A/N: Hey, guys! I know some of you readers have been wondering about when Jin is going to come into the story more but he'll be playing some major parts after the next few chapters so just hang tight and read! On another note, I've recently become obsessed with the song 'Freak the Freak Out' from Victorious. It's a really nice song. ^_^ Don't forget to review!

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Chapter 35

Dec. 24th

Jace watched from the bench while the twins jumped all over Kevin. Many guys were looking at him strangely, after all, he was a Stern, the star player of Kadic's soccer team and probably the most wanted male in the the school...and he was playing with children? That certainly rose a few eyebrows. Aaren smiled at them before walking over and sitting next to Jace. He looked over at his sister.

"Are you alright?" he asked.

Jace sighed and turned to look at him.

"I should be asked you that question," she told him.

Aaren chuckled.

"I'm fine. It's a good thing you found me, though. I would have bled to death and a Return to the Past wouldn't be able to fix anything. Just because the super computer has power doesn't mean it can always work miracles," he said.

Jace nodded and looked forward, her eyes focusing on her twin sisters.

"I'm glad."

"About what?" he asked.

"That they can't remember a thing. Aaren, the look on their faces...it was almost to much to bear. They were so afraid..." she trailed off.

The blonde nodded and placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Well, they're fine, now," he said.

"But what happens if he tries it again?" she challenged.

"He won't!" said Aaren.

Jace stared at his face before turning away.

"Aaren, you didn't see the way they looked...the way you looked."

"Aw, Jace. Don't go thro-"

"I watched you nearly die, Aaren. Do you know how that makes me feel? Now, just the thought of you..." she breathed in a shaky sigh.

Aaren nodded and placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

"You know me, Jace. I always scrape by in the end," he told her.

She nodded but turned away, unable to voice the words she wanted so badly for him to realize.

But one day...you might not be able to.

Dec. 25th

Christmas Dance

The Code Breakers were standing by the stage, waiting for Pete to call them onto the stage. Some other kids were singing 'Oh Holy Night' and Kevin felt like sleeping until someone tapped his shoulder. He looked back and saw Jacob and some other boy, Wyatt McCarthy – another American. Kevin raised an eye.

"What?" he asked.

Jacob nudged Wyatt to talk and Wyatt did the same to Jacob.

"You tell him. You're doing it!" Jacob whispered sharply.

"You do it! You're the one who dared me," Wyatt retorted.

"Mind telling us what's going on?" asked Aaren, walking up to them.

Jacob sighed.

"Wyatt and I lost a bet and now we have to sing onstage or I'm paying Patrick Cruz 100 Euros. Wyatt and I didn't want to just get up there and sing by ourselves like idiots so we were wondering-"

"If you guys could sing with us," Kevin finished.

Jacob nodded. Kevin looked at the rest, as if asking for permission.

"I vote 'yes'," said Emma.

Annie nodded, agreeing with her.

"Besides, for this song, we could use all the male voices we can get," said the pinkette.

They all agreed to that. Kevin nodded and looked at Jacob.

"Can you sing?" he asked.

"Come on, Stern. You've heard me on karaoke night," he told Kevin.

The black-haired boy rolled his eyes.

"Just don't screw up," he told him, turning back to his brooding as he leaned against the side of the stage, waiting for the band to finish their sleep-worthy song.

Finally they were done and Pete called them up next.

"Hey, guys. You ready?" he asked.

The Code Breakers nodded.

"Kadic! Give it up for your very own CODE BREAKERS!" Pete shouted, announcing them.

Aaren ran up to Kevin and dumped a Christmas hat on his head. Kevin glared at him.

"Come on, Kev! Get into the Christmas spirit! Let's go!" he cheered and got on stage along with the rest of them.

Their instruments were set up already. At the dance, there weren't that many people, just a few hundred or so students so they weren't playing for a big crowd. Either way, Aaren wanted to play it right so he signaled for Annie to begin. The pinkette nodded and began playing the intro to the Christmas song they would be singing on her keyboard. Aaren bobbed his head and hummed the intro then he began to sing.

"Merry Christmas and happy holidays," he sang out softly

Kevin, Caleb, Wyatt and Jacob started up. The rest of the band played the rest of the instruments, Emma playing drums, Jace playing guitar and Caleb playing bass.

"Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays," they sang.

Kevin went up to the mic, pushed it closer to his mouth and sang.

"We've been waiting all year for this night
And the snow is glistening on the trees outside
And all the stockings are hung by the fire side
Waiting for Santa to arrive

And all the love will show

Cause everybody knows

It's Christmas time and

All the kids will see

The gifts under the tree

It's the best time of year for the family," he sang out.

He backed up and lined up with Jacob, Wyatt, Caleb and Aaren. Together they sang, clapping they're hands to the music the band was making.

"It's a wonderful feeling

Feel the love in the room from the floor to the ceiling

It's that time of year

Christmas time is here

And with the blessings from above

God sends you his love

And everybody's okay

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays

Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas

Happy Holidays," they sang together.

They kept singing (Aaren singing Justin's part, Kevin singing JC's part), doing various dance moves to match the songs. Jacob, Caleb and Wyatt sang back-up and everyone was dancing along. Finally, Kevin sang out the last verse.

"No matter what your holiday
It's a time to celebrate
And put your worries aside."

"Worries aside," sang Jacob, Wyatt and Caleb.
"And open up your mind."

"Open up your mind," they backed-up.

Kevin smiled and made his voice as loud as possible.
"See the world right by your side
It's Christmastime," he sang and did a backflip off of the stage, landing in the crowds arms.

He still sang along to the ending, the wireless mic in his hand as he crowd-surfed.

"Sing it everybody!" he shouted.

The crowd sang alone with the band; everyone was dancing and having a good time. Finally the song came to and end and Kevin returned to the stage. They all took a bow and laughed as they got off the stage.

…

Jace stared around at the empty courtyard and sighed to herself quietly. It was dark, around 8 pm, and she was sitting on a bench directly under one of the trees in the school courtyard.

"What's wrong?" came a voice behind her.

She turned around to see Kevin approaching her. He sat down next her and grabbed her hand. She looked up at him.

"Nothing," she said.

The dark-haired boy looked at her, grabbing her chin and pulling her face up. He stared into her eyes, deep in thought.

"Jace, I'm serious. You seem so...out of it today. Don't think I don't see it," he told her.

She stared back at him and sighed, turning away.

"It's nothing, Kevin," she repeated.

Kevin's eyes narrowed at her.

"Don't lie to me, Jace. Tell me what's bugging you," he said.

Suddenly, she stood up, pulling her hand out of his, facing him full-on.

"You want to know what's wrong? This. This is all wrong!" she shouted at him.

Kevin got to his feet.

"Jace, you're not making any sense."

"Lyoko! XANA! That stupid super computer! It's all wrong! Because of it, so many people will suffer! Because of it, there is absolutely no chance of the world being safe!" she yelled at him.

Kevin grabbed her shoulders.

"Jace. Calm do-"

"DON'T TELL ME TO CALM DOWN! You didn't see him!" she screamed.

Kevin gave her a confused look.

"See who?" he asked.

"Aaren! Your best friend! You're supposed to protect him, Kevin! You're supposed to make sure he doesn't get hurt or injured or broken! That's your duty as a best friend! YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO PROTECT HIM AND YOU DIDN'T!"

Kevin gave her a worried look and tightened his hold on her shoulders.

"Jace, please. You're screaming now and it's not good for you to-"

"I can't do this," she said suddenly.

"What?" he asked, surprised by the sudden change in her tone.

"I can't do this," she repeated, looking up at him.

Kevin looked confused.

"Can't do what, Jace?"

She sniffed and stared at face before pulling his hands off of her shoulders and backing away slightly.

"Us, Kevin. I can't do us."

The boy froze and stared at the girl before, his brain unable to comprehend her words. Kevin blinked once, twice.

"A-are you breaking up with me?" he asked quietly.

Jace nodded and sniffed again. Kevin walked up to her and brought his hands up to her face, cradling it gently.

"There's something else you're not telling me," he said somberly.

Jace nodded and looked down, Kevin's hands still on the sides of her face.

"I'm leaving, Kevin. I got a scholarship to another boarding school in Paris," she told him.

Kevin's face scrunched up.

"You can afford to go to Kadic for ten lifetimes! Why are you going away to Paris?" he asked, trying to keep his voice from shaking.

Jace pulled his hands away and placed her own hands on his face, brushing his bangs away from his face and looked at him.

"To get away from here, Kevin. I don't want to be here. As much as I love all of you, as much as I love Kadic, I don't want to stay here...fighting to live when I'll just be living to fight. I need to leave, Kevin. Please understand that," she requested.

He stared down at the ground and took in a deep breath, letting it out slowly.

"When will you be leaving?" he asked.

"Around 10 pm tonight. I told Gramps and my parents know about it," she told him.

"Does Aaren know?" he asked.

Jace shook her head.

"I'll tell him over the phone, when I get there."

Kevin stared at her.

"So you were just going to leave without saying goodbye to any of us?" he asked.

Jace nodded.

"It would've made the break a lot easier. I'm just sorry that you had to find me tonight, Kevin. I know that it's Christmas and it's supposed to be a time for love and happiness and people getting together...but, for me, it's a time of change. I'm sorry, Kevin," she said, turning to leave.

Kevin grabbed her arm.

"Jace, please! I'm sorry! Whatever I did or didn't do, I'm sorry for it! Just don't leave! I need you here! We all need you here!" he begged.

Jace placed her hand on his and gently removed it from her arm. She walked up to him and stood on the tips of her toes to kiss him softly. After a few seconds, she pulled away and looked at him.

"No, you don't. You said it yourself Kevin, 'Seven is more than enough to fight off XANA.' Me leaving won't affect anything here. Goodbye, Kev. Merry Christmas," she muttered as she turned and left.

This time, Kevin did not stop her. He stared after her as she ran into the school, probably to get her bags and leave. He just stood there, gritting his teeth. Kevin looked up and saw something small, red and green.

Mistletoe. She had kissed him under the misteltoe.

He closed his eyes shut and bit his lip but couldn't hold it back. For the first time in a long, long time, tears flowed from his eyes as he sat down on the bench and buried his face in his hands, his shoulders shaking as tears rolled down his face. This was the first time he had cried in many years.

…

Jace stood in front of Kadic Academy, two suitcases occupying both of her hands. Finally, a black car pulled up and a man stepped out. He had short, brown hair and was wearing a white shirt and black pants.

"Did you do what I told you to do?" he asked her.

Jace nodded.

"Yeah. I broke up with him," she said.

"And he believed everything you said?" he asked seriously.

"I'm an excellent actress. Now, as we agreed. Are you sure that you hold up your part of the deal?" she asked, narrowly her swollen eyes.

The man nodded at her.

"Your family will be safe as long as I live," he told her, turning to open the back door for her.

Jace looked inside to see the same woman who had found her in the woods. Jace looked up at the man.

"The virus. It has been implanted?" she asked him.

He nodded.

"Your kiss was long enough for Katerina to transfer the bug into his central nervous system," he said, motioning towards the woman.

Jace looked at her; Katerina sighed and looked away, brushing a lock of red hair behind her ear. She didn't look proud of what she did. The young teen turned her gaze over to the man in front of her as she got into the car, pulling in her suitcases. She glared up at him.

"I hate that I have to help you, XANA. But if it'll save his life, I'm willing to do whatever you need me to do," said Jace, a frown on her face.

The man grinned and Jace watched as his pupils glitched once before morphing into the Eye of XANA.

…

A/N: And that is by far, the longest chapter I've written. Over 2,400 words, damn.

Like the new twist? Hate it? Well, review and you'll get to know more! So please review!