Hey, I'm Back! :) I know it's been a very long time and I apologize for that. Almost a year since I've updated both my stories. To be honest, I don't think I'll be doing It's Your Move anymore. That one has too many errors in my mind. I'd have to start all over with it and I'm not going to do that unless people ask me to. But, I will be doing this one and hopefully this one will get done during the summer. Read the status report on my page for more info. Thanks!

~Marie~

Yumi.

I went to school the next day. But, it was a complete blur. People moved all around, trying to talk to me. I couldn't hear anyone. I tried to focus during my biology teacher's lecture on punnet squares and the difference between homozygous and heterozygous, but I would just blank out. I couldn't keep my head straight. Ulrich, Amber & Aelita, Sissi, my parents, and Hiroki were all jumbled up in my head and I felt overwhelmed and had a major headache.

Somehow, though, I made it through the day and detention. Of course, Sissi (her being the principal's daughter) was able to escape from detention by putting on a stupid act and getting by without a scratch. I was not about to stoop that low as to play the principal.

Amber hadn't spoken to me since last night and I wasn't about to object. But, I wasn't about to apologize either. She put me into this stupid mess when I hadn't wanted to. She fought my fight and put me in danger all over again. Aelita attempted to get us to talk to each other, but Amber and I were too much alike. We weren't going to give in if we believed it wasn't our fault. This silence could last for however long it took for us to forgive each other. That, could take days, months, or even years.

After school, I got out as fast as I could and rode on the public bus. No way was I going to sleep over Amber's or Aelita's right now. I got off near Hiroki's school so I could pick him up. He was sitting at a bus stop with three other kids huddled together in what seemed a heated discussion over Pokemon cards. Hiroki was at the farthest end of the bench, almost squirming. He looked as if he wished he could be part of a conversation like that. A pang of guilt hit through me as his expression had a desperate longing in it.

After a few moments, I sucked in a deep breathe of air and trudged over attempting at a smile. The Pokemon boys ended their discussion as soon as they saw me coming and whispered like I was some rumor that had been going around. Hiroki followed their gaze and his face brightened. It made my fake smile not all that fake anymore.

He stood, "Yumi. What are you doing here?"

"I came so you wouldn't walk home alone today," I said as we began walking the same way I came.

"We aren't going to stay at Alex's?" He asked, but with a frightened tone. I remembered what he told me about Mom.

"Don't worry. You can sleep in my room if you want. Okay?"

He relaxed. "Thanks Yumi."

I locked the gate once we got home. Dad's car wasn't parked outside like it usually was when he comes from work so he wasn't be home. I kept Hiroki behind me, holding on to his hand to keep him calm. Opening the door warily, darkness fills the hall. I swing the door open all the way, flipping the light switch on. Mom was home, I was sure. Light seeped through the bottom of the door that lead to the living room. I heard laughter and moaning as I crept closer to the door. I told Hiroki to close the door and stay right behind me.

Unfortunately, I knew what was going on, and I wished I was so wrong when I opened that door. But, I gave my mom the benefit of the doubt, thinking she loved us enough to not cheat on my dad. But, things went down hill when I swung that door open. My hands went straight to Hiroki and brought him into a hug where he couldn't see what was going on. Mom was underneath a man who could have been no more than 24 on the floor. He paid no attention to us, but Mom saw us. Yet, that wasn't what pissed me off. Her expression I've never seen before. It was as if I was looking at a stranger. She just didn't care.

_______

Hiroki and I were definitely not going to stay. My head was burned with the picture of my despicable untroubled mother and that sleazy man-whore. I had to keep Hiroki away from that misery. He was so young and needed a normal life. I was the one who had to give him that.

I took everything I needed, knowing what I was in for. Hiroki, on the other hand, had no clue. I told him to pack what was necessary and take only the most important things he wanted. I stuffed everything from my closet into a leather luggage. I stuffed my pillow and school books along with it. I used my Juicy bag for the things I couldn't live without: my stuffed animal and my diary. I grabbed my diary in-between the mattresses and stuffed it into my bag.

I checked drawers to see if I needed anything else. In the last drawer of my desk I found a box of things Ulrich had given to me. On top of that box, was a pendant shaped as a key. He told me if I held onto it really tight and thought of him, he would come to my rescue. I laughed when he said this because I instantly figured out that it was shaped as his house key. I thought it was ridiculous then, but right now, I felt as if I needed him. So I held it tight in my palm and emptied any thoughts besides him: my sanctuary, my hero.

"Yumi. Where are we going?" Hiroki ended any remaining thoughts of Ulrich I had left. He continued, "Are we running away?

I tucked the key safely in the side pocket of my Juicy bag and got out the box, sticking it in the luggage. "No, Hiroki. We're just..." I wasn't sure what we were doing. I wasn't even sure where we were going, but I didn't want Hiroki here. Our mom didn't even care if we saw her. How can I expose Hiroki to that when he was only 10? I couldn't do that to him.

"We are just going to stay in a hotel for a while till Mom and Dad can figure out some things for themselves." I zipped up my luggage and lifted it on the bed. "Stay here. I'll be right back."

Quietly, I tiptoed out of my room to my parents room and searched for the hidden stash my mom had that my dad never knew about. I found it in her bottom drawer of clothes and took it all, including one of her credit cards.

"Let's go," I said to Hiroki as I grabbed my luggage and purse. He ran into his room and came out with a similar luggage and a backpack. We passed by the living room quickly and left the house without a second glance.

_______

Hiroki was worn out when we arrived at the hotel. It was only 4:30, but I let him sleep. I was tired myself, but I just couldn't sleep yet. What I really wanted to do was scream, scream and yell over and over again at my mom for being an idiot, at Amber putting me through so much crap since that stupid party, and at Ulrich for not being there for me and leaving me to wither in the dark as he lived his life happily as one of the jocks and players. But, I could do none of that in a small room with Hiroki sleeping peacefully in the bed just feet away from me. So I decided to take a walk in the city. I left Hiroki a note in case he had woken up before I got back. I left the hotel, entered the streets.

Not many people were walking. I'd only seen a cute couple walk past as they held hands and laughed happily. They seemed to have it so easy for them. No stress was involved with them. I kept walking, my hands rubbing my sides. Winter was coming up next month, but it was already cold.

I felt something drape over my shoulders, "Why aren't you wearing a jacket? It's freezing."

I knew that voice all too well. That voice made my heart pound with pain. It made me weak in the knees and wobble pathetically. It was the voice of my past and hero.

I turned around and took him in. He'd grown taller than me, but not by much. His chocolate brown hair messier than ever, yet still made him dangerously handsome. His arms and chiseled chest seemed more defined even through his green army shirt. He made me want to melt in his arms right there and then. But that wasn't how I was supposed to feel. I should have felt hatred and remorse for him. It was like everything I had been building up had been washed away by a tsunami.

I couldn't speak. All I could do was take in every single one of his features. I hadn't been this close to him since I hit him. He didn't bruise easy so there were no imperfections on his face.

"Stop staring. It's rude." He said this without any anger.

I looked away, blushing, "Sorry." I looked back at him as he laughed lightly. "Hi."

"That's all you have to say? That's disappointing." His casualties were making me uncomfortable. He was acting as if we were the friends we were since until last year.

"If you're going to tease me, take your jacket back. I'm leaving," I tossed him his jacket and sauntered away from him.

He grabbed my arm, swinging me around to face him. I thought he would say something, but instead he wrapped his jacket back around my shoulders, keeping his grip there. He gazed down at me for so long, I had to look away from all the intensity.

"So, how are you?" he asked, suddenly.

"I'm fine."

"Really? You didn't seem that way when I found you in the sand, all soaked," he retorted.

"You know nothing about me!" I exploded. "Don't act like you know every single part of me when you know nothing!"

I knew that was a lie. But, I was too upset to really care what was the truth or not. Tears ran down my face like a waterfall. I didn't think I could ever get this emotional in public. I was always so put together. My deeply scarring emotions I could lock away to open up later when I was alone. I wasn't even sure why I'd become so defensive over a silly remark. I should have gave a sarcastic answer and walked away. But, I allowed the tears to fall in front of him. My head hung down as I hiccuped uncontrollably. His arms drew me into his chest, engulfing me. We stayed like this for what seemed like an eternity. His arms gave me a secure feeling of protection and I loved it.

We set foot into a small Starbucks Cafe after I was all cried out. He kindly paid for me since I left all my money back at the hotel. He sat down opposite of me on the couch, giving enough space for me to sit cross-legged. I held my caramel macchiato in both hands, taking little sips.

"How's everything at home?" he started.

My thoughts were drowned with the scene in the living room. I wanted to murder her all over again. It was eating me alive and I wanted to explain it all to Ulrich and have him tell me everything was fine, but I couldn't. I wasn't sure if he was still that same Ulrich I knew.

"You know. Same old, same old," I said with a grimace.

He nodded, "And Hiroki?"

"He's coping, but he's doing well."

"That's good." More awkward silence.

"Yumi," he looked at me, concern in his eyes, "What's really going on with you?"

I let out a groan, "Nothing's wrong. I'm just stressed out."

"What's stressing you that you can't even tell me about?"

"It's nothing that's worth worrying other people about."

"If it's stressing you, then it's something you need to talk about. And I'm not just other people, Yumi. I'm your best friend."

"That was before everything changed. You're not the same anymore."

"I'm still me! I'm still that same guy you knew before. I'm that same little boy you knew from the second grade that peed his pants when you crept up behind me and said, 'boo!' That's still me. Why don't you understand that?"

I didn't want to argue right now. I was too tired to open up another remark against what he said. So, I got up and slipped off his jacket.

"Thanks, but I'll get going now. I'll see you at school tomorrow." Before he could stop me, I threw my drink in the trash and headed out the door.

It took me three days to make this chapter and I don't think it's my best work. Everything's cramped into this short chapter so its kinda weak. BUT, Review and give me your honest opinion. :)

Songs I listened to while making this chapter:
What Should I Do by Jisun
Lucky by Jason Mraz & Colbie Caillat
Please Be Nice To Me by Kim Hyun Joong