[A/N: If you haven't noticed by now, I like to skip time spans ^_^', so I'm skipping the summer and going into their grade 10 year.]

Disclaimer: Neither Cardcaptor Sakura nor its characters belong to me. It is owned by CLAMP. I do own Misako though.

Italic- Thoughts/ Dreams

Bold- Something really important

CAPS LOCK- Someone really mad/worried

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Chapter 7: New Year, New Me

The rest of the summer went by quickly for Sakura because her family decided to go to Cuba for the end of the vacation.

Syaoran was a little hurt because he still hadn't seen Sakura since Tomoyo's death on the news, and she hadn't said anything to him before she left, but he knew she was just recovering so he excused it.

His summer went well afterwards. He, Meilin, and Eriol would visit Tomoyo's grave once in a while, but they spent most of it going to the movies or shopping. Well, it was Meilin who did the shopping; the guys just followed her around, amused by her impulsive shopping habits.

It was now the first day of school and Syaoran decided he would go to Sakura's house so that they could walk to school together.

Meilin shooed him out of the house. "Hurry up," she yelled. "You haven't seen your girlfriend in months. Go!" Syaoran tried to argue with his cousin that was trying to get rid of him, but by doing so he started choking on the scrambled eggs he was eating.

"Ah dyone know wahh yo pwobwem ish, Ah'm gunna go shoon, yet me eat pease," He half bickered, half chewed.

Meilin made a face at the food that was partially falling out of her cousin's mouth. Then she put a hand on her hip. "That's disgusting. Anyways, you're going to be late if you don't leave though."

He chugged a glass of orange juice down his throat and then wiped his mouth. "Yea, yea I'm leaving," he said. Just as he was about to leave he turned to face his cousin with a wide smile on his face. "Oh by the way, if you could be a doll and clean up after me, that'd be great," he said, dodging a fork that was thrown at him.

"Thank you," he said, his smile widening as he ran out the door before his cousin could throw anything else at him.

"My stupid cousin really is a brat," she said clenching her fist, pretending to be angry.

Wei strolled into the kitchen and an evil smile crawled onto her face. She called out to him with a sing-songy voice.

"Oh Wei!"

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Syaoran approached the Kinomoto home with butterflies in his stomach. He didn't know why he was so nervous, but he assumed it was because he hadn't seen Sakura in what felt like forever.

He swallowed his anxiety and knocked on the door. He almost didn't recognize Sakura when she opened the door. Almost. Her eyes were still darker than they used to be, but they had lightened a bit since her encounter with Eriol. Her skin had tanned quite a bit but it still suited her. Her hair was long and caught up in a high, messy ponytail, and her bangs were back where they were before because she had cut them. She was wearing a training bra and shorts and was sweating a bit: clear signs of someone exercising.

Syaoran had never been so red in his life. Sure he's always thought of Sakura as cute, but at that moment he thought she looked, well, hot. And not just in the temperature sense.

She smiled at Syaoran but it didn't look a hundred percent real.

"Hey, what are you doing here," she asked calmly.

"I…I think…Maybe…If…It's just…I'm sorry, it's just, you look really good right now," he sputtered, letting his hormones get the best of him.

"Thanks?"

Syaoran snapped out of his trance and looked at Sakura worriedly. Why is she acting like I'm bothering her? We haven't seen each other in two months, shouldn't she be happy to see me the way I'm happy to see her?

"I came to walk you to school, you know, being the first day and all. And we haven't been with each other in a while and I didn't want to wait to get to school before I saw you."

"Oh…well…I'll be there in a sec," she said, closing the door.

He couldn't believe it. She didn't even welcome him into the house. Touya was about to leave for work when he saw Syaoran standing in shock. And for the first time ever, Touya looked at him with sympathetic eyes.

"I'm sorry."

Now Syaoran was really in shock. First Sakura was acting like she didn't even know who he was, but now Touya was apologizing. To HIM?

"What…what are you sorry for?"

"She's changed. We don't know what to do about her anymore. She keeps…changing. I mean she's physically healthy and I couldn't be happier of course, but…I don't know. I wish mom was still alive, maybe she'd know what to do. I just don't understand girls. Never have, never will."

Touya walked towards Syaoran and rested a hand on his head. "You're a good kid. And as much as I hate to say this, because I do love Sakura with all my heart, but if she becomes too much of a burden…just don't let her take advantage of you. She's not the same person that I'm guessing you fell in love with."

And then he left. What was that all about? A while ago he was telling me not to take advantage of her, now he's telling me that I shouldn't let her take advantage of me? And what does he mean 'she's changed'? I mean yeah she's darker and…so…hot…but other than that-

"Okay let's go," she said plainly. Her hair was once again placed in a ponytail but it was much cleaner than before. She was wearing a white wife beater, tight jeans and white converse; quite different from her typical clothing style. Syaoran definitely had no problem with this though.

He gave her a firm hug. "I've missed you so much you don't even know," he whispered. She looked ahead of her, then brought her arms to return the hug. However it was more like a pat on the back than anything.

She then lightly pushed him back and continued walking. He stood bamboozled at his girlfriend, or at least he was hoping she was still his girlfriend.

"We should go somewhere for breakfast, I'm hungry," she said emptily over her shoulder.

"But…if we go somewhere now you'll be late," Syaoran countered.

"So what? I said I'm hungry so I'm going to get something to eat. Come if you're coming," and she left towards a Mc Donald's for a breakfast sandwich.

"Well fine then, I'll go to school. See you later," he replied angrily.

He couldn't believe what was coming out of his mouth. First of all, he was never on time so he couldn't care less, and second, Sakura didn't care if she was late or not. Sa-ku-ra. Of all the people in the world she would never say anything like that. Touya's right. She is changing.

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Meilin, Sakura and Eriol had the same first period class. Meilin's mouth dropped open when the bell indicating the beginning of the school day had rung and Sakura wasn't in class. Sakura was never late. NEVER. She was even born on time. Meilin's mouth dropped even further when Sakura strolled in 30 minutes late, with long hair, tanned skin, tight clothes, and an apple juice from a Mc Donald's cup.

"My bad," was her only reply as she took a seat behind Meilin.

Everyone looked at her in shock. Even the teacher was stunned. This was Kinomoto Sakura. The Kinomoto Sakura. The most perfect person you could ever meet in your entire life. Now normally when someone is late for class no one really cares but this, this was as rare as a blue moon.

"Uh…It's okay Ms. Kinomoto. I'm sure you have a legitimate reason for being as…tardy…as you are," the teacher said, actually making excuses for Sakura.

"If you consider my hunger being a legitimate reason, then yea, sure."

Everyone gasped. Even Eriol was a little perturbed at Sakura's rather rude behaviour.

"Ah yes…well…class, if you could turn to page 12 in the textbooks that you just received we can begin learning about Japanese history."

Slowly, the students took their eyes off of Sakura, proceeding with their lesson. Meilin was the only person who didn't let it go.

That girl has a lot of explaining to do when this period's done.

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"What the hell was that," Meilin asked, screaming furiously at her friend.

Sakura rolled her eyes and crossed her arms.

"If you're doing this as a way to cope with Tomoyo's death, then you need to shift to something else. Because even thought right now the only feelings that you've hurt are out History Teacher, soon it's going to be more than that, and much worse."

Sakura took hold of Meilin's shirt and pulled her towards her.

"Stop acting like you know what I'm going through. You don't know shit about being the reason why Tomoyo is dead! [A/N: if you're wondering why Sakura still thinks this, it'll be explained in chapter 12] You don't know what it's like to have to change the way you are so that your other friend's don't have to suff-"

"Yea, you're right. I have noooo idea what it's like to lose somebody. Tomoyo's death didn't affect me at all. And when you stole Syaoran away for me years ago I didn't feel the LEAST bit hurt. So no, I don't know what it's like to sacrifice myself for the sake of others," Meilin said sarcastically.

"You need to understand that you're not the only person in this world that needs thinking about. Or that go through hard times. I thought that when Eriol explained that to you, you would have understood, but clearly you haven't," Meilin yelled with tears in her eyes.

Sakura stared at Meilin expressionlessly then sighed.

"Listen, this is a new year, and this is the new me, take it or leave it," Sakura stated, walking away from Meilin to her next class.

Drastic times call for drastic measures, Meilin thought to herself, preparing for her next encounter. The next one no doubt, with a lot less talking and a lot more fighting.

TBC…

[A/N: I dunno, I didn't really like this chapter, so I promise to make the next chapter a lot better.

Oh from now on I don't think you guys are going to like Sakura very much, not for a while at least.

Before anyone says anything, YES, I know sing-songy isn't a word, I just wanted to use it, BECAUSE I CAN *laughs evilly* Anyhoo:

Twilight Kisses: Thanks for the review! Unfortunately it's going to take a lot more than just Eriol for a while to get some sense into Sakura, but he did try his best.

siestachan14: I appreciate the review! I love that you love it, haha. && Thanks for the compliment, I do my best to keep the story interesting :P

Don't forget to review guys!]