I'm sorry for the wait but I am currently spending nearly all my time revising for my two science exams! But now I've done them and it'll be a couple of months before any other exams, so I have more free time to write. Yay!. Okay, I just want to clear a couple of things up before you read this chapter.
To anyone who couldn't find the clue in the last chapter- it was "Are they in them?"
To 'Chels'- Clarita is one of the Stern's maids but is also someone that Ulrich feels really close to. She's like a big sister to him, if that helps you understand her part in the story and as the story progresses, her role will become bigger and more important.
Disclaimer- I own nothing. Not even the words, they belong to something called 'the dictionary'! Whatever that is!
Scars. A mark left upon the skin after a wound has healed. Nearly everyone has them, placed somewhere on their body. Some wish they would disappear, hating the blemish lay on them. Most scars are physical, available for anyone to see. Time can heal them, you can buy products to make them fade away, but not all scars are that easy to heal. Some people have emotional scars, the worst of all blemishes. They cannot be seen, there is no product to make them fade. They simply sit there, hurting us when we remember they are there, hidden in the darkness of out souls. Some people are lucky, they bare none.
It is not the image of the scars that scare us, it is how they were given.
It had been almost a month since Yumi had started school at Kadic. A month since she had met Ulrich, yet, she still hadn't let him in. The words of the doctor kept replaying her mind, pesuading her that she needed a friend but she couldn't find the strength to do so.
But Ulrich had not been the only one to take an interest in her. Sissi thought of her as a rival, someone plotting to take Ulrich away from her. William instantly fell for her. He had a few girlfriends in the past, but none as beautiful as the mysterious girl currently sat beside him.
They were in biology class, one of three that Yumi didn't have with Ulrich. One of three that she felt the most vulnerable in.
"You cold?" Yumi jumped at the sound of William's voice, nearly causing the text book to fly off the table. Her hands kept shaking, fear rising inside of her. "You can have my jacket if you want." William didn't note her actions, not realising that flirting with her was making the situation worse. She didn't reply, causing him to sigh in annoyance. "Fine, don't talk then."
Yumi could feel tears rise in her eyes, blurring her vision.
"Miss Ishiyama, could you please tell me the answer?" Mr. Feddison's voice came from the front of the class. Her head shot up, blinking to try and see the board clearly, yet, the tears remained. She heard the quiet giggles of the girls behind her when the teacher had to ask her again. "What is the name given to microorganisms that cause disease in the body?"
"Umm... path... pathogens?" She stuttered, sighing with relief when he nodded his head.
William smiled beside her, finding her shyness very attractive. But he didn't know the true cause of her personality trait.
Walking into her last class of the day, relief washed over her when she found it was Ulrich who was sat in the seat next to her's, William scowling in the seat behind. Slowly approaching him, she found herself returning his small smile.
"You okay?"He asked casually. Yumi nodded, taking out her maths work book.
Half way through the lesson, Yumi found herself with a dilemma; her pen had ran out of ink. Normally this problem would be solved very easily. The person would just ask either a friend or the teacher if they could borrow a pen. For Yumi, it meant talking to the boy beside her.
"Uh... Ulrich?" she quietly got his attention.
He looked up, brushing the hair from his eyes, revealing the shocking shade of green that Yumi found strangely comforting. "Yeah."
"Can... my pen...." Ulrich handed her a pen before she could finish, noticing her nervousness. "Thanks." she mumbled, going straight back to writing the equation.
Ulrich smiled beside her, knowing that he was finally starting to break down her barriers, brick by brick. Yet, nothing could of prepared him for what he would find out in just a few weeks.
"Yumi!"
Yumi heard her name called from behind her. Turning around at the sound, distress rose to her eyes. Jogging towards her was the one person she wanted to avoid, William. She didn't have time to turn back around, run the other way. He had already caught up to her. "Hey."
She said nothing.
He frowned. "So... where do you live?"
She said nothing.
"Okay. I'll walk you home then, find out that way.
Still, she said nothing, causing anger to start to build up within his body. "Look, I know you're shy but now you are just rude!" Yumi stepped back in fear, William took a step forward. "I've tried talking to you for weeks and all you do is ignore me!" With one more step, Yumi felt her back press against the stone wall. Trapped. "Well, say something!"
"She doesn't want to, William." Yumi felt her while body relax at the sound of the familiar voice.
William looked back, anger still within his eyes. "Shut up, Stern. This has got nothing to do with you."
Ulrich walked forward, placing himself between William and Yumi, shielding her. "If you're scaring her, than I believe it has everything to do with me."
Yumi could sense the tension between the two boys. Still fearing that William would hurt her, she slowly grasped Ulrich's black jacket, unknown to him.
Sensing defeat, William shot Ulrich one last glare before walking away. Sighing with relief, Ulrich turned around to face Yumi. His eyes widened when he felt his jacket not turn with him. Looking down, he saw her thin fingers, tightly holding on the the piece of clothing.
"He's gone, Yumi." He whispered, scared that if he said it any louder, it would scare her even more. Her eyes locked with his, now he could see the tears falling.
When she realised where her hand was placed, she just stared at it, not believing what she was doing. Feeling the removal of her hand, Ulrich expected her to try and move away from him, to run from the wall. But was shocked when watched her actions.
Her hand returned to her side, forming a loose fist. For one moment, he expected her to hit him. He was prepared for that, but wasn't prepared for when she reached out and wrapped her arm around his waist, her other arm placed across his chest. Shifting towards him, her head lay on his chest, tears falling freely from her hidden eyes.
On impulse, his arms wrapped around her small frame, holding her close as she cried. Looking down at the sobbing girl, Ulrich's eyes widened as he caught sight of the healing scars lay on her, now exposed, lower arm. They were all in line, the same thickness. He wanted to believe that she scratched herself. A sharp branch? But reality hit him; they were self inflicted.