Aelita and I made our way to the girls' showers, she was bright and bubbly as usual-but I will never understand how she can be that happy at six in the morning.

"I wish he would have told me sooner," I said walking over to an empty shower stall and turning on the water.

"I get what you mean, I wish Jeremie would just tell me how he feels already," Aelita said frowning a little.

I made my way into the shower and sighed, "I'm sure he feels the same way. Trust me Aelita, I see the way he looks at you. Besides at this point, I think the only person who doesn't know he's in love with you is himself," We both laughed it off and continued getting ready for the day.

As we made our way down to the cafeteria the subject of boys came back up, "If he does like me do you think he'll ask me out?" Aelita asked nervously.

I chuckled, "I would hope so, it may take a while considering Jeremie isn't the best with relationships," She hummed in agreement, "you could always ask him out yourself. There's nothing wrong with a girl asking out a guy, ya know."

"Well yes, I know that. But what if I'm reading too far into this and he doesn't really like me as more than a friend?" She said pushing open the door to the courtyard.

"Aelita, trust me he likes you. I'm sure if you give it some time-" she cut me off with a gasp.

Jeremie was standing a few feet away kissing Heidi Clinger. I was completely frozen, shocked by what I saw. By the time I could compose myself Aelita had run off to the cafeteria, no doubt hurt by what she saw.

I made my way to the cafeteria before being stopped by someone grabbing my arm, "Hey." William said turning me around gently. He looked upset, "Do you know anything about Yumi being with Matthias?"

"Matthias? What the heck? I didn't even think they were friends. Besides she likes someone else."

"I saw them kiss. I know we're not, ya know…" he trailed off then ran a hand through his hair, frustration growing evident on his face, "I just don't understand."

I put a reassuring hand on his shoulder, "Let me talk to her, I'm sure this is all just a big misunderstanding."

I made my way into the cafeteria, at this point my brain was a confusing mess. "What on Earth is happening? First Jeremie and now Yumi? This is so weird." I was pushed away from my thoughts when two arms appeared around my shoulders from either side.

"Well fancy meeting you here madam." Odd drawled in a French accent.

"Good morning and your accent could use a little work Odd," I said poking his forehead.

He shook his head and moved away from us, "You just don't understand dear Anna, my accent is perfect, your hearing needs work," he joked, "well I gotta go meet Heidi for breakfast, see you later!"

I looked over at Ulrich, who still had his arm around me, "Since when did Odd have a thing for Heidi?"

"Well, he's trying to get over you so I guess he's going back to the way he used to be. I'm pretty sure he's been with almost every girl in our grade at this point."

I shrugged, "To each their own, I guess," as we walked a thought popped into my head, "wait, did he say, Heidi? I saw Jeremie kiss her a few minutes ago!"

Ulrich stopped, "He what? Why would he do that?"

"I don't know but this can only end badly."

He pulled his arm from my shoulder and put his hands behind his head, "Poor Aelita."

We made our way into the cafeteria, grabbed our breakfast, and sat with Aelita. She didn't look up when we approached, meaning she was still, understandably, upset from earlier. I sat next to her and rubbed her arm, trying to comfort her. After a few moments, Odd walked over to us and tapped me on the shoulder. When I looked up he leaned down and kissed me.

I immediately pulled away and stood up, "What the hell, Odd!"

He looked over at Ulrich, smirked, then walked away. I looked over at Ulrich, he was fuming. I couldn't tell if he was angry with me or Odd.

"Ulrch I-" he cut me off.

"Save it. I never thought you would do something like this. We're done." He stood up and walked out of the cafeteria.

I stood there dumbfounded, "Did that really just happen?" I could feel my heartbeat quicken, I was panicking. I ran from the cafeteria, but neither of them were outside. I felt myself beginning to choke up so I ran into the forest to hide.

I sat at the base of a tree and put my head in my hands, "How did this happen? Why would Odd do that? He knows I don't have feelings for him. And Ulrich… did he mean what he said? Are we really over?" I started crying.

After a while, I felt my phone vibrating in my pocket. I didn't want to talk to anyone but I couldn't risk it being important. The screen flashed with Jeremies name, but I wasn't sure I wanted to speak to him after what happened earlier, but I had to be sure everyone was okay.

"Hello?"

"Anna! I'm so glad you answered," he sounded out of breath, he must have been running, "I figured out what's been going on with all of this kissing stuff. Meet me at the Hermitage and I'll explain everything."

"Sure, I'll see you there," I hung up the phone and dried my eyes. "This better be good."

I made my way to the Hermitage, my sadness was slowly turning to anger. "I can't believe that he honestly thinks I would do that to him." I held back my tears and stopped just short of the group, it sounded like they were talking about me.

'-Well she's taking her sweet time," Ulrich said kicking a nearby rock.

"Where is she?" Yumi asked resting her back against a tree.

Ulrich glowered in Odds's direction, "Why don't you ask him? He should know."

Odd looked at him confused, "What are you talking about? Why are you so upset?"

"Don't play dumb!" Ulrich stomped over to Odd, "You forced her to kiss you, right in front of everyone. You said you were over her!"

Odd put his hands out defensively, "Woah there Ulrich, I would never do that without consent. I may play the field but I would never do that."

"Hey, you two cut it out!" Yumi said separating them.

"I can explain," Jeremie said running up to the group. I finally walked over and stood next to Yumi, "All of this kissing is another one of XANA's schemes."

"But he can't control us," Odd butted in.

"I know that, and I also know I didn't kiss Heidi. There must be a Jeremie clone somewhere."

"And a Yumi clone," she said shaking her head.

Odd nodded his head and smirked, "And an Odd clone, not as good looking of course."

Everyone ignored his antics and turned back to Jeremie, "I'll bet they are all one big polymorphic clone."

"Polymorphawha?" Odd asked.

Jeremie adjusted his glasses, "A polymorphic clone. It can change its appearance at will. XANA must have sent a sort of ghost that can look like anyone it wants to."

"But why?" Ulrich asked.

"To make trouble in our group," Yumi clarified.

"To divide and conquer," I said shaking my head, "So what about Aelita."

"I tried to talk to her earlier but she ran off. I figured she might be here, I called you guys in case I needed back up," Jeremie said turning to the deserted home.

Just as he was about to head inside Aelita walked out with the Jeremie clone. Aelita gasped and looked between the two.

"It's me Aelita," The real Jeremie said putting his hand out to her.

"Liar! I'm the real Jeremie," The clone said reaching for her hand, "I kissed you, proving my love for you."

Aelita began to walk backwards towards us, "The real Jeremie would have never kissed me like that." She grabbed the real Jeremies hand and made her way to his side.

The eye of XANA replaced the specters pupils and he growled at us. He reached for Aelita but I stepped in front of him and he grabbed me by the throat.

"Anna!" Several voices yelled.

I felt myself gasping for air, it hurt so bad. My throat was burning as I tried to scream or breathe but nothing would come out. After what felt like an eternity I was dropped to the floor, gasping for air. Aelita helped me up and pulled me away toward the factory. I could only look back for a moment to see Odd on top of the clone trying to keep it pinned to the floor and Yumi and Ulrich right behind us.

We arrived at the factory in record time and immediately jumped into the scanners. Jeremie sent Ulrich, Yumi and I first then Aelita. We were in the desert sector and luckily there were no monsters waiting for us.

"The towers not too far. Direction North, North East," Jeremie said, his voice ringing out from above us.

We took off and after a few minutes Aelita pointed in the distance, "I see it!"

"Hurry it up you guys, before XANA-" just before Jeremie could say it Yumi got hit with a laser.

We all stopped and made a circle around Aelita, looking for the monsters, "Anna and Aelita go, we can handle these bozos." Ulrich said steadying his sword.

Aelita and I made a break for it, not even stopping to look back. We ran across the desert floor, not a single monster in our way. Just as we made our way to the towers plateau we heard the sound of something devirtualizing. We turned around to the bridge we had just crossed disappearing.

Two mechanical-like roars sounded off behind us. Two Scyphozoas. I unsheathed my scythe, I had to protect Aelita, but I was too slow. The creature picked me up and I felt myself go limp. My scythe clattered to the floor, leaving me defenseless. I felt the monster begin to take something from me, a warm feeling in my chest was starting to grow cold.

"Drop her fish face!" I could hear Ulrich yell from nearby.

Suddenly I was free, floating in the air as the Scyphozoa was destroyed. I fell down to the floor below and laid there for a moment, "What an awful feeling."

Ulrich helped me up, his face was red and he wouldn't look me in the eye, "Are you okay?"

"I guess so. Did she make it?" I asked moving away from him.

"Uh yeah, she did," he said sheathing his sword.

I leaned my back against one of the courtyard pillars and listened to Odd recount his fight with the specter. I couldn't help but shake my head as he overexaggerated his fighting skills.

"Hey, Odd, how did you know I was the real Yumi?" she asked cutting off his elaborate tale.

"Simple, You called me pea-brain. XANA would never call me that. He has too much respect for me." He explained.

Jeremie laughed loudly, "Oh no, XANA just doesn't know you as well as Yumi does."

"Hey, Jeremie?" Aelita asked, "Would you mind coming over here for a moment?" He stood from the bench he'd been lounging on and made his way over to her, "I'd like to check something really quick if you don't mind."

Jeremie smiled down at her, "Sure go ahead."

Aelita gave him a big smile then pulled him in for a kiss. It was only a moment but when she moved away Jeremie was completely frozen. She laughed, "I knew it." and walked away.

"Hey Jeremie, you can come back to Earth now," Odd said waving a hand in front of his face, "Let's hope XANA leaves us alone for a while. Jeremies going to need some time to recover."

I found it hard to laugh, I was happy for Aelita, she was going after what she wanted and I was proud of her. But I was more worried about where I stood with Ulrich. As far as I could from the events of yesterday we were no longer together, we still haven't spoken to each other. I don't know what to say to him. I'm angry at him for not believing me and thinking that I would betray his trust, but I miss him.

"I can't believe XANA tore us apart like this."