A Desperate Life
Disclaimer: I don't own Code Lyoko.
Chapter 9: School
Two weeks later at 7 a.m. Mr. Hopper's car drove up to Kadic. It was a rare event for Aelita's father to drop her off at school. But today was the celebration of an important event.
Jeremie's first day of school.
Aelita and Jeremie's communication was highly stressed, to put it mildly. Both barely spoke or exchanged pleasantries with one another. Thankfully they wouldn't be in same class. Jeremie's entrance grades proved too great to keep him in eighth grade. It was even suggested he go to a special school where after two years he'd be off to University. But Jeremie wasn't interested in being surrounded by adults by age fifteen. He was thirteen now and wanted to be around others his own age. It was finally agreed that he'd go to ninth grade. It was a tough sell, but it was the only thing Jeremie was willing to agree to.
While Jeremie would know no one in his homeroom, he knew that Yumi was also a ninth grader. Aelita had told him her homeroom number and the classes he'd share with her. It was only two but Jeremie was elated. He needed to be around someone who knew him in some way. But now such persons didn't include Aelita. He was still mad at her for what she had said.
"Have a good day," Mr. Hopper said enthusiastically after parking and kissing his daughter on the cheek.
Jeremie only nodded and waved.
"Bye daddy," Aelita said happily and exited the car.
"Goodbye Mr. Hopper," Jeremie said and reached for the handle.
"Wait," Mr. Hopper said, "I need to tell you something."
Jeremie's hand moved away from the handle.
"If there's anything you want," Mr. Hopper said, "I'm here," he told Jeremie.
Jeremie thought about what Mr. Hopper had said.
"Oh, um, yes, of course," Jeremie agreed.
Mr. Hopper sighed.
"Have a good day at school Jeremie," Mr. Hopper said in a crestfallen manner.
"Mr. Hopper?" Jeremie asked confused.
"I really need to go Jeremie," Mr. Hopper said.
"Oh, sorry," Jeremie said and hurried out, "goodbye," he said after closing the door.
Mr. Hopper nodded and drove off.
Why is he so glum, Jeremie wondered.
Then Jeremie remembered his response to Mr. Hopper's 'I'm here' speech.
"Oh great," Jeremie said remembering his unenthusiastic agreement to Mr. Hopper's offer, "I'm a true heel," he muttered as he entered school.
Jeremie went straight to his assigned locker. Thankfully Mr. Hopper had layouts and blueprints of the entire school. Mr. Hopper's excuse was that it would allow him to move around school easily. Jeremie went along with it despite knowing the truth.
Jeremie felt a tap on his shoulder as he was arranging his new locker. He turned around to see Aelita.
"Good luck…um, have a nice day," Aelita said nervously.
Jeremie looked at her emotionlessly.
"Thank you," Jeremie responded after turning to face his locker.
"Okay," Aelita said humbly and left.
Did she really think I was going to treat her differently? Jeremie thought, if she didn't want this she shouldn't have said what she said.
When Jeremie closed his locker he noticed that some of the students were giving him cold and suspicious looks. He decided to just ignore them and left.
By first period Jeremie was the third person to arrive and most of the students were now flocking in along with the teacher.
"Well," Mrs. Hertz said approvingly, "another early bird has joined my class," she said, "and he's new."
"Jeremie Hopper," Jeremie said.
"Yes I remember your name," Mrs. Hertz responded and most students laughed, "though they're others I'd love to forget," she added murdering the laughter immediately.
Jeremie shifted uncomfortably. He was already becoming the one to make fun of. This wasn't the start of a good day.
"You're new Jeremie, don't mind them," Mrs. Hertz said kindly.
"Yes Mrs. Hertz," Jeremie agreed.
The class went on. Jeremie took his notes and raised his hand for a few questions. Every question wasn't an option, he was considered weird enough.
Suddenly a student rushed in.
Jeremie's eyes nearly bulged out of his sockets. He secretly thanked his prostitution training for preparing him to stay calm in unexpected situations.
"William," Mrs. Hertz said darkly, "get out."
Jeremie was surprised. Mrs. Hertz angry faced showed a serious dark side.
"I have a written excuse," William said, "Mr. Delmas signed it," he added causing most of the class to gasp.
Is he always late? Jeremie wondered.
"The headmaster?" Mrs. Hertz asked surprised, "oh my," she said after reading it, "go sit down William, you're tardiness is completely forgiven."
Jeremie noticed most of the class was in shock. Obviously Mrs. Hertz wasn't usually so forgiving of William's tardiness. He immediately bent to fix his shoelaces until the blue haired teen was out of immediate eye shot. When class was over he was one of the first out the door. He gave Mrs. Hertz a quick smile and compliment for a well taught class as he dashed off.
Second period was Computer class and Jeremie met up with someone he hadn't seen in a while.
"Yumi," Jeremie called when he saw she was coming up the steps alone.
Yumi looked to see him. But instead of looking happy, she looked like a deer caught in the headlights.
What's up with her? Jeremie wondered.
Jeremie left for class before anyone witnessed this and classified him as an even bigger weirdo.
Computer class was mostly uneventful. Until at the end of class when his eyes met William's. After an intense moment of silence he fled.
An incredibly embarrassed William refused to answer questioning glances and left quickly. Especially when looked at by Yumi.
--
Last class of the day was Drama. Their teacher, Mr. Gustave Chardin was looking for persons to play certain parts in his special musical. Most of his regular actors were in other school plays and some he had expected to use were unavailable. So he had to turn to non-theatre students. Some actually fled to their seats or sank lower in their chairs when he asked if they could participate.
Then his eyes fell on Jeremie.
"I don't do…no thanks," Jeremie responded to his glance.
Mr. Chardin sighed.
"I'll volunteer," William said suddenly.
"I thought he said he was too cool for musicals," a student commented.
"I don't think so," Mr. Chardin refused, "I don't trust you," he added.
Jeremie looked at William quizzically. Was he that much a delinquent in all his classes?
William felt a stare and looked. He noticed Jeremie staring in a different direction.
"Hey Jeremie in Wonderland," Christophe M'Bala said in reference to Jeremie, "you finish staring at your prince?"
The class burst out in laughter as Jeremie went beet red.
"Christophe," Mr. Chardin reprimanded, "don't think I won't punish you because you volunteered to play an extra in my play," he warned.
Christophe sat back quietly. His omnipresent headphones currently around his neck.
Jeremie meanwhile was seething.
I'll get him back, Jeremie thought.
As class neared its end Jeremie raised his hand.
"Yes Jeremie?" Mr. Chardin asked.
"Um, would it help if I volunteered for the play?" Jeremie asked humbly causing several students to gawk at him.
Mr. Chardin was thoroughly surprised.
"Can you even sing?" Christophe asked rudely.
Jeremie turned to face him.
"I sing and play over thirteen instruments," Jeremie told him.
Even Mr. Chardin's mouth fell open.
"What can you sing?" Mr. Chardin asked.
Jeremie sang a verse from 'Moody River' by Pat Boone. When he was none almost no mouth was closed. A few girls even cried.
"Can you sing another verse?" Yumi asked, "it's…it's a nice song," she said when everyone started staring at her.
Jeremie complied; in fact, he sang the entire song from beginning to end. Afterwards the class broke out in applause. Except for Christophe and William.
William in shock.
Christophe in jealousy.
"You have to be in my play," Mr. Chardin begged and even got on his knees.
Jeremie was getting crept out.
"Teach," William spoke, "you keep that up and he's going to run away."
Jeremie tried to hide his fear but failed.
Mr. Chardin sighed.
"I just want this play to do well," Mr. Chardin said his weariness now obvious in his voice.
Jeremie felt sorry for him.
He really wants success for his play, Jeremie thought.
"I'll help," Jeremie said kindly, "on stage and off, I'll help you make your play a success," he told Mr. Chardin.
Christophe imitated a violin, emitting a few sniggers from the class.
"You know," Jeremie spoke, "for someone who volunteered to play a part in Mr. Chardin's play," he said, "you're sure not helping him add to his cast."
The class fell in silence.
Christophe actually looked blindsided. He soon stared intently at the floor.
"Um, class dismissed," Mr. Chardin decided, "tell anyone who asks that I needed to speak to some of the cast members and decided to let everyone else out early," he told them.
Students slowly got up and left. Showing even their usual stamina was affected by Jeremie's statement.
Jeremie sat where he was a little longer then got up to leave.
"Sit down, please," Mr. Chardin said and a surprised Jeremie obeyed.
William noticed and decided to hang back at the doors pretending to be looking through his bag.
"Christophe," Mr. Chardin said, "Christophe," he repeated when the teen didn't look up from the floor.
Christophe looked up. His face betraying his hurt.
"Okay boys," Mr. Chardin said, "while I'm glad you defended my play Jeremie," he said, "I don't appreciate it being at the expense of my students," he told Jeremie.
"Yes sir," Jeremie said.
"Okay," Mr. Chardin said, "Christophe," he said changing his focus, "you've met someone who's blown a quiet but deadly gasket at your bullying," he said, "please stop offending students in my class," he said seriously.
"Yeah, okay sir," Christophe said nodding.
"Now you two can go," Mr. Chardin said, "oh wait, Jeremie read these," he said grabbing a copy of the play and some miscellaneous notes, "get a feel of the play before our meeting tomorrow after school."
"Okay," Jeremie said, "goodbye sir," he said and left.
"Jeremie," William called, "you're jumpy," he commented after Jeremie nearly went a foot up in the air.
"What's up with you two?" Christophe asked suspiciously.
"Go to homeroom worm," William snapped rudely.
Jeremie noticed the hurt look on his face and felt sorry for him.
"Christophe," Jeremie spoke, "I'm sorry that I said anything to upset you," he apologized.
Christophe turned to look Jeremie straight in the eye.
"Burn in hell faggot," Christophe said and left.
Jeremie felt his anger skyrocket.
"See, he's an ass," William told him.
Jeremie turned his killer glare on William.
"Whoa, what's my crime?" William asked incredulously.
Jeremie continued to glare.
"Guess I caused you a little trouble today," William noted, "even if it wasn't all my fault," he added causing Jeremie to go red.
"I didn't…I didn't know you attended this school," Jeremie said honestly.
"Didn't know that your boyfriend's one night stand attended such a prestigious place of learning?" William teased.
"Can we not?" Jeremie asked as he quickly looked around.
"Okay, okay," William said calming him down, "have a nice day," he said and with a grin walked away.
Jeremie soon started moving in the opposite direction.
What a first day, Jeremie thought.
After he was gone, a nearby door opened and out stepped Christophe.
"So it was a good thing I decided to listen in after all," Christophe realized, "let's see who the worm is now."
--
It was 5pm when Odd turned on the television. He was still trying to catch his breath. Frederick had convinced Odd to go out in public with him. BIG MISTAKE.
Since it was recently confirmed that Odd – the only son of the deceased Della Robia moguls – had been found, the media was in frenzy. Tabloids everywhere wanted something on him for a juicy story. They had even found out that he had been given an evaluation of his mental health the day before. They results were sealed but that didn't stop the tabloids for supposing everything from retardation to insanity. If it could sell, they'd write it.
Frederick came and sat beside Odd.
"I'm sorry I didn't do more to protect you," Frederick apologized, "I just…"
"You had to make it official that I was no longer missing," Odd understood, "a lot of people searched and worried for me," he said, "they deserved to know I'm back."
Frederick nodded.
"It's those reporters that are the problem," Odd said recalling why both were now o exhausted.
Four miles from the mansion there was a media mob where the limo was taking them home. Police soon came and made way as they escorted the two to their police car. Unfortunately the mob couldn't be contained and started to chase both Frederick and Odd. They had to run all the way to the mansion and scale the gate to get inside.
Odd said he nearly had a heart attack.
Frederick said it was the worst day of his life.
Frederick reached out and took Odd's hand.
"I won't let anyone take you back," Frederick said suddenly, "you know that, right?" he asked Odd.
Odd's heart fell.
If they came back for me, Odd thought, you wouldn't be able to do a thing to stop them.
"Yes," Odd lied and squeezed his cousin's hand, "my home will always be with you."
--
Meanwhile Mr. Stern stood over Ulrich glaring. He had found some tablets in Ulrich's room while searching for something. Curious, he had them tested.
Now he was standing over Ulrich furious.
Mrs. Ophelia Stern had been ordered to leave the room.
"When were you going to tell me?" Mr. Stern demanded.
"Dad I…" Ulrich started.
"Ecstasy Ulrich!" Mr. Stern exploded, "that's what you used out there and now in here when you've come home!"
Ulrich gulped.
I'm in big trouble now, Ulrich thought.
----
Today's November 20, 2008 (last update was 2007). Sorry for the wait. Please read and review.