I'm sitting in a seat in the duel arena, waiting for the next matchups to go up. I don't particularly mind who I'm up against. Bastian won his duel well, he had everything planned out from the start. He'd be a tough opponent. Jaden's got talent, but would do better if he had a bit more strategy, but he seems extremely lucky with his draws. Maybe his cards help him, like mine do. Alexis is a good duellist too, she seems like the queen here, she probably had the most support. Then there's Lisa. I guess… no I want… no I need to kick her butt. I don't think I can bare another one of her attacks. Those are the only people I know. Other than that… well I guess I haven't seen anything absolutely amazing.
"Attention, the match-ups for round two are coming up! Please look up at the screen!" I hear the commentator's voice boom out of the PA system. I flick my eyes up to the board. Let's see, oh there I am! Against… Alexis Rhodes. I look over to Alexis just as she looks over to me. Our eyes look and she smiles. But I'm definitely not. I can't duel her! 1, she's and amazing duellist who I'm pretty sure I can't beat, and two, she's my sort of friend. I look back to the screem alarmed slightly. Jaden is up against Chazz Prinston, I think I heard about him earlier. He sounds like a posh snob. Bastian's against Buster Carmody, a south academeer. Lisa's up against… some dude named Czar. I think he's the top duellist from North Academy. Well, she's East Academy's top duellist so, good luck to her!
"Hey Azure! Looks like we're up against each other next." I look up to find Alexis talking to me with Zane not too far behind. I nod to her and frown when I hear what sounds like Lisa squeeling.
"Hi Zane! Do you remember me from last year? Of course you do! I just have to say you were absolutely amazing in last year's final, I wasn't able to give my congratulations last year so…" I glance at Alexis and fake vomit onto the empty seat next to me. We both smirk at Zane. He's been silent throughout her babble, but is opening his mouth to say something just as he notices our grins.
"Excuse me." He sidesteps her and she is left mid-sentence.
"That, does not prove anything from our last conversation." He says bluntly, but Alexis starts to giggle and I just smirk and let out a quiet chuckle. I look back to Lisa and she's glaring intently at me. Oh shit. My smirk leaves my face and I stand up swinging my back over one-shoulder. Both Alexis and Zane follow my gaze to Lisa, and see her seething uncontrollably.
"I better go." I mutter looking down at my shoes, knowing there's a worried look on my face. I spot Zane's hand coming out to grab my hand but I twist away and hurry up the stairs past Lisa and into the maze of corridors.
"What the fuck was that?" I look up from my bed and find Lisa bearing down on me with Camilla not far behind. Shit. "Huh? Anything to say for yourself?"
"Lisa I don't know what you're talking about." I say quietly looking down at my shoes. Just pretend it isn't happening.
"Don't say my name invisible girl!" She slaps me across the face, hard. I keep my gaze where it landed, but wince as the words come out of her mouth. Luckily, I was ready, and I don't let it show. "Don't you dare talk to Zane Truesdale! Or Alexis Rhodes! They're my friends from duel academy! I'm the one going there not you!"
"What?" I ask suddenly, surprised.
"Oh, of course loner girl, you wouldn't know. Sometimes the victor of tournaments like these get invited to come to duel academy. As you know it's generally bigger, has better facilities and not to mention there's more duels. Stay away from Zane! In fact, stay away from everyone! Don't talk to anyone!" She yells at me.
"I may have to, Miss Rhodes is my next opponent-" I start, not using Alexis' name. She hits me this time, I'm guessing she aimed for my eye, but I moved accidently when talking, and it smacked into my left cheek, where my fringe usually lies. At least it'll be covered up. I can already feel a bruise forming.
"I don't care! Duel silently if you have to! Not a word to anyone." She steps forward and stand on her tip-toes on my feet, the point of her feet digging into the joints of my toes. "You're nothing. You don't even exist. You're scum and you know it. Now weasel of loner girl." She turns away and goes into the bathroom with Camilla, and I sit frozen where I sit.
It's 11:45, and I can't sleep. Just like the night before, I just lie there, my breath steaming up the window next to me. And just like the night before, though this time not bothering to change into jeans, I wrap my navy trench coat around me, and fluidly slide out the window, and climb down the tree as I did before. After checking for teachers or other students, I silently walk to the only place I feel calm.
How… What…When… No. No more questions will wander through my head. Keep calm, collected, and don't get in people's way. I look out onto the waves, and remember then. When I was happy every day, more eager and curious than most. I felt something wet dripping down my cheek. I touched it with my finger. Was this a tear? Why am I crying? I don't even think I'm sad. I can't think of a reason to cry. Damn, I started the questions again. I take a deep breath, and wipe it away. But before I know it, I feel another tear rolling down my right cheek.
"What's the matter?" I turn around shocked, and jump to my feet. Zane. He's standing just there. I wander for how long. No! I remember Lisa's words, and I feel another tear roll down my other cheek, the one now covered with a dark blue-purple bruise. He frowns at my cheek and opens his mouth, but I've flicked the tears away, found a hard expression on my face and I'm sprinting as fast as the night, back to the tree I've already memorised. I feel my name being called out behind me, but I slip through the window after seconds and I'm safe in bed. My eyes flutter closed, and no more tears come. But I have no idea why they ever did.
My eyes flutter open at six as usual, but this time I already feel the drag of my eyelids from the exhaustion of the night before. I climb silently out of bed, and change automatically into my tight black top with a cage neckline, my black zip jeans from yesterday, and my azure duelling coat. I do the usual make-up, though with a little more concealer under my eyes, and let my long straight hair flow to help cover the bruise. My fringe easily covers it, and since I don't plan on flicking it back any time today, I don't bother putting concealer or foundation on it.
I lace up my black wedge boots with a 3 inch heel, and leave the dorm even earlier than the day before. Where to go. Library- risk of Alexis and Zane being there. Canteen- risk of obelisk blues being there. Port- risk of people being there. I suppose I could just explore the island. There's loads of forest and jungle, and I never get lost.
I end up wandering through the jungle, finding various insets and a few birds, and being surrounded by types of plant I've never seen before. I guess that's what happens when you've never been in a jungle before. All I've seen is oak forests, and frozen winter deciduous forests. My favourite's the frozen forest. I used to run through and… never mind. I check my watch. 9:30. I should turn back. First duel in half an hour, and I should get back in time. If I were totally obeying Lisa, I wouldn't go at all, but it helps me determine duellist's strategies, and I still want to do my best in the tournament.
"For the last day and a half you have witnessed all the duels of round 1! Now it's round 2, and the remaining competitors will battle it out! Now let's start it off with…Chazz Princeton vs. Jaden Yuki!" The commentator's voice booms out as usual and I turn my attention to the stage. A pale, dark haired boy in obelisk blue uniform stands scowling and smirking at Jaden at the same time, while Jaden's waving at the crowd and smiling widely.
"Enough waving Slifer Slacker! You're wasting time! This'll be you're fastest duel yet!" Chaz scowls.
"Chill Chazz! But I agree! You better get your game on!" Jaden says back, still smiling.
"Let's duel!"
"Obelisks always before Slifers! I summon Chthonian Soldier in attack mode…" Chazz starts.
In the corner of my eye I catch Alexis' dark blonde hair at the top of the railing. I don't turn, and I don't think. However, I can't help wander, is that teal hair there too?
"Nice one Chazz! But it's my turn now! I draw! I summon winged kuriboh in defence mode!" The monster catches my eye. This is Jaden's duel spirit!
"Jaden! You can win this!" I hear it's voice and feel a slight breeze go down the back of my neck.
"Interesting. His duel spirit's a kuriboh, most have their strongest monster as their duel spirit." Adynn says.
"True, but I've seen some before. Though since he uses it the most, I would've expected it to be flamed wingman, if I hadn't seen winged kuriboh at the welcome ceremony." I reply instantly, making sure my lips couldn't be seen moving.
"And I am your main duel spirit, yet you do not feel compelled to use me in every duel."
"Exactly. I haven't summoned you to the field for… a long time. Then again, though you are my duel monster reflection, I don't have a favourite duel monster, if you don't mind me saying." I add. As I see kuriboh destroyed, I feel Adynn return to my deck.
"Now Chazz, I know you already know my flamed wingman's special ability, and as he just destroyed your chthonian soldier, it comes into effect." Jaden says smiling. Chazz' life points decline to 0. "That's game! Nice duel Chazz!" Jaden adds, walking up to Chazz, who had fallen to his knees.
"I would've won Slifer Slacker, if I had my infernal incinerator with me! If I had it here you would've lost!" Chazz snarled back. What a sour loser.
"Hey Azure! Come over her!" I turn upon hearing my name, but freeze as soon as I realise it's Alexis coming towards me. Instead I fluidly turn the other way and hurry to the door turning round a corner where I can disappear. But a tall figure is blocking my way.
"Azure." Zane says solidly, and holds me still by my shoulder. He lifts up my fringe and I can't do anything. I'm frozen at the shock of him appearing so suddenly.
I feel his gaze on my bare, purpled cheek and I see his eyes widen. I feel his grip loosen on my shoulder and I've already slipped pass him into the corridor, running. Even though I'm already gone, I can still feel his gaze on my cheek, as if he left a mark.
Soon, I go back to the duel arena. I can be invisible, if I want to. That's why Lisa really needs to find a better nickname other than invisible girl. I sit in the second row next to a load of squealing girls, and camouflage against the wall. Bastian's up next.
"Now Buster, I'm afraid your time in this tournament is over." Bastian says calmly in his accent. "Hydrogeddon, attack him directly!" Bastian's monster takes the rest of Buster's life points. A secure win. Hardly any points lost on Bastian's side. Jaden, Bastian, Lisa, and another boy from duel academy are through so far. Jaden's easily the most… intriguing duellist though. I feel the same gaze as earlier pass over me, and I take a quick glance up to the railings. They're still there. But they can't see me.