AN: Hello everyone! As some of you know, my stupid computer wasn't allowing me to upload documents yesterday which is why I was unable to put up a new chapter, despite the fact that you did in fact beat the record! Yey! So, I'm very happy to announce that at the end of this chapter, I will give a sneak peek to my next story to come. Speaking of which, the majority of the people who voted for their favorite title voted for Ulrich's Destiny. Now normally I would make that my title, but the day after I put up my last chapter, I thought of two more titles while writing the preview. So, you'll have to vote again. If you happen to like one of the new titles better, then vote for that one in your review, but if you still like your first pick, then stick with it and tell me so in your review because I'm going to count up all the votes from this chapter, not the last. Sorry for the inconvenience! tinkerbellbt
Chapter 3: "Goodnight"
In the dark underworld known as the digital void, stood a girl who was bursting with excitement.
She hadn't known what to expect after sending a last-chance message to her friend in the real world. But to her joy, he responded almost immediately.
He was still the same Jeremie and that was good to know since she wasn't sure of what to expect after the years of not communicating with him, or any of the others for that matter.
She figured he would look different and she had to admit his voice sounded deeper, but she wasn't worried about that at the moment. She had all the help she needed and that's what counted.
She took a while thinking about what to say to him, and how to explain everything so he could help her out of the horrid place.
When she finally did get the courage to talk to the boy she found she still loved, she got an even better surprise than she had hoped for.
Not only did Jeremie reply back to her, but the whole gang did with him! Ulrich, Odd and Yumi. She was anxious to hear how Yumi had managed after the day she sacrificed herself for Yumi.
They all sounded so happy to hear from her. She felt overjoyed and squealed with delight and soon afterwards heard the giggles and laughs from her old friends. It was great to hear their laughter. It was great to know she wasn't alone.
The four teenagers on the other end of the conversation were as delighted as Aelita was to be reunited. And although they may not have been in the same room, they were still together.
Every one of them had a different reaction to the knowledge of their friend's survival. Jeremie was so overwhelmed from hearing not only Aelita's voice, but Yumi's too, that he broke down into silent, joyful tears.
Odd sat in silence with the biggest grin on his face, you'd think it'd fall off sooner or later. He didn't really understand how all of this was able to happen, but who cared? It doesn't matter how something happens, it just matters if it happens!
Yumi cried too, but much differently than her good pal Jeremie. She was heard by everyone and was saying things like "Oh, Aelita! I'm so glad you're okay! I was so worried about you! I've missed you incredibly!" Everyone agreed with her in their own way.
Ulrich mostly helped Yumi with tissues and whatnot, but he too was overjoyed that Aelita was safe and was able to contact them.
After a while they all settled down and just talked. They talked about what happened two years ago, each one of them having their own stories. Yumi's was probably the most interesting since she had to go through so many things to be where she was.
Aelita and Yumi were able to relate with one another, but Aelita added a bit to what it had been like in the digital void.
Ulrich told about his move and how he found Yumi. He and Yumi even talked about the party they'd had the day before. They didn't mention that Dylan wasn't able to hold in the sprite and ended up peeing on himself though. That was a mess!
Jeremie talked about all the long days he'd spent looking for Yumi and Aelita. But mostly Aelita. He told them about all the things he'd found out about X.A.N.A and how he shut him down. No one really understood though, so they just agreed whenever he asked a question.
Odd blabbered on and on about all the girls he'd dated over the course of the two years, and man was it a long list!
By the time they finished their phone call, it was 2:47 am in Washington, and 8:47 am in France. They each noticed the time and they all agreed they had to go. Odd's parents were already mad about his phone bill before that call, but now, he was dead. Especially since it was long distance. Besides, it was breakfast time!
Yumi didn't have to worry about that though, Alina was a millionaire. She paid more for a dress to wear to the Grammies than the amount the phone bill was going to cost. But it was really late, or early, it depended on how you looked at it. Thank goodness it was a Saturday!
They all said their goodbyes and hung up. But as Odd was leaving to head to lunch, Jeremie told him to go on ahead as he shut the computer down. What he was really doing though, was saying an extra special goodbye to Aelita.
"Aelita, even though I can't see you, I still love you, and I want you to know that. I haven't ever forgotten you, and I'm not about to start forgetting now. We'll figure out how to get you out of the void. I promise!" Jeremie said to the virtual girl.
There was a moment's silence and then the voice he had longed to hear for two whole years spoke to him saying exactly what he wanted to hear.
"Jeremie, I love you too, and I trust you will keep your word." Aelita responded. Jeremie grinned and leaned in to turn off the computer.
"I'll talk to you later Aelita." He said as he entered the code to turn off his computer. "I'll be waiting." Aelita said. Jeremie couldn't see then, but for the first time in two years, she smiled so much, it hurt.
In the United States in a little place called Washington D.C, in a neighborhood named Liberty Estates on Liberty Lane, in a mansion with the address number of 246, sat two awestruck 15-year-olds in a living room on a couch.
They had been sitting there for at least 2 ½ hours. The fire had let out two hours ago and the boy, Ulrich, had to get up and replace the wood and light it up again.
After they had hung up the phone they had been talking on for hours with their friend's, they sat in silence for about 10 minutes before Ulrich spoke.
He didn't want to disrupt the moment. He loved sitting on the couch watching the flames rise and fall aging with Yumi snuggled close to him for warmth. Or was it because she wanted to be next to him?
But he figured his parents were already worried about him, and he would need to get home before they decided his doom.
"Hey Yumi?" He spoke softly. She looked up at him with their faces inches apart. "Yes Ulrich." She said just as soft. "I don't want to leave this moment, but it is really late and my parents are probably fuming mad by now." He explained.
"Oh, well, I understand. Do you want to call them first? Maybe they can come pick you up instead of making you walk all the way home on such a cold night." Yumi suggested. "Nah. I'll be fine." Ulrich stated.
They got up and headed towards the door and stopped to look outside before saying their goodbyes. But it looked like they wouldn't have to say goodbye after all, for the snow had gone out of control and was everywhere. There was no way he was going to walk home, and even Ulrich's parents wouldn't be able to drive through the mess.
"Um. On second thought, why don't I just stick around for a while." Ulrich said while still looking outside. "Yea, there is no way I'm letting you leave in this weather. Call your parents and tell them you're staying over night. You can stay in a guest bedroom. We have like a bajillion!" Yumi said.
Ulrich laughed at this and nodded as he headed over to the phone once again. He dialed his number and by the second ring his mother picked up. "Son, are you alright? I figured you were just going to stay over at your friend's house with the blizzard going on and everything." Mrs. Stern greeted Ulrich.
"Yea, mom, that's what I've decided to do. I'll call you at a reasonable time later in the day." Ulrich said as he looked at his cell phone watch which read 2:59 am. "Okay hun, see you later." Mrs. Stern said her goodbye and hung up after Ulrich said his.
"So, it's okay with your mom?" Yumi asked. "Yea, she actually expected me to stay over." Ulrich said with a slight laugh. "Well, then I'll show you to our guest room and if you need anything, just let me know." Yumi said while walking up the stairs.
Once they reached the first room she opened the door and revealed a large room with a king sized bed and huge window. There was even a walk-in closet. And a bathroom connected to the room, and that was just the guest room!
Yumi then pointed to a room two doors down, and told Ulrich it was her room, and to find her if he needed the slightest thing. He nodded and said goodnight as he walked off to his room.
But as Ulrich climbed into the huge bed, he didn't know that it would be Yumi finding him in the early morning.
AN: Wow! That was longer than I thought, which is why I'm posting this so late. Anyways, there is going to be some fluff in the next chapter! There was some in this chapter with AxJ, but there's more to come with those two. Anyhow, hope you liked it! I'm not setting a goal for this chapter's reviews, but I hope that doesn't mean you won't review, 'cause I won't update if you don't review. Well, ciao! tinkerbellbt
Question of the Day:
Okay, well, here's the sneak peek I promised. Enjoy! And don't forget to vote!
It was unusually cold for a Summer night. But still pleasant. Pleasant enough for Ulrich to take a peaceful walk along the edge of the creek. The only light that shone in the dark purple sky was the full moon and the stars scattered around it.
Ulrich walked on ahead, his shoes almost touching the water now. He stopped for a brief moment and looked at his blurry reflection that displayed itself across the top of the creek's water.
He was thinking about the talk he'd had with Yumi earlier that day. What did she see in him? Surely it must be more than his looks. Because although most of the girls chased after him because of how "adorably cute" he was, Yumi was better than that.
She liked to look at people for who they were inside. If she liked him as much as she said she did, then he must be a fairly decent guy.
Ulrich smiled and walked on a little further. He looked up and saw the blanket of trees just to the right, and beyond that, the mountains.
He was just about to turn around and head back to the campsite when he heard a small whimper over in the woods.
"No! No please! Don't do THAT!" The voice was a young female's. He recognized it instantly, and ran towards the source of the plead.
Ulrich ran into bushes and scraped against trees, he even fell once or twice. But these mild injuries couldn't have been as bad as what was happening to the girl at this that very moment.
When he finally reached his destination, he saw that nothing could have hurt more physically or emotionally, than what had happened that night in the middle of the wood at camp.
So, does it sound good? I have like six different title ideas for this story. Which is your favorite?
Ulrich's Fault?
Ulrich's Doing?
Ulrich's Destiny
The Defendant Ulrich Stern is Found…
I the Middle of the Wood
One Night at Camp
I'm looking forward to those reviews people:)