Astrid's POV

I love him. I don't know how to say it but I do. After we finally went back to our dorms I stayed awake thinking about how I could tell him. A few days later the others seem to suspect us but don't say anything, only smiling at us when we hold hands. Jeremy says that any day now we'll be able to free William. I can't wait for that day. Right now we are in a temporary art class we apparently have once a year.

"today we will be explaining what you will be doing in the next few weeks, tomorrow you'll be a song your partner for the entire course. You will be pared up with a different class from a different grade to do these projects." The teacher said and rolled his eyes as everyone groaned at being "assigned" a partner. She told us our first assignment would clay sculptures then painting then other fun stuff. We walked out of the class and headed towards gym.

"I love this class!" Ulrich said sarcastically walking beside Odd and I. We were holding hands and chatting while Ulrich complained about how he didn't like gym or jim.

"So when do you think we will be able to free William?" I asked and rich frowned a little. I got the impression that he and William weren't really on good terms. instead of focusing on that I looked at Odd instead.

"Soon I hope, maybe then you'll stop talking about it." Odd said teasingly and lightly shoved him.

smiling I responded with "Well it must be awful being trapped by Xana and all, even if he was a little reckless it doesnt mean he should be trapped like that." I said as I heard Ulrich snort quietly and mutter something I couldn't hear. "Besides im sure you guys would have been just as recklace as he was if you were suddenly put in that situation." I said teasingly back to Odd and he smiled.

"you weren't." Ulrich said suddenly and ran up a little to catch up with Jeremy and Aelita who were ahead of us. I stared I him shocked, they told me about Ulrich and William not being that friendly but I thought he wouldve gotten over it. It's not like he hasn't been punished enough.

Odd squeezed my hand and said "It's not really his fault he doesn't like him, they were never going to be the best of friends. He will get over it though, in the meantime which class are we pared up with for the art thing I wasn't paying attention." I laughed and smiled

"They haven't told us yet but I'm hoping we can get you is class. I asked the teacher and he said that he can try to pare our classes up." I said still laughing

"How did you get him to even consider it?" Odd asked surprised, the teacher isn't exactly the nice type.

"you sometimes a please and a thank you can get you far." I said as we walked into the gym. Something does bother me, well not exactly bother, more confuses me. All my life adults have turned their back on me and teachers have refused to notice me, why is it different here. A lot of things are different her but why would something so continuos change? I was born on the other side of the country but should that make a difference. Maybe there was something I didn't know but all the adults did. sighing I give up on the matter and listen to jim.

"today we will be practicing on these jumping..uh.. Jumping.. Um.. On these." He said and pointed to some things that look like pull up bars along with a bouncy trampoline thing. All we have done in PE class so far has been running on the track. Apparently when he demonstrated stuff like this he was really funny. "Now the routine we will be learning goes like this." He said and started to run forward to the bouncy thing. He jumped on it and grabbed the bars but fell off. Every one in the room immediately started laughing and I was hit with a wave of pity. i know what's it's like to be laughed at.

instead of joining in I watched as he got up, his face flash with sadness before he put an annoyed look on. just before he was about to tell us to quit down I called out "Try again!"

everyone in the room stopped to look at me but I dont care, I just look at him encouragingly and he smiles. Then he gets up and walks back over to the starting place. The room was dead silent as he ran up again, jumped, and did the routine. he wasn't perfect with the routine but at least he didnt fall. I clapped then Odd, Ulrich, Jeremy, and Aelita were. Soon the entire gym class was clapping. Was this his first time making one of those? I surely hope not. After that we went up one by one to try it.

Soon class was over and we went to lunch, grabbing my food and sitting at the table I was still smiling. Ulrich and Jeremy were telling Yumi what happened.

"she just called out while every one else was laughing. I had never thought to try and encourage Jim." Jeremy said, and everyone else nodded. Yumi just laughed and said it sounded cool.

"On a different note," I said trying to change the subject, "When do you think we'll be able to save William?"

Jeremy thought for a moment then Aelita whispered in how ear. They kept the conversation going like that for a few minutes until finally he said, "Either today or tomorrow."

"If your that close why did it take you so long to figure it out?" Odd asked, but I don't care how long it took. For some reason I feel a strange connection a reason to free William.

"So how are we going to?" Yumi asked taking a bite out if her food.

"ItS complicated, but I can put it into a short version for you guys. Basically im going to need Astrid's help." He said looking at me.

"You will?" I said suprised, I wouldn't think I would have much to do with the actually freeing of him. Yumi seems to be the closes.

"yes, something went wrong when we were trying to put the program for freeing Yumi into a useful condition. Somehow it combined with your avatar on lyoko, the only way to uncombine it is to apply it to William."

"How does she do that?" Yumi asked and I thought about it carefully. I wouldn't be surprised if it was some crazy process.

"All she has to do is get close enough to William and then I can launch the program. It should attach to him and then he'll be free. We just have to fix a few bugs before we are ready." Jeremy said and I was slightly shocked to be honest, normally all of Jeremy's plans are super complicated because of the amount of work They have to do.

"Then that should be a piece of cake, we just have to get him to come out of any hiding place He could be in" Odd said and squeezed my hand, I smiled excitedly up at him. this is going to be great!

Odd's POV

He called us down at around four when we had some free time. Apparently they were ready to try out the program. I met up with Astrid and we chatted the whole way down. She kept asking questions like what if it doesn't work or what if something goes wrong. Even though she has that worrying face on that I want to sweep from her she is still beautiful. The fact that she's not worry about something going wrong with her part or if she got into trouble, yet she is worried about William who tried to attack her amazes me.

"You shouldn't be nervous for William he wouldn't be hurt by this, you however could. I dont think it's a good idea." I said worryingly and put my hand into hers.

"It's not like it should make any difference for me, besides, I have to get it out somehow. Might as well do it this way." She said cheerfully and smiled brightly. I really hope this works.

At the lab she went into a scanner tapping her foot. She was either anxious to get it over with or anxious to get on those ice skates again. I'm going to suggest the first one. As she, Yumi and Ulrich went in I was supposed to stay here in case something happened. Aelita was also staying just for safety reasons. We don't want her to accidentally get captured and then die... That would be kinda a bummer.

Aelita and I watched on the screen as Astrid's figure flowed across. I laughed as i heard her cheer through Jeremy's head set.

"So how exactly do we coach William out?" I asked, still slightly annoyed from the fact that I couldn't go.

"

We have to wait until he figures he could come out. Hopefully he will." Aelita said calmly, however I noticed she was tapping her foot as well.

"Jeremy could you possibly turn it on speaker or something?" I asked, hearing little whispers was getting annoying. Besides I want to hear what's happening, not just watch what's happening.

"Okay okay sure." Jeremy said as he typed a little, then suddenly I could here Astrid's voice.

"Come on my bow out ranks your weapons any day! Besides you can't forget about these." She said and I assume she activated her wrist and toe knives. I grinned.

"If I could I would show you just how powerful these babies are!" Yumi said, again I assume she pulled out her fans.

"Ladies ladies, let's not forget about this beauty." Ulrich said as he, once more I assume, pulled out his sword.

I called through the computer, "Come on guys lets focus on the mission, besides none of you could possibly match up to lazer arrows." boasting a pretended to shoot a lazer arrow.

After that we got into a somewhat detailed conversation of boasting and how better our weapons were. Personally I actually liked Astrid's the best, I mean she got arrows and knives, all I have are giant purple paws.

Soon enough though we were bound to catch xana's attention. Astrid was still skating around till she came to an abrupt stop. Horrified I could see her figure on the screen suddenly run into an unexpected William.