Senior Year
By melaniemelmelgirl
Disclaimer: Obviously, if I were the owner of Cardcaptor Sakura, I would not be here writing fanfictions. I'd probably be relaxing at one of my many European vacation homes. Me no own, you no sue!
Author's Note: Well, it's been a few years since I've published any fanfictions, but recently I was re-inspired to start writing again. I think the hecticness of being in college, and working took over, which is why I went on a several year hiatus. But, I think I'd like to try new stories, and see where the go from here. I've been out of school for nearly a year now, and have settled into a career now, and I've got a bit more free time these days. I doubt any of my older readers from the fanfictions I wrote several years are still around, so I'd like to obtain some new readers! Anyhow, enjoy, and please review!
Description: It's senior year for Sakura Kinomoto and her gang of friends. Life becomes suddenly quite different for her and her friends, with the stresses of finals, applying for colleges, and getting jobs come near. Can Sakura and Syaoran's relationship make it through these less carefree times? Can Sakura's poor math grades get her into a decent university? Read and find out!
Chapter One: School's...not out for summer, anymore.
…
"BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP" rang the alarm clock.
A sleepy, tousle-haired Sakura Kinomoto sat up in bed, eyes half open.
Stretching, she looked at the clock. Only 6:00 in the morning.
Then she remembered why she'd set the clock for so early: It was the first day of her senior year, and classes started promptly at 8:00!
Sighing, she reluctantly left her warm bed to head for the shower. She didn't want to be late on what could be the first day of the best year of her life.
"La de dah de da!" she warbled off-key as she lathered her cherry-blossom scented shampoo into her hair.
Getting out of the shower, she dried off with a poofy pink towel and headed to get dressed.
She headed back to her room, and stood in front of her closet as she tried to decide what to wear.
Just yesterday, in fact, she had gone off shopping with Tomoyo and some of her other girlfriends to find some school outfits at the mall. They had a great time hitting up sales at A&E, Abercrombie, Hollister, Aeropostale and Maurices. She had saved up money all summer long working at a sporting goods store.
Now that Sakura was a senior, and the head cheerleader, she wanted to step up her fashion sense more than usual.
She picked a 'distressed denim' light mini out, with a pink and black plaid button up top. She'd go for the grunge/cute look. Picking a pair of pink converse to go with, she set off to get dressed.
Next, she sat in front of her dressing table and chose what make up she'd like to wear. She never went for the heavy, gaudy look, but chose tones and colors that accented her peaches-and-cream complexion. She then brushed her layered, shoulder-length honey brown hair and styled it like normal.
Shoving her notebooks and pens into her new black messenger-style bookbag, grabbed her new Coach purse, and ran out the door after saying goodbye to her brother and father.
Her father, Fujitaka was still teaching at the University but was considering retiring soon. He was around 55 years or so, not that old but he wanted to write some architecture books and teaching took up way too much of his time to focus on writing.
Touya was in his last year of graduate school, at the University of Tomoeda. He'd be going back to school in a week and just subleased and apartment with Yukito. They both were training to be physicians, and would enter med school next year.
Sakura quickly ran out of the door and got into her car, a used but very nice Volkswagen Beetle (got rid of the roller blades finally!). It was red, as pink wasn't an option, but on the inside she had cherry blossom seat covers, steering wheel cover and floor mats, as well as a dangly cherry air freshener. She'd just bought it over the summer after saving for a long, long time. Her dad helped her out, of course.
She drove on off to Ihop, where she was meeting all of her friends and 7:00 for a back to school breakfast.
As seniors, they had the privilege of starting class at 8:00 instead of 7:15, like all the rest of the students. It was so nice to be able to sleep in that extra bit every day. Especially now that Sakura was moved onto an evening or night shift, instead of a day shift now that school was back in session.
Getting out of her car, she could see through the front window that her friends had already secured a large booth. She quickly went inside and joined her friends.
"Hey, babe!" said Syaoran, giving her a quick side-hug and peck on cheek as she sat down next to him.
"Hey there. Morning!" she said to everyone.
She got back a chorus of "Morning!" "Sup!" "Yo!" from everyone.
Already seated were Syaoran, Meilin and her boyfriend Yazu, Tomoyo and Eriol, Chiharu and Yamazaki, Naoko, Rika and her boyfriend Tenchi (she finally gave up that childhood teacher crush.)
Sakura started chatting animatedly with Syaoran and her friends about school schedules, classes, after-school activities, and new clothes.
Finally, as the waitress came around, everyone placed their heaping orders of pancakes, French toast, eggs and more.
Everyone chowed down as the excitement of a new school year floated in the air. Sure, going back to school wasn't always the MOST exciting thing ever, but being a senior had its perks…the later start time, the right to leave school one hour early on a work/study arrangement, senior privileges (such as a more relaxed dress code, ability to drive off-campus at lunch, etc.), and since most students had their boring requirements such as math and chemistry out of the way, they were free to pursue more interesting electives.
Sakura was pretty excited about this, since the only difficult class she had anticipated was trigonometry. She had failed it last year, and needed to re-take it. Since 3 years of math were required for graduation, it was crucial she did well. Also, there was the fact that university applicants needed a high GPA, and her low math scores brought her down slightly. If she didn't truly step it up this year, she may be faced with a community or tech college as opposed to university.
After everyone was done eating, they decided to swap schedules before their bill arrived.
Sakura took hers out and glanced at it for the zillionth time.
She would arrive at school at 8, and from then on she would have:
8:00-8:45: Trig (the dreaded subject)
8:45-9:30: Gym
9:30-9:45: 15-minute break
9:45-10:30: Japanese Literature
10:30-11:15: English 4
11:15-12:00: Lunch
12:00-12:45: Chinese 2 (she was learning Chinese so that when she visited Syaoran in Hong Kong during summer breaks, she could converse with locals better.)
12:45-1:30: Pottery
1:30-2:15: Graphic Design
She smiled, thinking of how easy her senior year would be, other than having the dreaded Trig. She didn't have a study hall this semester, but she did have that 15-minute break where she could always review something. Plus, the lighter class load meant she didn't have as much work either. Her day ended at 2:15, earlier than the rest of the non-seniors, so she could rush off to her part time job. In fact, all of her friends kept their part-time jobs into their senior year, at least for now.
Sakura was working at Tomoeda Sporting Goods, selling sports equipment and exercise machines to fit people.
Syaoran worked for a local dojo, giving martial arts lessons to elementary school kids.
Tomoyo worked at a fashionable wedding gown store, and also had interned for a few weeks at a video production/photography company that filmed and photographed weddings and graduations. She also had taken many of her friend's senior portraits on the side.
Eriol had interned at a law firm, but for extra cash mowed lawns as well.
Chiharu worked at a nursing home, where trained to be a CNA (Certified Nurse's Aide) which paid really well for a teen.
Yamakazi was working as a museum docent, telling over-the-top stories about the ancient artifacts and paintings.
Naoko had worked at the local library shelving books and checking them out, and also volunteered at the senior center, playing cards with the older folks.
Rika worked at Tomoeda Pet Shop. She loved working there, helping people pick out pet food or adopt kittens. They took in kitten and puppy rescues for adoption from the pet shelter, as there was a constant overflow of pets. The store was rare in that it didn't believe in 'puppy/kitten mills'. Rika was proud to work at a place like that. Her boyfriend Tenchi worked just next door at the music store, selling CDs and guitars.
Meilin worked at a gym helping teach aerobics and yoga classes, and wanted to learn about personal training. Her boyfriend Yazu worked at a gourmet restaurant in town as a waiter, but helped out with prep cooking sometimes.
Everyone was staying pretty busy, but were all starting to save money for college, cars, prom dresses, and so on. Life was getting pretty expensive…
Done eating, the students quickly paid their bill and piled into their various cars/motorcycles (Syaoran, at least :P) and rode off to class.
As Sakura got to school, she found a parking spot, and started off into the large high school…
…..
Well, what did you guys think? I'll try to have the next chapter posted within a week. I'd love any suggestions or comments, or any evil plot twists you might have in mind (^_^). Well, please review, and you guys will see your next chapter soon!