James opened his eyes, rubbing them lightly. He gazed at his surroundings and saw everyone else asleep, either on the couch, chairs in the room, or on the floor. James felt something on his shoulder and saw Keiza's head on his shoulder. He smiled and pecked her head filled with brown hair, sighing in content. He looked around for anyone that was awake and found Lizzy, yawning softly.

"How'd you sleep?" James asked her, chuckling. Lizzy's eyes turned to him and said with a sleepy voice,

"I slept pretty good. You?"

"Same here. It seems like everyone fell asleep after that game." He sighed a bit and continued. "It's been five months since we've been home. I wonder how everyone has been."

"Yeah..." Lizzy said, looking at the ground. She began to think a bit about everything that has happened so far. A memory came into her mind....

"They're gone...." Lizzy said, tears in her eyes. "They're all gone....James, Ali, Will, Keiza, Summer, Xavier, my little Melody.." She fell to the ground and started sobbing uncontrollably. "It's all my fault!!"

"Lizzy?!" She snapped out of her thoughts and turned to James, who raised his eyebrows at her.

"Sorry," she said, chuckling. "I was just thinking of all that has happened."

"I figured you were," James smiled. "I know you're thinking of home but you gotta remember the people around you." Lizzy blinked and then looked at Aaliyah, who had Luna and Leo sleep beside her. She found Jack and Crow sleeping on the couch by James and Keiza, and Akiza by Aaliyah and the twins. She finally turned to her side and found Yusei sleeping by her. She smiled a bit and said,

"Yeah, you're right. I can't forget about these guys. They'll always have a place right here." She placed her hand over the left side of her chest, smiling more. James did the same gesture and nodded. Lizzy thought for a moment and stood up slowly, not wanting to wake anyone else up. "I'm gonna go check something in the kitchen," Lizzy said to him. "I'll be back." James nodded again and Lizzy went out of the room. She stretched her arms slowly, letting her back and arms crack a tiny bit, and checked through the cupboards sleepily. The kitchen was light gray in color, matching the tiled floor and white cupboards. She yawned slowly and found a locked cupboard, the lock bulging a bit on the cupboard door handle. She chuckled to herself and thought, "I'm such an idiot. The cupboard I needed to find was locked." She sighed, remembering her mind was fuzzy due to just waking up. She then snapped her fingers fast and a silver key appeared on her other hand. She whistled softly and unlocked the lock with the key. She opened its creaky doors and surveyed the contents. Glass bottles lined up the cupboard in different sizes and colors, each bottle unique to the other. As a sorceress and a training alchemist, Lizzy had to keep an eye out for anyone that accidentally drinks from the bottles, which she called potions. If people started drinking the potions without knowing the contents, they could be in extreme danger of sickness. She felt that it was her duty to not let anyone near the potions, so she locked up the cupboard for good measure. She yawned sleepily and took one bottle out. She held the bottle with one had and tapped the glass forcefully with the other, making a vortex with the dark green liquid in the bottle. Her eyes began to get hazy and she shook her head, locking up the cupboard again and returning to the living room to get more sleep. The kitchen was once again a silent void, leaving the forgotten potion alone and out of the locked cupboard.

I didn't realize how short of a chapter this was. I apologize! I checked the other chapters and they are a lot longer than this one. So since that's the case....does anyone want me to just get the next chapter out? I have a few chapters done already so I don't mind posting right away. Anyone up for it?

Don't be afraid to leave comments on my writing! I'm okay with criticism but it can't be bad criticism. That's something I can't handle. Otherwise, enjoy the story!