Chapter 13

My pain may be the reason for somebody's laugh, but my laugh must never be the reason for somebody's pain. ~Charlie Chaplin

Aubrey was minding her own business, humming to herself as she walked under the outdoor shaded hall when she heard the voice.

"I just have to get to the mall last period to get those boots! If I don't go before then, someone else is going to buy them, and they would only look right on my feet."

"Won't your father get mad if you skip?"

"He can't get mad if he doesn't know."

"B-but the teachers take attendance every class."

"I have art last. That means all I have to do is turn in a painting and the teacher will think I was there. She's blind as a bat anyway."

As the voices got closer, Aubrey jumped over the wall separating the hallway from the outside pathways and tucked herself into a bush.

"So are you doing the art piece at lunch?"

"No idiot! I'm going to get someone else to do it. In fact, I already have someone in mind."

Aubrey frowned and her stomach churned. Why did she get the sinking feeling this someone was her?

"Why is there a twig in your hair?" Ulrich asked when Aubrey walked into maths. Aubrey laughed nervously and quickly plucked it from her bun.

"What twig?"

"The one in your hand?"

She dropped it into her messenger bag.

"I have no idea what you're talking about."

"I'm not stupid, but I'll pretend this one time. Oh, the stick is gone! I guess it was never there in the first place." He said sarcastically. Aubrey smiled and slid into the seat next to him.

"By the way, you also have a leaf on your sweater, but let's pretend that's not there either, yeah?" Ulrich asked. Aubrey blushed.

"Y-yeah!"

If she had been more careful, she wouldn't be in this situation. But of course, Aubrey could be an airhead at times and the good feeling she had from getting an 85 on her math test had distracted her from the fact she was suppose to be hiding from a certain someone. And that was unusual, because she was usually really good at hiding from her problems.

"Oh Aubrey, just the person I wanted to see."

Aubrey froze, a shiver making its way down her spine.

She had been so close.

The girl took a deep breath, planted a fake smile on her face and turned.

"Hi Sissy."

Sissy placed a hand on her shoulder and smiled sweetly. "I'm going to say this in simple terms that you can understand. You're going to do my painting for me in art and I'm going to go to the mall, okay?"

"U-Umm-"

The hold on Aubrey's shoulder got tighter. "Remember, I'm being nice and not telling my daddy about what happened to Odd's committee, so you can do me this tiny favor, can't you?"

Aubrey's hands clenched into tight fists. Apparently, Odd had never told Principle Delmas about the fact only he, Aubrey and now Ulrich were on the Halloween dance committee. If he knew he would be upset, and Sissy had threatened to take over and form an actual committee which she had no doubt her father would let her do and that people would join.

This was for Odd, not for Sissy.

"Sure, no problem." Aubrey agreed. Her stomach clenched. How was she supposed to do two paintings?

"You are such a doll." Sissy said sarcastically, letting go of Aubrey's shoulder. She smiled before flipping her hair and strutting away in the other direction.

Aubrey kept her head down, slowly making her way to art class.

In the end, it turned out that Aubrey couldn't do two paintings.

So instead she did one.

The entire class Odd talked her ear off next to her, and she smiled while pretending to listen and painting the vase in the center of the room. It was no where near her best work, but it was Sissy's so it didn't matter anyway.

"Are you feeling okay?" Odd asked suddenly, stopping in the middle of his story. He placed a cool hand on Aubrey's head which seemed to feel fine. Aubrey smiled at him.

"Of course I am! Why wouldn't I be?"

Odd paused for a moment, then smiled back. "Sorry, guess I was just seeing things. So anyway-"

"Darn it!" Odd exclaimed suddenly, smacking his forehead. Aubrey stopped walking to look at him.

"What is it?"

"I think I left my cellphone back in the art room. I'll just go and get it really quickly, Jeremy will not be happy if he calls and I don't answer. Wait here, it'll just take a moment."

"Sure." Aubrey stayed where she was, leaning against a tree while Odd ran back to the art classroom.

He wasn't dumb. He knew something was wrong with Aubrey, and he was going to find out what.

When he slipped back in the classroom, the first thing he did was grab his cellphone he had planted on the art easel just in case the teacher was still in the room, which she wasn't. Then, he hurried over to the stack of pantings from the day's class. He had a gut feeling Aubrey's bad mood had to do with it. She just seemed so sad while painting. He wouldn't have to look hard either, because Aubrey was the last one to turn hers in.

At the signature written on the bottom right corner of Aubrey's Canvas, Odd's breath was stuck in his throat.

Sissy Delmas.

The shock soon turned to anger. Why did Aubrey sign her painting as Sissy's when the girl wasn't even in class?

Was that why she did it?

Did Sissy force Aubrey to do her painting for her?

The blonde quickly opened the camera on his phone and took two photos. One of the picture all together, and one of the signature on the bottom corner. Then, he slipped out of the room like he was never there.

When he got back outside, Aubrey was still waiting for him. She smiled when she saw him.

"Hey! What took you so long, did you find your phone?"

"Yeah. I thought I left it on the counter but it turned out to be on the floor. It took me a minute to find it."

"How'd it get on the floor anyway?" Aubrey asked as they headed towards the gym to decorate. It was coming along great, and they would finish within the week.

"I had a text. It must have vibrated off the table." He excused, laughing a bit. Aubrey giggled.

"I get it, my phone's done that before too. It's pretty annoying, because then you actually have to put effort into bending down to get it, you know."

He laughed. "Oh trust me, I know."

They both knew the sentence had double meaning, but Aubrey wasn't sure what the other meaning was.

Not yet at least.

"Let me get this straight." Ulrich said, anger seeping into his voice as he watched his best friend pace back and forth in their room. "Aubrey did Sissy's painting for her today because she wasn't there?"

"Yeah, I have the pictures to prove it." Odd answered. He pulled out his phone and handed it to Ulrich who studied it. It was definitely Aubrey's painting, if a bit sloppier then usual, and that was definitely Sissy's name in Aubrey's handwriting in the corner.

"Why would she paint Sissy's painting?"

"I don't know." Odd sighed, falling back onto his bed. Kiwi immediately jumped on his stomach and settled there. "Does Sissy have something on her?"

"She must. I know for a fact they aren't friends." Ulrich said darkly. He was remembering when they had been walking to maths class the day before and Sissy had tripped Aubrey in the hallway, laughing as she walked passed them and winking at Ulrich. Ulrich had ignored her completely to help Aubrey off the ground who obtained scrapes on both her knees.

Odd nodded. "We need to do something. I'm not letting another one of my best friends get blackmailed by her."

"Let's go talk to her about it." Ulrich decided. They agreed, and both slipped into their shoes before leaving the dorm and heading up to Aubrey's.

After a short mental speech about what he was going to say, Ulrich was raising his fist to knock on the door when suddenly it was opened. Aubrey looked surprised to see them at first, but her expression quickly changed to one of relief.

"Oh thank god you're here! Jeremy just called, there's a X.A.N.A attack and he needs us all at the factory."

"What's happening?" Odd asked, pushing the Sissy problem to the back of his mind. The three of them sped walked out of the dorms and headed straight to the boiler room. It was too dark to leave and they figured that this was the next best option.

"X.A.N.A's hacking into the super computer. Jeremy thinks he's trying to get control over over the scanners."

"Why?"

"To send the real William here." Aubrey explained as they entered the sewers. At the mention of William they all began to sprint to where they knew the skateboards were. "Jeremy thinks he's planning to send William here to sabotage the factory so we can't get to Lyoko. When he was leaving to go to dinner he realized that he forgot a program he needed so he went back to the factory just in time to catch the attack."

"Jeremy, we're here!" Odd yelled, panting as they stood in the elevator. Jeremy nodded to them.

"Good. Hurry up and get down to the scanner room. I already sent Aelita and Yumi ahead, but I don't know how much longer I'll have control over scanners."

"We're on it." Odd saluted. He hit the button, sending them all down a level. When the doors opened again, each teen ran to their respective scanners.

"Transfer Odd, Transfer Aubrey, Transfer Ulrich...Scanner Odd, Scanner Aubrey, Scanner Ulrich...Virtualization!"

This time, they all landed in the mountain sector.

"I'm sending you the vehicles now. Aelita has the Overkite, so Aubrey is going to have to ride with someone."

"I got her." Ulrich said quickly, cutting off Odd. Odd pouted.

"But I'm the better driver!"

"You are not having this argument again. Aubrey, get on the Overbike with Ulrich."

"Aye aye captain!" She called. Ulrich was already sitting on the vehicle, gesturing for her to get on. Aubrey blushed as she slipped onto the back of the bike and wrapped her arms around Ulrich's waist. He smirked and quickly revved the engine, sending the overbike shooting ahead and leaving Odd behind.

"Hey!" Odd yelled, quickly going after them.

Aubrey's eyes were wide as she watched the mountain sector turn into a purple blur. It was weird, because her Overkite went about the same speed and the sector never looked like this.

"Oh no!" Jeremy exclaimed.

"Jeremy, what is it?" Ulrich yelled out. When Jeremy was panicked, it was never a good sign.

"X.A.N.A's started the program to take over one of the scanners, and I can't stop it! You're going to have to get to the tower and defend it from William at all costs. We can't let him get inside."

"How long do we have before the program is complete?"

"I'd say five minutes, give or take."

"We're on it Jeremy." Ulrich promised, speeding up. Aubrey's grip on his waist tightened.

"What's that up ahead?" Odd asked, squinting to make out the image. It looked like there could be monsters in the distance, and a lot of them.

"X.A.N.A really doesn't want you to get to that tower. That's a swarm of monsters. I've got... Four blocks, two crabs and several hornets."

"There's no way we're all going to get through that!" Aubrey squeaked. She could barely handle one or two monsters at a time, how was she supposed to deal with around ten?

"That's why you and Odd are going to fight off as many as you can while Ulrich goes ahead."

"We're going to what?!"

"He's right Rabbit." Odd called from next to them, looking determined. "I hate to say it, but when it comes to fighting William, Ulrich's the best for the job. I'm more of a monster kind of guy anyway."

"So... am I supposed to jump off of the bike?"

"I can't stop. We don't have time." Ulrich said, answering her question. "I can slow down a bit though."

"That would be helpful." Aubrey agreed, taking a sharp breath. Ulrich nodded and began to slow down slightly. After a quick mental pep talk, Aubrey shakily moved her hands to Ulrich's shoulders and shifted her weight there so that she could stand. She carefully lifted one foot onto the moving vehicle, which almost fell down right away. She tightened her grip on Ulrich, thanking anyone she could think of that he couldn't really feel much pain in this form, and quickly lifted her other foot up so she was squatting. Odd held out a hand for her.

"Ready when you are. Don't worry, I'll grab you."

"I'm more worried I'll jump over you." Aubrey muttered. Ulrich chuckled in front of her and she turned to him quickly.

"Good luck."

Then, she pushed herself off the bike and high into the air. As predicted, she almost jumped over Odd but he was able to grab her arm and pull her down in front of him on the Overboard with his hands on her waist. He winked at Ulrich.

"Good luck buddy!"

"Odd-" Ulrich warned, his eyebrow twitching. Odd smirked.

"We'll go on ahead and clear a path." He put pressure on his back foot, forcing his vehicle to go faster.

"Okay! You remember that balance isn't really my thing, right?!" Aubrey screamed, struggling to keep her footing. Riding the overboard was completely different when you didn't have someone to hold onto to keep your balance.

"Don't worry, I won't let you fall! We're almost there, so you're going to jump again. I'll work on taking out the hornets while you take the monsters on the ground, alright?"

"Umm, do you really think I can take on all those monsters?"

"You'll be fine." Odd assured. "Now jump!"

He let go of her, giving Aubrey no other choice but to jump. She yelped as she went up with no direction what-so-ever. The girl looked around to see we're Odd went, but he had disappeared into the cloud cover to hunt down the hornets.

As she began her decent, Aubrey pulled out the two sai from their holders and clutched them tightly in her hands, letting her instincts take over. She may not have been on Lyoko as long as the others, but that didn't mean she couldn't fight.

Right before she landed, she flipped in the air and angled her body so she could land standing up on one of the blocks. The other five ground monsters turned and immediately began firing lasers at her. She jumped again, just in time to avoid the aftershock of the block which had been destroyed by the other monsters. She landed on top of one of the crabs and quickly burred the sai into it's X.A.N.A symbol, destroying it. As she jumped off, she saw Ulrich zoom through the small opening she had created.

Now, it was Aubrey vs. three blocks and a crab.

The sai flew back into Aubrey's hand just as she ducked under a laser. She popped up behind one of the blocks and threw a sai at it, but the block began spinning just in time to deflect it. At the same time, a laser hit Aubrey's shoulder, costing her thirty life points.

"Damn." She hissed. This was going to be harder then she thought.

Aubrey jumped onto another one of the blocks, but this one was smarter then the other and immediately began to spin, trying to throw her off. She crouched down to keep her balance, watching the world blur past. She closed her eyes for a moment, trying to slow down her perspective so she could see the monsters.

'You can do this.'

Her eyes snapped open and she threw both sai in opposite directions. They each hit a block square on target, destroying both.

"Yes!" Aubrey cheered as she jumped off. However, she was too disoriented and landed hard on her shoulder, losing another twenty life points. The girl was quick to recover, and when she was back on her feet the sai returned to her hands.

"Aubrey, Odd just got devirtualized, but he took out all the hornets. Yumi's also back here with me. Do you think you can take finish off the last two monsters and get to the tower?"

"I can try." Aubrey agreed. She put a split second strategy together and rushed back into the action. It was a bit reckless, but it would hopefully work.

She jumped up, avoiding laser shots from both the crab and the block. When she landed again, she was between the two monsters. The block spun, readying it's attack.

'Please, please be the freeze ray!'

A blue beam shot out of the block just moments before the crab finished charging its beam. Aubrey grinned as she leapt over the attack and watched as it hit the crab, freezing one leg in place.

'Alright!'

Aubrey threw one of her sai at the block. The block spun to deflect it, but this time Aubrey was anticipating the attack and ran after her first weapon. When the block stopped spinning, Aubrey dug the second sai that was still in her hand into its X.A.N.A symbol. The only issue was not getting out of the way in time, costing another twenty life points.

"Aubrey, you only have thirty life points left." Jeremy informed nervously. Aubrey shook off the loss and smiled.

"That's all I need."

Taking out the last crab was easy since it was already stuck in place. Aubrey jumped up again, landing on it's shell. It bucked wildly, trying to throw her off, but couldn't do it in time and met it's eminent doom. Aubrey landed safely on the ground and tucked her sai away, feeling proud as she stared at the empty battle field.

"Way to go Rabbit!" She heard Odd cheer. She laughed happily.

"Thanks!"

"Don't celebrate yet. Ulrich's still fighting William and Aelita can't get into the tower because of a block guarding it. You need to get there, and I used up all the vehicles."

"Then let's hope I can hop fast enough." Aubrey answered. She took off, her jumps allowing her to cover a greater distance at a time.

'I hope I'm not to late.'

The tower was up ahead. Aubrey was so close. She pushed her self faster, trying to keep up the pace. Her eyes were on Aelita, and she mentally cheered for the girl as she watched the pinkette destroy the block.

"Ulrich, no!" Jeremy yelled. Aubrey watched, horrified as Ulrich was devirtualized by William's blade. The man laughed evilly, running towards the tower. Aelita was sprinting for it too, but she wasn't going to make it in time. Aubrey jumped up, pulling out her sai.

She had one shot.

When she reached her highest point, she let out a cry as she through the sai harder and faster then she ever had before. They sliced through the air, almost invisible until they embedded themselves into Williams back.

Every paused, holding their breath.

Then, William roared in anger as his feet slowly began to pixilate. Before he was completely gone, he thew a furious glare at Aubrey that seemed to hold a promise to it. A promise that he would destroy her.

With that, William was gone.

Aubrey landed on the ground in front of the tower, her knees giving out on her. She couldn't believe it. She beat William! Well, Ulrich and Yumi did most of the work, but she devirtualized him! Aelita ran over and practically tackled Aubrey to the ground.

"Aubrey, you did it!"

"I-I know. I don't know how-"

"Who cares!" She heard Odd cheered. "You kicked ass!"

"I did, didn't I?" The brunette asked, seeming to struggle to comprehend her victory.

"Now all that's left is for Aelita to deactivate the tower. I'm proud of you guys today, especially you Aubrey. You did well."

"I'm on it." Aelita agreed, running into the tower. Aubrey grinned, laying on the ground as she felt herself be devirtualized.

They all won today, but she felt like it was a more personal victory for her.

Aubrey laid back in her bed, still glowing with pride for herself. It may seem vain, but she couldn't help it. She was starting to feel like a real lyoko warrior now, just like the others. She didn't feel so much like the newbie on Lyoko anymore. Aelita and Yumi had just been celebrating and chatting with her for a good hour or so before they left. Since nothing drastic had happened, Jeremy didn't see any reason to launch a return to the past. They returned back to the school about an hour after they'd left.

Someone knocked on her door. Figuring it was just Odd and Ulrich or maybe Aelita ready to go to dinner, Aubrey opened it quickly. She was still on an adrenaline high, and it felt like nothing could bring her down.

"Hey Ulrich, hey Odd, ready to go?"

"We actually need to talk to you for a second." Ulrich answered, gently closing the door behind them. Aubrey was still smiling.

"Sure! Anything."

"What happened in art today?" Odd asked, holding out his phone. Aubrey froze.

That could definitely knock her mood down a few notches.

On the screen was her painting from earlier that day with Sissy's name written in the corner. She gulped, then opened her mouth ready to fire off a split-second excuse.

"The truth." Ulrich cut in.

She bit her lip.

"W-well you see, S-sissy a-asked me to d-do her p-painting f-for her a-and I a-agreed."

"Why?" Odd pressed. "We know you guys aren't friends."

"H-how do you kn-know that?"

"She tripped you yesterday." Ulrich deadpanned. "So what did she do today?"

Aubrey sighed. She couldn't think of any way out of it, so she decided to tell the truth.

"Sissy knows that we're the only ones on the committee for the dance, so she threatened to tell her father about it because he doesn't know what happened. If she tells him, he'll get really mad. Made enough that when she also asks for control of the committee he'll give it to her." She turned to Odd. "I know how much this means to you, and I didn't want her to take it away, so I agreed to do her painting."

Odd looked slightly pale as he sat down on Aubrey's bed. "So this is all my fault."

"No!" She argued quickly. "It's not your fault she doesn't like me. If it wasn't me, it would probably be you or someone else who had to do the painting."

"I'd rather it was me!" Odd snapped. He looked over at Ulrich who's head was down as he clenched his fists. Ulrich felt guilty too, because he knew that Sissy was only targeting Aubrey because she hung out with him so much.

So really, it was both their faults.

"Look, it's over with, so let's just go to dinner, okay?" Aubrey begged. She knew it really wasn't over, it wasn't even close, but she after a crappy start to the day, she just wanted to go have lunch with her friends and enjoy their recent victory.

"Fine." Odd agreed, getting up off the bed. Ulrich nodded, and the three stiffly made their way down to the cafeteria.

Out of the corner's of their eyes, Odd and Ulrich kept glancing at Aubrey. They looked back at each other over the brunette's head with determination in their eyes.

They were going to fix this no matter what.

A/N: I AM SO SORRY! With school and everything else going on in my life I didn't realize how much time had passed since the last time I updated. It's midnight right now and I have school tomorrow but I stayed up to finish this and get it published. I'll try to make sure that this much time doesn't pass again. On another note, I've FINALLY introduced Sissy to the story! It's long overdue honestly, and I don't know how I've gone this long without her. You've probably noticed that unlike other chapters, the situation has not been resolved yet. That's right. Aubrey's going to have to deal with Sissy for a while longer it seems. ^.^ I don't want to spoil anything, so that's it for now. See you next time!