Chapter 1: A Link to the Past
Hey everyone! It's me, sakuraphoenix, and I'm back with a new chapter! I know, I'm late with updating, but I've been busy! I'm finally on my way back to the U.S., so I'll cut this short. Disclaimer time.
Disclaimer: I do not own Code Lyoko. I also do not own Taios. He belongs to infinitestories. I also do not own Sia and Rina. They belong to D.J. Scales. Finally, I do not own Caleb. He belongs to my boyfriend Detroid434.
Enjoy!
I just touched down onto Lyoko, and I saw Caleb waiting for me. Out of impulse, I hugged him right away. Man, it was good to see him. When I saw his face, he was smiling as well.
"How have you been all these years since the last time I saw you?" Caleb asked while still smiling
"I'm fine, and a lot has happened." I said
"Oh…" Caleb said while his smiling face turned into a sad face
"What's wrong?" I asked
"I… I missed so much of school years ago, that… that I forgot all the friends I had, including you… Taios… Matt and McKenna… and it's all because of me being stuck on Lyoko for years." Caleb said with a sad look on his face
For some reason, I really felt horrible that he was upset. I suddenly found myself pulling him into a hug, just wanting to help him feel better. Even so, I could tell that it wasn't helping too much.
"Guess Matt… McKenna… and Taios must've forgotten about me…" Caleb trailed off sadly
"Now I feel bad that I had forgotten about you. Matt and McKenna… they never knew you until now. Taios, he was always going on and on about finding someone who's trapped on Lyoko. I didn't know who until now." I said
Surprisingly, Caleb smiled slightly, and yet, when he did, it caused me to blush.
"The reason why Matt and McKenna didn't know about me is because… during the school year… I was always hidden in the shadows… doing my own thing… and watching you guys fight on Lyoko. You were the only one to notice me in the shadows." Caleb said while looking at me.
A confused look was clearly written out on my face before I said:
"I wonder why."
Caleb then had a sad face again, before saying:
"I don't deserve to be your friend now…" He trailed off while staring into the distance
"But I want to be." I said
"Thanks Natalie, but I guess that you guys won't ever know that I used to go to the same school you guys did, many years ago, before I met you, or them." Said Caleb
"And how could I forget a person like you?" I asked
Caleb then smiled a legit smile, causing me to blush even redder.
"You're right Natalie. To be honest, I forgot why I asked you to come to Lyoko." Caleb admitted sheepishly
"Well, I guess we better make the most of it then. I usually don't come onto Lyoko without a reason." I said while smiling
"Yeah." Caleb said while smiling
I then noticed that he was humming a song, a melody that I was familiar with. I immediately started to sing.
(Turn around,
Every now and then I get a little bit lonely and you're never coming 'round
Turn around,
Every now and then I get a little bit tired of listening to the sound of my tears
Turn around,
Every now and then I get a little bit nervous that the best of all the years have gone by
Turn around,
Every now and then I get a little bit terrified and then I see the look in your eyes
Turn around, bright eyes,
Every now and then I fall apart
Turn around, bright eyes,
Every now and then I fall apart)
Caleb stopped humming for a moment and I immediately stopped singing while I noticed that he had a look of surprise on his face.
"You know Total Eclipse of the Heart, Natalie?" asked Caleb
"It's one of my favorite songs." I said
"Just like me." Caleb said while smiling and blushing
I was blushing as well. Do I have a crush on him or something?
"And…I, uh… I kinda like to duel people when I have the chance." Caleb said while he was still blushing
"Really?" I asked
Caleb just nodded his head.
"Great minds think alike." I said while smiling
"But nobody has been able to defeat me in a single duel." Said Caleb
"Same here, but, well, that's only when I'm online. Any time in real life, it all goes downhill when I shuffle a deck." I admitted sheepishly
"I can totally beat you in a duel right now… but I don't have my deck with me." Said Caleb
"Same, about the deck part I mean." I said
"Do you like the show Wipeout?" Caleb asked while suddenly changing the subject
"I love that show!" I exclaimed
"Same here!" exclaimed Caleb
"Awesome!" I exclaimed
"We have things in common." Said Caleb
"I agree." I said
"I… uh, never mind." Caleb said as his face fell
"Hmm?" I wondered
"I, uh… was going to say…that…*sigh*, just forget it. You don't want another relationship yet." Caleb said sadly
"Not after what happened with Matt. My heart is still attached to the memories and feelings I had with him. I just need to find a way to learn how to let go somehow." I said with an upset look on my face
"Would this do the trick?" asked Caleb
I was about to ask 'what would do the trick' when he kissed me on the lips. Normally, I would've freaked out, but, this just… it felt… it felt right. It didn't feel like the awkward kisses Matt and I shared. He then stopped kissing me as I looked at him in the eye.
"That'll do the trick." I said while blushing
Caleb suddenly looked away, much to my confusion
"I know what it's like to have a broken heart…" Caleb trailed off
"You do?" I asked
He nodded his head.
"Let's just say that a friend of mine, years ago, went to XANA's side…." Caleb trailed off
"I… I didn't know. I'm sorry." I said
"It's okay. She… she was a good friend to me…" Caleb began before he started to cry
I then hugged him, hating to see him upset.
"Hey, don't cry. If you need a friend, I'm here for you." I said
"Thanks Natalie." Caleb said as he stopped crying
"Anytime Caleb." I said while smiling
"Can I ask you something?" asked Caleb
"Sure." I said
"Do you… want to have another relationship, or is there someone else you already like, like Taios?" asked Caleb
"Taios is just a friend. Nothing more. Besides, if I am ready for a new relationship, I'll be sure to let you know." I said
"Okay…" Caleb said sadly
"What's wrong?" I asked
"I guess you don't know how I feel, do you?" asked Caleb
"That kiss said it all." I admitted
"Re-really?" asked Caleb
"Really." I said
I then noticed that Caleb blushed, and felt a hand on top of mine. I looked the same time Caleb did, and noticed that we were holding hands! I felt my face heating up as I began blushing brick red.
"S-Sorry." Caleb said while looking away
"I didn't mind." I said
In shock and disbelief, he asked:
"Y-You don't mind… it…?"
"Not a bit. I didn't mind it at all." I said
I then noticed that we were holding hands, causing me to blush once again. I have to admit, we have so many things in common, and that kiss, I just can't get my mind off it. Wait a Mobius minute! Am I…
"So, uh, I was, uh wondering, if… if you wanted to grab some lunch sometime." I said
"Su…sure. When do… you want… to have it?" Caleb asked while blushing
"Anytime you want to." I said while smiling
"One problem, I can't go back to Earth yet." Caleb said sadly
"Then how about when you get back to Earth then? I can wait. I'm a pretty patient girl." I said
"Okay! I'd love that." Said Caleb
"I'd better head back. It's probably pretty late now, even though I want to stay longer on Lyoko with you." I said sadly
"Okay. I can wait 'til we can speak again to each other on Lyoko." Said Caleb
Suddenly, I got an idea.
"Wait, maybe, I could set up a link with my laptop, to talk to you whenever I can." I said with a hopeful tone in my voice
"I'd like that… a lot." Caleb said while smiling
"Me too." I said while smiling
I wanted to pull him into another hug right here and now, but before I could, I was being devirtualized! I then found myself in the scanner room with Aelita right in front of me.
"Naomi? Why were you on Lyoko?" asked Aelita
"No reason." I said
"It isn't important right now. We need to get back to Kadic before Mr. Delmas or Jim finds out we're gone." Said Aelita
"I know. I was just about to go back anyways." I said as I walked out of the scanners
"You didn't have to be so cold like that." Said Aelita
"Sorry." I said
It was an awkward, yet silent walk back to the school, and I saw Yumi, Ulrich, Odd, Sia, Rina, and Taios all talking before Yumi saw me.
"Hey Naomi!" exclaimed Yumi
"Oh, uh, hey Yumi. Hey guys." I said
"You okay?" asked Yumi
"I'm fine. Just fine. Couldn't be better." I said
"So, did you go on a date or something?" asked Odd
I glared at Odd for that comment, despite the growing blush on my face.
"Are you in love with someone?" asked Ulrich
"Sh-shut up." I said while turning as red as a brick
"Hey, what's wrong? You don't wanna tell us who you like or something?" asked Taios
"Just buzz off." I said before walking away
"Do we say something wrong?" asked Odd
"Knowing you Odd, you probably just did." Said Sia
I just went into my room, and shut the door. I mean, I know Caleb is Aelita's brother and all, but, well… why can't I stop thinking about him! Maybe I'm… oh, shoot me, just had a Tony Stark in the Avengers moment. I almost forgot to set up the link! Just a few more keystrokes, and… voila!
"I see you finished setting up the connection." Said Caleb
"Yep!" I exclaimed while blushing
"So… uh, what should we talk about?" Caleb asked me while blushing
I just shrugged, while I noticed that Caleb had something on his mind.
"So, uh… about that thing you asked me earlier… wh-where do… you know… want lunch… after I… come back… to Earth?" Caleb asked nervously
I thought about a few places I knew in town that I liked.
"I know a few places in town." I said
"Oh… you can choose the place." Said Caleb
"I think you should choose." I said
"But you asked me, so… you choose." Said Caleb
"Hmm… well, how do you feel about pizza?" I asked
"I love pizza!" exclaimed Caleb
"What's your favorite?" I asked
"Why do you ask?" asked Caleb
"Just curious." I admitted
"I'm sorry but… I'm afraid that I don't remember." Said Caleb
"Oh." I said
"Though, I do love Chinese food too." Said Caleb
"In that case, there's a good Chinese place in town." I said
"I'd love to go there with you once I come back to Earth." Caleb said while smiling
"Me too." I said while smiling
"When I come to Earth again, would you… have a duel with me?" Caleb asked while blushing
"Honestly, I'm not that good of a duelist because I suck at card shuffling unless I'm online, but, with you, I'd be happy to duel!" I exclaimed while smiling
"Really?" asked Caleb
"Really. Whoa! Is that the right time?! It's almost curfew! If G.I. Jim catches me up once its lights out, I'm in big time trouble." I said out of panic
"Oh… I'll talk to you later then." Said Caleb
"Yeah. Bye, for now." I said while smiling
Caleb left the screen, and I closed my laptop. Just as I was about to hit the hay, I saw my diary on the last page. I guess now would be a good time to write out the final diary entry, now that I have what I need to write.
'Dear Diary,
In the two years I've spent in this dimension, I've learned a lot about things I used to take for granted, like friendship, loyalty, family, and how important it is to be you. I admit that I used to take these all for granted, and I was like Mr. Darcy from Price and Prejudice, or Mariam from A Thousand Splendid Suns. I was so focused on the world around me that I forgot about the world in my heart. Being yourself is something that I had to learn again, but with friends like Jeremy, Ulrich, Odd, Yumi, Aelita, Taios, Matt, McKenna, Sia, Rina, and of course, Caleb, I had a lot of people helping me. I'll never forget the friendship they showed me. But, if anything, I learned how it feels to have a broken heart. Matt had feelings for McKenna this whole time, and I was too blind to see it. I'm still trying to get over it, but I don't think my heart is ready for a relationship for a long time. If my soul mate is out there, I'll take it slow before jumping the gun. I already gave the school the explanation about Matt and McKenna, and they had believed me. I'm glad to have friends like the ones I have, and I'm even happier to be a part of such a big family full of friends and a future. Now all that's left is to defeat XANA. If he attacks, the Lyoko Warriors and I will counterattack, until he is gone once and for all. Until then, it's only a matter of time.
Forever yours,
Naomi'
I wrote my name in my signature this time. I got the idea from some old Disney diaries I had when I was a kid. Speaking of diaries, I need a new one. This is the second one I filled. I guess one diary per season, if I'm lucky that is. In any case, it's time for bed. I switched off the lights, and soon fell into a deep sleep.
Done and done! Man, this one took me a while to finish, but I'm finally done! In case you want more info about Detroid434's OC, Caleb, check out his story Code: Heartless. No Kingdom Hearts jokes here, I guarantee. Check out his story and his page, but until then, please review, and until next time, I'm sakuraphoenix, saying I heart you, signing off for now. Kan dao ni!