Will you push me?
I'm close to falling. My ice underneath is already cracking and the drop is fan. It wouldn't take much to get rid of me.
The words you speak hit hard, they force me to look down.
I don't have a shield, and my sword is dull. Yet I have managed to stand for this long!
Will you try and push me down? Good luck.
What's up guys? Remeber how last time I complained about it being too late...yeah now it's too early! Ugh, don't mind me I'll just broad on the things I have to do more urgently than this fanfiction until I get motivation to write. In the mean time I'll answer some reviews!
To: Shadowmanipulator7 Thanks! Im really glad you appreciate it! It takes a lot of work in the afternoons. (And many 'oh shit it's midnight!' moments!) I'll try my hardest to keep swiftly updating this but please understand that during the weekdays my schedule is a heck of a lot busier, so they might not get out as fast as they do on weekends! Anyway thanks again! 💙
To: My lovely guest Hmm, I've debated about which outfits they should wear, but I've honestly never really liked the switch to the season four outfits. Sure they look cool but I always thought they kinda took away from the Cat, Samurai, and Kimono-Ninja-Thing Yumi wore. Maybe I'll create some of my own new outfits one day, but until then I'll stick with the original! Thanks as always!
To: My lovely guest Nope. If I ever create a new set of outfits for all of the Lyoko warriors I will include a change in her outfit. Although if I'm remembering correctly I think Astrid's original outfit from Code: Astrid's Heart was something like those suits...Hmm. I'll just say a definite no on that. Thank you for asking!
To: My lovely guest I'll definitly do that! Thank you for responding cause I wasn't sure if anyone would pay attention to it! I really appreciate you taking the time to answer me on that! It might take a few chapters, but I'm kind of excited to do that now! At this point I just want to mainly capture Astrid's view on things. Lots of love!
Wow that was a lot huh? Anyway for me it's already late morning (7:30 ish) and I haven't even started the chapter! Better get started huh? Alright, *Hikes up sleeves* I'm on it!
Astrid's POV
Before I left to go to dinner I went back to my room, grabbed my laptop, and immediately typed up Yumi's email adress and number. Aelita wasn't in the room, I wouldn't know what to tell her if she asked what I was doing.
Truthfully I'm not very hungry, but since Yumi suggested it I'd feel bad if I don't go. Besides, I've always hated skipping dinner anyway.
Now, after spending some time putting away my stuff, I am walking down to the cafeteria. To be honest I'm not quiet sure what the policy for dinner here is, but it should be the same as lunch right?
"Astrid! I didn't know you were a dorm student!" A voice says from behind me that I just barely recognize. I turn around and see Wlliam grinning at me.
"Um yeah. Are you going to dinner?" I ask but he shakes his head. He's pretty cute, any other girl my age would wonder if he's dating anybody at a time like this. I'm just here wondering how it's funny that our hair could not be more opposite.
"Naw, I actually live near Yumi, but I had some stuff to do for Mr. Bennard."
"The same one with the boxes?"
"Yeah, how'd you know?"
"I'm no detective, but it was an empty hallway. Not exactly hard to hear you."
"I was pretty loud huh?" I get the feeling your always that loud.
"Don't you have to go back home? Parents get mad if your late right?" I ask but notice my mistake. Luckily he doesn't and I'm left to cringe on my own.
"Mine don't. But your right. Hey, do you have anyone to sit with at lunch? Since your new and all." I'm about to automatically say no, but I stop myself. Hopefully they won't mind me sitting with them...who knows?
"Yeah..I think I might. Odd, Aelita, Ulrich, and Jeremy. You know them?" I figured he does, since Yumi hangs out with them and he's friends with her..
To my surprise his face darkens a bit, "Yeah, your pretty lucky if they let you sit with them. Normally they're pretty secretive. Anyway I gotta bounce, See you later?"
(What a reputation these guys have.)
Not knowing how to respond when he says his last phrase in the form of a question, I just nod. He smiles and I watch him jog down the hallway. He's pretty interesting.
Once I reach the cafeteria I immediately spot them sitting at the same table. I take a deep breath and grab a minimum dinner and start walking toward the table. What should I do? Walk up and ask to sit with them. My stomach shrivels at the thought.
Will they call over to me? 'Please, why would they?' I think scornfully to myself At this rate I'll walk right past the table and just look like a dork sitting alone again.
However, it's at this moment I notice that there is someone else missing besides Yumi, and that person just happens to jog up behind me.
"Hey! I was wondering if you'd come. Wanna sit with me?" Odd says and we reach the table so fast I hardly have time to wonder why he said 'me' instead of 'us'.
He sits on the opposite side of me, next to Ulrich and Jeremy. I sit down beside Aelita. She smiles brightly up at me and I return a nervous...but happy one.
"Odd, could you have piled more food on your tray? It's my desire to get a stomach ache just by watching you eat that." Ulrich says sarcastically and Odd rolls his eyes.
"Right! Well I'll have you know my stomach is that of steel! Besides you wish that you could eat like me!" While Odd boasts Aelita and I share an amused glance.
"Odd, is that even healthy?" Jeremy asks
"Probably not, but don't talk to me about what's healthy or not." Odd says with a full mouth. "Your the one who stays up all night and doesn't even eat dinner!"
"I'm sorry, I thought you liked the new hover board." Jeremy says and my curiosity rises. Hover board? That sounds downright cool.
"I believe I requested flames for decoration..not another cat play-on" Odd sounds annoyed but you can tell he's joking around.
It's been awhile since I've sat at a table with peers like this. While it's fun to listen to their wacky conversations, I wonder if I'll ever talk like that with them.
I look on the back of my chocolate milk. The joke I suspected I would fine on this brand makes me snort a little. I discreetly show it to Aelita and she has the same reaction. I raise an eyebrow and glance toward the guys goofing off. She smiles mischeivuously and just before I began Ulrich says something.
"Geeze. You two look way too suspicious. You're worse than Yumi!" I raise an eyebrow.
"Yeah, got some real espionage going on. Wanna hear?" I ask and he tilts his chin up like it's a challenge.
(This oughta be good.)
I speak in the deepest voice I can, "What do you call a vampire in the kitchen...? ...Count spatula!" While Ulrich puts his head down in defeat Jeremy and Odd crack up. I high five Aelita and the rest of the time goes by cheerily.
When we all finish, I end up looking forward to this year more than I thought possible. We walk back to the dorms together and seperate at the different floor levels. One for the girls, one for the guys. At least, Ulrich, Odd, and I do.
"Hey Aelita, wanna talk for a minute?" Jeremy asks and I go on ahead. Once I reach the dorm room I stand there, my jaw dropping. On the door is a sheet of paper, with sticky notes all around it. Each one has a different hand writing, so you can obviously tell multiple people put it up.
The big sheet of paper has a crude drawing of me and Aelita falling down, or something. On my first day, and already something like this is happening?
Each of them has something like 'Nice Hairdos!' Or 'Go home freaks!'. Hardly the most original things they could've come up with. Suddenly I tear it all from the door and look around. Nothing else is posted around the hallway. When I open the door I quickly check throughout the dorm.
Thankfully, nothing else is there. Relief flows through me and I plop down on the bed. I won't show these to Aelita, it would only upset her. Instead I shove them in my bag, for future use.
Thinking tha Aelita won't be back for long I slip on my pajamas and grab some toiletries. No matter how tired I am I refuse to go to bed without brushing my teeth! Earlier I found the bathroom for the girls in this area and now I swiftly locate it. At first I'm a little nervous but the feeling soon goes away once I see other girls in the bathroom doing the same thing.
I don't say anything but start using one of the sinks and find comfort in the same old minty toothpaste I've always used. Once I'm done I want to leave but find four girls blocking my way out.
(Cue the eyebrow raise!)
"Excuse me, I need to get through." I try to say as casually as I can.
"We can see that," She says matter-of-factly. She takes and step forward and surveys me, "Are you the new transfer student that tried to showed up Sissy? No wonder she pitied you." The obvious head girl says.
"Uhuh, and are you the girls that posted those lame notes on my door?" I ask and they smirk.
"Right, the ones about you and that pink troll? Please do you know what's with that hair?" One of them says in a mocking tone.
"Listen, I don't know what you're trying to do but leave Aelita alone. If you need a punching bag I'll volenteer." My knuckles are clenching now. They sure as hell better not speak about Aelita like that again.
"Oh wow, Sissy said you have guts. Look new girl. You obviously care about your friend, so we'll make a deal. Don't tell a word to the principal about any of this, and we'll steer clear of you friend. Tell him anything, and she'll never get rid of us!" She demands. I tilt my head back, looking her dead in the eyes.
"Fine. But if you dare even look at Aelita in a negative way- I'll blow whatever fear you have of the principal out of the water. Now, if you'll excuse me I still need to use the door." For whatever reason, this must be what they want, because the girls move out of the way almost victoriously.
(Yay, go me.)
When I get back to the room I find Aelita already there. I'm not afraid of what bullies can do to me, but when it's someone else I can feel the fear easily. She was already bullied, over the room and all that. I don't regret what I just told those girls.
"Hey, I'm pretty tired so I'll turn in right now...unless you need me for something?" I ask ask and she shakes her head. I pull up the cover on my bed and prepare to get in.
"Nope, I was just about to go brush my teeth." She says and I immediately jump from the bed.
"T-that's right. I forgot to use the bathroom, I was wondering what it was. I'll go back with you!" I speak a little too quickly and I'm sure it's obvious in my body language that I'm hiding soemthing, but she just smiles and nods.
While in there I hide out in a stall and listen, incase those girls decide to not keep their promise. In the end we head back to the dorm, thankfully without meeting them. When I finally get to bed and turn the lights off I mutter a quick, 'good night' before falling asleep instantly.
In the morning I woke up early and got ready with time to spare. Aelita and I ended up going to the library before breakfast, we came out with two new books for each of us. By the time we got to the cafeteria Yumi, Jerey, Odd, and Ulrich were already there.
Once again Odd had his plate piled high with food and this time I got a lot too. For the first time in a very long time, I ate breakfast with my friends. A warm bubble was starting to fill me, and the thought of the girls had been erased from my mind. As well as most of my fears that had kept me from making friends for so long.
The first few classes go by quickly, but by the time we're heading to lunch I reassociate myself with being cautious. When I find the girls sitting at a table with Sissy and a few other girls I catch one of the looking over at me. She smirks and turns away again, leaving me confused.
"Hey, um I have to go back to the classroom, our teacher wants to look at a few things with him. See you!" I lie and swiftly leave the cafeteria.
(Why do I have a sinking feel about this?)
It's easy to spot as soon as you enter the classroom. My bag, that I left in here, is spewed all over my desk and the area around it. A voice from outside the classroom starles me.
"Have fun cleaning that up, freak!" Somebody calls and I curse under my breath. I sigh, guess there's no other option. It doesn't take long to clean it up, but by the time I have people are trickling back into the classroom to grab their own things. An unsettling feeling sets in my stomach, they might've gone through everything in my bag!
"How'd it go?" Odd asks and I shrug. Just as I'm about to leave for band he comes back in to grab his stuff as well.
"I had to leave lunch early to talk to a teacher, not exactly the most enjoyable thing." I say and hope he doesn't question more.
"Hmm, does that mean you enjoy sitting with us?" He asks, taking me by surprise. I look away, probably blushing a bit.
"You could say that." I murmur and he flashes a victorious smile. I can't help but smile back, while also rolling my eyes a bit.
After saying goodbye to him I hurry to band and relish the time I get to spend free. I love playing my trumpet, it helps me take my mind off things.
Band is over soon, and in gym we play some weird game with a bat and a basketball. Don't ask. Finally, I have my first free afternoon at this school. Good thing it doesn't take long for it to be ruined by the 'snob queens'.
(Get it? No? I didn't think so...)
When I just happened to pass by one of them their foot sticks out and I fall to the ground. They laugh like I just caught on fire or something. Of course, this is obviously very amusing, right?
"Wow, I wonder how many people have done that to someone today." I sarcastically mumble. I stand up and brush the dirt off my clothes.
"Look guys, I think it's trying to speak!" The girl who tripped me sneers and they all laugh again. I dramatically roll my eyes and walk away. Maybe one day they'll grow a brain cell.
"Did you like our present? We're pretty proud of our reorganization skills!" One of them calls. I tell myself to keep walking, this can't be fun for them anyway.
"Of course we aren't forgetting Aelita, after all we've done to her, she deserves a present too!" I freeze. This is something I can only learn about from context clues. Whatever they did to Aelita, I wont let it happen again!
"Turns out Sissy was pretty helpful at getting the keys from the janitor. So we thought it was a perfect chance to leave something in your room! Well, in Aelita's bed at least!" Someone says and then they burst out laughing. I grit my teeth, I have to hurry back to the room before Aelita gets there.
Right before I take a step they say one final thing to me, "We heard she likes snakes, so...enjoy!" At that I turn around and can't help myself from looking suprised and terrified. They wouldn't actually put snakes in her bed, would they? I only have a second to decipher the looks they gave me before I'm racing toward the dorms.
How could I have been so foolish! They'll never leave Aelita alone! It'd be better if I just report it. But, will that solve anything? They were pretty confident that doing that wouldn't make a difference to their schemes. Maybe their bluffing?
Finally reaching the dorm, I decide to deal with them later. I slowly walk in the room, it appears as if nothing has been disturbed. Flicking on the light doesn't reveal anything either. What was it they said? They left it..in the bed?
I walk over and reach for the covers. My heart beat pounds in my ear. I'm afraid if revealing the snakes, but I'm determined to keep this from Aelita. If I ask anyone else to help me I know it won't be kept secret long.
"Hey Astrid? Are you in here?" Aelita's voice sends a jolt through me and she catches a glimpse of me grabbing her covers. I immediatly snap away from it, but soon her, Yumi, Odd, Ulrich, and Jeremy fill the dorm.
(She has impeccable timing.)
"You had the door open, that's unsafe you know."
"Right Odd, a dangerous criminal is just gonna waltz into her dorm." Ulrich says, and with that they all start chatting, but I'm staring directly at Aelita. She's gives me a questioning gaze, not accusing, but insistant.
"Is there something wrong with my bed?" She asks and I swallow hard. It takes me a moment to respond.
"Nope, not at all!" I say and the others seem to notice the tension.
"Okay, I'll sit then." She says and I stop her. Why does this have to happen?
"Wait! Actually..." I trail off, not knowing what to say.
Aelita only raises an eyebrow, and Yumi walks up.
"Is there something under the covers?" Aelita asks and I don't say anything. I don't want her to know...but I can't lie to her.
"Here, I'll look." Yumi says. The boys seem to stay quiet, as if they know not to get involved.
I shake my head fiercely, "No, I'll do it."
Yumi simply ignores me and throws up the covers. Underneath is several...plastic snakes. I let out all my breath at once, only then noticing that I had been holding it.
"This again, I thought maybe after a few days of them laying off..." Yumi sighs and looks at me with piercing eyes. "How did you know?"
"They um..they mentioned it to me..."
"You mean, those four girls and their army?" Aelita asks and I look at her apologetically.
"Wait, Aelita what do you mean by 'those four girls.'? Is something going on here?" Jeremy ask and suddenly Aelita and Yumi are looking uncomfortable as well.
"Not really, it's nothing.." Aelita says, but Jeremy isn't convinced.
"Right, we can see that it's nothing. Yumi, you guys are hiding something from us!" Ulrich accuses and Yumi winces.
"Don't be mad at her! She just kept the secret for me! I was the one who asked her too!" Aelita pleads. This is going down hill fast, and it's all my fault.
"Can we skip the 'Whose fault it is' stuff and get on to what happened?" Odd speaks impatiently. Aelita explains breifly that some girls had been picking on her for the last few months.
"You mean bullying you? Come on Aelita, don't try and act like this is nothing!" Jeremy exclaims and I watch with scared eyes as an argument breaks out. This happens a lot with friends right? Confusion spreads over me, and I wish I knew how to settle it.
"Look, it's not like you would've been any help anyway! This is a 'girls' problem!" The atmosphere crackles as Yumi calls out the words they obviously didn't want to hear.
"No, it should've been a problem for friends." Ulrich says solemnly and nobody says anything to that. Horrified, I shift into a 'self hugging' position and try to shrink into myself.
One by one everyone leaves the room except for me and Aelita. I look over at her but she doesn't meet my eyes. Eventually she scoops up the plastic snakes and walks out of the room too.
Confused and alone, I sink to the floor and try my hardest to calm down.
My, my. I never thought this would happen! Sorry for the late update guys! I'm trying my best really but I'm busy during weekdays so updates will take longer to write. I write every day, though, and I really hope you all have enjoyed this one! I was debating for a while on whether I should use this chapter to send them to Lyoko, or do something like this. Even though this is a rewrite, it's digressed a lot from the original one. With that in mind I thought I would save Lyoko for the next chapter, where I can really take a good bite of it, instead of only fitting a little of it into this chapter. (But I dunno, they kinda had a big fight. Which, by the way, good job you guys! Leave Aelita, who has just experienced bullying, alone with Astrid who is inexperienced in the art of friendship and is ultimately no help!) *Sigh* they'll never learn. Anyway, I gotta revise! I hope you enjoyed and thanks for reading!