Unexpected Admirer

By: Leelei

Disclaimer: I don't own Code:Lyoko.

Nicholas pounded on the drums, tapping the symbols along with the beat as he filled the auditorium with the quick rhythm. He finished the last line, striking the drums and symbols on cue, emitting the last notes throughout the room. He could hear the crowds cheering until reality hit him and he heard the rest of the band finish the song they were practicing after him.

"Hey Nicholas," Odd called to him from the right of the stage where he stood, still holding his bass guitar. "You think you could've been any further off on that last part?"

"He wasn't that early," Yumi said as she turned off her microphone and unplugged it from its long extension chord.

"Are you kidding?" cried Odd. "He finished at least two lines ahead of us!"

"Well, tomorrow's another day of practice. Give it a rest, Odd." Ulrich told him from behind his electric keyboard.

"Sorry, guys..." Nicholas said as he turned red.

"Whatever..." Odd mumbled as he took of his guitar. "Hey Yumi, good job tonight. You really sounded good."

Yumi smiled at him. "Thanks, but I have to admit that these new speakers are really making a difference. How long are we allowed to use them?"

"Until someone figures out that they're gone from the Art hallway." Odd replied.

"Odd!" Ulrich exclaimed. "You stole those speakers from the school?"

"Hey, I'm down in that hallway all the time and no one ever listens to them. And, since we're practicing in the auditorium that's on school property, I technically just moved them. I won't really be stealing them until we get a gig and need to take them with us."

"Wow," Yumi mused out loud as she rolled up the extension chord. "They sounded pretty good for PA speakers."

"Well," said Odd. "I had Jeremie fix them up a little bit."

"About that gig, Odd, when are we going to get one?" Ulrich asked as he turned off his keyboard and started to unhook the wires attached to it.

"I told you earlier. Sam knows a guy, who knows a guy, who knows a guy, who knows a guy that's roommate might be throwing a party sometime this month. We're a shoe in to get booked for it." Odd explained.

"Yeah, sure." Ulrich rolled his eyes.

Yumi snickered as she listened to her friends while rolling up the last of her chord. She looked around for the bag the band kept the microphone equipment in, and when she found it she noticed Nicholas quietly packing his drums up near the back of the stage. The skinny blonde moved slowly and stayed out of any conversation the others had, still embarrassed from messing up at the end of their last song.

"Hey Nicholas," she called to him. "You did a good job tonight."

"Oh, uh..." Nicholas stammered as he dropped what he was doing and looked up to her. "Well, thanks, but I uh...I messed up the end...I could've done better, I'm sorry."

"Don't worry about it, you're doing great," Yumi smiled encouragingly. "You're really holding this band's music together. I don't know what we would do without your talent."

That smile, Nicholas thought. That voice, that pretty face, that raven hair. He could feel the sensations his thoughts of Yumi were sending through his body. She was so kind to him when they worked together; so sweet and nice. He had been noticing everything about her and by that practice his crush for her had laminated itself onto his heart. Why hadn't he noticed his feelings for her sooner? With an abrupt kick, the auditorium doors flew open. "Hello everyone! The star has arrived!"

'Oh,' Nicholas thought. 'That's why.'

Sissi marched through the auditorium like it was her own little castle, not caring to ask if she was allowed to invade the band's practice, and with Herb closely in tow. "Nicholas, are you done yet?" she screeched, not even acknowledging any others in the room.

"Sissi, don't you ever knock?" Ulrich countered.

"Oh Ulrich, dear, I would but since your practice ended at 8 o'clock, this is now an open auditorium. Now hurry up, Nicholas! You're going to make us late for the movie." Sissi continued. "And you know how crowded it gets if you don't buy our tickets on time."

Nicholas sighed and dropped his shoulders. "Yes, Sissi. I'll be done in a minute."

Yumi noticed Sissi's impatient glaring at him and spoke up. "Hey, Nicholas, you can go now if you want. I'll put the rest of your drums away."

"No that's okay, you don't have to..." Nicholas said quickly and trailed off as he blushed deeply, lowering his gaze to the floor so she wouldn't see him.

"Don't worry about it," Yumi replied with another smile. "I'll put your set off to the side over there with the rest of our stuff so we can get it out again tomorrow morning."

Nicholas was such a deep shade of red be then he could barely glance up at her. "Uh...okay...um...thanks," he managed to mutter quickly, then ran off the stage and over to Sissi and Herb before she could say anything else.

Odd noticed him rush by from where he was zipping up his guitar bag. "Hey, Nicholas, practice is tomorrow after breakfast, don't be late!" he called.

"Oh, he won't." Sissi sneered as she turned and walked away, Nicholas and Herb following close behind her. "Bye, Ulrich!" she called to the brunette boy from the doorway and winked at him before letting the door slam behind her friends.

"Blah!" Ulrich exclaimed as he made a tight face and shook his head in disgust. Yumi and Odd laughed.

"Okay guys, I better get home before my parents start to worry." Yumi said after all of their equipment was packed up and moved to the side of the room. "Practice tomorrow after breakfast, you said?"

"Yep," Odd answered her. "See you in the morning." He swung his guitar bag over his shoulder.

"All right then, good night you two." Yumi said as she picked up her book bag and started towards the door. "Say good-bye to Jeremie for me if you see him again tonight."

"Sure thing, Yumi." Ulrich replied.

"And do you want to say good-bye to Aelita, too?" Odd asked. "Because you know if we see Jeremie, she'll be on a screen somewhere near by."

Yumi laughed lightly. "Yeah, and Aelita, too. See you later." She called to them as she reached the door, looking back to see Ulrich watching her as she left. She smiled at him and waved. Ulrich returned the smile and gesture, and Yumi thought she noticed his cheeks turn the same bright red that hers did as she pushed the door open and left for her house.

Yay, the first part is up! How do you like it so far? Sadly, nothing really happened yet, but the stage is set now for some good old fashion teen romance fiascoes. : D Please come back to read the next chapter, and please, please review! Thank you! : )