Yay, Highschool Mishappenings—Chapter 21. Man, that feels good to say. And to boot, tomorrow is the first official day of summer break. I do wonder how long this story is going to last… 30 chapters maybe? Does that sound good to everyone?

Anyway, that's still in the works. I really have no idea how or when I want to end this thing. Who knows, maybe I'll pull a cliffy and start a sequel… Yeah, well… I've also been thinking about getting a beta for this story. So if anyone has the skills, (and wants to see the chapters early xD) drop a note in your review. So, here we are, Chapter 21…

Love you all,

Nicole

-

The world was spinning, fast and furious around me. The frantic drone of a siren, loud, incessant screams, medical workers trying to shove me out of the way… none of the hysteria could even scratch the surface of the critical state of my heart, thrashing wildly about inside my chest. It was screaming to break free.

Oil was beginning to spill on my pride's rusty grasp.

"Ulrich," I choked out weakly.

His eyes met mine, pooling with pain and anger.

I was crouched above him, Tristan at my side as the medical workers hoisted Ulrich onto a stretcher, carefully ensuring that his twisted and crumpled left arm remained still.

"I'm fine," Ulrich insisted sharply, his voice thick with pain.

I held him down, pushing against his chest as he strained against the stretcher's bonds.

"Stupid," I said, my voice burning with anger. "You are not fine, idiot."

His gaze never wavered, just as furious and unrelenting as my own.

Tristan hopped up beside us, onto the sled that would carry Ulrich and I down the mountain and to the medical facility.

"That was one fool of a jump there, man," he addressed Ulrich. "You could have gotten yourself killed. You're lucky that they only have to reset your arm."

"Shut up, surfer boy," Ulrich snarled. I felt the muscles in his chest tighten. "Before I use my good arm to strangle you—

"Ulrich!" I hissed, thumping him on the chest. He winced in pain, glaring petulantly at me.

Tristan, appearing untouched by Ulrich's comment, looked bemusedly at me.

"You… know each other?" he asked.

"Didn't tell you she had a boy—

"Sorry, Tristan," I interrupted bashfully, pinching Ulrich's chest with my nails. "I guess I wasn't being completely honest with you. This, anyway is Ulrich Stern—the person I was hiding from." I batted my eyelashes at him, trying to look as somber as possible. "I'm sorry."

The boy with curly blonde hair seemed rather dazed.

I smirked inwardly. Men.

I glanced back at Ulrich, doing my best to ignore Tristan's alluring gaze. The handsome brunette below me was visibly scathing, wincing in pain every so often. Gently, to his astonishment, I brushed the back of my hand over his forehead, hot tears burning at my eyes again.

You stupid, macho… boy! You could have gotten yourself killed.

Ulrich's chocolate eyes followed my hand as I gently, albeit unconsciously, ran it down the side of his face, carefully passing over the gash he had received from the previous day's soccer game. Beside me, the sparkle in Tristan's eyes dulled as realization washed over him.

I was too completely absorbed in my own worry to notice.

"Why did you do it?" I asked in a strained whisper, my voice trembling as I spoke.

"Why do you think?" Ulrich replied scornfully.

Before I had a chance to respond, the engine droned to a near silent rattle and the snow mobile pulled up to the medical facility, a bright, red cross, hanging above the entrance. As Tristan hopped off the sled, two figures approached us hastily from the side.

Breathless, Aelita threw her pink earmuffs aside, looking completely frazzled. Jeremie, gazing at Ulrich, was frozen with fear. She stared incredulously at me. For a moment, I wondered whether she was going to attack me or hug me.

"Yumi—Ulrich!"

It was Jeremie who spoke first.

Medical workers swarmed around Ulrich once again, hurriedly removing him from the sled. Aelita gasped, covering her face as Ulrich's disjointed arm was revealed to her.

"What happened?" Jeremie finally said, paling in the face as he too stared at Ulrich.

"Ulrich went off a jump that he probably shouldn't have," I stated, anger bubbling under my mask of calm.

"What—why?"

"I just asked the same question."

I already knew the answer.

-

The next thing that came was Aelita's verbal attack—against me, obviously. She berated me for deserting not only Ulrich—she understood how I could be annoyed with him—but was absolutely livid at the fact that for two hours, neither her, Jeremie or her parents had any idea where I was.

Ulrich's injury had apparently put her over the top.

I ended up getting an earful right in front of Tristan and all the other mountain employees. She was only forced to postpone her tirade when the medical chief politely told her that he was having trouble hearing his radio. Jeremie then snatched his opportunity and pulled her away, glancing at me over his shoulder with a sympathetic look.

"I'm guessing they're with you too," said Tristan, rather gloomily.

I didn't answer.

A hand had caught my wrist. I found myself staring into the eyes of another medical worker, a pretty blonde girl.

"Are you Miss Ishiyama?" she asked pleasantly.

I nodded.

"Ulrich Stern is asking for you."

I tensed.

"Wait—what?"

Without giving me a moments pause, the girl grabbed my hand, leading me towards the medical facility. I stumbled inside, trailing behind her as she twisted down the halls.

"Listen," she said. "You're going to play a rather big role in this, sweetie. Don't panic, just get in there and talk to him. Calm him down."

"Hold on," I said nervously. We had stopped walking. "Exactly what's wrong with Ul—

The door in front of me swung open.

"Ulrich—."

Sitting on the exam table, was a tall, perfectly calm, handsome brunette. Ulrich Stern.

A hand shoved me forward. As I stumbled rather clumsily inside, the door shut behind me. I heard a chuckle from above and was shocked to find that we were alone inside.

"Trapped, are we?" Ulrich inquired, a hint of a smirk on his lips.

Ignoring this jab, I stepped forward and proceeded to remove my ski helmet and jacket. I layed them on the exam table next to Ulrich's.

"How are you feeling?" I asked, not looking at him.

He pondered this for a moment.

"Well, for starters… my you-know-what is feeling a little tight because that blonde girl couldn't keep her boobs out of my face while they were taking me in here. So to add to that bit of pleasurable discomfort, I'm feeling a little ticked, seeing as the girl that I love can't seem to bring herself to come within ten feet of me."

I looked up, meeting his eyes. They were chocolate and blazing, a hint of satisfaction sparkling. As we scrutinized each other, I was busy trying to decide whether to be furious with him, or whether to be embarrassed.

Instead, I felt my face grow hot.

"Or did you mean my arm?" he whispered softly. "Because it's not like you to regard my feelings as anything important."

"Be quiet, Ulrich," I said. "You know that's not true."

"Right, then," he agreed. "Just go running off with some random guy again. Who am I to care?"

I gaped at him.

"Yeah, Yumi," he continued. "I didn't know you were the type to go for cracked-up surfer boys."

"Ulrich!" I shouted, my temper flaring. "If you hadn't noticed, the only reason I went skiing with Tristan was to get away from you!"

"Once again, you just run away from me," he replied. "Thinking that will solve all our arguments."

"This isn't just an argument," I warned, breathing heavily. "You had no right to kiss me like that."

"Right, so is that against the rules now too? Let me add it to my ever-growing list!"

"It was my first kiss, and you just—

"First kiss?!" he laughed. "Don't give me that bull. Theo—7th grade. I remember."

"How can you even call that a kiss?!" I screamed. It was now a full-fledged shouting match. "It was for a school play! We were twelve years old!"

"You put your lips on his," Ulrich said. "That's my definition of a kiss."

There was silence for a moment.

My eyes were flooded with tears.

"Is that really what it means to you, Ulrich?" I whispered beseechingly. "Just another form of physical possession?"

He stared at me, his eyes swirling again. But with what, I wasn't sure of this time.

"Whatever," I said, pulling my gaze away from him and wiping my eyes. "It doesn't matter anyway, you're hurt."

I moved towards him, examining his swollen arm, now bundled in a wrap of ice.

"Where's the doctor?" I asked him, running my hand lightly over his shoulder, where the swelling seemed to be the worst.

"He's said he'd be back soon," said Ulrich. "He wants the swelling to go down before he can do anything else with me."

I hopped up onto the exam table to sit beside him.

After a moment of silence, I spoke:

"Why did you do it?"

He looked befuddled.

"Kiss you?"

"No, jump," I said softly, looking down at my swinging feet.

"To get your attention," he exhaled. "And I was mad."

"Oh."

He gazed at me. My skin prickled as he inched closer.

"Are you still mad at me?" he said.

"Just a little."

My heart was racing. The table creaked as Ulrich shifted his weight. His nose was lightly poking against the rim of my ear. His good arm had curled around my waist, pulling me close.

"I hate it when we fight," he said.

I sighed. His lips brushed against my hair, tracing the circle of my ear.

"You just make me so mad sometimes," I said.

He gave a deep chuckle. I felt the sound vibrate in his chest. Was his heart pounding as fast as my own?

"You drive me crazy," he whispered, his voice husky.

"Me too."

Desperately hoping to the gods that I wasn't making a major mistake and despite the fact that the word HYPOCRITE was rushing through my mind at a million miles an hour, I turned my head. Ulrich and I were nose to nose. I closed my ears—his breath fluttered against my face.

Crack.

With a sharp groan, Ulrich's head smacked straight into my own. I bit my tongue, my curse drowning in my throat. Ulrich had slumped against me, his head pressing into my shoulder. Both his hands were tense against my hips, clutching the fabric of my shirt. Quickly, my shoulder was damp with tears.

As I recovered from my astonished stupor, my gaze slanted upwards. Standing above me, rubbing his hands together in satisfaction, was a happy, smiling doctor.

"Hello," he greeted me cheerily. "I'm Doctor Wyatt and I believe your boyfriend should be just fine now."

As I nodded blankly, he chuckled, grinning as he sauntered out of the room.

I looked at Ulrich, who still had his face pressed against my shoulder. I sighed, looking up at the ceiling as I rubbed his back soothingly.

Lovely.

-

Anyway, there goes with HM 21. Hehe… That was a moment taken out of the Grey's Anatomy playbook at the end there. And also credit goes to the utterly fabulous Jenn (azndreamerxD) for giving me the motivation to finish this chapter.

So next time, we are definitely leaving Vermont. And of course, more soccer games, Christmas time, fit with an interesting dance occasion at the high school. And—Ulrich meets Yumi's extended family. Hehe… I'm saving the craziness of the Sterns for later.

Look for an update soon.

Review Goal: Hopefully 12 this time.

-Nicole