Disclaimer: I don't own Code Lyoko

Chapter 14

Yumi managed to grin when she saw her friends the next day. The only one who's eyes held any sympathy was Ulrich, which she assumed meant he had kept quiet about what happened.

"Hi, Yumi!" greeted Aelita cheerfully.

"Morning, everyone," said Yumi. She sat down next to Ulrich on the bench in the courtyard and leaned against him to whisper in his ear. "Thanks."

"No problem," he replied, smiling. "Are you feeling okay?"

"I'm fine," said Yumi.

"Hey, Yumi, can you hook me up with a cheerleader?" asked Odd hopefully.

"No, Odd," said Yumi, rolling her eyes. "I quit."

Aelita glared at her, and she shrugged. "You were really good," said Aelita.

"And Sissi was really horrible," snapped Yumi. "Besides, I should save my energy for Lyoko."

"You're going to let Sissi bully you?" asked Jeremie.

"I just don't want to deal with her any more than I have to," said Yumi simply.

"And it cuts into your time with Ulrich," finished Odd teasingly.

"Lay off," said Ulrich firmly.

"Class is about to start," said Jeremie, checking his watch. "We better get going."

Yumi couldn't concentrate on Ms. Hertz's lecture. She was reeling from the events of last night. Her mother was still crying when she had left for school, and they hadn't heard anything from her father. Yumi was willing to bet he was staying at a friend's house like last time. Hiroki wasn't aware of what was going on, and she didn't know how to break it to him.

When Ulrich came to see her, everything changed. He couldn't stop what was happening, but he softened the blow more than anything or anyone ever could. Had it not been for him, she would have been up all night, cursing her dad for leaving them, and wouldn't even be here at school today. But Ulrich made her see the best of things. He had that effect on her.

Her mom still had no idea about his visit, and she was grateful for that. Mrs. Ishiyama didn't need to know her daughter was sneaking her boyfriend into her room late at night, what with everything else going on. She refused to talk about Yumi's dad at breakfast, saying he had left for work early.

Yumi wrote down the homework, feeling irritable. She was pretty sure she had been sending out a "don't mess with me" vibe all day. The only person she felt like talking to was Ulrich. Anyone else would have their head bitten off if they bugged her for too long.

"I can't believe you quit!" said Claire loudly. Kadic classes were over, but Flirting classes had just started.

"It's not like it changed anything!" said Yumi. "Ulrich didn't say anything about love and neither did I!"

"It was a good idea," defended Camille.

"It was a terrible idea," retorted Yumi. "And I'm sure your next one is even worse."

"We'll see," said Jean. "We're going to let things cool down for now, and see how things go for you and Ulrich."

"Really?" asked Yumi, smiling.

"Just a day or two," warned Aelita, running a hand through her hair. "Don't get too comfortable."

"Aelita, what is that on your finger?" asked Yumi, pointing to the silver ring on Aelita's left ring finger. The ends of the ring were slanted and connected by a small pink gem. Aelita smiled.

"Jeremie gave it to me this morning," said Aelita. "He said it was a promise ring."

Shrieks rang out through the room, causing Yumi and Aelita to cover their ears. Aelita's hand was jerked out with her palm down to display the ring, and "ooh!"s and "ah!"s were exclaimed. Aelita sent a helpless look in Yumi's direction.

"Okay, let her breathe!" ordered Yumi, shooing the girls away.

"If I tell them it's engraved, will we go deaf?" asked Aelita quietly.

"Probably," replied Yumi, saying it only loud enough to be heard by Aelita over the giggles.

"What did he say when he gave it to you?" demanded Naomi.

"He was blushing and stammering a lot, it was hard to understand him," said Aelita. "But he said he promised to love and respect me, and to be there for me. Forever."

"Aw!" squealed Melanie.

"Aelita, do you know what a promise ring is?" hissed Yumi.

"Jeremie tried explaining it, but I'm still a little confused," whispered Aelita. "He seemed very happy when I put it on, and it's really nice, and I felt dumb asking too many questions."

"Girls, I think the lesson is done for the day," said Yumi, gesturing the cooing girls towards the door. "Come on, out you go."

Her mentors whined and complained, but left all the same. Yumi locked the door and turned around with a large grin, then crushed her bewildered friend in a hug.

"Your first promise ring!" said Yumi excitedly. "And hopefully your last."

"Jeremie does what he promised everyday, how does a ring make any difference?" asked Aelita.

"It's sort of a token of affection," said Yumi. "And it makes a public statement of his promise."

"Do guys usually give them to their girlfriends?" asked Aelita.

"To the ones they really care about," answered Yumi. "Typically not this early in the relationship, but I'd expect Jeremie to do this early."

"Am I supposed to give him a ring?" asked Aelita.

"You could, but he wouldn't want you to spend any money on him," Yumi replied.

"I don't want him spending any money on me, though," said Aelita, staring at the ring thoughtfully. "Promise rings aren't expensive, are they?"

"Some aren't," said Yumi, taking a closer inspection of the jewel. "This one looks top-notch, however. Classic Jeremie. He's going to spoil you rotten if he keeps this up."

"Should I give it back?" asked Aelita worriedly.

"No!" blurted out Yumi. "You'll break his heart if you do that!"

"Nothing is ever straightforward with Earth," muttered Aelita. "What else do these rings represent?"

"Commitment, although anyone with eyes could see how devoted he is to you," said Yumi, smirking. "In some cases it's a promise to propose to you when you're older. Did he mention anything about that?"

"No, not that I heard," said Aelita.

"Well, did he put the ring on that particular finger?" asked Yumi.

"I did," said Aelita, almost proudly. "It's the finger for a wedding ring, right?" Yumi nodded. "And a husband is a romantic partner, right?" Again, Yumi nodded. "Jeremie's my romantic partner, so it seems only logical to wear it there. He turned bright red when I did."

"That's Jeremie," said Yumi, beaming. "Anyway, you're young, you shouldn't bother with marriage now."

"Has Ulrich ever talked about giving you a promise ring?" asked Aelita.

"No," said Yumi, blushing.

"He should, he loves you," said Aelita.

"Well, ah, I..." Yumi mumbled. "Let's see that engraving."

Aelita reluctantly slid off the ring and handed it to Yumi. Etched in elegant cursive were the words Heart and soul, I'm yours. Yumi smiled and gave it back.

"He really is crazy about you," said Yumi. Aelita nodded, and Yumi was certain the grin would never come off her face.

"I know," murmured Aelita. She was as pink as the gem set in the ring. "He's amazing."

"I'm gonna get out of here before you get all mushy," said Yumi. Aelita stuck her tongue out and waved goodbye.

"I'm gonna go find Jeremie," said Aelita, moving off her bed. "You're meeting Ulrich at the park, right?"

"Yep, I think I'm late," said Yumi, slinging her backpack over her shoulders.

"Have fun," said Aelita, a strange look in her eyes. Yumi noticed but said nothing, assuming she was contemplating Jeremie's gift.

Ulrich stretched his arms as he waited for Yumi, anxious to start sparring. Something about it exhilarated him. When he was limbered up he took a glug of water from his sports bottle and leaned his back against a tree. His ears picked up the sounds of footsteps and smiled when he saw a raven-haired girl enter the clearing. The smile was wiped clean away when he saw her face.

"Ulrich, dear!"

"Sissi, what do you want?" asked Ulrich.

"I've got two tickets to the Subsonics concert tonight, wanna come?" asked Sissi.

"Really?" asked Ulrich. "Sounds like fun, sure."

"Great!" cried Sissi, throwing her arms around him. He was quick to detach himself from her.

"I didn't say with you," said Ulrich. Sissi pouted and turned red with anger. "Ask Herve, it'll make his year."

"That nerd isn't boyfriend material!" snapped Sissi.

"I won't be your boyfriend, Sissi," said Ulrich firmly.

"I'm better than Yumi!" retorted Sissi.

"Hate to break it to you, but no, you aren't," said Ulrich. "Move, please. I'm waiting for Yumi."

"Anyone could tell you want me," said Sissi, extending her hand for his face. Ulrich caught her wist before she could touch him.

"Arrested? Of course," snarled Ulrich. "How kind of you to offer."

"Ulrich, dear, sometimes you over-play too hard to get," said Sissi. "You're going to make me think you really don't care about me."

"I must be doing something right," said Ulrich.

"You're just worried about opening up," said Sissi. "I'll help you see there's nothing be be afraid of!"

Without warning she weaved one hand through his hair and pushed his head down to meet her lips. He instinctively stiffened when he was too surprised to do much else. Before he could make another move she pulled away and clasped her hands behind her back, grinning pleasantly. Ulrich thought he saw a flash of black behind a tree, but it was gone the next second, and he was more concerned with Sissi than anything else right now.

"If you were a guy, you'd be knocked out right now," said Ulrich angrily. "but I was raised to never hit a girl."

"You didn't like it?" asked Sissi, frowning.

"No!" yelled Ulrich. "The only girl I ever want to kiss is Yumi! Do me a favor and just stay away from me."

"But, Ulrich!" sputtered Sissi.

"I'm serious," Ulrich cut her off. "I will never feel the same way about you or anyone else as I do Yumi. Get it through your head! Goodbye."

With that, he stormed away from the girl. Sparring could wait today.

Don't be jealous. Don't be jealous. Don't be jealous!

That was Yumi's mantra as she sprinted away from the park. The worst ending to the worst day. She wouldn't be sparring with Ulrich today, but she wanted to hurt him in more than one place right now. After she was through with him, Sissi's body would never be found.

She panted and collapsed on a bus stop bench. Why did everything have to go to Hell now? Xana's attacks were getting worse than ever, her grades were plummeting, her dad walked out on the family, and the one guy she thought she could have a future with decides to cheat on her with her worst enemy.

"Don't be jealous," muttered Yumi. She couldn't help it. When Ulrich saw William putting the moves on her, she was trying to get away. He didn't even make an attempt when Sissi was all over him. Whether or not he enjoyed it, she couldn't tell. Sissi's giant head was blocking his face. But he didn't push her away; she was the one who broke it off.

Yumi reached for her eyes and was shocked to find them dry. She was out of tears, apparently. Besides, she didn't want to cry anymore, especially over a jerk like Ulrich.

She sighed. He wasn't a jerk. Jerk wasn't the right word. She still cared about him. It would just be so much easier if every other fricking girl on the fricking planet didn't care about him, too. For now, she had to get her mind off him.

Yumi pulled her cellphone out of her pocket and sent a text message to Aelita, alerting her teacher of what had happened. Then she put the device away, stretched, and left for home. Nothing like getting a head start on homework, after all.

Aelita heard the beeping from her mobile and dug it out from her backpack. She was sitting on Jeremie's bed with Odd while Jeremie worked on the computer. They had been discussing different tactics for Yumi and Ulrich's classes.

"A text from Yumi," announced Aelita. "Ulrich plus Sissi in the park. Just saw them. Talk to you later."

"Sissi did her job, then," said Jeremie, turning around in his seat to face the two. "Maybe a little too well."

"Who knew Yumi would be more jealous than Ulrich?" asked Odd.

"She seemed a little distant today," commented Aelita. "That might have something to do with it. I'm still surprised Sissi agreed when I asked her to kiss Ulrich."

"Sissi would have been glad to do it no matter who asked her. I'm guessing by Yumi's message she didn't stick around to confront him," said Jeremie.

"Well, they're having their first fight, just as planned," said Aelita.

"If they bottle up their feelings it'll become a messier fight than it needs to be," said Odd.

"Let's just see how things play out," said Jeremie. "We'll need to know how they get through this."

"If things get ugly we'll have to step in," said Aelita.

"Let's just hope it doesn't come to that," said Odd. "That last resort is for emergencies, like you two."

"It's called tough love," said Jeremie, shrugging. "And it's the only completely fool-proof plan there is. But you're right, which is why we won't enact it unless we absolutely have to."