Chapter 2: Burned out

Disclaimer: I do not own code Lyoko But if I did...( Insert crazy fantasy here)

"Man dose XANA ever stop?" Odd asked as the gang climbed out of the manhole in the park.

"Apparently not" Yumi stated as she was the last one out. "That is the eight time this week."

And how many times last week?" Odd questioned rhetorically

"Nine" Aelita Replied in a strangely fatigued tone for her.

as the gang walked back out in front of the main school complex Ulrich sprung a question. "Dose anyone want to go see a movie or hit the mall and hang out or anything.?" He looked at Yumi.

"Sorry Ulrich um ive got a geometry test tomorrow got to study." And with that she waved good bye and took off for home. "Later"

"You guys?" Ulrich asked Odd Jeremy and Aelita.

"Sorry bro." Odd said "I've got um... uh.. some sleep to catch up on then maybe some techno to mix. I'm out."

Ulrich let out a long drawn out sigh as odd walked off and looked at Jeremy and Aelita. "Let me guess. Anti-Virus" Hung his head and sighed once more.

"Yes but how did you know?" Jeremy asked

"Lets just call it intuition" Ulrich walked off back into the park. There was a lot on his mind and that is where he always went to sort things out. It wasn't just here that things were growing sour. He had called home like twice this quarter and well talked to his parents for a grand total of 7 minuets. And what he heard wasent too encouraging. His mom and dad were fighting and on what they called a time out and they wouldn't be able to make it to any of his soccer games this quarter at all. It felt as if everyone he knew were too busy with their own lives to do anything and if you throw in that he was failing three of his seven classes and barely passing the others and the fact that had returned to the past thirty some times this quarter it wasn't helping things, any. He sat there for a little while longer until it was almost dark and even though he wasent realy that hungry he started back for dinner.

Ulrich was not surprised that Jeremy wasn't there but what did disturb him was that Odd was no where to be seen. Only Aelita was there she herself looking a slight bit frustrated. Ulrich collected his tray and sat down beside of Aelita. "What's up?" He tiredly asked

"Not much" She replied "Jeremy is driven as usual trying to find the Anti-Virus and well I had to step out for a while."

"Odd?"

"Hadn't seen him, so I don't know where he is, but now that you mention it he isn't one to ever miss meatballs is he?"

"We got to a better chance of XANA giving up and deleting himself than for odd to miss his favorite meal, something must be up. Ill check the dorms when I get back."

Then out of the blue. "Its Yumi isn't it" Aelita questioned "She worries you doesn't she? you worry that shell never come around to you and that she will never return the fallings that you have for her."

Ulrich sighed and then dumped his tray. not even looking at Aelita he walked out of the cafeteria.

"There are other girls you know." Aelita said catching him at the door and then she smiled.

Ulrich walked back to the dorms alone wondering thinking just wanting to know that something anything was going to be all right his stomach Knotted and empty he couldn't eat thinking of Yumi. She was so tough so smart and so distant. He continued sulking even after he went back to his room (Of course Odd wasent there) and through a shower he couldn't shake the distance that was between them. He had sacrificed so much for Her. Even foolishly strengthing XANA and betraying his friends trust returning to the past once to buy a winning lottery ticket to give to her parents so she didn't have to move back to Japan. But there she was always the same Tough as Nails and almost gothic and unchanging, and then there was William don't get Him started on William Dunbar… But then something happened.

Ulrich was on his way back from the shower to his room when the doors at the end of the hallway opened and in walked Emily. She too had just gotten out of the shower and like him was wearing only a bath robe and flip-flops. He gulped and began to blush a little as she looked at him with her deep brown eyes.

"Oh hi Ulrich Have you seen Jim" She asked Smiling her glasses slightly fogged up.

"No haven't seen him' Ulrich said a little nervously as she passed almost brushing against him. He gulped and watched her walk by.

"Ok thanks" she said. she smiled at him once again.

"Ulrich watched as she continued down the hall and out the double doors and as they fliped and floped back and forth finaly shutting a smile cracked his depressed face.

Aelita words "There are other girls you know" rang through Ulrich's skull all that night as he couldn't quit thinking about that chance meeting in the hallway with Emily. It was strange but maybe there were other girls than Yumi around after all. And not the ones that followed him around like he was some god Incarnate but just a normal guy well at least kind of.

That night Ulrich dozed off with a smile on his face for the first time in nearly two months. He was thinking of Emily and who knows maybe he would talk to her tomorrow. Only tomorrow would tell.

A little rant for all of those that guessed the mistery girl was Emily (Like everyone) Congradulations!

Ok im done: )