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"Tower, deactivated," Aelita said as the tower collapsed around her.
"Return to the past, now," Jeremy's voice said distantly.
(Rewind to beginning of day - breakfast)
"Scrambled eggs, my favorite!" Odd shouted.
"I thought meatballs and gravy were your favorite," Ulrich stated, looking up from his plate.
"They are. Can't a guy have more than one favorite?" Odd asked, stuffing more eggs in his mouth.
"Yeah, they can, but everything can't be your favorite," Aelita mused.
"It just isn't normal," Jeremy added.
"Well, that's why his name is Odd," I smiled.
Odd looked at me with a look of fake hurt, "Hey, whose side are you on?"
"Yours, of course," I replied. "But you can't argue with fact."
Odd sighed, "I guess you're right."
Everyone started laughing, until Sissy came up to the table, followed closely by Herve and Nicholas.
"What are you losers laughing about?" Sissy sneered at us.
"That zit on your face. Are you growing another head?" Odd joked.
"Maybe she's hoping this one will have a brain," I added quickly. Everyone laughed as Sissy ran away screaming, while she pulled out a small mirror.
"You two make quite a team," Jeremy said.
"And yet another reason why we're perfect for each other," Odd said, putting his arm around my waist.
"C'mon, guys," Ulrich said, picking up his tray. "We better head out, or we'll be late for class."
(F.F. to class)
"Mr. Della-Robbia. Ms. Sorori. You two seem to think that you know so much already that you don't have to pay attention during class. So, one of you wouldn't mind telling me what the definition of equilibrium is," the teacher said.
Odd and I had been in the middle of a very intense game of paper football. Odd, who had been just about to go for the winning field goal, was caught by surprise and the paper football went a good foot off target.
Damn. I don't have a clue about equilibrium, I thought. And there's a fat chance that Odd will know--
"Oh, that's an easy one, ma'am," Odd started brightly.
No way! He actually knows?! I screamed in my mind.
"You see, when you have two libriums that are equal, it's called equilibrium," Odd smiled.
I sighed, If it was that easy, I would have learned it by now. But then I thought about what he had said. Wait a second; I think that was pretty close. If I'm remembering correctly, equilibrium means balance. And equal and balance are pretty close. I raised my hand.
"Yes, Ms. Sorori," the teacher acknowledged me.
"Well, if you don't mind me saying, ma'am, I think Odd's answer was pretty close," I started. "I mean, equilibrium means balance doesn't it? So two things being equal is like saying two things are balanced, right?"
"Well, Ms. Sorori, you are right, equilibrium does mean balance, and I suppose Mr. Della-Robbia's answer was similar. Congratulations, Mr. Della-Robbia," the teacher suddenly said. "I believe this is your first correct answer in my class." The entire class started laughing as the bell rang, signaling the end of class.
I walked up to Odd as we started heading out of class, "Not only did I bail you out, but I also won the game. The paper football missed by a mile," I smiled.
"I wonder who the substitute is," Jeremy said suddenly.
"What substitute?" I asked.
"Weren't you listening?" Aelita asked. I shook my head.
"We're going to have a sub this afternoon," Ulrich said.
"Well, that will be fun," Odd smiled. "We can get away with anything with a sub."
"When's there going to be a sub?" Yumi asked, walking up to us.
"We have a sub this afternoon, apparently," I replied.
"Does anyone know what's for lunch today?" Odd asked suddenly.
"What is it with you and food?" Jeremy asked.
"I like it. A lot," Odd answered simply.
"Mac and cheese, I think," Aelita said,
"Yeah, my favorite!" Odd shouted happily.
"I'm not even gonna get started with that again," I stated as we walked into the cafeteria.
--Odd's P.O.V--
"I'm done, so I think I head up to the dorms before our next class," Aelita said picking up her tray.
"I'll come with, I'm done too," Nara said, picking up her tray also.
"Count me in," Yumi said, joining them.
"So," I started, "who do you think the sub is?"
"I hope it's Mr. Kente," Ulrich said.
"Yeah, being in his class is like one big party," I agreed.
"Just as long as it's not Ms. Molan," Jeremy said. Ulrich and I both shuddered.
"Or Ms. Fletcher," I added. Jeremy and Ulrich nodded in agreement. "The way she talks is like a hiss of a snake."
Sssssss.
"Nice impression, Odd" Ulrich said.
"That wasn't me," I said. "Nice one, Jeremy."
"Wasn't me either," Jeremy said. "So who…"
Jeremy trailed off, and I didn't blame him, seeing as there was a cobra in front of him. Thinking fast I picked up my tray and swung at the cobra. The cobra went flying into an aisle between two tables. One of the girls at another table saw it and screamed.
"What is all of this yelling about?" Jim asked, coming over to see what was going on. "Ahh! Okay, everyone, don't panic."
Suddenly, another snake fell from the vent, and another from the lights, both of these much bigger than the small cobra.
"Okay, now you can panic a little," Jim said shakily.
--Your P.O.V.--
"So did you and Samantha ever switch places?" Aelita asked.
We were talking about how Sam and I looked exactly alike; even to our family it was hard to tell us apart. "Yeah, loads of times. But then one time, we got in a lot of trouble for it, so we stopped."
"What did you guys do?" Yumi asked.
"Well, we--" I stopped when I heard a cell phone ring.
"I think it's yours," Aelita said.
"Yeah," I said, pulling out my phone. "Hello?
"…"
"Oh, hi Odd."
"…"
"What's wrong?"
"…"
"SAY WHAT?"
"…"
"You're joking right."
"…"
"Oh, I'd hate to be in your position right now, I hate snakes."
"…"
"Really?"
"…"
"Not a bad theory."
"…"
"Okay, we'll check it out."
"…"
"No worries, we'll hurry," I hung up the phone. I turned to look at Aelita and Yumi, who both looked very confused. "Let's walk and talk, girls. Or maybe run and talk," I said as an after thought.
"Where are we going?" Yumi asked as we ran out of the dorms.
"To the factory," I replied shortly.
"Shouldn't we get Odd, Ulrich, and Jeremy?" Aelita asked.
"They can't come," I replied with another short answer.
"Why?" Yumi and Aelita asked together.
"Because they are battling with poisonous snakes," I told them.
"No, really, why can't they come?" Yumi asked.
"I was serious," I said. "According to Odd, Jeremy thinks it's a X.A.N.A. attack, so that's why we're going to the factory. So we can call off these snakes."
(F.F to factory)
"How are we supposed to get to Lyoko without Jeremy?" Aelita asked.
"Here," I said, taking off my wristband and giving it to Aelita.
She took it and looked at it strangely, "What do I do with this?"
"There should be just enough room for both your wrist and Yumi's," I said, sitting down at the computer.
"What?" Yumi asked, still confused.
"Just put both of your wrists in the wristband, and then I'll tell you," I answered, booting up the computer. I waited until they did so, "Okay, this is how I've been getting to Lyoko, through that wristband. All you have to do is think of where in Lyoko you want to go, and you'll be instantly transported there."
"Cool," they both said.
"Okay, since it's transporting two people, you'll only be able to choose which sector you go to, and once this computer is finished warming up, I'll tell you where the tower is.
"Okay," they replied.
"Alright, you're headed to the Polar Region." A second later, there was a flash of white light, and they were gone.
I put on the headset as the computer finished warming up. I pressed a few keys on the keyboard, "Can you guys hear me?"
"Loud and clear," Aelita replied.
"Okay, your heading east northeast," I told them. "It should be a few minutes ride on your vehicles." I pressed a few buttons, and the overwing and overboard materialized in front of them in Lyoko. "Have a nice ride," I said. I started exploring different files on the computer, while keeping an eye out for monsters.
Suddenly, Jeremy's phone number appeared on the screen, and then I heard his voice, "Are you guys almost done?" he shouted practically.
"Yeah, Yumi and Aelita are almost at the tower," I answered. "How are things on your end?"
"Not good," he replied in a tired voice. "There's about twenty of them now. We're doing okay so far, we're hiding in one of the classrooms, but it's only a matter of time before X.A.N.A. finds out how to get in."
"Who else is with you guys, besides Ulrich and Odd?" I asked.
"Uh…" Jeremy paused. I assumed that he was looking around the room. Meanwhile, I went back to searching files. I came upon something titled "Overglider-incomplete". Just as I was opening the file, Jeremy came back, "There's Sissy, Herb, Nicholas, Timea (sp?), Milley, Jim, and three others," he informed me.
"Hey, Jeremy," I started. "What's this file called 'Overglider-incomplete'?"
"Oh, that. I was working on a vehicle for Aelita, seeing as she's the only one who doesn't have one," he said. "It's almost done, actually."
"Can I finish it?" I asked.
"Uh, sure, I guess," he replied. "I have to go, I think the snakes are breaking through."
"Okay, good luck," I said.
"Thanks, we'll need it," he said before he hung up.
I looked back at the screen just in time to see a few monsters advancing on Yumi and Aelita, "Hey guys, you've got three Creepers at 1 o'clock."
I monitored the fight as best I could, and meanwhile, I started to work on the overglider. Suddenly, I noticed that the overboard had been dematerialized, "Aelita, I'm gonna give you the overbike so you can get to the tower while Yumi's fighting those Creepers."
"Okay," she replied. I typed a few commands, and the overbike materialized in front of her.
"Yumi, be careful, you just lost 50 life-points," I said, focusing back on the fight. She had managed to kill one of them, but suddenly, she got hit by another laser, and was dematerialized. The two remaining Creepers started to chase after Aelita.
After I alerted Aelita of this she said she had a plan, "When I tell you to, can you dematerialize the overbike?"
I was puzzled, "Um, sure. Can I ask why?"
"Trust me," was all she said.
"Okay," I said returning to the overglider. After about half a minute, I was finished. "I can give this to Aelita to try out after we get rid of the overbike."
"Okay, ready, Nara?" Aelita said suddenly.
"What? Oh, yeah, right. Just tell me when," I said, readying myself.
"Okay…now!" she said as I typed the command into the keyboard. "It worked!"
"Well, whatever you did, it worked. I'm going to send you the overglider, Aelita," I told her, typing in the commands. "Jeremy's been working on it for a while, but he said I could finish it for him. Here it is," I said, as the overglider appeared in front of Aelita (a/n: just picture a hang-glider digitized).
Aelita got on the overglider and headed to the tower. The phone on the computer screen rang again, so I answered, "Hello?"
"WHAT IS TAKING SO LONG?!" Jeremy yelled.
"WHY DON'T YOU TAKE IT DOWN A FEW DECIBLES?!" I screamed back.
"Sorry," he said, much quieter.
"No harm done, excluding my hearing that is," I replied sarcastically.
"We can't last much longer," Jeremy said.
"Aelita is almost at the tower," I reassured him. "Any second now," I switched back to the headset. "Aelita, hurry up. The guys can't last much longer."
"I'm entering the tower now," she replied.
"Don't worry, Jeremy. Aelita's entering the tower n—aahhhh!" I stopped mid-sentence when I saw a boa slithering towards me.
As it got closer and closer to me, I started to panic. I HATE SNAKES! I screamed mentally. I tried without success to steady my breathing. Okay Nara, stay calm. Maybe it won't notice you. Aw hell, who am I kidding? If X.A.N.A.'s possessing it, it won't act like a normal snake. I started to shake uncontrollably. Wait a second. Where's Yumi? She should have been back up here a while ago. Maybe she ran into a snake too. Or maybe this one already got her…I shook my head hard and closed my eyes. No, I can't think like that. I felt the snake coil around me. If I had to choose a way to die, I'm not sure I would pick being squeezed to death by a boa. But hey, it is unique. Why the hell am I thinking like this? And why am I talking to myself? The boa's grip tightened as it continued to coil around my body. I'm already going crazy with the thoughts of death. But I can't die! Not yet! I refuse to die until I've read the 7th Harry Potter book and watch movies five through seven. Come on, Universe, you've never failed me yet! And suddenly, the boa stopped moving as I heard Aelita's voice say, "Tower, deactivated."
And her voice was shortly followed by Jeremy's frantic voice, "Return to the past, now!"
(rewind back to lunch)
I looked around the lunch table and saw the gang staring back at me. I sighed in relief, "Yes! The Universe still cares about me!" I cried out. Everyone stared at me weirdly. "What?" I asked innocently. "I thought I was gonna die, so I asked the Universe to let me live long enough to read the 7th Harry Potter book and watch the 5th, 6th, and 7th movies," I explained. There was a brief moment of silence, and then everyone started laughing.
"C'mon guys," Jeremy said. "It's time to find out who the sub is."
We all walked out of the cafeteria, and Yumi went down a different corridor while we headed to our classroom. We entered the classroom, and we saw the teacher, whose back was currently facing us. We went and sat down at our usual seats, waiting for the bell to ring. When it did, the noise died down, waiting for the teacher to start.
"Hello class. As is obvious, I am your substitute teacher this afternoon. I'm saying right now that it is not my job to be nice and polite to you, but to teach you, so don't expect to get away with anything while I'm here," he started, still having not turned toward the class.
No, it can't be, I thought. It just can't be him.
"My name is Mr. Norton, and--"
"What the hell are you doing here?!" I screamed.
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Alright, just a note, when I first wrote this, the OotP Harry Potter movie hadn't come out yet, so, that's why Nara hasn't seen it yet.