Chapter 4

Aelita walked along after lunch. XANA caused a minor problem which they had taken care of, but the attack had taken enough time that they would have been late to class. Because of the threat from Jim during lunch, they had done a return to the past. Now it was just before gym class and they had gone to the locker room to get changed.

"So evidently those two at lunch were not part of XANA's attack because they still came to lunch in this timeline. Who do you think they were?"

Jeremie shrugged. "I have no idea who they were, but the girl knew Sissi and she seemed to know Chris and most of the teachers."

Odd looked at Jeremie. "So this is the first time in how long that you've joined us for gym class?"

"Well, I didn't have much of a choice after that threat that was given when we tried to leave the cafeteria the first time around," Jeremie replied.

Once inside the gymnasium, they noticed the girl standing with Jim. The two of them seemed to be in the middle of a friendly conversation.

Getting closer, they could hear the conversation. "Yeah, well, I thought I would hang around here for a bit. All the French was going to Andros's head, so he went back to our hotel to lay down and, if I know him, probably to do some paperwork."

"You seem to have caught yourself a good one, though, Ashley, I'm impressed, especially because after your mother's death, you seemed a bit withdrawn. The only ones you ever talked to were Chris or your sister," Jim replied.

"Yeah, well, I am still going to have to yell at that husband of mine when I get back. He sometimes doesn't know how to separate from his work, and he told me that this vacation would just be for relaxation and trying to break through my barriers to things that I didn't like to talk about." Ashley sighed.

"Barriers? Ashley, whyever would you not want to talk about your past?" Jim asked.

"I don't know, maybe it has to do with the fact that my father pretty much abandoned me on my aunts doorstep never to hear from him again? But please, Jim, I would rather not go there right now, especially where it seems some of your students have arrived for class," Ashley said, wiping the edge of her eyes.

Jim turned to see the four of them standing there. "Well, will, miracles never cease to happen today. First one of my favorite star pupils from ten years ago returns and then Jeremie Belpois actually turns up for class.."

Odd smiled. "So Jim, how come you never talk about your past?"

"I well, I don't always think… hey, wait a minute, you were listening in our conversation! Odd, I still can think about changing your class schedule. The semester is still young."

"Okay, okay. Jim, take a chill pill for a minute. I was just asking." Odd smirked.

"Well, one day your asking is going to get you into trouble. Now on the double go get changed for gym class, or did you think that I would allow you to participate in your regular clothes?" Jim yelled.

A little while later after they had changed, they were sitting on the floor waiting for Jim to give them directions.

"Alright, class. Today we will have two groups. We are going to work with the gymnastic equipment while another group works with my friend here, who has kindly offered to help me today, does flips and cartwheels," Jim said, waving the visitor over to his side. "I would like you to meet Ashley Hopper – Hammond. Back over ten years ago, she was a fifth and sixth grader here at the academy, and I am proud to say in that day she the prize pupil of her class."

"Hello" Ashley smiled and introduced herself. "It's a pleasure to meet you all, and having been asked to help out for your class is a wonderful surprise to me because in the years I spent at other schools, I believe that I got a far better education here."

After hearing that Ashley had been introduced with the name Hopper, Aelita had gone very pale. Jeremie looked at her and frowned. "Aelita? Are you alright?"

When he didn't get a response from her, he raised his arm, "Uhh Jim? I don't think Aelita is feeling all that well. Would it be alright if I take her to the infirmary?"

"Jeremie, is this another ploy to get out of gym class? Because even if it isn't I am not letting you leave class."

"Jim, I will take her. I just realized I forgot my own wrist wraps so I need to go see if I can borrow some." Ashley smiled.

"Well, if you're sure, Ashley."

Jeremie leaned over to Ulrich. "You heard Jim. I can't go and I don't want to trust this Ashley person with Aelita too long, XANA could be masking his towers again and she could be in his control after all. I am sure it will be fine, but please just can you make an excuse to go with her?"

"Excuse me, Jim? I have a headache, could I please go to the infirmary?" Ulrich said, wincing while rubbing his temple to make it believable.

"Yes, Stern, just make sure you come back as soon as your headache is gone." Jim grunted as Ulrich got up and walked out with Aelita and Ashley.

Ashley turned and smiled. "Do you really have a headache?"

"Uhh, of course I do. Why do you think I would ask to go to the infirmary? Are you calling me a liar?" Ulrich protested.

"No, I am not calling you a liar. I was just wondering because if you were I wouldn't blame you. I couldn't believe all the nice things Jim said about me back there because when I was a student, he really couldn't stand me and I couldn't stand him. I was always looking for an excuse to get away from his class." Ashley smiled. "Although I loved spending time with his nephew, who was my older sister's boyfriend."

Aelita walked along lethargically and barely noticed the conversation the two were having.

"Ashley, you seemed a little sad when you talked about your sister. Would you mind telling me about her?" Ulrich asked curiously.

"Well, I don't really like talking about it, but if you really want to know she was my best friend after our mother died. But for some reason my father abandoned me with my aunt and I never heard from either one of them again." Ashley frowned. "You know, Aelita, she looked just like you and her name was even Aelita. When I saw you run through the park this morning, I thought you were her but I can tell you have a much different personality then my sister did."

When they got to the infirmary, there wasn't anyone in the room and Dorothy was reading at her desk. When she saw Ulrich, she planted her hands on her hips. "Well, Ulrich, what brings you to see me this time?"

"I have a bit of a headache, ma'am," Ulrich said, rubbing his temple again. Dorothy handed him a couple of pills and he swallowed them while he watched her check Aelita.

"Well, I don't know what ails, you but you don't have a headache so I think it could be that you are just tired. I want you to go back to your room and lay down for a while. Take this note so you don't get in trouble and Ulrich, can you please take this to Jim so he knows where Aelita is?" She handed him the second note before turning to Ashley. "How may I help you?"

"Well I was wondering if I could borrow and ace bandage or two. I am helping Jim, I used to attend Kadic and while I was walking around he asked if I could give him some assistance with this gym class. The thing is I hurt my wrist a couple weeks ago and when I do anything that requires putting my body weight on my arms it feels better if I wrap them."

"Well, I guess I could give you one, I wouldn't want to see you injure your wrist." She smiled as she went to the cabinet and pulled out two and throwing them at her, "No need to return them. You should probably have them if you plan on doing handstands frequently."

"Oh, thank you, but I have some already. I just forgot them at my hotel room." Ashley said. Taking them, she set them in a bag and pulled out one for her ankle. "Figures. The day I think I'd be fine and only bring the one for my ankle, I end up needing the ones for my wrist." She laughed as she sat in a chair and wrapped her ankle before doing her right and then her left wrist. "I'll bring back these two after the class, I thank you very much."