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

Written By: Painin Uranus

.:AN:.

I just noticed I've spelled the title in each chapter before this one wrong. How embarrassing! No, don't go check!…Okay, fine, you can check… anywho, now that you're back (I'm assuming you just got back from checking to see if I'm telling the truth about my chapter titles), I've got a few things to say:

First off, I'm sorry for having Jeremie cuss in this chapter. I realize he isn't the type to use profanity unless in a drastic (and I stress DRASTIC) situation. So, please accept my apologies.

Second, I realize I have other works to be working on, but I wanted to get this out of the way. I have just finished writing the last chapter, but I will need to have some, ahem, motivation to post it, if you get my meaning. That may inspire me to finish up editing the rest of my chapters (it isn't as much as you may think), which would lead me to posting the very VERY LAST CHAPTER! WHOOT!

So that's it. That was a couple, right? Right. Okay, here's the new and improved chapter! Hoza!

Chapter 3: Replacement

Ulrich's POV:

I never returned to class, since there was only a few minutes left by the time I was done 'thinking'. So, seeing the rest of the students streaming out of the classrooms, I made my way over to our bench that the gang and I always met up at after lessons. I sat down, leaning back and letting my head hang over the side, staring blankly at the upside-down greenery. My legs were sprawled apart, my arms resting idly by my side as I waited for everyone else to meet me.

I glanced over to where Jeremie usually came out and saw him surrounded by Sissi's gang. Straightening up so that I could see better, I sighed. Jeremie didn't seem to be handling it well, considering that Nicholas just got shoved up against the nearby school wall. Putting my hands on my knees, I readied myself to get up and go to his rescue, but stopped when a dark figure with white, grassy-like hair beat me to it.

Lance stepped up behind Nicholas and tapped him on the shoulder. The blond boy looked around with a dopey smirk, proud of the fact that he was doing as Sissi wanted him to…

…just in time to get a black eye.

Sissi shrieked loudly and the poor boy fell to the ground with a thump. Jeremie was let go and was walking to Lances' side quickly. Nicholas slowly got up, and said something to Lance. He responded by motioning that he would've hit again and Nicholas backed down. They started to leave, but Sissi came up to Lance and whispered something in his ear. He acted as though he didn't hear anything, and turned the other way, going back to Jeremie.

I was shocked. Only because he did exactly what I would've done, and because Jeremie was acting like Lance was his best buddy. That same feeling I got at lunch set fire to my insides. I didn't understand what the heck was going on, but I just knew for a fact that I didn't like it.

Not one bit.

I walked hurriedly over to Jeremie, concern and puzzlement written across my face.

"Jeremie, are you okay? What did they want from you?" I asked him, putting a steady hand on his thin shoulder.

"It was nothing, really," he said with a shrug. "They just felt like picking on me. Then I said smarted off to them and was going to pay for it, if it weren't for Lance here. He saved me the trouble of going around with one good eye." When he said the last part, he gave Lance an audible slap on the back.

It was the first time I had ever seen Lance smile. He would've looked really nice and stuff if I didn't get this strange vibe coming from him. But, still, it was irritating me—he was acting like it was some big deal, saving Jeremie, and Jeremie wasn't helping it any.

"Right," I grumbled, turning away from them with a scowl on my face, my shoulders slumped in defeat. First Yumi, now Jeremie. What did Odd think about Lance? Was I the only one that didn't like him? Was I the only one who sensed something was off?

"So, where is Yumi and Odd?" Jeremie asked lightly.

"Dunno," I answered dully, not really paying attention.

Jeremie shrugged it off, but walked closer to me.

"Hey, Ulrich, can I talk to you for a second?" he asked me innocently, putting a hand on my back and leading me towards the closest oak tree farthest from Lance.

"Sure, Jeremie."

"Listen, I had a chat with Yumi…" his voice trailed off simply.

"Yeah, so?" I said, smart-mouthing.

"Well, she talked with him and got to know him…"

I started to burn up yet again. I'm gonna get used to this feeling, aren't I? I figured in my mind.

"…And she thinks that we can trust him with our secret," he finished.

I stared at him.

"Jeremie, it's not like you to joke around," I said, looking at him like he was crazy. At least, crazier than Odd… "Are you serious? Tell him about…"

"Well, it would be easier to handle X.A.N.A if we had more of us, and that way, it would be an even number. Two to fight in Lyoko and two to defend the home front," he answered quickly.

"We barely know him! At least give it… a couple weeks at the most, not a couple hours!"

"As I said before, Yumi and I both think that he's a good person."

'Are you guys BLIND!' I wanted to scream at him. Can't you guys see that there's something wrong with him! AM I THE ONLY ONE?

"You're gonna go ahead with it if I say no anyway, huh?" I asked irritably, cocking my head to the side with a forced smile on my face.

"Well, it depends on Odd…"

"If he says yes and I say no?"

"I guess we won't do it unless the vote was unanimous."

"Good. Then I say no."

"You're the one that doesn't even know him that well, Ulrich, and he seems to like you."

"Well, that road is a one way street."

"Why are you acting like this?"

"Like what?"

"Like an ass?"

"I'm not acting like an ass!"

"Yes, you are!"

"How would you know?"

"Because I'm one of your best friends, Ulrich! If something is bothering you, you should be able to tell me!"

"Nothing's bothering me! And if there was, I wouldn't tell you."

"And why is that? I've told you all about my problems, and they fall under almost every category. I'm pretty sure you could tell me yours and I would be able to understand."

"Just drop it, Jeremie."

I started to walk away, offhandedly noticing that Lance wasn't where we left him.

"What, you think we're through?" he yelled to me, his own face showing anger.

"Yeah, we are," I growled, shoving my hands deep into my pockets and hunching my shoulders dejectedly. "For now."

I stomped away crossly, and I could hear him faintly say, "I'm hurt, Ulrich, I really am."

It was true—I was being an ass to Jeremie, but at that point, I didn't care. I was pissed off, so I went to look for Odd. He was always able to make me laugh when I felt like blowing something up. It was either him or a trip to Lyoko, and I didn't think that X.A.N.A. would have monsters waiting for me just so that I could blow off some steam.

We should have a training program for times like this.

I headed to the boy's dorm, forcing myself to calm down and act like my normal self.

When I got there, ready to have some relaxation with my best friend, I saw Odd standing in our doorway, talking to someone. At first I thought it was Yumi.

But then I heard him.

"You just tell me when you've got that CD, okay?" Odd was saying to Lance. He looked really happy, more so than when it was lunchtime, surprise, surprise... It was like every fiber in his body was charged with sugar. And Odd plus sugar meant extreme danger—or that something big was up.

"Don't worry, Odd, I will," came his voice. It was a lot more relaxed then the last time he spoke.

But what did I care?

Then Odd turned around and saw me. "Hey, Ulrich! It just so happens that Lance has connections and has offered to get me one of those expensive CD's of 'Mach Warriors'. The guy who created those machines will even sign it! Have I told you how much I love that one song?" What made the situation even worse was that Odd started to sing the song for me, like I didn't know what he was talking about.

As if I hadn't heard it several billion times already!

A few other students stuck their heads out of their dorms in order to tell him to shut up. At that point, however, I started to walk away. Fury enveloped me. What was up with Lance? It was as if he's my replacement. Like he was taking over my life!

I paused.

That was it.

It's like he's taking over my life.

.:AN:.

And that's that. Hope you guys don't mind for me responding to your reviews, there's just so friggin many, and such... I'll probably do it at the end of the VER LAST CHAPTER! Okay? Okay. Hope you liked it, if you got any complaints or comments period, feel free to review them to me. I'll see if I can change whatever it is...maybe...lol. See ya guys, sorry its taking so long to post the last chapter, I know I'm cruel...