Ulrich's p.o.v.

I had decided that after school I'd pay Odd a visit. I hadn't seen him since yesterday when we brought him in, and I wanted to know how he was doing. I hoped that Yumi and Jeremie wouldn't mind hanging out together that afternoon without me. Of course, even though I wanted to see Odd to make sure he was fine, I wanted to see Yumi too. Maybe today I could gather the courage to tell her how I feel.

I walked down the hallway, passing my dorm. Up the stairs. Around the corner.

Once at the infirmary, I walked into the room where Odd was. I was surprised to see Yumi there with him.

I was even more surprised when I saw that she was sitting on the bed he was lying on, holding his hand and talking and laughing.

I couldn't move. I couldn't speak. Did Yumi love Odd? No! How could she?

The two noticed me standing there. "Ulrich?" they both said in unison.

I just kept staring at them.

"Hey, Ulrich...you don't look so good." Yumi looked at me with concern.

"Yeah, maybe you should talk to the nurse. She's just right there," Odd suggested.

I backed away slightly, and then I turned around and ran out of the infirmary. I heard them calling out my name in worried confusion.

Was I over-reacting? Was Yumi, the love of my life, holding one of my best friend's hand out of innocent friendship? Or was she smiling at him with a passion only someone who loved him could do?

I got to my dorm. I closed the door, and sank down into a sitting position.

I reflected on a conversation I'd had with Yumi only a day before..

/'"I don't get something about you, Ulrich. You always take her so seriously," Yumi had said.

"I just wish she'd stop bugging me," said I. "I mean, ugh, god, it seems like I can't go five minutes without seeing her stupid face..."

"Still, I'd say you need to loosen up a little bit. Stop treating everything like it's a biblical sign of the apocalypse," Yumi laughed.'/

I thought about the last thing Yumi said. Yesterday it was funny. Today it made me wonder if it had a deeper meaning.

I lay down on my bed, staring at the plaster on the ceiling.

/Even if I am just over-reacting, and Yumi was just being a good friend to Odd...Why would she ever want me?/

I rolled onto my side, facing the wall. A tear slid down my face, making a dot of moisture on my comforter. I closed my eyes, feeling myself drift out of consciousness.

A/N: Yes, I know, seeing people holding hands is usually thought of as a perfectly innocent sign of friendship... but they're in junior high, so everything is a big deal. ;)