This is a really long chapter!
Hope it was worth waiting for!
No Matter What They Say
Chapter 2: Odd's love
"Um …," Ulrich and Yumi said as they saw what was going on in the room. Ulrich scratched the back of his head.
"Yumi! Ulrich! Um… I didn't realize you were h-here," Aelita said quickly breaking out of the kiss and stepping back. "It's-it's not what you think!"
"Um, I think I better here the story from the beginning," Yumi said and folded her arms and sat on Aelita's bed. Ulrich closed the door.
"Well, after the fight with Jeremie I ran to my room. Then Odd came and calmed me down. He was holding me, telling me not to worry," Aelita said blushing, "and I fell asleep in his arms. I woke up the next morning, and there he was. Don't ask what happened at night. I was asleep the whole time."
Yumi looked to Odd. "What do you think I am, a perv? I didn't do anything," Odd said defensively. "I wouldn't do anything. It's Aelita."
"I believe you, Odd," Aelita said. "Then Jeremie came and knocked on the door and found us together. Then I pushed past him, angrily, and we went to breakfast. Then he-he-he…" Aelita started to cry. "I didn't do anything. Odd was there for me. More than Jeremie has ever been. And he… he just…" She took a deep breath and wiped her tears. "Then after that happened I came back to my room, angry at him. Odd walked in and I was mad. Odd pulled me to him. I tried to break away, but he held me tight. I knew he was not going to let me hurt myself. It was a good thing he was here. Then, while he was calming me down, he said he loved me and kissed me."
"Oh, Aelita, don't cry," Yumi said and came over to her. She hugged her. "Jeremie shouldn't have done that. You did nothing wrong."
"Go away. Please, just go away!" Aelita yelled.
"Aelita, what's wrong?" Ulrich asked.
"Just go away! I need to think! Stop!" Aelita yelled and pushed Yumi away. Odd walked to the door and opened it. He walked back down the hall and up the stairs to Jeremie's room. Jeremie was just getting back. Odd stopped him before he got in his room.
"Did you enjoy that!?" Odd yelled. "Do you like hurting Aelita?! I thought you were supposed to like Aelita."
"Oh, and what were you doing in Aelita's room last night? Studying? Yeah, more like studying her," Jeremie shouted back.
"Is that what you think? I would never do that to Aelita. You know that," Odd said.
"Do I? This whole time I thought you liked her. I know you like her, Odd. Get over her. Just stay off my property," Jeremie said.
"She's not your property! The way you treat her is cruel!"
------m------
Ulrich and Yumi walked out of Aelita's room and closed the door.
"If I know Odd, he's probably going to go and get in a fight with Jeremie," Ulrich said quickly.
"We'll we've got to go stop them!" Yumi said and ran for the stairs.
"The way you treat her is cruel!" Odd shouted and leaped at Jeremie. They started to fight, rolling on the ground.
"Stop! Odd! Jeremie!" Yumi shouted and grabbed Jeremie. Ulrich grabbed Odd. Soon they got them both off the floor. They stood facing each other. Ulrich still had to hold Odd who was ready to lunge at Jeremie at any minute. Yumi let go of Jeremie as soon as they got separated.
"Odd, cool it!" Ulrich said. Just then Aelita ran past crying. "See. Aelita must have seen you fighting."
Odd broke free from Ulrich. "You see what you do! You son of a bitch," Odd said through gritted teeth. "Aelita started crying twice in her sleep because of you. She thought nobody loved her. She thought nobody cared about her. She called herself stupid because of your fault. She might have killed herself this morning because of what you said at breakfast if I hadn't come in. If you hurt Aelita like that again, I'll hurt you. I'm not joking." Odd stomped off. Jeremie looked wide eyed.
'Wow, he really does love Aelita,' thought Ulrich.
"Come on, I wasn't that harsh," Jeremie said.
"Come on, Ulrich. Let's go," Yumi said and grabbed his hand. Jeremie is so inconsiderate.
Ulrich and Yumi walked toward Odd and put there arms around him. He just shrugged them off and ran off.
------m------
Aelita was in her room, crying. Jeremie's so mean. How could he do that? I can't even talk to him anymore. She lied on her bed sidewise crying into her hands. She only had one thing on her mind. Odd. He's just so…sweet. He was the only one there for me. I just …can't be with him. I'm not sure if I love him. He kissed me. I know he loves me. She wiped her tears away. She walked out of her room and ran into Sissi.
"Oh, Aelita. I didn't see you. Did you here the news?" Sissi said excitedly.
"No," Aelita said softly.
"Since its summer, Daddy arranged that our whole grade should go on a class trip to the mountains. It'll be at a ski resort. Won't that be fun!?" Sissi said and ran off.
"That'll be loads of fun. It might even get my mind off of everything that's happened," She said to herself.
------m------
Jeremie is so stupid! He thinks that Aelita is his property! I mean what is he thinking?! Odd walked outside towards the park. He sat on a bench near the middle. He lied down on the bench and took a nap since he was tired from staying up so late with Aelita.
------m------
"Ulrich, did you hear Odd? He was so mad at Jeremie, it wasn't even funny," Yumi said walking with Ulrich.
"Yeah. Who knew he could get that mad?" Ulrich asked.
"You can tell he really loves her. I just feel sorry for Aelita. She must have a million and one things going through her head at the same time."
"He really does love her. Just like I love you," Ulrich said.
"I know, the only thing is…does Aelita love Odd?" Yumi asked.
"After all that, I know she doesn't like Jeremie. I mean, look what he did to her. It's one thing to miss something so important, but another to go and make her feel bad by talking about her and Odd. By the way, Odd must be feeling pretty bad too. I mean, Jeremie must have thought Odd…you know…did it with Aelita. He's got to be feeling awful," Ulrich said.
"I know Odd would never do that. Not to Aelita. Not after what happened between her and Jeremie. Not when she was feeling bad," Yumi said.
"Yeah, but that's what Jeremie would think. He'll do it to her when she's the most vulnerable," Ulrich said.
"Yeah, but you and I both know it's not true. Aelita believes Odd. That's good enough for me," Yumi said quickly.
------m------
Aelita was out walking around just for a bit of fresh air when she saw Odd sleeping on the bench in the park. She knelt down next to him and brushed her fingers through his hair. What am I doing? She got up and started to walk away when Odd woke up.
"Hey, Aelita," Odd said in a rather gloomy way, that it seemed unnatural for him.
"Oh, Odd," Aelita said and burst into tears and fell on her knees next to the bench.
"Aelita," Odd said and pulled her up onto the bench and placed her head on his chest. "You need to stop doing this." He brushed his fingers through her hair.
"Odd, I can't," Aelita said in between sobs and gasps for breath. She looked up to Odd. Odd could see the pain in her eyes. He saw her crying. He also saw something he rarely saw in her eyes…fear. Aelita stared at him crying, not even afraid to show her emotions anymore.
"Aelita, I'm here for you. Don't be afraid," Odd said. "I want you to know I love you. I just don't know if you love me."
This is a good time to tell him. "Um…, Odd," Aelita said wiping her tears from her face and looking at him, "we are going to be going on a class trip this summer. It's to the mountains. A ski resort, to be exact. Sissi told me. I don't know that much about it."
It sounds like she's avoiding my question. "Oh, that'll be fun. I hope to hear more about it," Odd said gloomily. "I'm…um….well…" He scooted Aelita off his lap and stood up. "I'm gonna go to lunch. You don't have to come," he said and walked off toward the cafeteria.
"I'm coming with you!" Aelita yelled after a moment of hesitation. She ran after him.
------m------
"Attention! Attention!" Mr. Delmas shouted. Odd, Yumi, Ulrich, and Aelita were all sitting around their lunch table. "I'd like to inform you all that since it its summer holiday, we will be allowing anyone in the 5th -9th grades to go on a summer holiday trip to the mountains." People started to talk with each other.
"See, Odd," Aelita whispered.
"Settle down," Mr. Delmas started. Everyone quieted down. "This is a wonderful opportunity. Tonight at 8, the 5th-9th grades should come to the Gymnasium. You will all write down a list of 4 to 10 people you would like to be in your group. I am not saying they will all be in your group but there is a possibility. Most groups will be 6 to 8 people. Are there any questions?"
"How long will the trip last?" a 6th grader asked.
"For 5th-7th graders it will be all of June. For 8th-9th graders it will be all of June and July. Any other questions?"
"Um…what will we be doing?" a 7th grader asked.
"This trip is for your enjoyment. You can go skiing. You can go ice skating. You can go to some of the dances. You can go hiking. You can even just stay around the lodge. It's your choice. Just remember to pack warm clothes for however long you'll be staying. You also need parents or guardian signature in order to go."
"Mr. Delmas, for our groups, can they be boys and girls?" a 9th grader asked.
"I don't mind, as long as you all agree. We'll take a vote," Mr. Delmas said. "All in favor of just girls and just boys raise your hand." A bunch of 5th grade girls and boys raised their hands but not many others. "Ok and all in favor of coed groups raise your hand." Everyone else raised their hand. "Ok, we'll have coed groups. That is all." Mr. Delmas left.
"This'll be great," Aelita said quickly.
"Are you sure, Aelita? Will you be ok?" Yumi asked quickly.
"Oh, sure. I need something to help me get Jeremie off my mind. I'll be great," she said. "So, who do you want in your group?"
"Um…I haven't really thought of it," Yumi replied.
"We'll I know I want all of you in my group," Ulrich said. "And as much as I hate to say this, I think I'm gonna have to put down the clone. We all do. There is no way William we be fine without us."
"Yeah, you've go a point, Ulrich," Odd said. "As much as I hate the clone, we've got to put him on our list."
"Hi, guys," Jeremie said sitting down next to Odd. Odd and Aelita quickly got up. "What's their problem?"
"Um…I don't know, maybe it's the fact that you insulted them," Ulrich said. "I don't blame them."
"Did you here about the trip?" Yumi asked.
"Oh, yeah, I did. My dad already called saying it was ok for me to go. He called the office," Jeremie said.
"I gotta go," Yumi said as she got up. "Ulrich, you coming?"
"Sure." Ulrich got up and left Jeremie to eat on his own again.
------m------
"Mom, would it be ok if I went on a trip over the summer?" Yumi asked her mom later that day.
"How long is it, Yumi?" Mrs. Ishiyama asked from the kitchen.
"Oh, mom! I get to go, too!" Hiroki said coming down the stairs. "It's all of June!"
"Oh, that'll be fine," she replied.
"I get to stay through July," Yumi said quickly. "The older kids stay longer."
"That'll be fine. You never seem to spend much time at home during the summer anyway."
"Thanks!" Yumi shouted and ran out the door.
------m------
"Um…Hi, Mom. You know how you only get to see me like twice every year," Odd started. He was talking on his cell phone. "Well, this summer we'll be taking a trip to the mountains. Can I go? Um…how long? Till July. Wait…Wait…I'll still be home all of August. I can!? Thanks!" He hung up.
"So you got permission," Ulrich said. "I can't wait to ask my parents," he said sarcastically. He started talking in an imitation of his dad. "'So, you want to go on a ski trip instead of visit.' Well yeah. 'You can't go.' But… Then he'll hang up on me. I'll love the conversation."
"Oh, come on, Ulrich. Just call him," Odd said.
"No."
"Come on," Odd said and took his cell phone.
"Hey, Odd, give it back!" Ulrich shouted and chased him around the room. Odd searched through Ulrich's contact list and clicked on 'Mom'.
"It's ringing!"
"Odd!" Odd threw the phone to Ulrich as his mom picked up. "Hi, Mom." Ulrich gave Odd a 'your dead' look.
"Hi, Ulrich," Mrs. Stern replied. "I haven't heard from you in a while."
"Can I go on a trip this summer? It will be till July," Ulrich said getting to the point.
"I don't see why not," Mrs. Stern said and sighed. "You never seem to come home anyway."
"Thanks."
"How have you been doing?" Mrs. Stern asked.
"Fine."
"You sound like you have someone on your mind," she said curiously. "Is it a girl?"
"MOM!" Ulrich said and turned red. Odd heard the question and grabbed the phone from Ulrich's hand.
"Hi, Mrs. Stern."
"Hello, Odd," She replied.
"Give it!" Ulrich said and chased Odd around the room as he talked to his mom.
"Has Ulrich being thinking of someone special lately?" Mrs. Stern asked. "A girl someone?"
"You must mean, Yumi. Yeah he thinks about her every day," Odd said quickly as he was being followed by Ulrich who finally got him and took back the phone.
"Ignore him!" Ulrich said quickly into the phone.
"Who's this Yumi? Ulrich, what's she like?" Mrs. Stern asked quickly.
Odd took the phone. "She's Japanese and she's a grade older than him!" Odd shouted.
Ulrich took the phone. "Ignore him."
"She's a year older? Aren't you setting you sights to high?" she said.
"Mom. Stop it! I'll call you later. Bye." He hung up. "ODD!"
"What? I had to do it! I needed to get back to being my normal self. You know. You'll get over it," he said. "Let's go find you're girlfriend!" Odd ran out of the room.
"ODD!"
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