Jeremie stepped away from Odd, who was watching him carefully. The factory was completely silent. Odd stuck his hands in his pockets.

"What's wrong Della Robbia? Nothing left to say now huh?" Odd stood coolly.

"So you think I'm scared, is that it? Jeremie, there isn't anything you could do right now that would make me feel any worse. Do it, pull the trigger. I'm ready. Here I'll help." To Jeremie's surprise, Odd moved towards him. He wrapped his hands around the gun in Jeremie's hands and pulled it to his own chest. Jeremie's eyes widened. Odd could feel the other teen's hands shaking. Odd closed his eyes and sighed.

"Thought so."

"Don't test me Odd, I will do it."

"I'm not so sure. You don't sound too confident there, Belpois." Jeremie furrowed his eyebrows. He gripped the gun tighter so his knuckles turned white.

"Always so cocky huh, Odd? You get everything you want and that's still not enough-"

"Are you kidding me? Yeah, you're right, I'm so good, I get everything I want. That's why the girl I've been in love with for three years now hates me." Odd kept his fingers on the trigger. "Just do me the favor, pull it, not like anyone will care."

"Gladly."

XxXxXxXxXxXxX

"Aelita! Slow down!" Yumi and Ulrich caught up with Aelita and when they told her they had found nothing she broke into a sprint. They couldn't catch up and had lost sight of her at least twice. Aelita climbed down the ladder and only then did she stop.

"Guys, this is all my fault! He wouldn't be gone if it weren't for me! I was frustrated, angry and I took it out on him. I can't slow down because I'm scared! I don't want anything to happen to him, I couldn't live with myself if something did be- because, I- love him! I love him and it hurts. I didn't want to trust him. I thought he would hurt me so I hurt him first." Aelita clutched her head in her hands. Yumi smiled a bittersweet smile.

"Well let's go, we're wasting time here." Aelita nodded. She grabbed her skateboard off the wall. The whole ride there she thought about Odd. She couldn't help it. He was the one who convinced her to ditch the scooter she used to ride. They agreed she was way too old to still be riding one. He taught her how to ride a skateboard.

"Aelita it's not hard at all. Look, I'll show you." Odd hopped onto his board and skated back and forth.

"Even that looks too hard for me," she laughed.

"Well that's all you need to know for now and trust me, it's super easy. All you gotta' do is balance." He smiled at her. She shrugged.

"Alright, lets do it. How hard could it be?" He helped her step onto his board. She wobbled forward and he caught her. "Okay, definitely not my thing." He laughed.

"All you need is a little practice." A couple of hours later she was zooming back and forth in front of him. He grinned. "Told 'ya." Aelita hopped off and hugged him.

"You're amazing! This is so much fun!" Odd hugged her back.

"I didn't do anything, you did all the work."

"Don't be so modest! Odd Della Robbia, you are the best!"

"Yeah, well." She pulled back.

"Wait till I show Jeremie! He'll be amazed!"

"Yeah, Jeremie, of course," he muttered. Aelita hadn't noticed.

"Hey, Odd? I'm cold, can I borrow your hoodie?" The smile returned to his face.

"Of course, Princess." He pulled the grey half-hoodie off and gave it to her.

Of course, Jeremie wasn't amazed. He was glued to his computer. He didn't care at all. I don't think he even noticed I was talking to him. Jeremie never let me borrow his sweater. That's not what's bothering me though. All the signs were there. The signs that I no longer felt the same interest for Jeremie. The signs I liked Odd and the signs he liked me. Gosh, I'm stupid. Even in my state, I should have known he would never try to hurt me.

He pulled me into his lap and I looked up at him in surprise. I buried my face in his neck. I could feel my face heat up. 'I've never felt like this before,' was all I could think. He kissed my hand, lightly. My wounded hand felt cooler, no longer on fire. He never ceases to amaze me.

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxX

Aelita was blushing profusely the whole way. What exactly happened the day of the incident, was all I could wonder. Odd taught her how to skate too well. She's going way faster than me and Ulrich. We turned the last corner and sped up. I hope we find him.

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxX

I hopped off my skateboard and placed it along the wall. I smiled.

"Guys! Odd's skateboard is here! He was here!" I couldn't help but shout. Yumi and Ulrich stopped alongside me for a momemt before we all rushed up the ladder and ran over to the ropes. I could hear voices. I slid down first.

"Just do me the favor, pull it, not like anyone will care."

"Gladly." Odd twisted Jeremie's arm around. He grabbed the gun from his hand and put it to his own head.

"Actually, I'll just do you the favor."

"ODD!"

XxXxXxXxXxXxX

I looked up.

"Aelita?" I dropped the gun. Jeremie wasted no time. He grabbed it and aimed it at my chest again.

"Not one more step or else..." Aelita looked at me. Yumi and Ulrich were behind her. They all looked horrified at the scene that was unfolding. I finally lost my cool.

"Jeremie, wh- whatever you do, don't- don't hurt them."

"Aww. What's wrong Odd, afraid I'll hurt your little princess?" He turned and pointed the gun at Aelita. Ulrich stepped forward.

"Jeremie, stop! Put it down now!"

"Look at Ulrich, always trying to be the hero."

"Ulrich's right, Jeremie. This is crazy. I don't know why you're doing this but you don't have to."

"Both of you, shut up!" I looked to Aelita. She's here, why is she here? I don't believe this. "I'll let you guys go on one condition," he said.

"And what would that be?" Aelita spoke up.

"Aelita, when we get back to school you have to tell the principal and the authorities that the night of the dance, I didn't do anything to you." His eyes were shining. I felt sick. Aelita looked down.

"And you'll let Odd go?" He smirked.

"But of course." I looked at her in alarm.

"No. Aelita don't agree to anything. You have to say what happened." Aelita looked from me to him. Then, the words I longed to hear from her, for the longest, came in a whisper.

"Odd, I love you."

XxXxXxXxXxXxX

Disclaimer: Nope. Still don't own it.

A/N: Wow. This chapter is pretty long so I'm breaking it in two. Thoughts? Put 'em in a review! They are very much appreciated.