Dawn

The cool Saturday morning air had the faint scent of flowers and rain on it. It was a relaxing smell; one a person could come to appreciate. As dawn's first rays reached over the trees and buildings, Ulrich watched it from his position on the soccer field.

In the silence of the morning, Ulrich finally lowered his emotional barrier and released his feelings.

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With a bright smile, Sissi walked up to the soccer field near eight o'clock. She spotted Jeremy sitting on the bench with his laptop. Odd was leaning against the side of the bench, with gameboy in hand. Scanning the area, she spotted her greatest desire sitting in the center of the soccer field.

He was dressed in a faded black pants and a simple brown shirt. With his hair pulled back by his new bandana, Ulrich looked ruggedly handsome to Sissi. He stared up unblinking into the morning light, a look of deep thought on his face.

Coming to an instantaneous decision, Sissi swaggered over to her heart's desire. A large smile was on her face for she knew, somehow she just knew, that this time Ulrich would take her out on a date.

As she approached, she heard Odd call to her. "Word from the wise! Turn around and save yourself the time."

Ignoring him, Sissi walked on until she stood almost ten feet from him. Her mind raced as she tried to find something sweet and innocent to say. Ulrich stayed in his cross-legged position, hands on his knees, and continued to stare at the horizon. He was completely unaware of her presence. Sissi couldn't understand what he found so much more interesting in the sky than being with her.

"Hey, Ulrich," Sissi said, watching him. He barely reacted to her voice, only a sudden tension raced through his features. "Why don't you come and hang out with me?"

The only response she received was a gentle breeze that pulled at their clothes. Quickly growing impatient, Sissi continued, "I have special permission from the principal to leave the campus grounds this afternoon, me and a friend. I was hoping that you'd want to go to the movies with me?"

Receiving no reply, Sissi began to get frustrated with this game that Ulrich always played with her. She was very close to yelling at him when a sudden thought came to her mind. Smirking, she walked around in front of him so he'd have to look at her. Emotionless eyes stared straight through her as though she wasn't even there.

"If you take me there," Sissi said as she bowed down to look him in the eye. "You'll be able to see Yumi. I know that she and Theo are going there tonight."

With the sound of that one word, Sissi had his undivided attention. As his eyes focused on her, Sissi felt as though she were walking on air: he was about to accept, she knew it. Then his eyes suddenly grew cold and he glared at her. He instantly realized her intentions of taking him to the same theater as Yumi.

"No," he said in a quiet voice. He said it with such assertion that Sissi was stunned into silence. Looking down at the ground, Ulrich stood and faced her. "I wouldn't even go on a date with you if God descended from heaven and ordered me to..."

Scrawling, Sissi stalked off. In her head was a vast network of billions and billions of schemes. As she narrowed the list down to a select few, Sissi heard mocking laughter ahead of her.

"You should've listened!" Odd gasped out.

Yes, it is short. But it is important for it sets the story in motion. With this chapter, the Setting is complete.

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