Chapter 1 - Confessions

It was a Monday, the first day back to school for the gang, and Yumi was sitting on her bed, drawing a picture of Ulrich in her notebook. Ulrich walked up to her house and came right in. He went up the stairs quietly, wanting to surprise Yumi. Yumi could hear him perfectly, she just chose to ignore him. Ulrich lightly knocked on her door. "Come in, it's not locked," Yumi replied, not lifting her head.

Ulrich walked in, and Yumi looked up. She blushed slightly. "Oh, I'm sorry, Ulrich! I thought you were my mom or something! My mistake!"

"Are you having a bad day, Yumi?" Ulrich asked.

"Yeah, and I told her to leave me alone. So, what's on your mind?"

"Well, have you seen Emily lately?"

"Why?"

"Well, I just wanted to know if you'd seen her over the summer or anything."

Yumi thought to herself, He can't be over me already! "No, in fact I did see her over the summer, but only once."

"Where?" Ulrich asked, looking a little too interested.

"At the mall on the fifth day of summer. She was looking for strapless shirts. I waved. She gave me a half-smile. That's all. Why do you want to know all this?"

"Oh, no reason," Ulrich said, trying to sound innocent.

"Sure, whatever. Was there anything else you wanted to talk to me about?" Like about our relationship, or a date, or a quick hug. Something!

"Well...I was wondering…"

"Yes?"

"A school dance is coming up in December…I think. Uh…what's a good outfit to wear for impressing girls?"

Great, he probably doesn't want to bring me after all. "I haven't had time to think about that yet. But I'll get back to you with that, I promise." Why is he so shy? Why can't he just come right out and ask me to the dance? Well, I can't actually blame him. I'd be shy about asking him to a dance…any dance!

"Well, okay. I guess I'll see you later. I don't want to get in trouble with Jim for being caught off school grounds, and on the first day at that."

"Actually, the school-day's over. It's after school. But, yeah, it'd still be bad."

"Yeah…so, I guess I'll see you later."

"I guess so."

"Well, see you later, Yumi."

"'Bye. And close the door on your way out."

"Will do." He walked out the door, leaving it slightly ajar. He then proceeded down the stairs and out the door. Just as he got out the door he bumped into someone. "Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't see you…and I was just coming out…" he rambled.

"There's no need to apologize," the girl said. "Is this Yumi Isiyama's house?"

"Yeah. Are you looking for her?"

"Yes, actually. We have Communication and Language Arts block together. I was wondering if she could help me understand Mr. Johnson's expectations list."

"I'm sure she could help you. And you are…?"

"Starry, Starry Stone. I'm new here."

"Ah, that must be hard to learn all the rules and procedures of the school in one whole week."

"ONLY A WEEK!" Starry exclaims. Yumi went to her window and peered out. Why is the new girl talking to Ulrich? I need to know what's going on. I'm going out there. She got out of her bed and tiptoed downstairs. Then she peeked through the curtains.

"Calm down, Starry. It'll be all right, really. It's not that hard, once you get used to it."

"Get used to what?" Yumi said, opening the door.

"Oh, hi, Yumi!" Ulrich replied calmly. "You know Starry from CA and LA block, right? Well, she needs help going over Mr. Johnson's expectations. Then she got all worried about memorizing the school rules in only a week."

"I see," Yumi said, trying to filter that all through her head at once. All she needs is help with a few expectations and a dozen or so rules? Puh-lease! "Sorry, I'm busy."

"How? When I was there you were just doodling in her notebook like usual," Ulrich challenged.

"For your information I wasn't doodling, I was drawing a picture of…a friend. Now if you'll excuse me, I've got to…do some laundry," Yumi said, sort of aggravated. With that she slammed the door shut and stomped up to her room.

"What's her problem?" Ulrich said.

"FYI, whoever you are, all girls are very emotional, even if it seems like they're not," Starry spoke up. "Even if a girl rarely ever talks, she still has feelings. One wrong move from anyone, and she'll start to act differently. If you're the one that's ticked her off, then watch out. She rush past you in the hallway, she ignore you when you talk to her, and so forth. Are you going out with Yumi?" Starry asked, suddenly.

Ulrich blushed a deep red. "Well…"

"I see," Starry said knowingly. "I guess I'll see you later. Oh, and what was your name so I'll know?"

"It's…it's Ulrich," he replied nervously.

"All right. 'Bye, Ulrich!"

"Uh, 'bye," he replied as she walked away. She's kinda cute he suddenly thought to himself. No, no Ulrich! You like Yumi, remember? Or is it love? He blushed to himself even thinking the word. I sure wish I knew why she was so mad. Well...let's see...what could I have done? First I asked about Emily - drat, I probably made it sound like I like her or something! Then I asked about wearing something to impress the girls - I saw her scowl slightly when I said that...

While Ulrich was going over all that he'd done in his head, Yumi had stomped up the stairs, flopped back on her bed, glanced at the picture she'd been drawing, frowned at it, crumpled it up, and threw it in the trash. Am I over him? I don't even know anymore. I'm so confused! I need someone to talk to - a girl that understands where I'm coming from.

Ulrich trudged back to the dorms, hoping that he would get up the nerve to apologize and that if he did, that she wouldn't yell at him. Starry stealthily slipped out of the bush she'd been hiding in and rang the doorbell to the Ishiyama house once Ulrich was out of sight. Yumi sighed and slowly descended the stairs, then opened the door, spitting, "What do you want?"

"Hi! I still need help with the rules and procedures, and I know you're not busy," Starry said quickly. She talks really fast Yumi thought to herself.

"Who says I'm not busy?"

"Well, you got to the door pretty quickly. Besides, if you really were busy, one of your parents would have gladly answered the door, I bet."

"C'mon in," Yumi finally said, reluctantly. Starry timidly stepped in, shutting the door gently behind her. Wait - I've missed it all along Yumi realized. I think that Starry is the girl I should talk to! She must be my miracle - or something resembling a miracle at least.
"Starry-" Yumi started.

"Are you okay?" Starry interrupted. "You look like you could just break down and cry."

"You really think so?" Yumi asked self-consciously.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Starry answered with a question of her own.

"Yes, well, not want, exactly, but rather need...I am so confused!"

"Oh, I see..." Starry said, starting to become confused herself. "Let's go somewhere private so you can tell me."

"My room's as good as it'll get here," Yumi replied, ascending the steps again with Starry not far behind. Once they got into Yumi's room, she fell onto her bed, weeping bitterly. Starry tried to comfort her, but she did no good. These two are my perfect chance to play matchmaker. First, to help Yumi out and make her stop crying, then talk to Ulrich, convincing him to apologize for whatever he did, then, if Yumi is as emotional as I have assumed, she will start crying once the words 'I'm sorry' leave Ulrich's lips. That'll be the perfect chance for him to comfort her - she looks so helpless when she cries, it must melt a guy's heart!

"I'm sorry you had to see that," Yumi said, trying to regain her composure.

"No, it's quite all right. Everyone just has to cry sometimes. But about what?" Starry replied, trying to get the reason for her sadness out of her.

"Well..." Yumi started.

"Yes?"

"Oh, it's all just so confusing and stupid. I mean, why should I really care? He's just a guy! Oh, but I do care! Ever so much, I care!" Yumi said, voicing her thoughts. "I love Ulrich, Starry, I really do. I've always wondered if he feels the same. Ever since I first met him, I've just been so intranced. Sometimes when it looks like he likes another girl, like Emily or something, I try to get over him. It's easy to put him out of my thoughts, but not my heart. I'm just so hopelessly in love, Starry, and I have no idea why I'm telling somewhat of a total stranger my innermost thoughts, but I just really need to let all of my feelings out - and my only friends are guys because the girls at this school are snobs. But I can't confide things that only girls understand in guys! And it's about a guy, for crying out loud!" Yumi rambled on like this for quite some time. Starry just sat there, listening intently and storing away every detail in a folder of her mind she liked to call, 'Yumi and Ulrich - The Perfect Couple, if only they knew'.

When Yumi finally concluded her rambling, she launched into new sobs, pouring fresh tears. Starry couldn't handle any more of this, "Well, why don't you just tell him what you really feel?"

"Do you really think someone could just walk up to someone they have deeply loved in secret for so long and bluntly say, 'I love you'?" Yumi spat, trying to hold back even more tears.

"No, but you should at least explain why you were upset if he apologizes." Which he will Starry added to herself.

"Okay, I think I will," Yumi said, half-confidently.

"I think I'll just leave you be now," Starry said.

"Thanks," Yumi said as Starry exited the room, "for listening and caring."

"No problem," Starry replied, "it's just what I do." She closed the door and headed downstairs, then out the door. There was phase 1. Next I speak with Ulrich. First, I have to find him though.. Her thoughts wandered as she headed back to the dorms, just in time, because a steady mist had begun on the grounds.