Chapter Two
"Hey, Theo. Long time, no see."
The boy-Theo-laughed. "Yeah, really. So how've-" He stopped, his gaze resting on Aelita. He smiled slowly, and Aelita saw that he had very white, slightly pointy teeth. She shivered. "And who's this beauty?"
Jeremie blushed, and put a hand on Aelita's shoulder. "Theo? Meet my close friend, Aelita Lyoko. Aelita? This is Theo."
Aelita smiled politely. "The famous Theo?" she asked as she lightly shook Theo's hand. The boy grinned.
"Sure, if you want me to be…Aelita." Theo's voice was suddenly smooth and warm as he addressed her. Aelita repressed another shudder, and lowered her head. Something in her rebelled at using her shyness as cover for her distress, but Aelita ignored it. Jeremie noticed Aelita's sudden submission, and frowned, looking from Aelita to Theo. Then his heart turned to lead. Theo had been flirting with Aelita, obviously. Aelita didn't like it, that's all Jeremie could tell. His fists clenched, feeling suddenly protective of the pink-haired young woman. At that moment, however Theo, seeming oblivious to Jeremie's sudden change in mood, grinned at him.
"So…where you two headed?"
"Chem. Room," Jeremie answered, his voice slightly hollow. Aelita-forgetting for a moment about Theo-looked up at him in surprised. Jeremie's voice sounded angry. Then she saw that his blue eyes were burning with what looked like suppressed hatred: at Theo.
"Oh, Theo darling!"
All three teens turned to see Sissy, skimpy outfit and all, running down the hallway toward them. Sissy reached them, and took her new boyfriend's arm. "Come, Theo, my darling. You don't wanna ruin your reputation talking to these freaks." She sent a scathing look at Jeremie and Aelita, then towed Theo away without another word. Theo, however turned and winked at Aelita, smirking, when Sissy wasn't looking. Aelita shuddered and turned away, feeling disgusted, and not understanding why.
Jeremie hesitated, then put a hand on her shoulder, trying to repress his own anger. He didn't want some ladies'-man-flirt to hurt Aelita. He would die before he would see her cry if he could've stopped it.
"Aelita, are you okay?"
The girl gave a soft, almost sarcastic chuckle. "I should be asking you that, Jeremie," she told him, putting hand on his arm. Jeremie's eyes widened slightly at her touch. Aelita continued. "
