Ask Me What It's Like to Never Win

By: Leelei

Disclaimer: I don't own Code:Lyoko. This story was written before airing of Season 2 began.

Author's Note: Hey guys, hope this makes it up by Friday like I promised. I'm glad you've liked it so far. : ) As for the ending…it's near, that's all I'll say for now. On with chapter 12!

One last note: This is the chapter that mainly earned this story an "M" rating (it would have been "R" at one point had I began posting a little earlier before ratings changes). That means mature readers only, please. Thank you.

Chapter 12

So this is it. The real end.

"Do you guys want to go to the library and put the finishing touches on our report for the Science Olympiad?" I overhear Jeremie ask his group in science class about a week later. They all agree. "Great. Aelita and I will meet you out in the schoolyard after last period. We'll probably be really early."

And you had better be.

As for myself, I haven't done much of anything for the Olympiad. Sure, I had all the drive in the world to win it alone, but now I really don't have any feeling for it. In fact, I don't really have any feeling to do any of my schoolwork. It's actually been pretty hard to even wake up nowadays, even though I still go to bed early, so I try to get some sleep during class whenever possible. My mom has written me some letters, but I haven't gotten around to opening them yet. She's probably worried about my grades, but it's all right. This will all be over soon…

I was rummaging through my closet one night and found and old box of my belongings. I came across this great collectable switchblade in mint condition. I remember the story behind it; I had bought it to give to my older cousin when he was supposed to visit me back during my last year at Kadic Jr. High, but he never came. He spoke really fast on the phone and explained that he was allergic to something that sounded like 'losers,' but I'm sure that wasn't it. Anyway, I was going to send it to him for Christmas, or his birthday, but I just kept forgetting. But now I have a much better use for it.

Right after school, huh? You'll even be early? That's good. Then I'll just have to make a pit stop back at my room during lunch. It's okay, though, I don't really have an appetite to eat much, anyway. I'll be able to catch up a little more with my sleep while I'm up there, too…maybe even just sleep right through until that last bell.

There she is. And there he is. Both as early as ever. Once my angel, and her 'perfect' boyfriend. I told her she was going to pay for all of this. I just hope he listened.

I woke up after my nap during lunch, so I figured I had better go to class anyway. But that's okay. I left in time to meet the bell, making sure to put my coat on before I exited the room.

Now I won't be late.

The bell has just rung for the end of the day. All of the students are leaving their classrooms and are now filling the schoolyard. Hm…this may get messy.

There are Jeremie and Aelita, coming this way to meet the rest of their group. Good. Then I won't have to move from here. They're glaring now as they notice me. Jeremie takes a hold of Aelita's arm and they quicken their pace, but just as they're nearing me, I call him out. "Hey, Jeremie."

"What?" he replies, about to walk past.

"Can I talk to you for a minute?"

Surprisingly, they stop. Unsurprisingly, they've stopped a good ten feet away from me. "It depends."

"Oh, trust me, you want to hear this."

"Really? Because Aelita and I are, you know, normal people, and we don't like to waste our time on creeps like you."

I snicker at his reply. "Of course you don't. But, and I'm sure your lovely girlfriend told you, you're going to have to pay for what you've done to me."

Now Jeremie snickers, a cocky tone to his chuckling. "Whatever," he brushes my remark off with a roll of his eyes. Aelita smiles at his comment and they continue walking as she entwines her arm with his.

"Too bad," I say, shaking my head. I look down as I can feel my hand fingering the handle of the sharp blade inside my coat. "Because this is far too overdue…"

Isn't it amazing how you can feel so strongly for something, and yet not seem to be there when it's going on? Slipping back into a dream state like during my breakdown, I can see my arm appear from beneath my coat and raise the thick knife, but I don't feel any of it happening. There are students around me who suddenly scream, and a few older male teens are running towards me from across the schoolyard when they can see what I have.

Then it's happening. I'm finally getting my revenge. I lunge at Jeremie with the weapon, but I stumble over my feet when I'm leaning in to reach him and fall to the ground, missing the blonde teen's chest and ending up sinking my knife straight into his left calf. He cries out in pain, but his voice is masked by Aelita's screams.

Oh, that horrendous screaming…I've never heard anything like it! Jeremie had pushed her away as a reflex when he caught a glimpse of what I was doing, but now you would think I had stabbed her instead! As Jeremie's body crumples to the ground in pain, she falls down also and gathers him in her arms.

"Jeremie!" she shouts, obviously frightened and already having begun to cry. "Jeremie, what…what just happened? What's going on? What did he do to you?"

Still holding onto my knife, I twist it out from the deep hole now in his skin and muscle as he shouts again. I look up from the dirt of the ground to see his blood start to pour out, flowing freely from the open hole. I grin, hoping that it will all drain quickly.

"Aelita…Aelita, please don't cry," is all Jeremie can choke out through his seething as his face twists with pain and the rest of his body writhes through his insurmountable discomfort.

I'm suddenly grabbed by one of the high school seniors. "What the fuck is your problem, jackass?" he booms in a loud, angry voice. I can tell that he's a big guy, probably on the wrestling team, because he's picked me up and has thrown me down onto the cement again, away from Aelita and Jeremie. I hear the police that normally patrol on the school grounds shouting next, and I look up to see students from all grades screaming and running towards the scene, teachers yelling as they hurry out of the buildings to see what has happened and to help control the crowd.

The police officers have picked me up again and dismiss the student securing me. I'm being handcuffed already, yet they've whirled me around and I now have a view of what's going on.

There's a massive crowd around Jeremie. The nurse and her aide are being escorted through it, with the principal and assistant principal yelling and parting the way for them through the group of people. I can still hear Aelita crying, but soon another distinct shout joins when I see a small group running from the direction of the soccer field. "Jeremie!" Yumi is screaming as she, Odd, and Ulrich are racing towards the crowd, teachers soon helping them push through to see their friend. Someone must have already ran over and told them what was going on. Wow, news travels fast…

I'm finally in the back of the police car when the ambulance arrives. The principal had ordered all of the students to go to their rooms or leave for their houses until further notice, so the schoolyard is about clear now. The teachers are helping console the others left while the medics take care of Jeremie's leg all they can before pulling out a stretcher and carrying him into the ambulance. Aelita, the principal, and the school nurse are going with him, but Yumi, Odd, and Ulrich are all forced to stay behind.

Yumi is now crying gently as Ulrich holds her, and Odd rests a hand on her shoulder. She's always been so strong, though. I've never seen her cry… But then I see Odd look over to the police car and now he's glaring at me. A sudden terrified feeling washes over me and, for the first time, I notice all the blood the janitors are hurrying to try and clean up. All that red…all that pain it must have caused…

Oh my god…there's so much of it…What…What have I done? The police officers have gotten into the front seat of the car after talking to some of the witnesses and the assistant principal, and the one in the driver's seat glances back at me as he starts the car. "I don't know what the hell you were thinking, son," he says to me, "but you should know that you're in a lot of trouble now."

I can't reply. My mouth goes dry as I stare dumbly at the seat of the car. My hands are cuffed behind my back, so I can't wipe the tears away that are now forming in my eyes. With one last look out the window to see Odd still glaring at me, a sudden dizziness takes over and I collapse onto the seat.

I really liked this chapter; I think it's in a close tie for favorites now. : ) Last one coming soon! Please review!