A New Friend
Chapter 4
The New Guy
Disclaimer: I said I don't own it!
"The effect of different chemicals on the color of flames is produced due to…" The Lyoko warriors listened to Mrs. Hertz drone on and one about randomness no one but Jeremy seemed to care about.
"Excuse me Mrs. Hertz." The voice of the principal called out from the hallway, where every head in the classroom instantly turned, desperate for any measure of interest.
The principal walked in briskly, followed casually by a young man who everyone assumed was a new student.
"Students, please welcome your new classmate, Michalys Falkrone." He said formally, which inspired an eye roll from most students.
"Please make him welcome, he recently moved here from the United States on a scholarship."
This normally would have prompted a whisper of 'nerd' from the less mature in the room, but most were in silence to the appearance of the new student.
He was tall, and very lanky, with narrow limbs and hard, wiry muscles indicating a regularity of hard work. He had long, blond hair, surrounding a face with high cheekbones and bright blue eyes. He wore a black long sleeve button down with the sleeves rolled up, tennis shoes, and dark jeans.
Most of the girls in the room were staring him down in a manner similar to one starving given a large steak, while the guys were glaring at the potential competition.
"Very well, mister Falkrone, you can get a spare seat from the back and join in with one of the tables." Said Mrs. Hertz, looking around noticing the lack of space.
"Mister Belpois, could you come with me please?" the principal said as he began to move out of the room.
Jeremy gave a quizzical look, but quickly moved to follow the principal. The new student moved to the back and picked up one of the uncomfortable lab chairs with one hand, which he then carried unerringly to the table which now had only Aelita.
"Mind if I sit with you guys." He asked easily.
"I don't mind, no." She said with a deadpan voice that easily matched his casual interaction.
He placed his chair by her, not so close as to be uncomfortable, but close enough to reach out and touch her.
"In case the principal didn't manage to inform you, or you decided to ignore him as I prefer to, my name Michalys." He held out his hand which she took, laughing slightly as his no nonsense comment.
"I'm Aelita, Aelita Stones."
"Good to meet you," he said with a smile, "and I take it the one who left is Jeremy Belpois."
"Yes," she said, surprised, "but how did you know that."
He grinned at her slyly, "I'm his new roommate."
The gang all sat together at a lunch table the next day, discussing the new kid and the… interesting… developments he brought with him.
"Well, I vote we just tie him up naked in the gym so he'll leave." Odd suggested.
"Odd, for the hundredth time, that's not a good idea." Ulrich said.
"I'll say," Michalys said casually as he sat down among them, between Jeremy and Aelita, to their annoyance, "for one, you'd have to make sure I wouldn't wake up."
"No we wouldn't," Odd said jokingly, while the others were still stunned into silence by his silent and sudden appearance, "all of us together would be able to keep you quiet easily."
Michalys laughed, "Good luck with that, there's a reason I keep a machete down the side of my mattress."
"Weapons are prohibited on school property." Jeremy said loftily.
"So is sneaking out in the middle of the night to see your 'girlfriend', or would-be one anyway." Michalys said sarcastically.
This put both Aelita and Jeremy to glaring at him, "I don't know what you're talking about." They said, almost simultaneously.
"Sure, just tell me when and if you get the guts to go out on an actual date. I personally want to film the reaction." He sent a piercing look in Aelita's direction, saying quite clearly that he knew exactly what her reaction would be.
Aelita shifted uncomfortably in her seat, feeling uncomfortable with the fact she was sure he had her pegged. Because ever since the false kiss with the Polymorph, and her subsequent experimental kiss with him, she knew for a fact she would stumble and stutter over her answer… and then say no.
Not that she didn't still like Jeremy, but her ardor had cooled soon into a simple comradeship. She was unwilling to talk to him, and risk their friendship, but she would if it became necessary.
Meanwhile, the other three seemed to be enjoying the new guy more and more, his explicit teasing of the pair a refreshing change from the usual vague and simplistic taunts.
"Wait 'til you get to see these two," Odd said, inclining his head towards Yumi and Ulrich, "when they get going, it's enough to make you sick."
"Oh, I'm sure I'll have my chance to see that," he said smugly, "Jim is apparently teaching us the more advanced forms of kickboxing this afternoon."
They groaned, none louder than Ulrich and Yumi, who would undoubtedly get paired together and end up face to face breathing hard on the floor.
"So," he said, with an evil grin, "shall we go, I can't wait to get started."
