwhile, Jasmine sat on the bench near the entrance to Duel Academy. She wished that she didn't feel this much pain from wanting to be with Chazz, and figuring it couldn't happen. She could have straight hair and wear Alexis's old clothing, but that wouldn't matter if he didn't like her for her. Chazz sat by her and got annoyed with her being depressing. That was his job!

"What is wrong with you?" Chazz asked finally. Jasmine's head jerked up. She didn't want to explain, but hopefully Chazz would give her that choice, but then again Chazz was a tad bit of a control freak.

"It's nothing," she answered. Chazz rolled his eyes and looked at his friend. He wondered if she felt what he felt when he wanted to be with Alexis badly, but it never seemed to happen. She definitely looked the part, but who could she like that he didn't know about?

"Don't lie to me," commanded Chazz, "You can tell me." Jasmine looked at him. There were no tears in her eyes, just a look of a child that had her favorite toy taken away.

"It's just, what Alexis and Jaden have is depressing," Jasmine said looking away from Chazz, "I mean who gets that lucky?"

"Why do you like Jaden?" Chazz asked with bitter disgusted. Jasmine shuddered.

"Hell no, she just is special enough to have someone treat her like she is special," she said quickly and without a breath. Chazz sighed and thought any guy could treat any girl that way. I could've treated Alexis better than Jaden does, but I never got that chance. Jasmine continued to say her thoughts out loud, "You still want to treat her like that. I will never know that. We both know that, no one will see behind Atticus's creation anymore." Chazz stared in disbelief. Jasmine had a true insight into his mind, almost as if she could read it like a book. Jasmine is wrong he thought I do believe she is special.

"You are such a moron," Chazz said.

"Wow, that is lovely to hear," said Jasmine sarcastically. Chazz always chose the best times to be a cruel jackass.

"Hear me out," Chazz continued, "You are special, and you have to stop hiding from the world. You have to fight for what you want. I mean come on, you have your whole life ahead of you, and you're stuck because of some blonde. That's retarded." He looked at Jasmine and pulled her up. He was sick of her acting like this. He related to all of this, which was made it so hard to watch. He wasn't going to let her fall like he had.

"Thanks Chazz," said Jasmine, "I needed to hear that."

"Damn straight," Chazz replied.

"You did very well around Alexis and Jaden," she said. He had made more progress, and in a faster time than she had ever expected. She hoped he would move on from her, and she would learn to be her own person and step out of the shadows.

Mew Kazurinu: Well, that was interesting to write.

Alexis: Why is Jasmine under my shadow? That's ridiculous.

Mew Kazurinu: Not really, it's natural.

Jaden: I had a smart moment! Yay!

Mew Kazurinu: I am not doing that again now.