A/N: Enjoy the read!

Disclaimer: I do not own Code Lyoko! Only my imagination :)!


She had been out shopping. Afternoons in the weekend were her only free time. At first she was horrified by the idea of having so little time to herself. But she got used to it eventually. Carrying two large shopping bags, she walked towards the taxi stand. She spotted a piece of gum on the ground and stepped around it, bumping into someone in the process.

"Aren't you supposed to walk straight?" The 'victim' asked.

She didn't bother to look up after hearing such a remark. "Look here, I just tried to avoid that. I'm sorry." It sounded a little exasperated.

"Elizabeth?" Hearing her real first name made her look up.

"It's Sissi," she sighed in annoyance.

There was a good reason for it, other than what had just happened. She eyed the young man in front of her. Tall, plain jeans, white t-shirt, black jacket, spiky hair, headphones. "Still the same as always, huh William?" Sissi commented.

"I'm sure you've heard the news by now, but are you aware your girlfriend's current boss is none other than Ulrich? Can you even imagine that? I still think it's weird, but I can't deny that Ulrich is capable of achieving great things," she rambled on.

It was William's turn to sigh. "For someone who was always on top of the latest gossip, you're pretty slow with this one," he told her. "Hello, we're not in school anymore. There is really no need now." She pointed at him and gestured around her. "I can leave things behind me you know. Besides, I see Ulrich every now and then. So it's all fine." Sissi stood upright, trying to keep her calm.

"Well then, you might want to get the most recent update from him," William suggested and walked away without another word. She followed him, but his strides were long and his pace quick. She scurried over and managed to grab his arm. "Or you tell me. Did something happen to Ulrich?" Her gaze was fierce. He was irritated and shrugged her off. "Do I need to remind you that you were the one who called out to me and not the other way around?" She fired at him. "Seems like you have something to tell me."

William hesitated. He recalled earlier conversations with her. In which they were completely honest with each other about their feelings for the ones they loved. They never really formed an alliance nor a friendship. What did you call this relationship? He silently strode towards a small park with a fountain near the street they were on. Sissi was determined to follow him to find out what he had to say.

"Yumi and I broke up," he revealed as he seated himself on a bench.

A revelation that shocked Sissi into sitting on the bench as well. Because it meant Ulrich would pay even less attention to her. Would Ulrich hold back or would he waste no time? "I figured you would want to know," he interfered her thought streak. "That's what came to mind when I said your name."

He continued. "And thinking about it, maybe it's better you heard it from me."

Sissi looked at him. He clearly wasn't joking. "I'm sorry," she said, which surprised him. "You're apologizing?" It bewildered him.

She glared at him. "We always talked about Ulrich and Yumi, didn't we? Many times I've asked myself why it appeared like they were indeed a great match and not Ulrich and me. I'm sure you have had those thoughts as well. Actually, I envied you for having reached the next step while I was still trying to get him to notice me," Sissi spilled her inner feelings.

"I blew my chances. It's all over. No remedy to it," William said. "Don't expect me to tell you why," he told her.

"That's fine by me. I wasn't going to ask anyway," she said, while putting her bags in between them on the bench.

"Hadn't you given up on Ulrich?" He asked.

"I guess the majority of me did. But the stubborn part of me didn't," she answered. He snorted. "You mean to say your stubborn part isn't one of the larger ones?"

Sissi glared again. "No, I'm saying, the importance of it just diminished. I mean, I couldn't hang around him forever. I found things to do and was glad I – albeit reluctantly – agreed to work with my mother. I see him occasionally and that was enough for the time being. I only wished the hostility would disappear, but with Yumi back in the picture," she trailed off. The rest of that sentence was plain to see.

"Maybe you should talk to Yumi?" William encouraged her. "Excuse me? Why would I do that? It was bad enough having to see her at our office once. Let alone us having a private conversation. I don't think I've ever had one with her. None at all," she rejected his idea and shook her head.

"I'm just putting forward the option. There is a reason. You're not going to like it," he announced.

"Is this part about Ulrich?" Sissi bit on her lip, unsure of whether she wanted to hear it. She didn't want her suspicions confirmed.

"They are going out now." William's bitter tone reflected her souring mood. Sissi glanced the other way, taking a moment to digest the information.

"I still think it's ridiculous to talk to Yumi about Ulrich," she couldn't find anything else to say. "That might be, but she's rational. She will at least hear you out. Sure, you shouldn't go into the conversation with hopes of wonders taking place. However, it can help to put it behind you. There is really no big reason for you to view her as an enemy," he explained.

"Of course you would say that. Yumi was your girlfriend," she said.

"It wasn't anything special," he lied.

"Liar. You forget I understand how you would feel better than anyone now," she stated.

William fidgeted with his headphones. "To Yumi I was nothing more than a friend," his bitterness returned.

"And," she emphasized, "I have already put it behind me."

"Now, you lied about that twice today," he countered.

Sissi got up, ignoring the jab. "I will be fine as long as I don't run into you again." She flipped her hair and grabbed her bags. "Don't worry. It's not like I enjoy having to regret and be reminded of the fact that we both couldn't get what we wanted," he said, watching her turn to go. "Besides, I'm moving soon. So, that should do the trick."

She turned around upon hearing the new information. "Where to?"

"The other side of the country. Going to study in the south. Everything's already prepared for my transfer," he disclosed. Sissi eyed him. "Well, good luck," she told him.

"Thanks," he said, a neutral expression on his face. It was followed by confusion, because Sissi didn't leave.

"I'll take your stupid suggestion into consideration," she said. "I probably won't get anywhere, but I'll try to talk to Yumi," she mulled over her decision.

"Good luck to you too then," William said.

Sissi wanted to leave again, but stopped herself once more. "Although we're definitely not friends," she started, seeing he was intrigued by her word choice. "I appreciate the talks we've had throughout the years. I reckon nothing has helped me with this 'issue' as much as you have," she revealed, while turning her back to him.

"Likewise," she heard him say when she walked away.

Whatever the topic of her conversation with Yumi would be, she knew it would not settle their differences. Sissi understood there was no mending anything, because there hadn't ever been anything to fall apart. But if she could talk to Ulrich on a semi-normal level, then it should be possible with Yumi too without standing in a toxic environment.

Now all that was left was accepting their new status and moving on as well. It seems everyone was.

Ulrich was important to her. Of course he was. But it was time to switch her priorities. Sissi was aware she had to let go eventually. Even if that meant his significance in her life would disappear.

She could do that. Ultimately, at some time in the future. She would do that.


A/N: I think that's the last person that should move on. For now :P! Thanks for reading! See you in two weeks (and a half maybe, since it's Tuesday and I am still trying to stick to having updates in weekends instead of weekdays. Not that I'm succeeding)!