I apologize for spelling Sissi and Jeremie incorrectly in the previous chapters. My mistake. And as for the person who asked why my boyfriend threw away my notebook . . . well, I have (I counted) forty-seven notebooks to date with stories inside. The chapter for "September" was in a nearly empty one. That and it was in the corner of my room I was dying to clean out (I'm a slob). So I didn't think about it when I told him he could. Silly me! I'll go back and revise it. Eventually . . .

Across town, Ulrich looked at his reflection in the mirror. He looked terrible and felt how he looked. This night had haunted him since he'd agreed to go. What if Yumi was there? What would he do? What would they talk about? His head fell into his hands. He was starting to feel sick. Suddenly, there was a sharp rap on his door. Ulrich eyed it dreadfully. The shedevil herself.

"Baby, are you coming?" A shrill voice cried. "We're going to be late!" Sighing, Ulrich stood and slid into his shoes, taking one last glance in the mirror before he opened the door cautiously. This sight before him was appalling.

Helena was standing in what seemed like a scrap of fabric. To a formal ball, she had chosen a flaming pink dress that barely covered her lips; or her breasts for that matter. (A/N: review if you get it! HAHA!) She had matching stilettos Odd had sworn could spear someone. She grinned and grabbed his arm, pulling him forward and toward the stairs to the flat.

"Jesus, Ulrich, what took so long?" Jeremie demanded. "We've got ten minutes to get to the Gala Ball Room!"

"Then we'll just be fashionably late." Aelita offered with a sympathetic smile at Ulrich. He couldn't manage to muster one in return. He was worried he might vomit if he did.

"Well, let's stop talking and let's go!" Odd shouted, sitting up from where he was hanging on the banister, formerly staring intricately at the ceiling. Shooting Ulrich an icy glare, Jeremie led the way down to the limo. Ulrich understood. He hated dances but since this was Aelita's first, he wanted to make it "magical". Ulrich running late ruined a "prefect" night. Ulrich spent the time in the limo wiping Helena's sticky lip gloss off his face and wondering about Yumi.

Jeremie had kept them on schedule and they arrived in the lobby of the Hotel Princess right on time. This put Jeremie in a considerably better mood as he led Aelita to the elevators. Helena, instead of being led to the elevator, latched like a piranha onto Ulrich's arm and dragged him to the entrance. Odd followed behind, chuckling. He'd chosen to go dateless so he could scope the wildlife inside without consequences.

Ulrich began to sweat as the elevator kept rising, all the way to the eighth floor. His mind was swirling as he caught glimpses of the debate between Helena and Odd about the necessity of food and the "sweet nothings" Jeremie was whispering in Aelita's ear. When the lift dinged, Ulrich shoved his way out.

"Oh my God!" Ulrich heard a girl cry as he approached the table. A black haired woman stepped out from behind the desk. His heart fluttered. Yumi?

"Hey Ulrich!" Ulrich's shoulders fell. Sissi was at a full sprint racing towards him, in a full length navy dress covered in rhinestones.

"I'm so glad you came!" She smiled playfully. Suddenly, Ulrich felt a tug on his arm.

"Baby, who is this?" Helena asked in a hiss, her eyes scoping this new woman.

"Oh, um, Sissi, this is Helena. Helena, Sissi."

"I'm his girlfriend." Helena stated punctually, trying to best Sissi.

"I was his girlfriend all through high school . . . and some of college. Remember, darling?" Sissi crooned. Ulrich cringed. This was just what he was hoping to avoid. He wouldn't correct her, of course, but Yumi hadn't left until junior year. They hadn't dated until the middle of their senior year, when she'd finally convinced him she wasn't a snob. Obviously times had reformed her back to her old habits.

"I'll just go check in . . ." He told them as he attempted to slip out of the debate.

"I'd be happy to get you your name tag, Ulrich. Just follow me." Sissi led the way to the desk filled with plastic covered tags.

"Ah! There you are. Ulrich Stern!" She handed it to him and let her fingers drag a little too long on his hand. "I'll see you inside." Expectantly possessive, Helena grabbed his arm and they stepped inside the ballroom.

Ulrich hadn't realized his had been holding his breath until he let it out. There were two grades here and some had brought more that just one person with them. There was little chance he could find Yumi, if she were here at all. He began to run his hands through his unruly hair before he remembered Helena had put it into a "fohawk" that was so stiff he was almost sure he could start chipping pieces of hair away.

"I can't believe you got me to dance." Yumi admitted to Harley as they waltzed across the floor. Harley was by no means a small man and consequently, they took up half the dance floor by themselves. He was surprisingly gracefully, pulling her across the floor as he commanded the lead that was rightfully his.

"I took ballroom lesson when I was six until I was seventeen. I've had years of schmoozing girls to dance with me." Yumi look up at him and rolled her eyes.

"Oh, that makes me feel special. Thank you." Harley twirled her and swung her back so quickly that she lost balance and landed against his chest.

"That is not what I meant and you know it." He said with a grin. Yumi studied his face for a brief moment. This was his element. He was good at this. He was self-assured and . . . well beaming. Yumi had to shake herself back to reality. He's a band member! I couldn't find him attractive even if I wanted to! Harley, sensing the end of the song, tugged Yumi into a twirl that ended with both their arms extended, his arm holding her from falling onto the ground. It the lowest dip Yumi had ever thought possible. She was sure some of her hair swiped the floor. She could barely breathe. The air seemed full of electricity. Uh oh, she told herself, No! Absolutely not! He is your best friend, not your boyfriend!

The song ended with a resounding chord and Harley righted Yumi and bowed in respect. She returned a curtsy and was shocked when she felt a tap on her shoulder.

"Might I have this dance?" A oh-so-familiar voice asked and Yumi's throat closed shut as she turned. Unable to speak, she let him lead her to the middle of the dance floor, looking at Harley as a chance to save her. Backing away, Harley disappeared and Yumi knew all hell had broken loose.