Spirit Caller

Chapter Eleven

11

Looking Through Your Eyes

"What!? You had to take a failing grade!?" Syrus exclaimed as Connar explained the situation to him after having woken up in the Nurse's office. After a full check up, she was allowed to have visitors.

"Not a failing grade." she said," Just an incomplete."

"But...what's the difference?"

"Connar will still receive credit having taken the written exam." Bastion explained,"But because her duel with me was technically not concluded, she will not be able to receive credit for the field exam." he said,"Since she passed her written exam however, while the grade may not be pretty...she won't fail." he sighed, "The nurse said yu had a fever...if you weren't feeling well, you should have stayed home." he stated, "It's better than having you pass out in the middle of an exam!"

"I'm sorry, Misawa" she said softly, "A lot happened today...I should have paid better attention...but I was so concerned about my grade and my dad-"

"Your grade isn't as important as your health, you know." Bastion chuckled, "If your grade falls behind, I'll be more than happy to help you bring it back up again."

"Heh yeah... you're right...Thank you, Misawa." she said softly, "I appreciate that."

Connar's smile was soft, but Jaden seemed to pick up on her expression...something else was bothering her...

"That wasn't any normal ailement...was it Connie?" asked the brunette. Having been caught in her thoughts, Connar gasped, and shot a look straight up at Jaden, who now wore a very serious expression.

...There was no way she could lie to him...

He'd call it right away.

"Not a normal ailment?" Syrus blinked, "What's that supposed to mean?"

But Jaden said nothing, just held his gaze intensely on Connar's eyes.

She sighed.

"I... had a strange dream involving duel monsters and...I dunno." she sighed, "Maybe it's just because I'm stressing myself out...?"

Thank goodness for high marks on the written exam though!

she thought to herself.

If I didn't have book smarts there's no way I would pass and no way Father would be able to simply bypass the spectacle I pulled out there today...

She groaned.

Still...I've got to do better than that...or I'll just make everyone look bad...

She sighed.

"I knew it." said Jaden, "It was about this morning-"

"This morning? You mean when you all were late?" Alexis asked, "So it was because Connar had a strange dream?"

"Well...there's a lot more to it than just that..." said Jaden. But he didn't bother explaining it further.

"...So...What about the rest of the exams?" Connar asked.

"Oh it was crazy!" said Syrus, "After the situation that happened to you, all of the teachers had to calm the students down!" he stated, "Especially Chazz- He was the one who caught you- and he even tried to go into the infirmary with you!"

"What!? Princeton did?" Connar blinked, "Really!?"

"But all of the real action had taken place on the duel field, with the duel between Chazz and Jaden." said Syrus.

"Oh... right." said Connar, "I remember Professor Banner and Chancellor Shepperd saying something like that...So...how'd that duel go?" asked Connar, a little depressed that she didn't get to see it herself due to having been passed out in the infirmary.

"Oh, Jaden won!" said Syrus.

"Really!?"she gasped.

To think Princeton...lost...

"Yeah, but it was still a pretty intense match!" said Jaden, "it's not too often someone gets to go up all those rare cards!" he beamed, "Talk about lucky!"

"Rare cards?" Connar blinked.

I don't recall Princeton having too many rare cards that I know of...

Connar thought to herself.

That seems a little suspicious to me...

"Listen, Chazz may have lost, but I can't help but think that maybe he was distracted." said Jaden, "He seemed really worried about you, Connie."

"Princeton?" Connar blinked, "Worried about me?" she chuckled, "I highly doubt it."

"You didn't see what I saw." said Jaden, "He got to you before I even could!"

"That's true." said Syrus, "After all, it was Chazz that carried Connar away for medical attention and handed her over to the nurses."

"I see..." said Connar, "I suppose I better thank him properly, later."

"Anyway, the nurse was pretty adamant about keeping you here for the night for rest." said Syrus, "We should leave and you to your rest."

"Good point." said Bastion, "I do hope to see you well soon, Ms. Connar...after all, we still have a duel to conclude." he smiled.

"Thank you, Misawa." she smiled, "See you later."

"We better go too." said Syrus, "Chumley might worry if we don't get back to the room."

"Good point." said Jaden, "We're gonna go now Connie...but let's talk more about this later, okay?"

"...Okay." she said softly and nodded.

"Good." he said with a smile before placing a palm on her cheek, "Until then...get some rest."

She nodded.

XXXXX

The wind blew cooler later that night. Connar made her way to the beach, sneaking out of the infirmary. That sort of setting always creeped her out when it was night time. The beach was where she would usually go to think and clear her head. However, she soon found that she was not there alone.

"Ah...Princeton...!" She was surprised to see him there. Gazing off over the sea with his hair and coat tails fluttering in the sea breeze.

He darted his eyes in her direction, taking in her surprise.

"...So...You're awake." he stated, "Shouldn't you be resting?" he asked.

"I should, but..." she sighed, "I dunno...it's just creepy in the infirmary at night."

"Pff..."

It was feint, but Connar could make out the small lining of a curved smile on his lips. only for a moment before it faded and he spoke again.

"...So..." he began,"...Did you come to laugh at me too?

"Why would I do that, Princeton?" she asked softly, "I heard you dueled really well-"

"It wasn't good enough!" he grumped and kicked the sand into the sea like an angry child throwing a temper tantrum, "That Slacker...will regret making a fool of Chazz Princeton!" He growled, panting softly.

Connar wanted to comfort him, but there was no doubt any word from her would mean nothing to him. She simply sighed and stood beside him, facing the sea, watching the waves slowly come in and recede.

"I...heard you were the one that rushed me to get medical attention..." she said softly, "...Thank You."

"Yeah that...uh..." he blushed awkwardly,"Y-You're welcome..." he scoffed, "...Think nothing of it, okay!?" a silence rested between them before he cleared his throat to speak again, "S-So uh...what happened, anyway?" he asked, "You stay up all night studying again like you used to?" he blinked, "'Cuz you look terrible."

"You try passing out in the middle of a duel and waking up looking good!" she huffed, " It's more complicated than that."

"Oh really? Then enlighten me!"

She silenced herself. She didn't even know how to begin let alone how it would come across to someone like Chazz Princeton, who most likely had no interest anyway.

"Forget it..." she said softly.

Chazz twitched and let out a huff before folding his arms.

"Fine!" he scoffed, "I've got better things to do than worry about you anyway-AND I DON'T NEED YOUR PITY EIETHER!" he stated as he stormed off in a huff.

"Pity?" Connar blinked sighed as she watched him walk away. she clenched her chest while she watched him. She wanted to tell him, really... But she could feel the pressure he was under, and didn't think it was her place to unload her concerns on him.

I've always admired you, Princeton...

She thought to herself as she clenched at her chest which suddenly constricted, causing her to release a pained grunt that brought her to her knees. Thousands of echoes trying to speak at once, and no one was near by to help her silence them. One particular voice rose above the rest...

One she heard loud and clear even back when she was dueling Bastion. Every time her heart pounded and tightened, three words from within her made their presence known.

"Let...me...Out!"

She curled her fingers into the sand while she clutched her chest.

"N-No...please..stop..." she whispered, curling into herself with a silent sob.

I wish you were still here with me...Jesse...

She gripped at her chest tighter and gritted her teeth.

...I'm Scared...

To be Continued