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Chapter 15: And the Walls Came Tumbling Down
"Aelita! You look gorgeous!" Sam squealed (this was definitely a rare occasion). Aelita blushed.
"Aww, she looks so cute, blushing." Yumi teased.
"I just can't believe it's so soon now." Aelita said. "Think about it. I'm getting married in four months!" Another month had passed, and that meant that the wedding was fast approaching. "Okay, let's hurry and get out of these dresses and then go meet the guys. Jeremie and I have a little surprise to show you all." Aelita said as she broke her gaze from the mirror.
"So where are we going exactly?" Odd asked. He was bouncing in the seat of Ulrich's Grand Caravan (he couldn't bear to sell it, even if it was for the hopes of a family). Jeremie was driving them seeing as he knew where the surprise was.
"You'll see when we get there." The brainiac said.
"Oh, come on. Just tell me." Odd whined.
"Hush, Odd." Sam said.
"But I'm tired of waiting!"
"Sam's tired of waiting on a certain question, but you don't see her whining." Ulrich mumbled. This shut Odd up instantly.
"At least he has someone." Yumi said.
"Oh, do you, Yumi?" Ulrich retorted. While the others thought they were simply teasing each other, the two could sense the ill-intent in their words.
"Here it is!" Aelita declared. The gang was parked in front of a nice medium-sized house.
"Wait. Do you mean to say that . . ." Sam trailed off.
"They bought a house!" Yumi finished.
"It's awesome!" Odd yelled as he jumped out of the car and ran to the door, failing to realize that it was locked.
"Congrats, you two." Ulrich said. "I know when I bought my house, it really felt that everything was coming to fruition."
"Hopefully they'll make it to the altar." Yumi said.
"I'm glad I didn't. Because I would've married a manipulative, evil monster. You see, Yumi, I listen to my friends when they tell me that someone's not good for me."
"I think Sissi would beg to differ." Yumi spat.
"Now, you two. Stop bickering like kids." Aelita cooed.
"You'll make a great mother." Jeremie whispered into his love's ear. She giggled.
Sam was staring at the house with a watery stare. "This just confirmed it. You really are getting married and moving out!" she wailed as she grabbed Aelita in a squeeze. "I'm gonna miss you."
"You'll . . . still . . . have . . . Yumi." Aelita said, barely able to breathe.
"And what do I have?" Yumi asked.
"A friend who loves you, cares about you, and won't lie to you." Ulrich said. Yumi glared at him.
"Oh, we all have plenty of those." Sam said.
"Yes, but less than you think sometimes." Ulrich said as he walked over to the door.
Jeremie unlocked the door and let them into the house. It wasn't an extravagant house. I was a simple starter house that could easily house a family of four.
"I see you guys have already incorporated the idea of "little ones" in the picture." Yumi teased. Jeremie and Aelita blushed.
"Hey, you guys don't have any food in the fridge." Odd whined.
"We don't live here yet. The fridge is not even on, Odd!" Jeremie said, annoyed.
"Well I'm hungry."
"We have a house!" Aelita squealed. Soon we'll get married; we'll have a family to raise. And then Sam and Odd could get married—they could be our neighbors!"
"And If Yumi and Ulrich would hook up, we could talk about our kids." Odd teased. Ulrich and Yumi laughed.
"Like I'd marry him." Yumi shrugged off that idea.
"I like honest people. Not people who lie to me." Ulrich said.
"I thought I was the most honest person ever." Yumi said.
"You are. And that's the sad part. It's not like you couldn't tell me the truth about Emily right away."
"That again? At least come up with a new comeback."
"I guess you'd know about things coming back."
"Maybe. Do you know how to actually find an honest woman?"
"I obviously don't, if I'm talking to you."
"Guys! If you're going to insult each other, at least smile when you do it." Sam said.
"You guys almost sound like you're serious." Odd noted.
"We're sorry." Ulrich said.
"We'll play nice." And for the remainder of the day, Ulrich and Yumi kept silent unless when spoken too.
When the girls finally came home, Sam slammed the door shut, gaining the attention of her two roommates.
"What was that for?" Aelita asked. The girl quickly fell into silence from the intense look on Sam's face. Her glare was directed at Yumi.
"Something wrong?"
"I had my doubts. I had my suspicions. But you know, Yumi, I really wanted to believe that you wouldn't lie to me or Aelita."
"What are you talking about?"
"You said you weren't going out with Ulrich. But he seemed to bring up the idea of you being single and you being a liar quite often." Sam said as she stepped towards Yumi.
Aelita's face lit up. "Yumi, you really ARE going out with Ulrich are you? And he's mad because you won't tell the others!"
"I'm not going out with him." Yumi said in a definite voice.
Aelita hesitated. She sounded like she was telling the truth. Sam actually knew she was telling the truth.
"Well, Lita, Yumi's right on that account. But you see, if Ulrich's not the one, and he's making comments like that, then it's something else. She's lied to us, Aelita. And let's think on this. What could she lie to us about?"
Aelita pondered on this idea, but she really didn't like the idea of Yumi lying.
"Sam what are you getting at?"
"Guess who I saw the other day, at the mall?" Yumi looked at the girl. "I saw Zander. I thought you said he went back to Britain?"
"I'm sorry. I didn't want you guys to get all hostile if you knew he was still here. He's just here to make sure that everything with the negotiations with the European businesses goes well. That's all.
"Yumi." Aelita said, placing her hand on the Asian's shoulder. "You could've told us. We would've understood. It's just . . . business." Aelita said, something clicked. "You said you were dating someone at work." Aelita stepped back. "Yumi it isn't . . . Are you . . ." Yumi looked away. Aelita frowned she shook her head at Yumi and went into the bedroom without a single word.
Sam glowered. "So, Maid of Honor, how long have you been dating the slimeball?"
"For the past ten weeks." Yumi said plainly.
"You know, you're the worst." Sam growled. "I can't believe you lied to our face like that. You said you were done with him! And the next chance you get you go off doing who knows what with that dickhead!"
"Why do I have to stop seeing him? Just because he makes me happy? Because he upsets you a little? Because he's a tad bit on the mean side?"
"He's completely evil—he almost got me thrown in jail for something that he did! He made Aelita cry—twice! And your lying and dating just made Aelita go quiet! That doesn't bother you? What kind of a friend of are, Yumi?"
"What kind of friends hate another friend just because of the man she loves? Odd's not the greatest guy to be around with, but I accept him for who he is!"
"Odd doesn't use people! Odd doesn't go around insulting and abuse his friends!"
"You're talking about the biggest Casanova ever! His incessant flirting got on everyone's nerves!"
"Did you get arrested? Did Aelita burst into tears on the simple thought of Odd? No! Zander's a freaking, virus! He's cancer! He does nothing but destroys! You know, it's not even the fact that you're dating that idiot. It's the fact that you've been lying to me and Aelita for the past ten weeks. You've obviously lost any friendship you have with Ulrich. You betrayed the trust that I have in you. But more importantly, you just destroyed the hope and image that Aelita had of you. You were her Maid of Honor! And you lied to her! And you did so well!" Sam's voice cracked. "You did it like it was nothing. You lie like Zander. I never would have thought that you could be just as cruel. But I was completely wrong about you." Sam said, tears spilling out of her eyes.
Yumi walked past Sam and into the bedroom. Aelita was sitting on the bed, crying. Yumi walked over to Aelita. "Ae, I'm sorry." She said softly. Aelita just shook her head and walked out. Yumi felt her own tears coming to the surface.
KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK! Zander was busily typing on his laptop when he received a knock at his door. He was puzzled. He didn't expect any visitors this late at night. It was ten at night. He looked through the peephole and saw Yumi. He quickly opened the door. "Yumi, what're you doing here?"
"I don't think it would be for the best if I was with Sam and Aelita right now."
"Did they find out about us?" Zander asked. Yumi nodded. "I'm sorry Yumi. This is why I wanted to tell. But I knew they wouldn't accept me anyways. I've hurt them too much."
"But you've changed! It's not fair that they're still holding you accountable for something that you've already punished yourself for." Yumi said. Zander pulled her into an embrace.
"I made some terrible mistakes, and I have to pay for them in different ways. Now tell me what happened." Yumi relayed to him all of the details that went on that day. He stayed quieted the entire time, and didn't even give a reaction.
Zander hung his head. "I'm sorry, Yumes. It's all my fault. I should've never came between you and your friends."
"You didn't. They're being stubborn idiots. They want me to stay away from you, but I have no reason to."
"I love you, but I don't want you to lose your friends over me."
"They aren't acting like my friends. Well, Sam isn't. I did hurt Aelita. I know I shouldn't have lied to them, but they left me no choice. I wasn't going to just leave you when you did nothing wrong."
"I know, Yumi." Zander kissed her forehead. "You sweet, forgiving, and understanding. That's what I love about you. Let's just forget about your cares and go for a walk."
They walked around the city block, taking in the nice, cool air. "Yumi, I've been thinking." Zander said. "I think that what you might need is a fresh start. Please. Take the job. They're not going to keep it open any longer. You need to restart your life, and get things situated."
"But how am I going to make up with Aelita and Sam?"
"Some time away from each other will do you good. People can get their feeling sorted out when they lose someone important to them. I should know. I went through the same thing when I lost you."
Yumi smiled. She kissed him. "But I'll be alone."
"I'll be there with you."
"Zander, no offense, but you're just one person. And I don't want to throw away what little life I still have for a boyfriend."
"What if I was more?"
"Huh?"
"What if I wasn't just a boyfriend? What if I were your husband?" Yumi blinked. "Yumi, marry me. I love you, and I want to be with you." Zander got down on one knee, and grabbed Yumi's hand. "I don't have a ring, but I'll get you one right now, if I have to. Just make me your everything. Yumi Ishiyama, will you marry me?"
Yumi was speechless. She didn't know what to say. Things took on a whole new light if she were married with Zander. They'd both be working at the same company. They could even start a family. It could work. If Ulrich and the others saw just how happy she was, maybe they would realize that Zander really has changed. But could she do it? Could she leave her friends, especially when practically all of their friendship were pretty much on the brink of breaking apart?
Yumi didn't have any time to ponder over this. Zander was right there, waiting for a reply. "Zander, I—" Yumi was interrupted by her cell phone. She looked at the ID. It was Mr. Stern! Why was he calling? And how did he get her cell number? Well he was a very powerful man, getting a number would be a simple task, but why was he calling her in the middle of the night?"
"I'm sorry, Zan, I have to take this." Yumi said. She answered the phone. "Hello, Mr. Stern."
"Yumi! Thank God I reached you."
"What's wrong?"
"It's terrible. You have to come to the hospital quickly!" Yumi's blood froze.
"Wh-what happened?"
"It's Ulrich. He's been shot."
I'll see you guys next time. I'm evil. ;P lol
