Chapter 7: Resignation

Ulrich's POV:

I awoke the next morning, and the first thing I noticed was that my head hurt. When I opened my eyes I found out why. My head was on the floor while the rest of my body was sprawled on the bed. As I got up, I realized that this was first night in a while that I could sleep without having to put my ear plugs in.

Not to Self: When want to sleep without earplugs, lock Odd out of dorm. Then I had a second thought. Or put a really big cork in mouth.

I laughed at that, but then I stopped. I could forget that note, because it was all over. To them it wasn't, but to me it was. And they probably would know it today.

I headed to breakfast and realized that Odd, Jeremie, Yumi weren't up yet, but Lance was. I figured that I would test them. They wouldn't recognize it, but I knew that it would work out. I sat down at a table that was as far away from Lance as possible, but that was still in view of the door. This was my test: If the others sat down with Lance, they failed. If they sat with me, then... I hadn't figured that part out yet.

Then I saw them. My heart lurched every time I saw Yumi, but it hurt even more since I couldn't go to her. And it hurt even more after this.

Yumi was the first to act, and the first to fail. She had taken her seat next to Lance. What was left of my good mood vanished instantly. Then, Jeremie failed, as well. He sat down across from Lance after saying something to Odd.

But to my surprise, and slight relief, Odd came and sat down across from me. He didn't look happy about it, but his face was determined.

I was a bit confused, so I asked him in the rudest way possible.

"What do you want, Odd?"

"To understand."

"I'm sorry, Odd, but if you want help with your homework, then you can go to Jeremie."

"Not school related."

"Then there's nothing to understand."

"Why are you doing this?"

"Talking back? I'd have to ask you the same thing."

"C'mon, Ulrich, give me a break! I know you well enough to know when there's something bothering you."

"Why do you want to know?"

"Because we want to help you out, man!"

"Fine! You want to help me? Then tell me what you think of Lance. If you answer correctly, then we'll see if you can help. If not, then you can't."

"All I know is, Lance seems to like Yumi, but she sort of likes him back. Jeremie's unsure of what to think of him, due to his outer appearances, but Kiwi likes him, so he must be a good guy. Well, either that or he had some dog treats in his pocket, but, anyway. I don't know what to really think of him. He seems nice enough, but you know how that kind of stuff works out."

"Nice try, Odd. I know how the others feel. You don't need to lie to me. I can see it with my own eyes. They all like him, just like you."

"Well, it's just: we don't want to trade an old friend for a new guy. Or visa-versa. We all like Lance, and Lance seems to like you, but you don't seem to like him."

"Look, Odd, I'm not going to befriend the guy that's taking over my life. I'm done with this. Tell Lance that he won. He can take Yumi out and celebrate if he wants, I don't care."

"Ulrich, it's not like that!"

"Sorry, Odd. But I don't care anymore. I'm not doing this anymore."

"So what are you gonna do?"

"I'm quitting the gang."

"What!? You can't do that!"

"Well I am."

"What about Lyoko, huh? What about X.A.N.A? Aelita?"

"Jeremie and Yumi think that they can trust Lance with our secret."

"So that's it, huh? You're just gonna just drop us like a smelly sock?"

"Don't do this, Odd. I don't have anything against you guys. I'm just gonna go."

"I don't want to loose you, Ulrich. We're friends, you shouldn't be doing this."

"Sorry, Odd. You know, you were my very first friend when I came here."

"And I'm proud of it."

"You were my best bud."

"Were?"

"Now you can be his."

We were silent.

"So what now?"

"You can go back to the others. I can tell you want to."

"Okay, Ulrich, but if you need us, we're here for you. You should be able to tell us anything. Just... just so that you know..."

"And Odd?"

"Yeah?"

"Tell the others that..."

When I was done, I watched Odd go back to the others. Then I got up, dumped my tray in the garbage, and headed to the passage to the factory. When I got there, I grabbed my skateboard and took it back to my dorm. Then, I headed to the Principal's office. There was still one more thing I had to take care of.
.:/AN/:. Oooo, Ulrich is mad-d. He better not run into Sissi, or Ulrich will probably get suspended for the nasty thing he would've done... 'Hey, Sissi, I didn't know you were a cyclops! Ha, ha! I got one thing to say to you: depth perseption!!!' HAHAHAHA... breath, breath, you can do it, breath... I'm okay...

Anyway, just want to let you know, this story that your reading is still on the run-way. The next chapters should get it off the ground, so stay tuned! I command you! Whoa, a little to high on sugar, hee, hee, hee... okay, no more sugar packs...