1Chapter 4

A Worried Big Brother

Ulrich's PoV

This devastated me. Fifty percent. A fifty/fifty chance that my brother would be able to hear. I was all dry of tears so I just stared blankly, like I was some kind of zombie-freak. I've got to do something, I told myself. I've got to be the best big brother this world has ever seen. I've got to call mom.

Regular PoV

Ulrich dialed his home number. It rang once... It rang twice... and then someone picked up. He heard someone sniff and wipe there tears and then cry a sad "Hello?"

"Mom! Don't talk, just listen." Ulrich said. "I'm dropping out of Kadic. I know that you have to scrape up the money to pay for me to go here, and Stefan's medical stuff. You can't get a job with all the attention Stefan needs and it's all up to dad. That's why I'm dropping out of Kadic and enrolling in public school. I know how much it costs for me to go here and I don't want you to lose your house or something. I want Stefan to get better quicker, and this is the only way I think I could help. Plus, this way, you could get an job in the afternoon when I'm home from school and I could watch Stefan. I could get a good job during the weekends to rake in some extra cash to go towards Stefan. I've put a lot of thought into this and I know it's the right thing to do." Ulrich finished.

"Oh, Ulrich..." His mom said. "You can't do that. It's not fair to you."

"No mom, it is fair! I can decide for myself, I'm a big boy now remember?"

"Ulrich, you aren't deciding for yourself. You're deciding for the family. I can't let you drop out of a thing you love, for Stefan because we're fine. We can pay the bills and we're even getting a specialist to come in during the mornings for free so that I can work." His mom decided.

"But mom, I don't love it. C'mon it's school. I could care less where I go." Ulrich replied.

"Hun, how about you think about it and call me tomorrow about what you decide. Take your time and think about the good and the bad points about your decision. Think about yourself too, you think too much about others that you forget one very important person. You." His mom said. "Oh, Honey, I got to go. Stefan's awake. Bye, call me tomorrow."

"Bye..." Ulrich said. Hr hung up.

Ulrich's PoV

Okay, better do what mom says and think about it. I thought about it. I'm dropping out! Better tell the gang. They're gonna hate me! Hey, I'll still call 'em and hang out in the weekends,

won't I? I'll call Yumi. "Hey Yumi. Tell the gang to meet in my room. It's important." I told her.

"Uh... Okay..." She said. I hung up. Better get ready, I thought. The gang will be here any minute. Minutes later, they were here!

Regular PoV

"You're what?" Odd said with his jaw dropped to the floor.

"I'm serious. My family needs this." Ulrich said.

"Your mom is like... Totally ruining your life!" Aelita said. "And ours!"

"Don't diss my family like that, Aelita!" Ulrich said. "Besides, my mom didn't even choose this. I did."

"Dude, you cannot be serious." Odd said still shocked.

"Believe it." Ulrich said.

"Well, you don't seem to upset, Rich." Jeremie said.

"Yeah? 'Cause I'm not. I want to help my family, my baby brother especially. I'm getting a job and I'm going to public school. I'll babysit in the afternoons, also." Ulrich said with an annoyed tone.

"Ulrich, that's a lot of pressure to put on a 13 year old." Yumi said sadly. "A little too much. A 13 year old shouldn't be providing for his family."

"Well, in this situation, I think it's the only thing to do. It's stressful and it'll affect me big time. But it's something I have to do. It's kinda like school." He said.

"Guys, can you wait in Jer's room while I talk to Ulrich for a little?" Yumi asked. The guys, and girl, nodded and left. "Now Rich, what's really bothering you?"

"It's obvious?" Yumi nodded. "The chance of hearing again dropped to fifty percent."

"Oh, Ulrich." She cried giving him a friendly hug. "It'll be alright."

"But it effects me huge! I wanted to hang out with my friends, and go to school." Ulrich said blushing. "I wanted to ask you something."

"Ask away." Yumi said.

"I wanted... I wanted you to be my girlfriend. Wi–Will you?" He stuttered. Shock covered Yumi's face.

"M...M...Me?" She finally got out. Ulrich nodded.

"Yeah, you. Who else?"

"Wow, Ulrich. I'm flattered. It's just..." Yumi said.

"You don't like me. It's okay, I get it." Ulrich said sadly.

"No, no, it's not that." Yumi started.

"So you will go out with me!" Ulrich replied happily.

"No, no. Just let me finish, okay?" Yumi asked. Ulrich nodded. "I do like you. It's just... I don't think now is a good time to start going out."

"Oh. Because of Stefan?" Ulrich asked.

"No. Well, partly. But because of me too. You have the stressful baby issues and I have my others." Yumi said.

"But we could work them out together." Ulrich said, not being himself and awfully pushy.

"Ulrich! Stop! I said no, okay?" Yumi said, fuming in anger.

"Oh... Okay. I'm sorry, Yumi. I just needed someone to talk to. I'm so stressed I thought it would help... Both of us." Ulrich said.

"It's just not a good time. See ya later." Yumi said and she walked out.

Ulrich's PoV

Aw man, I hoped that would get to her. "Oh hey Odd." I said. He walked in.

"Going down that low, eh? That old trick? Pssh... 'I'm stressed... I need help' Blah, blah, blah..." He said. I just laughed. I couldn't say yes, I'd be like him!

"Oh, c'mon. It's true!" I yelled.

"A-hem. I doubt it. You just try to play with her. Man, were you pushy. 'But we could work them out together.'" He mocked. I guess I was pretty low.

"Yeah, c'mon. Lets just change the subject." I said.

"But I'm not done making fun of you!" Odd joked. "If you would of done that about... 2-3 weeks ago, you would've got the girl."

"Yeah... I know..." I said. "Hey, we never talked about you. Who are you liking these days?"

"You know, dude... Nobody right now." Odd said seriously. I busted out laughing.

"No, I'm serious. Who do you like?"

"And I'm serious. Nobody." Odd said with a serious look on his face.

"Odd! Stop joking with me! Who?" I said.

"I'm freakin' serious, Ulrich! N-O-B-O-D-Y!" Odd yelled.

"Okay, okay. Sorry, dude I didn't know." I said. "I gotta call my mom." I changed the subject. "About leaving Kadic."