Chapter 2: The Second Presentation
[Monica's P.O.V.]
I've been sitting in the room since Aelita left. I've been cleaning everything. My bed, the room, my face. I hate my OCD right now but I need to do something to keep my mind off of what is going on. I look onto the desk and straighten that up. Then I just get lazy and sit on my bed before moving everything with my mind. After a few minutes of doing that I hear a knock on the door. I drop everything and get up to walk to the door. I look at myself in the mirror and quickly fix everything on my face and body including the tear stains on my shirt. I feel the power rush through my veins as I watch my face start to look better. Once that's done I go to the door. I open it and see Jack. I feel a pang in my heart but let it go.
"Hey Jack what's up?" I ask smiling.
"Just wanted to know if you wanted to walk together to the presentation." He asks smiling his gorgeous smile.
"Where's Sissi?" I ask nicely.
"She doesn't have to be there as early as we do and she said I should come and ask you." He says.
"Oh." I say slightly disappointed that Sissi had to ask instead of him wanting to.
"You okay?" He asks. Crap I let my wall down. I quickly smile.
"Yeah I'm fine. I was just going to walk with Aelita once she got here." I say.
"Oh. Well we gotta be there soon. So I just wanted to make sure you were okay." He says rubbing his neck nervously. I scoff in my head. Why should he care?
"Did you say something?" He asks. Crap I said that in his head.
"No did you hear something?" I ask him.
"That's weird I thought you said something." He says questioning.
"Nope. I've been silent. But I'll see you there okay? I still have some things to do." I say about to shut the door.
"Oh I can help you if you need." He says coming into my room.
"You know it's kinda rude to come in without me asking." I say jokingly.
"Well you did open the door for me." He says. I roll my eyes and hide my smile. Same old lovely Jack. I think to myself this time.
"Yeah. I guess so. Hey I just wanted to let you know-" I say before he cuts me off.
"Hey thanks for introducing me to Sissi." He says. My heart drops.
"Oh you're welcome. How did I introduce you again?" I ask really wanting to know.
"You guys were going to the café and I saw you guys walking. I came up to say hi and you introduced us. I just wanted to come and talk to you but I know how you barely say yes to any guy." He says. My heart swells when he says he wanted to come for me but quickly drops again when he says that.
"Sweet. That's what I thought." I say smiling fake and sitting on my bed. I hear a knock on the door and go to it. I open it and see Yumi.
"Hey Yumi how are you?" I ask smiling.
"I'm good. How've you been?" She asks.
"I've been great." I say exaggerating. Her eyes widen and quickly narrow. I jump into her mind.
What's wrong? She asks. Jack is here. I say. She looks at me confused. Okay? She says. She doesn't know. I shake my head and smile.
"We should get to the presentation. I think William wanted to talk to you." She says. I nod.
"Yeah I need to talk to him too." I say.
"About what?" She asks.
"I just don't think it's working out between us." I say. She smiles and nods.
"Yeah I didn't think so either. I think someone else may have your eye." She says winking and lifting her head a little to suggest Jack. I smile and shake my head.
"Well let's go. Come on Jack." I say. Jack gets up.
"What about Aelita?" He says.
"Oh right. I'll just text her and let her know." I say.
"She's on her way there already." Yumi says not missing a beat.
I nod. "Well good. I thought she was going to be late." I say totally lying. We're all quiet as we walk to the presentation.
We get stopped by William. I put on a smile and start acting.
"Hey William." Jack says. Do I hear a little bit of jealousy? It doesn't matter anyways.
"Hey Jack, Yumi. Honey how are you?" He asks. I internally groan.
"I'm okay. Actually I need to talk to you." I say before pulling him aside.
"We'll see you guys in there." Yumi says pulling Jack inside.
"Whats up sweetie?" He asks.
"Uhm I don't really know how to say this but I don't think this is working." I say. His eyes are widening.
"What's wrong? What am I doing?" He asks.
"It's not you. I just don't think I need to be in a relationship right now." I say looking down. He lifts my chin up.
"Don't worry about it. Okay? I understand." He says.
"You do?" I ask.
"Yeah. You don't want your senior year to start off in a relationship. Plus I didn't think we'd work anyways." He says smiling. I let out a breath of relief even though that's not at all why.
"Thank you for understanding." I say touching his face.
"We should be getting in." He says.
"We're still friends right?" I ask.
"Of course. We are fighting Xana together aren't we?" He asks. I smile and nod before heading in. I let out a shaky breath as I take my seat backstage. I look and see that Geo is sitting next to May. I strain my ears to hear what they're saying and they're just talking about being nervous. I take the seat next to Geo.
"Hey." I say.
"Hey you came." He says.
"Well yeah. It's kind of mandatory for us. Plus we need to start this off right." I say. He nods and turns back to May.
I hear familiar footsteps and can smell his scent sitting right next to me. I choke back tears and turn to him.
"Hey Jack." I say.
"Hey what happened?" He asks.
"Nothing. William and I just thought it would be best if we weren't together." I say. He nods.
I jump into his mind. Well that's good. I hear him think to himself. I shake my head.
"What?" I ask.
"Oh nothing. I just never thought he was right for you." He says. I nod and turn around.
"Yeah. We were just better friends." I say. I listen to everyone talking upstage and see that everyone is quieting down. I hear Mr. Delmas talking and soon enough we're all getting up and walking to center stage. May goes before I do but I can tell she's nervous I send her a little bit of confidence and she brightens dramatically. I smile as she walks off stage looking a little dazed. After a few more girls then it's my turn, unfortunately I'm the last girl. I hold my head up high and smile letting the spotlight take over and taking in the stage around me. I hear a bunch of cheers as I walk on stage and to the microphone. I change up the speech from last year because obviously I'm older.
"Hello. My name is Monica Hope Westley. I'm a senior and I'm 17. I'm from Florida and this will be my second year here. I love to sing, act and of course hanging out with my friends. I had a fun time here last year and I can't wait to have more fun this year. Thank you for your time." I say lying slyly and walking offstage. I look to Geo and he's panicking.
Just lie about everything besides your name and age. But say you're from Florida. I think to him. He looks at me and nods. I look in front of him and see Jack smiling. I smile back before heading to the bathroom. I sit in a stall and cry but still listen to what everyone is saying by my hearing.
I cry thinking about how much my life has changed in the past few hours and I just want to disappear. I think about my father and the Aelita back in my time. I then get an idea.
Dad! Please tell me what is happening. I don't understand anything my life is taken apart please! Help. I say.
Monica! Thank God. I have no idea what happened. After you jumped in that whirlpool to save Geo I haven't seen you. You weren't supposed to go back into that alternate dimension. He says.
Then why am I here? I ask frantically. I don't know but it's not Geo's fault. He says. I nod and shed a tear. Now you do need to rewrite history and make it how it was. He says. But how? I ask. By being you. By showing those who knew and making sure things go as planned. He says. I nod. I have to go. But you need to listen to these next two people. He says. I nod and clean myself up before going back outside. I close my eyes and hear cheers. I search around for minds and see that someone is on stage. I jump into their mind and see that it's Jack. I choke back a sob and listen to what he says.
"Hey guys. My name is Jack James Song. I'm a senior and I'm 17. This is my second year and I can't wait to meet new people and get together with old friends." I feel a tingling but it's nothing. "So I hope to see some of you in my classes and I can't wait to start this year off." He finishes. I roll my eyes and search for Geo's mind. I find it as he walks on stage and listen.
"Hey. My name is Geonardo Xavius Westley, but you can just call me Geo West. I'm a Sophomore (*EDIT* I recently npticed that i wrote the wrong grade for Geo a few times, but he is a sophomore and not a Junior, just to clear that up) and I'm 15. I'm from Florida and this is my second year here. I'm not sure where you'll see me but I know you'll like to. See you guys." He says. I hold back a smile and head off.
I look over to the gang to see them in shock. I read Aelita's mind and apparently there shocked about Geo being Xavius… again.
[Geo's P.O.V]
I walked off the stage to see Keith bothering May again.
"Oh my gosh. Keith, why won't you leave her alone!" I say.
Keith looks at me in confusion while May is in shock.
"What did you just say?" Keith asks.
"I asked why you can't just leave her alone"
"No you clearly said something in Japanese" May said.
"How would you know?" Keith asks.
"I just do" May says.
"Japanese? No I remember talking in English" I said starting to think about it.
"It doesn't matter" Keith said rearing back and trying to punch while I just takes a step to the side, still engrossed in my thoughts.
I don't see how it is possible for me to be able to speak Japanese, when I barely know a single word of it, I think as I jump to the side as Keith rushes at me with a punch.
I believe it is possible since I was bleeding that my blood may have spilled into my time stream- I dodge a kick from Keith –and caused a reaction that brought out a past ancestors abilities, say speaking Japanese, I kick a wall and use it to flip over Keith.
But then how would I be able to travel through time then but now I can't seem to activate it now? I sidestep and kick Keith in the leg, causing him to fall over.
"This mystery just got deeper" I say as I turn and see Keith on the ground. "Hey what happened to you" I say as he gets into a rage and I step over him. I grab a rose from a vase and hand it to May, who blushes a bit before she walks away, still wielding it.
[Third Person P.O.V.]
Geo smiled before he began to walk away. He then felt a sudden searing pain in his left hand. He staggered before he crashed into the wall. He slid to the ground as he stared at the back of his hand. The X was there. And it was a Bright Green color that shined in his face and blinded him. The power soon went out and he was left alone with only the mark on his hand for light. He carefully stood up and slowly walked forward clutching his left hand. He looked onto the stage to see no one there and a strange gold-green object in the middle of the stage along with a pair of dark blue gems.
He walked out to the device before he slowly picked it up and was struck with a vision.
Vision: A man in Green armor stood against an army wielding only a sword and the device around his waist and more mechanized versions of the gems on his hands like gloves.
He had a Silver X on his chest and had a Computer-based Helmet colored Red along with a pair of eyes that would resemble a bugs except golden.
He took out a strange cylinder with a weird edge and then he placed it onto a familiar device on the belt before he twisted it, opened it up, typed in a code before he twisted the cylinder in another direction and spinning a disc on the right of the buckle, then became covered in a red light.
Geo staggered backwards from that vision. What was that armor? Who was that man? And why did he feel something around his waist?!
He quickly looked downwards to see the device from earlier attach itself to his waist while moving his old belt buckle/device to summon his Lyoko armor out of the way before the device in question attached itself to the left side of the belt and the gems sat on his skin and transformed themselves into gloves.
He was silent for a few moments before he slid his finger across the design of the belt. He twisted the device off his belt and investigated it. It had turned into a combination of silver, gold, black and red. He felt a slot with his other hand. He investigated it to find it was a perfect fit for the buckle. He slid it in before the device glowed.
He stepped a bit backwards before trying to snap it off, but as he tried to his finger hit a gear on the front that spun and glowed all 4 colors before he blacked out.
[Monica's P.O.V.]
I walk back to the dorm by myself, not really wanting to be with anyone. I hear my phone ring and I look at it. It's Yumi. I press ignore and turn my phone on silent. I walk further just to letting my mind wander. I'm just thinking about what I used to do with the gang and Jack before this whole crazy time travel mess went down. I don't realize how much I miss the little kisses Jack gives me or the way Alice would just toughen me up by looking at me until I'm wiping away tears on my face. Tears I never realize I had.
I hear someone call my name and I look back. Not wanting anyone to see me or talk to me I blink and I appear on a tree above me. I look down and see the person passing by. It's too dark to see who it is so I jump in their mind. It's Jack. I roll my eyes before some tears fall from my face. I hastily wipe them away and blink and appear behind him. I walk out from behind the tree and cross my arms.
"What do you want Jack?" I ask, a little rudely. But I wanted to be alone so I don't care.
"I was just out here and I saw someone pass by. I saw it was you and I wanted to talk to you." He says shyly. My heart skips a beat but I push that thought away.
"Well what do you want?" I ask.
"I just wanted to talk to you." He says.
"Well?" I ask.
"Do you want to do anything?" He asks. I roll my eyes.
"What about Sissi?" I ask.
"What about Sissi? I'm asking as friends." He says taken back.
"Never mind. I'm not sure depends what it is but I kinda wanted to be alone." I say.
I suddenly feel a large amount of energy nearby and turned towards the direction I read it from.
I feel a mind there and try to enter but I'm blocked by a large wall-like thing.
"Monica? Are you okay?" He asks, shaking me from my thoughts. I nod still looking for the other mind.
"I can't hear the rock in your head moving?" He says smirking. I turn back to him and scowl I jump into his mind and roll through his memories. But it stops right before I met him this year. I pause and get confused. I shake my head and get him out of his hypnosis.
"What did you say?" I ask him.
"I asked if you were okay?" He says smirking. I smile and turn him around. The energy is starting to feel negative.
"Yeah I'm great. Let's get back. It's getting late and I'm getting tired." I say. He smiles and holds his arms out for me. I smile back at the sweetness of this boy standing in front of me and I take his arm. I let my mind wander and shoot a quick message to the dark energy. Go Away! I say in my mind but enough force for it to leave. I look back and see that we are in a clearing with the moon shining bright. I look at Jack and see that he's looking straight at me. His blue eyes shining bright, I start to get lost in his eyes before I feel myself start to lean in. I stop myself when I we are about 6 inches away. I gasp and pull back.
"I'm so sorry." I say pulling my arm from his grasp.
"What are you sorry about?" He asks confused. I look back to him questioning.
"We almost kissed?" I said. His eyes widen.
"Oh my gosh. I'm so sorry Monica." He says. I shake my head.
"It's fine. You're the one who's dating someone anyways." I say ruefully.
"I know and I feel guilty." He says.
"Why do you feel guilty?" I ask him just wondering. I don't have the energy to read his mind.
"Because you feel bad. You're upset." He says. I look back to him a scowl surely covering my face.
"Because I'm upset? Yeah, right. Probably because if Sissi were to find out she would kill you." I say rolling my eyes.
"No. Because you're upset. Monica I have to tell you something." He says grabbing my hand as I'm about to turn away. I look down at our hands and feel my heart quench. I've missed the feel of his hand holding mine. A tear escapes my eye as I realize what he's about to say. He's going to say that he doesn't like me or something. And I don't want to stop him from being with Sissi. Even if my feelings for him are so strong I cant do that to somebody.
He opens his mouth to say something before he sees my tear. He wipes it from my face and I shake my head.
"I have to go now. I'm sorry Jack. I shouldn't have come here. I shouldn't have been found. Go find Sissi or someone." I say pulling my hand from his grasp. As I run I hear his voice calling my name and tears are now freely running down my face but I ignore it and as soon as I'm out of sight I blink and appear in my own bathroom. I turn on the shower and sob. I haven't cried this much since I found Jack and Sissi kissing at the winter formal which as of right now didn't even exist.