Astrid's POV

I woke up, well you could call it waking up, or you could call it starting the whole day over again, along with freaking out.i found myself walking down the hall like I was before I bumped into Odd. Trying to figure it all out, the moment where me and Odd bumped into each other came again.

When he bumped into me I automatically said "hey Odd can I ask you-" then I clasped my hand to my mouth, realizing what I had done. The color seemed to drain from Odd's face realizing too. I quickly explained to him what I remembered and he said he and the others would explain it after class.

We walked down the hall way silently this time, I missed the relaxed laughter and jokes we made the first time we did this.

"hey" Odd said suddenly "I'm sorry if this has effected anything, which it's clear it has. We didn't want you to have to get involved in all of this. I'm sorry." He said then continued walking. I just realized something, he looks guilty was this his fault? What exactly could this secret be that would change Odd'a mood to this?

When we got to class I tried my best to act like I hadn't done this before. Getting through the class wasn't hard, the hard part was watching Odd sit down and whisper into the other's ears. with only four of them it didn't take long for all of them to get the news. One by one they looked back at me with pity. Why would I need pity? Yeah I was electrocuted but I'm better now. I just tried to act like I didn't see them look and focus on the notes i was retaking from yesterday. At least this was good study time.

When lunch came they gestured me to sit with them, I came over again but a little more hesitantly this time. However when I sat down I still smiled.

"so, did Sally fall into the well or did Odd bark for nothing?" I said thinking of an old story my mom used to tell me. We all laugh and it seemed to brighten up the mood a bit.

"okay" Jeremy said "I guess it's about time we told you everything huh?" The others seemed to be okay with him starting out the story however as they went on it got more and more unbelievable. One thing came to my mind when they went through each telling there story of how they were involved with this and what it was all about, these guys were a true blood team.

Once they had finished they gave me a moment to let it all sink in. Lyoko warriors, virtual world, evil foe Xana ? It all sounded so exciting, however I realized how it was their secret and telling me isn't their choice. For all i know this could be the last thing they wanted to do. I mean who would tell me about this?

I took a deep breath "I'm sorry this happened. I know this is your secret to keep, and you probably wish I hadn't caused some disruption. If you want I'll try to forget about it all and leave you to it. I won't interfere. I also wont tell anyone else, I couldn't imagine doing anything but protecting a friend."I said shakily and nervously. They all looked at me surprised, like I had said the least thing they had expected to come out of my mouth.

"don't you realize?" Yumi said "we brought you into this even though you had a right to live a normal life, not having to worry about this. Instead you were dragged into this because of us. Were sorry" she said dismayed like she really had done some act worth of criticism.

"if you wouldn't mind," Ulrich said hesitantly

"we could use another reliable team," said Odd sitting next to me

"and you proved yourself just now by promising to keep the secret." said Aleita looking hopeful

"it's not going to be easy, a lot of times we have to be tough." Jeremy said, wait are really saying

"and we understand if you don't want to but.." Yumi said

Then all of them together looked up at me and said "will you join the lyoko warriors to help us defeat Xana?" Yep defiantly a true blood team. Looking at them I wanted to be apart something, for once in my life.

Steadily and assuredly I told them with a spark of excitement in my eye "i'll do my best to be the best lyoko warrior I can be!"

After that things went by happily, I got to know the true blood team(as I now call them) and I was having a good time...until the next Xana attack.

"When did you say the movie was on?" Odd asked me. We were partners on a science project and the gang all decided to go see a movie together, I think it was something about a thief falling in lobe with a girl and having to repay all hid depts to be together or something. Whatever it's about it'll be fun going to the movies instead of training on lyoko, even though there have been no Xana attacks they needed to show me how to fight and all. Now I'm prepare to be a lyoko warrior.

"let's see, half past we need to get this project done or else we can't do anything tonight, remember?" I answered even though I was excited to go I still have all my priorities straight.

"I don't see why it's such an important project, I mean all we're doing is looking at leaves."

"the reason we are doing this project is to help the animals in the forest."I said passionately

"why do they need our help, they have lived out here they're whole lives can't they protect themselves?" Odd questioned again

I sighed and looked up from my notes "have you ever seen a squirrel here or a deer? That's because this place is lacking in wildlife. Why? Because something was wrong with the environment so they all left, exept for some." I said as a caterpillar inched out onto a lead. "Did you ever think that maybe the factory has something to do with the environment not being ideal? If so then the least we can do is try to make this forest a better place for the animals that still live here." I said whike gazing at the caterpillar, I knew too much about losing a home and trying to adjust to a new one. I can understand why we need to help.

"wow...I never thought about it that way" Odd said dazed a little by my speech. Looking over to me he smiled and said "I never knew you were so passionate about this stuff. It's...cool." He turned abruptly away and I started to mega blush, the things I've only see. On tv shows but never done before.

Suddenly I wanted to tell him all about my past, I had only ever carried that burden myself. It might be good to let someone know. I took a deep breath and said "My mom...through me out when I was three, I made to An orphanage but wouldn't dare tell anyone who my mother was. She..she was never kind to me, the only thing I remember of her are accusing eyes." I stopped for a second and Odd looked at me startled. Maybe at the fact that I would share this with him. I kept going. "I guess I feel so strongly about stuff like this because I know what it feels like to have a bad home and have to adjust to new things, worse places." I finished and looked at Odd his eyes were sympathetic. Eyes i haven't seen since ran to the orphanage.

"I'm sorry you had to go through something like that." Odd said, but I don't want empty words like that, that's what they all said couldnt Odd say something better. I just look at the caterpillar inching it's way back to the trunk of the tree after it's meal. Suddenly I heard Odd's voice, "I'm not very good at this but.. Personally , and I know this might sound mean but, I think I'm actually happy that happened, because without that course of events, you wouldn't be sitting here next to me. That would make me sad."

I looked at him astonished, no one had ever been able to make me feel happy about what happened when I was younger, except now. A few fresh tears slid done my face but they stopped quickly. I looked at him, smiled and said, "Thank you Odd, I..I'm happy too" and for a split second, looking into his eyes the world felt perfect. The we both, simultaniously, took each other's hands and held them. The. We both took them apart and got back to work.

Later

"well at least we finally finished." I said, we had both worked our hardest after the um, not sure how to describe it. now we are going to meet the others. Casually chatting along the way, but by the time we reached the meeting place we were bot laughing so hard our socks would have come off if we didn't have shoes others were giving us strange looks when we came though.

"hey you two! Hurry up the movie will start any minute. And we still have to get there!" Yumi called to us, they must have been waiting there for a while.

once we caught up to them I forced the rest of the giggles down and asked "where are the rest. Did Jeremy and Aelita not finish their project?" I found that hard to believe, but then again Jeremy isn't the nature type.

"no they went ahead to get tickets, a lot of people are going tonight" Ulrich said tapping his foot, obviously ready to go.

"ah yes the inpatients of Einstein. Let's go it's getting dark already." Odd said and with that we walked to the theater, laughing as me and Odd shared our jokes.

Odd's POV

When we finally got to the theater the sun was setting, that's unusual. Normally it doesn't set till an hour after now. But walking with Astrid next to me gave me a strange but good feeling, something I hadn't felt with any other girl. Suddenly I felt a jolt. My record! Now that Astrid's here I've dated every girl in our grade except her! But would she even want to date me? What I said in the park I truly meant it.

"Something wrong Odd" Astrid asked A worried look on her face as she watched me. How did she do that? I guess it's not hard to see when I'm troubled.

Covering it up I said "I'm just worried about how money we have to get popcorn and drinks, that and if it'll last the whole movie.." Putting on a fake thinking face, I wonder if this will fool her.

"there's Odd always worrying about food then if we will even get into the movie." Ulrich said and the rest of us laughed a bit. But Astrid still looked at me with those worrying eyes, some how I don't think I want to break her heart, or pull any ladies man move on her. I just smile and reached over to squeezed her hand without the others noticing. her frown turned into a soft smile with warm eyes. Shes been hurt all her life. She deserved to be spared a broken heart.

Finally making it inside we spotted Aelita and Einstein waiting for us with the tickets. yikes, they looked a little annoyed.

"hey they finally showed up but it took a while to just get inside of this place there's such a big line." Yumi said indicating the mob still trying to get in. "It took us years to explain we were getting the the tickets from friends."

"Im sorry we kept everyone waiting" Astrid said "I'll go attack the line to get us popcorn and drinks, just tell me what you want!" She offered holding up her wallet, she couldn't mean to pay for all of us?. Surely enough a second later she said "mind you I couldn't pay for it all if I wanted to." She told us, I'll have to ask her where she gets her money from anyway? If she doesn't have parents.

"Thank you, that seems more convenient then us all ordering separately." Jeremy said and we all handed her ten dollars, to each get a large popcorn and drink.

"Okay I'll be right back." He said then looked at the line. "Then again maybe not." Then she smiled and walked towards the line.

We chatted a little while she was in line and each took turns going to the bathroom. But when she was half way to the counter we heard a beep from Jeremy's bag. "Oh no!" I said, not tonight of all nights.

"well Jeremy is it an attack from Xana? He's been quiet for a while so I wouldn't doubt it." Ulrich said as Jeremy pulled out hi laptop and kneeled to set it on his knee.

"well it looks like Xana is at it again. We better hurry, we don't know how he will attack." Jeremy said packing up his laptop and heading for the door.

"wait." Yumi said "i don't think we should tell Astrid. We don't want her to bump into William." we all stopped to think about it. Then Aelita turned to me and said,

"take the tickets, you and Astrid could have a good time tonight, just tell her we were busted cause we never finished our project, okay?" She looked sad, I guess cause she and Astrid were becoming good friends, we all were with Astrid.

" But what would she say if she found out? I don't think she would be too happy." I said, I don't really like the idea of lying to here, especially if she puts all her trust in us.

"We have to try, she can come next time," Jeremy said, everyone else seems okay with this but me.

"okay but be careful and don't worry about calling if you need back up." I said finally giving in and they left just as Astrid was getting to the counter. Luckily there was no line after her so I ran up to tell her.

" Okay I'll take six large-" she was saying when I interrupted her.

"Actually the others just got busted for not finishing their project. they have to leave but we can still stay and watch the movie." I told her a her face fell but lightened back up,when I suggested we stay. Instead of getting the kiang order of food we just got three large popcorn a and three large root beers, it's a pretty long movie.

"this place is crowded!" Astrid exclaimed as we finally found a spot to sit together. We were probably in the worst spot ever but Astrid did t seem to care. Most of the movie went by without a hitch, but after the second inter mission something went wrong.

The screen fluttered, the image going on and off when finally it stopped and a Xana symbol appeared on the screen. People started complaining and someone came in to try and fix it.

"Odd what should we do, it doesn't look like anything is happening-" that last part came out as a scream when the walls exploded and wires came to life around us. Astrid reached up to her neck to rub something, probably a necklace. Then she got up to help everyone get out of the theater, in the meantime I called jeremy up on my phone.

"Jeremy we have a problem. It's kinda getting serious over here! If you could hurry up?!" I yelled in the phone to make my voice be heard over all the screaming. Just as the screaming was dying down I could here Jeremy's voice through the phone.

"we have a situation down here too, get to factory as fast as you can!"

"roger Einstein!" I said through the phone. Spotting Astrid I warn over to her.

"Hey Odd are they close yet?" She asked getting the last person out of the theater.

"They need our help, we better hurry" I said but just as we started to walk out, the wires started spitting out electricity and diving at me. For some reason they staid away from her. Behind me there was one I couldnt dodge fast enough and preparing myself for the shock I heard Astrid scream and felt the heat in the air as she whacked the wire away from me, electricuting herself.

Astrid's POV

I screamed, seeing the wire I couldn't let Odd get hit by it and without thinking I grabbed it And tossed it down. now I was sitting on the floor cradling the burn.

"Astrid are you okay?" Odd nearly screamed, he was worried. Instead of staying there I got up and smiled at him.

"let's get to the factory." I said and walked to the door. All of the wires had suddenly gone silent. Stunned Odd blinked a few times, thinking about something then followed me. We ran out the theater ignoring th police tht had showed up. We thought the way back Would be safe but soon other wires started to follow us, except these didn't have bolts shooting out of them.

As we were dodging them Odd said, "are you sure your okay, that's a pretty nasty burn." it's good of him to worry but it'll get us nowhere.

"I'm fine, let's just get back as quick as we can to help the others-" yet again I was interrupted but this time a wire tripped me and I skidded across the concrete sidewalk tearing my knees.

"aaaaah!" I screamed, and Odd rushed over to me.

"I don't think you should go to the factory." Odd said picking me setting me on my feet.

"I'm fine!" I snapped then realizing that I had I quickly said "sorry, I'm just really worried about the others."

"I am too." Odd said his eyes softening, "look I haven't been honest with you, we already knew about the activated tower, I t was activated while you were in line to get the snacks..." He said cautiously while examining my knees, in which blood was trickling out, it was a pretty bad scrape. And just before I could get angry about them tricking me he said "we thought it would be unfair to you, especially since we dragged you into this, besides you were really excited about the movie. I'm sorry"

I looked up at his eyes and could tell he was more than sorry, "it's okay I forgive you, I'm sorry I caused you trouble." and with all things forgiven we smiled at each other for a few glorious seconds.

The way back to the factory was a nervous and painful run with the scraped knees. excusing the few parts like Odd carrying me while we slid down the wires from the ceiling of the factory, and holding hands when we jumped over the sewer corners. We opted out on use skateboards since their was a chance of falling off.

Once we were in the elevator Odd ask me, "you ready to see the real thing?"

Holding up my hand I said "I've seen the real thing, now I want to beat the virtual one."

when the door open we both simultaneously said "Send us in!"