IOU Cards

Chapter 7: Friends?

I've been updating super fast; I know! I can't help it. I think it's mostly because people review; and because I'm seeing more and more people reading, it just makes me wanna write more! The fact that some of you are liking it really helps too! So here's the new chapter…

Ulrich was silently yelling at himself on the way back to school. 'Damn, I broke my promise'. Sure he wanted to do it, but…he promised. He was also jumping up and down inside. 'I'm going out with Yumi Ishiyama' he gloated inwardly.

Yumi was overflowing with joy. It was their first kiss! And; they were finally going steady! 'Ahh!' her mind screamed in a girly way. As they reached campus the bell was just ringing, and she saw a sulking William make his way through her next period doorway 'Great.' Her mind simply stated; her huge smile turned into a tight line. Ulrich noticed the sudden change of emotion.

"Yumi, what's wrong?" He asked. She pointed her chin towards William. "Oh; Yumi it'll be okay he just, needs some time. Trust me I know."

"No you don't know. Sure I fed you some bull before, but you have me now." She said poking a finger at him. He took her fingers in his palm.

"But I didn't know for sure if it was bull then. He might sulk for awhile but I know for sure that he'll get over it."

"And just how do you know that?" she asked as she furrowed her eyebrows.

"Because he doesn't feel as strongly about you as I do." He said as he smoothed the frown lines on her forehead. He cradled her face in his hands and leaned in to give her a reassuring kiss. Then he let his hands slide down to her shoulders and wrapped an arm around them. She put her arm around his waist and put her other hand in Ulrich's; that draped around her shoulders. She felt almost invincible with him next to her like this. They made their way to her next class. She pressed her lips to his before making her way inside and taking her seat next to William. She could hear the whispers throughout the room. He just stared silently ahead as if he'd never noticed her walk in.

"Listen William, I really am sorry. I never meant to hurt you." William just glared at her.

"Then why did you even go out with me Yumi?" He spit at her.

"I had no idea that I was going to go steady with Ulrich the next day. I just knew I liked him. Something else I knew was that I wanted you to stop asking me to go out." She told him harshly.

"Well I'm sorry to bother you. You won't have to deal with me anymore." He told her just as harshly as he turned away.

"Hello Ulrich" Sissi called to him, he was waiting outside Yumi's class.

"What do you want Sissi?" He asked rolling his eyes.

"Well, I wanted to apologize. I know that you and Yumi aren't really dating."

"Oh you know this? And just how is that?"

"I have my ways. I was thinking that maybe you just wanted to make me jealous or something."

"That's your problem Sissi, not everything's about you. And me and Yumi are dating." He stated coolly, but matter of factly.

"So you're dating Yumi, but you took me to the movies on Saturday?"

"Yeah because Yumi wanted me to double date with her, and you were the only person I could think of to take with me." At that moment Yumi walked out.

"So it didn't mean anything at all?" she asked; true sadness fell into her words.

"It was just two friends going to the movies together Sissi, to do a favor for another" Ulrich said as he grabbed Yumi's waist to pull her next to him.

"And just what about you Yumi, I'm guessing William asked you. That date meant nothing at all to you either?"

"It meant that William would finally leave me alone." She answered coldly. Ulrich noticed her spit Williams name as if it was a curse word she never wanted to come from her lips. He squeezed her tighter to him, knowing something must have happened.

"Well you two probably won't last long anyway." Sissi said cockily as if she believed it. "But don't think you can come back to me so easy Ulrich dear". She turned swiftly, tossing her hair.

"All that girl needs is someone to deflate the big head she has on her. Thinking everything revolves around her being." Yumi said, trying to blow off some steam.

"What happened Yumi?" Ulrich asked facing her.

"Nothing" Yumi spit at him, then she felt guilty about doing so.

"Yumi; I know you enough, to know it's not nothing. Now what did William do?"

"He's just upset with me; that's all. And he made it clear he never wants to have anything to do with me ever again." Ulrich understood exactly, just his words were much less harsh and more to himself when Yumi told him she only wanted to be friends. 'That's just great, FANTASTIC' he remembered saying.

"He's just a little heartbroken right now. Don't waste your energy being upset about it."

"I lost a friend Ulrich, and you're telling me not to be upset about it?"

"Yumi; if he wants to lose your friendship over something silly like this, then he must not truly have ever been your friend." He answered as he folded some lose strands of hair behind her ear, as he did so her hand reached up and held his hand to her cheek; and she leaned deeper into his palm. She wanted so badly to say 'I love you' but that's a big leap; especially in not even one full day of dating. And she didn't want those three words to be meaningless in their relationship.

"So would you like to come over again tonight Ulrich? I think we need to tell my parents the big news."

"Sounds great" he grabbed her waist throwing her off balance into him; she wrapped her arms around his neck, and they kissed.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa" Odd said startled as he intruded into their private moment "This doesn't look too pretend to me."

"Uhm, yeah about that" Ulrich began. He blushed a bit with the awkwardness of the situation, "It's not really 'pretend' anymore."

"Finally; I was beginning to wonder when you two would wake up and realize you belonged together. So when were you going to tell the gang?" Odd was very happy for his friends, they deserved each other.

"It wasn't a secret, we just weren't thinking. Let's go tell them now" Yumi said pulling Ulrich along beside her.

This wasn't the most exciting chapter; I know. But they did have to tell everyone. Please, please, please review! I know your reading. (: I just don't know what you're thinking.