Chapter 5

We should regret our mistakes and learn from them, but never carry them forward into the future with us. -Lucy Maud Montgomery

"W-what? Simon's gone?" Aelita sputtered. Aubrey nodded.

"I'm so sorry Aelita, I promise I'll explain everything to you, but not right now, please. Not in front of everyone."

Yumi, Odd and Jeremy stared at her with pity, but Ulrich stared at her with something different in his gaze that not even he could identify. He already knew, and he knew it would be a hard story for her to tell again to Aelita and then to everyone else later.

"I'm sorry, and I promise I'll explain it to the rest of you later, b-but I owe it to Aelita to tell her, so I will. Tonight."

Silence filled the room. It was so dense that Aubrey felt like she could reach out and touch it. She prayed that someone would just break it already so they could leave.

Unsurprisingly, Odd was the one who finally ended it when his stomach growled loudly. It was just the relief that everyone needed which caused them to burst out laughing.

"Could we get back to the cafeteria now? It's dinner and I've got to get back before Rosa gives out all the thirds."

"Right, and I have to head home anyway." Yumi added.

"Then lets head back."

Ulrich had been 'subtly' watching Aubrey the entire way back. He was worried about her. Though she was trying to act fine, the way her shoulders slumped and it seemed like a challenge just for her to lift her foot and take one more step proved otherwise. She was walking next to Aelita who now was afraid of letting Aubrey out of her sight lest she disappear again like her father had.

He'd never really thought about it before, but it was weird to think that when he was just a little kid Aelita was already alive somewhere else in the world a teenager, and that as he was growing up and doing kid things like playing soccer with his friends or doing homework Aelita was living on Lyoko.

And if he was telling the truth, a small part of him was jealous. Now that Aubrey had realized she knew Aelita when she was younger, it was likely they would be spending a lot more time together, and that bugged him a little bit. He actually liked the thought that he would be the closest to Aubrey out of all of them and he would know the most about her. However, Aelita had known her first when she was little so maybe that wasn't the case anymore. As much as he hated to admit it, he'd come to terms with the fact that he needed Aubrey. After everything that had happened with Yumi, he needed someone who wouldn't look at him with pity or a knowing glance. He needed someone like Aubrey who could make him feel as though none of it had ever happened and pull him away from his dramatic life for a while and just let everything go and have fun. When he was with her, it was like X.A.N.A didn't exist, and while he was the one that had created and knotted the bond between him and his friends, he had no partaking in meeting Aubrey. She was just so innocent and being with her was a breath of fresh air. He could be a third grader again like when they were passing notes in class and playing games and that was okay.

That's when he came to the conclusion that he wanted to know more about Aubrey and be closer to her then he had anyone else before. He wanted to know everything about her from her favorite color to her worst fear, and even more so he wanted her to know about him. In a way, he was turning Aubrey into a new start for himself. He wanted her to be someone he knew he could turn to no matter what, and someone who would understand him as much as he understood them. While his other friends were great, he wasn't sure he could have that kind of relationship with them. He and Yumi were extremely close, but what they had now was also really fragile. He would say something wrong and she would get mad or she would mention William or call him out on something and he would get mad, even if she was right. He was close to Odd too, but Odd was more of the kind of person he would joke and mess around with, who was his opposite and a constant pain but also a friend to keep close that he went to in order to forget his troubles, not remember them. He was his partner and crime and a close friend, but not someone he wanted to see him differently because of his faults. Then there was Jeremy and Aelita. They were great too, but they were that person for each other. They were both slightly awkward, computer geeks and still trying to understand human relationships, but they were closer to each other and spent more time with each other then anyone else at the school he knew.

However, if he was honest and careful, he and Aubrey could have that kind of relationship. Aubrey was gentle, shy, kind, childish, playful, a bit oblivious but most of all understanding and forgiving to everyone but herself, and if the way she was with them any indication, she was loyal. She balanced out his own personality which he saw as awkward, slightly rude, sarcastic, blunt, determined, serious at times and an all around jock. With that thought in mind, he decided that starting tomorrow he would begin getting to know her even better then before.

That night, Aubrey sat in Aelita's room with tears streaming down her face as she retold the story of Simon's death once more. The two girls cried together and Aelita hugged Aubrey in a motherly way just as she used to as they talked and tried to accept everything that had happened.

Finally, after two hours, Aubrey excused herself to go to bed. She was so physically and mentally exhausted that she didn't was hardly able to change into her pajamas before she passed out.

The next morning Aubrey arrived at breakfast early with Ulrich and Odd. Apparently, Aelita was getting extra sleep and Jeremy had gone to the factory early in the morning to work on some stuff.

By the time the two joined them and Odd was getting his third serving, Ulrich and Aubrey were done. Ulrich got up from his seat.

"Hey Aubrey, do you want to take a walk with me before classes?"

"Sure!" She answered optimistically. The two waved goodbye to their friends and dumped their trays, then headed off.

"So where are we going?" Aubrey asked with a smile. Ulrich shrugged.

"Just the woods I guess. Is that okay?"

"Fine!" She squeaked quickly. "The woods is great, yay woods!"

Ulrich began to laugh. "A simple 'yes Ulrich' would have been fine."

"W-whatever."

Aubrey seemed increasingly nervous the longer they walked and kept glancing at Ulrich. The few times he caught her, she'd look away quickly with a blush on her face, causing him to chuckle in amusement.

"Are you okay Aubrey?" He finally asked. She flinched.

"Yeah, why wouldn't I be?"

"You're acting like I'm going to kill you or something, which I'm not, I swear."

"N-no! It's not that, I'm just curious as to why you asked me, that's all."

"Just want to get to know you better." He shrugged and raised an eyebrow. "Is that a crime."

"Of course not!" She panicked. "It's fine, I'm fine, you're fine and now I'm rambling because I can't talk like a normal person-"

He placed a hand on her shoulder. "How about twenty questions, yeah?"

"Yeah." She agreed with relief. They plopped down in a small open patch of grass and used their backpacks for support as they leaned back to get in a comfortable position side by side.

"I'll start. What's your favorite color?" Ulrich asked.

"Ummmmmm... baby blue. What about yours?"

"Green." He answered quickly. Aubrey giggled.

"I should have guessed. Okay, um, what's your most prized possession?"

He blushed slightly and looked away. "Promise you won't laugh?"

"Why would I?"

"It's my diary." He answered quickly. "My grandmother gave it to me when I was twelve, but I didn't start writing in it until she died two years ago. I have all my personal thoughts and adventures on Lyoko in there."

Aubrey flashed him a grin. "Good for you then! I've tried keeping a diary before, but I always ended up loosing it or something so I've given up."

"Why am I not surprised?"

She elbowed him playfully. "Hey now! I'm not that bad!"

"Oh yeah, what's the day?"

"Tuesday." Aubrey answered confidently. He snickered.

"It's Monday."

"What?!"

Dramatically, Ulrich placed a hand on her shoulder and looked her in the eye. "Don't worry, one day we'll find a cure."

Giggling, (and with a red face) she slapped his hand away. "Knock it off!"

"Anyway, what's your most prized possession?"

"This." Aubrey lifted up her sweater and Ulrich's eyes quickly snapped down to the exposed skin. Pressed against it was a little red swiss army knife. She pulled it out carefully and held it out to him.

"It used to belong to Simon, but he gave to me on my last birthday before he died. I bring it with me everywhere."

"You know you could get expelled, right?" Ulrich teased, deciding against delving into the topic of her brother. She'd already probably talked about him in a week more then she had in the past few years and there was no need to mentally exhaust her first thing in the morning.

"Psh, that's what you think, but one day Jim is going to get stuck on a bush or something and then I'll be there to save him and not only will he let me keep it; he'll reminisce of a time back during World War II where one of these saved his life from a giant alpaca."

A soon as she had finished saying that the two of them burst out into laughter. Aubrey leaned over so she was laughing into Ulrich's shoulder and to anyone one else walking by it would of he looked like he was laughing at her as she sobbed. By the time they had finished and wiped the tears from their eyes, the warning bells for classes started going off.

"Oh no! We're going to be late for science!" Aubrey exclaimed as she jumped up. Ulrich chuckled and tapped her lightly on the head.

"It's Monday, we have math."

"...Shut up."

They shared a smiled, then took off running down the path in order to get to class in time.

Ulrich discreetly passed Aubrey a note which landed quietly in the center of her desk.

What's your favorite song? -U

She couldn't help smiling as she hid the note in her math notebook so it looked like she was taking notes.

Demons by Imagine Dragons. What's your favorite part about Lyoko? -A

Once she finished writing, Aubrey crumbled the note and tossed it, landing a hit to Ulrich's nose which then bounced onto his lap. She stifled a laugh, bitting down on her lip when Jeremy scoffed from behind them. She could already see him rolling his eyes and trying to sear into their brains that they should be paying attention.

Overbike. It's a vehicle that Jeremy made for me. Yumi and Odd each have one as well, but mines the best. -U

Feeling a bit more daring, Ulrich dropped the note and then kicked it up with the side of his foot. Just barely turning her head to look, Aubrey's hand shot out and she caught the note with ease. Looking at it, she rolled her eyes.

That's because you can't get your incense yet. In America, we can get our permit when we're sixteen and then with drivers ed our license in the same year. Speaking of that, I'm getting my permit on my birthday over april vacation :p -A

They 'chatted' for a while longer until Jeremy's laptop let out a few beeps. Jeremy and Ulrich exchanged glances. It was only Ulrich, Jeremy and Aubrey in this math class. Aelita and Odd had history while Yumi was in science.

Ulrich quickly scribbled down a note. Can you get us out of class? -U

Aubrey looked over at him and gave him a thumbs up. Then, she doubled over like she was in pain and let out a muffled groan.

The teacher stopped his lesson and walked over to her. "Aubrey, are you alright?"

Clutching her stomach and putting shaking her head, Aubrey groaned again. "No. Cramps."

"Oh." The teacher stated awkwardly. The staff had already been informed that Aubrey got particularly bad 'cramps' during her time of the month (she did, but that wouldn't happen for another few days) and that she may have to be excused because of them. In her family, it was actually common for a woman to throw up when they got bad enough, and if that happened it was better for her to be with the nurse.

Seeing that Ulrich and Jeremy were sitting closest to her, the teacher quickly ordered them to escort her. They all got up and the two boys stood on either side of her as Aubrey shuffled awkwardly out of the room while holding her side. Once they made it out, she straightened up and grinned.

"Yes! No class for me!" She sang, twirling around a bit as they rushed down the hall. Jeremy and Ulrich rushed outside, but Aubrey stayed at the door.

"Aubrey?" Ulrich called turning back. Aubrey waved him off awkwardly.

"You uh, go to the factory with Jeremy. Tell him I'll get the others out of class so he doesn't have to worry about calling."

"Thanks a ton." He shot her a grateful smile and then dashed off into the woods. "By the way, Odd and Aelita are in history and Yumi's in science!" He called back.

"I got this!" She shouted, then turned back into the building.

Alright, I'll get Odd and Aelita first.

Aubrey sprinted down to the History room, triple checked that it was the right classroom and then knocked on the door. The teacher opened it, looking slightly peeved when it was just a student.

"Can I help you miss Johnson?"

"Er, are Odd Della Robbia and Aelita Ho-Stones here?"

"Yes."

"Oh, well uh, there's a call for them about a family emergency at the front desk from Odd's parents, and you know, since they're cousins..."

"Right. Why are you out of class?"

"Umm... I had to talk to Principle Delmas about some things and he asked me to get them on the way back." She lied quickly. Apparently, this was acceptable because the teacher called Odd and Aelita and dismissed them from class. They seemed worried at first, but sighed in relief when they saw Aubrey. Aelita opened her mouth to say something but was quickly cut off.

"Factory, X.A.N.A. attack, go. I'll get Yumi."

"Okay, thanks Aubrey." Odd shot her a smile and then took off running with Aelita.

Four down, one to go.

It took her a little longer to find Ms. Hertz classroom but once she did everything else went smoothly. Aubrey told her the same story about Yumi getting a phone call and her on her way back from a meeting in order to get her friend out of class and the teacher agreed easily if only to get back to teaching. Yumi rushed out panicking.

"Aubrey, what's wrong. Is my family okay?"

"They're fine Yumi. It's a X.A.N.A attack. I already got everyone else out of class, so you should hurry over to the factory. Since I'm staying here anyway I guess I'll try and figure out what's wrong."

Yumi seemed hesitant to leave her at first, then agreed. "Okay, but as soon as you find out call us and come to the factory."

"Deal. Good luck!" She called, waving to her older friend as she rushed out. Sighing when she was out of sight, Aubrey hiked the straps of her backpack up onto her shoulders and set out for the courtyard. If anything major was happening, she should have been able to see it from there.

Luck was on her side, because there was nobody else there but her and nobody seemed to notice her either. She crept along the buildings, looking for a sign that anything was wrong. Everything seemed fine.

She wondered through several of the buildings as well and still didn't notice anything but children looking bored in their classes. She secretly smiled to herself. Sucks to suck.

Some of the last major places she had left to look were the soccer and track fields, so she headed over there. Along the way, she bumped into Jim.

"Oh hey Jim. I was uh- just trying to find the principles office. Could you show me where it is?"

Jim smirked at her but didn't say anything. Eyebrows furrowing, Aubrey looked up at him to see if he was okay. Instead, she found a symbol flashing in his eyes.

X.A.N.A's symbol.

"Crap." She muttered to herself, then yelped as Jim tried to punch her in the face. She ducked under it and spun, kicking him the gut and knocking him away from her in the process. With that opening, she took off running towards the woods.

She could hear Jim's footsteps thundering behind her as she darted into the trees. She tried to create as many obstacles for him as she could such as darting between thin tree's and jumping over logs, and though it did create some distance, she could never escape his sight.

Fumbling through her pocket's, she pulled out her phone and dialed Jeremy's number. It rang only once before he answered.

"Hello?"

"Jim's attacking me!" Aubrey screamed as she dove over a bush and rolled, then picked herself up and kept running. Looking back, she found that Jim had stopped for a second in a clearing and was looking for her. Gulping, she dove behind a rock and pressed herself against it, breathing heavily.

"Where are you? Can you get to the factory?"

"I'm in the woods not to far from the sewer entrance. Are you sure you want me to come there? Jim will probably follow me..."

"You're safer here. It sounds like you've stopped running. Are you okay?"

"Y-yeah. I'm hiding, but I'll try to get over to the sewer without being spotted. Call you later." She hung up and peaked behind the rock, finding that Jim was still standing in the clearing and looking for her. Biting her lip, Aubrey grabbed a pebble and chucked it in the opposite direction of herself when Jim wasn't looking. His head snapped over upon hearing it, and then he took off in that direction thinking he was chasing Aubrey.

Said girl got off the ground and dusted herself off. Once she was sure she was clear, she took off running for the sewers taking care to stay behind trees so that she couldn't be seen. She felt like crying in relief when she saw the cover and quickly slipped inside.

Luckily, there was still a skate board left for her to use so she snatched it quickly and set off down the cement pathways as she pulled out her phone again and dialed Jeremy.

"Aubrey, where are you?"

"I'm coming. I lost him, but I don't know how long until he comes back around again."

"Soon I guess. When X.A.N.A realizes that he's lost you he'll send Jim straight to the factory. Get here quickly." Jeremy said, then hung up. Aubrey slipped the phone back in her pocket and kicked her foot hard off the ground, speeding herself up.

Two minutes later she reached the factory. She scaled the ladder quickly and quietly and made her way inside just as she had once before (not including when Ulrich brought her.) As soon as she hit the ground, she dashed for the elevator and stepped inside, entering the code Jeremy had given her yesterday.

Once the doors opened again, Aubrey stepped into the lab where both Jeremy and Yumi were waiting. She glanced at Yumi confused but the girl smiled sheepishly.

"This isn't my week. At least last time Odd got devirtualized first and not me."

"Must be a great week for Ulrich then." Aubrey giggled, setting her bag against the wall. Yumi nodded in agreement as she looked at the girl.

In more ways then one.

"So Jim was attacking you, right?" Yumi asked with a frown. Aubrey nodded.

"Yeah, he almost landed a punch to my face but I was able to duck, kick and run."

"Good. Jeremy, do you know where he is?"

"Let me do a quick scan with the security cameras."

Jeremy typed something furiously into his keyboard and yet another small screen popped up on the desktop. It ran through different numbers for a few seconds before showing an image of Jim in the sewers.

"He catches up fast." Aubrey commented, a hint of fear in her voice. Yumi nodded gravely.

"Jeremy, do you want me to go hold him up?"

"If you don't mind." The genius spoke with only the slightest bit of concern. Taking that as 'please do', Yumi started heading over to the elevator.

As she was half way there, Jeremy suddenly let out a cry. "Oh no!"

"What's wrong?" Yumi asked, spinning a one-eighty.

"Odd only has twenty life points left and Ulrich has fifty, and there still pretty far from the tower!"

"Send Aubrey." Yumi suggested with a slight hardness to her voice as she headed for the elevators. Aubrey called out to her.

"Yumi, will you be alright on your own?"

The older girl smiled warmly. "I'll be okay. However, I was serious before. Jeremy, you need to send her and make sure that Aelita gets to the tower. We still need a gym teacher."

"Are you sure?" Jeremy called as the yellow doors began to slide closed. Yumi shot him a thumbs up.

"Do it."

The elevator disappeared, taking Yumi with it.

"Aubrey, are you up for it?" Jeremy asked her. She gulped.

"If you need me I'll go."

"Thank you. Use that ladder over there to get down into the scanner room. I'll inform the others you're going."

"Okay. Tell them I expect a warm welcome!"

Gulping, Aubrey looked down the ladder and back at Jeremy one last time before beginning her descent. She felt as though there were a million butterflies all angrily fluttering around in her stomach.

I'm going to Lyoko.