No, you're not all living in a paradox world. I'm just being productive! A few notes before we continue on: It has recently come to my attention that summer time in New Zealand isn't exactly sunny. For that reason, this fic will now be taking place in AU!Summer New Zealand. Why? Because I'm an author, that's why. I had something else to say, but I forget what, so onward with the fic!
Beep. Beep. Beep.
With a groan, a pale hand snaked out from below a cocoon of blankets, flailing against the low bedside table a few times before finding the alarm clock and shutting it off. "Five more minutes," the bundle of blankets moaned.
"Is it already morning?" a second pile of bedding grumbled, heaped on the ground beside the floor level bed.
"No," the first pile answered. "The alarm's not going off." A soft giggle emerged from the second pile, which was followed a moment later by a head of pink hair popping up.
"Come on Yumi," Aelita said, batting away her blankets. "We need to get up." A half hearted whining sound was all she got in response.
After arriving at Yumi's house, the girls had quickly stashed away Aelita things in a corner of Yumi's room, and then set about packing away everything Yumi would need for the trip. Half way through, the packing had dissolved into an impromptu fashion show, as Yumi tried to figure out what she should take with her. Eventually they finished loading up Yumi's suitcases, after which they stayed awake late into the night, talking about all of the things they could do on their vacation, not at all considering the early morning ahead of them.
"Time to get up," Aelita sing-songed, stumbling over to Yumi's bed and dropping down on top of the older girl.
"Go 'way," Yumi huffed, playfully shoving at Aelita. The pink haired girl responded by attempting to steal Yumi's blankets and burrow into them. A short wrestle ensued, which eventually ended with both girls on the ground, each hugging a pillow to their chest and laughing breathlessly.
"Ugh, give me that," Yumi said, snatching her pillow from her giggling friend and then tossing it back onto her bed. Sighing, Aelita sprawled out across the floor, swatting at Yumi's heels as she walked by. "Don't make me step on you," Yumi threatened with a grin. Aelita stuck her tongue out as she propped herself up on her elbows.
"Can you believe it?" she asked as she watched Yumi rummaging about for her bathroom things, which she'd left out the night before. "We're going to New Zealand today."
"I know," Yumi responded, tucking her clothes under her arm. "It doesn't feel real. Like, we're going to get to the school and find out we dreamed the whole thing."
"I really hope not," Aelita said, falling back against her blankets. "I wouldn't know what to do with myself for the summer if I wasn't spending it with you guys."
"Aelita," Yumi said, walking over and dropping down onto the floor next to her friend. "You know that even if we weren't going to New Zealand, you would probably be spending the summer with all of us, right?"
"Really?" Aelita asked, scooting so that she was sitting upright. Yumi nodded.
"We wouldn't all go home and abandon you here to figure out what to do with yourself for the whole summer."
"But you all go home to your families over the summer," Aelita said. "In other countries."
"We do," Yumi agreed. Aelita's brow furrowed.
"So how would I spend the summer with all of you?" she asked.
"Simple," Yumi responded. "We'd just pack you up and take you with us." Aelita stared wide eyed at her dark haired friend.
"…Really?" she choked out.
"Really," Yumi responded. She then grinned, rolling to her feet. "Now come on Aelita," she said, heading for her door. "We need to hurry and get ready if we want to see Jeremy before his bus leaves." Flashing her own grin in response, Aelita bounced up and headed for her bag, quickly rummaging her bathroom things out and then hurrying after Yumi. Elbowing playfully for control of the sink, the girls quickly scrubbed their teeth and faces, dragging brushes through unruly hair as they raced back to Yumi's room.
At some point the entire morning became a race, the girls hurling themselves into their outfits. After trying to put her head through a sleeve twice, Aelita finally got her shirt on straight, just in time to watch Yumi topple onto her bed, her shorts on one leg.
"I'm winning!" she announced, cramming her sleep clothes into her duffle. Yumi's response was to lob a pillow at Aelita's head. Laughing, Aelita tossed it back.
"Ugh," Yumi sighed, collapsing onto her side. "We're as bad as the boys."
"No," Aelita shook her head, "we're actually up before noon." Yumi blinked at Aelita.
"Good point."
The two girls stared at one another for a moment before dissolving into giggles.
"Okay, okay," Yumi said, trying to regain control of herself. "We need to make sure we've got all our stuff ready to go." Aelita glanced over at the bags piled neatly by the door, looked down at her duffel, and nodded.
"Check."
"And all your school stuff is stashed away?" Yumi asked. Aelita motioned to the pile of boxes in the corner.
"Check."
"Good. Let's go!"
And, after a long look, the race continued as the girls flung themselves at the luggage. Grabbing whatever was closest to hand, the girls loaded their arms with the black and pink bags and bolted out the door. They hesitated briefly at the stairs, but eventually made it to the living room in a semblance of one piece.
"Good morning?"
Looking up from the pile of luggage and bodies they'd currently become, Yumi and Aelita were surprised to see Yumi's parents sitting at the table, Ms. Ishiyama nursing a cup of coffee while her husband peered at the girls over his newspaper. The girls struggled to stifle giggles at Mr. Ishiyama's bewildered look.
"I see you two are excited," Ms. Ishiyama said, smiling at the girls. They nodded, still giggling.
"You're turning in your room keys today, right Aelita?" Mr. Ishiyama asked. At Aelita's nod, he added, "If you want we can load your bags into the car, and I'll give you a ride to the school."
"Umm," the girls hummed, glancing at one another.
"Actually," Yumi said, still grinning, "I think we'll walk. It's not that far."
"And the fresh air will wake us up a bit," Aelita agreed.
"And maybe take care of your giggles," Ms. Ishiyama added playfully, as Yumi and her friend continued struggling to keep their expressions neutral. Mr. Ishiyama paused, seemingly considering having the two girls giggling away in the back of his car.
"On second thought, I think your mother's right. The walk will do you two good. Now Yumi, come say goodbye to your parents—you won't be seeing us for six weeks."
"Of course." Dropping her bags, Yumi bounded to the kitchen, giving each of her parents a quick hug.
"Here," Mr. Ishiyama said as Yumi pulled away. He was holding out a white envelope. "Take this with you." Yumi eyed the envelope curiously as she took it, holding it up to the light to try and look inside.
"What is it?"
"Just a little spending money," Mr. Ishiyama said. "Plus a little extra for emergencies." Yumi hefted the envelope, an eyebrow raised at its weight.
"This seems like enough for me to get a hotel all summer," she observed. She flashed her mother and Aelita a playful look as she added, "don't you trust that Odd actually has a house for us to stay in?"
"No."
Mr. Ishiyama seemed confused by the laughter his response earned, but before he could question it Ms. Ishiyama took charge.
"Alright you two," she said, waving one hand at her bewildered husband, "I think it's about time you were off."
"It's almost like you want me gone," Yumi sighed.
"Oh, nonsense," her mother said, while at the same time her father said, "we might." He smiled when Yumi pouted at him, and waved her towards the door.
"Off with you. Go enjoy your summer."
With a final round of hugs, Yumi and Aelita gathered up their bags, piling as much as they could atop their suitcases. Shouldering her backpack, Yumi threw open the front door, pointing out to the street beyond. Laughing, Aelita hefted her duffle, shouting a quick "see you in the fall!" to Yumi's parents as Yumi grabbed her hand and tugged her out the door.
As they reached the sidewalk, Yumi heaved a giant sigh, shifting her luggage around for a comfortable way to carry it all.
"So, Aelita, are you ready for the most amazing summer vacation you're ever going to have?"
Frowning thoughtfully, Aelita said, "This is the only summer vacation I've ever had."
"Well then," Yumi said, tossing an arm around the girl's shoulders, "you'll just have to deal with the fact that you're never going to have one that's better. Of course, that's assuming that my dad wasn't right."
"About what?"
"About Odd not having a house at all. He might just be tricking us into flying all the way to New Zealand with him as some kind of prank."
"You don't think he'd really do such a thing, do you?" Aelita asked, her brow furrowing with worry. Noticing the expression, Yumi laughed.
"You never know," she said, winking playfully, "Odd is a fan of pulling pranks on people." Aelita pulled a face.
"You're right," she said. Glancing at the envelope sticking out of Yumi's backpack, she asked, "Do you think there's enough money in there for both of us to survive the summer?"
"Both of us? What about Ulrich?"
"He can spend the summer being homeless with Odd," Aelita decided. "I'm sure they'd love it." Yumi laughed.
"I bet they would."
The girls continued to joke as they walked to Kadic, alternating between listing all of the things they were going to do over the summer and coming up with all kinds of wild adventures for a homeless Odd ad Ulrich. By the time they'd reached the school they'd gotten to "tan themselves silly" and "build a raft out of their mattresses to get back to France" respectively, and were in the middle of trying to decide which of the boys would be captain of the S.S. Kiwi when they finally arrived outside the boys' dorm.
The girl's first knock was unsurprisingly ineffective, the second as productive as the first.
"Should we try calling them?" Aelita asked. Yumi shook her head.
"That's too polite." Glancing down the hall, Yumi eyed the open doors of the mostly empty rooms. Deeming her impending actions as unlikely to disturb anyone else, she turned back to the door and, with a devious look in Aelita's direction, began her own version of a wake-up call.
"Good morning Ulrich!" she bellowed, pounding his door with both fists. "Rise and shine!"
Aelita stuffed her fist in her mouth, struggling valiantly to hold back her laughter. Glancing down the hall out of habit, she expected to see Jim barreling towards them, shouting at them to behave themselves. Instead all she got was a single curious look from a boy tugging a final suitcase out of his room.
A mumbled response from behind Ulrich's door has Yumi stepping back with a satisfied smirk, the door opening a moment later to reveal the scruffy haired, blurry eyed brunet. He blinked at the girls a few times, scowling at their bright smiles.
"I'm up," he started to say, only to be interrupted by a jaw-cracking yawn.
"I can see that," Aelita said, pulling a face as Ulrich yawned again. "I see you boys planned your morning well."
"Mmm," Ulrich agreed, waving his hand limply for the girls to come in as he padded back into his room. Aelita and Yumi exchanged looks as they followed, tugging their luggage into the little dorm after them.
"Oh my God," Yumi gasped, stopping short at the sight of the boy's room.
"Wow," Aelita agreed.
"What?" Ulrich mumbled.
"You're room," Yumi breathed. "I've never seen it so…so clean."
For the first time since they'd moved in, the dorm was spotless, the wardrobe, dressers, and desk all free of clutter; only the luggage piled in the middle of the room showing that the room hadn't yet been vacated. Even the beds had been stripped, something that left Yumi momentarily confused.
"Ulrich," she said slowly, eyebrow raising, "where are your sheets?"
"Hmm? Packed," Ulrich said, his voice muffled by the sweatshirt he was using as a pillow. He'd draped another jacket, which looked suspiciously like Odd's, across himself for a blanket. Odd's bed looked no less comfortable, the blonde (who'd slept through Yumi's wake-up call) sleeping under a towel, his head pillowed on his arms. Both of them had opted to sleep in their clothes.
"You two are ridiculous."
"And going to make us late," Aelita added. Unlike her male companions, Aelita was studiously keeping track of the time, not about to be late to her first ever summer vacation.
"I know," Ulrich sighed. Rolling onto his back, he bunched Odd's jacked up, narrowing his eyes as he gauged the distance between him and the blonde. "Della Robbia, up-and-at-um'."
The purple jacket landed neatly across Odd's head. The heap of fabric gave a confused sound before shifting around, Odd's spike of hair appearing a moment later. He blinked sleepily at his jacket, and then up at Yumi and Aelita. He seemed completely unfazed by the fact that the two people he'd threatened with wake-up calls were instead standing in the middle of his dorm, waking him up.
"Morning," he said, grinning as he stretched. Tossing his towel atop his suitcase, he asked, "you girls ready for the best summer of your lives?" Aelita nodded, fidgeting with her excitement. Ulrich just sighed.
"Couldn't you have booked a later flight?" he whined. Odd, who was now sitting up, stared at his roommate.
"We don't leave till almost seven thirty," he said. "So, no, not really." Ulrich huffed in response.
"Seven thirty?" Yumi repeated.
"Yep." Jumping up, Odd, maneuvered through all of the luggage now in the room. It took him a few moments of digging before he found his backpack, from which he produced what Yumi recognized as plane tickets. Stumbling his way over a duffle, Odd handed Yumi and Aelita their tickets, tossing the fourth on Ulrich's chest. Making a face at the blonde, Ulrich picked up the little envelope, pawing through the tickets inside to get an idea of their flight plan.
"What are these?" Yumi asked, doing the same. When Odd looked, she held up two small tickets she'd found tucked in her envelope.
"They're for the train and the bus," Odd said. At Yumi's look he added, "It's a long trip—but worth it! And once we get the island we'll have all the transportation we'll need for the rest for the rest of the summer."
"Which is only good if you're not driving," observed Ulrich, who was now out of bed and pulling on his shirt.
"You're one to talk," Odd deadpanned, while the girls stifled giggles.
"Looks like you four are having a good morning."
"Jeremy!" Aelita cried, as the group turned to see their bespectacled friend standing in the doorway.
"Hey Einstein," Ulrich said, "Here to see us off?"
"Yes, but not just that." Jeremy reached into his pocket as he said, "I have something for Aelita. I think she's going to need it if she plans on spending the summer in New Zealand." He handed the pink haired girl a small booklet, its cover embossed with gold. She blinked at it in confusion for a moment before asking,
"You got me a book?"
"Not quite," Jeremy said. "It's a passport. You'll need it to fly out of the country."
"Good thinking, Einstein," Odd said, appearing at Aelita's shoulder.
"I didn't know Aelita had a passport," Yumi said.
"She didn't," Jeremy said. At his friend's confused looks, he added, "when I made all the fake paperwork to get her into Kadic, I also made her a passport. She needed proof of citizenship, and I thought it might come in handy." Aelita's eyes lit up as she realized that her new passport was what would let her spend the summer with her friends. Grinning, she bounced forward, pulling Jeremy into a hug.
"Thank you!"
"You're welcome," Jeremy said, quickly returning Aelita's hug. Yumi winked at him over Aelita's shoulder, while Odd made a kissy face. Quickly pulling back from the hug, Jeremy ducked his head to hide his spread blush. Blinking in confusion, Aelita glanced from Jeremy to Yumi, who decided now might be a good moment to save Jeremy before he blushed himself into a coma.
"Come on guys, let's go get your keys turned in."
The change in topic worked, as suddenly everyone threw themselves into the juggling required for the group to get all of their duffle bags, suitcases, backpacks, and various other travel accessories down the hall to the elevator. Once inside, it was a mini-battle to prevent Odd from pressing more buttons than required to get them to the bottom floor. Eventually, however, the group made it out of the dorm and across campus to the office, where a short line of luggage toting students stood waiting to hand in room keys.
The wait was wholly uneventful, and they were able to hand over their keys without incident (although, the woman at the counter had given Odd's key a funny look, which only turned to concern when Odd explained that the weird stain on it was a mix of dried paint and pudding). Afterwards, without really discussing it, the group began following Jeremy as he headed for the bus that would take the students taking summer classes to the university where they would be staying.
"You know, I can get on a bus by myself," Jeremy joked as he handed his suitcase off to Jim, who was loading the bus's luggage bay.
"Oh honey, we just wanted to make sure you got here okay," Odd said, tossing an arm around Jeremy's shoulder. "Will you be able to find your seat okay? Did you pack enough underwear? You won't forget to email, will you? And call every day?"
"No mom," Jeremy said, rolling his eyes as he pulled away from the blonde.
"Ignore him," Ulrich said, giving his grinning roommate a shove. "He's just still sore about you not coming with us."
"I can't believe you would really rather spend your summer at school," Odd said, draping himself dramatically against Ulrich for extra effect. Ulrich sidestepped, watching with a raised eyebrow as Odd, unsuspecting, tumbled to the ground.
"We will miss you, you know," Yumi said, stepping over Odd to give Jeremy a hug.
"You guys will be fine," Jeremy said. "But I'll call regularly, just in case." Yumi laughed.
"I'll make sure they don't burn the island down."
"Can you burn down an island?" Odd asked from where he was still lying on the ground.
"We couldn't," Ulrich said, "but you could." While Odd took a swipe at Ulrich's ankles, Aelita stepped forward for her hug.
"I think your summer classes sound fun," she told Jeremy with a smile. "You'll have to tell me all about them."
"Don't worry, I will," Jeremy said. "As long as you promise to be safe over the summer. Make sure were wear plenty of sunscreen, and don't go anywhere unfamiliar by yourself. And if Odd tells you to do something he says is safe? Don't."
"Everyone's against me," Odd moaned, while Aelita giggled into her hand.
"We'll take good care of her," Ulrich said, giving Aelita a quick, one-armed hug. "She won't get into any trouble with us around."
"I'm sure," Jeremy said. Before he could further express his opinion concerning his friends' babysitting skills, he was interrupted by a shout from Jim.
"Belpois, are you coming?" he asked, leaning out of the bus's door. "We're pulling out!"
"Yeah Jim, I'm coming," Jeremy shouted over his shoulder. "I'll see you guys in the fall then."
"You know it," Odd said.
"If Odd doesn't fail this year, that is," Ulrich joked. Yumi rolled her eyes.
"Have a good summer Jeremy," she said. "We'll keep you posted."
"I'll call as soon as we get to Odd's house to let you know if it exists or not," Aelita added, smiling brightly. Jeremy quirked an eyebrow at this, but before he could ask for further clarification Odd appeared at his side, nudging him towards the bus.
"They're going to leave without you, Einstein," he said, giving Jeremy one final push.
"I'm going, I'm going," Jeremy sighed, swatting at his friend. The others wished him a good summer, shouting final reminders that he call regularly, not forget to use his webcam, and to not talk to strangers. Jeremy stopped at the bus door to wave goodbye before he was swept onboard by the school's gym teacher, whose faint, "Did I ever tell you about the time I drove a bus in the army?" could be heard as the door slid shut.
The gang continued to wave as the bus pulled away from the school, turning down the street and quickly vanishing from sight. And then they let their hands drop, looking at one another as they waited for someone to come up with what they were going to do next. For almost a minute they just looked back and forth, until their gazes turned collectively to Odd, who was looking out at the road. It took him a few seconds before he realized everyone was looking at him.
"Uh…yes?" he tried, giving his friends a confused look.
"Well?" Ulrich asked. Odd blinked at him. Ulrich sighed.
"Don't we have a train station to get to?" Yumi asked. Odd stared at her for a moment, before his expression lit with understanding.
"Oh, yeah, that," he said. "Don't worry, I've got it covered."
"Really?" Yumi asked, her expression dripping with disbelief.
"You know, it is possible for me to be on top of things," Odd said as he crossed his arms over his chest, pouting. As if to prove his point, Odd's sentence ended with the arrival of a taxi, pulling neatly into the school's bus circle. The girls looked at the taxi, and then to Odd and back, their surprise written all over their faces. Ulrich, on the other hand, looked a little less impressed.
"Your parents called the taxi company, didn't they?" he asked. Odd frowned.
"You just like picking on me, don't you?"
"I do take some pleasure in it, yes."
"Guys, I think he's waiting for us," Aelita said, motioning to the cab driver, who was leaning against his cab and watching the group.
"Well then, I guess we'd better get going." Grabbing the handle of his suitcase, Odd marched off towards the cab, leaving his friends to gape at his back for a moment, before scrambling to gather their things and follow him. The cab driver watched with disinterest as Odd approached, although his expression shifted to surprise, and then disbelief as the number of teenagers and bags around his car grew.
"Did you remember everything?" he asked, his tone sarcastic. Odd, who was either ignoring the tone or didn't catch it, nodded brightly.
"We sure did," he started to say, before pausing. "Oh, wait." Taking off his backpack, Odd pulled it open, a grin on his face as a furry grey head appeared. Kiwi yapped happily as Odd pulled him out and set him on the ground.
"That's a good boy," Odd cooed, scratching the little dog's ears. "Come on Kiwi, you ready to go home?" With another yap, Kiwi followed Odd as he clambered into the back of the cab. Yumi stared after him, before turning to Ulrich and asking,
"Was Kiwi in his backpack the whole time?" Ulrich shrugged.
"I guess," he said, before dumping his bags by Odd's and following him into the cab. Yumi and Aelita glanced at the luggage pile, then to the frowning cabbie, then shrugged and deposited their bags with the others and joined the boys in the cab.
As the door's to his car slammed shut, the cab driver, used to shuttling herds of students back and forth, could only look at the pile of bags and sigh.
This was going to be a long summer.