A/N; All right guys, here's where I break into some new stuff. I'm in the middle of exams right now (funny how I get most of my writing done then, hmm?), but summer's on the way, and I have a good feeling about my writing. Thanks again to my awesome reviewers -- I love you guys! :D

I only own Malloria & the plot, yo.


Choices

-A Zola Production-

Chapter Seven: You've Got a Friend in Me

After almost an hour of laughing with Malloria in the library, Ulrich realized that they probably weren't going to get any physics done. But that was fine with him. Totally fine with him.

During a lull in the laughter when they were actually thinking about studying (maybe), Malloria looked up from her textbook and met Ulrich's eyes, grinning.

"Do you just want to forget about this physics stuff?" she indicated the materials lying unused on the desk.

"More than you know," Ulrich laughed.

"Let's get out of this library; it's really hot in here." Malloria stood up and began gathering her books and notes. Before they could fall everywhere, Ulrich stepped towards her and gently took them from her arms into his. Malloria blinked, a little shocked, then let her face relax into a shy smile.

"Thanks," she murmured before pivoting on her heel and striding to the door. Ulrich fell into step behind her, trying to ignore the fact that he was beginning to blush as much as she was.

They reached the edge of the courtyard nearest the woods and paused, neither sure where they were going. Malloria shot a sideways glance at Ulrich, plainly waiting for him to take the lead.

"So…" she began.

"So?" he prompted with a grin, setting her textbooks on a nearby bench. Malloria playfully shouldered him, laughing.

"Hey!" Ulrich protested, laughing also, and made a move as if to return the shove. Malloria leapt out of the way with surprising agility, surprised as he moved with her. She attempted to get close enough to get Ulrich, but his martial arts training saw her plans as she made them. Every time he tried to return fire, however, Malloria danced out of the way. After a particularly close shave Ulrich lunged forward and pursued her as she darted off, shrieking with laughter, into the woods where the lengthening shadows hid their play.

~*~

Odd was in his dorm room getting ready for his date when he chanced to look out the window. There was Ulrich, chasing Malloria in a game of what looked like tag. Odd froze halfway through putting his shirt on and watched his friend laugh with the beautiful redhead.

For some reason, Odd felt slightly jealous. He had planned for Mariah to dump him, after which he would ask Malloria out. But something about her made it clear that she wasn't his type (other than the fact that she was already hanging out with Ulrich) and he felt the jealousy abate. What did he care? He had Mariah, and maybe it would be good for Ulrich to have some fun and stop worrying about…

Yumi.

Now this should be interesting, Odd thought grimly, and, realizing his shirt was only halfway on, finished buttoning it and proceeded with his preparation for the evening.

~*~

She couldn't breathe. She was trying and trying, but she couldn't get a good breath of air. She slid down to the floor, trying desperately to catch her breath. Footsteps alerted her of him running back to her, and he knelt next to her, grasping her shoulder.

"Just relax, Yumi, breathe," he whispered. She winced slightly as his grip tightened. "You're okay," he added, and she could tell he was reassuring himself more than her. She glanced up and caught his eye, holding his gaze. Finally she got a decent breath of air and began breathing properly again. When her gasps had quieted she began quivering uncontrollably, shutting her eyes as tears slid down her cheeks. He let go of her shoulder and put his arm around her shoulders and she leaned into his embrace in relief. He was always there for her.

A ray of sunlight brushing against her face woke Yumi and her eyes opened. She sat up slowly, a smile lingering on her face even as her dream faded. What a great way to start the day.

~*~

"Good morning, sunshine!" Aelita laughed as Jeremie dragged into breakfast, the imprint of his keyboard red on his cheek.

"Is there such a thing?" he yawned when he got to the table, immediately placing his head on his arms and closing his eyes.

"Hey guys." Ulrich walked up with Malloria behind him, setting his tray down. Everyone said a good morning of sorts except Jeremie, whose heavy breathing revealed that he was already falling asleep. "Was he up all night again?" Ulrich asked, indicating his friend.

"I'm guessing so, considering you can see where he fell asleep on his keyboard again," Odd pointed out as he buttered a piece of toast. Ulrich glanced over at Jeremie then let his eyes fall on Yumi, who was talking with Aelita. She looked more awake than the previous day and her eyes were brighter. Maybe she was finally getting better. Cheered by that thought, he struck up a conversation with Malloria, which lasted until Jim's unmistakable voice rang throughout the cafeteria.

"Hey! Listen up!" he called. A few people quieted, but most kept talking. Looking annoyed, Jim tried again. "I said, LISTEN UP!" His yell caused the students to fall silent and look towards him in confusion.

"That's better." He sounded pleased with himself. "I'm supposed to tell you all that there is a dance a week from now. That would be next Friday night. The dress is semi-formal and it will take place in the gym. That will be all." He strode off, attempting to look important and failing miserably. Immediately conversation surged again as students all over the cafeteria began excitedly discussing this new event.

Students all over the cafeteria, that is, except at the table of the Lyoko warriors. Jeremie continued sleeping; Aelita and Yumi halted mid-conversation; Aelita blushed a light shade of pink and Yumi's skin took on a darker tint; Odd put his toast down and began scanning the cafeteria for Mariah and, catching her eye, waved; and Ulrich visibly stiffened. Malloria was on his left side and Yumi was on his right side. Well, this was awkward.

A few strained minutes passed, but for Ulrich they seemed like hours. Finally the bell rang and Ulrich gratefully got up to dump his tray. Leaving the cafeteria at a pace nearly matching a sprint, he realized he had never been so eager to get to Spanish in his life.

~*~

From: Stones, Aelita

To: Ishiyama, Yumi

Subject: So…um…the dance?

Just between the two of us, Yumi, I'm worried about the dance. I mean, I know this sounds silly and all, but I'm afraid that Jeremie won't ask me…

-Aelita

[Message sent]

--

From: Stern, Ulrich

To: Ishiyama, Yumi

Subject: [no subject]

Yumi I was wondering if you

[Draft deleted]

--

From: Stern, Ulrich

To: Ishiyama, Yumi

Subject: [no subject]

Hi Yumi maybe we could

[Draft deleted]

--

From: Delmas, Elisabeth

To: Stern, Ulrich

Subject: Our plans for the dance!

Ulrich dear!!!!!!! I was hoping we could talk about our plans for the dance over lunch tomorrow!!! See you there!!!!!

[Error: username blocked. Message unable to be sent.]

~*~

Malloria was brushing her hair that evening after classes were over when a knock on her door drew her attention. Wondering who it could be, she set her hairbrush on her bed and opened the door. There stood Ulrich, looking very unsure.

"Oh, hey, Ulrich!" she greeted him, stepping out of the way so that he could come in. "Did you need something?"

"D'you want to, uh, I dunno, take a walk with me?" Ulrich barely got his tongue coherently around the words and he instantly blushed. Malloria was a little confused at first but then she smiled, drawing a relieved look from Ulrich.

"That would be great. I was going to work on some homework, but could I meet you in the open-air courtyard in half an hour or so?"

"Sure!" Why on earth was he doing this? What had ever given him the idea? The little voice in the corner of his mind that sounded a lot like Yumi began questioning him. Honestly, he had didn't know. But he had found himself staring restlessly at his science textbook for ten minutes straight and he knew that he needed to take a walk. Odd was out with Mariah, Yumi and Aelita were shopping for the dance, and Jeremie was working in the Skid's programming. Malloria was the next best thing.

Forty-five minutes later found Ulrich and Malloria in the shadow-patterned depths of the forest. Conversation had lapsed after a few moments; both were content to listen to the subdued sounds of the crickets singing just out of sight. Ulrich's steady tread crunched on the pine needles beneath him. Malloria gave a happy sigh.

Ulrich glanced over and drew encouragement from her look of peace. "Malloria--"

"Call me Ria," she interrupted him with a gentle smile.

"…what?" Ulrich hesitated, losing his train of thought.

Malloria giggled softly at his confusion. "Ria. Call me Ria."

"Ria, then. I would give you something else to call me, but 'Ulrich' isn't easy to make a nickname out of," he managed.

Malloria's face fell ever so slightly. "Sissy manages it," she muttered.

"Wait, what?" Ulrich asked, stopping in the middle of the path. Malloria turned away from him.

"Sissy manages to give you a nickname. 'Ulrich-dear,' she calls you." Her voice quivered. Ulrich grabbed her shoulder and turned her to face him.

"Malloria, there is nothing going on with me and Sissy. She just stalks me, that's all."

Malloria met his gaze with her green eyes, luminous in the fading sunlight. "Are you sure? She really seems to like you."

Ulrich snorted. "That's her problem, then. Sissy and I will never 'be' anything other than classmates, maybe friends if she does something outlandish like save my life," he added as an afterthought, reflecting on the times before return-to-the-pasts that Sissy had in fact saved their lives, though she wouldn't know it now.

Malloria sighed again, and Ulrich was happy to see the worry slowly slide from her face. "Can we keep walking?" she asked softly, looking away. Ulrich obeyed, continuing down the path. There was a new sort of confidence in Malloria's step, he noticed. Whyever had she asked about Sissy, of all people?

Ulrich gave it up with a mental shrug. Girls were impossible to figure out.