Jaden you idiot!

Chapter 4: You Did?!

"Yo slacker wake up already! Geez Syrus wasn't kidding when he said you slept deeply."

Jaden futilely to hold onto his sleep, even as rough hands shook him. Opening his eyes sleepily, Jaden yawned loudly.

"It's too early to be alive," Jaden moans, drawing out the last word and his eyes began to close once again.

"Yeah well, too bad. If the rest of us have to be up, then so do you." Sighing Jaden rolled over. Seeing as couches aren't made for sleeping one he promptly fell off.

"Nice one slacker, now hurry up everyone's waiting." Jaden opened his eyes fully this time.

"Morning Chazz, how's it goi-," Jaden stops remembering that Alexis was sleeping beside him.

"Uh Chazz it's not what it looks li-," Jaden frantically stutters before Chazz cuts him off.

"Jaden it's too early for your weirdness, just get up so we can go. Alexis is waiting for us," Chazz tells him, gesturing for him to move.

"She's what?" Jaden asks confused. Moving over Jaden sees that the space to him is empty. A small pang of sadness hits him suddenly. Brushing it off Jaden rises and grabs his books. Chazz walks down the stairs with Jaden close behind

"Why's Alexis waiting for us?" Jaden askes as he falls in beside his rival slash friend. Jaden, while still a little downcast that he couldn't wake up beside Alexis, knew that she had done the right thing. If Academy Security had caught them then they've been in a lot of trouble. But does he already know about us, Jaden ponders while looking over to Chazz. Chazz may have been a pain in the past but Jaden had always stood by him. Jaden shook his head and continued down the corridor in a comfortable silence. Well that is until said silence was broken by a blue haired streak and what can only be described as a prehistoric howl.

Hassleberry was once again chasing Syrus down the halls, probably in retaliation for another prank, and they were coming up fast on the two duelling rivals. Chazz and Jaden stepped aside to let the pair rampage through, screaming at the top of their lungs.

"Come back here private!"

"Never you big lug! I got them first so you can whine all you want but they're mine," Syrus shouted over his shoulder. Spotting Jaden and Chazz in front of him, Syrus skidded to a halt and ducked behind Chazz using him as a human shield.

"Get away from me you shrimp! Go hide behind your Jaden," Chazz growled at Syrus, as the smaller guy twisted in and out of Hassleberry's reach. Chazz squirmed along with Syrus trying to not get hurt in the process. Jaden stood nearby chuckling. He could see the slight smile on Chazz's face. He knew that as much Chazz would deny it, he loved having friends. From what little Jaden knew Chazz hadn't really had many friends before Duel Academy because of his brothers. But that was in the past. Now he has us, Jaden thinks. Jaden sighed and thought it was about time to separate the three before someone actually got hurt.

"Alright guys, chill out," Jaden said as he held up his hands in a calming manner, "Syrus what have you done this time?"

The guys all moved apart, even though Syrus and Hassleberry were still glaring at each other. Syrus was the first to break off the glaring contest, looking over to Jaden.

"Well Jaden you know the end of year excursion we do to the mainland every year? Well I just won the last ticket for you," Sy explained quickly. Seeing Jaden's confused look just Chazz sighed.

"You see slacker, if you'd paid attention in class then you would know what he's talking about. Every year the school sends all students achieving high marks on a week long trip to New Domino for free. Also the school holds a small duel tournament among the leftover students to see who will win a ticket to tag along on the trip. Though we haven't had it happen for a few years due to certain world ending events," Chazz explained to the Slifer, who was as usual, ignorant of such things.

"Yeah and I won that tournament!" Syrus exclaimed

"Woah a week in New Domino! Sweet! Thanks Sy," Jaden exclaimed. Man this is going to be awesome, Jaden thought excitedly while mentally fist pumping. Hassleberry on the other hand glared at the younger Truesdale.

"Private you better give me that ticket or there's gonna be blood!" Hassleberry shouted. Syrus gulped and took off, the dino-duellist close behind him. Chazz sighed. Those two would never change, not when it came to Jaden, he thought as he and Jay started walking again. Jaden yawned, stretching his sore back. That couch was a killer, he thought.

"So Chazz you going on the trip," Jaden inquired. Chazz gave him a look.

"Well duh, I'm third in the class. Of course I'm going on the trip," he replied.

"Only third? Geez Chazz you can do better than that," Jaden teased playfully.

"Shut up slacker, I don't see you doing any better," Chazz said with a smirk.

"Yeah well when you're saving the world, you kind of forget about homework," Jaden said sheepishly. Chazz shook his head. He pulled out his PDA to check the time.

"Hurry up slacker, we're going to be late," he said when he saw what the time was. Jaden looked at him confused. Late, what for, Jaden thought. Chazz rolled his eyes and set off into a run.

"Hey wait up!" Jaden yelled as he followed his rival. They ran through the twisting corridors and across the dirt path towards the Slifer dorm. They took a right just before the dorm and headed into the forest. Jaden had to sprint to keep up with Chazz, who had a pretty good head start on him. They rounded a corner and came across a clearing on the edge of the water. About 10 metres away stood Alexis. Jaden waved, then stopped and looked at Chazz questioningly.

"When I found you and Alexis this morning, I was going to just leave you there. Alexis woke up however and explained what was going on. She then asked me to get you up later and bring you here for breakfast." The raven haired duellist explained with a slight smile. He had felt a sense of relief when he had seen the two together this morning. Jaden blushed slightly and rubbed his neck sheepishly.

"So you saw us? Sorry man I was going to tell you but-," Jaden was cut off.

"Shut up slacker and go and enjoy your breakfast."

Jaden smiled and turned to leave.

"Oh and Jaden?" the boy in question looked up, "It's about damn time."

"Yeah it is."

Moving forward Jaden cast another look over his shoulder and saw Chazz walking away. He smiled. So Chazz can be nice sometimes, he thought. It was weird but that was Chazz. Jaden continued walking over to Alexis. She smiled at him and motioned for him to sit on the picnic rug before her.

"Morning sleepyhead," she said as they sat.

"Morning Lex. Sorry I was late. I woke up without you and just couldn't bring myself to leave," he said with mock sadness. Alexis stifled a chuckle.

"Well seeing as you're here now, want some lunch?"

"Of course!"

Sorry for the lengthy delay, I got a little sidetracked. Fine, a lot sidetracked. However I will endeavour to publish more of this story. 

'Til next time!