A/N: Did I say that this would be the last chapter? Well, yes, it is in reference to the story! That's right I'm going to have another chapter. It's explained at the bottom. I put some symbolism in this chapter. Try and find it.
thesuperdot: Well, I made it pretty long. Hope you like it. Thanks for reviewing all the chapters.
Janika: The phantom will come soon. He might be my next story. Your ideas were a good help. Thanks for them and your review.
specialsnowflake: You'll see. I might add a few things here and thereover the next few days. Thanks for reviewing.
J(at)lyoko: Fear not, J. This isn't the last chapter (more or less). If you want to read more about my characters then just wait for me to make more stories (this isn't the last of Dan and Jessica). Okay, the device was designed to destroy the cance andprevent it from coming back. However, in order to do that the device took control of Jessica which viewed her friends as causes. You know the rest. Hope this helps and thanks for reviewing.
Purplegirl13: I'll be waiting for your story. If you need anybody to proof read it then send me a copy! I'm glad you like the story. I know it is sad but...I made it end happily. Thanks for reviewing.
Princess of Lalaland/Purplegirl13: No, I don't go to medical school. I just know a lot about stuff. E-mail the things you want to know. Thanks for reviewing.
Kree the Wolf: I know how homework and things get in the way. It happened to me while I wrote this. Well, thanks for reviewing.
Disclaimer: I did a whole bunch of Christmas shoppinglast weekend but one thing I couldn't get was the rights to the show. However, I did get Dan's and Jessica's rights. Hehehe…
Inside Dan's dorm---
I was so exhausted when we got back. My legs felt like they were broken when I collapsed on the troubled teen's vacant bed. I swear we must have been up for at least twenty-two hours straight yesterday…uh, today…whatever.
Dan and I didn't talk much before we both faded off into our pillows. I just reassured him that everything will be okay and then we tried to talk about Lyoko since he was interested in the subject but we didn't get very far. I attempted to retell the time when Yumi got trapped by a guardian in Lyoko while her clone ran rampant.
As I dosed off into a state of rest, I just got to the part when Yumi's clone seduced Jeremie. It was nice to see him laugh. He needed to be cheered up.
The next morning or afternoon, I awoke to a conversation that Dan was participating in.
"Okay. Thanks. Bye." The tall already dressed boy said into his phone. A sharp beep followed and indicated that the talk was over. He then directed his attention to a project near his computer.
I heard a sizzling sound and a few seconds later and I smelled what he was doing. I rose from my covers and slid over the edge.
"Well, good afternoon, Ulrich." He greeted me. "Be thankful that it's Sunday because it's 12:31."
"Good afternoon." I said and became curious as to what he was making, "Are you cooking?"
Nobody I know cooks in their dorm. They always go to the cafeteria for their meals. I thought it was really strange that he was doing this but then again, Dan isn't exactly your normal neighbor.
"Yeah," he responded. "I hope that you like bacon, eggs and toast."
"Anything's better than the food they serve in the cafeteria. I never knew you could cook."
I just now noticed this but there was a large empty gray garbage can behind the chair that he was positioned in.
Dan sighed. Apparently something was on his mind. "Ulrich, I think that you're going to learn a lot about me today."
"Why is that?" I asked dumbfounded. He wheeled his chair around to face me.
"Do you remember what was said earlier?" The chef asked.
"Yeah, how could I forget?" I stated sarcastically. It was quite an eye opener.
Dan pulled the trash can closer to his paper weighted desk and shoved the nearest pile into the emptiness. The eight-inch tall stack landed with a CRUNCH. "I have no reason to keep these anymore."
"What are they?"
Dan began to name off numerous items. There were too many to retain but a few caught my attention like court transcripts, evidence analysis and autopsy reports. The documents he threw away were a chronicle of his past four years of his life.
I now understood what he meant. He wanted to move on with his life. No, he didn't want to he needed to. He figured out that his hunt for Jessica had ended and was returning to his previous life. I stepped over and helped him.
Dan checked on the bacon, eggs and toast and claimed that they were done. He transferred them onto paper plates and directed his attention back to the numerous piles. We let our breakfast cool and we sifted through the table's contents.
With every swipe of our hands more and more of Dan's former life was revealed before my eyes. His desk which was once tied down by papers and folders was also covered with a layer of thick protective plastic. Underneath the transparent material was a large piece of paper with a colored-pencil drawing of his family on it. The design took up most of the desk and was well done; almost flawless.
He told me that he made it himself when he first came here. The picture was a scene of his family standing in the front lawn outside his house in America. In the frame was his mother who looked a lot like him, his father who was tall and broad, his brother who looked nothing like him and his dog who had brown fur and sat knee high next to him. Everyone was smiling and looked like they were happy. I noticed that he didn't bother drawing in any hints of his fake arm.
After the picture was completely cleared he began to advance his cleaning further towards the wall. I followed suit and began throwing away things like magazines featuring the latest in robotics, business cards, user manuals for different arm models and other awkward reading material.
Minutes later, all the documents were in the can which was now three-fourths full and we began to eat our breakfast. I observed what remained.
On the left was Gameboy with a few games. Similar to the ones Odd and I had except his was green. Next was a series of ceramic works. He molded sculptures of a cross, a three-dimensional star and a hand that looked like it was coming out of the desk.
Dan saw that I was staring at his art and explained, "The hand I made," he stretched over and grabbed it. "I hate it because I made it at the school that rejected me hurtfully more than any other school yet I like it because I made it so well." Dan probed the figure. "Odd's into art, right? Maybe I should give this to him." He set the object back in its resting place.
"I think he'd like that." I said on my purple loving friends' behalf.
The last few items were awards from schools and teachers. He won a plaque for being an "outstanding history student", had numerous similar awards for good grades or behavior and won a certificate for being under-recognized.
Dan got done with his breakfast first and threw it in the trash. He stood up and said, "I'm going to try and find Jessica. I'd like to talk with her." I acknowledged it and he exited his room.
The main courtyard at Kadic---
I searched for her for about a half hour. She was no where to be found. I know for a fact that she wouldn't attend the assembly which is where her roommate probably is and she had to be on school grounds since the main gate was locked for the event.
Jessica was a person who needs help when dealing with stress. That's why we did everything together in the past. Her friends were essential to her survival.
Unlike the last time we met, my questions weren't prepared. As a matter of fact, I just wanted to apologize to her and talk. I'd like to know how she was doing and what her plans are for the future. After all, we hadn't contacted each other in over four years!
I sat down relaxed at a bench in the center of the yard and wondered where she might be. With the luck I've been having lately maybe she'll find me.
Meanwhile in Ulrich and Odd's dorm---
After making my bed, I walked into my room to change. There Odd was still sleeping and snoring loudly. I didn't want to hear his noises anymore so I woke him up. Instantly, he smelled the eggs, bacon and toast that Dan made for breakfast and felt hungry himself. Lucky for him, lunch was about to start.
As I was changing, Odd asked me about Dan and I told him what he was doing. To that he replied, "Uh, Ulrich, you do remember what happened the last time he said that, right?"
"Yes, Odd, I do." I replied frustrated. Was I the only one who trusted Dan in the group? Jeremie sure doesn't. I can't tell if Yumi does but she might. And now Odd won't. Don't they realize that he just got through a huge crisis?
Well, I know that Odd doesn't speak for the others but I think he should be a little more accepting.
Eventually, he too got up and changed and we went to talk to Jeremie to see what he was up to.
The main courtyard at Kadic---
I've been waiting for fifteen minutes and no one has walked by. The cafeteria is getting ready to serve lunch so the assembly must be over soon. Her lack of absence made me begin to wonder if she went back to America.
As I was pondering, I heard the sound of grass being stepped on behind me. There are five people including myself that wouldn't be attending. Odd, I know, was either sleeping or doing something with Ulrich. Jeremie is probably talking with Aelita. And I'm here so that left only one other person.
"I must say, I'm surprised that you came earlier." I said into the air. As I was talking I heard a female voice gasp and I peered behind the bench. It was Jessica standing there shocked with her hands over her mouth. I smiled at her and asked her to sit down. She agreed and sat on my left side.
"This might sound a little strange but I'd like to apologize for trying to kill you yesterday. I had no idea what really happened. I'm sorry." I was too. My heart went out to her. Not being able to discuss that sort of knowledge with anybody outside her own family would be seriously nerve racking.
"Thanks. I know you didn't know the truth." She sighed and continued, "You have no idea how badly I wanted to tell you."
I could tell in the tone of her voice that she was depressed. Normally, a guy like me wouldn't pay attention to such a detail but over the years I had become accustomed to doing so.
"I'm sure I don't." I noticed that the cafeteria was beginning to serve food to kids. "I hope there won't be another riot." Based on my experience with people that might actually happen.
Jessica began to sniff like she was about to cry. "Please, don't say that word."
I talked to her parents this afternoon and they were quite surprised to hear me. While on the phone, they told me what Jessica went through over the past years.
Her life wasn't any easier than mine. She's been kicked out of just as many schools as I had. The tortures and agony of what happened that night followed her wherever she went, just like me. Most recently was a rioting incident at her last American school.
From what they told me, Jessica's past was discovered and students started to ask questions. However, she couldn't answer them, as if they'd believe her in the first place. As a result, one morning a group of troublemakers gathered in front of her homeroom and started chanting derogatory remarks. They wouldn't let anyone in the room leave until she gave them an answer. The teacher called the principal and he called the police. They arrested the students for harassment and she was escorted out by police. Her next school was Kadic.
"I'm sorry, I forgot." I said trying to comfort her.
"It's okay." She replied trying to hold her composure together, "I suppose I should get over it after all it happened a year ago." I put my arm around her for support. "I could have really used a friend like you back then."
"I could have too." I replied remembering my run in with the psychiatric ward which was roughly at the same time.
She leaned her head on my shoulder. It was obvious that we both wanted to put our pasts behind and start over.
"Yeah but you don't know what it's like to wake up one day handcuffed to a hospital bed and charged with murders that you don't even remember committing."
"Actually, I do."
"Huh?" The complexity on her face thickened. I then remembered that she didn't know about Lyoko and I wasn't planning on telling her either.
"Uh, never mind." I stated looking away, "It's a long story, one that I really don't want to tell any time soon." That event helped me relate to what she went through. I was thinking about earlier.
Sissy was my only friend and X.A.N.A. made me kill her. Joey, Arron and Adam were our best friends and that device made her kill them. Thinking about both events made it a lot easier for me to talk to her.
"Okay." She accepted my answer. There was a long pause before anybody said anything.
Meanwhile in Jeremie's dorm---
Odd and I walked to Jeremie's room to see what he was doing. We knocked on the door and he opened it. Just as Odd had guessed Aelita was on his computer and they both greeted us.
We stepped in and I sat on his bed. Odd was on the floor. Jeremie informed us that he and Aelita were talking about Dan and what happened earlier this morning.
"Jeremie, what did you mean when you said that Jessica blushed when Dan asked about her behavior? I don't quite understand it." Aelita asked curiously.
"Well, I suspect that she still likes him." Jeremie replied. I walked over to the monitor but my vision shifted from it to a couple on a bench outside.
"Hey, guys, look at this." I said slyly. Dan was sitting on the bench with his arm draped over Jessica. We smiled and laughed. Jeremie turned his monitor around so Aelita could see.
"So that is what love is?" Aelita asked.
"Yeah, kind of," Odd responded. Just then a loin roared from within his stomach. He flushed red with embarrassment. "Hehe, hey, why don't we get a better view at the cafeteria? I'm starving." We agreed and rushed to the cafeteria.
The main courtyard at Kadic---
Jessica broke the silence, "Hey, Daniel, were you searching for me this whole time?"
"Most of it, yeah."
"Thanks. I'm glad that you found me." Jessica put her arm over my neck and touched my biceps. "Professor Helen told me about your arm and how it works." She then pushed the button that activated my fleshmaker. "I always envisioned that a knight in shining armor would rescue me."
"Uh, Jes, you know what people will do when they see my arm, right?" Way back when I always called Jessica, Jes when I talked to her. Jessica liked that name.
She threw her other arm around my chest forming a circle that trapped me. This was the kind of behavior that she pulled on me a month before the massacre. It was kind of scary being reminded of it.
"Hey, Jes, do you mind?" I asked trying to pull away.
"You haven't changed one bit, still as cautious as ever." She said smiling and didn't let go. I put my skin back on.
"I guess not but I have one more question for you, I was just reminded of it. About a month before the incident four years ago, you started to act like this. Why?" I knew that she knew what I was talking about.
"Well, think about it. I was told that I would be lucky if I lived to see Christmas. Naturally, in the following months I wanted to experience everything that I haven't which included love and my first kiss." Her answer shocked me.
"You've got to be kidding me." I stated in disbelief.
"Nope, that's why I invited you and the others to my house in the first place." Her face inched closer to mine. "I was going to kiss you in front of everybody." Speaking of which, we managed to draw a few pairs of eyes from the cafeteria. Some of whom included my friends.
"Uh, Jes, people are watching us." I reminded her. She continued to move closer ignoring my plea.
"I know." She responded simply. At that point, I gave up and let her lips touch mine.
People were gawking and staring at us. A feeling I know all to well.
"Y-Yeah, Dan! You go, man!" I heard Odd cheer as Jessica and I continued to kiss. Other kids yelled similar phrases.
"You know him?" She asked after we broke apart.
"Yeah, he's on my hit list." I replied although I was serious. She laughed.
"A friend, huh?" She said eagerly, "You want to introduce me to him?"
"No." That was an honest response. I was still angry at him for not truly apologizing when he broke into my room.
"Please…" She said giving me a puppy dog eye look. I sighed loudly.
"I guess." I replied reluctantly. We walked over to the table with her arm around my shoulders and mine around her back. I introduced her to the gang.
A/N: Well, that's the story. I hoped that you enjoyed it (I sure did). Anyway, I'm going to make a FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) chapter so please tell me if you have any questions over ANY part of the story. You can tell me in your review or by e-mail.
Later,
Dan