Escalating Ire

Eight o'clock seemed to creep up on Yumi. She had been eagerly preparing for her latest date with Theo all morning. She couldn't decide on dressing up or going casual, wearing makeup or being herself, and many other insignificant things. When her watch alarm sounded off at seven-thirty, it quite surprised her. Swallowing her pride, Yumi decided to go casual; after all it was only a movie they were going to and most likely nothing else.

At 7:45 Yumi left her home for the park. At one of the bus stops she found Theo, Odd, and Jeremy waiting for her. Her two friends were in the middle of a conversation with her boyfriend when she arrived.

A sweet smile welcomed her and she returned it to Theo. Blushing deeply, Theo turned his face in an attempt to hide it from her. Odd and Jeremy smiled and greeted her. But their tones told her something was on their minds. Shrugging it off, Yumi was glad that they had decided to accompany her with Theo.

With her and Theo leading the way to the theater, Odd and Jeremy followed. Odd had submerged himself in his CD player again. With his words distorted and off-key, Odd sang quietly to the song. Jeremy kept to himself, quiet with a look of deep thought on him. However, Theo's warm and firm frame at her side due her attention to it like a magnet.

The theater slowly came into view as they walked down the crowded streets. A tall building with the words 'Royal Knights' Temple' in neon lights stood proudly between Pizza Plaza and a mall. It was quite easy to identify the Royal Knight's Temple as a theater due to the peculiar, yet familiar features.

A long line of adults, teenagers, and kids stood inside the theater. The din of the numerous activities was considerable. As they passed into the building, the strong scent of popcorn hung over them like a fog.

Odd bolted ahead of them, heading straight for the snack counter. Jeremy moved to the front of the room and waited by the doors into the main section of the theater. Yumi stayed by Theo's side as he bought the tickets for the movie. She was slightly surprised by his choice for their date: Underworld 2?

Meeting Odd as they headed for Jeremy, they helped him carry the two buckets of popcorn, four drinks, and bags of candy. She noticed him glancing anxiously at her then into the hallway. While Theo gave the tickets to the clerk who stood in front of the hallway, she saw why Jeremy looked disgusted and anxious. It was entering the doorway to the theater that was labeled Underworld 2. It was Sissi and someone else with her who looked familiar to Yumi.

Catching a profile view of the boy, Yumi realized that it was Ulrich! He looked as though he was going to be sick, but he seemed to obey Sissi's orders without question. Sissi was literally hanging on Ulrich's arm as they entered the theater.

By pure chance, Ulrich glanced down the hall and saw her as they approached the theater. He didn't falter in his step, but he did stare wistfully. Then he disappeared into the darkness, thankfully missing the look of disgust and hatred that Yumi glared into his retreating form.

Anger ignited instantly in Yumi. It, somehow, suddenly made perfect sense to her why Ulrich had abandoned her two months ago. He's wanted to be with Sissi! Yumi squeezed her free hand tightly into a fist to release some of her anger. Then, as she relaxed her grip, the anger evaporated and was instantly replaced by indifference. His love life is no longer any of my concern, she told herself.

Loaded with their food, they took their seats near the back of the theater. Jeremy sat in the center of Yumi and Odd. He was extremely surprised at the drastic change of mind that Yumi showed when she showed when she saw Sissi with Ulrich.

While Ulrich didn't seem to be overjoyed by being with Sissi, he had definitely must've felt left out of their group. Thankfully for everyone's sake, Sissi had pulled Ulrich down to the front row of seats.

With him all but out of sight, Yumi began acting like the Yumi that he'd come to know the past two months. Theo held Yumi's hand gently as they patiently waited for the movie to begin.

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Aelita sat in the Mountain Region of Lyoko, meditating. She sat on a boulder within easy running distance of the Tower. All was quite in Lyoko, which was how she liked it.

Reliving her multiple interactions with her human friends, Aelita remembered her dear friend Jeremy. She smiled as his face drifted into her mind. Oh, so easy to glimpse and so difficult to hold on to. His face began to fade slightly as she desperately tried to remember his exact features. She almost had them fully back in her mind again when Xana woke up.

A massive pulsation rippled through Lyoko. She flinched at the intensity. Xana had awakened and was triggering a colossal data transfer. The infected Tower glowed brightly in the distance as Aelita heard the familiar buzzing sound of nearby hornets.

Dropping to the ground, Aelita opened a window to Jeremy's computer. This problem had to be dealt with quickly.