Post-production note: This series was started before season 1 was over and the 11th sequel was completed as season 2 ended, so to keep from messing up the little alternate universe I created w/ my OC I decided to base everything on season 1. In other words, don't bug me about things not happening that way or whatever b/c I know it.

1-1: Cousin

This is my first attempt at submitting fanfics, so be gentle in your criticism. The only one I own is Janika, the others belong to that French thingie yadda yadda yaddah... Hope you enjoy the story.

(((-1-)))

Janika crossed and uncrossed her legs nervously. She had only met her cousin a few times in the past and now she would practically be living with her. Until her own separating parents decided who would take custody of her, anyway.

"If they do at all," she grumped.

She seemed to be the wedge between them for nearly two months now. The more she had tried to help, the less they had acknowledged it. Even when she had backed off they seemed to blame her for everything. Why is it her sister was never blamed for anything? Maybe that's just how popular kids were, even at home. They got all the attention and everyone doted on them, not like Janika.

Idly she doodled a cheetah into her notebook, wishing she had her laptop. That was the one thing that had kept her sane during the long days in a house of constant turmoil and upheaval. Her computer provided the perfect opportunity to be creative and vent her frustrations in chat rooms and the like.

The bus slowed and finally came to a jerking halt. Janika closed the notebook and put her pencil behind her ear. Everyone was lining up and the teenager reluctantly joined the milling throng. She stepped down the ramp and looked around.

"Yoo-hoo! Nika, over here!" her cousin's familiar voice called as the girl wove her way toward Janika. "We got your luggage yesterday. It's at your dorm already and my father has your school records, but he said there were some problems with them so you won't be able to start attending school until next week."

"Thanks Sissy. It's really nice of your family to take me in. It seems like no matter what I do I get in trouble."

"Cuz, you don't know anything. Trouble is my middle name! Now come on. I've got to take you shopping. You look like a rag doll with that braid down your back. This is the 21st century, you know. Oh yeah, these guys are Herb and Nicholas."

Sissy talked nonstop the whole time. The two boys tried to talk too, but couldn't seem to find any gap in her one-way conversation to get a word in edgewise. It was a relief to finally reach her dorm room. Janika asked about any computer clubs the school might have, but Sissy told her there were only two people in the whole school interested in them: Herb and some kid named Jeremy.

Janika gulped and told Herb she'd rather not let him near her computer. Something about him gave her the willies. But when Sissy described Jeremy as a dweeb and a goofball, she became interested. Apparently he had a computer in his room with programs he had designed himself.

She quickly ushered them out of her room and found her laptop. In less than ten minutes she had broken into the school's computer system. Her fingers worked furiously as she looked for anyone by the name of Jeremy. There were two. She found their extracurricular activities and was surprised to discover that only one had any at all. His grades were passable, but he didn't seem to have anything to do with computers. She brought up his picture. He didn't look like a dweeb, and Sissy said he was blonde. The other's photo popped up onscreen and Janika quietly congratulated herself. Phone number...room number...mailbox...everything.

She went to his floor right above her own and sat in the hall, reading a book called Eragon. It wasn't half bad. Twenty minutes later she was rewarded. A different blonde kid who looked a bit like a fruit-loop showed up and knocked on the door. He cast a curious glance her direction but she pretended to be busy reading. Jeremy answered.

"We were wondering if you'd like to go out with us for pizza. Ulrich and Yumi are waiting outside." This was better than she had imagined. He was leaving his room!

"Sure, Odd." Even his voice was dorky. "I was just talking with Aelita and everything's fine. I guess I could take some time off." Jeremy grabbed something inside and then stepped out into the hall to lock his door.

Janika quickly stood and pretended to slip. Her bookbag hit the floor and papers went flying. The two kids turned as books and papers skittered about their feet. Both of them bent down to help her as she apologized, red-faced. "Gee, I'm so sorry. I've always been a klutz."

The strange boy picked up a paper filled with cheetah drawings. "What's this?"

Now Janika's flush was real. She snatched it out of his hands and stuffed it inside her bag. "Nothing."

Jeremy handed her back the books she had dropped and she thanked him. "Don't mention it. Hey, you don't look familiar. Are you new here?"

"Sort of. I was just waiting for someone on this floor." For someone like him to leave his room unguarded.

"Oh. Well, guess we'll be seeing you."

"Sure." She watched as they left and smiled. The ploy had worked: he hadn't locked his door.

Let me just stress it right here and now that I am not going to explain the whole Lyoko business to those readers who are irresponsible enough to just jump into the mix without doing a bit of research first. That includes you, David!