One Door Closes As Another Opens- A Code: Lyoko Fanfic

Written By: Painin Uranus

.:AN:.

Right, here's the next chapter. This is where it gets kinda weird… X.A.N.A.'s up to something, and guess who's gonna find out? Well… why don't you just read and… yeah!

Chapter 2: A New Guy and A New Turn

Ulrich's POV:

"Class, we have a new student," Ms. Hertz announced, standing proudly at the front of the classroom. It was the next day during Physics, and we, as in the class, were bored stiff. Odd was asleep next to me and I was leaning back in my chair, staring out the window while others were doing the same.

"Lance, if you could kindly stand up and show yourself to the class…"

The new kid, Lance, stood up from his seat near the front of my row, and didn't even bother smiling. Everyone was just staring at him blankly, some said hi or some kind of greeting but other than that, we were like zombies.

"Everyone, this is Lance Halsted," Ms. Hertz introduced, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder. "He is from America and will be spending the rest of the school year with us. Please do your duty as a resident as well as a student here and make him feel as welcome as possible."

He was into black. That's all I had thought of him at the time. I don't mind black 'cause Yumi always wears black, but sometimes it was just… y'know—dull. He had black baggy cargo pants, a black long-sleeved shirt, and weird silver hair that stood up like grass on his head. His eyes were this eerie shade of gray that made the hairs on the back of my neck crawl. I could tell that he was wearing a necklace of some sort, but it was hidden underneath his shirt purposefully, like a blanket. Once more, those deep, unnerving gray eyes surveyed everybody, resting on each one as if he was looking for something. They continued their way around… and landed on me.

Suddenly, I got this weird feeling inside me. Like I was being read like a book, all my secrets and thoughts going to him. I received a very uncomfortable feeling under his scrutinizing gaze. Looking away, I turned my own gaze away and stared blankly at the window again, still aware of the look I was getting.

"Thank you, Lance. You make take your seat," Ms. Hertz said, unfazed by his strange behavior. She turned to the chalkboard, picking up a piece before writing a few numbers. "Now class, open your books to page 117, we will be learning about…"

Thankfully, and to Odd's great relief, the lunch bell rang a short while later, and everyone filed out to the cafeteria, with Odd in the lead like always.

"Get away, that's my food!"

When we were finally able to get our meals, we sat down at our table, waiting for the others. I made sure that I sat on the same side as Odd, just so that I didn't have to watch him as he ate. It wasn't the best thing to see while you were eating yourself. You might see your food after it's already had gone down a lot sooner than you'd thought…

We started to talk a bit, but it was one-sided conversation, considering Odd's head was buried in the cafeteria tray, his mouth acting like a vacuum once more. I could only keep talking, pretending that nothing was out of the ordinary.

Just then, Lance slowly walked up to our table, staring at us once more. Or more specifically—

Me.

"Hey, can I join you?" he asked in that way that made it seem like it was a statement, not a question. His tray was balanced in his hands before him, extended like he was all ready to sit down.

Which he was.

"Uh, well, you see…" I started to answer, but Lance just plopped down in the seat across from me, setting his tray down roughly onto the table. His eyes returned to me, as if studying every move I made, and completely ignoring Odd's muffled greeting.

All the better to see you, my dear…

"…Never mind," I finished. Wanting nothing more than having that gaze removed from my body, I looked up searchingly, only to see Yumi, closely followed by Jeremie, coming our way with their trays as well.

"Hey," I nodded at them, relief flooding into my voice. They nodded back to me with a smile, coming to a stop when they reached the front of our table.

"Who's this?" asked Jeremie, his smile fading slightly as it was replaced with a puzzled look, his eyebrows knitted in confusion while jerking his head and indicated to Lance.

"Uh, guys, this is Lance," I introduced. "He's new here, came from America. Lance this is Yumi and Jeremie." I looked back at Lance just in time to see him eyeing Yumi hungrily, with her blushing insanely at the gesture. I started to hate the way he was looking her up and down. It was burning up inside of me. I cleared my throat and I was happy to see that it drew his gaze away from her and back to me. As much as I didn't like his scrutinization, I would rather have him looking at me then looking at her.

"Nice to meet you," Yumi greeted kindly, smiling brightly even though her blush was still evident.

"Yeah," agreed Jeremie smoothly. "So, you're new, huh?"

Lance simply nodded.

"Did someone already give you the tour? Or would you like one of us to show you around?" Yumi asked.

"You," he said expressionlessly, his eyes returning to her frame once more.

"Excuse me?" she and I asked simultaneously, her tone slightly shocked while mine annoyed, anger burning up in me again. My grip around my fork was increasing in intensity, and my eyes started to glare heatedly at the boy in front of me.

"I want Yumi to show me around," he said in that same tone again.

"I don't think…" I started to say, but Yumi interrupted me.

"I'll be happy to show you around," she said with a smile. I looked up at her, but she didn't return the gaze. She was too busy looking over Lance, and her blush returned with vengeance.

My rage was really reaching…

Yumi and Lance were able to skip their next classes so that she could show Lance around. I was furious. I wasn't able to watch them like I was at lunch and I didn't trust Yumi to keep her hands off him. But I couldn't find anything wrong with her flirting with another guy, as much as I wanted to. I mean, it wasn't like she had a boyfriend or anything and it wasn't like I could stop her.

Yeah, that was Yumi…

During Mrs. Schmitz math class I was staring out the window, watching the trees grow, only because I couldn't see the grass that well (Yup, and my parents wonder why I don't do so well in this class), when I saw two figures walking along outside on the school grounds. One was pointing out different things while the other just nodded.

It was Yumi and Lance.

And, I realized with a scowl, they were holding hands.

I was mad. One, because that wasn't me, and two because that was Lance. Lance. Lance, the guy who liked black. Lance, the guy who was new here. Lance, the guy who was taking my girl away from me. Lance, the guy who was outside with her and holding her hand.

Which—did I mention this—wasn't me!

I actually slammed my hand down on my desk out of frustration, my head bowed and my face twisted in anger. I was growling under my breath, and it all added up to jerking Odd awake and surprising the teacher and half of the class.

"Ulrich, is there something wrong?" she asked me pointedly, turning away from the chalkboard with one hand on her hip and the other loosely holding her raised piece of chalk.

Yeah, there's something wrong, I felt like saying mockingly. C'mon over to the window. You see them? Well, the girl out there is the one I have a major crush on and that guy there is acting like she's already his girlfriend, which—by the way—she isn't. But other than that, and the fact that I'm stuck up in this class from hell, about to fall asleep out of sheer boredom, I'm feeling just peachy, thanks for asking.

But of course I would've gotten into loads of trouble for 'sassing to the teacher', so I merely stated with an innocent tone, "I'm fine, Mrs. Schmitz. Can I please just go get a drink of water?" She granted me my request with a simple, yet much warmer, nod. I headed out the door without saying anything to Odd, who had been poking me in the ribs throughout the whole ordeal.

As soon as I was out of the classroom, I took a quick walk around part of the school, trying to calm myself down so that I could think straight. I left the school building, pacing the corridor with aggravation, turning around every so often to walk the same path I had moments before.

What does she see in him? I pondered heatedly, my steps echoing off of the deserted hallway. He's just a scary Goth kid that's obsessed with black! Nothing special!

But Yumi wears black, another voice joined in reasonably. Does that make her a Goth?

No! I argued with disbelief, my face showing every emotion that went through my head. Yumi is a smart, strong, kind and caring person that—

Wears black, just like Lance, the voice finished smugly.

But, I thought that she had a thing for me! I was starting to get desperate, my pace quickening.

Yeah, but it's not like she actually came out and said, I love you, lets be an item, it told me passively.

Of course not!' I said defensively. 'That's not like Yumi.

Well, Ulrich, you didn't exactly do the same thing, it responded with a hint of amusement. So if she wants to go out with other guys—

Who says that she's going out with him? I demanded crossly, my feet slapping the pavement.

Well, she's out there with him, isn't she? it exclaimed pointedly. And they're holding hands weren't they? So of course he's gonna ask her out!

No way. I said stubbornly, stopping briefly to cross my arms across my chest. I started walk in a oval-like circle, my head bent in thought. Yumi likes me. She wouldn't to that do me.

Remember that time with Emily?

How could I forget? I replied dreamily, raising my eyes to stare at the underside of the roof as waves of happiness rained down on me from the simpler days. That was the day I almost kissed Yumi…

This may be the same case.

But I didn't go out with Emily! I said with outrage, my relaxed expression snapping back to enragement, my pacing starting up faster than before. I just got to know her. Maybe if I did start liking her, then I—

Would have asked her out on a date and maybe you would've become girlfriend and boyfriend and Yumi would be jealous and would get mad at you and would probably not talk to you again for a long time, the voice finished for me again in a bored tone.

Is that what's really happening? I asked, worry taking over my features and making me halt my stride. Is she really gonna fall for him?

Let's just wait and see, it consoled slowly, soothingly. Get her alone and casually ask her what she thinks of Lance.

What if she likes him? I challenged skeptically.

Then just explain your feelings to her, it suggested. Maybe she'll understand.

Guys are not well known for their amazing ability to talk about feelings, I thought with doubt, scuffing my toes on the cement as I pondered how I would do this.

Well then, it responded confidently, you can be the first.

.:AN:.

I hope I gave enough detail for you guys to understand what was going on. Really, it was difficult trying to convey all of those movements while also saying what was going on in his head. I pray that you guys got the idea. Oh well, that's done, now on to the next chapter…

I think I made Lance a little too straight forward, y'know, with the one word sentences. What do you think? What will happen in the next chapter? Will Ulrich finally confess his feelings to Yumi? What will Yumi say? And what about Lance? Heck, why am I even asking questions? I already know! Hee, hee. Stay tuned!