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It was a normal winter day at Duel Academy and the school was excited. When everyone came back from Christmas Break, Chancellor David Sheppard announced that Duel Academy was hosting a school dance. A first of many dances for the rest of the year. Of course, the reactions were mixed, but many of the girls were hoping to be asked out by that special someone. Key word being many. One Slifer Red girl in particular had made a mad dash to the girls’ restroom, crying her green eyes out as she entered the restroom. Some of the bystanders felt sad, but rejections happen on a daily basis. A couple of Slifer Red boys had ran after the crying girl, both worried about her.
This wasn’t what they both thought would happen at all. Especially since she’s the most sought after girl in Slifer Red.
“There, there, sis. It’ll be okay...” one of the guys said, causing the girl to wail even louder behind the door. Causing the shorter guy to wince at the sound. Being rejected by someone you like sucks. But it sucks even more to be related to the one who rejected you. “Hey Jaden, Syrus, what’s wrong with Mellie?” another girl, an Obelisk Blue asked the boys with concern. Three other girls were with the blonde, two of them her friends and the other her cousin. Jaden sighed before answering, “She went to Zane and tried to drop hints of going to the dance with him. He turned her down flat by telling her that he’s going with Kenny Pegasus.”
The blonde, Alexis went “Ah.” at Jaden’s answer. Considering that the two girls are from the same dorm and into the same guy, it’d make sense.
“I always knew that those two are into each other. They just didn’t want to admit it, but no matter. Mellie can go with someone else.” a black haired and brown eyed girl said, a smirk growing on her face. Completely unaware that a lavender eyed redhead was listening in on them with growing glee. Glad to know that her sworn archenemy is feeling like shit. She then decided to slip off to try and snatch her ‘guy’ before he even thought of going after anyone else but her. “Don’t even go there, Mindy. Mellie just got rejected. Give her time to get over it.” a blue eyed brunette told the other girl, Mindy. Mindy merely scoffed before retorting, “I don’t see you with a guy, Ellie and the dance is in two weeks.”
“That’s because unlike you, I actually want a guy who likes me for me. Not my family name, status, or money. Just me.”
“She’s got a point, Mindy.”
“Oh come on, Jasmine! Not you too!”
While the trio of girls continued to argue, Melissa Yuki had since came out of the restroom with red eyes. Granted, she was still upset, but she had calmed down enough to come out. Alexis can see that quite clearly now that she saw her friend. And the blonde began to come up with an idea on how to make her feel better. “You know, Mindy is right, Mellie. You can go to the dance with someone else or by yourself...” Jaden said. However, seeing her green eyes starting to water again, the brown eyed brunette held his hands up. Now wasn’t the time to say anything about the dance. “Okay, okay, I get it. Bad idea. We’ll figure something out.” he replied. Melissa grabbed her brother in a hug before stuttering, “T-Thank y-you, Jay-Jay.”
Jaden returned the hug while rubbing his sister’s back. While he is tempted to ask around the campus of who’d date Melissa, he learned early on that his sister hated being treated like a prize instead of a person. So, for now, he’ll put off that idea. Completely unaware that someone else is thinking of that exact idea.
Two hours later, Obelisk Blue boys’ dorm
Alexis sighed as she stood in the hall of the boys’ dorm. Staring at a familiar door, considering whether to knock or not. Thankfully, getting Dr. Crowler and Prof. Sweeny’s permission to enter wasn’t too hard. They had been understanding of her reason to visit the boys’ dorm, regardless of what the younger residents think. It was whether or not HE’LL agree to this plan of hers. Hell, Alexis was beginning to think that this might be a bad idea. Yet, deciding that there was no going back, the blonde knocked on the door. She then heard the door open, revealing a surprised dark gray eyed raven head wearing some casual clothes. Due to him hiding from his stalker and preparing for a later duel with a classmate. “O-Oh, hi Alexis! Please come in.” he said, a smile forming on his face.
It was no secret that Chazz Princeton has the biggest crush on Alexis Rhodes. What is another secret was that Chazz also vied for Melissa. The blonde rolled her hazel eyes before entering his room.
That wasn’t too hard. “So, what’s with the casual wear?” Alexis asked, taking notice of her classmate’s clothing. It wasn’t that he didn’t look good in it. She was more of put off by his rather prideful and haughty personality. “Besides having a late duel and the laundry last call being at eight, I’m also hiding from Kourtney.” Chazz answered with a groan. His stalker had been hounding him about taking her to the dance nonstop and it was driving him crazy. He had finally managed to lose her when Dr. Crowler told her that she had a phone call from her mother coming. Alexis resisted the urge to throw a ‘I told you so.’ in his direction. Now wasn’t the time for that. She had more pressing matters to talk about. “But enough talk about that unattractive flea. What can I do for you, my future queen?” Chazz asked in a flirty tone.
Trying to be sexy and failing.
Having her in his room alone is a dream come true for the blue clad boy. Has she finally realized her true feelings for him and came to ask him to be her date to the dance? He’s prepared to say yes either way. Sighing and rolling her hazel eyes, Alexis crossed her arms before asking, “Have you been hearing talk about who Zane is taking to the dance?” The raven head nodded, having heard about it from Yamato Bakura. “Apparently, he turned another girl down flat. What about it?” Chazz asked, trying to be patient. Why is the blonde asking him about this? He didn’t give a damn about gossip at all. Unless it involved people he cared about and that list isn’t very long in any way. “Chazz, the girl that Zane rejected was Mellie.” Alexis answered without holding it back.
“ZANE DID WHAT TO MELLIE?!”
“You heard right. Zane turned Mellie down flat and I’m worried about her. She looked really upset when I saw her earlier.”
Was it a dangerous gamble to tell him that? Sure, but Alexis knows Chazz long enough to know that he wouldn’t try and challenge Zane without risking his image. Nor his chance at winning Melissa’s heart for that matter. Chazz, on the other hand, was pissed. NO ONE hurts Melissa and gets away with it. However, since it was Zane that did the rejecting, the raven head couldn’t risk challenging him without it getting back to the shorter brunette. “What are you suggesting that I do?” he asked after a few minutes of silence. Alexis pondered for a minute before answering, “Well, you don’t have to, but it wouldn’t hurt for you to make sure that she’s okay. Check up on her, you know. Besides, it might work out for you both.” Completely hiding a mischievous smile on her face.
This was way too easy and the blonde knew it. Who’s to say that the queen bee of Duel Academy isn’t capable of hatching her own matchmaking schemes? Chazz sighed before adding, “You’re right and I can’t help but admit that I’m worried about Mellie.” The two took off after that. Alexis keeping her fingers crossed the whole time.
Two weeks later...
Melissa sighed as she continued to let Dorothy Keats, the card shop owner, put her hair in a French braid. She’s in the throes of getting ready for the school dance. And is feeling mixed about how she got asked out. Not that she’s not glad that someone asked her out, far from it, actually. But not like this. “I can’t believe I said yes to being Chazz’s date to the dance and all because I don’t want to be left out and Lexi tricked him.” she ranted to the three older women. It wasn’t a total lie; she does have a major crush on him and had hoped that he’d ask her out. Without it being out of pity, of course.
However, only a handful of students know about the shorter brunette’s soft spot for the raven haired boy. As such, Melissa didn’t see Alexis’s scheme coming at all until after Chazz asked her to be his date. Jaden swore that he didn’t ask the blonde to set her and Chazz up, so he was safe for the time being. Of course, he also knows that if she found out that he lied to her, Melissa will teach her brother a lesson for it. Dorothy smiled before saying, “You do realize that Alexis was only looking out for you, right? Besides, you said it yourself, honey. Chazz is enamored with you and those feelings are obviously mutual.”
The shorter brunette opened her mouth to speak, only to snap it shut. The older woman has a point. And she’s thankful to have more friends than enemies. “But then again, everyone’s experiences with love are different. What matters is that you both have fun tonight. Who knows, it might become something more.” Dorothy giggled. Causing Melissa to blush like a mad fiend at the thought.
It’s official; Miss Dorothy and Mindy Harris are major hopeless romantics and are dangerous when they conspire together. Melissa kept quiet afterwards as the older woman and her two assistants Sadie and Amy finished doing her hair and makeup. An hour later, the shorter brunette stood looking at herself in the mirror of her dorm room. She’s wearing a short aqua green dress, a matching jacket, white pantyhose, turquoise heart shaped earrings, a silver rose shaped necklace, and aqua green heels. Throw in the fact that she has on red lipstick and a little eye shallow and she looks like a different person. “Honey, Chazz is going to faint when he sees you.” Dorothy squealed, quite proud of her work.
Melissa sighed before adding, “I hope that you’re right, Miss Dorothy.” A knock interrupted the two women. Dorothy answered the door and saw that Chazz was there in a black tux with an aqua green bowtie. He held a bouquet of flowers in his left hand, obviously Melissa’s favorite flowers. “Oh, Chazz, perfect timing. Your date awaits.” the older woman said, causing the shorter brunette to turn around and notice. Fighting off a huge blush at the sight of him. She’d be an idiot if she said that she didn’t find the raven haired boy beyond handsome out of his uniform right now. Chazz, on the other hand, was agape when he laid eyes on Melissa. Forget her uniform, she looks more beautiful out of it. Dorothy, Sadie, and Amy then left the Slifer Red dorms.
Finally finding his voice, Chazz cleared his throat before handing the bouquet to Melissa and saying, “These are for you, Mellie.” Melissa accepted the bouquet and sniffed it. “T-Thank you, Chazz. They’re beautiful.” she smiled, causing the raven head to blush madly. Thank goodness for his mother and good memory on the girls’ favorite flowers. The shorter brunette was ignoring all of Maiden in Love and Rose Lover’s catcalls about how good Chazz looked in a tux and then some. Being majorly relieved that he can’t see them. She didn’t need any more embarrassment for the rest of the night. After putting them in a vase with some water, the teens headed off to the dance.
School ballroom, 30 minutes later...
The dance was in full swing by the time the teens arrived. Melissa was awestruck by seeing one of her party designs come to life. So, she definitely felt a sense of pride knowing that she thought of this. And everyone fell in love with her design. “I must say, Mellie, you look dressed to kill.” Holly said, wearing an ankle-length pink dress and matching heels. Her hair has a pink rose hairclip due to it being not long enough for a ponytail or any other hairstyle. She liked what her bestie is wearing. “Indeed.” Bastion added, linking arms with his date. He wore a tux with a gray and yellow striped bowtie.
Melissa giggled before saying, “Thanks guys.” She was glad that he worked up the courage to ask Holly out. Chazz, on the other hand, went off to find his minions. He found them with their dates, only for them to ignore him. Which baffled him and to a fault, Jaden. Alexis scowled as she saw Chazz trying to get his minions to talk to him, only for Blake Jameson to tell the raven haired boy that since he brought a Slifer girl to the dance, he’s no longer cool. To which Kourtney Sanders flashed a haughty smirk at Chazz as she hung off the arm of the muscular brunette. Her gold mini dress didn’t hide much, but she gave Melissa the middle finger and mouthed the words ‘Thieving slut.” to her.
Melissa saw the whole thing and was livid. Blake and Terry are officially the WORST friends in the whole world. And that idiotic brat Kourtney needs to eat a whole humble pie for being the biggest tattletale on the planet. She always hated people who used others just to get what they want when they wanted it. “Don’t bother trying to knock some sense into them, Mellie. Those guys have always liked Chazz solely for his dueling status. It was just a matter of time before he found out the truth.” Holly said, knowing what her friend/roommate was going to do.
And it wouldn’t have done them any good. Violence is never the answer and all Kourtney had to do was play the ‘victim’ to those dumb enough to fall for her lies.
Fortunately for Holly, Melissa listened to her. She’s right; they’re here to have a good time, not have it be ruined. Jaden was also angry, but at the end of the day, you learn just who your true friends are. Chazz sighed bitterly, but went back to Melissa. “If they can’t accept that you’re dating me by choice, then they’re not your true friends, Chazz. They’ll realize that someday and regret ever letting you go.” was all that she said. The raven head simply nodded, glad for her company. As the dance went on, it became clear that something was bothering Chazz. Melissa had been dancing with several of their classmates but not him. Well, at least not with the slow dance songs, that is. However, it’s also obvious that Zane’s rejection still bothered the shorter brunette.
And seeing him slow dance with Kenny was killing her. She finally had enough and stepped outside to get fresh air before breaking down in tears once again. Jaden would’ve checked up on his sister if it wasn’t for his archrival beating him to the punch. Chazz followed Melissa, feeling both Alexis and Mindy’s eyes on him as he did so. He silently reminded himself to never underestimate the blonde’s apparent lack of matchmaking skills again. Melissa had been letting out a few bitter sighs, staring out at the stars when Chazz approached her. “Is it wrong of me to still like Zane, despite him not liking me that way?” she softly asked him, still focused on the moon.
At least she acknowledges his presence, unlike some people. “No, of course not, Mellie. I’m the same way with Alexis. Even if I also like...someone else.” Chazz awkwardly answered. Only a handful of Blues know about his secret crush on Melissa. What he didn’t know was that she also felt the same way about him.
“Then why is it that I feel like more of a pick-me-up than an actual date tonight? I can handle being told to my face that I’ll always be the friend, but never the girlfriend, but not like this...”
Chazz’s dark gray eyes widened in shock. Melissa has the exact same feelings that he gets when it comes to romance. Always the friend, but never the boyfriend and it hurts... Suddenly, her avoiding the slow dances with him make sense, but how can he show her that his interest in her is genuine? “Mellie, that someone else that I also like is you. I-I hoped that you were having a good time...” he said, shocking the shorter brunette. Certain actions of his around her suddenly made sense and she was kicking herself for not seeing it much sooner. Now the question of whether or not she should give him a chance became clearer. “I am having a good time, silly.” Melissa said, allowing a small smile to form on her face.
Chazz found himself smiling in return as he reached out and grabbed her hand. He was glad for that as he always liked it when she smiled. She ended up squeezing his hand in return, enjoying the silence. No further words needed and no need to wear masks necessary. Just then, a love song started playing, Melissa beginning to blush at the sound of it. They’re playing her song right now. Chazz took the opportunity to guide her further out on the balcony while still holding her hand, startling her. “Will you have this dance with me, Mellie?” he asked before she could ask him what he was doing. Melissa swallowed before nodding. There’s no going back on this and she knows it. The two teens then started slow dancing.
Completely clueless to anyone who might think of watching them. It wasn’t long until Melissa found herself following Chazz’s lead and enjoying it. Enjoying having an actual dance partner to her song. Sure, dancing with Love Prince is good and all, but nothing beats having another human being dance with her.
As the song came to a close, the two teens found themselves stopping their dance. Lost in each other and the light of the moon. Chazz was considering if he should kiss Melissa or not while she was wrestling with the same thought. And who would make the first move. Unknown to them, a winged man and a woman clad in a red bodysuit were flirting with each other. Of course, only Melissa would recognize them as Jaden’s duel spirits. “Oh no.” the man said as the woman chased after him. “Oh yes.” she cooed, knowing that he was playing hard to get. This continued until the man grabbed the woman in a low dip hug. “I’ve been burned by you before, Burst.” he said in a flirty tone.
“And yet, you still want me, Avian.” the woman, Burstinatrix replied in an equally flirty tone as the two are about to lean in for a kiss. Avian, however, looked up and noticed Chazz and Melissa. He gasped in shock, “The princess!” Burstinatrix would’ve been pissed off if it wasn’t for her on-again off-again lover’s words. They do have a duty to attend to when it came to their masters. The two spirits went over to the teen couple. “So it’s true then. King Alexander has been reborn.” Avian said as he checked out Chazz. As he did so, however, he accidentally pushed him forward. Causing him to lock lips with Melissa, wide-eyed and shocked. “Oops.” the winged man said. “Nice going, idiot.” Burstinatrix groaned.
Now they’re going to get it from Yubel. If Jaden didn’t beat her to it, that is.
Melissa wasn’t expecting her brother’s duel spirits to help her out with her first kiss, but she wasn’t complaining about it as she kissed Chazz back. Causing him to embrace her in the process. Just as they pulled away to catch their breaths, they noticed that several eyes were on them. Some of them belonging to his fangirls and not-so-happy Slifers. Chazz was silently praying that Kourtney wasn’t in the crowd. His date would be dead if she was and that’s if the redhead got lucky enough to get a punch in.
Luckily for them, a certain blonde shooed the onlookers away. Much to the teens’ surprise as neither of them are her biggest fans. And the feeling’s mutual on her not being fans of them as well. “I don’t know what you see in Chazz, but nobody likes a bunch of sore losers.” Kenny stated. Melissa’s shocked expression wore off and gave a “Thanks, I think?”
The blonde went back in, responding with a single hand in the air. 30 minutes later, the teen couple were heading back to the Slifer dorms. Chazz was trying to figure out how this night went well enough for both of them. Without anything else going wrong, that is. Turns out that Jaden did witness the kiss, but it didn’t faze him in the least. That didn’t stop him from giving his archrival the stink eye. The raven head knew that meant ‘Hurt my sister and I’ll clobber you again in a duel.’ and he’d rather not deal with a pissed off brother. “I don’t regret the kiss tonight.” Melissa’s voice brought Chazz out of his thoughts.
Causing him to look at her as she continued, “If anything, I’m glad that Lexi set us up. I-I wouldn’t have gone with anyone else but you.”
“Meaning...?”
“I like-like you, Chazz. I want to see where this goes.”
Chazz broke out into a smile. While Melissa didn’t say that she loves him, she did say that she returns his feelings and wants a relationship with him. The date went better than he had hoped and he hopes for more to come.