Disclaimer: I don't own Code Lyoko
Chapter 2
"Yumi, to flirt, you must know your subject," started Emily. "What do you know about Ulrich?"
"His birthday's on November 17th, he's an only child, he likes hot dogs with the works..." rambled Yumi, but stopped when she realized what she was doing. "Oh, um, I'm guessing."
"Okay, I see you've got that covered," said Aelita, rolling her eyes. "From what we can tell, I conclude a subtle approach would be best. Ulrich's eyes are glued to you half the time, anyway, he can take a hint. And, we might as well start tonight."
"So, what am I supposed to do?" asked Yumi, blushing.
"Give this back to him," said Melanie, holding up Ulrich's book bag.
"You stole it?" asked Yumi, raising an eyebrow. Ten heads nodded. "Let me get this straight. I give him back what's already his, and he's supposed to love me?"
"One, he already does," reminded Aelita. "Two, he's going to blush and thank you. And drop dead at the sight of you."
"Why?" asked Yumi, afraid to know the answer.
"You might as well look gorgeous when you meet him," said Azra, holding up a case.
"No way on Earth am I going to let you give me a makeover," said Yumi firmly.
"Who said we're giving you the choice?" asked Claire smartly.
Yumi stopped for a few seconds. Heidi and Azra were guarding the door, Camille and Jean were stationed at the window, and she couldn't exactly dig her way out. She was outnumbered, and that was that.
"Fine," said Yumi defeatedly. "But if I look like an alien, I will plot a slow and agonizing death for each and every one of you."
"You don't have to get violent," scolded Aelita. "Besides, they got better at it from practicing on me."
"A girl likes it when you're thoughtful of her," said Odd. "Yumi is no exception. Give her your undivided attention at all times."
"Won't that annoy her?" asked Ulrich. Yumi liked her space, he knew that much.
"Not at all," said Thomas. "Don't stalk her, but show her that you notice her."
"I don't know," said Ulrich. "What do you think, Jeremie?"
"It's all part of Plan A," said Jeremie. "The next time you see her, try to see if there's anything different, and ask how her classes were."
"Is this really gonna work?" asked Ulrich doubtfully.
"It won't bring it all together, but it'll help you get there," said Jeremie, smiling. "You better go back to your dorm, Jim's gonna start his rounds soon."
"Okay," said Ulrich, sighing. "Coming, Odd?"
"Nope, I'm gonna go practice my skateboarding," said Odd. "It'll be fun to barely make curfew."
"Wait, you might need this," said Jeremie, tossing him a bottle. "And don't worry, it's not girl-repellent like the kind you got me."
Ulrich caught it and read the label. Cologne. It couldn't hurt to smell okay, he guessed.
He got up off his chair and left, wondering what he was supposed to say to Yumi when he saw her. Why did he agree to go through with this in the first place? He would only make a fool of himself. And in front of the girl he loved, to top it off.
Yumi had to be pushed in the direction of Odd and Ulrich's dorm to start moving. She ran her fingers over the fabric of Ulrich's book bag, ready to return it. Slowly and hesitantly, she knocked on the door, praying he wouldn't answer. She had never actually seen what had happened to her face.
"Hello?" asked Ulrich, swinging the door open. His eyes bugged out at the same time his jaw dropped. There was definitely something different about her! "Y-Yumi?"
"Hey, Ulrich," said Yumi, trying to be nonchalant. "I found your book bag in the hallway; here."
"O-Oh, th-thanks," said Ulrich, nodding as he took it.
She looked like a goddess! Every beautiful feature of her face had been enhanced! It took every fiber of his being to not fall at her feet. He barely remembered the instructions he'd been given.
"So, how were your classes?" asked Ulrich shyly, throwing the bag behind him.
"Fine," said Yumi, blushing. "Yours?"
"Fine," answered Ulrich. Crap, he must be sounding like an idiot!
"Well, I better get going," said Yumi anxiously. "My parent's are gonna freak if I'm late."
"Yeah," said Ulrich. Before she turned away, he gulped and added, "Hey, Yumi?"
"Yes, Ulrich?" asked Yumi hopefully.
"You look...really nice," finished Ulrich lamely. That's it, he'd have to slap himself when she left.
"Thanks," said Yumi warmly. "I'll see you tomorrow?"
"Sure," said Ulrich, nodding. "Good night."
"Night," said Yumi.
Chills shot down her spine when she felt his eyes on her, but in a good way. So any changes made to her face must have been somewhat beneficial, right?
And why did he smell weird?
"I got off the phone with Yumi about an hour ago," said Aelita. "I'm worried she might be reading too deep into this. She kept going on and on about his reaction, and over-thinking things almost always leads to doubts."
"Ulrich's the same way," said Jeremie. "With luck, they'll get over it by morning. At least it worked."
"True," said Aelita, repositioning herself in his arms. "I got Yumi to attract stares, and you got Ulrich to stare at her."
"We make quite a team," said Jeremie, kissing her cheek. "Plan B tomorrow?"
"Of course," said Aelita. "Jeremie, do you think we should maybe just keep our noses out of their business?"
"If they had done the same for us, what would have happened?" asked Jeremie.
"We wouldn't be here right now," said Aelita, blushing.
"We owe them," said Jeremie, shrugging. "They'll thank us in the end."
"I know," said Aelita, grinning. "If they don't murder us, first."
"That's the positive way to go," said Jeremie, chuckling as he stroked the sides of her face. "You realize that if Jim catches you here, we're busted."
"Yeah," said Aelita, standing up. Jeremie pulled her down into a last kiss, then said goodnight.
Ulrich rose sleepily out of bed, glancing over at his roommate. Odd was snoring loudly into his pillow. Kiwi was whining for some food.
"Shh, Kiwi," muttered Ulrich, stumbling for the bag of dog food. "You'll wake up everyone!"
After supplying Kiwi with his breakfast, he left to get changed. His thoughts drifted over to Yumi, as they usually did. Her kind, independent nature amazed him, and threw him off at the same time. Either way, he knew she was the one he was meant to spend his life with. If he could actually tell her how he felt, then they could start that life.
Besides, everything was just...better when Yumi was around. He couldn't explain it, but whether he was about to take a math test he wasn't ready for, or be blown up by Xana, she made him forget what was going wrong.
Unless she was in danger. Then it was a hundred times worse.
Ulrich knew there was no reason to be protective of Yumi, that she was tough and could fend for herself, but he couldn't help it. Watching her get hurt, or almost hurt, was unbearable for him. She was everything for him.
Yumi made a dash out of her house and down the street. Why couldn't her alarm clock go off on time?
"Ms. Hertz is gonna kill me!" muttered Yumi, turning a corner.
She yawned into her sleeve. She had talked to her new mentors most of the night, learning the do's and don'ts of flirting. She didn't know it was so much work. But, if it made her closer to Ulrich...
Ulrich was like her knight in shining armor. He was her strength when she was about to fall. He gave her hope when she was about to quit. If only he knew it!
Every time they hugged or nearly kissed, she felt her heart try to burst out of her chest. If he stared at her with those knowing brown eyes, she wanted to melt in a puddle. And she liked it.
Her mom and friends would say it was love. Her dad would say "Stop looking at boys and do your homework!" Her brother would say "Go out with him already!"
But what would Ulrich say? In her dreams, he'd smile and admit that he loved her too. In her nightmares, he frowned and said he was working up the nerve to ask out Sissi or some other girl, and that she herself was a mere friend.
Why couldn't he come with an instruction manual?
A/N: Voila! My sad attempt at major UxY. Sorry for the short chapter. Stupid writer's block. Anyway, ElementistMagicAkua now helps me out with ideas, so that shouldn't happen too often. Happy Easter!