I hope you guys are excited for this because I know I am! I'm aware I'm posting early in the morning on a Sunday but I haven't fallen asleep yet (insomnia may be great for writing, but not so much for my ADHDness (yes I do have ADHD) :P) and I just finished editing this chapter so why not! I love love love this chapter and I'm kind of obsessively writing this so I might need to put one more chapter in before the duel. If I don't, the next chapter will be a solid 6000-10000 words. I know thats a wide range but for serious, I've written the next chapter up to like 2000 words already and I'm not even close to when their going to start to duel. I know I'm really prolonging this but hopefully you guys will be able to figure out my previous foreshadowing (chapter 6 hint hint, in the garden, hint hint!). Wow, that was obvious. Any ways on with it!

Confessions and Notes

North Academy is about to get interesting

JPOV

Running into Sage in the hall was one of the single hardest experiences for me. I couldn't not be attracted to her but I knew she didn't want me to like her. I had to stuff my feelings down for her. How was I so attracted to her already? Even I questioned my sanity for it. I ran for the office to drop off the attendance and I could help but let Sage take over my mind.

I though of everything and anything that reminded me of Sage. Her eyes, both the emerald and white glowing ones, her face, her lips her sarcasm and her laugh. I though of my dream last night and only felt my cheeks become more flushed. It must have been the single best dream ever. Sage kissed me in the dream and to say the least it was incredible.

I cursed myself for even allowing myself to think about that. I needed to give her up or I would loose her completely. She didn't like me and she didn't want to be my friend probably after what I had said to her yesterday. At least forgiving me was a step and our duel would be another one.

On the return trip I let myself decide my specific deck for our duel. I wasn't sure what her cards were or how to counter them so I was going to have to go all out on her. I wasn't going to hold back and I was going to beat her. Who am I kidding? She'll know my moves before I even make them or think about them. This will be my toughest challenge yet and I already knew I was going to fail. Might as well go into it with a positive attitude and with that, I could feel a smile creep up my lips. With that Ruby suddenly appeared and ran off back to class. I guessed she wanted to watch the duel and thought nothing of it.

I got back to class just in time to see the end of the duel and take the seat behind Sage who was sitting next to Blair. I remembered helping to save her last semester while we were in the other dimension with the duel ghouls. 'Good times, good times,' I thought to myself while a smirk appeared on my lips.

People not paying attention gave a couple of reviews on the last duel and I chose to ignore them. I didn't want to get people mad at me for not agreeing with them. Blair gave a review that made sense and I sighed, relieved that at least one person was paying attention.

Then Sage spoke and I didn't know how to react. Her review was not only an amazing strategy but it was perfect. The one problem was that she talked about cards in the girl's hand. I didn't think she would want anyone to know about her aura stuff but the blush on her face confirmed that.

Instantly the chaos began. The girl that was dueling freaked out and Kari's stupid friends took out their cameras and started taking pictures of Sage glowing. I didn't know whether to be freaked out or completely awestruck. I had never seen her actually levitate before. She was a good foot off the ground and wind was blowing around her in furious gusts. I didn't think that cobalt eagle could even make wind that strong. Then Sage spoke and everyone else in the class backed away.

"Put the cameras down! If I find one picture, you're dead! I am Sage Arone the true psychic duelist. I have the gift of aura reading. I can read minds, sense people's emotions and I'm a pro duelist. Back off or we're going to have problems," Sage said with an expression that made her seem like she actually wanted to hurt someone. I was honestly afraid of her but I was more concerned than anything.

Soon her glowing stopped and the wind died down. She was about to fall and both Blair and I caught her. We needed to get her to the nurse now before something worse happened. Blair helped me get Sage on my back and we ran to the nurse. On the way she started to shake and cry. I had never seen someone look so broken.

The shaking got worse as we got into the office. She wouldn't stay on the bed so the nurse had to drug her to make sure she was okay. Aurelis came out and sat near her head and tried to comfort her partner. I held Sage's hand until she stopped moving. Blair was sitting on the chair in the room crying. I didn't really know what to do and just kind of sat there awkwardly.

"Did you know Sage could do this?" Blair asked in a hushed voice.

"Kind of, but I didn't know that her powers were so strong. I'm her mentor so we talked yesterday but she never mentioned that she could float and control wind. I'm really scared Blair."

"Why? I mean, I've never seen you care about anyone this much, not even Jaden. What happened between you. I mean were became fast friends at breakfast this morning and she's totally nice but I'm so confused."

"I don't really know. We just kind of connected like I did with Jaden, but way stronger. I can't stop thinking about her." I admitted to Blair. I really didn't know what was up between us and I was really confused but it felt right. Almost like it was meant to be.

"Stop it. Stop it! I can't NO! NO please no! The knife stop the knife! I don't want to burn anymore. Help me. Help me." Sage screamed in her sleep. Despite the medication she was tossing and turning in her bed. Tears began to stream down her face as she kept repeating similar things, until she talked about me.

"Jesse help me! Please Jesse, I need you! Help me stop, I don't want it to burn. Please help me. I need you. I want you to help me. Please, I want you," Sage whispered as she clutched my hand tighter. I could speak because I was so stunned. I could believe that she wanted me around. I did the only thing I knew how to do, I held Sage while she slept. Eventually her breathing evened out. She stopped tossing and turning and she lay still.

I looked over my shoulder and I saw Blair, with her mouth hanging open. I look of complete shock crossed her face. Hesitantly she walked over the bed and sat down lightly. I could tell she was more than shaken up. Her eyes were flat and her lips were trembling. Suddenly Sage began to stir in my arms and I could feel the sharp nails dragging down my arms while she muttered something. The lines she left were not enough to break the skin but they hurt. I had to get away before I woke her.

I stumbled to the chair in the corner and clutched my arm to my body to try to lessen the pain. I wasn't just dealing with the physical pain I felt the rejection. She hurt me and I couldn't tell if it was because she didn't like me or if it was just part of her dream. I didn't want to be away from her and if she scratched me on purpose I needed to get going now. I put my face in my hands and just let the tears go. The barrier was gone and the pain was immeasurable. And then I heard her voice.

"Yeah, what the hell happened? Why is he here? Did I faint? Crap, I feel terrible." She doesn't want me here. I need to go but I want to know why she hates me.

"What I'm about to tell you isn't going to be music to your ears. Can you handle it?" I nodded and she continued, "After you told the class off and stopped floating, you fainted. Jesse and I caught you and we brought you back to the nurse's office as fast as we can. When we got here though you started flailing and freaking out. Nurse Jacey had to sedate you to even get you into a bed. You started mumbling a lot of stuff in your sleep and not all of it is stuff you probably wanted us to know so we'll try to ignore it until we hear it from you but we seriously need to talk to you," Blair said hastily. She was just as nervous as I was but she wasn't paralyzed like me. She had the courage to talk to Sage unlike me. I was a coward.

"What did I talk about Blair? Should Jesse hear this or not? Did the nurse hear me?" Panic was all that was evident to me and all I wanted to do was take it away. The part of me that wanted to runaway was shrinking and I could feel my self regain some feeling.

"He needs to be here. You said some stuff about him that we need to talk about too. The nurse didn't hear but I'm not sure if I should tell her what you said. I hate to say this but I'm sacred for you Sage," Blair said slightly above a whisper.

"What should I start with?" I couldn't take it any more so I just followed my instincts and they told me to act, not sit.

"The knife Sage, tell us about the knife." I said in the most compassionate voice I had as I held her hand. She seemed so weak at that moment and I was worried beyond belief. Would she reject me or would she want me? It was now or never and I needed to know.

"I cant… I won't," she whispered to me.

I'm here for you. Whenever you need me, I'll be here. If you don't want to tell me its okay but I'll be here when you want to or need to talk." I said slightly hurt. I knew she didn't trust me. Why would she trust me? All I ever did was hurt her and here I am, expecting her to open up to me. God, I'm such and idiot.

"I want to but… you'll hate me. You will think I'm insane and weak. I don't want that, Jesse. I want to be strong. I want to be whole," she breathed into my ear, which she pulled down to her face. That was when the rest of the world ceased to exist. Nothing else mattered in that moment to me but helping Sage. I didn't know what this feeling was but it was consuming.

"I won't Sage. I can't Sage. I could never hate you. I just want to help you. I just want to be here for you always. I'll be here," I had never said anything that was more truthful in my life. I had just laid my heart on the table and I needed to see how she would react.

She pulled herself to me. She pulled me on to the bed and she just cried as I held her in my arms. It felt like every nerve was on fire for me. I was so happy in that single moment. My world was complete if I held her in my arms. Love, I had never felt something like this before and I was scared. I love Sage. Was it even possible? I had known her for two days and I was already so attached to her. I didn't want to scare her off so I kept it to myself. I'll tell her eventually but right now I needed to focus on how to help Sage heal. I hated myself for being so selfish. I wan thinking about myself when Sage needed me more.

"It was… painful. I didn't even really heal from it. I was never the same after they brought me to be 'tested'. It felt like they were burning me. T-to monitor my m-mind; they had to, I don't even really know. They put me to s-sleep or they tried to, but my mind resisted. It burned. I can still feel the knife sometimes. The eyes, they changed my eyes. They gave me new ones. Stronger ones. They didn't want to help me; they wanted to use me. My mom gave me to them to be trained. They wanted me to be some kind of," she hesitated and I was frozen. I didn't know how to react. I could feel the pain, Sage, my Sage was hurt and I couldn't help her, "weapon," she whispered. I wrapped her tighter in my arms and she hugged me back. I let a few tears leak out but held the rest in. She needed me to be strong and I would do anything to help her. And before I could restraint myself I placed my lips to the top of her head. I didn't know how she would react but it felt right. I was blindly following my instincts and it was working so far.

"You need to sleep. I'll stay, if you want me, but you need to take care of your mind. I don't want you to hurt tomorrow. I'll be here to protect you if you want me to," I knew it was the wrong thing to say but she looked so tired and so broken. My overprotective side was praising be but the rest of my mind was screaming at me to stop. And I heard Sage laugh.

"What's so funny?" I asked her glowing eyes.

"Your aura, its better than a soap opera. Your pinkish purple side is attacking your crimson half and its just funny because of the reasons. I do want you to stay and I do want to be protected but don't argue with yourself. It's making my headache even worse." I knew I could always count on her to lighten the mood.

I got up to turn off the light and saw that Blair had left, but not without giving my something else to think about. I picked up the crumpled piece of paper next to my PDA.

Have fun lovebirds and Jesse tell Sage that I hope she gets better and that she's giving me the details later. Sleep well and I'll tell the dorm advisor that you're with Sage. ~Blair

"Goodnight, Sage," I said. I couldn't help but keep the smile off my face as I held Sage close to me and I began to hum my favorite song. I could feel her clenched body begin to relax and I could hear her breathing even out.

"We're still dueling tomorrow. Don't forget it." she sighed as her body fell into the depths of sleep. It was always like her to keep fighting.

I could feel sleep beginning to overcome me and as the image of Sage smiling against me was burned into my mind.

YAY!!!! I just made myself smile by writing that! Let me know what you think! Oh yeah and to restraint myself from posting every three days, I'm not going to post until I get three review for each chapter. I'm hoping thats not too much to ask for considering thats pretty much the average. But yeah, thanks for reading!

Oh and everyone should be worshiping the ground DMG44 walks on right now. She is literally one of the more amazing people I have come into contact with in life. She is helping me out with Sage's deck so pretty much as soon as thats done (and I send one really really long thank you note to her), production will be a lot faster!

Thanks and See Ya!