Disclaimer: This story was inspired from "The Flower Shop" by V Novel.

"I wasn't really geeky. In terms of the high school hierarchy, I was very much in the middle ground. You have the really popular guys, you have the nerdy guys, and then you have the people who really don't care—and that was me. I wasn't really picked on or anything like that."

-Callan McAuliffe

Chapter 1: Ironic Gestures

Good looks? Check.

Hot girlfriend? Check.

Extensive bank account? Check.

Popular? Check.

Ulrich Stern had these four things—and rather unfairly, too. With shaggy hair that effortlessly fell in the right places and a toned body to match, he was the best catch of the sophomore, junior-to-be class.

To most students at Kadic High, he was dubbed as 'One of God's Fallen Angels': perfect beyond comprehension...yet cursed to live on Earth with the rest of its endless sin. Together, these four qualities combined to form the recipe of perfection—and he in fact was just that...Maybe even too perfect. And he didn't spare the slightest care—it was effortless on his part!

He was pompous, and he showed it, silently patronizing everyone.

The bell rung to signify the end of seventh period. Papers were thrown in the air, excited screams from rowdy high school students erupted, and everyone began their shuffle out the door. Today was a humid, dreary day in France [kind of hard to believe that summer even started].

Ulrich Stern, the aforementioned popular, yet quiet kid in school strutted out the doors of Kadic High, arm-in-arm with his 'girlfriend,' Sissi Delmas. The two were the 'perfect' pair to the entire student body, hence why they were unwillingly (at least in Ulrich's point of view) together. The title was the only thing the relationship was worth, really.

Sissi's locks of raven hair bounced against her lean back as she rambled on about subjects Ulrich truly didn't care about. His brow furrowed, he jutted out his lips in annoyance, wanting badly for her to shut up for even just a second. He decided to stay quiet, though, for he knew that Sissi would eventually stop talking once she noticed that he wasn't responding.

He began to wait patiently...

"So, like, Hervé has totes stalked me around all day," she drawled, sighing in feigned annoyance. Ulrich rolled his eyes. "His pasty skin, bad acne, and scrawny build is a total turnoff.

"Oh, and Ulrich-" She turned to look at him before suddenly hurling a red rose in his direction. "I cannot believe you decided to get me a cheap rose for our anniversary. I thought I made it clear that I wanted an orchid."

"It's the symbol of love," he muttered irritatedly. "Now-"

"Hey, watch where you're going, huh?!" Sissi exclaimed.

Ulrich's dawdling mind refocused itself. Lowering his gaze, he found that Sissi's feet ran into the legs of some goth nobody sitting on the floor with her back against the wall. She had shoulder-length raven hair and was clad in Kadic's uniform like everyone else—but the black choices were more prominent.

The goth flashed Sissi a smirk, looking up from the book she was reading: "Captive in the Dark," by C.J. Roberts. Typical. "Why don't you watch where you're going?" she shot back in a taunting tone. Her eyes held that of mischief, but the rest of her face constantly remained dark, composed. How she managed to pull it off, well, was beyond anyone's knowledge.

Ulrich resisted from quirking an eyebrow. He possessed absolutely no opinion on this; he didn't like Sissi, nor did he associate at all with the goth.

The reason why was simple: a guy like him couldn't possibly be seen hanging around lowlife like her. It was literally in the book of rules that corresponded with the school's hierarchy—a nobleman like himself shouldn't be fraternizing with peasants like her... Not that Ulrich actually followed these rules religiously; he was just expected to. He found it much easier to quietly meet up with his classmates' expectations rather than cause trouble to the 'balance.'

Sissi rose both eyebrows, and her lips remained pursed in their usual hard line. She wasn't amused at all by the goth's outwitting. "Excuse me," she said, her hands on her hips. She cocked her head to the side and shot her a glare. "Do you even know who I am?"

The goth sighed indifferently, then examined her nails."Sissi Delmas, the principal's daughter—the noblewoman of the school," she replied with flippancy, getting up and clutching her book to her chest. Sissi raised her head as she did so; she was at least several inches taller. "Yumi Ishiyama, pleased to meet you."

Yumi. Junior. Alluringly beautiful, tall, skinny—but don't be fooled; she can pack a pretty great punch. At first glance, anyone could assume that she had a harsh disposition due to her preferences of black clothing and combat boots—but as we'll find out later, she can actually be a very nice person underneath. Although she can be bold, and maybe stubborn sometimes.

Yumi held out a hand. Another smirk pulled at the corners of her lips as if she was daring Sissi to shake on it. Like she expected, the A-lister of Kadic only looked down in disgust, her brows furrowed in distress. "Get away from me," Sissi replied coldly, trying to stare her down. "It's already generous enough that I actually talked to you."

"What is that?" Yumi nodded towards the flower in Ulrich's hand, completely ignoring Sissi. Her smirked grew even wider. "A rose?"

"Yeah." Ulrich grimaced. "What about it?"

"You? Being romantic?" she scoffed. "I don't buy it for a second."

He held it out to her. "Hah—would you like it, then?" The gesture left Sissi gaping.

Yumi sarcastically smiled back and began her turn around. "Fine, whatever," she replied with airiness, taking the flower from his hand. "Just know that... I'm not going to live under you or your shallow girlfriend, either."

It took a moment for Ulrich's ears to take notice to what she said. "Hey, did you just-!"

Yumi laughed and directed him a teasing wink. Then, like that, she started walking down the hallway, away from the two of them and leaving Sissi utterly speechless. It wasn't until then that Ulrich became thoroughly surprised; usually people shrank away from his girlfriend and quickly backed out. Yumi, however, stayed her ground.

Sissi clenched her fists and exhaled deeply, closing her eyes. Ulrich smirked as she began counting her breaths—she usually did this whenever she was annoyed, and it amused him greatly. "I can't believe her," Sissi said irritatedly. "That's five minutes of my life I won't get back."

Ulrich shook his head and let out an mirthful laugh. Then with that, the two continued their walk towards the front doors.

And of course, his presence was greatly noticed by the rest of the student body.

"Yo, Ulrich, you up for the latest soundtrack of the Subdigitals?" asked Christophe M'Bala as he bobbed his head to the music blaring from his headphones. "Five bucks a piece."

"What is it that he got that I don't have?" muttered Hervé as he jealously watched Ulrich and Sissi walk past him.

Like usual, Kadic's unending and spiraling corridors were decorated with electronic screens displaying conventional news of the school. Neither of them gave notice to the colorful spectacles as they sauntered along—most of the platforms publicized the honor roll and other academic achievements given to the students, all of which Ulrich and Sissi never made it on.

Finally the pair stopped at the front foyer like all the other students, only to find that a steady barrage of rain had made its presence in Paris. It was disappointing, to say the least. Ulrich didn't care so much, however; he could literally imagine his summer vacation now: endless calls from Sissi, gatherings with people he knew didn't give a shit about him, and constant rebukes from his father about his latest report card.

Ulrich withdrew his arm from Sissi and stuffed his hands in his pockets. Now, it was either spend the rest of his day with Sissi, hang with his 'friends,' or go home to a scolding by his father.

Scolding father it is.

From there, he began to plan his escape.

Sissi didn't notice as he quietly slunk away in the direction towards his cabbie. Gripping his backpack strap with his right hand, he threw it in the backseat before he sat himself down up in front.