AN: I am finally back! After forever, I finished the newest chapter. I apologize for the wait... July was one of my busiest months with vacation and work, not to mention a boyfriend who makes promises then breaks them. Anywho, I'll be starting chapter 52 soon and will try to finish it before I move into college on the 17th. I am working on one of the later, more dramatic chapters on the side. It'll be one of the ones I know a lot of you are looking forward to, though Theo will not get his just desserts in that one. It will lead up to it though. I'll stop hinting now before I drive you all crazy and get to answering reviews.
NeoDude: You're right, the end is near! Possibly still 10 chapters off, but I'm not sure.
Funarahi: There may be a little XANA action coming up, but I'm not sure. XANA isn't the main focus in this story, but I do want to keep it Lyoko related. I also don't like that Yumi is acting so weak. I did a little research on abuse when I started and right now she is displaying some of the typical signs. One of the ones that I played up on was meekness when confronted. She'll start to return to normal soon, I hope.
YAY! I don't know if you guys realize this, but Behind Closed Hearts is now 1 year old and still going strong! It's all thanks to you guys, my wonderful readers and reviews, that all of this was possible. This chapter is dedicated to all of you. I'd list you all, but that might take me a while and I know you want to read more so... without further ado, read, review, and enjoy!
Though he had vowed to return Yumi's diary as soon as possible, Ulrich felt as though he should hold on to it. Guilt overcame him, and, in the end, he decided he'd give it back while Yumi was patrolling the grounds tonight. Until then, he decided he would keep quiet - even Odd wouldn't know he had read it.
"Are you going to eat that?" Odd asked, breaking into Ulrich's thoughts.
"Hm? What, my chips? Go ahead, I'm not very hungry," Ulrich replied.
"First Yumi, now you. What's up with you two?" Odd asked, bewildered that anyone could not feel like eating. "You sick, Yumi?"
"Leave her alone," Ulrich snapped. "If she doesn't feel like eating, that's her own business."
Both Odd and Yumi shot him surprised looks. Before, it was Ulrich pestering her, but now he was sticking up for her. Ulrich didn't notice these looks as he was avoiding looking at either of them and was instead focusing on his maid-rite. Inside, he was still beating himself up for being so blind to what had been happening to Yumi. When he finally looked up into her eyes, she was taken aback at the sorrow and raw pain she saw there.
"Odd, can you leave us alone for a few minutes?" Yumi asked quietly.
"Umm... ok, I guess...," Odd replied, perplexed. He looked a little hurt and confused as he picked up his tray and moved a few tables away to where Milly and Tamiya were sitting. The girls, who had been planning a new story about camp, stopped briefly to greet him, then went back to outlining. Not long after, Abby plopped down beside the blond boy.
Back at Yumi and Ulrich's table, Yumi still had not broken eye contact with him. In the end, it was Ulrich who looked away first.
"Ulrich, what's wrong?" Yumi asked, concern laced in her voice.
"I... It's nothing," Ulrich said, looking back at his sandwich.
"Please don't lie to me," Yumi pleaded.
"What makes you think I'm lying?" he asked, looking back into her eyes.
"You've never been able to lie to me, Ulrich Stern," Yumi said gently, smiling slightly. "And, I know quite a bit about lying, so you can't fool me."
"What have you lied about?" Ulrich asked, trying to sound as if he didn't already know the answer. Apparently he was convincing this time, as Yumi looked away instead.
"I - I haven't been very truthful lately," Yumi began nervously. "I've made some bad decisions.. and I'm in trouble, and I don't know what to do." Before she could get much farther, Jeremy sat down beside Ulrich, tray in hand.
"Hey guys," Jeremy said cheerfully. "Nurse Dorothy just let me go. Where's Odd at? We need to talk about you-know-where."
"Odd's over there with Milly and Tamiya," Ulrich said, nodding at the table the blond jokester was at.
"Why's he over there?"
"Yumi and I wanted to talk."
"Oh... sorry. I didn't mean to interrupt..." Jeremy's face reddened slightly.
"It's ok, I'll go get Odd," Ulrich said, standing up.
About five minutes later, Jeremy had quietly explained the situation on Lyoko.
"So let me get this straight... There's nothing wrong in Lyoko, but there probably will be soon," Ulrich said.
"That is correct," Jeremy replied.
"I volunteer!" Odd said enthusiastically.
"But Odd, we don't need anyone to be there right now," Jeremy said patiently.
"Are you sure?" Disappointment laced his voice. Though he wouldn't admit it, Odd was starting to like Aelita and Lyoko more than Earth. When he had realized it, he had vowed not to act on his feelings. He knew that Aelita and Jeremy were in love, even if they wouldn't admit it.
"Positive. No need for any of you guys to risk your lifepoints while Aelita's still safe. I'll let you guys know the second anything changes in Lyoko." At this, the bell rang, ending lunch, and the friends went to the only class they had together that afternoon: English and Creative Writing.
AN: Well, that's it for this update. Thanks again to all of you awesome people out there that motivate me to write more (that's my readers and reviewers). If you have any questions or comments, make sure to post them in your review and I'll do my best to answer them (as long as they aren't: Will Theo get his butt kicked? What's going to happen? Will Yumi die?). If you could be so kind, please leave a review on your way out! Thanks!