Lunch came all too soon. With it came the joy of eating with Sissi and Jim.

"So, then…" Jim droned, a story of some past job that would get interesting only to end in 'I'd rather not talk about it.' William shrugged at Aelita as they, along with Sissi, tuned him out. Sissi's eyes followed their every movement. Incredibly perceptive she was. Milly and Tamiya stopped by, hoping to get some news but they were soon chased off by Odd and Ulrich, who hadn't abandoned their hopeless friends quite yet, though Sissi was beginning to grind on Ulrich's last couple nerves.

"You know Sissi, one would think you'd give up by now." Odd sighed.

"I'm not a quitter Odd, you should know that." Sissi replied smartly.

"Oh yea, not a quitter but an idiot all the same." Odd retorted.

"Says you." Sissi sneered, turning away abruptly as she earned herself a glare from William.

--

Yumi made her way down to the courtyard, not hungry for lunch but rumors of Aelita and William being in deep trouble had been spreading like wildfire. Some claimed there had been less than innocent happenings in that dorm during the night; others stated that it had been pure accident. You could really tell where friendships were as you watched rumors spread. Yumi decided that Aelita and William needed more friends and fewer enemies as somebody passed by saying something along the lines of 'happened every night this month.' She soon spotted Ulrich and Odd sitting at a bench.

"So, what's really going on?" She asked as she sat down next to them.

"What?" Odd and Ulrich asked in unison, looking confused.

"What really happened with William and Aelita, rumors are spreading faster and crazier than you'd ever believe." Yumi explained.

"Oh, they got caught, apparently they fell asleep late last night in William's dorm and Jim caught them, now they're under surveillance." Odd stated, pointing over at them as Jim and Sissi herded them to detention.

"Great." Yumi muttered.

"Della Robbia! Stern!" Jim called, "Stop chatting and get over here, don't forget you've got detention too!"

"You too?" Yumi asked in a light scolding tone.

"Yea, late to class, running in the halls, four hours." Ulrich explained simply as he stood up, "Better go."

"I'll see you guys later." Yumi said with a wave.

The boys just nodded as they got up and walked over to where Jim stood waiting.

--

"What's that?" Aristide asked as he and Jeremie floated invisibly behind Yumi.

"What's what?" Jeremie asked.

"That." Aristide exclaimed, pointing at Yumi.

"That would be Darkness." Jeremie said patiently.

"No! On her hand." Aristide growled.

"I don't know, skin?" Jeremie retorted.

"No!" Aristide whined, "There's a cut."

"So? Why do I need to know this?" Jeremie asked exasperatedly.

"Because, Kiwi licked that hand this morning." Aristide explained as if it were obvious.

"So? Kiwi licks people all the time." Jeremie replied.

"This is different." Aristide growled, beginning to take on a tone that sounded like he was talking to a two year old.

"How?" Jeremie asked, "You were confusing Kiwi this morning."

"I was not!" Aristide retorted.

"Then what were you doing huh?" Jeremie challenged.

"I was battling Evil." Aristide said simply.

"This can't be good." Jeremie stated.
"No kidding." Aristide said dryly.

--

Detention dragged on slowly. The four teens sat as far away as possible from each other staring blankly at their books. One hour passed. Then two. Then three. Then four. Ulrich and Odd were allowed to leave the library. The fifth hour was even slower than the first four. The sixth was too, made more so by the fact that it was time for dinner as the sixth hour ended. They sat silently, stomachs rumbling, wondering if they would get to eat when a tray appeared in front of each of them. They pushed their books away and ate quietly, sending glances at each other down the table. By the time the seventh hour ended both teens were thoroughly bored. Sissi escorted William from the room with the promise that they wouldn't go far and that they would both be back in an hour. The last hour dragged by before there was a knock and Sissi reentered the room followed by William.

"Alright, I don't want to catch you running in the halls, being late, or in the wrong dorm after lights out you hear?" Jim said.

"Yes Jim." Aelita and William muttered in unison.

"Good, we'll be watching you for a week and next time punishment will be worse." Jim announced.

"We understand." William muttered.

"Good."

--

Short I know, but hey, oh well. I gotta leave you with some riddles and confusion eh?