Like A Boy
A Code Lyoko fic by Madame Halie
Disclaimer: I don't own Code Lyoko.
Chapter 10: Bonanza
(Last Day of the Tournament)
Einstein Academy had already cemented third place and three remaining competitors (Irish, British and Russian schools) would now compete for first and second place. Einstein Academy could've continued but they opted out – not wanting to risk losing third place.
It was 6:30 a.m. and the tired students were readying to board the plane.
"Oh crap," Gregory said.
"What's wrong?" Jeremie asked.
"I left my ticket in the bathroom," Gregory whispered.
"What?" Jeremie whispered back incredulously.
"You're so careless," Rhonda McClaren said her British accent highly obvious.
"Maybe because I don't live where my ticket would get wet if I left it in the open," Gregory countered the fellow EA who was a chubby eight-year old.
"Hmph," Rhonda said her brown pigtails flashing with the movement of her head.
Jeremie stifled a laugh. Rhonda randomly behaved as if she came from royalty. In reality her parents were working class and she moved to America at age five to live with her middle-class aunt.
"I'm going back after I graduate EA," Rhonda said proudly, "two more years til I see my Dad and Mum again."
Gregory rubbed the back of his head. He knew Rhonda was very proud of her country.
"Sorry," Gregory apologized.
Rhonda smiled, her freckles emphasizing her round cream coloured cheeks and dark blue eyes.
"Well hurry back," Rhonda said, "we know you and your phobia."
A few boys smirked.
"You're only jealous that I'm conversing with the only girl on our trip," Gregory countered.
Rhonda grinned.
EA had only recently opened their school to females, only taking at most four girls per year. Though argued by others as prejudice, the school's administration made it clear that they didn't have to do it since EA was supposed to be a boy's school. Well known for pulling back changes when bothered made the protesters cease bothering the school. Only three girls traveled to France and one was staying for the last match along with three boys. The other had to leave half-way through the match for a family emergency. Therefore making Rhonda the only girl returning to America today.
"Why Gregory," Rhonda said in mock flirtation, "I was wondering when you'd see the true side of me."
The group soon burst out laughing.
"So who's following Mr. Anti-Public Bathrooms?" Fred Stamos – a blonde haired American with blue eyes – asked.
Gregory's face darkened. He always disliked Fred. As leader of the soccer team and of several school clubs, he acted like he owned a stake in the school.
"I'll do it," Jeremie volunteered.
"Hurry back," Lewis Stamos said his voice barely audible.
Jeremie looked back at Fred's quiet identical twin brother who dyed his hair black and wore brown contacts.
"Yeah," Jeremie said nodding since he made friends with the older boy who taught him how to play the acoustic guitar.
Gregory walked quickly and Jeremie hurried to catch up.
"Don't take too long," Rhonda said loudly, "I'm not planning on waiting if you decide to become jelly bellies!"
Both students and teachers laughd. For a genius Rhonda said some of the silliest things.
The two soon found the ticket in a stall and turned to leave. But blocking them were a rowdy group of students from an opposing school.
"Well, well," a male student said stepping forward, "the school that made us sixteenth place," he said cracking his knuckles.
Gregory stood in front of Jeremie protectively.
"Protecting your boyfriend?" another boy teased.
Jeremie went bright red.
Gregory stood defiant.
The angry teens stepped forward. Gregory and Jeremie stepped back.
"We won fair and square," Gregory said firmly.
"Other teams lost and behaved accordingly," Jeremie spoke up, "you're just sore losers."
Soon the two EA students and the other teens started arguing loudly.
After nearly half-an-hour someone burst in looking livid.
"Fred?" Gregory asked his attention lost to the argument still ensuing.
"You need to come now," Fred said seriously.
His actions caused the opposing school to back off. Taking the chance Gregory and Jeremie ran. Fred led up front.
Soon they were in a private compartment. Inside were even more EA students who looked very upset.
"Some of the students left on another flight because our plane was delayed," Fred said his voice tearful, "their flight would've landed just miles further from where our delayed flight would've landed," he continued, "the pla…the pla…the pla…"
"The plane crashed and exploded after take off," Lewis revealed.
"Oh my God," Jeremie said upset as Gregory looked around.
"Where's Rhonda?" Gregory asked.
Fred looked at Gregory like a lost sheep.
"Rho…no," Jeremie said, "no," he repeated, "I left to her calling me and Gregory 'jelly bellies,' she can't be dead."
"She was anxious to go back," Fred told Jeremie, "she even had a monitor with her."
Jeremie fell to his knees. A teacher walked over to console him.
"RHONDA!" Jeremie screamed and fell flat on his face sobbing.
"Shh," the teacher comforted and lifted him off the floor.
Gregory looked on sadly. Too overcome with grief to cry or help Jeremie with his own.
Ulrich sat under the tree with Odd. Both had patched things up during Ulrich's suspension. Now they hung out like before. With a few exceptions.
"Do you think Yumi did this just to win?" Ulrich asked, "I know she loves me," he said, "well…I think she does," he added.
"Winning a bet and winning your love are two different things," Odd said, "look at me, I won the battle but lost the war."
"Hmm," Ulrich said, "I just…I just wish that she wasn't so intent on being malicious to Sissi," he said honestly, "I know she's not an angel, but she…"
"Dotes on you unlike Yumi," Odd interrupted.
Ulrich went red.
"Doting isn't love," Odd said, "Yumi loves you despite how dumb she's been acting," he continued, "you need to remember that when you make your decision."
Ulrich simply nodded.
"So," Ulrich said, "everything's cool between us right?" he asked.
Odd burst out laughing.
"Are you still asking me about that?" Odd asked in disbelief, "yes Ulrich I've forgiven all your trespasses," he joked.
"With talk like that you'd be able to date Melanie," Ulrich countered.
"Keep going," Odd said, "you'll be talking to this tree next," he warned.
"But you forgave all my trespasses," Ulrich reminded him.
"I said that before your crack about Melanie," Odd told him.
"Okay, okay, I'll drop it," Ulrich conceded.
"Listen," Odd said, "I know Yumi's recent act has been both a blow to your ego and the trust you have in her," he stated, "but you can trust me," he said, "I have no intention on betraying you Ulrich," he promised, "you can rest assured of that."
"It's just…you're the only one in our little group I can talk to," Ulrich said softly, "Aelita's with William," he summarized, "Jeremie's going to Einstein Academy," he continued, "and Yumi and I are on opposite sides because of some dumb bet," he said bitterly, "that only leaves you, and only because we were able to resolve our stupid feud," he added.
"But it's resolved," Odd pointed out, "why dwell on it?"
"What if we argue again?" Ulrich asked.
"So what?" Odd asked incredulously, "I'm sorry but you're starting to sound as if you're having male PMS."
Ulrich sighed.
"I just don't know what to think anymore," Ulrich said honestly, "everything's so topsy-turvey," he told Odd, "I'm hanging out with Sissi who seems to think that we're going to be together," he said, "and the girl I once thought would be my future wife…"
"WIFE!" Odd shouted.
Ulrich hung his head.
"I should've paid more attention to Yumi," Ulrich regretted, "instead I took it for granted that we'd be together," he said sadly, "I really thought she was the one Odd," he told his friend.
"And I saw Aelita as my beautiful dedicated girlfriend," Odd said, "obviously I don't have it anywhere near as bad," he admitted, "marriage talk gives me the heebie geebies," he confessed, "and I'm not even talking about ones that involve me," he added.
Ulrich laughed.
"That's not funny!" Odd cried.
"Yes it is!" Ulrich responded, "you're going to be the only bachelor in our group soon," he stated, "I don't even see Jeremie single at 40."
"I won't be single," Odd protested.
"Just unmarried," Ulrich added.
"I thought we're friends," Odd pouted.
"We are," Ulrich said, "that's why I can make fun of you."
"Just wait 'til this bet's over," Odd said, "I'm going to unload a lifetime worth of 'make fun' on you," he told her.
"Can't wait," Ulrich said still laughing.
Meanwhile Sissi snuck off to meet someone. Since the teacher was absent and the class was before lunch, she and others (including Ulrich and Odd) had slipped off to do their own thing.
"Hey," Christophe said from behind her.
"AHHHH!" Sissi screamed, "you frightened me!" she cried hitting him over the head.
"Hey, watch it Miss Delmas," Christophe said his voice hinting annoyance.
"Then don't scare me," Sissi insisted.
"I'll remember that," Christophe said slowly, "anyway, how's it going with you and Ulrich?" he asked.
"Excellent, thanks to you," Sissi said smiling, "I knew telling Melanie to walk that path to avoid a pipe leak would lead her to Odd and Emily," she said grinning deviously, "and since she loves taking pictures with that camera cell of hers," she said leaving the sentence hanging.
"And I convinced her not to post it by promising her that I could use it for something even better," Christophe said with a smirk.
"What are you going to do?" Sissi asked.
"Patience," Christophe said, "trust me, Odd will pay a big price for being so close to Ulrich?"
"Without him Ulrich has one avenue left," Sissi said brightly.
"You," Christophe spoke up.
Sissi clapped happily.
"But," Christophe continued.
"But what?" Sissi asked.
"There's still something we have to talk about," Christophe told her.
"Like what?" Sissi asked getting suspicious.
"You get Ulrich and revenge on both Yumi and Odd," Christophe stated, "that's three things," he pointed out, "while I only get the winnings from my bet when you and Ulrich get together."
"That was our arrangement," Sissi said angrily.
"I know," Christophe agreed, "but I want more," he revealed.
"No," Sissi refused.
"I knew you'd say that," Christophe stated, "the spoilt brat of Kadic's headmaster would never agree to something unbeneficial to her," he said causing Sissi to snarl, "so I did this," he said taking out a camcorder, "like my video?" he asked showing her what was on it.
Sissi shrieked.
"Don't do as I say and I'll post it on the internet," Christophe threatened, "I have friends with copies, you can't get away."
"Bu…bu…but…we're on the same side," Sissi protested.
"Are we?" Christophe asked, "my side is the winning side baby," he revealed, "and I sit on that side alone."
"Why?" Sissi asked tearfully.
"You're a spoilt backstabbing little bitch," Christophe told her, "why would I take sides with you?" he asked, "so you can stab me in the back like you did Yumi just to get Ulrich?" he spat, "I don't make deals with backstabbers," he added.
"That shouldn't be a problem," Sissi said in a cracked voice, "since you do it quite well by yourself."
Christophe's face darkened.
"If your father sees this you're dead," Christophe countered, "so don't make statements you can't back up."
Sissi gulped and held back her tears.
"What do you want?" Sissi asked.
"I'm not asking for sex if that's what you're thinking," Christophe said scornfully, "you're not my type," he told her, "but you are pretty in negligee," he admitted, "so…I'll have you model some for me."
"WHAT!" Sissi screamed.
"You modeled that night gown pretty well for Ulrich," Christophe said causing Sissi to blush, "you should really be careful what you do behind closed doors," he said, "never know when a little camera will capture the moment," he said laughing as he walked away.
Sissi fell to her knees crying.
Oh Ulrich, Sissi thought, what do I do?
Headmaster Delmas sat in his office alone. He was very curious about the contents of that cassette. But so far he hadn't gathered the courage to listen. Now however, he had finally gotten a walkman out and was going to listen to the cassette for the first time. He pressed play and waited.
"Close the door behind you."
"Christophe?" Headmaster Delmas asked.
A door closes softly.
"So you got what you wanted huh?" another voice asked.
"Yumi!" Headmaster Delmas cried incredulously.
Christophe chuckles.
"So you figured it out? That I played you?" Christophe responded.
"Yes," Yumi said then sighed.
"So you're here to cry or something?" Christophe demanded.
"You must feel great," Yumi said, "having no attachments."
"What?" Christophe asked sounding confused.
"You have no one here you deeply care about," Yumi expanded.
"Oh I get it," Christophe said, "this is some trick, well it won't work!"
"Believe what you want," Yumi said, "do you know why I'm dressed like this?"
"Like lumberjack Yumi?" Christophe stated, "why should I care?" he countered, "wait, what so you think you're doing?" he demanded, "are you crazy, stop unbuttoning that!"
"Why?" Yumi asked, "I should at least find out if I'm still desirable," she added.
"Button back that shirt!" Christophe ordered.
Headmaster Delmas' eyes widened in horror.
"Am I that ugly?" Yumi asked, "not even my nemesis wants me."
"It's not…you can't just come into a guy's room doing that," Christophe stuttered, "try…try something a little less…insane."
"Like this?" Yumi asked and soon there was the sound of passionate kissing, "what do you think?"
"God, you aren't kidding," Christophe said out of breath.
"It's just…Ulrich…" Yumi started.
"Who cares about that idiot?" Christophe interrupted, "I used you to help frame him because Mr. Delmas would've never taken the letter seriously if I had signed it," he said.
"I guess a good rep pays off," Yumi said.
"I had to fool you since you wouldn't sign something framing Ulrich," Christophe went on, "who better to let you think you're getting revenge on than Sissi?"
"I let Ulrich get away," Yumi said sadly.
"Don't sell Sissi short," Christophe told her, "when comes to deception, she's sharp," he added.
"So…what do we do now?" Christophe asked slyly.
"We play a game," Yumi said, "a no peeking game."
"Okay," Christophe said anxiously.
"No peeking," Yumi instructed.
"I'm not!" Christophe shouted.
"Okay," Yumi whispered.
There is the sound of a blow and the running of feet.
"You bitch!" Christophe roars.
The tape stops.
A shocked Headmaster Delmas just stared at it.
What the hell do I do with this? Headmaster Delmas thought.
Aelita sat with William as she had been doing recently. Her friendships with Odd, Ulrich and Yumi were defunct. Odd and Yumi for obvious reasons. Ulrich by association. She had noticed that he and Odd were hanging out together again. Both being roommates was bad enough. But now that they'd patched things up, she'd never be able to speak to Ulrich and feel comfortable.
He probably thinks I'm a jerk for the way I dumped Odd, Aelita thought, that retard Christophe, it's all his fault why I had to dump Odd in the lunchroom.
"Wi..." Aelita started as she got up from tying her shoelaces.
Aelita's eyes widened in horror. William had dropped several pills in her drink then kept talking to his friends as if nothing had happened. She eyed her drink warily.
"Are you okay?" a friend of William's asked.
"Huh, oh yes," Aelita said focusing on eating anything but the ominous drink, "I have to go," she said quickly as soon as lunch was almost over and left the drink behind.
"I'll take it," Janice Edwards – the only other female at the table- said and snatched it.
"What's that white stuff at the bottom?" Marcus Quaint asked.
"Eww," Janice said looking under the cup, "either somebody's bad at spiking drinks or this stuff is just nasty."
Shit, William realized.
"Nice sitting with you gotta go," William said quickly to his fellow 11th grade friends and ran off.
"What's up with that?" Marcus asked.
"I gave him a few of my pills for his upset stomach," Timothy Grayson a.k.a. Grant said simply, "guess it didn't work."
Everyone else at the table stifled laughs.
"Poor Will needs to go poo poo," Marcus joked causing raucous laughter to break out.
But Janice looked at the cup suspiciously. Then her grey eyes widened.
"Guys," Janice said seriously, "I think William stepped into a big pile of poo poo...I mean shit."
The rest of the table burst out laughing at Janice saying poo poo.
"Seriously guys we can't be concerned about poo... I mean Aelita thinks that it was meant for her," Janice explained.
"The poo poo?" Grant asked confused.
After a moment of silence the entire table broke out in laughter around Grant.
The shoulder length blonde looked around, completely oblivious to why everyone else was laughing around him.
"What?" Grant asked.
"Don't talk Grant," Janice said trying to stop laughing.
"About poo poo?" Grant asked.
The laughter at the table got even louder. Students at other tables were now staring.
"They're laughing themselves to death because I said poo poo," Grant explained horrifying onlookers.
"Did you just say poo poo?" Christophe asked.
"Um," Grant said going red, "Marcus said it first!"
Marcus immediately stopped laughing. The next second Grant was shoved to the ground as the lunchroom broke out in laughter at Marcus.
Chapter Completed
Today is November 16, 2008. Yes it's been a long time since I posted that announcement on September 28, 2007 telling you I'd have trouble updating. Well I've finally updated. Thank you for reading, sorry for the wait, and please review.