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 10: Giving Up

Sakura dragged herself out of the guidance counselor's office completely broken. Her? Fail? It's impossible. But a lot of things that seemed impossible were happening lately.

Oh God, there she is, Misako thought, rolling her eyes then pasting a fake smile on her face.

"Hey Sakura!"

Sakura turned around to see her new friend waving after her and heading in her direction.

"You looked bummed, what's your damage," Misako asked bumping her on the hip with her own. Meilin used to do that with me, Sakura thought, realizing how much her life has changed.

"I got two scholarships last year."

Misako looked at Sakura as if she were crazy.

"Is that supposed to be a bad thing?"

"I lost both of them today."

Misako gasped, pretending to care. This seems to be going better than I expected.

"How did you lose them?"

"They said I was failing my courses. I didn't even look at my marks because I thought I got my typical 100%."

As if on cue, Eriol places the report card in Sakura's hands and gave her a displeasing look.

"You know I don't know what's more shocking; the marks that you got or the person that you're hanging out with. Just try to remember who your friends are."

He started to walk away but Misako called after him.

"It sounds a lot like you're giving up on Sakura. You guys clearly have things to talk about and you're just walking away abandoning her. I doesn't like you're much of a friend to her at all right about now." That's it Misako, sound convincing, she thought to herself.

Sakura turned to Misako in shock. I didn't think she cared about me so much. Maybe people can change...haha…like I'm one to talk about people changing.

Eriol spun on his heel to face Misako. He could see right through her, and he was pretty upset that Sakura couldn't.

"Giving up? You mean the same way that she's giving up on her schoolwork? Or the way that she's giving up spending any time with her friends? Or how about the way she's giving up on acting like a girlfriend for Syaoran? Stop me anytime because I can go on."

Misako placed a hand on her hip and the other up to her mouth which was brought towards Sakura.

"Are you going to let him talk to you like this? You guys are supposed to be close right? He knows that you're going through a hard time but he insists on offending you instead of helping you."

Come on Sakura take the bait. Push away the people you care about, Misako thought in a sinister way.

Sakura's eyes widened at what Misako was whispering in her ear. She has a point. Eriol should be helping me out…

"You know what Eriol? You told me to remember who my friends are, and clearly by the way you're behaving right now, you're not one of them."

Eriol was taken back by the words that had come out of Sakura's mouth and she saw that she had unmistakably hurt him.

"I…I'm sorry Eriol, I didn't mean-"

Just then Meilin and Syaoran walked down the hallway and Meilin gave Sakura a hard slap across the face.

"I was really trying really hard not to hurt you. Originally I wanted to because I saw your marks, and as a friend, I couldn't be more disappointed. But after what I just heard you say to Eriol I just had to. And frankly Sakura, I'm tired of talking to you over and over again. If we're such awful people that you can't consider us as friends then maybe we shouldn't be. It's just a shame that us knowing you for five years means nothing to you," Meilin said.

She linked her arm with Eriol's and began to walk away, Eriol still absorbing the content of the conversation. Meilin turned back to Syaoran.

"Are you coming?"

"Go home without me. I'll be there soon."

Now that the friends are out of the way, I just have one thing to take care of, Misako thought to herself, giving Syaoran a flirty smile.

"Oh Saku, that reminds me, I have something I need to tend to. I'll talk to you later," Misako said blowing two kisses to her and then winked at Syaoran as she passed him.

"'Kay Misako. Bye."

Syaoran gave a what-the-hell-just-happened look and then turned to Sakura who ran into his arms. This hasn't happened in a while, he thought, but still returning the hug.

They stood silently in the school hallway for a bit. The school day had ended about an hour ago, but because of Sakura's trip to the guidance counselors' office, they had stayed behind a little later.

"Now do you want to tell me what's going on with you and your new…uh…friend? Or is this just a girl thing where one day you wake up and you befriend your enemy?"

"Syaoran I feel like everyone's giving up on me; I'm even starting to give up on myself," Sakura commented, ignoring his question. Her voice was barely audible because she was speaking into his chest, but he still managed to understand what she said.

"Meilin and Eriol aren't giving up on you. If they wanted to give up on you they would have by now. They just feel that you're giving up on them, and honestly, I thought so for a while too."

Sakura looked up into her boyfriend's auburn eyes with her emerald ones, and Syaoran couldn't get over how amazing his girlfriend looked.

"I'm not…but you know the whole Tomoyo dying thing and I needed to find a way to cope. Changing the way I am was the only thing I could think of. But then I remembered a promise I made to Tomoyo when we were younger, and I didn't keep it. So I lost my will to care about anything. I'm sorry about what I said to Eriol I really am and I'm not giving up on you guys."

She paused and then rested her head on his chest again. Syaoran, I need to tell you…but I know if I do…you'll give up on me for sure.

"Syaoran?"

"Hmm?"

"Have you given up on me?"

He gave her a kiss on the forehead and held her hand as they walked out of the school.

"Your birthday is coming up next week. Are you excited?"

Sakura lowered her head sadly. I guess he's already given up on m-

"No, I haven't Sakura," Syaoran said with a weak smile.

Not yet at least. I just don't want anything to happen that would cause me to.

TBC…

[A/N: If you were Syaoran, would you give up on Sakura? I probably would, but I'm not Syaoran and he's a determined young man!

RevanRubber Duck Carth Nimble: Okay good, because I have 2 more chapters to add today, including this one XD! Yea Sakura's a bit of a slow girl in my fic :P. && I'll start to throw in some more of Misako's thought later on, because she's going to disappear for a little bit. Actually this chapter along with the next 3 chapters (a lot I know ^_^') are going to be focused on Sakura & Syaoran. But after that the attention shifts to…You have to wait to see! HAHA

And about killing Misako with a pizza knife: I wouldn't dare think of it. That would mean removing the satisfaction of you killing her with a pizza knife :P! Thanks a lot! Keep the reviews coming!

emerald325: Thanks a lot! The thing that works so well, is that everyone loves fast updates and I love updating quickly. So it's a win-win situation for everyone. I'm happy you're enjoying the story so far! Keep reviewing!]