Chapter 1: Ulrich and Emily?

Yumi walked briskly down the sidewalk near Kadic's school, hot tears stinging her eyes. 'How could this be happening?' She thought. 'And I honestly thought he liked me. Now I know I was wrong. He likes Emily. How could I be so stupid?' She kicked at a pile of leaves as she continued her walk.

Meanwhile, in Ulrich's dorm, Ulrich was punching his pillow. Odd was out talking with Samantha about helping her with tracks for the next school dance. "Why is this happening to me? Emily asks me to go to a movie with her Saturday night, I say, sure, why not? Then Yumi gets ticked and won't talk to me! Now I bet she's crying! I hate to see her cry. It just...does stuff to me..." He trailed off, still punching his pillow.

"Careful, Ulrich," Odd said suddenly, walking in the room. "You have a test tomorrow and if you don't get a good night's sleep..."

"Oh, shut up, Odd," Ulrich said hatefully.

"Gosh? What'd I do?" Odd said, looking sort of hurt and concerned at the same time.

Ulrich's eyes watered, and he told Odd all of the day's events, from the time Emily sat down next to him at lunch to when Yumi walked away close to tears. Odd listened intently. "So that's what happened," Ulrich finished, a tear slipping down his cheek. "And now I don't know what to do..." Another tear slipped down his cheek.

Odd handed him a tissue, and he took it gladly. "Gosh, Ulrich, I've never seen you like this. You know what you should do?"

Ulrich sniffed, then said, "What?"

"First you should tell Emily that the date's off and maybe you could chat sometime later on..."

"IT'S NOT A DATE ANYWAY!" Ulrich said, suddenly screaming.

"Okay, okay, okay. Calm down. Then you should call Yumi and apologize. Then ask her out on a date."

"Have you lost it, huh?" Ulrich said fiercely. "Yumi doesn't like me. So then why would she want me to ask her on a date?"

"Didn't you see her crying? Huh? She didn't get punched and have pain tears. Those tears were because she likes you and you're gonna go out on a date - whether you think it's one or not - with Emily. That's gotta hurt."

"Oh..." he said softening. "I never thought of it like that. I'd never wanna hurt Yumi."

"So then, why don't you go apologize?" Odd said. "But first, you've gotta talk to Emily. Maybe even get her a date with someone else in this school..."

"Hmm, lemme see, and who is that, that you're thinking of?" Ulrich said, playfully.

Odd blushed slightly and said, "Well, if she has time...she's a nice girl..."

"I got the hint. You like Emily. I'll ask her for you," Ulrich said, feeling like his old self.

"Wouldya really?" Odd asked.

"Of course!" Ulrich replied. "After all, what are friends for?"

"Gee, thanks Ulrich. Thanks a lot!" Odd said smiling.

"No problem, good buddy," Ulrich replied. "And speaking of problems, I've got to solve my own problem before it's too late."

"Good luck!" Odd said as he walked out of the room.

"I'll need all the good luck I can get to get through to Yumi," Ulrich mumbled to himself.