1Disclaimer: I own nothing except for Sydney.
Pairings: UxY, JxA, OxS
Author's Note: Like promised, this is the chapter with the party. Yay!
"No, a little more to the left. Now...to the right...a little more, a little more...To much...Okay, stop!" Yumi grinned up at Ulrich who was standing on a step-ladder. "Just perfect," she called.
"Great," he jumped down and glanced around. "I think we're all done, and Odd still hasn't shown up yet...I wonder where he is," Ulrich commented. He closed the ladder and they put it back in the hall closet.
"Who knows, I hope he gets here before Jeremie and Aelita though," Yumi replied. She made last minute checks on the snacks, everything from chips and salsa to cookies and candy. "Should I put more out? You know his appetite..."
"It's fine, don't worry about it," he said, wrapping his arms around her from behind. She sighed, leaning back against him. "Come on, I think I hear someone knocking."
She went to the door, opening it wide and started when she saw Odd and Sydney standing there. Odd grinned. "Sorry, I was late picking her up," Odd said sheepishly.
Sydney laughed, "yeah, by about thirty minutes." She stopped and shifted uncertainly, looking between Ulrich and Yumi. "It is alright if I'm here right? Odd invited me..."
"It's fine. We have enough food," Yumi said, smiling. "Come on in." They set the gifts Odd and Sydney had brought on the kitchen table with Jeremie's, Ulrich's and Yumi's. "So...I hope Odd told you that we all can get a bit crazy."
"Well, hopefully not as crazy as he can be. I mean, he tried to ride one of the horses backwards yester-"
"Now, now, that's not important, should I start the music?" Odd asked quickly.
"You went riding yesterday, you told us you had detention," Ulrich said, grabbing his shoulder. Odd smiled a little, shrugging as he hurried into the living room and pulled out a number of CDs, inserting them into the multi-disc CD player. "Odd...Why'd you lie?"
"I didn't want you to tease me," Odd muttered, his face turning red. Ulrich laughed and shook his head.
"It'd serve you right, with what you always pull on the four of us." At that moment there was a knock on the door and Yumi opened it, exposing Jeremie and Aelita.
"Happy Birthday!" they called, hugging Aelita.
She laughed looking around. "For me, really? You didn't have to!" she protested but her eyes were wide and sparkling as she took in everything. Just then the CD player turned on and out blared one of Odd's many...songs.
"Odd!" Jeremie complained.
"What? It's a good song!" Odd complained.
"You didn't put Break Break Break Dance on, did you?" Yumi asked.
"No, I forgot it, but I have the disco one!" They groaned and went inside, munching on the snacks. Odd grinned suddenly, his eyes lighting up as he looked at Yumi. "Do you have a bottle?"
"No. No way are we going to do that. Odd, I said no, stay away from the refrigerator!" Yumi exclaimed, blocking his way.
"Fine, how about we play a couple rounds of poker? No. Well then, how about...truth or dare?" Odd asked.
"I'm in, Sydney said.
"Me too," Aelita agreed.
Jeremie shot her a look. "Are you sure Aelita? You don't even know the rules of the game," he said.
"It sounds fun, just questions asked, right? Odd explained it to me before hand."
"Odd!"
"Well, it's settled then. Truth or Dare it is!" Odd said grinning. He quickly sat down on the ground, Sydney to his left, then Jeremie, Aelita, Yumi, and Ulrich at last to his right. "Jeremie, truth or dare?"
"Dare..." he answered in a resigned voice.
"Great! I dare you to kiss Aelita," Odd said smugly. Jeremie turned bright red, Aelita looked confused and the others shared secret smiles.
Jeremie quickly kissed Aelita, turning even redder before looking around. "Sydney, truth or dare?"
"Truth."
"What do you see in Odd?"
She smiled a little, a light red stain covering her cheeks. "He's fun, and he's a great joker, and nice...and..." she trailed off, looking away. After a moment or two she sighed. "I also think he's really...cute," she said dropping her voice low. "Ulrich?" At his nod she continued, "truth or dare?"
He hesitated, his eyes turning into slits as he debated on whether or not he could trust her. "Dare," he said finally, instantly regretting it when she broke out into a huge grin.
"I dare you to kiss Yumi," she said. Odd grinned and Jeremie just sighed, shaking his head to hide his smirk.
Ulrich just gave a little shrug, leaning over and kissing Yumi, surprising everyone at his casualness. "Aelita, truth or dare."
"Uh...truth?"
"How do you feel about Jeremie?"
"I like him a lot...he's a great friend and kisser..." Jeremie turned bright red, looking at her sternly. She smiled sheepishly. "Did I say to much?" At his nod she muttered a quiet oops before looking at Yumi. "Truth or dare?"
"Truth." There isn't to much she could ask me that would be embarrassing...she thought.
"What's the most you've done with Ulrich?"
Yumi's eyes widened as she looked at Aelita, heat rising to her cheeks. "Uhm...we kissed..." she said. After all, we were just dared to kiss! she thought quickly. Aelita smiled as Yumi turned to Odd. "Truth or Dare?"
"Dare."
"Do you like Sydney?"
Odd squirmed under their eyes, looking around quickly and finding no source of help. "Yes," he finally said quietly. They completed another round of Truth or Dare before Odd finally dragged them into dancing, playing cards, and eating food.
"Cake and presents now?" Odd asked after awhile. They all agreed and went into the kitchen, Yumi brought the cake out, Ulrich lighting the candles in it, and they set it on the table in front of Aelita.
"Happy Birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday Aelita, happy birthday to you," they sang in unison. She grinned, blowing the candles out at Jeremie's instruction. She helped cut the cake and they all dug in greedily.
"Here, present time," Yumi said, handing Aelita the present Ulrich got her.
Aelita opened it, grinning at the music box. The next one she opened was Yumi's, then she opened the box Odd had given her, laughing at the box of practical jokes. Sydney had gotten her a miniature carousel that also played a tune. Last, she opened Jeremie's, a beautiful crystal princess figurine. "Thank-you." Her words were directed to all of them, but she continued to stare at Jeremie.
"Come on you guys, lets watch a video," Ulrich said after placing all the plates in the sink.
Yumi's parents came home to the sight of bags of chips, boxes of pizza, and plates with remnants of the cake piled in the sink and the six teens laying haphazardly on each other. Yumi was cuddled up in Ulrich's arms; Sydney was leaning against Odd, her legs over Yumi's; and Aelita was resting her head on Jeremie's shoulder, her feet in Odd's lap. All were sleeping.
Her parents exchanged glances, her mother going to the hall closet and getting some blankets to cover the teens with. As she covered her daughter she smiled, making a mental note to talk to her about Ulrich and the proper etiquette of being a lady. After making sure all were comfortable, they turned off the tv and cleaned up the kitchen before heading upstairs to bed.
Author's Note: Yay! I finished it! Please Read and Review!
RenaYumi: See...I added in chips, just for you...