Chain Of Memories

Chapter 2

When All Seems Lost

"Hiya!"

William.

If anything could make this situation even tenser, it was William.

"Go away, William." Said Aelita, eyes still locked towards Jeremie.

"Oh, well… uh, all right. Just wanted to, uh… um"

Dejection set in on William's face. With shoulders slumped, he slouched away, quick as he came. Ulrich, Odd and Jeremie all stared unbelievingly at Aelita.

… Never had there little princess acted so mean before, and to think Aelita was the one most forgiving to William, after all that had happened.

"Burr!!!" Finally out of that cold, jeez! It's what, only a few weeks into autumn and it's freezing!

These were the thoughts that belonged to Yumi Ishyama as she finally entered the school. Living off campus did have its advantages most of the time, but this had to be one of the cons: the commute; especially this time of year. She was a senior for the love of Krab! Shouldn't she get a car or something? Maybe a moped…no, a moped would not protect her from the cold, it would just add a wind-chill factor… Gah!

These and more pointless thoughts addled the teens mind as she made her way to the cafeteria, knowing that there, her friends would be. Odd, her favorite goofball, Jeremie, or Einstein as he is commonly referred too, Aelita, Pinkette princess, and Ulrich… stoic… brave… boyfriend Ulrich.

"Hiya Yumi"

… and then there's William.

"Oh, Hi Will"

…and he slouched pass, sparing only a glance a sideways glance.

Huh.

Usually, he acts different, what's gotten under his skin? More Importantly… what's going on here?

She had arrived at the table, to find it in complete silence. Everybody seemed to be looking at Aelita, who was only starting to realize what she had just done.

"Okay, what's with everyone this morning, who died?"

Of course, faithful old Odd was the first to supply an answer; although, Yumi would have accepted it without the lame joke attached, just another catch 22 with Odd.

"Princess here just gave the cold shoulder to Will, and I mean it was freezing! Almost as cold as outside!"

Jeremie finally seemed to regain his ability to talk, not believing that Aelita, Princess, had just been so mean.

"Previous conversation aside, that was totally uncalled for. I know we have a rough history with William, I know you didn't get enough sleep last night, but that was just nasty of you."

"Yeah, and aren't you William's little sympathetic anyways?" Said Ulrich. Not without a little bit of venom in his voice, this earned a glare from Jeremie.

Aelita, now fully aware of what just happened, leaned forward, covering her face with her hands. Groaning loudly, she looked up again. Her eyes now decorated with moisture.

"I know, I know! I don't know what came over me!" said Aelita, wiping away tears of frustration.

'Why did I just do that, does proveing that my dreams are real mean that much to me? I feel horrible, why did it have to be William; he's got enough to deal with already.'

The warning bell rung, and the populace of the cafeteria made their way to the door to the main building. Jeremie rubbed her shoulder, knowing what she was thinking.

"Its okay, you've been stressed. You should go apologize during our lunch break"

"He doesn't have our lunch"

"Fine, uh… after classes today, you could catch him at dinner or in the boys dorm, I'll help you if it's the latter"

That sounded like a plan, allowing herself a small smile, she looked at the boy next to her. "Thanks Jeremie".

Miss. Hurtz classes had only gotten harder over the years, Ulrich believed this one to be called 'advanced trigonometry'… or was it calculus? Checking the title of his textbook, he verified it was 'Advanced explorations in Trigonometry'.

Uhhhggggg…

Watching Miss. Hurtz ramble on and on, falling into a daydream about Yumi; that's all Ulrich wished for. Yet due to the events at the breakfast table this morning, a blissful daydream could not come his way. He didn't know why he didn't like William, no… he knew. He also knew that it wasn't a fair reason.

William had a crush on Yumi,

They brought him to Lyoko,

He got possessed by XANA,

XANA used him to destroy Lyoko,

XANA used him to cause them so much grief,

XANA used him to kidnap Aelita so many times,

And even after they finally freed him from XANA's perma-possesion; he got himself possessed again trying to help out. He nearly killed Yumi. Jeremie had explained some theory or another that XANA's original possession made William more susceptible to mind control. Ulrich knew it wasn't his fault, but he didn't care. He knew William had good intentions, but he had done too many bad things in XANA's name. But that was 3 years ago.

Now… he was even worse in Ulrich's eyes.

He was pathetic; he had actually got on his hands and knees and begged Yumi to forgive him after XANA had been destroyed.

He followed them around everywhere, he would do anything, he was a pushover. He even said it out of his own mouth, he felt bad for all that he did. He wanted to make it up to the 5 of us, no matter what.

Apparently, XANA's possession was so traumatizing, combined with his incredible sense of guilt, had shattered William.

The old William was gone, the XANA possessed William was gone. Now, he was just a hunched, pale, ragged, weak, loner who felt no more purpose. Felt so betrayed. Felt so guilty.

He was Pathetic, and Ulrich wanted nothing more then to grab him by his shirt, and scream in his ear to go back to the way he was, to grow up… Unfortunately, Ulrich wasn't enough of a 'people person' to be able to do that. All Ulrich could really do, was watch William waste away. Aelita, if anybody, felt the worst for William, and was the most forgiving. Yet she had just lost her own father, and had her own problems to sort out at the time.

Miss. Hurtz continued to lecture, the clock continued to move impossibly slow, and Ulrich was no closer to a romantic daydream.

William, ever since that day, had been so different. From what little Aelita knew of him, he was a proud, bold, passionate individual. Aelita was there when it happened; she was the one that took him to Lyoko for the first time. She was there, when XANA possessed him; and she was devurtualized by him seconds later.

She knew he was traumatized, she knew how guilty he must feel, she knew what he was trying to do. He was trying to do the right thing, even now.

The doors swung open, and William slouched into the stairwell.

"Hi Aelita… Jeremie," He motioned behind him, towards the boy dorms just behind the door. "...said you needed to talk to me."

This was it

" I do, I wanted to say I'm sorry for this morning, I was stressed and the way I snapped at you was totally uncalled for… and…"

Come on!

"I know, you want to make things right William, but you shouldn't try so hard. We forgive you, it wasn't your fault, it never was your fault. It was all XANA."

…

"I'd like to think that Aelita, I really do, but remember. I remember every single thing that I did to you and your friends. If I wasn't told otherwise, I would have thought I did those things on my own free will… Its scary."

Aelita could imagine, usually people possessed by XANA didn't remember a thing, but then again, William never had an ordinary possession.

"Its admirable that your trying to make up that, but you need to move forward Will, your destroying your life by staying this way. Look to the future."

'Did I just use Jeremie's quote from this morning.'

"No, Aelita"

The look in Williams eyes as he said this; spoke novels of pure determination.

"Not until I set things right"

… "I hope that day comes soon William, nobody wants you to live this sort of life"

William smiled, something that hasn't been seen on his face for a long time. Even if it was a small one.

"Thank you, Aelita. Goodnight."

The tone of voice, the look in his eyes… Yeah, Aelita could tell, this was progress!

"Goodnight William."

The Doors swung open, and William left.

"Well, I think that went well." Said a familiar voice from somewhere above her.

" Although, you could have used something different the my line, that's just plain Ironic." Said Jeremie as he walked down the flight of stairs.

Aelita giggled, its funny how great minds think alike.

"Yeah, I thought it was ironic also, I didn't even realize I was saying it until after I said it"

Jeremie snorted, sometimes Aelita was just too cute. He checked his watch, 9:57, just 3 minuets until Jim called lights out.

"Well, I'm glad you finally got through to him. Hopefully we can have our old William back soon. Anyway, that's it for me. I'm going to bed, we only got 3 minuets till G. I. Jimbo does his rounds."

Turning away, Jeremie felt Aelita tug his arm. Turing around, Aelita caught by surprise with a kiss to the cheek. Blushing like crazy, he managed to stutter out, "w-what was that for?"

"For helping me realize that maybe, it is time to look to the future. Because in our past, both Williams, and mine, we have nothing to gain from holding on to it when all seems lost. We do need to look to the future."

Gathering her courage, she managed to say the last part that she wanted to say for a long time.

"I Hope you're in my future Jeremie."

And with that, she sped away to the girl dorms, blushing madly. Jeremie stood stock still in the Stairwell, processing what had just happened. Finally a huge grin broke across Jeremie's face.

'Aelita… Wow!'

"MOMMY!"

Aelita sat bolt upright, drenched in sweat and tears. Collecting her thoughts, she realized just what had happened. Just what she saw…

'I need to tell Jeremie'

Not even noticing the cold, she left her room.

Yeah! My first real cliffy!

So, How do you like it so far? To little detail? To many spelling mistakes? Come on, 2x4 me. Review!!!!!!!!