She Didn’t Deserve It

Chapter Two – X.A.N.A.’s New Attack

 

 

 

“So…” Ulrich asked. “You haven’t talked much all day after you talked to that Aynor girl. What happened?”

 

“Nothing much. She’s really nice. I’d tell you more, but I’m not sure if she wants me to tell anybody,” Odd bounced a ball against their bedroom wall and watched Kiwi go nuts.

 

“Are you two going out now or something?” Yumi raised an eyebrow and gave a hint of a smile.

 

“No,” Odd rolled his eyes. “She needed a friend.”

 

“Well we tried talking to her but she ran away crying,” Yumi pointed out.

 

“You just don’t understand, that’s all,” Odd let Kiwi grab the ball.

 

“Wow! It’s almost passed curfew! I gotta get home!” Yumi grabbed her bag. “See you tomorrow.”  With that, she dashed out the room.

 

“I have to get some sleep, History test tomorrow,” Ulrich changed and went to bed. It wasn’t long before Odd was asleep, too.

 

 

BEEP. BEEP. BEEP.

 

 “You heard it,” Ulrich pulled his blanket away and turned on the light.

 

“Go away…” Odd mumbled, half asleep.

 

“Wake up, Romeo, so you can meet your fair Juliet,” Ulrich laughed and threw the blanket back at him.

 

“Shut up, we’re friends…” Odd glared and got up.

 

 

-~-

 

 

“Mind if Gabi joins us today?” Odd asked as he ushered her to sit down. She avoided everyone’s eyes.

 

“Gabrielle, if you don’t mind us asking, but why did you run out on us yesterday?” Ulrich asked. Odd glared.

 

“You were asking her questions. She can’t speak and you were putting pressure on her,” He said. Everyone stared in shock.

 

“Sorry,” Jeremie said. Gabi looked up and gave them a weak smile before going back to her food. Everyone was too afraid of speaking for the rest of the Meal. They soon went to History class.

 

“Alright, Class. Divide into groups of 2 or 3 and start to read chapter 19,” The teacher announced. “Then answer the questions on the board.”

 

Odd instantly moved over by Gabi, who smiled thankfully. The class went by quickly and then they had English, and then Lunch.

 

Ulrich, Yumi, Odd and Jeremie all sat down at an empty table.

 

“Where is Gabi?” Jeremie asked.

 

“She’ll be a little late,” Odd said, quietly.

 

“Why?” Ulrich asked. He shrugged. It had been 10 minutes and she still hadn’t showed up. Odd got up and found her outside, looking angry, talking to Sissy.

 

“Hey, what’s going on here?” He asked. He saw Sissy holding Gabi’s chalkboard. “Give it back, Sissy!”

 

“I will if you get Ulrich to go out with me,” Sissy smiled wickedly.

 

“He wouldn’t. He is with Yumi,” Odd smiled the same evil smile she did. It was a lie, they weren’t together, but it did piss her off.

 

“What does he see in her anyway?” She sneered.

 

“A lot more than he sees in you,” Odd shot back. “Now, Gabi did nothing to you, so give it back.”

 

“Hmph!” Sissy stomped her foot and threw it at him before taking off. Odd handed it to Gabi and she blushed slightly.

 

The day went by quickly and everyone fell asleep.

 

 

-~-

 

 

The next day, Yumi came to school, only to find what looked like a power outage. She stared suspiciously and as soon as she opened the door, a whole bunch of horrid smelling fumes flew at her.

 

“Ak!” Yumi was coughing and spattering. Her throat became dryer and dryer. “Oh no! Ammonia!”  She slammed the door shut and took out her cell phone and dialed Jeremie’s number. It rang 6 times before he answered.

 

“Yumi!” His voice was raspy and hoarse. “Get to the factory, I’ll meet you there…”

 

Jeremie, who had just woken up to the call, found out he had been breathing in Ammonia the whole time. He pounded on Ulrich’s and Odd’s door. There suddenly was coughing and desperate noises to get out of the room. The two crawled out on hands and knees.

 

“It’s defiantly Xana, we have to get out of here!” Jeremie covered his mouth. All three made it halfway before Odd stopped.

 

“We got to get Gabi!” He said. He began to run back, but Ulrich caught him. “C’mon! Let go, we need to warn them!”

 

“We’ll use the fire drills!” Ulrich urged. “Now come on!”

 

“What about Gabi! She’ll come looking for me, and if I’m not there she’ll freak out!” Odd pulled away and pounded on Gabi’s door. She too began to wheeze and almost collapsed at the door. “Come on, follow me!”

 

Gabi looked around, frightened but she wasn’t that far behind him. Jeremie pulled the drill and then when they got outside, Ulrich stopped them.

 

“So we are telling her?” He asked as if finalizing it.

 

“Yes!” Odd stared. “Let’s go, now!” They ran to the hole in the park and climbed down. Gabi looked around in shock.

 

“Go on the scooter with Jeremie,” Ulrich told her. “It’s easier than riding double on a skateboard. Gabi put her arms around Jeremie’s stomach and they glided down the tunnel. When they made it to the ladder, they climbed up, and then ran across the bridge. When it came to swinging across the ropes, Gabi froze.

 

“Come on, you can do it! I’ll catch you!” Odd ushered her. She clamped her eyes shut and swung over, and when she let go, she fell right into Odd. They both blushed, but they wasted no time to get to the elevator. When they made it to the right floor, Jeremie headed strait to the computer. Yumi was standing next to him.

 

“Aelita, what’s happening?” Jeremie asked.

 

“There are crabs and blocks everywhere!” Aelita told him. “I’ve been hit twice already and I hardly have any life points left. The activated tower is in the Polar Region. Please send help fast!”