---Juanita---
She groaned and put her hand out.
The buzzing....
She slammed her fist into the snooze button and it stopped. Her hand fell off the bedside table and she suddenly heard....
DING!
She shot up and grabbed her cell phone. It was a text message from Jim.
"G'day.... er, morning."
She smiled and looked up at the clock. It was just about noon there. "G'day."
She heard someone groan from under her bed. Juanita leaned over and pulled the skirt up. Alyse was sleeping under her bed.... again. "Hey, we'll be late. Hurry up."
---Australia---
Jim sat back. He stretched.
Ah, his back popped.
Jim sighed and drummed his fingers on the desk. His pencil was balanced on his eraser. His eraser was balanced on a paper ball. The paper ball was balanced on the edge of his desk. He had yet to fully get back into the swing of class. It wasn't as large as Jaden's classes, but Jim was busy enough with the class of twenty, rather than fifty. But something was really hard about going back....
How do you forget?
How do you get over it?
The bell rang and Jim scooped up his trapeze act. He took his time, packing up his books and binders. He picked up his notebook and pencil. He tucked the pencil into the spiral of the notebook. He slowly walked out the door, the flood in the halls being absolutely ordinary.
Jim felt out of place now. Shirley had found a nice, sunny spot in the front yard to sleep while he was studying. But it wasn't that.
He felt out of place.... way out of place.
"Jim!"
He looked back at Lisa. She smiled and ran up to him. "Hey, what's up?"
"What's wrong with you?!" Lisa stomped on his foot. "Haven't you actually called her?!"
Jim shrugged.
Lisa reached behind him and unhooked the belt with his deck box. "Then I'll just take this!" She ran off.
Jim gave her a head start. He was fast, thanks to his nimble, long legs. He managed to sprint down the hall and catch Lisa by the front door. He held her up with one hand and made his way outside. He set her down beside Shirley. "Give."
She smiled. "Not until you stop moping! Call Juanita. I bet she's waiting for you to call her."
"Why? It won't work. Long-distance never works."
"Then duel me! I'll show you what she showed me. I could see her strength, her heart. Dueling gives her a rush. But being near you when you smile gives her a better, stronger rush. I bet she acts like Alyse when she gets a message from you."
"How would--" Jim cut himself off.
Lisa was a girl.
He kept forgetting that!
"Yeah, that's how I know. Now, duel me!"
"No, no." Jim waved his hand. "I'll call her, after my seminar."
"Yes, Mr. Cook!" Lisa saluted him. "Have fun with the delinquents."
Jim just stood beside Shirley, watching Lisa. Would it have been easier with Lisa? He silently kicked himself in the rear. Lisa had insisted Jim wasn't best for her. Lisa had said that Juanita knew Jim's heart better. That some girl who lived with a deranged father and mother and a slightly sadistic sister knew the heart of a professor, archeologist, duelist, and young man better than a strong-willed, kind, protective woman he'd grown up with?
Jim sighed and sat down. "Am I over thinking things, girl?"
Shirley gave a little growl.
Jim smiled. "You're right. I'll do whatever it takes."
---Russia---
Alyse flopped down in the library. She was still wearing her uniform.
The Russian Academy of Duelists was actually much more strict than Central Academy. The uniforms for the girls had ankle-length, black skirts. The blazers depended upon entrance exam scores. Alyse had scored in the top ranks. She wore a bright blue blazer. Juanita wore a pure red one. There was no deviations for Juanita's, but she had scored the highest and was the prodigal daughter everyone had been looking for.
Alyse's black boots clicked softly on the stone floor of the library. She was alone because Juanita had gotten a call from Jim and was hiding in her dorm.
Alyse hadn't gotten a message from Jesse, but wasn't worrying about it. Jesse had probably gotten back into the swing of his school. She had to find her rhythm again. Alyse was bad at change. But, she was giving it a try.
---America---
Jesse was sprawled in the grass, waiting for Ashton. He finally sat up and was about to yell when Ashton walked up.
He was a dark-gray-haired boy with the darkest blue eyes that would've put Jim's to shame. Ashton was a professional, but not widely known.
"Here. I managed to find her number. Take it or leave it."
Jesse grinned at Ashton. "Thanks." As soon as Ashton was gone, Jesse dialed the number.
"Privet?"
Jesse blinked. "Alyse?"
"ACK! Jesse."
He smiled. He knew she was smiling.
p3n-stroke: =___=
Juanita and Jim: WHAT'RE YOU DOING?!
Alyse: o///o
Jesse: x.x
p3n-stroke: hey, it's a prelude to the last chapter.... *hint hint*