AN: Heh, sorry for the wait everyone! I had to write and English speech and you know how that is. Anyhow, I apologize still no action yet, but if you pay attention you might find some foreshadowing! Enojoy!
Disclaimer: I don't own Code Lyoko and stuff. (Wow, I'm getting less and less formal…I wonder why…)
Chapter 3
What was I thinking! Sissi thought, tossing a pillow onto her bed. This showboating idiot thinks she can teach me something.
"She'll be just like the others, I know-"
A knock at the door interrupted her whining and she rushed to stuff the rest of her laundry in the closet. She cracked the door just enough to see a beaming Stacey waving at her. "You're early," Sissi growled in an attempt to erase Stacey's smile.
"I'm sorry. I couldn't wait to get started! Are you ready?"
Sissi stared showing no response, though she was slightly bothered by her tutor's enthusiasm. "Yes, let's get this over with."
"Great!" Stacey replied, walking in. "Wow, this is really cozy! I figured the dorms would be kinda dreary, but you've really added style to it!"
Sissi remained quiet as she sat in her chair, pulling out her homework. It had been a long time someone complimented her before she pointed it out to them first.
"I should have you decorate mine!" Stacey added, looking around.
"WHAT?" Sissi exclaimed, spinning around in her chair.
"Well I'd pay you, of course. Oh, I didn't mention that I'm going to board here, did I? This way I can help you guys all the time!"
Sissi gulped. Tutoring everyday!
"Can I sit here?" Stacey asked.
"No," she simply replied, hoping to dampen her enthusiasm.
"Okay. Standing's good," Stacey said, unperturbed. She set her backpack on the floor next to Sissi's desk and retrieved the chocolate box. After several layers of plastic, she finally managed to open the box.
"Here we are! You pick the first one Mademoiselle Delmas," Stacey offered.
"Shouldn't we start first?" Sissi skeptically stared.
"We can, if you insist…"
"Never mind," she responded quickly grabbing a white morsel.
"Did I pick the good stuff?"
"Eh, it's okay. I've had better. At least it doesn't have liquor in it," Sissi said, never satisfied.
"I'm not too fond of those myself. I always prefer the gooey stuff, like in Snickers®…ah what's the word…" (AN: I don't own Mars Inc. either but I think I own one or two Snickers® bars.)
"Nougat?"
"Yeah that's it! How about you? Your favorite type of chocolate I mean," Stacey asked, glad they were at least talking.
"I mostly prefer milk chocolate, but the occasionally dark chocolate is okay."
Stacey nodded as she swallowed. "I know what you mean. After a couple of dark pieces, I start to look for something sweeter."
They continued to munch in silence until Stacey decided to walk on thin ice. "So…who was that guy with you earlier? He seemed fairly level-headed."
"His name is Ulrich Stern. He's my-uh-boyfriend," Sissi lied, to see how it felt to say it out loud.
"Really? He's in seventh then? How long have you been going out?" Stacey asked, genuinely curious.
Sissi bit her lip. No authority figure had trusted her so unconditionally in a very long time, if at all. "Well, we aren't dating but…" She looked away. "Yeah, he's in seventh."
Stacey nodded with a toothless smile since she had just put a chocolate in her mouth. She decided to thoroughly chew the almond rather than asking more questions.
Sissi saw no judgment is Stacey's eyes and felt like crying. "Why haven't you sat down yet? Sheesh!" she exclaimed to mask her emotion.
(Scene Break!)
"Well, Ulrich? Does that prove it to you?"
"I don't know, XANA's never tried to make a hyperactive person before. Maybe he's found something he's good at," he answered
"Yes, because that's an easy characteristic to mimic," Yumi sarcastically, earning light laughter. (AN: The gang saw the incident earlier.)
"Well anyway, I'd better get home. So long guys," Yumi announced with a wave.
Goodbyes ensued as she walked off, but the gentleman in Ulrich wouldn't stand for it. "Hey, why don't we make an excursion and walk her home?"
"Sounds like fun! I'll get Kiwi," Odd agreed. He ran in the direction of the dorms.
"Yumi, wait!" Ulrich called, running up next to her.
"I don't see why not. What do you say Jeremie?" Aelita asked.
"I think I could use a break from the stresses of Lyoko," Jeremie decided after a brief pause.
Odd returns with a squirming backpack and they dash to catch up with Yumi.
"What're you going to say if someone asks about that?" Ulrich questioned.
"Oh I don't know…something along the lines of forgetting about some leftover cafeteria dessert and releasing it into the wild. What do you think?" he replies, mocking seriousness.
"Sounds like something you'd say Odd," Jeremie scoffed, though everyone else laughed. Though, he eventually started to laugh, too.
The gang playfully reminisces about past Kiwi adventures or rather fiascos as they continue on their journey. The sidewalk narrows and the group splits into pairs.
Yumi, who paced next to Ulrich, took notice of something extraordinarily unusual just ahead where Odd and Kiwi walked.
(Scene Break!)
"Okay…what do you picture when you hear 'noble'?" Stacey queried, glancing at Sissi's assignment.
"Like royalty. Kings and queens, all that jazz," Sissi replied, skeptical about where this was going.
"Yes, leadership! Now are good rulers wishy-washy, or—"
"No, they're strong in their opinions and don't give up."
"Perfect! I knew you understood this stuff. The Noble gasses are named so because they are very stable and don't like to bond or in other words, give up electrons!"
Sissi sat in a stunned silence, she had just learned more in twenty minutes than in her entire science period. "Are you serious? Tell me how to remember the other group! What is it…the Alkali metals?"
Stacey beamed at Sissi success and eagerness, however just before answering…
KNOCK KNOCK
"Ah, here you two are," Principal Delmas said, after inviting himself in since there was no immediate answer. ""Ms. Davolt may I speak with you for a minute?"
"Daddy no! The Periodic Table is starting to make sense!"
"Sissi please it will only be a minute—"
Sissi huffed and indignity and fiercely turned away.
Principal Delmas blinked in confusion and wondered if Sissi was faking enthusiasm this time before continuing. "Uh yes, Ms. Davolt. I'm afraid we've had a slight delay with your room and—"
A tremendous thud echoed in the hallway followed by a "YEOW!" from Jim.
The principal winced with a slight grimace before saying, "I hope this isn't too much of a problem."
(Scene break!)
Yumi knew this irregular scene had to be pointed out. "Wow Odd, I've never seen Kiwi on a leash before, " Yumi commented.
"Yeah well, my parents just sent me a letter saying the neighbor's dog, Orange, got hit by a car during a walk."
"I'm sorry. I guess it's not doing well, then…"
Odd shook his head and continued, "I'm not too sad though. Kiwi's mom had a good long life."
A few feet back, Jeremie and Aelita lingered.
"Jeremie, what's the gravity constant again? For some reason I can only remember the standard conversion rather than metric," Aelita asked, with her hands behind her back.
"9.81 meters per second, why?"
"I was curious if it was the same on Lyoko," she replied, coyly.
"Is it?" he asked, preferring not to recall the one time he did venture there.
"I wouldn't think so. I try jumping here and I can hardly get off the ground let alone perform acrobatic flips."
"That is true…and the overboard wouldn't work here either."
"Is this 'nerd talk'," Aelita queried, out of the blue.
"Huh?"
"Nerd talk. I heard Sissi use the phrase and didn't have time to look it up."
"I prefer "cerebral chat" which I'm certain Sissi has participated in."
They smile and continue with their "cerebral chat".
Meanwhile up ahead…
"Good afternoon Ms. Maupassant, how is Fritz?" Yumi politely asked the elderly passer-by.
The bespectacled woman with a slight hunch from age slowed and looked across the street to acknowledge the greeting. "Oh Yumi it's you!" she responded with a strong voice despite a frail appearance. (Though she pronounced it "Yummy".) "As you can see Fritz is just fine, perhaps on the fat side, but still invaluable to my health."
The dog looked harried, but hopped happily once the kids crossed the street, hoping they'd spare some attention. Ulrich was the first oblige by kneeling to the dog's height. "He's a friendly puppy, how old is he?"
"I used to know, but I can't recall how I ever got along without him. That's why I recently invested in one of those Find-a-Collar gadgets, in case he decided to go AWOL."
"What beautiful fur. Is he a Spitz, Ms. Maupassant?" Aelita questioned admiring the dog.
"Oh no, he's not a camel dear," the lady replied, misinterpreting her question.
Yumi stopped Aelita from correcting her and smiled. "It was nice talking with you Ms. M! Take care of yourself!"
"What a pleasant lady," Aelita commented as they parted ways.
"The dog was, too. He didn't even give Kiwi a second thought. You see most dogs think he's second breakfast," Odd explained, earning a sniff from Kiwi.
And so, the Ishiyami residence heard generous laughter just outside.