7

It's the same old thing. He's not talking to her, she's not talking to him it's like they act as if the other doesn't exist. Like they never knew each other. Those past memories seemed to have had been brain washed by the overload of stubbornness that's drowning them. When one of their confused pals happens to mention the opposites name they clearly block out the remark. Everyone else doesn't seem to care in fact, the pregnancy rumor has toned down quite a lot. I mean, they're still people talking about it, after all it's pretty good gossip but…it's considered old news.

"Can you believe it? Ulrich is actually going on a date with Sissi again this week. I get the feelin' our sad buddy is falling for her…which totally bites because I can't stand manipulative URGH you know." He squirted a gigantic blob of mustard onto his 3rd cheeseburger deluxe.

" Odd, I feel like he's trying to replace Sissi with Yumi. He's not falling for her…she's just um-- the rebound girl!" Aelita tried to best to find an excuse for Sissi's erupt entrance in Ulrich's life but it really does look like he is falling for the witch.

"Honestly that's your third burger…WITH fries I think we should cut you off unless you'll end up in a food coma like last week." Jeremy commented slurping his soda. Not that he usually cares what Odd eats or how much he consumes…but last week was, well to describe it in one word: Scaring.

"Nah Jer if it wasn't for these two feuding knuckleheads I wouldn't be stressing out as much. Just thinking about how I'm going to get them to start talking to each other makes me wanna get back on the lunch line." Odd devoured his burger in 3 bites and was left licking his fingers. Aelita had been grossed out before back in middle school but for some reason she finds Odd's savage eating somewhat…charming.

"You know we shouldn't be digging our nose in their business and besides I'm sure they'll think of something to work it all out. I mean, it will probably take a couple of months but they'll come around don't worry about it." She drew her attention to who was entering the lunchroom, it was Yumi with her fakest smile yet. She had to keep positive around the school it deflects on her status as student body president and her chances of merit from others. But what her real friends could actually see behind that million dollar smile was sorrow. The girl has been mourning "privately" like Ulrich's already dead…he might as well be because she's already considered dead in his book.

The only problem with this is, if Yumi comes and sits with them Ulrich will refrain from the group and sit in Sissi's table with the rest of the school newspaper. If she's not available he'll sit with the jocks, anywhere to get away from contact with Yumi.

"Crap doesn't Ulrich and Sissi both have lunch this period? If Yumi sits here he'll go and hang with Sissi… if Ulrich sits here we can try to give some break time between the pray-to-God-never-be lovers. Ahhh, this is such a mess…I think I'll go get another burger" Odd avoided the situation by shifting over to the lunch line leaving Jeremy and Aelita with the tuff decision.

"I think I'll go sit with her alone…you know catch up on girl to girl talk or something. She's been so distant lately, sometimes I get really scared." Just as the pink haired girl was about to pick up her tray and go after Yumi, Jeremy made a quick gesture to try to lure her attention.

"Can I ask you something, really quick before you go?" He asked .

"Yeah sure, what is it?"

" How do you…see Odd? Like friend wise, that is if you see him that way." He was never really good at wording emotional based things .

"I don't know…I mean he's like a great friend" Yes he is a great friend, but she also thinks his admirable, cute and funny…sometimes harsh but his strong points make up for it. Aelita didn't know why she couldn't have just told Jeremy in depth how she really saw him as, maybe because he'll probably get the wrong idea.

--

"So definitely, movies on Friday night followed by dinner? That sounds so great I can't believe we're actually dating!" Sissi wanted to screech out and have her girl moment but right now she just wanted to look as presentable as possible in front of Ulrich.

" I'm so glad we're friends. I remember us being pretty close, whatever happened . I know it was sometime in middle school when we really stopped talking but I don't really get why." Ulrich pondered with both hands in his pockets: his signature thinking pose. But even after maneuvering the pose he still couldn't' think it out.

"It's because you started to hang out with Yumi. Her and I never really got along…so she kind of dragged you away from me I guess." She said sadly, Sissi knew Ulrich was extremely vulnerable right now but this could be her only chance to have him truly stay against Yumi forever.

"Don't mention that conniving chick around me, but I guess you're right…she had me from back then. I still don't get why you guys were fighting but whatever it's all in the past. Let's go inside and eat, I wonder what they have." He really feels that he hates the girl and every time he does think about her or if she's mentioned in conversation Ulrich feels his blood boiling. It also seems that, that hatred is only becoming deeper as time passes by.

"I don't think there would be anything good and besides it's too loud in there. Won't you rather go to a café?" Sissi tugged his hand a little and gave him a pleading pout. She didn't want to go in there, she wanted to spend more time with Ulrich. The day just seems too short and Friday feels like it's light-years away.

"I kind of wanted to hang out with Odd and Jeremy maybe Aelita if she's there. It feels like I haven't talked to them in a while." He pulled his hand away from her clasp and tucked it in his pocket.

"You know Yumi has lunch this period too, and if I do recall she's also friend's with those people…couldn't she probably be sitting with them?" Ulrich frowned at the thought and temperedly walked towards the café completely forgetting Sissi was with him.

"This is going to be rough, but it's a start" Sissi sighed slowly walking behind him.

"Say Yumi, mind if I sit with you? You've been down in the dumps lately, I thought it'd be nice to chat, no?" Aelita placed her half empty tray across from her miserable friend. Yumi's sitting alone, which is quite the rate occasion because she's usually surrounded,

"Sit if you want" She said half-heartedly.

"How did you manage to get to sit by yourself? " Aelita asked, trying to make conversation before asking the big questions.

"Well I don't know I guess--"

"Okay so when are you going to get up your bootie and confront Ulrich because both of us know that you're thinking about him and he's probably thinking about you too." What, she couldn't help from being erupt. Aelita's one to get down to business.

"I haven't been thinking about him lately, I just feel really depressed. In fact I refrain from thinking about Ulrich in order to protect myself. It's something else that's bothering me." Yumi said quietly, swirling the straw of her untouched lemonade.

"Well then would you mind telling me what's been going on with you? You've been upset even before Ulrich said that to you. I could help…just tell me." Aelita reached out her hand to hold Yumi's. She loved her, no not like that…but as a genuine friend a sister even. Aelita hated the fact that her 'sister' doesn't trust her enough with her problems.

" Well…do you remember that night after the committee meeting a couple of weeks ago? I --"

" Hello Ladies how do you do on this fine afternoon" Greeted a charming Ethan directly behind Yumi. He bent down and had his head adjacent to hers. Aelita noticed the awkwardness in Yumi's reaction. She looked like someone had a dagger pointing her back, toying with her patience.

"Hey we're doing fine, how about you? Yumi was just explaining something to me." Aelita answered.

"Oh really? What were you talking about Miss Yumi, I do in fact find everything that comes out of your wise lips quite enlightening." He laughed a gentle laugh and sat down next to Aelita. They were both waiting for what it was Yumi was going to confess but the lovely maiden was too in shock to even think properly.

"I--I'd rather not talk about it."

"Oh come on Yumi, don't pull a 'Jim' on us! Tell me…or maybe you'll tell me later?" Aelita said, taking the hint.

"Is it because I'm here Miss Yumi? It truly saddens me that I cannot be trusted around you. But I'm sure that whatever it is you're saving me from crucial words, or is it that you're sacrificing yourself?" It was a highly undetectable threat to others outside from the truth. Couldn't Aelita tell from Yumi's sudden shift in mood that had to involve that boy or was her problem with Ulrich the perfect mask to hide the truth.

Ethan got and sweetly waved the girls goodbye as he exited the lunchroom.

"Poor boy didn't even get to eat…you could have just said anything at least a lie." Aelita sighed and turned back to facing Yumi after watching Ethan's full departure. Yumi looked back at Aelita tearing, lost for words she's has never been in such a insecure state like she couldn't trust anyone. She couldn't put on her perfection disguise because it had disintegrated after Ethan had come.

"Aelita I'm so sorry, I have to go…I just can't" She abruptly stood up and collected her things.

"Yumi, I've never seen you like this before. What's wrong, I'm your friend I'm here to help. You can let your guard down with me, is it because of all the people? We can talk somewhere else!" Aelita didn't want Yumi to leave, she's beyond worried now and her friend won't say a thing. Nope, Yumi just got up and left ignoring Aelita completely, pushing everyone out of the way no matter who it was.

When she made it outside the lunchroom she ran out of the courtyard hiding her face from as many people as possible. Their stares felt like burns judging her decision to flee. One of those pairs of eyes belonged to Sissi, smirking at her from a corner.

To Yumi this was no longer humiliating it was more of like…running away from a problem before it eats you alive, yeah that sort of thing. Though bumping into your frenemy was just gunna make everything feel worse. Funny, because this was the second time it had happened…could it possibly end as bad as it did the first time?

"You know, you should really watch where you're going." Ulrich said fully realizing it was Yumi, for some reason in a hurry. Yes, he noticed she was crying but in all honesty he really didn't give a damn.

"What's wrong with you! Here you are torturing me more than I was hurting beforehand, do you think it makes you feel more like a man? Hurt me why don't you, rape me, break every bone in my body because I deserve it right?! You know you're itching to just do it…finish me off!! I can't take this aggravation any longer!" She screamed, bawling between breaths soaking in the stares from the many in the hallway.

Everyone was silent and all eyes were on them. Here they were 7th period…with Yumi shoving her problem load down Ulrich's throat and him passively letting it in.

She wasn't thinking, but what does he think?

A/n: Yes a month later! I know I'm sorry about all the drama, I promise there will be comic relief in the next chapter, even though that seems EXTREMELY impossible.

I made Yumi go mad! XD

Don't forget, the more reviews the more motivation!!