[2022 update: yep, still hating this...LOL]

[original below]

Hey again. I really want to get the same number of reviews as the number of people who read this story, so remember to review! This chapter is kinda short, and it might be boring to some people, but this has to be in here for the story to work. Enjoy :D

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Life and soccer

The Big Game

The next day, Yumi walked outside and took in a deep breath. She sat down on the sideline of the soccer field and started to stretch, humming to herself quietly.

It's a good thing yesterday was Friday, I really have to practice! I don't want to show up Monday and suck...Aelita said you could try out for the co-ed team here, I think I'll do that... Yumi finally finished and got up, throwing the soccer ball out in front of her. She took a couple of dribbles out so she was about 25 yards away from the goal and shot the ball as hard as she could. It curved towards the goal.

"That was a good kick, Miss Ishiyama," said Ulrich as he jumped into the goal and grabbed the ball out of the air.

Yumi smiled and felt her face turn a slight shade of red.

"That was a nice block, Mr. Uh..."

Ulrich smiled and finished for her. "Mr. Stern, and you should remember that name... You'll hear it a lot during the game!" He threw the ball out to her with a grin and put on his gloves.

Great, another hot, cocky guy... Yumi thought to herself as she backed up and shot at him again.

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"That was awesome, you play better than I thought you would," Ulrich panted, spraying some of his water on himself.

"I can't have made you that tired. You're not gonna do very well on Monday, like that," Yumi told him slyly.

She wasn't even breathing hard but she was sweating from head to toe. He looked up at her from the ground where he had collapsed, "Yeah, but I'm the captain of the co-ed team here, so don't think you're gonna make the team and beat me that easily. I went easy on you here because you're cute." He looked into her eyes, and his mouth twitched a little.

His eyes look just like chocolate. HE looks like chocolate, sweet and creamy. Hold on, he's teasing me... But her thought was interrupted by a little cough behind her.

"Well, well, well. Ulrich, what HAVE you been doing here? Both of you are sweating and panting, you're on the ground, and our new student hovering over you!" This girl who said this was in a jean skirt with pink high heels and a bright pink shirt with no sleeves. Her hair was a soft black, ending near the middle of her back.

"Sissy, run back to your daddy and bother him. Just cuz he's the principal doesn't mean we're scared of you," the sweaty boy said.

"Don't worry Ulrich, I don't want you to be scared of me," she replied, her eyes shining with desire. She walked past both of them, lightly brushing her fingers across Ulrich's face as she passed.

Yumi glared at her as the new girl gave her an icy stare.

"Don't worry about Sissy, she's liked me since, well, since forever. She thinks now that we're in high school that I'll like her, but that's the farthest thing from my mind." His eyes were on her again, and Yumi desperately searched her mind for words.

"I...Uh...Would you like some help up?" She grabbed his arm and pulled him to his feet.

He is soo hot..He probably does like that Sissy girl though. She was cute. She started to walk off, lost for more words, when he called to her. "Hey Yumi, this was really fun, do you want to go watch a movie with me tonight?"

She fumbled with the words trying to escape from her mouth. "No, I wouldn't," she answered. I didn't mean for it to come out that harsh. I didn't mean THAT to come out at all! What am I doing? Of COURSE I want to go to the movies with him!

"Oh...Ok.." Taken by surprise by this answer, Ulrich walked away as the Japanese girl battled with herself.

"No, Ulrich, wait!" She called lamely to him, but he was already too far away to hear.

What the HELL am I thinking! Stupid, stupid, stupid...Maybe I'll see him tomorrow...

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"He's avoiding me, Aelita. Why did I do that? Why did I say no?"

"Maybe your heart's trying to tell you something."

"Yeah, it's saying, 'You stupid little girl, you're scared of dates!'" Yumi put her pillow over her head. All day today he had run from her, but she knew since tomorrow was Monday, soccer try-out day, she'd see him. He couldn't run away then. She still couldn't forgive herself for saying no, yesterday. She'd never forgive herself if she didn't get a second chance at that date!

"I think he's really handsome and I would go on a date with him. But it seems like a lot of other girls like him too... I mean, Sissy basically threw herself onto him yesterday." Yumi knew she was exaggerating, but it sounded right, somehow.

"Well, a lot of girls do like Ulrich. Even I have to admit he's hot. But I prefer someone smarter who can hold a conversation and isn't so obsessed with sports. Kinda like Jere-" Her face turned into a tomato, and she slapped her hand to her mouth.

"Ooooooh! Aelita and Jeremy, sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-" Aelita tackled her, face still bright red.

"Don't tell anyone Yumi, please! As a friend, I'm asking you to keep your mouth shut!"

"Don't worry, 'Lita, I won't tell, now please get off of me! I'm suffocating!"

Aelita smiled and jumped off of her, and they walked out the door.

"So, you think I have a chance with Ulrich, even if there's a big competition to win him?"

"Well, there's one thing you know that you have against the other girls..."

"What, I'm not a stuck-up prep who thinks she rules the school because her dad owns it?" Yumi answered angrily, thinking instantly thinking of Sissy.

"No, silly. You have soccer! As long as you make the team you're gonna see him every other day, right? So you'll get to spend lots of time with him and have lots of opportunities to get to know each other."

Yumi smirked, playing it out in her head. "I guess you're right. If my mouth can't seem to say the right things, I'll just have to win him over silently and slowly. I'll think of it as a game to win...and I'm very competitive."

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That night Yumi sat up in bed, unable to get to sleep.

I still don't know why I said no. I wish I knew why...Oh well, good night Ulrich. And with that last thought in her head, she went to sleep smiling

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Why did she say no? I thought she was into me...I've been avoiding her because it was so embarrassing getting turned down, but I'm going to ask her why she said no tomorrow at try-outs. I can't keep avoiding her, especially since she's definitely good enough to make the team and we'll probably have to play together for the rest of the year...Ulrich fell into a deep sleep, dreaming of a beautiful Japanese girl who was just out of his reach..