Disclaimer: I don't own these people
I don't Think So
Sakura stared at him. She didn't want to, but it was so hard. He was standing right in front of her, for the first thing, and taking up every inch of her vision. He was... too charming.
She started to get irritated. What did he think she would do? Offer to eat dinner with a complete stranger? But that's usually the way it's done, Sakura, a little voice in her head reminded her. You start out as strangers.
But Sakura wasn't having any of that. She had just opened her mouth to tell him where to shove his misplaced ego, when she remembered. The wedding. She needed a date. He wanted a date. It was perfect! If he could just refrain from sliming her all over with his charm, they may just survive this.
Then she caught sight of Mortimer , an exotic-looking man and a petite, pretty girl with black hair and eyes that seemed to glint red trying to look at her descreetly from the balcony which Syaoran just came from. Obviously this was some kind of scam. Well, she never strived to be normal. And Mortimer deserved a show, didn't he?
She fixed Syaoran with another expression. The bored one she'd spent hours practicing in the mirror to perfect just for occasions like these. "I'm Sakura Kinomoto, and I never say no to a free meal. Let's go."
She swung her bag from the counter and strode ahead of him to the entrance. Once outside, Syaoran ushered her into the front seat of a sleek black Jag. Before she could close the door, Syaoran said, "Give me a minute, I've forgotten something." and walked back into the bar.
Sitting outside in the dark, Sakura studied the neon lights of the bar. The Dewberry. Sakura had no idea why she kept going back there. The ambience and decor was almost painfully amaturish. At least the drinks were good. She had the sudden thought that Tomoyo had better appreciate what Sakura was doing for her.
Inside, Syaoran had made it back to the balcony, and was now palming a crisp ten dollar bill from a shocked Mortimer. "I'll see you two Monday.". With that, he strode back out.
Franco was smirking at Mortimer's blank face. Meilin looked lost. He patted Mortimer's hand and turned to go as well, saying, "Gotta go. I'll see you girls soon, eh?"
Left alone, Mortimer and Meilin stared at each other. Meilin cleared her throat and asked," Who is she?".
"My ex-girlfriend. I dumped her. I think... I made a mistake." Mortimer swallowed loudly and gazed longingly at the door. He started to tell Meilin everything. It wasn't like he had anything more to lose. He'd already lost Sakura.
"You let go of her just because she wouldn't sleep with you?! What kind of a man are you?! Now she's off with Syaoran, the man I love! You have to help me get him back. I'll not accept anything else." Meilin nearly growled at him.
"Hey, it's not like that! I've been with her over two months! It's what a boyfriend would expect!" Mortimer tried to defend himself, but soon deflated when he realised it hadn't done anything good for his relationship with Sakura, who was now probably having some romantic dinner with his boss. Oh crap.
Syaoran and Sakura had gotten out of the car, which was parked right in front of a small Italian restaurant. Syaoran reached over her lap to open the door for her. Instead of blushing as he had expected, she merely raised and eyebrow and got out onto the curb. Syaoran soon stood beside her, both looking at the pleasant green awning sporting the name of the restaurant in descreet colors. Antonello's.
"My friend's father's restaurant." Syaoran said in explanation, and smiled his special smile at her again. This time, Sakura shrugged off his guiding arm and faced him.
"Look. I don't know what you've got going with your friends, but you can stop being charming now. It's really great that you'd go through all this trouble to find the lines, but I really don't need them.". Her gaze never wavered from his, and his smile immediately dropped from is face, and he frowned.
Syaoran couldn't understand. He was charming, damnit. No one had ever said different. What a cranky girl. Couldn't she just pretend, for God's sake? Didn't she have any social skills at all? He settled for saying. "Fine. Let's just eat and get it over with."
Sakura nodded and walked in first. She stopped just in the doorway and gaped. It was the most beautiful restaurant she'd ever seen. She felt as if she'd walked right into Italy, into a local restaurant. The tables were small and quiet, and nothing was overstated and everything had a sense of dignity and pride to it. Suddenly, a small, obviously Italian man ran out and cuffed Syaoran on the ear. "I told you, I'm closed after 10!"
Syaoran sighed and told Sakura resignedly, "This is Antonello. He loves me. Can you tell?"
Sakura giggled. A light, tinkling sound, and smiled at Antonello. "You're restaurant looks lovely, Antonello. It's the best Italian restaurant I've ever been in! Are you really closing, though? I'd definitely come back tomorrow."
Antonello took one look at Sakura and a grin split his wrinkled face nearly in half. "For you, my dear, I am open day and night. Please, sit, sit.". He pulled up a chair for Sakura and plopped menus in front of both of them. "Tell me whatever you want. I'll make it for you as fast as my old fingers can move!"
Sakura looked up at Antonello with a glittering light in her eyes and a smile and said, "Whatever's good. I trust your judgement. Thank you so much." All Syaoran could think of as he looked at Sakura was 'Look at me that way.' Then he shook himself and ordered.
When the bread came Sakura nearly dove into it. The smell was far too enticing to resist. With one bite, she settled back into her seat. Her face relaxed, a lovely pink hue colored her cheeks, her eyes closed, and she sighed blissfully, chewing with a soft smile.
Syaoran watched her. He couldn't look away. She looked like she was in the middle of some really hot sex. Okay, the bread was good, but it wasn't that good. Staring at her while she took a second bite and dissolved all over again, he started to get really warm.
"Mmm. This bread is amazing. I can't wait for the main course!" Sakura grinned at him, then remembered he was a slimy beast. Her smile dropped. In seconds, as if beckoned, Antonello swooped through the swinging double doors leading to the kitchen, hoisting two large plates of chicken and two bowls of soup expertly.
Now, my dear, you will try Antonello's chicken marinated in wine sauce. It is my secret recepe!" Sakura grabbed up her spoon and fork obediently and began digging in. When he saw the blissful look cross her face again, Syaoran abrubtly turned to his own chicken. He'd already made up his mind about her being a high-maintenance, cantankerous woman, and he didn't intend to change it. Her expression was very... persuasive. Antonello, however, was clearly in love with her. He nearly burst out of his apron with pride when she beamed at him and said, "You're a genius, Antonello! This chicken is wonderful! The best I've ever tasted.". She stood up and kissed his ruddy cheek. In all his years of knowing him, Syaoran had never seen the stoic Antonello blush before.
"Hey! I bought the dinner. And chose the restaurant." Syaoran felt the strange need to defend himself.
Sakura pursed her lips and thought. Then she said, "I guess you do get credit for that." Antonello gave him a look that said 'You keep this one. I like her.'
Syaoran scowled, thinking about all the crap he would be getting from Antonello once he heard that this would be their first and last date.
After Sakura kissed Antonello goodbye with a promise to be back soon, both of them stood outside on the sidewalk. New York beamed down upon them, the late hours not preventing practically the entire population from being outside, clogging the streets, swearing at each other, running everywhere in a mad rush.
Sakura breathed deeply. How she loved New York City. Syaoran was still wondering if her expression while eating would reappear in bed or not, and was torturing himself imagining that it did.
They finally turned toward each other. "Well, thanks for the dinner." Sakura spoke first.
"Yeah. No problem.". There was an akward silence. Syaoran broke it by saying, "Yeah well, have a nice life.", before walking away from her down the street. Sakura turned in the opposite direction and began to walk. Here were two strangers who never expected to see each other ever again.
And that's chapter two. Thanks for reading.
