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The Rain Washes Away All Guilt

Chapter 15: Attempt Number One

Previously
-"Great job guys! Thank you so much!"
-"You guys go have a great time...sorry to pull you away."
-they walked back to the main floor of the gym, the same way they got to being backstage.
-Odd came over to ...Yumi and Sam and hugged Sam around the waist from behind.
-"Oh, Yumi, Ulrich's back talking to Matthias. He said it'd just be a minute."
-Odd and ...Sam made their way to the dance floor.
-Maybe that's how Ulrich and I will be? God I hope so.
-"What are you doin' back here all alone?"
-"What do you want, William?"
-"A dance."
-"You know I'm here with Ulrich, he said he'd be back in a minute."
-"Yeah, right. That dirtbag probably ditched you for someone else."
-What if he did? What if I was just a side dish? Maybe he was just messing with me? What if it was all a joke? A cruel joke...
-"No...I'm sorry...It wouldn't be right."
-William had grabbed her right hand with his left and pulled her close to him. He'd wrapped his right arm round her back. She couldn't move.
-"WILLIAM, STOP IT."
-Their lips met, and as hard as she tried, Yumi couldn't pull away.
-Yumi's fist made direct contact with his nose.

He dropped to his knees. Yumi bent down to his level and spoke viciously to him, "Touch me again, and things will get worse. Much worse." She rose up again. No one seemed to notice the incident...except for...

-----6:34pm Saturday-----
"How could I be so stupid? What was I thinking? Of course she likes him better. He's better for her anyway." Ulrich spoke out to the wind.

His eyes were filled with tears he didn't want to admit existed. They made him feel weak. He knew that if anyone caught him crying, they'd use it against him for the rest of his life.

He stared out at the lake in the park of the school. It seemed nice at the moment. The cool waters would take away the heat of pain...wouldn't they?

-----6:37pm Saturday + In the gym-----
"ODD," Yumi screamed over the music to Odd, who's attention Yumi had successfully gotten along with Sam's, "I CAN'T FIND ULRICH ANYWHERE."

"HE NEVER CAME TO GET YOU?"

"NO. I'M REALLY WORRIED."

Oh God. Did he see it? Did he get the wrong idea? Please...be alright...

"LET'S GO LOOK FOR HIM AGAIN. WE'LL SPLIT UP...IN CASE YOU MISSED HIM SOMEWHERE."

"ALRIGHT." They all proceeded to search for Ulrich. Odd found Jeremie and Aelita and told them about it so all five of them were searching the gym for Ulrich.

They eventually met up in the back of the gym, where the music seemed quieter.

"I'm going to go check the grounds, you guys stay here in case he comes back. Okay?"

"Alright." Yumi walked out the heavy doors of the gym into the cool night air.

Please be alright.

She started for the park. It was his favorite place to be. She immediately started for the edge of the lake. His favorite part of his favorite place. She saw him on his knees beside the water.

"Ulrich!" He turned to look at her then instantaneously looked back to the lake as the hot tears involuntarily fell from his eyes. Yumi walked towards him and knelt beside him. He looked to his other side so she wouldn't see the tears.

"Ulrich, I..."

"Don't worry about it."

"This isn't about Wi-?"

"I said don't worry about it." Ulrich repeated turning his head to face her as the tears continued to fall.

"Look...I...didn't want to...he-"

"Don't worry about it. You should be with him anyway." Ulrich stood and took two steps away from Yumi and seemed to study the forest ground. Yumi, in turn, stood taking a step towards Ulrich.

"Ulrich. Please. Listen." Ulrich turned his head to the side, not looking at Yumi but letting her know he was, in fact, going to listen.

"William had me in a position that I couldn't move in. I tried hard, but...couldn't get away. He forced the kiss onto me. Maybe you missed what happened after that."

Ulrich turned towards her and looked into her eyes. He could see all the worry, sadness, anger, love, and truth within them.

"What'd you do?" Ulrich asked quietly.

"I completed my long awaited dream of punching him in the face." They began smiling and laughing together.

"Your's and mine both." Ulrich commented on the wondrous dream. The tears had long since ceased. Yumi cautiously stepped forward as did Ulrich. He stroked her cheek with his right hand as his left found it's place on her lower back.

He leaned in to kiss her as she moved in as well.