Disclaimer: I don't own anything...except the story line...and Dangerous Work...

The Rain Washes Away All Guilt

I do some descriptions of outfits here...and...well...sorry if they confuse you...just...dont worry too much about it.

Chapter 10: Uh...Hey Emily...

Previously
-Ulrich and Yumi arrived at Brusters and a minute later, the others did as well
-"...The dance is tonight!"
-"Yeah, but it's not until 5:30 tonight. Seeing as it's only 3:40 now, what are we going to do for two hours?"
-"We were going to go shopping."
-"Let's go play some soccer!"
-"Lucky shot" Odd said
-They dragged themselves ... all the way up to their floor where they went down the hall until Jeremie got to his room and broke off from the group.
-Upon arriving they got ready to go shower and prepare for the dance
-"Do I have to wear a skirt?" Yumi asked
-"No..."
-"Thank God."
-"...You could wear a dress."
-45 minutes later they'd settled on outfits, purchased them, and decided to go shower up and then meet at Yumi's house to get everything else ready.
-They talked, laughed, and joked while they did their hair, put on even the slightest amount of makeup, and made sure everything looked fine.
-"Let's get goin'!"

>Wow. I can't believe it. It all happened so quickly. I'm so happy. But, I can't help but feel like something terrible will happen.

-----5:30pm Saturday-----
"Where are they?" Jeremie asked as the guys arrived at the bench, the designated meeting place for the couples.

"Chill out Einstein...it's only 5:30 now." Odd said, trying to calm him down. In all reality, it was Ulrich who needed to calm down. Even though his facade showed relaxation, serenity, even a state of quiescence, inside...he was going to explode. He was nervous, but excited, paranoid, but ecstatic, and every emotion of happiness and fear he ever had.

"HEY GUYS!" They all looked up as not even 5 minutes later, Aelita shouted out to them. The girls walked up to the bench.

My God. Wow. Uh...Yeah...come on man...pull yourself together.

Would he be able to? Ulrich gazed at Yumi. She was gorgeous. She was wearing a black dress, which looked very unique...as if Yumi bought something then added her own spin to it. Boy did he nail that one. It was a not-too-tight fitted thigh length black dress. It had a comfortably tight turtle neck collar only attached to the sleeves, which were interesting in themselves. One just covered the top of her shoulder like a tank-top. The other was long, past her hand, and was sashed down. On her right arm, which happened to be the sleeveless one, she had a silver silk arm warmer with black fishnet over it. She was wearing silver fishnet tights under her kneehigh black boots. Her boots were tied up in the front with a silver shoestring and had three and a half inch heels, making her just an inch shorter than Ulrich, who had grown over the years. Yumi's hair was up in a kanzashi kogai bun. The kogai were silver.

The same reactions seemed to be coming from Odd and Jeremie...only...about different people.

Odd couldn't seem to close his mouth, which was slightly ajar. Sam had on a sleeveless plaid grey, red, black, and maroon shirt. Over that she had a black jacket that was only the sleeve and collar portion. It revealed an amount of her back. She was wearing a mini skirt that was grey and had two red folds inward. She had on a strappy pair of red high heeled shoes. Her hair was straight down the same way it always was.

Jeremie was, for once, at a loss for words. Aelita was wearing a white shirt with off the shoulder, four inch sleeves. She had a light pink skirt with a sparkly mesh covering. She had on white ballerina shoes. Her hair, which was now shoulder length, was curled and pulled back in a ponytail.

Though not quite as gorgeous...more or less handsome...the guys cleaned up nicely.

Odd had a pair of khakis and a, you guessed it, light purple button up long-sleeve shirt. Purple. Naturally. He wore it because it was odd. Different. None of the other guys around school were daring enough to wear purple. He knew he'd be different this way. He knew he could stand out. Instead of teachers needing him to raise his hand when telling a new student his name, they simply said, 'Odd, the one in the purple.' It really was easier on humanity.

Jeremie was wearing, something totally unpredictable, black slacks and a teal button up, collared, long-sleeved shirt.

Then there was Ulrich who, naturally, wore khakis and a green short-sleeve button up shirt. He, unlike Odd and Jeremie, had found it totally necessary to just wear his green converse to this thing. Odd and Jeremie just wore black dress shoes.

"Hey there girls! Not bad." Odd said, being the first to gain some sort stability.

"You're not so bad yourself," Sam replied walking up and hugging him.

Aelita walked up to Jeremie and wrapped her arms around his neck delicately and kissed him gently.

Yumi, scared to death, walked over and just smiled at Ulrich, who, unbeknown to her, was also scared to death. He smiled back softly. He stood up and took Yumi's hand in his own, intertwining their fingers.

"What are we all standing around for? Let's get inside!" Ulrich said dropping the silence.

They all smiled and laughed their way into the gymnasium where the dance was being held. The volume and base of the music immediately filled their stomachs and shook their insides.

Ulrich and Yumi stood talkinga few minuteswhile Aelita dragged Jeremieto thedance floor and Odd andSam justdisappeared into the crowd.Everyone knew where he was headed.

Out of nowhere, or what seemed like nowhere, Emilie came running up to Ulrich.

"Where's Odd?" She sounded worried, and nervous.

"Probably at the snack stand by now."

"Great. Come on." She grabbed his wrist quickly and dragged him away from the others. Ulrich looked back confused at a dumbfounded Yumi. Emilie pulled him away. All the way to the snacks, where they indeed found Odd, already devouring a plate of food.

"Odd. We needthe band to play a few songs. It's urgent."

"Buwy?Iareryheerpwennyovvgudmuvicpayen."

"Huh?" Emilie stared at Odd, completely confused by this foreign language he seemed to speak when his mouth was full.

Sam looked at her and translated, "He said, 'But why? I already hear plenty of good music playing.'"

Emilie just nodded, shocked that anyone, even his girlfriend, could understand that. "Right. Well, our second act is late, and we need a filler while we wait for them. Dangerous Work was the first thing we could think of. I mean...if you guys are sure you can't...we could just...play some CDs I guess..."

"We'll do it." Odd said, finally putting his plate down and swallowing his food. He wasn't about to let a party go without a good performance, no CD could take it's place.

Emilie smiled. "Great. We already have Mike and Thomas waiting backstage! Let's go!"

She then proceeded to grab Odd's wrist and drag him and Ulrich out the side exit of the gym, around the gym, through the back door, and behind stage.

"Found 'em," She screamed out to the crew, and apparently Mike and Thomas who were waiting for them.

"What are we going to play?" Mike asked, almost immediately after Emilie walked off to talk to the rest of the crew. She was in charge of the performances, which Sissi wanted to be in charge of, but upon being told she'd backstage a lot, she decided against it.

What were they going to play...?