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Chapter 6

Yumi kicked the foot of her bed as hard as she could, stubbing her toe in the process. "Damn it!" she yelled, grabbing her foot. "Aelita's been here for a few months and she's better at figuring out this love crap than I am!"

She collapsed on the bed while her foot throbbed, grinding her teeth and hoping some kind of solution would come to her. Ulrich wanted an answer tomorrow. That didn't mean he liked her as anything more than a friend. Just like the fact that he kissed her didn't mean he liked her as more than a friend. Yumi took a pillow and screamed into it. Everything he did confused her! Why couldn't things just be simpler?

If she lied and said being friends was all she wanted, things wouldn't get better or worse. Unless, if it turned out Ulrich really did like her, then she'd end up breaking his heart, which was the very last thing she wanted to do. But if he didn't care for her that way, there'd be no awkwardness and everything would be out in the open. Well, as far as he knew.

But, if she told the truth, he could shoot her down and never talk to her again. On the other hand, wasn't he always showing her how much he liked her? He walked her home, he blushed when they even got near the subject of romance while talking, and he was the one who started the ice cream kiss. So, what could it hurt in telling him?

"Okay, Yumi, what's more important?" Yumi asked herself. "Friendship or true love?"

When she put it that way, it was obvious. Ulrich was anything but obvious, though. She had the guts to tell him, and she wasn't ashamed of it, but what if he only liked her because she was so independent? What if admitting her feelings meant that she'd look too needy? But the truth was, she did need Ulrich. There was no way she could've survived Xana, Sissi, and the constant fighting of her parents if it weren't for him. Ulrich made Yumi forget her problems with a simple smile or nod.

Yumi then decided that there was no point in prodding every minute they spent together for an answer. Perhaps it would come to her in the morning. With a short sigh of defeat, she turned off the light and crawled under the covers. She whispered a short prayer then allowed slumber to consume her.

"Come on, Ulrich, run through it one more time," said Odd.

"Can we please stop tonight?" asked Ulrich with aggravation. "My fingers are bleeding!"

"Oh, let a little blood get in the way of love," said Odd sarcastically. "Don't be a baby!"

"You've been playing this stupid thing for years," said Ulrich. "Cut me some slack!"

"Hey, the very first day I got this I strummed my fingers to the bone," said Odd, punching him in the shoulder. "And I've got the scars to prove it! But fine, let's go over the lyrics."

"Are you sure this is gonna work?" asked Ulrich.

"Nope," said Odd brightly. "Now get back to work!"

"Hey, Yumi," said Ulrich the next morning. "Um, get a good night's sleep?"

"Yeah," said Yumi as she approached the school gates. "Are you okay?" she asked, gesturing to the many Band-Aids applied to his fingers.

"Oh, yeah, I'm fine," said Ulrich, shrugging. "So, um..."

"I guess we need to talk," said Yumi, swallowing hard. "You first."

Ulrich smirked. "Gee, thanks," He said. "Well, uh..."

"Ulrich, I'll understand," said Yumi, bracing herself.

"Okay," said Ulrich. "I--"

His phone vibrated in his pocket. Ulrich pulled it out and saw a text message. He groaned.

"I'm really sorry, but I have to go," said Ulrich. The last time he was late for a lesson his mentors made him kiss Kiwi. That was when they were in a good mood.

"Oh," said Yumi. "So, I guess we're just friends?"

Ulrich paused. He really wanted to let her know. Actually, he needed to let her know. He had to settle for a cross between a twitch and a shake of the head.

"Can we talk later?" pleaded Ulrich. Yumi nodded. "Great, bye."

"Bye," said Yumi quietly.

Ulrich sat alone in the cafeteria, his left hand in a bowl of ice. The only reason he was called for the lesson was to rehearse. Was it going to get worse after this plan? If it did, he didn't know how long he was going to be able to keep up.

Maybe it was time for him to ignore his pride and just spill it. After all, Yumi seemed eager to talk to him, and she wouldn't be eager to break his heart. She was still his friend, and she wasn't that cruel.

Ulrich took out his cell phone and sighed deeply. "Here goes," he mumbled. He selected the text message option, then Yumi's number.

I LOVE Y--

"Ulrich?"

Ulrich dropped the cell phone, startled. "Oh, hey, Aelita," Ulrich greeted, smiling a little.

"What's with the ice?" asked Aelita, sitting opposite him.

"I'm trying to figure out the guitar," explained Ulrich.

"How often are you practicing?" asked Aelita, raising an eyebrow.

"Nothing under six hours at a time," said Ulrich dryly.

"Maybe toning it down a notch would help," suggested Aelita. She glanced at the cell phone and frowned. "Can I see your mobile for a second?"

"Um, I don't--" started Ulrich. Aelita grabbed it before he finished.

"Ulrich," said Aelita slowly. "I cannot believe you."

"What?" asked Ulrich defensively. Aelita stood up and hit him with the phone three times on the head. "Hey, cut it out, Aelita! What's your problem?"

"My problem?" asked Aelita, throwing the mobile on the table. "Ulrich, I thought you were smarter than that! Don't you know Yumi at all?"

"Apparently not if I deserve a beating," said Ulrich grouchily.

"You really think Yumi wants to hear this via text message?" asked Aelita incredulously. "This is something to tell her in person!"

"Aelita, no offense, but this is really none of your business," said Ulrich, shoving the phone in his pocket.

"It is now," said Aelita, sitting back down. "You need help."

"How so?" asked Ulrich.

"Okay, just between you and me," said Aelita, beckoning him closer. "I know about the teachers."

"Let me guess, Jeremie told you?" asked Ulrich.

"I helped him set it up," replied Aelita. "But it's obvious you need a girl's point of view."

"It's nice of you to offer, but I don't need another school," said Ulrich.

"Just in case you have any questions," said Aelita. "Look, I love Jeremie with every fiber of my being, and I don't know what I'd do without him, but let's be honest. Romance isn't his strong point. And Odd has plenty of experience with dating, but how many of his relationships lasted more than two weeks? I want to help."

"Swear you won't tell Yumi?" asked Ulrich hesitantly.

"Swear," promised Aelita. Ulrich nodded.

"Does she like me?" asked Ulrich. "Has she said anything?"

"No," said Aelita gravely. Ulrich sighed. "She loves you."

"So, what am I supposed to do now?" asked Ulrich after a few minutes of letting it sink in.

"Tell her," said Aelita. "You know it could be over for any one of us at any second thanks to Xana. You've wasted too much time as it is."

"You're right," said Ulrich. But he had to make sure. "Did she tell you in exact words that she loves me?"

"Yes," said Aelita. "And she blushes every time. She means it."

"So, she's not into William or anything?" asked Ulrich.

"I've heard her praying that he'd accidently fall into a bottomless pit lately, if that's any inclination," said Aelita, smirking.

"How am I supposed to tell her?" asked Ulrich. "Do I take her to a candlelit dinner or something?"

"Be yourself," said Aelita. "At least you have the option."

"What do you mean?" asked Ulrich.

"Just that Jeremie and I weren't in a location of choice when it happened to us," said Aelita. "Not that I have any regrets. You could prepare a speech and practice it at every moment for when you'll tell her, but it wouldn't be as good as if you told her from your heart."

"Yeah, that's not cliché at all," said Ulrich. "I get it. Thanks."

"Any time," said Aelita. "But do it soon. Otherwise it might get worse."

"What might get worse?" asked Ulrich.

"You'll see," said Aelita vaguely, standing up again. "We better get to Hertz soon."

"Hey, Aelita?" said Ulrich. "Can you get Yumi to come by the courtyard at lunch?"

"Sure," said Aelita, grinning. "She'll be hooked on every note."

"Time for lunch!" said Odd cheerfully. "You know what that means, Ulrich!"

"Yeah," said Ulrich, his hand throbbing at the thought. "I hope that practice was worth it."

"Don't let your nerves get the best of you," warned Jeremie.

"You know, I don't remember ever making you go through something like this for Aelita," said Ulrich.

"It's one song," said Jeremie. "It'll be over in a few minutes."

"Fine," said Ulrich. "Odd, you have the guitar, right?"

"Right here, buddy," said Odd, handing over the case.

"This had better work," said Ulrich, walking out to the courtyard.

He found a bench in the middle of the area and sat down. He reluctantly brought out the instrument and practiced a few chords, capturing the attention of surrounding students. Everyone liked a musician at Kadic. In a couple of seconds he spotted Aelita bringing Yumi over and inhaled deeply.

"Hey, Ulrich," said Yumi, catching him by surprise and sitting down next to him. "I didn't know you play."

"I'm sort of a beginner," said Ulrich.

"Can you play something for me?" asked Yumi.

"If you want," said Ulrich. He cleared his throat and tried to shake away his anxiety.

The pretty girl right next to me

Is always on my mind

And I know for certain

That there is no rarer find

But for some reason she won't know

How much she means to me

My heart is locked up like a box

And she has the only key

The words just haven't come

My aim isn't to look dumb

I don't want her facing life alone

That day she caught my eye

I begged her to come by

Now I jump when she calls me on my phone

Someday I'll find the courage

I'll tell her my love is true

Until then I will have to wait

It's worth it, just for you

Yumi blushed, and was all too aware of the other girls around them giggling, all hoping he was directing the song to them.

"Did you write that for anyone in particular?" asked Yumi.

"Maybe," said Ulrich, grinning. "What do you think?"

"Really good," said Yumi, nodding. "I didn't know you could sing, either."

"I'm a guy of many talents," said Ulrich jokingly.

"That was really beautiful," said Yumi. "I think any girl would be lucky to have that sung to her."

"So?" asked Ulrich. "Do you feel lucky?"

"What are you trying to say?" asked Yumi hopefully.

"Nothing," said Ulrich with a shrug. "Wanna go grab some lunch?"

"Yeah," said Yumi, getting to her feet. Ulrich held the door open for her and gave the guitar back to Odd. One plan endured. He wasn't looking forward to facing the next one.

Aelita wished the Boys' Dorm Level wasn't so cold at night. She had just finished saying goodnight to Jeremie after a long night of research on the antivirus.

She stopped suddenly. Something wasn't right. Was it Xana? Jeremie hadn't detected an activated tower, but the virus had a knack for being sneaky.

"Hey there," said a voice. Aelita gulped.

"Hello," said Aelita, nodding to her classmate in acknowledgment.

"Aelita, I think we got off on the wrong foot," said Theo, stepping forward out of the shadows. "Can we talk? Clear the air?"

Say no, say no, say no! Aelita thought to herself.

"I don't think there's anything to talk about, Theo," said Aelita.

"Just a few minutes of your time, that's all I'm asking," said Theo. Aelita thought carefully, and her forgiving nature won in the end.

"Fine," said Aelita. "You've got five minutes."

"That's all I need," said Theo, beaming. His smile made her want to be anywhere but here, but she stayed put.

She hoped it wouldn't be a mistake.