Summary: Placed after Final Mix. J/A mush. Rated for suggestive-ness in second chapter.
Disclaim: Don't own C.L. Never will. Just as a note, Jeremie and Aelita seem a tad bit out of character. I noticed that after re-reading this. Sorry. But I do own the song in the next chappy….yeah…I'll shut up now.
11:00 PM.
"Jeremie…you should go to bed."
The clear voice of reason broke Jeremie's thoughts, and he blinked, his fingers stilling on the keyboard. In front of him was the computer screen, blinking and complicated with the anti-virus program.
"You've been working on that for far too long….you'll get sick."
The voice came from behind him, and Jeremie smiled, turning. Aelita sat on the bed, staring intently at him, as she often did when she was concerned for him.
"I can't get sick from working, Princess," he told her gently, but Aelita just raised her eyebrows- her silent answer: yeah, right. Jeremie sighed. Aelita got up suddenly and leaned against the monitor, watching him with that look on her face- the yeah right look that she knew drove Jeremie crazy. She smiled wryly, and leaned down so her face was closer to his.
"Please, Jeremie?" she asked, and Jeremie jumped, his face turning toward her. For a split second, an image of himself leaning forward to kiss her flashed in his mind, then Aelita blushed and moved away. Jeremie ran a slightly shaking hand through his hair.
"Who's been teaching you soliciting skills?" he joked softly, and Aelita smiled slightly.
"No one," she answered, and for a moment, her smile twisted wickedly. "I just haven't used them in a while." Jeremie blushed.
"You're certainly good at it," he told her, and Aelita laughed softly.
"That I don't believe. I just know you too well," she answered, and Jeremie's blush deepened.
"Listen…Aelita…I wanted to apologize-" Something soft touched his cheek, and he stopped, surprised, one hand flying to his cheek. He gazed at Aelita in wonder as she blushed deeply, pulling back. "What was that about?" The pink-haired girl just turned redder and stared at her feet.
"I told you I have no soliciting skills," she mumbled at her feet. Why had she done that? Why! What had gotten over her? "Sorry…but you don't have to apologize about earlier this week. I understand completely."
Some of Jeremie's surprise melted as he answered immediately. "It's still my fault. I shouldn't have left you to fend for yourself. I'm sorry." Aelita hesitated, then kissed his cheek again.
"You are forgiven, Jeremie," she said softly, and stood. "Now, get out of that chair, Master Einstein." Taking a que from his newfound nickname, Jeremie folded his arms, and shook his head, his blue eyes impish.
"Are you leaving?"
"If you go to bed."
Jeremie grinned. "Then I stay here."
Aelita gave him the look again. "I hope you know that I've been spending too much time listening to Odd and Ulrich to not realize that that has more than one meaning, Jeremie." Jeremie turned purple and got out of the chair. Aelita grinned wickedly.
"See? I do know you too well!" Jeremie made a face at her and she just grinned at him, and turned around, giving her closest friend some privacy while he got his pajamas on.
"You know, Princess," Jeremie said softly once he was dressed. "You do have that mixing contest tomorrow. I'm not the only one who needs sleep." Aelita sighed and nodded.
"I know. You are coming, right?"
Jeremie smiled. "Like I'd break a promise to you, Princess," he told her, and blushed. "I can't wait." Aelita grinned at him.
"Neither can I. I'm planning a…surprise." She smiled slyly, and Jeremie's eyebrows went up.
"A surprise, Aelita?"
Aelita just grinned mischievously and wouldn't say anything more on the subject. Jeremie finally gave up trying to wriggle the answer out of her, and sat down on the bed. He yawned, and Aelita smiled at she watched him. He was so charming, in every little thing he did. In one way, he was like a playful, bashful child, but a very mature, sweet, handsome one. Not to mention genius. And stubborn. She watched as he placed his glasses on his dresser, then blinked owlishly up at her.
"You going to bed, Princess?" he asked. Aelita nodded, then gently pushed him back so he'd lie down. She didn't see his bright red blush. Tucking him in, like a mother to a baby, she smiled.
"Good night, Jeremie," she whispered, brushing a blond hair from his forehead. Jeremie's blue eyes closed, and Aelita left quietly, smiling.
THE NEXT MORNING (Saturday)-
"He watches…all movement…in her ageless face…"
"Whacha' singing, Princess?"
Aelita turned and grinned at Yumi, who stood in the doorway of her dorm room. "Hello, Yumi. You ready to dance tonight?" Yumi raised an eyebrow, then smirked.
"You're in a good mood this morning, Ms. D.J. What happened in Jeremie's room last night, hm?"
Aelita went very pink and glared at her friend. "Nothing! And how did you know I was in there?"
Yumi just grinned slyly and tossed a black book over to the blushing girl, who caught it. Aelita frowned, then realized what it was. "My diary! I left it in there?" She started to open it, then looked suspiciously at Yumi. "You didn't peek, did you?" The Japanese girl shook her head, and Aelita breathed a sigh of relief.
"Me? Risk attack by reading your private diary?" Yumi asked, mock stunned. "Never! That's only something Odd would do." Aelita laughed and nodded. Turning back to the closet behind her, she started shuffling through the small pile of clothes. Planting her fists on her hips, she sighed.
"I have no idea what to wear to this thing," she admitted, glaring at the clothes.
"Why?" Yumi had followed her and plopped down on the bed. "Wear what you had worn before." Aelita shook her head and sighed again.
"No, not that. It's…not me."
Yumi raised an eyebrow. "It's pink, Aelita. How can it not be you?"
Aelita stuck her tongue out at her friend. "Very funny. I mean…it's not suitable for a D.J.-ing thing. I want to look the part." She turned and sat down on the dresser top. "It's very strange, this conversation," she said, after a few seconds. "I'm so used to talking about X.A.N.A. and Lyoko with you and the others, and not…" she gestured around her. "Human things." Yumi nodded, looking uncharacteristically sad.
"It'll take some getting used to," she told the pinkette softly. "It's a huge change."
"Huge is an understatement," Aelita muttered. Then she smiled. "But no matter. That's the past." She stood, and glared once more at her pile of possible outfits. "If only I knew- what?"
Yumi had a very large grin on her face. "Jeremie's going, isn't he?"
"Yes, but--"
Yumi wasn't listening. She had started rummaging through Aelita's clothes, humming something. A few moments, later, she surfaced, a triumphant smile on her face and laid her choices on the bed. Aelita raised her eyebrows. A knee-length black skirt with a slit on one side, a fuchsia top with-off-the-shoulder sleeves that split, and pink high-heels that laced to the knee. When in Lyoko's name had she ever even bought those?
"I'm not sure I can even walk in these," she told Yumi, picking up the shoes. The Japanese girl winked.
"With some practice, you can, and if you want to stun Jeremie, you will," she retorted, and Aelita blushed crimson.
"Who ever said anything about stunning Jeremie?"
"He likes you—no, correction: he loves you; you like him-- and don't give me that look, Aelita, I know you. If I was a romantic, I'd say that you and Jeremie were meant to be, but since I'm not, I'll just tell you to make a move."
"Do what?"
Yumi grinned. "Flirt. Hug him. Something! Do whatever feels natural to you." Aelita sighed, her face still very pink.
"Flirt. Right." She looked at the clothes on the bed, then looked back at Yumi. "And what exactly is flirting again?"
Yumi chuckled. "This will be interesting."
Interesting is an understatement. Well, that's all for now. Please review. The next chappy will come soon.