Chapter 10

Unanimous vote

The recreation room was full of kids watching the soccer game that was on one of the TVs. After a long, warm day of classes and heat, it was finally starting to cool down. The local soccer team was winning as some kids cheered them on, while others booed them.
Ulrich and Odd were at the foosball table. Both were tied and were attempting to break the score. Yumi sat in the chair next to them and watched, waiting to play the winner. Ulrich got the results back from Mr. Chelzivigs test. Surprisingly, he got an A, while Odd got the usual… F.

Ulrich was talking about the phone call and how William got the same phone call as well. Odd thought it was a pretty strange coincidence while Yumi thought otherwise.

"I'm just saying, Odd. He was possessed by Xana. It's too much of a coincidence to me."

"Well it could be just a simple coincidence, is all. How do we know that no one else got the call as well?" Odd countered.

"He does make a good point. It could have been a service problem was all." Ulrich added as he turned another knob, causing the ball to travel half way down the table and into the hole, thus breaking the tie and causing Odd to squeal in anger.

"Look, all I'm saying is first the explosion in the cafeteria, and now the cell phones. I think maybe we should you know.... check it." Yumi said as she walked up to take Odd's place.

"Yeah we should. But maybe we should get a vote from the whole group. And if so, what about William? Should we include him?" Odd asked.

"Absolutely not." Yumi replied as she placed the ball in the middle slot.

"But he is in the same mess as the rest of us. I mean he may have given us problems in the past but he's still got a say in this as much as us." Ulrich said as he started to play.

"Yeah I know, and that's why I don't want him anywhere near it again. After all the problems he's caused us, I don't want to take that chance again." Yumi spoke as she scored a point.

Ulrich and Odd stopped and stared at Yumi. Yumi thought they were paying attention as she continued on.

"He was completely immature the first time he went to Lyoko and it cost us dearly. And now that we have things settled down, I don't want to jeopardize it again by bringing William into the mix. For all we know, things could get even worse. He caused us nothing but trouble so why should we? I say leave him out of it. He could do it again for all we know. He is just unreliable"

"Is that how you feel about me?"

Yumi turned around fast to see William standing behind her with a hurt look on his face. Yumi suddenly froze as she realized that he must have heard all the things she said about him.

"No it's not like that Will. I mean--" Yumi tried to answer.

"No… I get the point. Of all the times I have apologized, tried to help. I even steer clear from you guys to try and avoid problems. I went as far as to help your boyfriend avoid suspension. And after all I've tried to accomplish, all I tried to make up for. This is what I get?" William answered.

"No Will she didn't mean it like that." Ulrich interrupted as he walked over to her side.

"No I get it. So maybe I haven't changed. So maybe I was reckless. Who are you two to judge me. Im sure if the situation was reversed. The same thing would of happened to you to."

Ulrich stepped in front of Yumi, He felt as if William was going to loose his cool and strike at any minute. And if that happened, He would have to try and defend himself, and Yumi.

Odd walked in between William and Ulrich, attempting to calm the two down.

"William, Calm down. It was just a misunderstanding." Odd tried to assure as he looked at William.

"Forget it Odd. First Aelita shouts at me for what happened, now this. I'm done trying to make amends. Im tired of these two reminding me day in and day out what happened. And I'm also tired of trying to be you guys friend!!" William shouted as he got the attention of everyone in the lounge.

"Will please." Yumi pleaded as she stepped out from behind Ulrich. "I didn't."

.
William slowly turned around and walked away without saying another word. He slowly made his way for the door as Yumi tried to get his attention. William ignored her as he closed the door.

Yumi stood there staring at the door. She felt terrible now. William had his own problems with his past. The last thing he needed was her bringing it up. She slowly turned around as Ulrich put his arm around her shoulder and tried to help her feel better.

"Why did I have to say all that?" Yumi murmured as she leaned against the foosball table.

"Just go and apologize to him." Odd insisted. "It was just a misunderstanding."

"No. After all I did to him, he won't listen."

Ulrich walked over to the other side of the foosball table and prepared to play Yumi again.

"What do you mean?" Ulrich asked

"The day I told you about my feelings. I broke it off with William. Sure he acts like he's over it but I still feel like he hates himself for that. Like he feels it's his fault I left him. Sometimes I wonder if he's screwed up for life because of what happened."

"No he's changed a lot once you think about it. He volunteers more and really helps out around the school a lot. You guys should actually try to get to know him." Odd added as he noticed the soccer game ended, with the home team losing. "I think maybe William's not the only one who needs to forget seven months ago." Odd Assured

Ulrich stopped and thought about the comment Odd just made. It was weird, because most comments Odd made either made him laugh or mad. Jeremy had said something similar earlier today as well. Maybe they were right. Maybe it wasn't William who needed to forgive as well.

William walked back to his dorm, he was furious. Yet he was also hurt. He felt as if no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't escape his past. Xana's possession of William was different from when someone else was possesd. He remembered, and saw everything he did. It felt like he was watching himself from the corner of a room. He Never understood why he kept trying to throw Aelita off the edge of a sector. But then again, he wasn't told much before, or after he joined the team. All Yumi said was that they where trying to stop a out of control A.I. And that they needed help. All he knew from his time with Xana was that he had to capture Aelita. And after his release. All he Knew was that he was shunned from the group. But things did change, Even though Aelita yelled at him for it. A day later she apologized to him and actually became a good friend of his. So didn't Odd and Jeremy.

"Whats the matter William?"

William turned to the direction of the voice to see Sissi standing their holding her books. She looked at him with a sign of concern on her face.

"Nothing Sissi. Just having a bad day is all." William said.

"Its not Tanell is it?" Sissi asked. "She's been giving every one a hard time."

"No its Yumi and Ulrich."

"Yumi and Ulrich!!!" Sissi said in astonishment. "What did they do?"

William paused for a minute as he thought of what his answer should be. "Its not what they did, its what I did. Its what I am." And with that William turned and headed back to the dorms. Sissi stood their wondering what had happened. She the Spotted Jeremy and Aelita and Waved at them. They smiled and waved back.

"Are you gonna jog with me and Yumi tonight?" Aelita asked with a smile.

"I cant I got some homework tonight." Sissi said in response. "Love the shoes!" She said as she pointed to Aelita's Nike"s that Jeremy had bought her.

Aelita waved as they walked to the lounge. "You know Jeremy, you should jog with me and Yumi tonight."

"I don't know. Me and fitness, never really get along. Remember when I got hit in the back with that soccer ball that Seth hit last week" Jeremy said as he rubbed his lower back, the spot where the ball hit.

"Na your just lazy is all" Aelita teased.

The group around the TV dispersed as the local news came on. Aelita and Jeremy entered the room after a little research in the library for one of their projects that was coming up. Aelita was telling Jeremy about another one of her dreams she had last night, and how they were becoming worse. And how she hadn't seen her mother in a dream ever since the dream she had when she saved her from the monster.

"Am I still... you know. Dying in your dreams?" Jeremy asked as they walked over to the table.

Aelita slowly nodded yes. A clear sign that she was still afraid of what she was seeing in her dreams.

"And every night it becomes clearer and clearer. And now I got these terrible headaches from the lack of sleep I've been getting."

"Well better late than never. Where were you guys?" Odd asked as he noticed them walking their way.
"We had to get some material on the Renaissance for history." Jeremy added as he sat on the couch next to Odd. Aelita sat one the end of the couch and watched Ulrich and Yumi start to play their game.

"Is that for Mr. Boone's' History class?" Ulrich asked.

"Yeah and I think we're good and covered for it." Aelita replied as she got up to go turn the channel on the TV.

"So I heard about Tanell again Odd. What does she have against you anyway?" Jeremy asked.

"I have no idea. I didn't even have time to reply. She just came out of nowhere with it."

"Wait. What did that jerk say this time?" Yumi asked.

"She asked why I gel my hair. I told her it's just a way I have my hair. And she said that I looked like that idiot off Bevies and Butt head. And the whole class just laughed at me. And before I could reply, Herve said I looked like I was a cheap Dragon Ball Z character."

"Since when did Herve and Nicolas get so offensive?" Jeremy asked.

"Well after all the times Odd made jokes about them, it's really no wonder." Ulrich replied as he scored a shot against Yumi. "What I don't understand is why they just went and dropped Sissi for Tanell."

"Maybe Herve got tired of trying and decided to go with Tanell. Maybe she's just using them." Jeremy suggested.

Jeremy was suddenly distracted as Aelita called him over to the TV. Odd got up and walked over to the couch as well, leaving Yumi and Ulrich to finish their game.
Yumi dropped the game and turned around to lean on the table.

"I'm sorry Ulrich; I just don't feel like playing now."

"Because of what you said to William?" Ulrich asked as he walked over and leaned against the table next to her.

"I really should go and apologize to him. So, any news about your dad?"

"I talked to my uncle this morning. He's on my father's side of the family. He said that my mom's living with my aunt right now. He tried to visit my father, but he just didn't want to see anyone."

"Sounds like your uncle is trying to patch things up." Yumi said.
"Yeah... but he won't succeed. I can already tell my father wants nothing to do with anyone right now."

"Have you talked to him at all?" Yumi asked.

"I tried calling. He answered the phone and when I said hi... he hung up."

Ulrich felt Yumi put her hand on his shoulder as he stared at his shoes. He felt a little better knowing that there was someone he could talk to about his problems.

"Hey listen. How about we go see that movie that you've wanted to see this weekend? I think we could all use a little break." Yumi suggested, continuing to stare at her shoes.

"Just you and me?"

"Yeah. Just you and me." Yumi said as she finally looked up from her staring contest with her shoes.

Odd, Jeremy, and Aelita watched the news as they continued on with the story they were covering.

"We now have confirmation of an apparently new computer super virus that appears to cause several complications in computers and computer systems. Recently in the United States, several airports have closed down due to several of their computers crashing or giving out false information. In Japan, a service train derailed, injuring 40. And here at home, several power transformers have overloaded and caused major electrical problems in many areas of the country. There is still no idea as to how this virus has been able to cause these problems. And an origin of the program has also yet to be determined." The news woman spoke as the three kids watched pictures from the other areas affected.

"That sounds awfully familiar to what we had last week." Aelita said as she looked at Jeremy.

"And the fact that it's world wide has me worried. But it didn't have anything about cell phone problems."

"You don't think its Xana, do you?" Aelita asked.

"No, Xana's long gone. Your... father made sure of that." Jeremy reassured.

"Or it could be the Decepticons preparing for an attack!!" Odd joked, catching Ulrich and Yumi's attention.

"No... I'm going with a hacker in his or her basement over giant alien robots." Jeremy said.

"Well actually, the three of us were thinking. With all the issues we have going on, we kinda think it might be best if we just checked on the Supercomputer." Odd said as Yumi and Ulrich walked over to the couch.

Jeremy and Aelita got quiet for a minute. Finally Jeremy spoke up.

"Well if you guys feel the same way then..."

"I am not setting foot in that place ever again." Aelita interrupted. "I lost everything thanks to that machine. And now that I am trying to rebuild my life, you want me to go back and see if it's okay?"

"I know you feel that way but it's over. It's like I said, you're safe now." Jeremy said.

"I lost my father to that thing... what if I lose someone else? What if my dreams come true?"

Odd, Yumi and Ulrich stared at Aelita in confusion. What did she mean?

"Wait, what about your dreams?" Yumi asked. "You told me that you were being chased by some monster. But how does your dreams relate to someone dying?"

"I haven't heard much about your dream." Odd said

"Aelita's just worried that…" Jeremy started until he was interrupted by Aelita. She leaned her head on his shoulder. Jeremy looked over to see that her eyes were closed as she described her dream.

"In my dream, the city's on fire and I'm chased by a monster. I bump into Jeremy and find out that you guys are... dead."

Ulrich's eyes got big as he heard the words come out of her mouth. Yumi put her hand over her mouth. Odd just stared at her as she continued to describe her dream.

"And then it catches Jeremy and kills him right in front of me. I've had the same dream for a week."

"Wow.... Did you know about this Einstein?" Odd asked

"Actually I did. I'm not bothered by it. I'm just more concerned that she is still having these nightmares and that she is losing sleep from it."

"Hey. Just because you have had these dreams doesn't mean they will come true." Ulrich tried to assure.

"But it's just that I had the same dreams when my father died. I just can't bear losing any of you." Aelita said as she stood up from the couch and stared at the TV. She was trying hard to conceal her eyes; they were filling with moisture.

Yumi walked over and placed her hands on Aelita's shoulders. "But see. You don't need to worry. Xana's dead and we're safe. Besides it was probably just a nightmare from when we saw that Cloverfield movie.

"That's the last time we go and see an American monster film. I was falling asleep." Odd remarked.

"No you weren't. You were shaking in your seat the whole time. And when you saw it, you screamed." Ulrich replied as he stared at Odd

"Hey I had toothache was all."

Aelita smiled as she wiped the moisture from her eyes. Maybe they were right. Maybe they were right about her dreams. Maybe there was nothing to fear.

"Well back to the subject at hand. Maybe we should go and check it. Just to be safe. I mean it can still be a problem. And who's not to say someone else hasn't found it and is causing all of this… just on the safe side." Jeremy suggested.

He turned and looked at Aelita. "I won't force you to go. But if you don't want to, I understand."

Aelita stared at Jeremy as she thought about it, finally after a few minutes she came to a conclusion.

"I'll go. I should at least pay my respects to my father's grave..."