This is just another oneshot that I thought up in my spare time. I intend to keep doing oneshots even when I'm working on my larger stories.
This story is dedicated to a very special friend of mine, she knows who she is. This is the surprise I promised her, and I hope she likes it.
Disclaimer: I do not own Code: Lyoko or the song "Wake Me Up When September Ends" by Green Day.
(Ulrich P.O.V.)
"You wanted to talk to me Ulrich?" Yumi says, walking up to me.
"Uh… yeah. Can we walk?" I say, motioning off into the darkness. We walk off in silence. I notice Yumi is shivering.
"Are you cold?" I ask her.
"Just a little bit. In my hurry to get out here, I forgot to grab my coat." She shivers again in the chilly march night air. I quickly take off my own green jacket and hand it to her.
"Here, take mine." She takes it hesitantly.
"But then you'll be cold." She says. I just shrug.
"Nah, I don't get cold easily." She takes the jacket and puts it on. We walk along the dark path in silence for a couple minutes.
"So what did you want to talk about?" She asks me, and I feel my hands get sweaty. I shove them in my jeans and try to wipe them clean.
"Well uh…" I begin, but I can't find the right words.
"Go ahead and say it." She says. I look at her and she's smiling at me.
"Uh… okay. I'm just going to say it." I say, taking a deep breath.
"Okay."
"Do you… like me as more than- than a friend?" She smiles at me again.
"Of course I do," My heart soars, "You're my best friend." If I could anime sweatdrop without hurting myself, right there, I would.
"That's not what I mean Yumi." She sighs.
"I know. If I answer, can I ask you a question?" She asks me.
"Of… of course." I stutter a little bit. We stop walking and she looks at me. We make eye contact and stare into each other's eyes for what feels like hours.
"Yes." She said it in barely more than a whisper. I smile and grab her hand, holding it tightly in mine.
"You said I could ask you a question…" She mumbles.
"Go ahead."
"Do you?" It took me about ten seconds to realize she asked me it. I pause for another second, and decide to answer without words.
I lean forward and press my lips to hers.
After far too short of a time, we break apart.
"I love you Yumi. Will you go out with me?" I say, no longer nervous. I know how Yumi feels about me now. Yumi sighs and looks kind of sad.
"I would love to, but…"
"But what?" I can feel my heart sinking into my stomach.
"Remember how I got an extended curfew a while ago?" I nod my head, remembering. A couple of weeks ago, Yumi came in really excited, telling us she had managed to get her parents to extend her curfew. We asked her how she did it, but she wouldn't say.
"What about it?"
"I had to promise that my dad would meet him before anyone became my boyfriend…"
"I see. I'll go talk to your dad…"
(Yumi P.O.V.)
I waited patiently in the park, just like Ulrich asked me to. It's been a couple of days, and he's gone to talk to my dad.
About half an hour after he said he would be back, I begin to get worried. Maybe I'm just being paranoid, but he should have been back by now.
Finally, 45 minutes after he said, he comes back. He has a blank look on his face, so I can't tell whether it went bad or good. I stand up and run over to him, landing in his outstretched arms.
"How'd it go?" I immediately ask. Ulrich lets out a big sigh. I feel my heart plummet into my stomach.
"Your dad says he likes me, he really does." He says smiling sadly.
"Than what's the problem?"
"Hmm… Yumi, why did you have to be a year older than me?" He asks, confusing me. My birthday is in January, his is the first of October.
"You're only about eight months younger than I am." He sighs.
"Your dad thinks it's too young." I feel the blood rush out of my face.
"What do you mean?" I ask breathlessly.
"He doesn't mind if you date because you're sixteen already. He explained to me that he thinks the minimum age for dating is sixteen. He doesn't want you dating a fifteen year old."
"But your birthday isn't until October! It's only March!" He sighs sadly.
"I know. I guess you have to wait until October."
"But I can't wait that long…" I whisper to myself.
"We have to…" He says and hugs me tightly. Somehow this sets me over the edge.
"I don't care what my father says. I need to be with you, I've waited long enough." I say, leaning in to kiss him. He pulls away just out of my reach.
"No Yumi, I can't let you. You have to obey your parents. If they find out, we'd be in even more trouble." I sigh again, trying to keep back the tears that are forming.
"Yumi, I will be your best friend. I will be the best friend you ever had until the end of September. The day I turn sixteen, I will ask you out." I hug him again.
"I guess I can live with that. Why the end of September? Your birthday is in October."
"My birthday is October first. That means the last day I will be your friend is also the last day of September." As he hugs me again, and an idea forms in my head. As I realize what I'm going to do, I smile.
(Ulrich P.O.V.)
It's been a month since I talked to Yumi's dad. Things have been hard between Yumi and I. It's hard to stay just friends when you realize the one you love loves you back. We haven't kissed since the first time, because we both know it would just make it harder to wait.
It's April and I still have to wait until the first of October. Never in my life have I wanted my birthday to come so fast. Yumi has tried over and over again to change my mind and just go out anyway, but I will not let her.
Yumi loves her parents and they're just watching out for her. There's no way I'm going to let her spoil their relationship with her parents because of me.
There's no way to describe how much guilt I am going through because of her. She's beautiful, she could have any guy in school. But I am making her wait for me just because I'm not old enough.
"Come on Ulrich, we're gonna be late!" Odd says impatiently, snapping me out of my thoughts.
"Okay Odd, I'm coming." I get up off my bed and walk out the door after him. I walk quickly to the gymnasium, where the upcoming event is going to be held.
The school is having a talent show, and Yumi insisted that we go.
Last night she called me. She said she had some important stuff to do first, but she should be able to come and see at least half the show, and that we shouldn't wait for her.
We walk inside the gym to see it's half full, and getting fuller. We pick a spot near the middle with a great view and sit down. I make sure to save a seat next to me for Yumi.
Ten minutes later, having already fended off Sissi from sitting in Yumi's chair, the program begins.
After the first act, I look at the paper programs that were handed out at the doors to see who's next. It's just some girl playing a piano song. The song is very pretty, but right now I'm missing Yumi. I wonder where she is, she never told me what she was doing.
About halfway through the event, I'm beginning to wonder if Yumi is going to show up at all.
At the second to last act, Odd stole my program so I can't see who's up next. And he refuses to give it back. Yumi still hasn't shown up, and I'm beginning to worry. If Yumi says she'll be here, she normally will be.
As the second to last act ends, Odd nudges me. He pushes the program into my hands and looks away.
Yumi Ishiyama- singing a song to be announced
My mouth gapes open as I see it, and even more so when I look up to find Yumi on stage.
She's wearing a beautiful long black dress with no shoulders, and she's wearing a small necklace.
"I will be singing a song called 'Wake Me Up When September Ends' by Green Day. I dedicate this to my best friend in the world, Ulrich. I hope he can find the hidden meaning." She says and smiles, making eye contact with me.
The music starts, an acoustic guitar solo. Yumi sways her hips slightly in time to the music, then begins to sing.
I get goosebumps as I realize what the song is about.
Summer has come and passed
The innocent can never last
Wake me up when September ends
Like my fathers come to pass
Seven years has gone so fast
Wake me up when September ends
Here comes the rain again
Falling from the stars
Drenched in my pain again
Becoming who we are
As my memory rests
But never forgets what I lost
Wake me up when September ends
Summer has come and passed
The innocent can never last
Wake me up when September ends
Ring out the bells again
Like we did when spring began
Wake me up when September ends
Here comes the rain again
Falling from the stars
Drenched in my pain again
Becoming who we are
As my memory rests
But never forgets what I lost
Wake me up when September ends
Summer has come and passed
The innocent can never last
Wake me up when September ends
Like my fathers come to pass
Twenty years has gone so fast
Wake me up when September ends
Wake me up when September ends
Wake me up when September ends
Can you find the hidden meaning within the song too?