"So, I've heard Alexis is dueling this week." Skye awkwardly interrupted Jaden's fanboying over the card.
"REALLY?" Jaden almost dropped the card, but quickly retrieved it. "When? What day?"
"Last duel of the week."
"We should go to that one."
"I figured you might say that."
"Wow. I haven't seen Alexis since that manager lady gave her her card."
"Hmm-mmm." Skye said, sounding like that was the last time she had also last seen Alexis.
"God, I miss the gang."
"I do too." Skye looked down. "Who'd have thought any of us would miss the shadow riders or the society or the darkness or…" Skye trailed off. It had taken a long while to get Jaden back to the excited chirpy young boy persona he had first year. Chazz likes to think that his dating of Jaden made him happy and turn back, Syrus thinks it was the fact that he (and others) never left Jaden's side. Skye knew it was mostly because Jaden had caught her crying over an old picture. The next morning, Jaden was back.
"It's ok Skye. And I agree. I miss all the excitement. Sure I could go without the whole 'my friends in danger thing' but I wasn't only dueling, I was dueling for a bigger purpose than just having fun. Even though most of the time it was fun and…" Jaden stopped short, Skye not noticing for a second.
"You ok, Jay."
"I miss dueling."
Skye sighed, put the grocery bags down and walked over to hug him. He gladly accepted. "I miss seeing you duel. You were always so happy. And the look in your eye is the same look you give Chazz."
"And you gave Alexis."
Skye let go of him, elbowed him and went to retrieve the bags so they could continue walking. "Oh shut up Jaden. It's been 5 years."
"You were muttering her name in your sleep last night."
"I was? That's weird. I didn't even know she was in town until this…" Skye stopped.
"I know you saw her. I saw you guys talking, realized it was kind of important, went around the corner, and when I came back, she had left."
"She also stopped by this morning. When you were asleep."
"That's another thing. I like that I can sleep when I want where I want, but I miss things. Important things."
"I guess I could always sense things in my dreams. Like the night before the society came, Jane had died by a really bright white light. The day before you guys got the spirit keys, Jane fell through a hole with a pattern a lot like Bastion's key. The day before Chazz came back and we became friends, he tried to help me save her. The day before you two proclaimed your love, there were a lot of designs with hearts in them."
"That's pretty cool. What was going on in the dream with Alexis?"
"I don't really remember. I think I saw an outline of her, and that's about it. There probably all coincidences, but it's still cool."
"It is cool. Anyway… you were giving her that same look I give to cards and to Chazz when I saw you guys."
Skye almost stopped breathing "Did she notice?"
"Why does it matter? It's been 5 years." Jaden mocked her and started skipping up the walk to the front gate. Making sure to stay out of Skye's way. Luckily, he had brought his keys and he unlocked the door, ran in, locked it, and ran to somewhere to hide. He found a an old, dusty vent, and stupidly didn't question the human shaped formation in the dust.
Skye sighed, put down the bags, unlocked the door, walked in, grabbed the bags, locked the door, went to the kitchen, put away the things, and began her search for the boy that deserved to be slapped.