[2022 update: the good thing about editing this story is that it's so short it takes no time at all...]

[original below]

Another chapter! Wow, break is really helping me out! I'm happy because someone e-mailed me asking for tips, HoOrAy. I feel so loved XD, anyways, hope you like this one, the ending's coming up soon in the next chapters!

Life and Soccer

Do You Really?

All day Yumi cursed herself for writing the note back. It probably told him that I like him...Of course it did, it practically screams it! C'mon girl, even Aelita told you to watch out. Well, I know he's going to try to talk to me at practice tonight, so I should try to avoid him.. She thought as she drew designs with her pencil on the table.

She could see Ulrich through the window having P.E on the soccer field, playing around with Odd. Jeremy was sitting on the benches, not even dressed in the P.E uniform, typing away at his computer. I wonder if I should give him a chance...

"Yumi, what is Z times X squared to the fifth?"

"Ulri-, I mean, what was that?" Some girls behind her started to smirk and whisper when they heard the first of Ulrich's name, but no one else seemed to notice.

"Yumi, please, I know it's hard for you to grab the concept of listening, but please try it now, won't you?" Her teacher said, rather icily, and turned back to the board.

Yumi rolled her eyes and looked back out the window, just in time to see Sissy walk up to Ulrich and start flirting again. She's so pitiful... And just as the thought went through her mind, she saw Sissy lean in and kiss him. She turned, her mind racing, "May I please go to the infirmary, I think I'm going to be sick.."

"Yes, if you must Yumi." The teacher replied, not even looking up.

Yumi ran down to the infirmary and opened the door just in time to empty her breakfast all over the nurse's floor. The Japanese girl smiled a little, grabbing a towel and starting to clean before the nurse could even stand up. "I'm so sorry," she said, gagging as she smelled the throw-up in the room.

"It's okay, really. It happens all the time. This is the infirmary," said the nurse, letting out a little chuckle. The woman kneeled to help Yumi clean. "Lay down and rest, I'll take care of this."

Yumi nodded and walked to a bed, closing the curtain around her and laying down. She still felt nauseous and her chest felt like it was going to explode. She wanted to cry...but she held it in. I won't cry for him...I won't!

.

.

"Classes have ended, you'll have to get up now," said the nurse.

Yumi blinked awake and rubbed her eyes. "Okay, I'll go, thanks for allowing me to sleep here. I feel much better."

She walked out of the room and looked at her watch. Yumi gasped when she realized how long she'd been asleep. Shit, I'm 5 minutes late to practice! She ran to her dorm to grab her cleats and shin guards, brushing her teeth quickly to rid her mouth of the taste of throwup. She grabbed some shorts and switched them with the skirt she had on, not bothering the change the pink shirt. Jumping up and down trying to put the equipment on, she made her way to the field.

By the time she reached it, she was putting her hair up in a high ponytail and breathing pretty hard.

"I'm sorry I'm late, I had to go to the infirmary. I wasn't feeling too good."

"Just don't let it happen again. We're in partners now, and since you weren't here, your partner had to join another group. Good thing you made it, we're about to play World Cup, and we can't play that if there's a group of three! Don't worry about picking out of the group, I made the partners by randomly drawing names, and you're with.." He ran his hand down the list, and Yumi's heart dropped to her knees when she saw her partner running toward her.

"You're with Ulrich!" Dropping his voice down to a whisper, "I have my money on you two to win. Not literally, but I do think you're going to." He winked and walked away, as Ulrich ran up beside her.

"Well, if it isn't Miss Mystery showing up 10 minutes late!" He said as he lay on his back staring up at her. She sat down across from him, putting her legs out and leaning back on her hands, rolling her eyes and trying to ignore his stare. "Don't act like that! I know what your note meant." The boy continued, turning on his stomach and propping his head on his hands. He kept his eyes on her, waiting for her reaction.

"Ha! My note? Aelita put me up to that. Trust me, I didn't do it myself." She met his eyes and glared at him. Wow, his eyes are gorgeous...He's gorgeous...No,no ,no, remember Sissy.. He moved in closer, laying his head on her outstretched legs, and looked up at her again.

"You know you wanted to write it. Aelita just helped you realize it," He said slyly, laying his cheek on her shin guards and closing his eyes.

"The only person who helped me realize anything is Sissy. I saw you two out here earlier, don't play stupid. And don't act like this during practice, I'm trying to focus on soccer." She stood up, letting his head hit the ground, and walked to the coach who was announcing how they were going to play.

"Ok, if your team scores, you're going to the next round. The last team left after each round is eliminated. I'll be playing goalie, ok, you can start now!" He threw the ball up in the air, and Emily's partner jumped up and headed it towards her. Emily caught it and turned right into Yumi, who stole it and did a high pass to Ulrich, who headed it into the goal.

"Yumi, Ulrich, you can go sit until the next round starts." The coach said, as the two walked off and sat under the big umbrella by the sideline.

Yumi lay down on her stomach under the shade and watched as the game started off again. Ulrich walked up behind her, pouring some water on her lower back, which made her jump and yelp from the cold. Her pink shirt ended above where he had poured it, so it didn't get wet, and even though her shorts got a little wet at the top, they were black and you couldn't see it. Still, she turned and glared at him once again, "What the hell was that for?" she questioned.

"You didn't let me answer the Sissy problem," he stated, laying down next to her, turning to his side so he could watch her.

"Do I want you to answer the Sissy problem?"

"I didn't kiss her, she tried to kiss me. You know what I mean because you told Aelita the same thing when I kissed you." He answered, despite Yumi's ignorance. "And, she didn't even kiss me. She tried, and I pushed her away before it happened."

She shrugged and turned her full attention back to the World Cup game. No one had scored yet, other than them, and it didn't look like anyone would be doing so soon.

"So, your note. You're afraid to lose me? Does that mean you want to keep me?"

Yumi went red, hearing the quote she had written him, "Just let it go, I don't feel like playing these games with you right now."

"Well I always did like playing games, you know." Ulrich said as he scooted closer to the girl next to him. Once he was close enough, he laid his head on her shoulder, "Why can't you give me a chance? I can prove that I won't hurt you. I promise I pushed her off of me, today. You can ask anyone around, we definitely didn't kiss. I've said it now more than once I'm completely serious about you, and only you. I just need an opportunity to show you."

Yumi's heart fluttered as the boy's long hair tickled her neck. "A lot of people have warned me about you, don't think that just because I'm new I'm going to be another toy for you to play with and throw away."

"Who said you'd be thrown away?"

"Everyone. They all say the same thing, 'Watch out for Ulrich, he's only in it for fun.'" Yumi replied.

Ulrich laughed a little a this, "Let me guess. Aelita and Emily told you this?"

"No..Well, yes..But a lot of other people too!"

Ulrich lifted his head from her shoulder and sat up cross-legged. He took her hand and pulled her up until she was facing him in the same position. "Ok, who told you I would do that to you?"

Yumi's chin went up stubbornly, "I don't have to tell you!"

Ulrich placed his hand her cheek and grabbed her hand with his other, "I wouldn't do that to you. Maybe I have to other girls, I admit, but I won't to you. I swear to you, Yumi." He locked his eyes with her dark ones. I wish she would just understand... "I haven't felt like this for anyone else, before. Do you really think I'd be making myself look like a fool, going after a girl who turned me down multiple times, if I was just playing around?"

By that time Emily's group and Odd's group had also scored and were watching the scene unfold. Odd's partner broke the silence first, "Well looky here, looks like Ulrich finally cares about someone other than himself!" This made Odd start to laugh but he stopped when Ulrich looked up at him, daring him to keep it up.

"Well, I mean, Ulrich has always cared about... Hey, I guess you're right, this IS a first!" Odd said, smiling wide at Ulrich.

"Guys, it's practice, can't we focus?" Said Emily.

"You'd better run." Ulrich jumped up and chased after Odd, who took off with a yelp.

His spot was taken by Emily, who sat down and sighed. "After hearing that, maybe I was wrong. Maybe he really does like you...I think you should give him a chance, Yumi."

.

.

When practice was over, Yumi and Ulrich having won the game, Yumi went slower than usual allowing everyone to get inside before her. She thought about Ulrich, and what Emily said, then more about Ulrich. Her train of thought kept coming back to the boy, so she laid back down under the umbrella, trying to clear her mind. Slowly she started to fall asleep, still thinking of him.

.

.

Someone was shaking her and whispering her name. "Yumi, wake up, hurry! We have to be in our dorms in like, 30 seconds!"

She obeyed the voice and opened her eyes to find Ulrich looking down at her. He pulled her up and took her hand, running towards the door.

Ok, deep breaths, you have to do this. Yumi heaved out the air in her lungs and stopped running after him. He stopped when she did and turned around with a questioning look.

"Do you like me?"

"I, well, I.." He stammered back, unable to answer the direct question.

"It's not a hard question, just a yes or no answer is needed." She replied, letting go of his hand.

"Yumi, we have to go! We'll get detention if we're out after hours! If we do, we'll be suspended from the team." He grabbed her hand and pulled, but she didn't budge.

"No! I want you to answer the question. I'm not leaving until you do. Whatever the answer, I need to know now. Do you like me, I mean full out, totally, truly, no doubt in your mind, like me? If there is even a little speck of doubt in your mind about it, then you don't, so just say it." She kept staring at him, waiting for his answer.

I had to do it to you. Don't you just hate it when authors leave you hanging like that? I won't be able to get another chapter up until after Christmas, I'm really sorry! Do you think I should have the very final chapter be about what happens when they grow up? Like, I'll tell you what happens now, but the very, VERY final chapter say like, where everyone ends up doing and stuff? It will only tell you what Ulrich, Yumi, Odd, Aelita, and Jeremy did, but it might mention Emily or Sissy in there. I.M me if you think I should-

.StArRy.