After checking my clock and seeing the hand go past 6, I slide down the ladder and get out my long tailed navy jacket, with the trimmings being the same navy colour. I pick out my blue lace strapless crop top and my high wasted black skinny jeans, and sneak past Lisa and Camilla into our en suite bathroom. I quickly change, putting on my black gladiator sandals and take out my side plait. I brush the waves out slightly then let it hang in front of my shoulders neatly. I keep my fringe lying neatly over half my left eye, though I know I'll often flick it back to help get a better view of my surroundings. Feeling impatient, I put on mascara, pencil eyeliner on my bottom waterline and my upper lash line, making sure I DON'T flick it up into a cat eye. I've never liked that style. I darken my lips slightly with my shade lip balm and admire my flawless complexion in the mirror.
I quietly exit the bathroom and start to read, making sure I leave the dorm at 7:10, not wanting to be early. As Lisa and Camilla get up to leave after applying what I would call monstrous amounts of makeup but what they call a reasonable amount, Lisa turns to me.
"You took an awfully long time in the bathroom to make such a subtle difference! I advise you start to use a full foundation and add some fake lashes, your face is awfully boring. And maybe even some colour!" She says critically, not meaning any of it in a good way. Again I subtly nod to her, waiting for her to leave. I wait a few minutes, and after hearing the quiet chatter from the obelisk blue common room, I place my bookmark, straighten my coat and shyly head out the door.
The obelisk blue room is full of students wearing all different coloured coats, standing in groups, all conversing in a conversation or another. There's a long table at the front of the room with many different foods laid out, with some paper plates to hold it. I shyly grab a plate and some food, head to the corner that looks most corner-y and stand nervously, taking small, civilised bites of the food.
Just as I finish my food, I see Professor Hutton, Chancellor Shepard, and I'm guessing the north and south academy headmasters. I put my plate in the bin, even though I've only eaten about half a meal, and head quickly to the table and grab a drink.
"Miss Roarke, there you are." I quickly spin around and see Professor Hutton with the other academy leaders.
"Good evening Professor Hutton." I say quietly, yet politely, not insulting the other headmasters.
"Good evening, I would like to present Chancellor Shepard, Professor Battle of North Academy, and Professor Hallie from South academy." She introduces me to the leaders. I bow my head slightly and reply in the same manner of speaking.
"Good evening, it's nice to meet you."
"Very nice to meet you too. Professor Hutton has told us of your lossless reign at East Academy, would you care to elaborate?" Professor Battle asks.
"Oh, I wouldn't call it a reign, just a few duels. I may not have lost, but I haven't exactly had many duels, only 5." I answer politely, in the same quiet tone.
"I'm sure you're too modest." Professor Hallie exclaims.
"I believe you have a brother here-" Chancellor Shepard starts, and my eyes widen with fear, but he's interrupted.
"Good evening Professor Hutton, Chancellor Shepard, Professor Battle and Professor Hallie! It's nice to see you again after last year!" Lisa says brightly, and for once, I swear to god I will never tell her, I am glad she's come and interrupted me. I quickly slip away, unnoticed and I go back to the corner.
I would've gone back to my room, but I have to wait to find out who I'm duelling. I stay seated on a small seat in the corner, but my eyes are drawn to the front of the room, where I notice the boy with the winged kuriboh stuffing his face with food while his friends chat around him. As I watch his care-free attitude, intrigued, his eyes snap onto mine and he grins, with food still in his mouth. Before I know it he's strutting across the common room happily, straight towards me.
I panic immediately. What if he wants to talk to me? Wandering why I've been staring? Oh god, I'm such an idiot, what was I thinking-
"Hi there! I'm Jaden Yuki!" I look up in shock. Wow I didn't expect him to get here that fast. I begin to stutter, but quickly put on my brave face. Or at least I think it's a brave face.
"Hi. I'm Azure." I say shortly, trying to avert my eyes someplace else. The boy has a slightly tanned complexion, chestnut coloured eyes that go with his hair of two similar shades. He's wearing a Slifer red jacket, a black t-shirt and white trousers.
"Nice to meet you Azure!" He replies brightly.
"Jaden… will you slow down? You're going to get heartburn!" A boy with light blue hair, round glasses and light brown eyes wearing the Slifer red uniform appears at his side, with a dark haired boy with similar coloured eyes wearing the Ra yellow uniform.
"Couldn't Sy, I had to meet Azure here!" Jaden says smiling. "Azure, this is Syrus, and this is Bastian."
"Hi there." I say, managing a small smile.
"So you're from east academy? Cool, aren't you supposed to be the youngest competitor?" Bastian says constructively.
"Yeah, that's me. You're both in the tournament as well aren't you?" I say, really putting on a brave face. I'm not sure why, but something about Jaden has a trusting nature, possibly because of his duel spirit, I'm not sure.
"Yep! Proud to represent Duel academy!" Jaden replies proudly.
"What he said, so what are you like at duelling? You must be quite good to get here. You, Jaden, Alexis and I are the only freshmen in the tournament." Bastian says interested. I see the glint in his eye and smirk slightly.
"I know you're trying to get a good strategy to defeat me, but no matter. I guess I have some kind of reputation at East Academy…if that's what you would call it." I say nervously. Bastian's eyes widen at my comment, but Jaden carries on without hesitation.
"So what kind of reputation? Most duels? Cos that would be me here!" Jaden asks enthusiastically. I smile and reply.
"Definitely not most duels. It's probably least duels. I've only had 5 duels in the 3 months I've been in east academy."
"5 duels in 3 months?!" Jaden replies, gobsmacked. His jaw drops down low, and he sinks to the floor.
"Wow, what's your reputation then/ I mean… if you've only done 5 duels-" Syrus starts.
"HOW DO YOU SURVIVE?" Jaden asks in awe.
"I guess, I only duel when challenged, I've never exactly… well, been able to challenge someone. And Syrus, I'm guessing it's the winning streak, but it's nothing." I say, trying to move on.
"Only duelling when challenged? That's a bit farfetched. I'm sure Jaden would die." Bastian says, with no doubt in his voice. I look down at my shoes.
"I guess…" I say quietly. "It was nice talking to you… I better go, they're about to announce the match ups for tomorrow." I add, quickly finding an excuse to leave. I'm gone in seconds, and I perch myself on the left side at the front, awaiting my opponent.
"Pay attention students!" Chancellor Shepard's voice booms over the crowd. "It's time for the random match-ups! Please draw your attention to the screen!" I look up at the screen above him and quickly find my face. I look at the face of my opponent. My heart drops. Lucien Grimely. The second best duellist from North Academy, ruthless, and dare I admit it, quite frightening. Okay… he'll probably use a warrior deck, knowing North Academy, or at least one with a lot of strong offense. I need to make sure my deck's ready… I take another quick look at the board. Jaden is up against Sandy Scheck, a laid back South Academy student. Lisa's against a second year from North Academy. I can't wait to see that duel. After slipping past the commotion, I go back into the dorm room.
Oh, man, this tournament's going to be… challenging. Tomorrow's duel against Lucien Grimley. I mean, my deck's completely ready… but I don't know if I am. I mean… I don't know what I mean. I've never faced an opponent like this! I don't know what he'll be like… or what archetype of deck he'll use. I know my deck has my back. I have to go with this. I can't back out now. I toss and turn in my covers, and hear Lisa and Camilla come in as the dinner party ends.
"Oh?! Hi Miss Roarke! I hope you won't fuck up your first duel in the tournament! It's not like Lucien Grimley is the second best duellist from North Academy. I see why you want to get an early night." She sneers in her usual voice. After half an hour they've both fallen asleep, but my mind's still buzzing. I find myself facing the window, my breath steaming it up.
I quietly swap my navy pj shorts for my jeans from earlier and pull my coat on over my navy vest top. I know they said no wandering the grounds, but I won't be wandering. I know exactly where I need to go. I slide through the window and sit on the ledge. The window's at the back of the main obelisk building, the one with all the boys in. I hook my hands round the top of the window pane, and swing out, onto a tree abou away. I grab onto the leaves and climb down, barefoot. Looking and finding no one around, I silently and invisibly walk to the port.
Once I get there, I find the most secluded part, and sit on the side of the port, the sea tickling my feet. This is better. It feels like home. The waves gently clashing, the blue stretching afar, and the smell of salt hidden in the air.
"Tomorrow will be fine." I look up and see Adynn, my duel spirit hovering next to me. I'd describe him as a beautiful black hunter, his body completely black with his boy being an emerald green.
"I hope so." I answer shortly, not needing to say any more.
"You're better than you think, the teachers have been monitoring you." Adynn replies. I look down at my feet, my head clouding with random thoughts.
Suddenly I hear light footsteps, and quickly turn to the sound. It's him! Zane Truesdale. I take my feet out of the water, and stand up on the concrete port. He walks out to the lighthouse and stares out to the sea. I watch him for a few minutes, wondering what he's doing here. Is he here to think like me? Oh well, I better get out of here before I get caught. I start to walk back to the obelisk blue building, but automatically feel a gaze on me. Damn it, I heard his light footsteps, even though mine are lighter of course he'd hear me! I stare back for a few seconds, starting to panic, again. Jeez, I really need to get a grip with these situations to make them stop happening! A particularly large wave crashes loudly and Zane's eyes are averted, in a second he looks back, but there's nothing there.