Author's Note: Thanks for all the reviews, guys! Really, they mean so much to me. And for everyone who favorited this or story alerted it, thanks. It makes my day. Lol

Dedication: To my younger brother, James. He's not really a big Code Lyoko fan like my sister and I are, but he puts up with us when we watch episodes on Youtube. (We laugh pretty loudly and he never tells us to quiet down.) My brother is the one who suggested that I title this story "Sam" for no reason other than he likes that name. James rocks. Lol

Notes: This chapter takes place roughly two years after chapter two. It's mostly a filler chapter though. That's why it's shorter than the other chapters. I tried to make this funny since there is very little Yumi-Ulrich action. Sorry guys, but a filler chapter was needed in order for me to keep the story heading in the direction I want it to go. Hopefully, you'll all still like it. :)

Also, Académie Suisse is an actual French college. I don't really know much about it except that it's an art school. I thought that would be fitting for Odd.

Their ages are as followed:

Yumi: 21 (junior in college)
Ulrich: 20 (sophomore in college)
Odd: 20 (sophomore in college)
Jeremie: 19 (sophomore in college)
Aelita: 18 (sophomore in college)

Happy readings!


Let me know the way
Before there's hell to pay.

Give me room to lay the law and let me go.
-Fiona Apple, Criminal

How hard would it be to do a return to the past? Sure, the super computer would need to be turned on. And that would run the risk of Xana returning. And the Lyoko warriors would have to reunite across the country to report back to the factory from their colleges. And the world would be in constant danger. Again.

It would be worth it, Yumi decided, anything to turn back time and refuse Peter's request for a date.

Despite the growing boredom, Yumi plastered a smile on her face that she hoped made her look interested in whatever bland topic Peter prattled on about. Cars, was it?

Just a few days ago, Yumi had been gathering her books after an hour long class outlining the effects of World War II on France. Peter Stelmach had approached her, blushing, nervous, and shy, and asked out her out to dinner on the upcoming Friday night.

Yumi had accepted, of course. Peter was a good friend, someone who always had something to contribute to debates during class. He joked easily, had a charming smile, and was an all around nice guy. Not to mention the fact that he was easy on the eyes. Yumi, and most of the other girls in the history class, had been quick to notice his clear green eyes and sandy blonde hair. His rock band tee shirts clung close to his wiry frame, showing the outline of muscles in his back.

Yes, he was definitely a sight to behold, especially in the history class where most of the guys looked like older versions of Herve.

Too bad she didn't know ahead of time that he was as boring as a Creeperwas creepy.

"Yumi?"

Yumi jolted in her seat. Peter stared at her expectantly, his eyebrows raised slightly. A lock of blonde hair fell into his green eyes.

"Oh, I'm sorry, Peter," Yumi quickly said. "I was thinking about, uh, a paper I have due next week. What did you say?"

He nodded, believing her excuse. "I just wondered what you thought of the restaurant. I picked it out especially for you."

Yumi looked around the restaurant. Brightly colored light orbs extended from the ceiling, foreign symbols on fake parchment covered the walls, and jade dragons were the main décor.

It was a Chinese restaurant.

Yumi could have buried her face in her hands. He thought she was Chinese? Anyone who talked to her for more than five minutes had to know she was Japanese!

Trying to keep her breathing steady, she smiled forcefully at Peter.

"It's lovely, really. The food is wonderful," Yumi told him. This time she was not lying, the rice was perfectly cooked.

There was no need to wipe the proud look off his face. He had, at least, tried to make things special for her, and it's the thought that counts, right?

Peter, pleased that he had apparently chosen the right restaurant, continued to eat his food and talk about some comedian who was coming to perform at the college in the upcoming week.

Yumi smiled and tried to covertly sneak a glance at her watch. How long does a girl have to be on a date before she can politely ask to be taken home? Probably longer than half an hour, she dejectedly told herself.


"Well, Yumi? What do you say to ordering some dessert?"

Yumi looked over at him and gave him an expression that she hoped looked apologetic.

"Oh, Peter, I'd love to. But I have a huge paper due next week. I really want to start working on it. My grades really need to improve," she said, feeling slightly guilty as she watched his face fall.

So what if she didn't really have a paper to do? Even Mother Teresa would lie to get out of this boring of a date.

"Well, I guess those are just the breaks, huh?" He smiled regretfully before getting up to find their waiter. Yumi felt a twinge of guilt as he chatted with the waiter in order to pay.

However, about ten minutes into their walk home, the guilt had miraculously disappeared from Yumi's conscience.

Maybe an awkward silence on the way back to the dorms would have been better. Then Yumi wouldn't have to pretend to be interested in his new car. She was just sick and tired of listening to him go on about the motor engine and paint job or whatever it was that he was talking about. Seriously, she didn't think she'd care even if he drove the Batmobile.

After what seemed like a year, they finally reached her dorm door. They stood awkwardly at her entrance while Yumi searched her pockets for her key.

"So, Yumi," Peter started slowly. He cracked his fingers, which Yumi understood to be a nervous habit of his.

"Thanks so much for tonight, Peter. I had a great time," she smiled, looking up at him through her eyelashes.

"Me, too. I was thinking that maybe we could-"

"Actually," Yumi interrupted him before he could ask her out on another date that she was sure would be just as terrible. "I think we're better off staying friends."

She teetered back and forth on her heels, waiting for his response. Disappointment clouded his eyes, but he still smiled down at her.

"If you insist."

Grateful for that the awkward moment was over, Yumi leaned forward to kiss him on the cheek.

"Thanks," she told him sincerely. She gave Peter a small wave as he turned to leave. She watched him walk away, his hands in his pockets and his head hung low before she turned her key in the lock.

Shutting the dorm room door hastilybehind her, Yumi threw her sweater on the floor and collapsed on her bed. After listlessly resting for a long moment, she looked up to see her roommate was no where to be found.

"Probably out with her friends," Yumi spoke into the silence, staring at the empty, unmade bed across the room. A lonely feeling seeped into Yumi's heart as she buried her face under her pillow, wishing the day had ended better.

After a few moments of self pity and wondering if she should drown her sorrows in a chocolate bar that she had stashed in her desk drawer, Yumi remembered she had voice mail. Her phone had vibrated several times throughout the tedious dinner, but out of respect for Peter, she ignored the calls. Pulling her mobile out, she began to listen to her messages.

"Yumi!" Yumi pulled the phone from her ear as Odd's voice boomed from the small electronic device.

"You'll never believe it! Yours truly has been selected to show my movie at Académie Suisse for the Indie Movie Festival!" Frantically, Yumi grabbed a nearby pad of paper and pen from her desk to write down the details of his premiere.

"It's when I get to show off my mad talent. You know you want to be there! Ulrich will be there! -Shut up, Odd! - Oh, Ulrich, give it a rest. Anyway, bye, Yumi! Ow, Ulrich, that hurt!" Yumi smiled at their exchange before realizing that she still had no information as to when the movie would show.

Rolling her eyes, she waited for the next message to play.

"Uh, hi, Yumi. This is Ulrich. Don't listen to what Odd said. Wait! I mean, you should come to his show. But uh, the other stuff, forget about it. Okay, talk to you later."

Exasperated, Yumi threw her hands up in the air. What did it take to get the information she wanted? Her cell phone beeped a third time as the next message started.

"Hello Yumi! How are you? Everything is wonderful here! The weather is so nice. Anyway, I figure Odd called you to tell you his good news. But I also figure that he forgot to let you know the details."

Yumi held the pen to the paper, ready to take notes, thankful that at least one of her friends had sense.

"It'll be next Friday night at Académie Suisse. The show starts at eight, but I'm coming earlier and I'd love it if you did, too. It's been forever since I last saw you! Almost two weeks! Well, hope to see you there."

Yumi finished writing the information down before picking up the phone to call Aelita back. While dialing Aelita's number with one hand, Yumi dug the chocolate bar out of her drawer.

The phone rang a few times before a familiar voice answered. "Yumi? Is that you?"

"Hi, Aelita!" Yumi smiled, glad to hear her best friend's voice. She peeled back the wrapper to her candy bar and inhaled the heavenly scent.

"Yumi!" Aelita squealed excitedly. "How are you?"

"I'm fine," Yumi answered automatically. "Yourself?"

"Oh, just great! Jeremie was over earlier. We wrote our papers on molecular combustions. It was a lot of fun!"

Yumi blinked, unable to comprehend how writing a paper could be fun. Then again, it was Jeremie and Aelita.

"I guess you got my message then?" Aelita continued.

"Yeah, thanks for the information. Odd and Ulrich both called, too, but they neglected to give me any details," Yumi said, rolling her eyes.

"Oh, they can be such boys sometimes, can't they?" The girls giggled for a moment before a comfortable silence fell between them. Yumi took a giant bite of her chocolate bar and immediately felt somewhat better.

"Hey, Yumi?" Aelita's voice sounded hesitant. "You sound a little tired. Is everything okay?"

Sighing, Yumi shifted about on her bed. It seemed like so much to tell Aelita, but she really needed someone to talk to just then. She finished swallowing her mouthful of chocolate before responding.

"Oh, it's nothing. I just went on a date tonight," Yumi said, idly playing with the hem of her shirt.

"Ooh!" Aelita's high pitched squeal startled Yumi. "Who was it? Was he cute? What did you guys do? What did you wear?" The questions were hurled at Yumi and she was slightly fearful of Aelita's exuberance.

"Uh, Peter. Yes. Ate at a restaurant. Jeans, tee-shirt, and a sweater."

"Cute shoes?"

"Chucks."

"Oh." Aelita sounded slightly disappointed and Yumi's eyes narrowed. Not everyone can be as adorable as Aelita. Some girls (like herself ) do better in jeans and Chucks.

"So, his name is Peter? Is this the guy from your history class?" Aelita questioned. Yumi could picture Aelita sitting in her dorm, sprawled out on the bed, trying to figure out Yumi's date.

"Yeah. He asked me out a few days ago and I figured, why not? We went to a Chinese restaurant, so it was no big deal," Yumi answered offhandedly.

"A Chinese restaurant? Oh, I'm so sorry," Aelita gushed understandingly.

"Yeah, well," Yumi trailed off. "It just wasn't meant to be, I guess. The food was alright though." May as well try and find a silver lining about the date.

"So no good night kiss?"

"On the cheek. He's a good friend. But that's all he's going to be."

"Wow," Aelita breathed. "This is like the twelfth date you've had over the past few years. And you've said that about all of the guys!"

Yumi groaned as she realized Aelita spoke the truth. She slumped on her bed, and shut her eyes to keep the light from bothering her. Even another bite of chocolate couldn't save her from this blow.

"Maybe," Aelita began cautiously, "it's time for you and Ulrich to take a chance."

Stiffening on the bed, Yumi let Aelita's words wash over her.

"Uh, Aelita? I have to go. I, uh, have a paper that's due next week. I want to get a head start on it," Yumi fibbed, using the same excuse she had given Peter on their date.

"Oh. Well, if you insist," Aelita answered solemnly. Yumi knew that Aelita did not believe her for a moment and was just allowing Yumi the solitude she now craved. Yumi couldn't find the words necessary to thank her friend for her understanding.

"Yeah. I'll see you next week. I'll come early," Yumi promised.

"Great!" Aelita perked up, making Yumi smile. "See you then!" Yumi heard a click and knew Aelita had hung up. She waited until the dial tone buzzed annoyingly in her ear before shutting off her mobile.

Lazily, she lay on her bed, her phone resting forgotten in her palm. Her other hand slowly brought the last of the chocolate bar to her mouth. The delicious flavor teased her taste buds as it slowly melted in her mouth.

Was it really time for her and Ulrich? Was there ever going to be a time for them? Maybe there was a reason why Yumi could never click with any guy she dated. Maybe it was true that Ulrich was the only guy she would ever connect with in her entire life.

The bed seemed to sway under her, and she gripped her gray comforter as she teetered along dangerous thoughts.

If Ulrich truly was the only one for her, was she alright with that? Did she feel as though she was missing anything in her life? A few years ago, she told Ulrich that she wanted to see other people and live her life. She hadn't wanted to be tied down to Ulrich or to have him tied down to her.

But as she looked at it, he had been right all along. They wouldn't have been tied down to each other. They would have belonged to each other, been happy with each other. They would have smiled, told each other they loved one another.

All those boring dates, all the wasted hours that Yumi could have spent with Ulrich instead. These thoughts were not dangerous, she realized. They were right, they felt comfortable. Everything made so much more sense to her as though an invisible hand had swept across her thoughts and removed all her painful confusion.

Her grip loosened on the comforter and she turned on her side. Playing with the ends of her hair thoughtfully, she knew it had been love at first sight.

Chuckling quietly, she corrected herself. It had been love at first fight.

Without getting up from the bed, she tossed the candy wrapper in the direction of the waste basket. Her eyelids drooped sleepily and her last conscious thought before she fell into blissful slumber was that she would see Ulrich next weekend and tell him how she felt.

What I need is a good defense
'Cause I'm feeling like a criminal,
And I need to be redeemed
To the one I've sinned against
Because he's all I ever knew of love.
-Fiona Apple, Criminal


And there you go! Chapter three has been completed! Now you know why I gave this story such a cheesy title. lol

I hope everyone enjoyed that. It's going to have to last you a while because I don't know how long it's going to be until chapter four gets posted. I'm not finished writing that one and once I do finish, I need to send it off to my beta reader. Sorry guys, but you might have to wait a little longer for chapter four. :(

In the mean time, you should check out my new oneshot, Scar. It's a YxU fic and it's pretty good, if I do say so myself. Also, What You Probably Didn't Know has been updated recently.

Please review! And go have some fun today.