restraining myself from blabbing on and on and on and on and on and on... any ways, here's another chapter...

(Avery P.O.V.)

I couldn't stop. They just kept coming and I couldn't stop them. Not even when I saw Ulrich running up to me.

"Avery, what happened?" I just kept crying, hot tears rolling down my face. I'm not even sure why I'm crying. Ulrich kneels next to me, waiting for an answer. When I don't give him one, he asks again.

"What happened between you and Odd? Did he hurt you?"

"H-he… I…." I stutter, but I can't talk because I'm crying to hard. Ulrich seems to understand this.

"I'm going to ask you some questions, just shake your head yes or no. Okay?" I nod my head.

"Did he hurt you?" I shake my head.

"Did you talk to him?" Nod.

"Did he tell you where he was?" Shake.

"Are you crying because of him?" I nod, then shake my head, and then nod again.

"You don't know why you're crying?" Shake.

"Can you calm down enough to tell me what happened?" I shake my head and pull out my phone. I open up a special messenger program that shows all my recent text messages and hand it to him. He takes it from me and begins to read. After a minute, he hands it back.

"Come on Avery, let's go to breakfast." He says and helps me stand up. He puts his arm around my shoulders to steady me. With his other arm, he pulls out his cell phone and presses speed dial 2.

"Hey Yumi." He says into the phone as we start walking. I've finally managed to get control of my emotions and the tears are beginning to stop.

"Yah, I have Avery with me… she had a text message conversation with Odd." I can hear Yumi's voice from here: 'Really? What did he say?'

"Let's just say Avery isn't better from it, and Odd doesn't want to be found. Can you call Jeremie and Aelita, and tell them to meet us in the cafeteria for breakfast?"

"Thanks Yumi." Ulrich puts his cell phone away and we begin walking towards the cafeteria. When we get there, everyone else is already there and waiting for us. They have their food, but nobody's really eating.

"Do you want me to get some food for you?" I could probably talk now if I wanted too, but I really don't want to. So I shake my head again.

"Are you sure?" I nod my head, and walk over to our normal table. I sit down and immediately lay my head on my arms, eyes closed.

"Avery? Are you okay?" Yumi asks, moving over and sitting next to me. I don't respond. "Ave, it's okay. We'll figure this out, we'll fix this mess," she continues, but I still make no response.

She seems to give up, and returns to eating her food. Jeremie and Aelita are silent as well. When Ulrich returns, he sets his plate down with a clatter, sits down, and begins to eat quietly. I slight creak in the bench probably means Yumi is leaning over next to Ulrich.

"Ulrich," She says quietly, but I can still barely hear her, "What happened?"

"She wouldn't tell me," He replies quietly as well. One of these days, I have got to teach these friends of mine to speak quieter, "but she let me read her messages."

"What did they say?" I crack one eye open to see Jeremie, Aelita, and Yumi leaning towards Ulrich so they can hear him.

"He basically just told her he wasn't where she thought he was. After that, she made a comment she probably shouldn't have." Not wanting to hear another word, I abruptly stand up and walk away. I walk back to my room rather quickly, I noticed Yumi was following me. I reach my room and plop down on my bed, waiting for Yumi to knock on the door.

"3…2…1…" Knock knock knock. "Bingo." I sit up and run my hand through my hair. "Come in!" I say loudly so she can hear me.

"Ave?" Yumi asks, poking her head through the door.

"Come on in Yumi…." I say, leaning against the wall. She walks in slowly and shuts the door.

"Ave, are you going to be okay?" I sigh.

"I'll be fine Yumi. I always bounce back. Just like…" I stop myself before I go any farther.

"Just like what?" She asks gently, sitting down on my bed next to me.

"Nothing. Forget I said anything." I say, turning away.

"Hey, you can tell me anything. I'm your cousin, even though we may not look it. And that means I can keep a secret. Just like Ulrich did." I quickly flip my head around, turning to face her.

"Say what?" I practically yell.

"Uh… oops." She says, blushing.

"Ulrich told you, didn't he?" She nods her head. "That's the last time I trust Ulrich with a secret. So I guess the word is out, and everybody knows now."

"No. Only you, me and Ulrich know about it. And no one else is going to know until you tell them. And go easy on Ulrich, I wormed the information out of him."

"How did you do that?"

"I'm his girlfriend, how do you think I did it?"

"Good point."

"So, why are you still keeping it a secret? And what about the other thing, it was just like what?"

"It's amazing that both of those questions have the same answer."

"Care to share it?"

"No."

"Why not?"

"Because."

"This has happened to you before, hasn't it?" I stare at her.

"How did you know that?"

"I didn't, lucky guess. But now I know I was right." I sigh and look up at the ceiling.

"This has happened to me before. Not the exact same, but similar."

"Any details you would like to share?"

"Not really. I guess a lot has happened to me since we last saw each other, huh?"

"Yah, a lot more than me."

"I don't know, this whole virtual universe thing is pretty big." She smiles at me.

"I guess it is, isn't it? Come on, just tell me a little bit."

"No."

"Please Avery?"

"No."

"Ave, please. I'm your cousin. If anyone will understand, it will be me." I sigh.

"I'll tell you a little bit… but most of this I won't tell right now. I don't think I could handle it. Too many memories."

"Anything is better than nothing."

"There was a boy in my other school who went by X. It was every girls dream to date him, even though he was a tyrant, and everyone else feared him. This whole time, I stayed out of it. I kept to myself and avoided him like everyone else. One day, I accidentally had a head on collision with him in the hallway."

"I thought I was done for, that the only thing they would find of me could fit in a matchbox. Strangely enough, he helped me up and set me on my way, not another word. A couple days later, he walked up to me and asked me to be his girlfriend. I accepted, of course. Becoming Xander's girlfriend was like becoming the queen of the school, no one dared to say no to him. Let's just say I didn't like our relationship much." I pause.

"I understand." My cousin urges me on. "Keep going."

"By the end of it, he was getting rough and ruthless and I wanted out. But I couldn't he wouldn't let me. Eventually, I slapped him, told him we were through and walked off. About a month or so ago, something… horrible happened. Then without much warning, my dad sent me here. I was never more grateful to move." Yumi became very somber, and I knew she was trying desperately to figure out what happened to me. We sit in silence for a couple minutes, neither of us knowing what to say next. Eventually, Yumi glances at my alarm clock. It's 7:26, class is going to start soon.

"Come on Ave, let's go to class." I shake my head, not trusting my voice. Yumi stands up and look back at me.

"Are you coming?" I shake my head again.

"I-I think I'm going to call it in sick today." Yumi nods, understanding. She gives me a quick hug.

"I have my phone if you need me, but I hope you don't." She says, walking towards the door.

"Thanks Yumi. You have to run if you're going to make it."

"Okay, bye Ave."

"Bye Yumi." Yumi runs out, closing the door behind her. I lie down on my bed, and pick up my phone. I call the nurse, saying I don't feel very good. She agrees to let me stay here as long as I call back at lunch to see if I'm feeling any better. I wasn't fibbing, I do feel sick to my stomach. I try to sleep for a while, but I can't do it. I can't stop thinking about Odd…

After about half an hour, I can't stand it anymore. I can't sleep, I'm not hungry. I tried listening to music on my laptop again, but it just made me think of Odd. Fed up with my room, I get up and go outside for some fresh air. After about five minutes of wandering, I find myself standing in front of Odd and Ulrich's room.

Stupid subconscious. Why did you have to bring me here?

I grab the doorknob and twist, and surprisingly enough, the door opens. I walk inside, but there's nobody there. I've only been in here once before, last night. But I wasn't really supposed to be. I sit on Odd's bed and I suddenly feel better. I know I really shouldn't be in here, but I can't help it. I just felt at home here. I lie down, putting my head on Odd's spotlessly white pillow. Immediately, I get wafted in a fragrance unlike any I've ever smelled before. But then again, I realize I have. It's Odd's scent, it just smells like him. I've been near him enough times that I would know. The smell is heavenly, I feel myself loosing consciousness within it. Before I know it, I'm asleep in Odd's bed.

Kind of creepy, I know... but she's feeling sick and delirious.

They say it's always darkest before dawn... well right now, this story is about at 11:30 PM. Almost midnight, the worst part of the story.

must shut up before I tell rest of story

so, see you later

Peace out