I already gave you a warning last time on who the pairing will be in this story in last chapter so don't read if you don't have an open mind. Also, in this story Kadic goes up to 12th grade.

Disclaimer: I do not own Code Lyoko. Just this story's plot.

Leaving Kadic Behind- Part 2

Graduation. A time of moving on, of rising to the occasion. A time to remember everything you've done, everything you wish you didn't do and everything you wish you did…

"I can't believe this," Yumi whispered as we waited behind stage, waiting for the ceremony to start.

"Me neither," I agreed. Really I can't believe this. It's been a year since I returned to Earth. A very hard year. I was so behind on my school work. Nothing made sense any more. If it weren't for Aelita and Yumi I would probably have failed.

Aelita. Once again, she's done so much for me when I don't even deserve her kindness. Neither one of us spoke about the incident that happened in her room on my first day back on Earth. There was nothing to say. It was forgotten, forgiven, something else I don't deserve from her.

I got over Yumi. I can't believe I was so dense to not realize that she didn't like me the way I liked her. It wasn't that hard to move on though. It just seemed like the feeling for her disappeared as soon as I returned to Earth. I still think of her as a good friend, but we were never meant to be. I was actually happy when Stern got the nerves to ask her out. There now an official couple. Finally.

"Oh no!" Yumi moaned peeking from behind the curtain at the audience on the other side.

"What?" I asked slightly worried. I've always kind of been on edge lately. I don't know if I'll ever stop looking over my shoulder.

"My dad brought this really ancient video camera. It's so big!" Yumi complained. Was that all she was worrying about? I really didn't see why it mattered but I guess after fighting Xana for so long it's a relief to worry about the small unimportant things. To be selfish for once, to take life for granted. I can't do that. Someone gave up their life in order for me to live. I can't just make my life a waste and yet… I really don't feel like I even deserve to live. Ugh, I sound like some damn broken record.

"Hey, William. Where are your parents?" Yumi asked looking back at me.

"They didn't come," I said simply. I wasn't disappointed. I knew they were busy. I'm actually surprised that they even remembered to send me a graduation card saying that they couldn't come. Oh well.

"Okay, graduates," Jim said quieting everyone, "the ceremony is about to start so get in line alphabetically." Yumi gave me a quick friendly hug before running to her spot in line. It's weird. Three years ago, I would have felt elated to have had her hug me, but now…I feel nothing except for the longing of having someone else's arms around me. A certain someone; a certain pink hair angel.

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"William Dunbar," Mr. Delmas called out as I walked across the stage. We shook hands before he handed me my diploma. I moved the tassel on my hat to the other side as I turned to stare out into the crowd. I don't know why I did. None of my family was there, but I did catch some familiar faces.

Ulrich was in the audience obviously because this was an important event to Yumi. He even got dressed up, which is weird since he thinks dressing up is such a bother. Odd was there too to also support Yumi and because Ulrich was there too. I could see Kiwi poking his head out of the pact he had sitting in his lap. She was there too. Aelita. Of course she would be here. Yumi was one of her best friends. I was surprised though when she took out a camera and took a picture of me with a big smile on her face. A real smile. I smiled back, but I immediately wanted to scowl when I saw Jeremy put his arm around her shoulders giving me a glare. I would have glared right back at him if they hadn't called the next name, so I had to walk off.

It was strange. I got the same feeling I got a few years ago when Ulrich was able to be close to Yumi, but I must be imagining things. I couldn't…I couldn't be jealous. There was nothing to be jealous over. Aelita is a friend. Nothing more, nothing less. Besides, I don't deserve someone like her.

The ceremony finally came to an end and everyone tossed their hats into the air before some girls began to cry with each other about keeping in touch and never forgetting any of the others. Yeah, right. Those girls are usually the ones who don't keep in touch or remember anyone.

Yumi's family came up to congratulate her and to take her out to dinner. She asked me if I wanted to come but I politely said no. Besides, she had asked the rest of the gang to come and I didn't want to remember my last day at Kadic seeing Odd eat ten times his weight. Also Jeremy was going. We never got along after I returned. He still blames me and takes every opportunity to comment on any mistakes I make. He only recently stopped because Aelita asked him to and told him that if he didn't then she wouldn't talk to him anymore. He stopped, unfortunately, but he still gives me accusing glares when Aelita is not looking.

I felt a tug on the sleeve of my robe and look down to see Aelita smiling up at me a box in her hand. "Congratulations!" she says happily handing the gift to me.

"Aelita, you didn't-" I began before she cut me off.

"But I wanted to! I'm so happy for you William! You worked so hard to get here," she said.

"Well, I had help," I grinned softly at her.

"So what are you going to do now?" she asked me. I was confused. I didn't know if she meant like what I was about to do after I got out of this ridiculously hot robe or if she meant with my life. I guess I haven't been thinking too much about my future. Not the best things to do when your about to go to college.

Anyway, I didn't need to answer her because he came up behind her. "Come on Aelita," Jeremy said tugging at her hand, "the others are waiting for us."

"Okay," she nodded before turning back to me. "Are you sure you don't want to come? This could be the last time we'll be able to spend together as a group since you and Yumi are going off to college next year."

"No, I'll be fine. Besides, I need to pack up so I'm ready for when my parents pick me up," I said.

"Okay," she said sounding slightly disappointed as Jeremy tugged her to where the others were waiting. Disappointed. Yeah, right. What was there for her to be disappointed about?

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1 Year Later…

A year. Much usually doesn't change within a year, right? Wrong. A lot can change during a year. Weather changes, places change, people change, she changed, but just physically.

"And now for our valedictorian, Aelita Stones," Mr. Delmas said as the crowd begins to applaud loudly and a beautiful pink hair girl-no woman stepped up to the podium. I couldn't help but stare. Long pink hair fell in soft waves over her shoulders, framing cream colored skin with a hint of a nervous blush on her cheeks. Her robe hid any other body development but I knew she had grown. Nervous green eyes swept the crowd before landing on me.

I didn't even know why I came. I got an invitation in the mail for this but I didn't have to come, but I wanted to because she asked me to.

The corners of rose colored lips twitched upwards for that brief moment her gaze was on me before her eyes traveled across the rest of the audience. "Family, friends, we gather here today to celebrate the ending of one chapter of our lives and the beginning of a new one," she said, her voice light, calm, and peaceful.

'Like an Angel,' I thought before mentally hitting myself.

"Our goal here was to expand our views and knowledge, to become better people of tomorrow," she continued, "but while here, we found something even better then all the knowledge or wisdom in the world. We found friendship. Friends that have always been there for you through the toughest or mildest of storms. People who know how to make you laugh," she said turning a bit and smiling at Odd who gave her a huge grin and two thumbs up, "people who will look out for you," she said looking at Ulrich and then Yumi who was a few seats away from me, "and people who have been there for you since the beginning," she said smiling at Jeremy who in turn involuntarily blushed. Aelita let out a small melodious giggle before turning to face the audience, her eyes locked on me. "And then there are people that at first seem to have nothing in common with you, who before a certain point didn't even acknowledge you existed." I looked down in shame. I deserved this. Aelita has done so much for me and still I have done so little. How could I have ever considered myself a friend of hers?

"Those people are the ones who you get close to during unusual circumstances," Aelita continued, "When you need someone to depend on when there is no else who cares. They're the ones who aren't afraid to let their feelings be known when you need them to be honest with you. They're the ones that you hold an unbreakable bond that is only special between the two of you," she said smiling at me and I couldn't help but smile back.

"Kadic will always be a place I know I'll always hold dear to my heart. I met the best of friends here. I have been taught by the best of the best," I chuckled quietly as I saw Jim grinning proudly to himself flexing an arm that clearly held no muscle. "We must remember," Aelita continued, "if we give all we got we will make it through anything. Here we are, today, like stars shining bright on the world ready to make a difference. I know that everyone says that they'll never forget the people they met in high school, but I know for a fact that I could never forget any of the people that I have met here. Kadic wasn't just a school for me, it was my home and I'll miss it and the people who made me feel like family everyday for the rest of my life," a tear slipped from her eye and she immediately wiped it away. "Thank you," she said before stepping down. The audience was quiet for a second, still soaking in her words before it exploded in to a roar of applauds and cheer. I suddenly held a new respect for the pink hair girl who just spoke before us. The rest of the ceremony went on slower then I remembered when it had been my graduation.

It was finally over and families got up to congratulate the new graduates. I stood off by the side under the shade of a tree, hands stuffed in my pockets, not really feeling like I belonged among them. I watched as Odd was hugged by his parents and his what? 6 or 7 sisters, happy that their little brother managed to get through high school without having to repeat a grade like they originally thought or be killed by his hundred of ex girlfriends. I watched as Ulrich and Yumi hugged before his father walked stiffly up to them. I saw him say something to the two and Yumi laughed while Ulrich had a relieved look on his face. You could just barely see the corner of Mr. Stern's mouth twitch up in appreciation for his son. I watched as Jeremy's parents praised him, congratulating him on working hard and also smiling happily as Jeremy pulled Aelita closer to him by the waist. I saw him turn to her, whispering something in her ear which caused her to blush but none the less pull closer to him.

I felt a fire burn somewhere deep in my chest, but suppressed it. It was hard though and required a lot of concentration. So much concentration that I didn't even notice that Aelita was walking towards me until she spoke.

"William!" she smiled, "I'm so happy that you came. I hope I didn't waste any of your time, though."

"It was no problem Aelita," I assured her, "Nice speech."

"Thank you," she blushed looking down. I still see she still has that air of innocence around her. I hope that always stays with her in this world so full of sin. For some reason I can't help but to stare at her. She's grown so beautiful since I last seen her. We kept in touch, because that's what she wanted, but that was only through letters and phone calls since my college is about a five hour drive from Kadic. I guess I wasn't prepared to see her look so mature, a timeless beauty.

She must have felt me staring because she looked back up at me questioningly. I pushed myself from the trunk of the tree that I was leaning against and took a few steps closer to her. She didn't move as I removed a hand from my pocket and reached out towards her face, hesitantly tucking a piece of pink hair behind her ear, my fingers lightly tracing her soft cheek before I forced myself to pull it away.

"Congratulations," I said softly before handing her a crudely wrapped present and walking off, but stopped when I heard her call out to me.

"Promise that you'll keep in touch," she said.

I looked over her shoulder and gave her a small grin. "Of course," I said before walking off. I did keep my promise. I did keep in touch through letters, emails, and phone calls, but it wasn't until three years later did I ever see her in person again…


Okay, so I said this was going to be a twoshot but it seems like it's turning into a threeshot but don't hold me to that. For all I know this could turn into a four shot. Once again, hope MewmiC likes this.

Whoa, didn't I just update this the other day! Go procrastination! Anyway, don't expect another update tomorrow. I have to study for my Bio test, begin writing my science fair report, read the Odyssey, and practice my flute along with cleaning my room (which I probably won't do. What's the point? It's just going to get messy in two days)

I used part of the Code Lyoko theme song in Aelita's speech. Wonder if you guys could tell. Overall the speech was pretty generic if you ask me and I felt like I heard it before but I doubt I got the idea from my graduation which was a year ago from 8th grade. The sound of the microphone was too low and I was too busy thinking about how much my first and only pair of heels that my mom forced me to wear that were killing me. Yes, I'm a girl, about to turn 15 in four months and I have only owned one pair of heels which I've only wore once and I only have one dress which is my first one in seven years. Sue me! Wait, no don't do that. I'm broke. I'm actually surprised that I had managed to walk across the stage without doing a face plant right into the audiance. Yay me! I'm such a tomboy.

Anywho, I'm done rambling now so everything else is up to you guys.

PLEASE REVIEW!!!