14. His first kiss was a week before he got his acceptance letter with a girl named Suzette Arthur. Her eyes were the same shade as Aelita's.
Suzette Arthur is the youngest of the Arthur girls – six daughters all with deep auburn hair and a dimple when they smiled. Suzette is the only one with eyes the color of early spring grass, of the fresh shoots of new crops, of ripe Chardonnay grapes. Jeremie notices them one gray day in late winter, when she's standing in front of the school, breath misting the air and waiting with her sisters for a ride home.
Suzette catches him watching and her head tilts to the side curiously. The gray skies make her eyes seem brighter than usual. Jeremie feels himself flush, and he isn't sure why. Suzette watches him until Colette nudges her in the side and the two sisters laugh and laugh. Jeremie's flush deepens and he hurries home, trying to forget about Suzette's eyes or the small gap between her teeth.
That night he dreams of spring grass and warm sunshine.
. . ... . .
"Just because you've got a thing for Aelita—"
"I do not have a thing—"
"Doesn't mean we have to drop everything to put our lives on the line!" Ulrich finishes, ignoring Jeremie's spluttering and red face. He crosses his arms over his chest and stares the younger boy down. "We have lives too."
"Well, some of us do," Odd states. He ignores Ulrich's glare and twirls a strand of hair around his finger.
"What Ulrich's trying to say," Yumi interrupts, stepping forward, "is that we want to help, Jeremie. Really, we do," she insists as Ulrich's glare deepens. "But, how long will this go on for? It's already been over a month."
Jeremie winces subtly at that, sensing the animosity rolling off of Ulrich in waves. "We're close," he says. "I'm close."
"So you say," Ulrich states, voice flat.
Jeremie feels the anger rise in him, building like a tsunami. He swallows hard. "How can you say that?" he asks, voice raw and angry. "How can any of you say that? You've met Aelita! You've seen what XANA can do! You want to just leave her to that?"
Odd sighs, kicks at a broken piece of machinery. "Come on guys," he says, voice bright. "If Einstein can't figure this out no one can."
Somehow the words don't fill Jeremie with confidence.
. . ... . .
He isn't sure why his thoughts seem to be filled with Suzette Arthur these days. They've shared classes their whole lives. He's accompanied his father on work trips to the Arthur Vineyard when machinery needed fixing, and again when the harvest was collected and the champagne tastings commenced for the new vintage. He's known Suzette since they were toddlers, chasing a scruffy dog through her family's grape vines.
It's like a switch has been flipped in him though. In spite of his best efforts he finds his eyes drawn to her, finds himself looking for excuses to speak with her whether it's inquiring about a homework assignment or asking to borrow a pencil. It's demeaning, but his pulse races whenever she gives him a smile or he catches her green eyes brightening when he taps her on the shoulder and she half-turns to meet his gaze.
Suzette sits in front of Jeremie in class, a product of their last names being so close in the alphabet. She's soft-spoken, but brilliant in a way that leaves Jeremie feeling parched, like he's stumbling blind through a desert storm. He can't help a small smile each time she raises her hand in class and gets the answer correct. He isn't sure what's wrong with him.
Denis gives him a knowing look during lunch, catching the way Jeremie's eyes are drawn back to Suzette as she lets out a bright burst of laughter. "Careful with that one," Denis says.
"What are you talking about?" Jeremie asks.
"Just trust me," Denis replies, not answering. He's watching Suzette as well. Jeremie doesn't like the expression on his face.
. . ... . .
"Do you think Emily is pretty?" Yumi asks.
Jeremie groans and looks over at Yumi. They're supposed to be studying but it's clear Yumi's been distracted again. He follows Yumi's gaze and sees Emily sitting at another library table, surrounded by a stack of books. Jeremie watches as Theo takes a seat at the table next to her.
"Didn't we go over this already?" he grumbles.
Yumi sighs. "Theo seems to think she's pretty."
Jeremie raises his eyebrows, watches as Theo leans into Emily, pretending to look at whatever book she's copying from. Emily leans away. "Do you want Theo to think you're pretty?"
"What? No!" Yumi looks scandalized and Jeremie wants this whole conversation to end. He's already getting a headache. "I mean, I don't care if he does. I don't like Theo."
"Then why do you care if he thinks Emily is pretty?" Jeremie barely keeps himself from whining. He looks back at his chemistry notes and hopes Yumi will get the hint.
"Ulrich spends a lot of time with her."
Jeremie lets his forehead thump lightly onto his notebook. After a moment he turns so his cheek is resting on the paper and he can watch Yumi not-so-subtly watch the other girl. "Yumi," he says. "Yumi." She looks over at him, bottom lip between her teeth and Jeremie sighs, forces himself to sit up. "Emily is Emily," he says with a shrug. "Stop worrying. You both look fine."
Yumi gives him an amused look. Jeremie can't help but feel like it's the same indulgent smile she bestows on Hiroki when he's being particularly naïve. "Remind me to give you a list of compliments to memorize when you get a girlfriend," she says.
Jeremie frowns at her, but its broken the spell and she's back to working on her science homework. The only issue is now Jeremie can't concentrate. He finds himself sneaking glances at Emily's table, watching as she ignores Theo until the other boy eventually grows bored and wanders off. Jeremie hadn't been lying, Emily is pretty enough, he guesses, just like Yumi. Both have dark hair and a quiet intensity about them, but neither make him feel tongue-tied or light-headed.
He shrugs and forces himself to return to his notes, he's almost positive Hertz had been hinting at a pop quiz tomorrow and he doesn't want to fail.
. . ... . .
Jeremie isn't sure what possessed him to accompany his father to the Arthur property to repair one of their machines. But, he dutifully drags himself out of bed in the early hours of the morning, eats the porridge his father has made, and helps him double check the tools in his truck before they set off. It's late spring and the first shoots of new growth are beginning to push their way through the ploughed fields lining the road.
It's a gray morning, the sun hidden behind thick banks of clouds. Suzette's father meets them at the shed and both men begin discussing the machine and the outlook on the crops. Jeremie grows bored and wanders around the property, half-listening for his father to call him back to help. He hears a dog barking, follows the sound past one of the outbuildings and to the creek that borders one edge of the property.
Suzette is there, dressed in an evergreen sweater and jeans, throwing a ball to her scruffy dog. She looks up and smiles at him bright enough that her dimple shows. Jeremie lifts a hand awkwardly to wave. "What are you doing here?" she asks as he approaches.
"My father's working on one of your machines," he replies. He crouches down, pets the dog absently.
"Of course," she replies. She crouches in front of him, eyes bright in the early morning gloom. "I'm glad you're here," she says.
He swallows, throat dry. "Yeah?" he asks.
"Yes." Her voice is firm. She picks up the ball, tosses it for the dog. He isn't sure what to do with his hands once the dog runs off after its toy. "Let's walk."
He falls into step with her, walking along the bank of the creek.
"You've been watching me," she says. There's no accusation in her voice, but Jeremie still feels his cheeks heating in embarrassment. He hadn't thought he was that obvious. "Why?"
He chances a look at her and she looks genuinely curious, eyebrows pulled together like she's trying to decipher a particularly difficult math problem. "You have pretty eyes." He almost chokes on his words when he realizes what he's just said. His face flushes brighter, but Suzette just laughs.
"They haven't changed," she replies. She stops, her hand finds his wrist and pulls him to a stop next to her. Her head tilts to one side. "So what has?"
"I don't know," he replies, voice painfully honest. He looks over her shoulder, studies the sway of the trees and the gray clouds reflected in the slow-moving water of the creek. "I like the way you always twirl your hair when you're thinking, and the way you don't need a calculator in math."
"Jeremie."
He looks back at her and frowns. "Why are you smiling like that?"
She just laughs, soft and a little self-conscious. She leans in, presses her mouth against his. Her hand rests on his shoulder and their noses bump a little awkwardly. Her lips are slightly chapped from the cold and he can taste a trace of mint toothpaste.
"I…I…why?" he stammers when they break apart.
Suzette gives him another slow smile. "You're sweet," she says.
Jeremie feels his confusion rise, but his father chooses that moment to call for him. Suzette's still smiling as she whistles for the scruffy dog. "Thank you," she says as he turns to go back.
"For what?"
"For noticing."
. . ... . .
Odd stretches with a loud and obnoxious yawn. Kiwi glances up at him before settling down once more when it's apparent Odd isn't about to get up or pull out treats. Jeremie looks over from where they're watching some action movie he's lost the plot to half an hour ago. There's a scantily clad girl on the screen making eyes at the male lead and judging by the music and pacing, Jeremie's pretty sure he knows what's about to happen.
He lets out a long suffering sigh as suddenly the two characters are wrapped around each other even though they were just being shot at a minute ago.
"What, not up to your standards?" Odd asks. He flops forward onto his bed and Kiwi gives him a disgruntled look. "She's pretty hot. Unless you aren't into…?" Odd gives him an obnoxious eyebrow waggle.
"Odd," Ulrich warns.
"It's a valid question! It's not like Einstein's ever expressed interest in the girls around here." Jeremie feels his face flush and hopes the blue light from the screen doesn't make it too obvious. Judging by Odd's slow grin his prayers haven't been answered. Typical. "So, what is it Einstein?"
"It's just unrealistic," he replies, voice higher than usual. He clears his throat. "They're under attack and being hunted down by…spies?"
"Warring gang," Ulrich supplies.
"Right, well, people want them dead," Jeremie states. "Why would they decide to make-out now?"
Ulrich gives him a considering look and Odd just shakes his head at him. "Heat of the moment? They don't know if they'll live to do it later. Romance is lost on you."
"Romance is not lost on me. I don't see anything romantic about being covered in blood and sweat."
Odd mutters under his breath, Jeremie doesn't catch all of it but he does hear Yumi and Ulrich mentioned, and Ulrich throws his pillow at Odd's head. Jeremie ignores them both, draws his knees up under his chin and studies the screen. He just…doesn't see the appeal.
"Have you ever even kissed someone?" Odd asks a few minutes later.
Jeremie shoots him a glare but Odd looks genuinely curious, the teasing grin gone from his face. Jeremie hesitates for a moment before he shrugs. "Of course," he replies. "And we weren't covered in blood at the time. It was…nice."
"Aelita?" Ulrich prods.
Jeremie flushes again, shakes his head. "No," he says. "This was…before."
"But it was a girl?" Odd presses. Jeremie rolls his eyes, throws his shoe at Odd. He hears Ulrich laugh as Odd ducks the projectile. "Hey!" he protests. "I was just checking. You know it'd be cool with me if you were into guys?"
"It was a girl," Jeremie replies. He returns his attention to the television screen, but out of the corner of his eye he catches Ulrich staring at Odd curiously.
. . ... . .
Jeremie doesn't know what to make of the kiss with Suzette. Is he supposed to bring it up? Is he supposed to forget about it? She still sits in front of him in class, still gives him that same warm smile when she sees him, but she doesn't take his wrist again, she doesn't kiss him again. Maybe he's supposed to kiss her now?
Jeremie watches her walk to the bus stop after school, auburn hair loose and wild around her face. Her eyes are still bright and he remembers the way the weak sunlight had glinted in them on her father's property. He remembers the slightly chapped feel of her lips against his, soft and warm. Two of her sisters are with her and their giggles carry in the cold wind.
He contemplates asking his mother about it. Maybe she would be able to explain the complexities of girls to him. When he gets home his mother is giving a piano lesson in the front room. She offers him a bright smile before her attention returns to Matthieu and his butchering of the song he's practicing. Jeremie can't even pick out what it's supposed to be.
"A letter came for you," she tells him, distracted. "It's on the table."
Jeremie enters the kitchen and finds the letter sitting crisp and inviting on the wooden table. He forgets all about warm smiles, soft kisses, and green eyes as he reads the words printed on the letter. He did it. He's been accepted.
A week after he's opened the letter, a week of walking on clouds and pinching himself blue to make sure that he wasn't dreaming, Suzette suddenly turns around in her chair. She gives him a small smile that doesn't show off her teeth but is still warm like spring sunshine. "I hear you got into Kadic," she says.
"I did," he replies, smiling wide enough that he can feel his cheeks throb.
"Congratulations," she says. She reaches out, fingers brushing his hand. "You'll be missed."
"Thank you," he replies.
Suzette gives him another smile, squeezes his hand lightly, and then turns around to face the front of the room again. Jeremie is still smiling, still giddy with excitement over what's to come, but he can't help but feel like he's missed something as well. He just isn't sure what.
. . ... . .
Aelita's eyes are the color of new crops, Chardonnay grapes, spring grass. They sparkle like sunlight shining through an empty champagne bottle. Jeremie feels himself frozen every time they turn on him, bright and curious and so full of life it makes his stomach flip uncomfortably.
"What are you thinking about?" Aelita asks, voice soft and lilting. He's never been able to place the slight accent to her words, some holdover from her time spent on Lyoko, he supposes. Or maybe some forgotten accent from her first life on Earth. Her hand reaches up, palm warm and fingertips cool as they press against his cheek. "Jeremie?"
He gives her a small, shy smile, sees it reflected in the curve of her mouth. "Nothing," he says. Everything, he thinks. You, he doesn't say.
Her smile shifts, grows fond. "Try not to get lost in your thoughts," she teases. She leans in, kisses him sweetly, and he thinks he can drown in her.
"I'll try," he replies. He leans in, kisses her again. He still gets that thrill of surprise that he can do this. That he's allowed this. He twirls a strand of her blonde hair around his finger. He misses the pink, but the blonde suits her as well. He can't imagine a color that wouldn't.
Aelita sighs against him, her eyes drifting closed. He lets his fingers slide into her hair, hand cradling the delicate bones of her skull. Aelita presses closer, mouth warm and lips soft. Her hand is warm against his cheek, her other arm tight around his neck as she keeps them pressed together.
There's the sound of a wolf whistle and Jeremie jerks back, face flushing automatically. Odd grins brightly at them, eyes laughing. Even all this time later, Jeremie's still surprised at how similar Odd's eyes are to Aelita's. Ulrich leans against the wall next to Odd, arms crossed over his chest and amused smile in place. Yumi fights to hide a smile behind her hand, but she gives them an outrageous wink. Jeremie wishes the pavement would open up and swallow him whole.
Aelita half turns, sticks her tongue out at Odd, Ulrich, and Yumi. "You're early," she scolds.
"I think you'll find that we're on time," Odd counters.
"That's early for you!" Aelita protests. She disentangles herself from Jeremie but links their fingers together.
"Come on, lovebirds," Yumi says. "I thought we were seeing a film tonight?"
"We sure they should be in a dark room?" Ulrich counters.
"Shut-up, like you're any better," Jeremie grumbles.
Ulrich's face flushes and Odd lets out a surprised laugh, nudging Ulrich lightly in the ribs. Yumi gives up trying to hide her smile, letting it spread wide and easy across her face.
"Jeremie has a point," Yumi states. "You two are much more likely to make-out in the cinema."
"You're shameless," Aelita adds, grinning.
"Yeah, yeah, come on, we don't want to be late," Odd says.
He shepherds them toward the gates to Kadic and Aelita tugs lightly on Jeremie's hand, leading them after their friends. Jeremie lets himself be pulled along, hand warm in Aelita's. She catches him watching her and raises her eyebrows questioningly.
"What are you thinking about?" she asks, voice soft as she echoes her earlier question.
She gives him a smile and impulsively he pulls her close, kisses her once more. Her cheeks are pink, her green eyes bright as meadow grass. She looks surprised and pleased simultaneously.
"You," he murmurs.