~Rise and Fall~
8
A/N For anyone who is reading/has read "Spirit Caller" or any other of my GX stories...
This story is NOT CONNECTED.
This is a completely separate story from my other GX Stories.
It is its own story.
Enjoy^^
"Mmmph!" Mia muffled against the rough palm over her mouth, tugging at the fingers that wrapped around her cheek as she scuffled in the dirt while she was being dragged when suddenly she was shived with a thud into some brush and she gasped for air, ready to scream when suddenly-
"Shhhh!"
"Alexis!?" Mia gasped, blinking her wide blue eyes as they adjusted to the shape of the Obelisk in front of her.
"What the hell do you think you're doing!?" the brunette huffed, finally breaking free of the grasp from behind her. "What's the big idea, huh!? What's going on- and it had better be a good explaination-"
"Be quiet, or they'll hear you!" she hissed.
"They?" Mia blinked.
She must have been referring to Chazz and the lackeys.
"...I saw you sneaking away with Chazz and his followers earlier." she stated, "I figured with no doubt that Chazz was putting you up to something...So I brought back up..."
"What?" Mia blinked, "...Back up?"
"...Sorry if I was a little rough..." said Zane, finally stepping out of the shadows, "I don't exactly make a habbit of...kidnapping girls..." he said awkwardly, "But that's the kind of thing that can happen when you act recklessly and aren't careful!" he stated, "Especially sneaking off with a bunch of guys after midnight- mind telling me what you were thinking, Mia!?"
"Zane!?" Mia gasped, "You mean to tell me this was some kind of simulation kidnapping!?"
"Yeah. Let's go with that." said Zane, "And you couldn't do a thing about it!" he stated, "Now imagine if it were someone else and not me!?" he scolded as he folded his arms.
"Why you son of a-I ought to kick your ass right now, you bastard-" she huffed, "And who the hell are YOU to scold ME anyway!?"
"Hey, take it easy!" said Alexis, "He was just worried..."
"Huh?" Mia blinked, "Worried?" she glanced over at the taller bluenette who gave a small reaction before quickly averting his gaze. It was hard to see in the moon light...be it looked as though a small hint of colored tint had dusted his cheeks.
"Yeah, he was." said Alexis, "And who could blame him?" she blinked, "You were about to just walk right into the Abandoned Dorm!" she stated, "Don't you know that students have a habbit of disappearing around here?" Alexis asked, "Why do you think they have this place closed off!?"
"...Asbestos?" Mia blinked followed by a slight snort from a snickering male student behind them whom Alexis shot an icy glare to.
"What? It's not a bad answer..." he said softly.
"Don't tell me you two actually believe those myths?" Mia muttered.
"Except they aren't myths!" Zane snapped, startling the brunette.
Once he realized his sharp tone he took a short breath, and then a longer one, trying to calm himself, "...I'm sorry." he said softly, "It's just that...one of the students who disappeared around here...was my best friend." he said in a gentle tone.
"Yeah..." sighed Alexis, "...And my brother."
His Best Friend...
Mia blinked.
Her...brother...?
"That's right..." said Zane, "And I don't know what I would have done if it had happened to you." he said to her, "So I ask again...What were you thinking, Mia!?"
"Not me!" she refuted, "This isn't MY idea of a good time!" she huffed, "It was Chazz's idea!" she stated and folded her arms, "Some kind of...initiation bull shit to prove my worth to-" she wiggled her fingers in motion of quotations, "Duel With the Big Boys" she scoffed.
"...Initiation?" Zane blinekd and heaved a heavy sigh, "Hmph...to sink so low as something so juvinile as hazing..." he muttered.
"Look-" Mia sighed, "I figured Chazz was still pissed off about me beating him, so I thought I'd humor him a little." she shrugged.
"Really?" Zane blinked, "And why on earth would you give into Chazz's whims?"
"I WAS BOOOOORED~" she heaved an exasperated sigh and dropped herself onto her back into the dead pleant life beneath them as Zane let out a heavy sigh and Alexis a sheepish chuckle.
"I...did invite you to come wade with us..." said Alexis awkwardly, "It would have saved you from the trouble you're in now-"
"And I appreciate the invitation, Alexis, I do...it's just-" she sighed and ran her fingers through her hair, " Modeling swimsuits? Gossiping about boys? It's just...not really..." she sighs, "I'm already awkward enough...I don't need the added peer pressure..."
Alexis sighed.
"Yeah Mindy does tend to get a bit much into that..." she chuckled, "And Even I can admit that it doesn't exactly make for very rivoting conversation all the time...I'm sorry." she sighed.
"No need to apologize." said Mia, "It's not like you did anything wrong...you've been nothing but nice to me...I'm just...weird...I'm a weirdo...that's all."
Zane's gaze narrowed on her a while...it was hard to read his expression. One part awkwardness, not knowing how to comfort her, and one part pity maybe? BECAUSE he didn't know how to comfort her?
But another part of it...was understanding.
He consdiered himself to be a bit awkward too at times...especially with girls and...insecurities...
"Well...weird or not-" Alexis chuckled, "I'm just glad we were able to get to you before something really did happen..." said Alexis, "Don't worry Mia, we know Chazz is the one who put you up to this...That's why we're here to help you get him back."
"Really?" Mia blinked, "Talk to me." she stated.
"All right then ladies, move in close." Zane smirked, "...Here's what we're gonna do..."
XXXXX
Chazz and the ditzy duo sat silently watching the stop clock which continued to tick away.
"She's been there a mighty long time, Chazz..." said the blue haired Obelisk as he adjusted his eye glasses.
"Yeah Chazz...it's...Kinda quiet." blinked the other male.
"Yeah..." Chazz muttered, "Too quiet..."
"Maybe she vanished!" said the blue haired one, "You know, like the rumors say!"
"Yeah, right." Chazz huffed, "She's just trying to punk us..." he scoffed, "Very Funny, Mia!" Chazz hollered, "You're not fooling anyone!"
"Hmph...we'll see about that..." Mia smirked as she and the other two Obelisks joined her, crouched down behind the over grown shrubbery, "So...you two ready to see the best damn acting you'll ever see all night?" she asked, shifting a glance between Zane and Alexis who both nodded.
"Do it!" said Alexis.
"Cover your ears." Mia smirked.
"Wait, what?" Zane blinked, but soon got the message once he saw Mia puff her chest during a long inhale.
With both pairs of ears cupped between her two extra Obelisk guests Mia bellowed out a blood curdling scream that echoed into the night sky and struck the fear of God into the three that dared lead her astray into the darkness.
"MIA!" Chazz called out, with a look of panic in his eyes.
No way...did I actually put her in real danger!?
"Who...goes...there...~?" Zane spoke out in a long...ghostly waver through a tunnel of his cupped hands that came out in moaned words that seemed to echo all around.
Meanwhile Mia and Alexis had to cup over their own mouths to keep from laughing out loud. She rested her eyes on Zane as he worked his own acting skills-
Which were surprisingly decent-
But more than that...
Who would have ever known Zane Truesdale to actually have a little bit of a prankster somewhere in there...?
She chuckles softly.
Maybe it comes from him being an older brother?
I'm sure Syrus has tried to pull pranks on his big brother once in a while when they were younger...most younger siblings tend to that I know of...but still...
She smiled softly, appreciating the effort, and doing her best not to blow the older Obelisk's cover while he worked.
Chazz's two lackeys wrapped arms around each other in fear while Chazz stood with a wide eyed shock.
Wh-What the hell...?
He thought to himself.
"Who...DARES disturb my sleep...?"
Chazz stood in stunned silence before narrowing his onyx eyes and letting out a huff with a slow clap.
"Ha Ha...you got us~" he groaned, "Very funny, Mia... but...how the hell did you manage to get your voice that deep?"
"GEEEET OOOOUUUUT~!"
"AAAAAHHHHHHHH! YOU DON'T GOTTA TELL US TWICE!" said Chazz's followers, each of them running for the hills in defeat.
"Hey!" Chazz snapped, "GET BACK HERE, YOUR COWARDS!" Chazz huffed as he went to chase after them before stopping in his tracks as realization hit him, "Dammit, MIA!" he growled and quickly turned heel running back to search for the brunette he had all but pushed into the creepers of the night, "Mia, Where are you!?" he called out for her, "Mia, Are you all right?" he called, "MIA!" he huffed, "All right you Freak, you better give Mia back, you hear!? You won't like it when The Chazz gets angry!"
"Wow, Mia..." Alexis blinked, "He seems really worried about you..."
"Good!" Mia huffed, "Let him worry a little longer while I catch my breath~" she said as she took in a deep breath between the few laughs she just couldn't keep hidden, "All right, I think we worried him enough..." she stated, "Besides..." she snorted and shook her head, "I can't hold it in anymore...!" with that the two girls finally burst out into laughter, even accompanied by a few light hyucks from Zane himself, though he tried to keep it subtle..
"What the hell...?" Chazz blinked, "Is that...laughter?"
"Oh, shit, I think he's on to us!" Mia wheezed.
"W-Well...n-naturally..." Zane said between chuckles, "I mean...it was only a matter of time..."
"Yeah...Chazz isn't THAT Dumb you know!" Alexis snickered.
Some heavy stepped shuffling sounded through the shrubs that led to the hiding spot where three guilty parties sat with victorious grins on their faces.
"Are...you...KIDDING ME!?" Chazz huffed, completely red in the face.
"Serves you right, Chazz." said Alexis, "It's what you get for trying to pull someone else into your nonsense."
Mia gave him a smug smile and elgantly waved her fingers, perfectly fine.
"You...little WEASEL!" Chazz huffed, "I thought something had SERIOUSLY happened to you!"
"Awww, were you worried about me, Chazzy~?" Mia winked, batting her lashes before snickering once again.
"Wh-" Chazz blushed, "AS IF I was worried about you!" he huffed, "I just didn't want to be the number one suspect on your MURDER case!" he huffed and turned on his heel before storming off into the night, "Screw this! I'm going home!"
"...So did I pass the initiation?" Mia asked.
"SHUT UP!"
"...I'd take that as a yes!" said Alexis.
"All right, ladies..." said Zane, "We've all had our fun for the night...it's starting to get really late now...If we get caught out here, we're all busted and that won't look good on my record so close to Graduation..." he stated "Come on...I'll walk you back to your dorm."
"Awww...but things were FINALLY getting interesting..." Mia groaned.
"Actually...I have something I need to do first..." Alexis said softly as she reached back behind a broken pot. It seemed there was a rose hidden there, carefully placed before they decided to roll with this little ruse, "Don't worry...I'll follow soon after, I promise." she said with a broken smile.
With a knowing posture and understanding eyes, Zane gave her a gentle nod.
"Be careful, Lexi." he said to her.
"Promise." she said back.
"...All right then..." he blinked and shifted his eyes over toward the brunette, "Come on Mia." he said to her, "Let's go."
XXXXX
The two walked side by side together in an easy pace, holding a long silence between them.
Mia kept her eyes averted, cheeks flushed and a pout on her lips pondering on ways she could distract him from noticing that she was being distracting-
"SO..." Mia said softly cutting the silence, "That was unexpected." she smirked, "You...you're secretly funny~"
"Heh." Zane chuckled and managed to crack a small smile, "Why thank you...I've been brushng up on my comedy routine." he joked.
Mia blushed harder.
Was that a joke?
she blinked.
Jokes? Zane's cracking jokes now!?
"HaHa, keep it up." she said back, "I'll have to be sure to buy a ticket to your Stand-Up!"
"I'll hold you to that." he chuckled.
"...Please don't, I'm not really gonna go."
"Ow..." Zane blinked, "That was below the belt..."
Mia couldn't help but let out a little laugh at that one.
"You think that's below the belt?" she chuckled, "You're so serious all the time I thought you were like- super boring."
"Excuse me?" he blinked.
"Yeah you know...a real stick in the mud~" she snickered.
"A stick in the mud!? Why would you even- I can be fun!"
Wow-
That was more emotion than she has ever seen Zane express before.
"I got it- you proved it- chill"
"No- I want to hear you say it~" he smirked.
"Say what?"
"That I'm not boring!"
"OKAY you're not boring!" she chuckled.
"And...NOT...a stick in the mud~"
"Excuse me-!?"
"Say it~"
"Okay- okay!" she laughed, "So you're not a COMPLETE stick-"
"Hmm? What now?" he probed on playfully, cupping a hand over his ear, "I can't quite hear you Mia you need to speak louder-"
"DEEP in the mud!" she laughed out softly while relief washed softly over his face. It was nice to see her smile...
He was glad to be able to do that much for her...
"I'll take it." he chuckled softly, "Honestly...I'm just glad to see you coming out of your shell a bit more..."
She paused, shifting her gaze over to him and was met with...
A surprisingly gentle expression...
"You used to be so expressive...at the championships..." he chuckled, "I don't know what happened after the Award ceremonies...but you seemed...so much more distant after our duel...I thought I did something...or said something-"
"Oh that- That was..." she pauses, lingering awkwardly on her silence for a while as his curious expression tried to probe some kind of answer from her.
"That...wasn't you." she said softly, "It wasn't anything you did."
"Oh..." he glanced away awkwardly...he was relieved to hear that it wasn't him- but if that were true...he wished he knew what it was.
He wanted to ask her...
But it didn't seem like she was all that willing to talk about it...so he thought it best to just let it go for now...
"Well...here we are, Ms. Hastings." said Zane as he walked her all the way to her door.
"Gee...thanks." she blinked, "Oh and..." she blushed, "...Thanks for tonight too." she stated, "You know...you and Alexis...helping me out back there..."
Zane stared a moment before breaking a gentle smile.
"Any time." he said to her, "Happy to help-"
"D-Don't make it a habbit or whatever!" Mia huffed blushing, "I-It's not like I WANT your help!" she huffed, "I mean..." she mumbled, "I-It's not like I need it, or anything..."
"...I never thought that, Mia." he said to her softly, "...Not even once."
She blinked and shifted her blue eyes upward toward his, to which he rewarded with a smile that made her blush a little.
"I know you're a strong Duelist, Mia." he said to her, "And you're a strong person too." he stated, "...But just because you may not need the help...doesn't mean that it's not okay to accept it every once in a while." he chuckled and turned away slowly, stopping short after a few strides.
"By the way..." he said glancing back at her, "...I never got the chance to tell you this, earlier." he stated, "...Congratulations, Mia." he said, "On your vistory earlier today...You certainly didn't waste any time, did you?" he smirked.
"Nope." she said back firmly, "And I don't plan to either." she said, "So stay on your toes, Zane!" she stated, "...Because I'm coming for you."
And with that, she walked into her dorm room and ended the conversation there with a click of the lock.
Zane stood in the hall way a while...
Eyes closed, and a smile on his face.
"Heh..." he chuckled softly, "...I look forward to it." He said in a gentle voice as his heavy soled shoes pressed to the floor with each step while he walked away.
To Be Continued