Disclaimer: I wish.
Author's Note: I haven't written one of these in a while so I figured I would. The idea from this one came from a country song, actually. Lol. Yes, I do LOVE country music. Anyway, so hope you like.
It Could've Been Love
Ulrich Stern felt in control. That's because he was in control. The ball, juggled between his feet almost pro-like, was so well guarded that the other team had really given up on trying to steal it. Practice usually ended this way every day; with the team Ulrich wasn't on admitting defeat.
"Alright man, calm down," muttered Odd, after Ulrich released the ball, making his fifth goal of the practice. "Don't give yourself a hernia."
The German smiled. "You'd like that, wouldn't you Odd?" he teased, jogging to go get the ball. The goalie, a talentless boy who was only good at being the goalie, picked up the ball and kicked it as hard as he could towards Ulrich. Of course, it ended up landing a good ten feet away and rolling down to the street.
"I'll get it," he groaned. Right now, nothing could stop his good mood. He followed the ball out to the street, only to see someone else pick it up.
She was gorgeous, with shiny black hair and dark eyes. Ulrich had never seen her around before, but something about her didn't seem to belong in France. Maybe because she was Japanese? He shrugged; he was just babbling to himself now.
"This yours?" she asked when he was close enough to hear. He opened his mouth to respond, but couldn't, (Why did he have to be so shy all the time?!) so he simply nodded.
She tossed it to him, eyes scanning the practice. "Big school…what is it?"
"Kadic," he croaked, his heart racing. "Kadic Academy." Everyone in town knew about the school. So, she must've been from somewhere else. "I've never seen you around before…new here?" he asked, trying to swallow the lump in his throat.
She nodded, tucking her hair behind her ears. "Yeah. It's my first time in town. I'm Yumi."
"Ulrich."
She smiled. "Well…can you help me?" she looked rather embarrassed now. "I was supposed to meet my parents at City Hall…but I got lost."
"Oh, sure." Thankfully, he knew where City Hall was. "See, we're on twenty-first street now. You just take this down till you hit Quaker Ave. and turn left. You'll run right into it."
"Oh, good. I'm close then. I was supposed to be there twenty minutes ago…" Yumi smiled sheepishly; Ulrich's heart skipped a beat. "Well…thanks for the help, Ulrich."
"Anytime." He tried to ignore the way he got butterflies from hearing her say his name.
She waved and turned, continuing up the street. Despite himself, Ulrich couldn't stop watching her until she was out of sight.
Odd hurried over to him. "She was cute! Why didn't you get her number, Ulrich?"
He was wondering the same thing. Why had he just let her go? Groaning, he set the ball down and kicked it as hard as he could in his frustration, cursing quietly to himself.
It could've been love, after all.