AN: I forgot to mention how the cell phone got from Ulrich's pocket to the counter…heh. Let's forget I even mentioned that/.
Sorry for the long wait, hectic summer, believe it or not. Hope you enjoy!
In a panicked frenzy her fingers tried to place each piece of plastic back in its place, which failed miserably of course. Tears began welling up in her eyes, but she managed to push them away. 'He deserved it,' the same thought tried to penetrate her guilt, but she couldn't bring herself to believe he did, in fart deserve it have his cell phone, possibly his only link to friends, family and maybe even work in this foreign country, destroyed.
Frustrated, Yumi parted herself from the futile task of placing the remnants of his phone together and walked into her bathroom. She turned the handle on the sink to cold, and let the water cascade through her fingers. After a good portion had pooled inside her hands, she jerked her arms towards her body and held her breathe until the icy liquid collided with her skin, and let out a hum of relief as droplets began to drip off her chin and role past her collarbone, disappearing beneath her dress. Fatigue suddenly overcame her, and while her eyelids began to droop she made her way into the bedroom whispering a quiet "I'm sorry," to any soul who would listen.
Cursing with every step, Ulrich made his way down to the bottom floor of the apartment building, gently rubbing his knees before taking his first steps on a flat surface. He found himself groaning as he remembered why they hadn't gone out that night. A mix of anger and disappointment ran through his body as he searched for the nearest bus stop. Women always complicated things.
A breezy chill climbed up his spine as a silent breeze mussed his hair. Thoughts ran together inside his head, one running into the next before it could finish being thought. He let out a sigh as he leaned up against the bus stop sign. 'Can't we just go back to high school?' He found himself chuckling at the thought. Oh how weird high school had been! Fighting in lyoko, raging hormones, going back in time and doing things the right way. Why couldn't he just call up Jeremie and ask for a redo? Wait- why didn't he?
Amazed at his brilliant idea, Ulrich fished around in his pocket for his cell phone, only to realize with a large amount of humiliation, that it wasn't there. He looked up to find a small group of people boarding the bus, and swore once again. 'Damn it, Yumi!" Before the doors closed, Ulrich reached for the handrail and hoisted himself up the steps. He paid the fee and plopped his body down into the seat behind the driver. A few minutes later, the bus came to a halt and let a couple off, and he couldn't bring himself to look at their smiling faces. Things never went right.
Shortly afterwards, Ulrich stepped off the steps of the bus and onto the concrete in front of his hotel, muttering "I'm so screwed," as he walked through the doors. Lethargically, he wandered into the abandoned elevator and pressed the door close button, ensuring a short ride in solitude to his room
With the least amount of enthusiasm possible, Yumi's hand flopped down on the snooze button and slid roughly to the side of the bed. She groaned and forced her face deeper into the feather pillow, trying to block out the first glimpse of daylight that peeked in through the bay window. As soon as she felt herself drift into sleep, the noisy beep returned and she forced her feet to slide onto the floor. Shivers shot down her spine, making the hairs on the back of her neck stick up on end. Goosebumps protruded from her soft skin and she crossed her arms and embraced herself, wishing she could share his body heat instead of relying on her own.
As the memory of the pervious night flooded back to her she groaned, and placed her head in her hands. How was she ever going to fix this? Her head suddenly began to ache with the guilt of ruining the evening, and his phone. Struggling, she lifted herself out of bed and made her way to the shower, trying to mentally prepare herself for the day ahead.
Putting on his game face, Ulrich strutted into his office, slamming his briefcase down on the floor and sitting down stiffly in his chair. An automated voice chanted "You've got mail" at him from the speakers sitting at either side of the desktop computer the company had supplied. All work emails, and spam from some dating site he joined up for a year and three months earlier. He sighed in disappointment, hoping to have seen an apology- or even a sign to show Yumi was even talking, thinking about him.
Nothing. In one quick movement he opened grabbed his laptop and set it in front of the desktop computer, booting it up and sitting impatiently hunched over the machine. Surely she hadn't know his work address, there was still hope.
The browser opened, and to his surprise, no automated voice greeted him. Trying not to be too distraught he closed to PC and placed it back in his drawer. It looked like he had to be the man at the moment. Not that he wasn't a man or anything; he was just hoping maybe she'd take responsibility…
The rambling in his head stopped as someone knocked softly on his door. Glad to have a distraction, he cleared his throat "Come in." Without warning his voice cracked, making it sound as if he had returned to high school after all. Once again he cleared his throat and watched the door creak open.
"Sir, I was just wondering if you wanted some coffee," the voice reached his ears before the woman stepped inside the office. He was alarmed to hear her voice, and at the same time relieved.
He placed his hands on his desk, "Yumi?" the chair he was seated in moved backwards as he lifted himself to his feet, "Look Yumi, I just wanted to say…"
Obviously annoyed she cut him off, "Sir, would you like some coffee or not?" She didn't move from her place adjacent to the door, "I'm afraid I have places to be, sir."
Ulrich could not believe what he was hearing, "Listen. I just wanted to say I'm sorry for last night, I didn't mean anything when I said that to Odd on the phone, it's just a long story and-"
"I have places to be." Yumi walked over to his desk and placed the mug down, pouring the liquid up to the brim, "I hope you like it back, we ran out of sugar and cream after Mr. Schmidt's conference." Without hesitation she spun around and walked out of the door, trying her best not to slam the door on the way out.
On the other side of the door, Yumi couldn't make herself take the first step. Why was she being so immature about the whole thing? She bit her lip and tried to gather up the courage to turn back around, "Yumi, come on. He has some sort of explanation, you might as well give him a chance to try and explain," She began thinking outloud.
"Oh please!" She laughed at herself, "He was the one being rude. He left your date to talk to Odd."
"Well, then you should be mad at Odd, not Ulrich. It'd be his fault for calling when he obviously knew Ulrich was on a date"
"Ulrich could have said no."
She blushed as she heard a voice come from behind her, "I think you should let Ulrich explain what happened, because it was Odd's fault, well most of it. He sounds like a decent guy, and he told me he really wants to apologize for interrupting your date." She turned around and looked up at Ulrich's face, looking deep into his honest eyes.
Stunned, she pushed a few strands of hair behind her right ear, "Ulrich should make it quick, because I've got places to be," she crossed her arms and tried not to laugh at how tense the situation was. Following his lead, she stepped through the doorway once again and shut the door behind her, leaving a stray coffee pot in the lonely hallway.
AN: Thanks for reading, ) What'd you think? Looking forward to the next chapter? Review away!