Chapter 5: Further Confessions and a Cry for Help

Jeremie sat in his dorm room, alone. I can't believe it! I have a crush on the new girl, Starry. All this time I've thought that I loved Aelita, but I'm not so sure anymore. I can see something in Starry's eyes that I've never seen before. Is it love? I have no way to be sure. He climbed into his bed and fell asleep.

A few hours later he awoke because of a knock on his door. He drowsily glanced at the clock. It read 8:07. He straggled out of bed and opened the door. There stood Odd. "Can I come in?" he asked politely, with a slight tone of urgency in his voice.

"Sure," Jeremie replied groggily. Odd walked in and he closed the door behind him. Sitting down on his bed, Jeremie asked him, "Now, what did you want?" There was a slight tone of rudeness in his voice, but Odd took no notice of this.

"Listen, Jeremie. I need to tell you something very important." Hope Ulrich's suggestion was right...

FLASHBACK

Odd woke up at 7:56. Ulrich was already up, and sitting up in his bed, writing in his diary. He noticed that Odd was awake. "G'morning," he said to him.

Odd yawned and sighed to himself. "Hmm, yeah...hi.." He yawned again, and Kiwi jumped up onto his bed, eagerly awaiting a pet from his master. He received this only after he'd climbed onto his lap and barked quietly. "Oh, hey Kiwi.." He pet him gently on his head, causing Kiwi to somewhat grin in pleasure.

"Odd, you need to tell Jeremie," Ulrich suddenly stated.

"What!" Odd exclaimed in reply. "You've got to be joking."

"No, I'm not. You had another dream about Aelita last night. I heard you muttering something about your 'long, lost love'."

Odd blushed. "So, what's that got to do with anything?"

"If Jeremie still plans to materialize Aelita today, you've got to tell him!"

"But.."

"No buts..you love her, right?"

"Right...but I don't want to ruin our friendship."

"I know, but still, if he can't accept your feelings, then what's the friendship worth in the first place?"

"Huh?"

"Oh, nevermind!" Ulrich practically shouted. Kiwi barked in alarm. Odd quieted him by gingerly rubbing his back. His dog sighed a contented sigh, and Ulrich continued. "If you really are friends, you need to tell him too! Friends don't keep things that are this important from their friends, no matter what the circumstance.."

"Well.."

"Besides, I'll never get enough sleep if I hear you screaming every night.."

"Oh, so this is all about you?"

"No, it's about you, Jeremie, Aelita, and your friendship with each other. The thing about me is just beside the fact that you really should tell him.."

"All right," he finally agreed.

END FLASHBACK

Odd continued, "Jeremie, I - I..." he stuttered.

"Yes, Odd?" Jeremie said with somewhat of a sarcastic edge in his voice.

"I love Aelita," Odd blurted out before he could stop himself.

A shocked look came to Jeremie's face, then he said, "Wow, Odd, I never knew.."

"No...I've been keeping it a secret all this time."

"But why?"

"When you first confided to us that you had feelings for Aelita, I didn't want my affections to get in the way, so..." He gave Jeremie the same explanation he'd given Ulrich.

"Wow.." Jeremie repeated. Suddenly they heard a beep coming from Jeremie's computer. He rushed over to it immediately. The Lyoko window popped up, and Aelita's voice could be heard.
"Jeremie!" she cried, urgently. "XANA's launched an attack. He somehow knew that you wanted to materialize me, so I guess he wanted one last stand. He certainly is going all-out on this one, you've got to hurry and come to the factory right away!"

Jeremie and Odd's mouths gaped. "We've got to go help her!" was all Jeremie could manage to stutter. Odd still could not form words without much difficulty, he was in so much shock.

What to do, what to do! My love is in trouble, and I have no idea if Jeremie still has feelings for her or not! Odd thought to himself.

This is just too much! I don't know if I really do love Aelita or not. Odd comes in and tells me that he does, in fact, love Aelita. Then XANA...and Aelita...and there's trouble! Oh gosh, we've gotta go right away! Jeremie ran out the door, with Odd not far behind him.

Starry had heard all of this from her seat on a bench at one end of the dorm hallway. I've got to go and help them out with this Aelita person. She jumped up from her seat and followed Jeremie and Odd to wherever they were going.