Disclaimer: I do not own Code Lyoko.

Rating: G

Warnings: None at the moment.

Chapter: 1/5

Pairings: Hints of one-sided OA and UY

Author's Note: I saw the episode that I forgot the name of a couple of weeks ago. The one where Jer "learns to have an open mind" and this fic popped into my head. Yay. Be afraid people, be very afraid.

Dedication: To Rae who spent two and a half days painting my room with me and listening to me babble fic-ideas and novel-ideas off of her. I am eternally grateful to her and she better realize that.

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"Can you believe how fast rumors get spread around this school?"

I glance up in mild interest as Odd storms in, throwing his jacket onto his desk (he misses by about a foot, not that he cares) and collapses onto his bed. Kiwi is jostled off of it and he comes scurrying over to jump onto mine, settling down near my feet. There's a fleeting ticklish sense as his fur brushes my bare feet and the bed shifts slightly before settling in.

I continue to watch my roommate as he fumbles in a drawer for his headphones, plugging them into his iPod and falls back onto the pillow. His head crashes against the wall but all he does is utter a swift, soft curse. His eyes are closed and his feet are jerking to the rhythm of whatever it is he's listening to. I watch for a few more minutes before losing interest. Apparently he's said all that he wants to say on whatever it is he's upset with.

My eyes return to the novel I had set aside at his loud entrance. It's large, heavy, and something I would admittedly never read unless forced to. Which is the case at the moment. The Grapes of Wrath. Not bad but certainly not something I'd be willing to reread unless it's reassigned in another Literature class. I pick up the book once more, noting that I'm only three chapters in and I should be at least halfway through the entire thing. I've just located my place when Odd makes a loud, frustrated noise and pulls off the headphones.

"Is there something on your mind?" I ask finally.

"No. Yes. I don't know." He groans, sitting up and Kiwi lifts his head, probably judging whether or not it's safe to return. I don't recommend it quite yet. "I just can't imagine how fast rumors spread is all."

"Claire spreading rumors again then?" I ask. It's a usual occurrence, Odd claims she's still smarting over him dumping her. If I remember correctly though she's the one who dumped him. Not that I'll actually bring that bit of memory up around him anytime soon.

"Yeah, but those aren't the ones I'm referring to." He has my attention now and I gratefully shove the book aside, turning to face him. He understands and stretches out, glaring out the window. "It's not my fault, okay? I…couldn't help it and we needed to do something to keep those two bumbling idiots from finding Lyoko." His eyes are earnest as they look at me. "You understand that, right?"

I have a feeling that I know precisely where this is going and nod. If it's what I'm thinking then I understand perfectly well.

"She was happy to comply, to save the secret and all of that jazz. It's Jer that got all ticked off over it but no one else cared and we made it look like Nick and Herve had been seeing stuff that night. No problem what-so-ever then, right?"

So it is about the kiss. "Right," I agree.

"Well, it looks like Jer can't keep his mouth shut. Claire overheard him complaining to Yumi about it and now she's gone and spread rumors that I'm dating my cousin and it's all over the whole bloody school!" He looks like he's ready to kill someone and I sigh.

"Odd, it'll pass, really. Don't worry about it. You just have to learn to ignore it, that's what I do with the rumors involving Sissi and I."

"You don't understand Ulrich! It's not really the rumors, well it is and it isn't," I usually tune him out when he starts babbling, "but there's something else too. I enjoyed it. I enjoyed kissing her and I would do it again. I love spending time with her because she's so different than anyone else around here."

Well, that's a given seeing as how everyone else is actually from this world. And anyway, plenty of people could see that Odd and Aelita flirted more than was probably socially acceptable for cousins. "Did you tell this to her?"

"Are you kidding? Of course I didn't. But I can't stop thinking about her, no matter what I do, who I dated since then. I almost wish we could do a return to the past just so I could kiss her again. I don't know why. But I can't do anything about it because Jer is a friend and I won't take his girl away from him. I'm not like that…"

"Odd, stop and listen to your self. Aelita is her own person she can decide for her self who she wants to date and who she doesn't. Jer can't control her decisions and neither can you. Tell her what you think or feel or whatever and that's that."

"Is that what you did with Yumi?" I glare and he smirks. "Oh, wait, that's right. You two are still dancing around your feelings." He heaves a sigh and I contemplate throwing the book at him. I'm afraid it might get lost in his hair though. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't be taking it out on you…it's just. We're supposed to be cousins and she's supposed to be dating my friend. I'm not supposed to be falling in love with her."

I look at him and see the dark shadows under his eyes, see the regret shining from the green and realize that he really is beating himself up over this. I sigh, offering him a small smile. "We can't help who we fall in love with Odd. And maybe she feels the same way as you do." He snorts at this and I shake my head as he reaches for the iPod and I reach for the book. "You need to take a chance Odd. That's the only way you'll find out."

"Shut up Mr. Sensibility," he grumbles, putting the headphones in. I know he appreciates it though, and I know he's contemplating it. He just has to decide on his own if he really wants to pursue it.