Sorry I haven't updated for a while, been crazy busy for ages but here's the next chapter!
I wake up, sprawled on my bed, still in my dress and make-up. Today I start going to school here. I smile spreads onto my face and I sit up. I look around my room, and wow it's nice. My suitcase from the previous dorm room is next to the door. The bed I'm sitting on is good-quality, and slightly bigger than a single, but not a double. There's a large, clean desk parallel to the bed, still with a good amount of space in between. Then to the foot of my bed is the wardrobe, with a good amount of hanging space and draws underneath. As I walk over I find the four sets of the obelisk blue girl's school uniform, a white top with blue trimmings, a blue miniskirt, and a few additional items like the blue boots.
I walk into my en suite bathroom, and find a shower, a toilet, and a sink. All neatly designed with modern interior. I also find a bookcase next to my desk, with a few duelling books already inside. I quickly strip of my dress from the triumph gala, take my make-up off and shower, washing my hair. I mean, with the amount of hairspray Jasmine put in it yesterday…
After I step out, wrapped in a towel, I walk over to my desk and wet-straighten my hair. It's not something I usually do, but I don't particularly want any of the curls from yesterday in my hair, no matter how pretty they were at the time. Afterwards, I take out my new uniform, and change into it. I guess it suits me with my hair, but I feel too… noticeable. Light coloured, and exposed. To help with my nerves, I put on some low denier navy tights, and then take my navy duelling jacket out that I brought with me.
It's not like I'd use it anymore… right? With uniform now, I won't ever need to wear it. I'm holding scissors in my hands, lining it up to the jacket. Taking a deep breath, I cut the tails of the jacket, as neatly as possible, leaving me with a cropped, long-sleeve jacket that goes perfectly with my uniform. Then I go into my bathroom and apply some pencil eyeliner on my waterlines, mascara and more than a bit of concealer over my tired under eye circles. Slipping on my "new" jacket, I step out the door, heading to the docks to say goodbye to East Academy.
"Hey Azure!" As I step outside, I see Alexis waving, and walk up to her.
"Hey." I reply, suddenly shy.
"Looking good in the uniform! I like the jacket!" She remarks, and I smile.
"I thought it would shape the look up a bit." I say.
"Did you leave just before that slow dance? You got it lucky, I had to dance all through it with Damon Blanc… it was treacherous." She fills me in.
"Yeah, I guess I escaped the slow dance of horror." I lie through my teeth easily. "You going to the docks?"
"Yeah, want to walk with me?"
"Of course."
"How does it feel, becoming a student here?" She asks kindly.
"Slightly frightening, obviously stressful, knowing that the last time I joined a new school it was a wreck." I say, nodding to myself.
"Don't worry about it. You understand everything Bastian says, and you're a recent victor. No one's going to want to oppose you. Duel you definitely, but you'll fit in great!" She tells me, and I sigh nervously.
"I already got an offer on that duelling thing from Zane…" I mutter, shuddering.
"Really? Wow, that's a duel I want to watch. I have a feeling the boy Jaden beat in the tournament, Chazz Prinston?" I nod in recognition of the name, and she continues. "Yeah, well I have a feeling he'll challenge you soon. Bastian will probably want to duel you as well."
"Really? All those people? I'm starting to worry that'll be too much duelling. Jaden would be horrified." I say, looking up as we get close to the docks, along with the other students surrounding the boats.
"I don't believe it." I hear a voice, and suddenly the other Duel Academy students around me blur. "No! It can't be! You can't be going here! You don't belong here!" I turn around slowly, to face Lisa with a confident face. She can't hurt me.
"Apparently other's don't think the same way as you do." I answer calmly, while freaking out on the inside.
"Shut your mouth. I don't give a crap about anything that comes out of your mouth, you're disgusting. You-"
"I think we've heard enough of your useless talk." I say.
"Yeah, why don't you just get on that boat and leave, all your petty dreams behind." Alexis adds, with more attitude than I could ever have mustered.
"Why you… I'm better than you! I got further than you in the competition, you can't talk-"
"Actually that would be for Azure to decide." I turn around, and Zane is standing there, his cool words coming out in his low tone. "Since she beat you both, she would decide which of you was more talented."
I point to Alexis, and she has her smirk on yet again.
"So why don't you take your crap, and leave." I say as coolly as possible, and she shakes her head in a tantrum, and storms off through the crowd of students that had been starting to gather. As soon as she's out of sight, the biggest sigh I have ever held in releases, and relief floods through me.
"You did well." Zane says lowly, facing me.
"Thank you." I reply shyly, after what I hope is my last encounter with Lisa.
I watch the boats leave the harbour, and sigh at the start of my new school life.
"Hey Azure! I hope you're getting used to this place soon, cos we need to duel!" Jaden yells at me from half-way across the port.
"I'll try!" I yell back, too nervous to say anything else. I start to walk to my first lesson, with Dr Crowler. I guess so far in lessons I've done okay, most teachers mentioning I should speak more in class, which makes sense I guess. But I don't know how well I'll do here. I mean, winning the tournament has its downside, people will probably expect so much from me. I don't like that feeling, at all.
"Ah, Miss Roarke, please sit down, we are just about to begin. It's nice to see you are on time." Dr Crowler tells me as I walk in the classroom. Now, I specified that I am never on time. Either late, or early. That statement stays true, as I am actually 7 minutes late. Anyhow, I walk up the stairs cautiously aware of students watching me casually, and take the spare seat at the end of a row. I spot Alexis sitting in the middle of the row, and notice a few other people I must recognise from the tournament or something.
Suddenly, I hear the door open, and a loud voice recognisable anywhere ring out.
"Sorry we're late Dr Crowler! Must've taken a wrong turn somewhere!" Jaden walks in, Syrus by his side as usual.
"Well of course! Slifers tend to be unpunctual as usual. Take your seat, you're lucky you already have a detention later today, otherwise you would've been getting it!" Dr Crowler rants, and I can see the bias showing through.
Note no. 1, Slifers are the least respected
Note no. 2, As a tournament victor, respect has already been given.
"Well now, who can tell me what the alternative name for the forbidden one archetype?" Dr Crowler asks the class. Quite a few hands go up, mostly a variety of Obelisk students and Ra students, no Slifers.
"Well, why don't we have a slifer to start? Let's see… Mr Truesdale why don't you take a start?!" Dr Crowler says after scanning the crowd. I have a feeling he just wanted to pick on Syrus from the start.
"Um… the Exodia archetype?" Syrus stands and says, unsure of himself.
"Yes… could you tell us any information you know about it?" Dr Crowler asks. He's waiting for Sy to trip up.
"Well… it's main card is Exodia, the forbidden one… and it's extremely rare. Yugi Moto was the first to summon it and-"
"Yes, that's all common knowledge. Have you got any interesting information to share with us?" Dr Crowler exclaims, and Syrus shrinks back into his chair.
"I thought not now-"
"Please sir, it was one of the first decks made, and is known for it's automatic win. If all five of the common parts of Exodia are in a players hand at any time, no matter what the situation, they win automatically due to the power of Exodia. This makes it one of the most godlike cards in all of duel monsters. There are other such as Exodia necross, Exodius the ultimate forbidden lord, and Exxod, master of the guard. Each of these cards remain incredibly powerful, they however do not have the same automatic win effect of having all 5 pieces of exodia in a hand." I recite from memory perfectly, and even I am startled by my interruption. I'm not completely sure what brought it on. Dr Crowler stares at me uncertainly, and I sit down, slightly unnerved.
"Completely correct, of course Miss Roarke. A perfect answer to my question." Dr Crowler stutters slightly and I look around to see the other students staring at me warily. Perhaps that was not such a smart move. The lesson goes by quickly, and I find myself not making any contributions after my unusual outburst at the beginning. I walk out of the lesson at the end, completely puzzled by myself, but continue through the day with lessons. I go back to my usual self, only speaking when answering questions, short and to the point.
At the end of the day of lessons, Alexis, Jasmine and Mindy come up to me in the Obelisk blue girls common room.
"Hey Azure, recovered from last night then?" Alexis asks me. I nod honestly. "You've had quite a day! Standing up to Lisa this morning, and then interrupting a teacher! What's gotten into you?!"
"I'm not quite sure. It's been clouding my head all day. I don't know what got into me, interrupting a teacher!" I say, not sure whether I'm disgusted or excited by my extremely rare small rebellion.
"Really? I had some ideas. I think you've made friends." Alexis says.
"What do you mean?" I ask her, confused. "How can that be why I spoke out like that?"
"Syrus of course. He was getting yet another beating from Dr Crowler, you must've not liked seeing him getting told of for no reason." Alexis explains.
"It's definitely not the first time." Mindy says.
"Yeah, he and that Jaden kid are always getting detentions and being told off. They should know better." Jasmine agrees. I frown, but begin to understand.
"I guess so…" I wonder aloud.
"So where did you go last night Azure? You left early and when we went to your new room to drag you out you weren't there!" Mindy says, raising her eyebrows suggestively. Wow, I'm really starting to see what Alexis meant about these two.
"Always about the gossip I see." I say, rolling my eyes lightly. "I had a call from my brother. It went on for a while, he decided to take a long time celebrating." I say truthfully.
"Oh…" Jasmine says, slightly disappointed. Yeah, like I'd tell them of all people I was with Zane last night.
"Oh but you have a brother right? Thomas Vinter?" Mindy says, leaning in.
"Yeah." I answer shortly.
"We only found out he had a sister recently, no one knew." Jasmine says.
"No way." I say, my voice dripping with sarcasm.
"He has a girlfriend though guys, Elly Woodbrick, who walked past us a couple of minutes ago!" Alexis chips in.
"No one cares Alexis, so what's he like. I mean he's a third-year so we don't know him.
"He is cocky, proud and stubborn, but he does what he think is right and always tries to stay positive." I describe him best I can. "Which probably sounds like a load of shit since he was so positive when we were duelling." I wonder aloud.
"So this is the real you… showering us with sarcasm!" Alexis says, chuckling. I look away, but smile.
"Anyway, do you think he'll be available any time soon?" Mindy asks.
"Ahh… I don't think so. I mean, we're going to take some time with some family business, so his mind will probably be on other things for at least a few months. And he already has Elly. Who I completely like!" I say.
"Wow…sarcasm much…" Mindy says, raising her eyebrows and giggling.
"That's a shame… he looked pretty good when you were duelling-"
"Guys… if you're going to fawn over him, please go somewhere else." Alexis tells them.
"Yeah, brother alert." I add, and me and Alexis laugh together. We chat until the evening and then go to bed. I don't think I've laughed like I did this evening for a long time, and definitely not in such a girly way. I think I'm doing good here… I feel like I'm getting to know myself better already. Being almost mute for the last few years… really kept me from having any fun at all. I guess duel academy is a good thing.
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