Bouncing Around
The semester quickly ended, and Sissi stayed at school for two weeks of school break. Ulrich and Odd were gone while all the girls and Jeremie stayed. Sissi watched the rolling clouds glide as the wind started picking up against her bare forearms. "Sissi, are you okay?"
"I'm fine." She smiled. She turned to the pink-haired human. "How are you doing? It's been almost a week since... you know." Aelita frowned a bit, bowing her head. "Sorry I asked. I didn't mean-"
"It's okay. I'll manage it." Sissi slung her arm around Aelita's shoulders, smiling wide.
"Well," She said, "You don't have to do it alone." Aelita smiled back. "Why don't we take some time to go to the techno shop? My treat!"
"Sure." The two walked down the narrow street with whizzing cars rushing by. The store was a small shop squished between two public buildings. A neon "open" sign on the window with sale posters as well.
"Mr. Michel must be getting ready for retirement. I've never seen so many sales," Sissi mentioned. They opened the door and a bald, skinny man with round-rimmed glasses and white hair growing on the sides of his head looked at them. His thin lips curved up as he straightened his dark green apron over his red plaid shirt.
"Ah! There are my favorite girls! Sissi, Aelita, how are you?" said the owner in a whispery, slightly strained voice.
"We're fine, Mr. Michel. Are you going out of business?" Aelita asked.
"Hmm? Oh! The signs. Ha! I just do that every now and then to get people interested. You'd be surprised how many people come in here just because of an interesting sign."
"I guess," Sissi said. Her eyes scanned the new displays on the front counter. "I was wondering if you have any insulation. What's the thinnest you have that's good for 50 amps."
"Right over here, ma'am," Mr. Michel pointed. As he showed the girls the newest technology, another customer came in. "Hold on a sec, girls. How may I help- Oh! It's you. What trouble have you gotten into this time?"
"I don't know what you mean, Mr. Michel. I've gone straight, honest," said a girl behind them. Sissi's eyebrows furrowed as she and Aelita turned first to Mr. Michel. He didn't look upset. He had an endearing smirk on his face while his arms were folded together. The girls looked to the door and saw a black-skinned girl with a crimson streak in her hair and a dark gray beanie on her head. She wore black leggings under her plaid skirt and wore a plain black T-shirt. Sissi knew her from somewhere. But where? "I'm just looking for some parts for my music equipment.
"And I guess the junkyard guard banned you permanently?" Mr. Michel smirked.
The girl crossed her arms. "No, I wasn't banned. He... just doesn't like me."
"Uh-huh."
"You know," Sissi butted in, "If you want to get around that guard, I have some ways you can do it." Aelita nudged her in the rib. "Ow, what?"
"You know that's wrong," Aelita said.
"Not really, one man's trash is another woman's treasure, right?"
"See! That's what I said," The girl exclaimed. Sissi smiled with her hand on her hip and a lean on her cane.
"Well, I'll look in the back. Sissi, make sure that she doesn't do anything, got it," Mr. Michel chuckled.
"I will, Mr. Michel." As the man went into the back, Sissi spoke to the girl, "So, you do music?"
"Yeah."
"Why were you banned from the junkyard? You got caught too many times?" Sissi smirked.
The girl scowled, "I wasn't caught. I was just... the guard's a jerk, okay?"
"I should know," Sissi smiled, "I'm Sissi and this is Aelita."
"Nice to meet you, my name's Samatha." Aelita and Sissi widened their eyes and looked at each other. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing, it's just," Sissi paused as she walked closer to Sam, "Do you know a person named Odd at Kadic Academy?"
Her eyes lit up, "Yes! Are you-" Sam paused and lowered her tone, "Are you two... close?"
"Huh?"
"You know? Are either of you his... girlfriend?"
"Oh! No, no, no. Aelita's a cousin of his and I'm... just a friend. He helps me with some of my inventions."
"Oh, oh."
"But he's talked a lot about you. I can tell you're very... special to him," Sissi smirked. Aelita looked at her and hid her frown.
Sam blushed, "He... he does?"
"You know how boys are with their feelings."
"Hehe, yeah," all of them said with a laugh. Just then Mr. Michel came in with Sam's and Sissi's stuff. Sissi pulled out some money and put it on the counter; Sam did the same.
"Hey, how did you get that cane?" Sam asked.
"Bus accident."
"Ouch!"
"It's okay now. The cane is more of a uh... protection... and to make sure that Odd doesn't get out of line."
"Hehe, you look like the daredevil type."
"You don't know the half of it," Sissi muttered.
"Hey, do you skate?"
"No, but I've been meaning to learn."
"Give me your phone." Sissi did so and Sam pressed a few buttons before giving it back. "There. Call me some time. I could teach you if you want."
Sissi blinked and shook her head awake. "I'm sorry. I-I blanked out for a moment. Uh... sure! Sure! I have some free time since I'm on break. What about you?"
"I have a little problem with schools, so they don't allow me on their campuses," Sam replied.
"We can meet at the skate park nearby."
"Okay!" The girls grabbed their things, waved Mr. Michel goodbye, and walked out the door. "Give me a call when you've got time, kay? You can come if you want Aelita."
"That sounds nice," Aelita smiled. They went opposite ways, waving each other goodbye. Sissi sighed as she walked with the bag in one hand and her cane in the other. She glanced at Aelita.
"What?" Sissi asked after seeing her staring eyes.
"Why did you do that?"
"What do you mean?"
"You looked like you didn't want to do it. How come?"
"I don't know what you're talking about," Sissi grumbled sharply. Aelita's head flinched back as Sissi walked a few steps quicker. The pink-haired girl tightened her lips and walked on quietly as Sissi's tapping cane barely made a dent in the silence.
But the silence killed them. Sissi sighed, "I'm sorry, Aelita. I didn't mean to be mean. I just... ugh! I don't want to say it's complicated and sound like Ulrich and Yumi."
"Try finding something else. Maybe... the truth," Aelita proposed. Their feet finally touched the campus ground when Sissi stopped just in front of the gate.
"Odd likes Samantha. You know that, right?"
"I didn't."
"Right, you weren't here when she came."
"Nor were you."
"Jeremie and Ulrich told me about her," Sissi sighed. "Anyway, I know that he likes her... in a special way."
"But?" The wind whistled around them, making Sissi shiver. It was abnormally cold that day. "Why don't we get inside?" Aelita said. Nodding, Sissi watched the floor change from dirt to brick to stair to smooth flooring. They got onto their floor when she stopped in her tracks. "Sissi?"
"I... I think I like Odd," She said. The two girls looked at each other for a while, blinking.
"Then why would you-"
"I...I don't know... I just... I know he likes Sam and... Ugh! Now I understand why Ulrich and Yumi have such a hard time with this!" Sissi stormed into her room and nearly slammed the door onto Aelita. "Sorry."
"It's okay. But why don't you just tell Odd how you feel?"
"And lose one of the only people that has actually supported me through it all? I mean besides you and Jeremie," Sissi said. She dropped into her desk chair and threw her head into her hand. "What am I going to do? I don't want to make the same mistakes that Ulrich and Yumi are making, and I don't know if I actually like him... uuuurrrrghh!" Sissi jumped out of her seat and plopped face-first onto her bed. "What am I going to do!" Aelita quietly sat by Sissi's forlorn head.
"I don't know what to tell you, Sissi. I wish I could help." Just then, her phone rang. Aelita rolled her eyes as she picked up. "Jeremie, this isn't really the best-"
"No," Sissi interrupted, flipping her hair back, "I could use a good distraction."
"We'll be on our way," Aelita said to Jeremie. She hung up the phone and gazed at Sissi getting up from her bed. "Are you sure-"
"My problem will probably solve itself. Besides, I can't do anything with Odd not here, right." Aelita slowly nodded. "Come on, let's go." The two ran over to the factory where Yumi waited with a smile in the elevator.
"Where have you two been?" She asked.
"Running into problems left and right," Sissi sighed quickly, "You?"
"I managed to get out of my brother's stupid fart recital."
"Ugh, boys," Sissi muttered. At the computer chair, Jeremie glared at the screen and tapped his finger on the side of his cheek. "Has anyone told you you look handsome when you're fretting like that, Einstein?"
"Huh! What?!" Jeremie's glasses nearly fell off his nose. Both Yumi and Aelita glanced at Sissi with raised eyebrows. The Dragon Queen laughed, almost snorting, and swirled her cane in her hand."
"I'm just kidding, Jer," She grinned, walking to Jeremie and ruffling his hair. "I have to make sure your heart's still working, for Aelita's sake, of course."
"Yeah, right," the blonde grumbled.
"You called us for something, Jeremie?" Yumi asked.
"I need some data from Sector Five. Ever since XANA escaped from the Supercomputer and onto the web, he's been strangely quiet," the blonde replied. "We need to figure out what he's planning."
"So you're going to update the Superscan?" Yumi asked.
"That's right."
"Well, might as well get going. I've been meaning to get rid of some pent-up steam," Sissi said.
"What? The trip to the techno-shop go bad?" Yumi smirked.
Donning a neutral face, Sissi briefly glanced at her. A mental fight raged in her brain. How could she answer that? "Something like that. Let's go," She said slowly.
"Oh, Sissi!" Jeremie called as Yumi and Aelita went to the elevator. "Odd called and-"
"What?! He called?! What did he say?" Sissi quickly asked.
A wide smile stretched across Jeremie's low-eyelidded face. "He wanted to know if you could save some of Rosa's meatballs." Sissi's wide eyes darkened as the blonde grinned silently. The two of them locked eyes. Sissi waged her options about what she just revealed, frowning as Einstein's smile broadened. Yumi and Aelita looked at each other with shrugs.
"Clever, Jeremie," Sissi softly mumbled.
"I try my best."
"But try something like that again and you're gonna replace Odd's job of being a punching dummy." She pointed at him with her cane. "And-"
"It's in the dark," Jeremie held his hands up. Scowling, the Dragon Queen's smoke subsided, and she marched to the elevator.
"That was very out of character for you, you know," She shouted back.
"Well, Odd said to keep you on your toes."
"He didn't mean it like that."
"I know," Jeremie quipped. "I'll drop you girls off at the ice sector. You know, so Sissi can cool down."
"I'm putting Kiwi in your room the moment he gets back," snarled Sissi as the door closed. Yumi and Aelita silently looked at the mechanist. She threw out a "what" like stinging whip.
"Nothing, nothing," Yumi and Aelita mumbled as they got into the scanners.
"Virtualization!" The three dropped onto the ice sector. Sissi dropped onto the overboard but frowned and stepped off. "What's wrong Sissi?" Jeremie asked.
"I... I want to try something first. I'll use the overboard when I need it," She replied.
"Please tell me you're not going to try and fly again."
"Nothing tried is nothing learned, Jeremie." Sissi squatted and saw the edge of the long narrow strait they were on. Yumi stood on her overwing, ready for the worst. Sissi stomped the ground, sending her into the air. She kicked her other foot and shifted to the other side. Then the other, then the other. "Okay, I almost got it," Sissi grumbled as she frantically stomped the air below. She was getting better at flying, but it required too much stomping. She had to kick about every other second and each kick sent her a different way. Grumbling, she fell to the ground, feet first this time. "UGH! Jumping is more useful. Wait a minute. That's it!" She stood in a running position. "Alright, guys, try and keep up, okay?"
"Sissi, we really don't have time for this," Jeremie grumbled.
"That's too bad!" Sissi groused back. She started running and suddenly stomped her foot extra hard. The Viking flew forward into the air, leaping as far as a running track is long. She landed, ran again, and stomped the ground, jumping even further. "WHAAAAOOOOOOOHHHH!"
"She's more of a genius than we give her credit for," Yumi grinned.
"I'm still not used to hearing that," Jeremie mumbled. Aelita jumped onto the overbike and zoomed after Sissi. With her mega-jumps, as she called them, Sissi leaped over huge gorges and mountainous glaciers.
"That'll come in handy if I ever need to carry one of you guys!" Sissi shouted as she bounced up and down, matching the vehicles' speed.
"Yeah, but it's kinda annoying seeing you bounce like a rabbit!" Yumi joked.
"Rabbits are cute!"
"Girls, we're on a mission here," Jeremie reminded them. Soon, the edge of the sector came in sight, and Sissi's eyes widened.
"Yumi, I might need you to catch me," She quickly said.
"Why?"
"Because I don't know if I can stop myself!" Sissi jumped one last time and punched the air from her waist. Her body jerked back but stopped moving, horizontally anyway. She plummeted to the ground and stuck the landing just off the edge. "Whew! Okay. I think I've had enough excitement for one day."
Yumi and Aelita zoomed to her side. "Are you okay?"
"Great! Just... give me a moment," Sissi plopped to her butt and gasped for breath. "I really just did that."
"Sorry for cutting your break short, Sissi, but we have some work to do," Jeremie said.
Sissi frowned, struggling back up, "You know, I'm starting to think you need to be in here for a change. I mean, Aelita would love to see your Lyoko outfit."
Jeremie rubbed the back of his neck. "That's a hard no."
"Sorry, Aelita," Sissi shrugged to the tittering elf. "Okay, we're ready."
"Ahh, to Sector Five and back without a problem, and Sissi hasn't complained about any bad feeling," Yumi stretched her back. Sissi rolled her eyes as the elevator door opened.
"XANA must either be planning something big or spy on us," Sissi said.
"Why can't you just let us be happy?"
"When you read the Art of War, you start thinking differently."
"When did you read that?"
"Hospital," Sissi finished, walking over to Jeremie. "So?"
"With the data you guys got, I should be able to perfect my scan. With a few more runs, I should be good by the start of the semester."
"Do you need me to help you with the Annex programs?" Aelita asked.
"If you don't mind," Jeremie smiled.
"Alright, you two brain bunches. You can do your devising in peace," Sissi muttered, walking back to the elevator with Yumi.
"Yeah. Oh and sorry for earlier Sissi," Jeremie grinned, scratching the back of his neck. The Dragon Queen leered over her shoulder with a wide grin.
"Don't worry, Einstein. Besides, I already gave Aelita the password for that restricted folder on your computer. You know, the one with extensive data about Aelita?"
"YOU WHAT?!" Jeremie screeched. "How did you know about that?!"
Turning around, Sissi pressed the up button with a smirk and a laugh, saying, "I didn't." Jeremie gulped as the door shut. Aelita covered her giggling while the blond Einstein blushed red.
"Uhh... how about we just forget about all of that?"
"Of course," Aelita tittered.
Continued...