I don't own Code Lyoko
Winds of Change by Ransomed Heart
Sissi Delmas could feel the sun warming her skin, a feeling she was acutely aware of at the moment. It was something to focus on besides the boy sitting next to her. It was silly to be so shy around a boy in her third year of high school, but still Sissi could not seem to bring herself to look at him.
She had always loved him. It went beyond his looks, beyond that fact that many girls seemed to love him. He had always been unobtainable. He had shunned her, mocked her, and crushed her heart in his fist time and again. Yet she still loved him.
Why was this so hard now? For years she had proclaimed her love for him openly. Now that she finally had his attention, why couldn't she seize opportunity?
"I...I.." She choked on the words. She wasn't even sure what she was trying to say. I love you? No, that wasn't it.
Her hands, pale and sweating, though not from the heat, clenched around her jeans, grasping at the material like a lifeline. This shouldn't be so difficult!
But it was. All the rejection had stripped her emotionally. Acceptance was all she wanted, all those years. Now all she had to do was reach out and take it. One moment of honesty, with no pride or foolish words to tie her down.
She glanced up for a second, catching his eye and seeing concern there. Of course he was concerned, she was babbling like an idiot. She had asked to talk to him, taken him away from his group, sat down on his bench with him and suddenly the speech she had all worked out in her head and fled from her.
"Are you okay?"
The words caught her off guard. Okay? He cared?
Snapping her head up, Sissi was able to look Ulrich in the face. His words seemed to propel her, and she nodded.
"Yes, I'm fine." She paused again, taking an audible gulp of air. He was staring her in the eyes, taking her words seriously for perhaps the first time since the day they had met.
"Um..I was wondering..Would it be okay if I hung out with you guys this afternoon? We could all go see a movie or something." He raised his eyebrows. "My treat, and no funny business, I promise," she added hastily, looking back down at her lap as she turned slightly red.
Ulrich considered for a moment, the long pause sound almost painful to Sissi. Finally he leaned back on the wooden bench, sighing slightly. "We really have changed, haven't we?"
Sissi started slightly at the question, but nodded after considering. "I guess four years is a long time."
"Yeah, it is. You don't have to pay for us to see a movie, though. We have jobs, we can pay our own way. What do you want to see?"
His words stunned her, and she looked up to see a sincere smile on Ulrich's face. Returning it hesitantly, Sissi began to offer suggestions.