JC: I came back from my trip and relaxed for a bit, then when I logged onto my computer to type…WRITER'S BLOCK! Damn, stupid block! I couldn't think of anything good to write. No scenes would pop into my mind. I've been like this for days. Then yesterday an idea finally struck me and I quickly let my fingers do the work on the keyboard. Finally I'm done with Chapter 19. Phew! I'm so sorry for the delay.
Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh! GX, people, or its characters, but the plot of this story is mine. All rights belong to Kazuki Takahashi.
White Vow
Turn 19: Secret's Out
"Alexis is meeting up with Zane right now. You not worried?" Atticus popped the question when Jaden took a seat beside him on the bench in the garden.
"Nope! Not one bit," Jaden said, leaning his head back, as he stared up at the darkening sky. "She just wants to settle things properly with Zane."
Atticus sighed in relief. "That's my little sissy for ya."
Jaden's expression turned from cheerful to worried. "Hey…um…I'm planning to tell her soon…Maybe before we leave the island."
"Oh? You serious with that?"
Jaden nodded.
"She's not gonna take it lightly, you know, and are you sure you're prepared for that?"
"If she's gonna slap me, then I'll take it like a man." Jaden let out an awkward laugh. "I'm gonna hate myself for hurting her, but it's better to tell the truth."
"The truth can sometimes hurt." Atticus gave his shoulder a comforting squeeze. "And I think she's gonna kick your sorry butt for this…"
Jaden's jaw dropped. "What?"
"But she'll forgive you if you're sincere," Atticus said, patting his back.
"Are you trying to scare me?" Jaden mumbled.
"More or less."
"I've gotta say, even though that MAN scares me, I have him to thank for all this. I still don't get why he chose me though." Jaden scratched the back of his head.
Atticus cupped his chin, thinking in silence for a brief moment. "Probably because he was aware of Alexis' feelings for you," he said. "He just wanted Alexis to be happy."
"Well, he does seem to care a great deal about Alexis."
Atticus grinned. "To the point of forcing you into accepting the bet?"
Jaden slightly shivered. "He mopped the floor with my face. The dude threatened me to date Alexis, not that I mind though…" He let out a sigh as he remembered the duel. "I'm kinda glad I lost…Well, I guess I didn't stand a chance in the first place. He's a walking legend."
"A blessing in disguise," Atticus added.
"Still…I think the whole deal was kinda weird. He could've done it some other way instead of making me sign a contract."
"Assurance."
"When he wants things done, he gets it done. Is that right?"
"That's—"
David's blue eyes widened the moment he heard Atticus mentioned the name of the MAN responsible for Jaden's engagement to Alexis. He had gone out to the garden for a short stroll until he spotted Jaden and Atticus. Stealthy like a ninja, he had hidden himself from sight behind a tree near the bench to listen on their conversation. And what he had found out was more than difficult to digest. Jaden had such a powerful man backing him up. David knew that going against that MAN would be suicide, but he refused to let Jaden have his happy-ever-after with Alexis.
The whole thing started with a bet, and Yuki's been hiding it from Alexis. A bet with Alexis as the prize…
A cunning smirk appeared on his face. He was going to make sure their relationship would be severed.
Zane left on the plane two hours after dinner time. Unfortunately, the Mackenzie's plane had a bit of a problem and the pilot had called Mac to inform her that they'd be arriving early tomorrow morning instead. Mac was a pleasure to have around, but Alexis and Jaden wanted David out of their hair as soon as possible. The guy could not be trusted.
The evening seemed to drag, and about ten Alexis decided to prepare for bed, taking a long warm bath in scented water to pass the time. She put on a nightgown and covered it with a blue silk robe. She then decided to pay Jaden and Atticus a little visit at the game room.
As she was heading to the stairs, David casually walked to the bottom of the staircase and stared up at her with his trademark grin. David was looking for trouble again, she thought, rolling her eyes away.
"I should deserve a nice, warm greeting at least," drawled David.
"What do you want?" she asked sharply.
"Were you on your way to see your beloved fiancé?"
"Yes, I was," she promptly replied. "So step aside."
"Don't worry, I'm not planning to do anything to you," he said, smiling confidently.
"I find that hard to believe." She crossed her arms over her chest.
"Well, I don't deny the fact that I want you, Alexis." He moved up the stairs and paused midway. "My heart still belongs to you."
"Oh, please," she retorted, tone heavy with sarcasm. "Stop with the cheesy lines. It doesn't suit you."
He walked up the stairs until he came face to face with her. The malicious smile never left his face. "You're so hard to please." He reached a hand towards her, and she immediately backed away from him.
She shot him a glare. "I swear I'm gonna kill you if you touch me. I mean it."
"Feisty as usual," he sneered, a glitter of mockery in his blue eyes. "Like I said, I'm not going to do anything to you, so rest assured. I just have something important to say."
"I don't have to listen to you."
"Seriously? Then what if I'll tell you that it's a grave matter concerning your precious fiancé?"
Alexis remained calm. "You're trying to break us apart again, aren't you?"
"I overheard their conversation," David started, ignoring her question. "Atticus and that Slifer…They were talking about a bet."
She raised a brow. "A bet?"
"I'm sure you're not gonna believe me, but I swear I'm not lying about this, Alexis." He folded his arms in front of his chest. "Jaden Yuki lost a bet to a MAN—a person you're very familiar with, and the price? You."
She kept her temper in-check. She couldn't afford to let her anger flare, knowing it would only amuse David. "You're just making things up." At this point, David would do anything to sabotage their relationship. Lies and deception were nothing new to him, and it sickened her to know how desperate he was.
"It's better if you ask that Slifer instead. I'm sure you'll be surprised."
"Would you just stop already?" she demanded.
"You should go ask that MAN too, since he's the one who played matchmaker with you and Jaden." He jeered, walking past her.
"Who is this MAN you're talking about anyway?" she questioned in a hard, cold voice.
David paused but did not look back. His grin only widened. "Why, it's none other than…"
Jaden was leaning against the refrigerator drinking a glass of milk when Alexis walked into the kitchen. "Hiya!" he greeted.
Shaking off David's words from before, Alexis put on a smile. "Finished with your games?" she asked.
"Yup! Atticus wanted to spend some quality time with Mac. I think they're strolling through the garden right now."
"I see…"
Jaden set the glass down on the counter. "And I see you're ready for bed."
"But I'm not yet sleepy." She knew she shouldn't let David's words disturb her, but it made her want to ask Jaden.
"How about a Duel?" he asked playfully.
She sighed. "Sorry, not in the mood…"
He slightly frowned. "Oh, too bad." Then he quickly perked up. "Maybe tomorrow!"
And Alexis wasn't too sure about tomorrow either. What David said to her—she was telling herself that it was all a lie, but she couldn't quite convince herself.
"Since you're not in the sleeping mood, let's go watch a movie! I mean, you've got that big flat screen TV in your room, right?" As he moved toward her, she involuntarily backed up. "Uh…Alexis, is something wrong?" he asked, eyebrows lifted.
She had questions in her mind and she didn't know how she would ask him. "No…it's nothing…" she said. I'm thinking about this too much…I shouldn't let David's words bug me like this. I'm pretty damn sure he was just messing with me as usual.
"Are you sure it's nothing?" Jaden questioned, giving both her shoulders a comforting squeeze. "Was it David again?" There was a ruthless tone when he mentioned David's name.
Her heart skipped a beat. Jaden guessed it right, but she wasn't about to tell him that. "No, it wasn't. Look, I'm probably just tired."
"And you said you weren't sleepy. Well, a good night sleep will fix you right up," Jaden told her with a smile, entwining his hand with hers. "Let me escort you to your room, milady."
A cheerful, boyish smile—the smile of someone who would never betray someone's trust—she told herself while letting Jaden walk her out of the kitchen and to the stairs.
"Where's Lex?" Jaden asked the question between bites of the chocolate fudge cake that Mrs. Rhodes had baked when Atticus entered the kitchen. It was only a little after nine in the morning. "I stopped by her room and she's not there."
"Hmmm…Probably at her favorite place in the woods," Atticus answered as he settled across the table from Jaden a cup of coffee set before him. "You know where it is."
"Okay then!" Jaden finished his cake in one go and gulped down the rest of his orange juice. "I'm off!"
Atticus grimaced and said, "I don't think she slept well last night, man. She got up at her usual time this morning with bags under her eyes."
"Maybe a case of bad dreams," he said with slight worry.
" Maybe…" Atticus took a sip of his coffee before speaking. "Cheer her up for me, will ya?"
Jaden nodded. "Leave it to me!"
Leaving the mansion and grabbing a mountain bike, Jaden headed for the woods. Reaching the beautiful meadow, he eased the bike to a stop and parked it against a tree. Across the meadow, he found Alexis sleeping under the shade of another tree. He approached the sleeping figure, smiling down at sight of her peaceful face. She was wearing a white sleeveless hoodie top that exposed her midriff and a khaki mini-skirt.
His eyes traveled over her again and again, and he almost sighed aloud. Alexis looked so sexy sleeping defenselessly like that, he thought. She was positioned on her back, one arm above her head, the other lying out to the side. Her top was pulled tight across her breasts, leaving a generous exposure of her flat tummy. One of her legs was lying straight, while the other was half-bent at the knee and her skirt was high-up, revealing a lavish display of creamy thighs.
Jaden found himself wondering what it would be like to run his hands along her thighs and dip his face in between the curves of her breasts. He could imagine how soft and warm she was. He swallowed hard, astonished by the sight. Surprisingly, he had the great urge to run his tongue across the smooth skin of her legs. He'd like to kiss and caress Alexis. He'd like to push her skirt up and enjoy pleasuring her.
He dropped to his knees and bent forward to run a finger down her face. Slowly and carefully, he leaned his head closer until their lips were mere inches apart. He could almost taste her sweet lips.
Alexis sighed and shifted before gradually opening her eyes. Her vision was simply a mere blur when Jaden claimed her lips. Her eyes widened and her heart leapt when he deepened the kiss. She froze, completely surprised by the sensation of his lips moving against her own. His mouth was warm and soft, and his kiss was demanding that it was almost fascinating. But this was all too sudden. Trembling, she forced her mouth away. "J-Jaden?"
He continued his pursuit, scattering butterfly kisses along her neck.
Her face was flushed. The intensity was rising. "Jaden…" Her eyelids fluttered as she moaned involuntarily. "Jaden…please…" she said, as Jaden stroked her thigh. "Jaden,no…stop…" Her breathing was becoming heavier. "Not this…" And when Jaden slipped a hand under her shirt, Alexis immediately pushed him away.
Jaden snapped back to his senses and lifted his head to meet her tense gaze. "What was I…?" The sight of Alexis's flushed face made his heart skip. He then backed away.
Locked hip to hip just a few seconds ago, Alexis became aware of his bulge against her body. Jaden aroused? No…No way! But a glance at his brown eyes made her realize that it was true.
"Alexis, I-I'm sorry!" He lowered his head in shame. "I don't know what came over me! I'm really sorry!"
As surprising as it was, Alexis mused, she had to admit that the intimacy he showed was kind of exciting for her. Furthermore, she reminded herself that Jaden had never experienced something so sensual before. It must be hard o him… Moving a bit closer to him, she lifted his chin with one finger to meet his worried gaze. "Hey…It's all right," she said, smiling. "You did scare me a bit there, but I'm not mad."
Jaden shook his head vigorously. "What the hell was I thinking? You were sleeping and I took advantage of you like that. I'm the worst."
She laid a hand against his face and touched her lips to his.
He froze like a statue in an instant.
"At least you have self-control," she said, softly flicking his temple, as she giggled. "You probably have a lot of questions about this and that." She rose up and entwined her fingers behind her back. "Go ask Atticus."
"Huh? Why should I—"
She looked down at him and said, "Jaden, trust me. This is quite normal for guys."
Two nights later, Alexis fixed up her card deck as she listened to her IPOD. The mansion was a little lonely without the gang, but she and Jaden always do manage to have fun together with Atticus. David and Mac had gone back to America. Even though Atticus had asked her to stay for a few more days, Mac expressed her concern over David's threat and decided to keep an eye on him. It was good that David was gone, but Alexis was already missing Mac.
After putting away her cards into her dresser drawer, she slipped out of her day clothes and put on her night gown. She then grabbed a silk robe and tied the belt at her waist. It was already 11 PM. Usually she'd climbed into bed at that time, but today she wanted to talk to Jaden. They were leaving the island two days from now, and he has yet to tell her his future plans.
When she'd left Jaden and Atticus downstairs two hours ago, they'd been on their way to the game room to play video games and share a bottle of wine. She hoped her brother wouldn't make Jaden drunk, or else he was going to suffer from a major hangover in the morning.
Leaving her room, she crossed the hall and came up to Jaden's door. She cracked the door open, peeping inside to see if Jaden was there. Not surprisingly, the room was empty, which could only mean that Atticus still had Jaden in his clutches.
Sighing at the thought, she strolled over to the messy desk full of Duel Monster Cards. As she pulled out the chair, she heard a vibrating sound coming from inside the desk. Pulling the drawer open, she found Jaden's red cellphone vibrating. There was a caller, but Jaden was nowhere near to answer it.
Should I answer it? She shook her head. I shouldn't…It's his phone. Lifting the phone, the sight of the caller's name caught her eye. Is this for real? Why would He be calling Jaden? And she remembered David mentioning that MAN, saying that he was playing cupid for her and Jaden.
The voicemail then took over with Jaden's voice booming. "Jaden here! Sorry I can't come to the phone right now. Just leave a message after the beep!"
Alexis almost dropped the phone when the caller spoke up.
"You better pick up the next time I call you, slacker. I have some matters to discuss with you about Alexis' father. You agreed to this bet, so you better hold up your end of the bargain."
No way, she thought, shaking her head in dismay. She'd recognized that voice anywhere. A bet? David had told her something about a bet, but she didn't want to trust his words. Of course, she knew better than to jump to conclusions. This was probably a misunderstanding, she realized. But why did HE mention my father?
Putting the phone back into the drawer, the sight of a slim leather folder under the pile of cards peaked her curiosity. Taking it out, she opened the folder and found documents that seemed official and important. Then her gaze caught on a phrase that seemed completely shocking.
"I, Jaden Yuki, hereby agree to marry Alexis Rhodes. In exchange, the following terms shall be agreed upon…"
Alexis realized it was a contract as she continued reading.
"For losing the bet, Jaden Yuki therefore has to marry Alexis Rhodes…"
Once she was done reading, her entire body was deadened. There was no denying that it was an official settlement, and the MAN and Jaden had signed it for authentication. Dropping the folder on the desk, she forced herself not to cry, no matter how much it hurt.
"I overheard their conversation," David started, ignoring her question. "Atticus and that Slifer…They were talking about a bet."
David had been telling the truth, as much as she didn't want to admit it. He had been right, even though she hated his guts.
The grandfather clock chimed midnight as Jaden reached the top of the stairs. Yawning and stretching his arms, he made his way down the hall to his room. He was so eager to climb into bed and get some shut eye. Then again, he'd be even excited to climb into Alexis' bed. He had to admit his hormones had been acting up these days, and Atticus had told him it was normal for a healthy young man such as himself to feel urges from time to time. Atticus had also been educating and teasing him about sex, much to Jaden's utter dismay. Although Jaden could not understand it completely, he considered the fact that he had a desire for her.
On the night after Mrs. Rhodes' birthday bash, Jaden remembered how he got up close and totally intimate with Alexis, how their tongues danced with each other. It was as if he acted on instinct and kissed her passionately. And when Alexis moaned as his mouth left hers, it seemed like he was about to go out of control, though he managed to pull back.
And there was the time in the meadow too.
He had been spending quality time with Alexis ever since Mac and David left. They've held hands, hugged, and kissed. There were times he'd find himself in an awkward situation with her. However, it never went beyond that thanks to his self-control.
Needless to say, he hasn't forgotten about the bet. He was waiting for the right time to tell her. He was prepared for a slap or a punch, even a kick in the balls, and he was prepared to apologize a thousand times. He was dead set on making it up to her for keeping it a secret for so long. He genuinely loved Alexis, and as amazing as it was to admit, he wanted to marry her in the future.
Smiling at the lovely thought of Alexis in a wedding gown, he opened the door to his room and walked inside. He then stopped as he discovered his object of affection seated on his bed.
"Alexis?"
She simply looked up at him.
Jaden felt his shaft shifted. Alexis—who was sitting on his bed—was simply clad in a short night dress underneath the robe, with her creamy legs exposed. He could also see a bit of cleavage showing. Damn it…I shouldn't have let Atticus forced me into watching porn. And what the hell did he mean by education? This is giving me a heap of trouble.
"So…Um…How long have you been waiting?" he asked.
"A while…"
Something was off, he thought, though he couldn't put his finger on it. "What brings you here?" He averted his eyes from the bed. His mind, as much as he wanted to deny it, was wondering how he could get her in bed. He wanted to punch himself at the moment. Since when did I become a pervert? And how is this normal for guys, Atticus? He was practically screaming inside.
"I found something interesting," she said.
Jaden blinked in surprise. Is it just me or did she sounded cold just now? He strolled closer, taking note of her icy stare. "Something interesting?"
"A document."
His heart skipped a beat. Document? What document? He sharply turned his head to his desk and noticed a folder lying on top. Remembering what the document contained, he froze and paled. It was the copy that MAN had given him for the bet. He ran a hand across his face and cursed himself. IDIOT! I should have locked it away. I'm so stupid! So careless!
"You should go and become an actor, Jaden" she said in that same cold tone. "I'm sure you'll make it big with your skills."
He wanted to disappear. He wanted to dig a hole and bury himself. The secret was out. Alexis had found it out for herself, and there was no turning back time. "Alexis, look, it's not what you think."
"Really?" she said wryly. "The contract is crystal clear to me."
"But Alexis—"
"I'm not stupid, Jaden. You've clearly became indebted to that MAN, since you lost the duel and all, and as repayment you agreed to his terms…to make me believe that I fell in love with the right guy."
Jaden grimaced. "Alexis, I can—"
"Can it!" she retorted, standing up. "All this time…this entire charade was just to make me think there was something more between us?"
"It's not like that, Alexis!"
"All the lies…I can't believe you!"
"Everything wasn't a lie!" Jaden defended.
"And most of it was? No wonder you were at KaibaCorp that day…It was a setup."
He flinched. "Okay, I won't deny it. HE planned it all and I just followed."
She gave him a long, quiet, deadly stare before turning her head away. "Of course, when it comes to HIM, screw the rules. HE gets what he wants and when HE wants it." She wrapped her arms around herself, pushing back the tears. "It must have killed you to agree to the bet."
Jaden bit his lower lip and tried to think of some way to explain the bet he'd made in a way that wouldn't make the situation worse. "Alexis, I know you're angry, and you have every right to be. But—"
"I don't want to hear your excuses." She started for the door, but Jaden grabbed her wrist and turned her around. "The date, the dinner at that fancy restaurant, the motorcycle—everything was HIS doing. Isn't that right?"
"Alexis, I admit that I agreed to marry you because of the bet. I know it was wrong, and for that I'm sorry. But believe me when I say that things have changed since we started to spend time together. We've been good friends at the academy, good rivals too, and I've always respected you as a Duelist. But this whole thing started this change in me…I've developed special feelings for you, Alexis. I love you."
"You love me so much you were willing to lie and use me for your little game?" Alexis shoved him away as she hastily turned on a heel. "And you say we've been good friends…Yeah, right! You're such a good friend that you'd go and accept a bet with me as a prize."
"Alexis…I…" Her words stung, her indictment hitting him like a thousand volts. "I only kept this from you because I was told to. I was really planning on telling you, Alexis."
"First, my father, then David…and HIM…now…you… I'm sick and tired of people deciding my future. I'm not some prize!" A single tear slid over her cheek. "I…I don't want to see you again!" She hurried forward. He reached out and caught her, but she quickly pulled back. "Don't you dare touch me!"
"Alexis, let me—"
But she was gone, running to the door and out into the hall. He could have followed, but he could offer nothing to comfort her because he was to blame for her misery.
To be continued…
JC: And the secret's out! What are you gonna do now, Jaden? Just when things were going well between them, oh well. It'll be a while before Mac and David show up again. Who knows? I'll probably include other characters as well. By the way, Mr. Rhodes is going to return in the next chapter, and the identity of that MAN will be revealed soon. Once again I apologize for the delay. I know I'm slow. I hope I don't get more Writer's Block. Please do review! No Flames!