And here it is, THE FINAL PART! I can't believe I wrote this all in five days, but I hope you like this as much as you liked the others.
Part Ten- Anything
September
"You haven't lost your way, have you?"
"Of course I haven't lost my way." Yumi had no idea where she was going. She knew the Hermitage was somewhere near something called the Red Trail, but there were very few signs, and none for anything like that. "Ugh, uh, I'm in the woods."
"Yes, Yumi, it's in the woods." Aelita laughed over the phone. "I'm pretty sure it's to the north of the entrance-"
"Found it!" Yumi had spun around in her exasperation, and in the process had seen the tip of a very tall house. "I'll be there in a sec, okay?"
Yumi hung up the phone and set off at a sprint. She'd been to the house many times that summer, but she'd always shortcut through the sewers – it just so happened that today she didn't quite want to smell like a sewer. She'd arranged her hair perfectly, finally learned how to put on eyeliner, and even worn that leather jacket she hadn't taken out in a year. She hoped her sneakers would make it look like she wasn't trying TOO hard. They made it easier to run, in any case – not that she had anything to run from.
She took the steps up to the house two at a time, and rang the bell out of courtesy – the Hermitage's lock and doorbell had rusted away long ago, but Aelita had installed a padlock and a bell on a string for her own convenience.
"I'm coming, I'm coming!" Yumi heard several thumps from the inside, then aclick as Aelita undid the padlock. She opened the door wide to admit her. "You were right, you weren't lost!" she said.
"Hello to you too," Yumi said in jest. She looked Aelita up and down, and tried not to look too surprised. "Where'd you get all that?" she asked. "That's adorable!"
"Oh, this?" Aelita blushed, and tugged self-consciously on her skirt and jean jacket. "Jeremie and I went shopping a while back, and I haven't really had anything to dress up for in a while…"
"He's gonna love it," Yumi offered. "So, you ready to go back to the dorms?"
"Well, not right this minute," Aelita said. "But tonight? I'm packed already." She looked back into the hallway. It was even cleaner than the last time Yumi had seen it – a lot of the things that had been left behind had been straightened up, and much of the graffiti had been cleaned off. Aelita had spent much of the last month cleaning – Yumi had helped her on multiple occasions. "I wish I could take it all," she said wistfully. "That, or just forget it completely."
Yumi had no idea what to say. "I, uh…"
"Oh, never mind. Here, let's go," Aelita said. "You said the place is nearby, right? We won't be too late if we set off now."
"Some drinks to start, guys?"
"Well, we're waiting for two more people…"
"If you want to order yours, I can come back."
"Okay, uh, root beer."
"I'll just have water."
"I'll have a chocolate banana milkshake, ma'am. Oh, with a straw."
"They all have straws, dear," the waitress said, smiling at Odd. Odd grinned, but as she walked away, Ulrich slapped him on the back of the head, pushing him headfirst into his menu. "Hey!" Odd spun back and smacked Ulrich on the back, but not as hard. "What was that for?"
"She was like thirty!" Ulrich said. "You can't just flirt with every girl you see."
"I wasn't flirting, I was having fun."
"If it's you, it's flirting, Odd," Jeremie said with a sly grin. He had acted perfectly calm when he saw Ulrich and Odd in the restaurant, but Ulrich could see the way his fingers were tapping against the table. He was more excited to see them then he'd let on. Of course, given that Odd had attempted to tackle-hug him on a concrete sidewalk, he was sure he preferred a calmer greeting. "Have either of you guys heard anything from the girls?"
"As of three minutes ago, they're just walking up the street." Odd chuckled, but Ulrich ignored it. "That's strange, you'd think we would've seen them by…"
A shadow fell over his face, and he felt a hand against his shoulder. Reflexively, he jumped up, cursing rather loudly. He heard two very familiar giggles from above him, and turned around. "Jesus! Did you have to do that?"
"Well, yes," Aelita said, grinning from ear to ear. "Oh man, it's been way too long!"
She hugged him, and Yumi hugged Odd.T he next few minutes were just the same as they'd been when Jeremie and Odd had arrived; full of hugs and greetings and oh-i-love-your-outfits. Odd's got the biggest reaction from the girls – was it really that big of a shock to see him not wearing purple? – and Aelita told Jeremie how cute he looked in plaid before kissing him right on the lips. It took them a while to get situated, during which the waitress had to wait patiently for the girls' drink orders (apple juice for Aelita and ginger ale for Yumi).
The talk flew fast while they wanted for them to come. Aelita and Yumi were grilled about London, everyone was grilled about classes and teachers and adventures to come… "Why don't we hang out here more often?" Odd happened to say, and everyone nodded in agreement. Ulrich happened to look out the window, his eyes widening somewhat when he noticed what he could see right outside it.
He'd heard there were plans to tear it down sometime in the next few years. Maybe by the time they'd graduated, maybe by the time they came here for the last time, sitting in this exact booth even, it would be gone and replaced with something else. Maybe then he'd point it out. Maybe they'd go visit. Maybe they'd wonder why, with the factory gone, everything they'd done would seem like it had never happened…
"Hey, Ulrich. Come back to Earth, won't you?" Yumi tapped him on the shoulder, and he turned to look at her. She was smiling at first, but as her face changed he was sure she saw what he had seen. They looked at each other – her eyes were so close, maybe if he got his act together they could come even closer .
"It's going to be a great year, isn't it?" she said instead of commenting on the view.
"Yeah," he said. "Better than any we've had so far. I guess."
Oh look at that, look at him go! He's going, he's going, he's – what is he doing? Slicing? Dicing? Slicing and dicing is the best. I loved that best of all. I got to do so much of that. I'm happy you do too. We're like friends, you and I. Look at you, so engrossed. I guess I'll talk to you later then.
You're doing a wonderful job. Simply wonderful, Jean. I don't even think I could've done any better. The people I hate are going to hate you too. Ha ha! Ha ha!
"Hey."
Laura turned her head in the direction of the voice, and her eyes widened when she saw from whence it came. William Dunbar, the file read that appeared in her head. Sex male, hair black, eyes blue, though the part where he was leaning against the gate doing apparently nothing had been left out. Age 16. GPA 2.0, personality profile… "Hello," she said, trying to think of how to respond believably. "Do I…know you?"
"Nope." The boy stood up straight. "I've just never seen you before, so, welcome to Kadic, that's all."
Laura smiled, mostly to herself, but she supposed this William Dunbar and his expulsion would appreciate it. "Oh. Well, thank you. I'll see you around, I suppose."
"See you around," he said. Laura turned away from him and walked on. Just like he said, she'd have to run into him again over the next few days, she supposed. Start conversations, stir them towards computers and technology, and then…
There was a sound of voices behind her, and she stopped short, making a show of being engrossed in watching two squirrels play in a tree across the path. They looked just like their photographs – she wondered how recently they'd been taken. They were all smiling – good signs, they were friendly.
But wait, why had William not joined them? Why were they stopping, and where was Yumi? A quick glance back, as well as the disappearances of the smiles from many of their faces, told her more than the file ever could. Yumi was talking to William now – she was too far away to tell what they were saying, but something was changing, that was for sure.
It was not in her best interests to loiter anymore. "See you around," she said, this time entirely for her own benefit.
And now it is done. Thank you so much for all your support, everyone!
- Carth