Conversation started in French. Yumi decided she liked the soft, lilting sound of Ulrich's voice in contrast to her own hurried, mutiliation of the language. He coaxed a smile here and there, and Yumi credited it to the lax enviorment of the bakery. It was one of those conversations you could fall right into without fear of reprisal. Ulrich was easy to talk to.

"It's been fifteen minutes," Ulrich pointed out with a smile.

"Shit," Yumi swore. Slipping into her coat, wrapping her scarf around her neck gracelessly, she half stumbled out of her seat. "I'm sorry," she babbled without looking at Ulrich. "I'm so sorry but I really have to, really have to --," she threw the empty styrofoam cup and missed. "Fuck," Yumi swore again.

"You really have to ... fuck?"

"Don't be cute," Yumi grimaced. At this rate, her proffessor wouldn't admit her into the classroom.

"So you do think I'm cute," Ulrich was smiling again.

"I don't have time for this," Yumi spat out a hair that had gotten caught in her mouth via her scarf. "I have to catch the bus and I can't --"

"Hey," he was speaking in English now, more pratical and less soothing. "I'll give you a ride, okay?"

"You don't understand, I have a -- did you say a ride?"

Ulrich nodded.

"Oh," Yumi threw her arms around him. "I love you, you are my hero."

"I'll pick up your tab," Ulrich offered. This made Yumi shirk back a little. Guys were not this nice unless they wanted something in return.

"That's alright," she fumbled with her wallet but Ulrich stopped her, easing her wallet away from her fingers and back into her bag. He had very nice hands.

"You can make it up to me," Ulrich replied in French.

Yumi's hands fisted at her hips, a very unimpressive gesture considering Ulrich towered her by a good three inches. "Listen here, if you think I'm one of those easy --"

"-- by having coffee with me tomorrow morning," Ulrich interrupted. "Sounds fair?"

Free coffee?

"Wow," Yumi said and Ulrich swore he saw sparkles in her eyes. "A free ride and free coffee? I worship the ground you walk on."

Ulrich raised an eyebrow, "Really?"

Yumi smirked, "No."

Ulrich zipped down his jacket with one arm, held the door open with another. The snow was falling placidly, almost an afterthought to the storm that had gone on during the night. As soon as the door grinded to a halt, Ulrich pushed Yumi into his chest, covering her with the right side of his jacket. The movement seem so natural Yumi could only guess he'd held many girls this way before. For some reason the thought annoyed her. Yumi reasoned it was because she hated boys who treated girls like toys and girls who let themselves be treated as such.

The car beeped in distinct correlation to the approaching owner, and Ulrich opened the passenger door with a smile.

"Sorry about the mess in the back," he said. "I haven't gotten settled in quite yet."

There were boxes and crates dotting the backseat, as well as some random items here and there. Yumi shrugged it off, she wasn't exactly a neat freak. In a moment, Ulrich was sliding into his respective seat, turning the car on, the radio lighting up on automatic.

"You listen to Placebo," Yumi asked, as a familiar song blared through the speakers.

"I was passing through France and I heard a song of theirs," he handled the wheel with expertise. "It's catchy."

"It's depressing," Yumi replied. "I was into them when I was going through my teenage years."

"Hmm," Ulrich replied idly. "You're going to university, right?"

The car sped up so quickly that Yumi nearly crashed into the windshield.

"You don't even know which one I go to," she gasped. "And you're a horrible driver."

"Sorry," Ulrich apologized. "I haven't gotten used to it yet. Back home traffic is a little lighter and much faster."

"I'm going to New York University, by the way," Yumi commented. "It's a few --"

"I know where it is," Ulrich drawled. Yumi looked at him a bit strangely and he corrected himself, "You can't miss it."

They arrived promptly enough. Yumi opened the door systematically and gathered up her belongings.

"Thanks again for everything," she said as she tightened her scarf. "Maybe we'll meet again."

"Sure we will," Ulrich said with his winning smile. "I'll pick you up?"

"Sorry," and to her credit, Yumi did indeed look sorry. "Thanks for the offer but my boyfriend is picking me up."

"Boyfriend?"

Yumi barely caught the disappointed word as she slammed the door shut. The snow crunched beneath her shoes, and her smile sweetened as she caught the eye of security at the door.

"Hello sir," she started. "You wouldn't let a girl like me out in the cold like this, would you?"

"Uh," the guard hedged.

Yumi's smile widened, "Because that would be awful and I would miss class. You see, my biggest dream has been to attend here and you wouldn't crush my dreams would you?"

"I'm sorry miss, but when you are late you --"

Yumi's eyes miraculous teared up.

"--ah, just don't let it happen again," the guard stepped aside with the uncomfortable smile of someone who had been manipulated but had yet to realize it.

Yumi's expression sobered up, "Certainly not."

As it turned out, Yumi had to retake her exam on some other day because her proffessor was slightly singed at the merry way she'd approached him after being fifteen minutes late. Not even his threats of expulsion could damper Yumi's mood. Something about coffee and a warm car made her giddy. Or maybe it was Ulrich with his easy smile and easier attitude. It was a shame she probably couldn't take him up on his offer of free coffee considering the only reason she'd been alone today at the bakery was because her boyfriend had an errand to run. She usually met her boyfriend during the mornings, had coffee with him, and went her way.

Her boyfriend was just another thing her parents disaproved her, and it was just another disaproval Yumi couldn't care less about it. She remembered her first day in New York, walking around aimlessly, basking in the sheer pleasure of doing whatever she pleased. It'd begun snowing and Yumi had waltzed into a music store to pass the time. It was called Nautica, and it had an assortment of instruments, classical and electric alike. Feeling a bit reckless, Yumi had followed the noise of a guitar into the back and had come face to face with her soon to be boyfriend, William Dunbar. It took a minute for him to let go of the instrument, open the door, and ask her out.

Why not, Yumi had reasoned. They'd been frequently dating for five months now, and although William prioritized his career before her, Yumi didn't mind. It wasn't anything serious and it wasn't like he was her number one priority either.

William was the lead singer and guitarist of a band called Poseidon, which had achieved relative fame. They were on their way to signing with a major label, and like a true rockstar, William had an ego that Yumi sometimes found tiresome. Whenever he suspected they were going to argue about something, he always promised she'd star in his first music video and he'd make her famous.

Whatever. Yumi didn't believe in men, much less their promises.

Which is why Yumi found herself surprised at how frequently her mind kept drifting back to Ulrich during the day. He was interesting, that's all. And if he traveled as much as Yumi thought he did, she'd probably never see him again.

Her last class for the day done, Yumi ruminated on the strange boy with the warm eyes until she was promptly knocked out of her thoughts by reality.

"Hey babe," William swung his arm around her shoulders. "How was class?"

"Hmm," Yumi answered.

"Anything interesting happen today," William went on.

Yumi heaved a sigh as William guided her to his car. An odd sense of dissapointment at not seeing stacks of boxes in the back surprised her.

"Nothing," Yumi sighed, because that's exactly what it was; nothing.

Now, if only she could convince herself everything would be perfect.

Placebo is a British band, whom I adore. They also sing in French, however.

Reviews are love :) What do you guys think of the stage I've set?