REVIEWERS:
Luvia (thanks lol), .lover (omg, I do too!), bluestarmanga (I do too), cheeseycraziness (lol), insanity-ward (thnx), rosedreamer101 (that she's not tough enough for "their world"), sakuraK155 (thnx), -Kori Kage Tenshi- (yeah), 'Blue Moon and Roses' (lol alright), lilmissmex3 (I know huh?), MisunderstO-od-child (I wouldn't either), COOL (thanks lol),Musette Fujiwara (yup let's see how this plays out…)
Chapter 10: A Little Bit Longer (You don't even know)
Got the news today
But they said i had to stay
A little bit longer and i'd be fine
"I think they're just so adorable! Don't you Kiki?"
Kiki gushed. "They are. I'm sorry girls, but Kenji finally found his girl. We got news this morning that it has been confirmed, both of them began filming their new movie, Inner Circle."
"Rather fitting if you think about it." Vicky said, putting her finger to her lips as if thinking. "Kenji Itou will of course take the lead male role with Genevieve aka Gen as his lead gal. Sakura Kinomoto will be playing second lead in this production. It's odd really."
Kiki's eyes widened. "I totally just got it! Kenji and Gen, both number one on their corresponding hottie lists and Sakura, number two just below Gen."
"This just in!" Vicky squealed, reading off the monitor. "To spice things up a bit, Syaoran Li will be playing a minor role in the movie, an extra really. But you know what this means…"
Both girls looked at each other, smiling, then yelled at once, "MOVIE SET DRAMA!"
They giggled and sat back down. "This has been Kiki and Vicky. Overview…"
Kiki turned to the camera. "We've gone from West to East; from the scandals in America to the drama here in Asia. Something to look forward to next time is: the inside scoop on Inner Circle, what's really going on in this love triangle square thingy and-""Ugh." Sakura scoffed, changing the channel. "They each need to get a life and stay out of ours."
"I agree." Kenji responded as he watched the channels flip through.
"Inner Circle starring Kenji Itou and Genevieve Saitou isn't your average story. Itou plays a cliché popular jock that is caught between his two best female friends, another popular and a loser. Gen will be playing 'the loser' while Sakura Kinomoto will play the popular. The twist is-"
Sakura rolled her eyes.
"The ranks have shifted in Asia's teenage-"
Both Sakura and Kenji pressed the back button, eager to hear what the last station had to say.
"-results came in today. Despite the upcoming movie, Gen is now number two and taking her spot is her co-star, Sakura Kinomoto who has gone from a nobody to number one in a matter of months."
Sakura stared at the screen happily before fake giggling as Kenji pulled her in and kissed the top of her head and everyone working in the coffee room of the agency slapped and cheered.
"So far as the top three teenage males go, there has been one change. Kenji Itou and Itaro Suzuki have solidly remained in their respective spots. However, the number three spot has shifted, Jason Kobayashi has been bumped down to number four because in his place in now Syaoran Li."
Sakura's jaw dropped unbelievingly while Kenji stiffened. 'What?' Sakura yelled in her mind. She felt her heart start to race. 'No, no. Not again.'
Her phone rang and she pulled it out, turning off her alarm. She looked around and saw that everyone was staring at her so reluctantly she kissed Kenji on the cheek. "I gotta go, I'm gonna be late for school."
"I'll miss you." He called after her. Only Sakura knew how fake that was. She pasted a smile don and called back.
"Same here."
When i thought it'd all be done
When I thought it'd all been said
A little bit longer and I'll be fine.
But you don't know what you got 'til it's gone
Sakura walked slowly to class, watching as people bustling about trying to beat the late bell. As she was walking, someone crashed into her. By his appearance she could tell one thing, freshman.
"Um-um um."
"Move." She said coldly. The boy on the ground made no movement, like a deer caught in headlights. She raised an eyebrow and the boy scrambled up, running away in the opposite direction as the tardy bell rang. She continued walking toward her class, not noticing the only other person in the hall.
Behind her was standing her best friend, Tomoyo Daidouji, camcorder in hand and a calm look on her face. This was no different than the past couple of weeks. Ever since she started "going out" with Kenji.
Sakura walked into class casually. The teacher, without turning, said. "Your are late. The tardy bell has rung-"
Sakura stopped in her tracks without turning around. The teacher turned and saw Sakura, stopping in mid sentence. She didn't bother turning around still and whispered. "What was that?"
"Oh! Um nothing Miss Kinomoto I'm terribly sorry." He said, bowing.
"I thought so." She whispered and continued walking to her seat. Tomoyo came in a few seconds later and the teacher screamed. "Daidouji! Central detention!"
Tomoyo rolled her eyes and lightly ran to her seat. She glanced at Sakura who was string at a nail before slumping in her seat. She nodded at Eriol, who nodded across the room at Syaoran, who nodded at Makoto, who nodded at Taro who nodded at Em who nodded back at Tomoyo.
Sakura was changing…for the worst.
And you don't know what it's like to feel so low
And everytime you smile or laugh you glow
You don't even know, know, know.
You don't even know
"Just go up to her you wimp." Tomoyo whisper-yelled at Syaoran as she pushed him in Sakura's direction. Sakura slammed her locker shut, turning the dial a bit before turning around to give Syaoran the coldest stare ever.
"Can I help you?" She asked, bored.
"Do you want to come to lunch with us or are you-"
"I'm busy." She cut in and was about to walk away when the intercom dinged.
"Will the following students please report to the Dean's office: Asaki Miyuki…"
"Look, Li." Sakura said, turning around. "Sorry, but I have things to do, people to see."
Syaoran felt a chill run down his spine at the familiar line.
"…Kinomoto Sakura, and Li Syaoran. At once. Thank you."
Sakura didn't take another glance at Syaoran but merely walked right by him into the nearby office. Syaoran followed, head down a few steps behind her. When they got to the central office, there were two other kids sitting down as well, Asaki Miyuki and Watanabe Zachary.
The dean ushered them into his office where they all took their respective seats in front of his desk.
"Alright. Well, we know why you four are here." He started, peering at them over his glasses. The four nodded in response. "You four are my valedictorians and I understand that you need lunch so it won't take more than five minutes I promise. First, Watanabe. Music?"
Watanabe slid a folder over to him. The dean lifted it to read and followed along as he spoke. "Opening selection will be done by our nationally famous chamber singers. DJ on standby will have the march, 'Pomp and Circumstance' as traditionally stated. Then we will have Daidouji Tomoyo singing her song, secret but I hear from the music instructor that it will be wonderful. Closing ceremony will be chamber singers as well but it will be recorded. Music is taken care of."
"Impressive." The dean muttered putting the folder down. "Asaki?"
Asaki stood up and showed a poster to the other four people in the room. "This is a diagram of the graduation location, here we see…"
Sakura zoned after the first couple of words. She stared out the window from where they were and looked down to the athletic field below them. She saw the sophomore girls sitting around watching guys play soccer on the field. She smiled faintly as she remembered the familiar scene.
Sophomore year. That was her, on the bleachers, cheering for her boyfriend messing around on the field. That was her, no worries whatsoever. That was her living life as if nothing else mattered but that moment.
Her smiled faded and a small faint scowl took its place.
That was her…with no idea of what was about to hit her.
"Very well thought out. Li?"
"Well I was thinking…"
Li. Why did that name still make her stomach churn? Sakura's scowl disappeared, face no emotionless. Was it because she loathed him? Was it because she despised him for hurting her so badly? Was it because eh humiliated her?
Sakura turned her attention to the boy with chocolate hair smiling at the front of the room and gave a sad smile back.
Or did she nauseous because every time he smiles at her she remembers all those times he would smile just for her? Because every time he talks to her she remembered the time he would whisper in her ear. Every time they hug or shake hands as friends she remembers when he would hold her like she was going to go away. Was it because no matter what she tries to do, the thought won't leave her? That thought that…she never stopped loving him.
This was her now. The girl who didn't have a clue that that one certain boy felt just the same as her.
"Kinomoto?" The dean asked, unsurely. Sakura snapped back to reality.
All this time moves by
Still no reason why
A little bit longer and I'll be fine.
"It's been an agonizing half for these players from both teams."
"Couldn't agree more. Though, since Maruyama's been back, that striker line has been unstoppable but I think that they've met their match."
"Before the game we asked the Li Maruyama duo what their feelings were towards the game and they both said the exact same thing, 'It's always been my dream to make it to World finals.' Let's see if these two can pull it off."
"Pass to Li from fullback line."
Syaoran received an air pass from the defenders and stopped it in front of him momentarily as he looked around for any open players. When he didn't see any he looked towards hid coach. From the sideline, he was motioning forward. Syaoran dodged an incoming half back and nodded taking down field.
"No open players for Li there. Maruyama with three defenders on him, it seems that they may have finally shut them down. Li taking it down the filed, two midfielders trailing him with no hope of catching up to this speeding bullet."
Syaoran dodged another defender, nearly knocking him off balance. 'Come on, dodge. Run, run, run.' He thought then a quote popped into his head. "Don't worry babe, I'll be there when you lead your team to be World champions."
This was followed by the image of a certain emerald eyed girl…
He saw no one open and tapped the ball forward. In a split second the goalkeeper came out and Syaoran slid, taking a shot at the goal. It passed the keeper and…
"And it's off the post, miss there. But here comes Maruyama from behind. Li and Huntington still on the ground. Maruyama coming up fast, with no one stopping him."
Makoto ran full speed at the goal, where the ball was rolling slowly in his direction. Without a second thought he shot it straight.
"He takes a straight shot. Straight into the goal! That's it! It's over."
Makoto got shoved down as his teammates, keeper included, came from across the field to congratulate him. The other team cleared off, leaving only them on the field.
"That's it! Maruyama and Li have taken their team to finals! We'll see you here in two days for the final round. Will Maruyama and Li taken their team all the way or will they finally be put down? We'll find out soon."
Makoto and Syaoran both sent a wink and a kiss to the center club seating area, where Tomoyo and Em were screaming like crazy and Eriol and taro were clapping, smiling down at them.
Syaoran's smile faded a bit when he saw the one empty seat, the same seat that's been empty for the last three games. He thought he heard a camera click at that moment but shrugged it off before cheering in the huddle with his teammates and coaches.
Waitin' on a cure
But none of them are sure
A little bit longer and I'll be fine
Sakura watched the screen as the image of Syaoran Li passed by. They were interviewing him but she couldn't hear over the chatter of her fellow models.
Even though she could feel the glares of the girls in the tables around her due to the casual way Kenji had his arm draped over her chair, she didn't care.
All she cared about was the soccer superstar on the screen. His shirt was over his shoulder again, his hair plastered down against his forehead by sweat, water, and whatever else they were throwing around in their celebration.
He was out of breath during the interview and at the end flashed a smile at the camera, making probably every teenage girl watching this swoon.
She sighed and turned her attention back to her table and leaned into Kenji a bit with him following the action as the flashes from outside the restaurant continued. Just a little bit longer…
'What am I doing here?' She thought as she saw the camera pass over the field once more. This time it showed a happy little group of friends. Makoto, Em, Tomoyo, Eriol, Taro, and Syaoran. They were missing a girl.
She saw how happy they were, smiling and joking around. She sighed, but no one noticed. Looking around the table, she felt left out. They were all gorgeous, perfect. Yet, she felt like she was an outsider. She didn't care about their discussion topics; she couldn't act like herself, she had to act like them.
When she was here she was Superstar Kinomoto, but she didn't want that.
'I just want to be Sakura.' She thought turning back to the TV which now showed a make up commercial, with her as their spokes model. 'The real Sakura.'
The turning to look at the paparazzi outside she changed her expression. 'It's too late now, this is me now.'
But you dont know what you got 'til it's gone
You dont know what its like to feel so low.
And everytime you smile or laugh you glow
"In her final walk of the night we have Sakura Kinomoto."
Sakura walked down, moving to the beat of the current song as she heard her voice in the background.
"Whether it's out at the club or by the beach, bright colors are my thing."
She had on a pair of dark, skinny jeans, with bright yellow heels and a black tank top with a bright yellow jacket.
She got to end, finally unbuttoning her jacket and whipped it off, flinging it over her shoulder. After a quick smile she turned around and felt the next model pass her.
"If it's at school or on the road-"
"Great walk Kinomoto."
Sakura nodded as she was thrown into her last outfit. She walked out with the rest of the girls as the designers were being presented. As she was clapping she noticed someone along the front row, Kenji Itou himself.
She smiled. This was it. Tonight was the night. He must've been thinking it to because he had the same knowing smile on his face.
She kept that smile on as she changed and got ready to go outside. The paparazzi followed them to the same restaurant they always go to. She and Kenji excused themselves from the group. They talked low, as if to hide it from the reporters but knew that any passing waiter, waitress of regular person would hear them and send it back to the press.
"I don't think this is working out." Sakura started, eyeing a passing waiter slightly as he turned his head to listen.
"What are you talking about?" Kenji asked.
"Well…"
Unknowingly, the entire restaurants attention was focused on that little passageway where they could see both of them talking. Murmurs flooded the room as the restaurant manager closed the blinds, cutting the flashes off.
They hugged and Kenji whispered. "We're both free. No offense, but you were getting kind of annoying." Sakura scoffed and slapped him, for real. She left the restaurant knowing the press had seen the real slap.
You dont even know, know, know.
You dont even know, know, know.
You dont even know, no
She sighed in her car as she drove home.
"How am I going to fix the mess with everyone else though, Kero?" She asked the stuffed animal in her passenger's seat quietly. She turned to the stuffed animal when she stopped at a red light and put the seat belt over it.
"Buckle up." She whispered as the light turned green and she hit the gas pedal for all it had.
She sighed contently as she saw the radar go well over 160 almost hitting 170. She pressed the gas harder, despite the pressure already on it. She didn't release it however when she got to the city limits of Oakwood.
"What do you think Kero? Should I take the shortcut through the South or go around and take the long way to the North?" She whispered, watching the signs go by rapidly. The radar now read 210. "No time, I wanna get home. I'll be past the south in a matter of minutes anyway."
She made a sharp left turning into the bumpy, unkempt streets of the South Bank. As she neared the railroad track she saw a flash well lighting the dark night for a second but mistook it for a streetlight catching her speeding. 'I'll pay it when it comes.' She thought.
As she neared the Kinomoto mansion she slowed down and pressed the button on her mirror. The gate opened and her tires screeched slightly as she stopped in front of the front doors, where Jacob was already waiting. The engine quieted down and she grabbed her purse and Kero before getting out where Jacob was holding her bag from her trunk.
"Your shower is warming up Miss, and your clothes are out on your bed already." He said, taking her keys.
"Thanks, Jake." She replied heading up the steps and into the house.
Jacob shook his head after her, "That girl, she'll learn her lesson."
And you don't know what you got 'til it's gone.
Don't know what it's like to feel so low, yeah!
"Hey sexy, need a ride?" She teased and winked at her boyfriend who smiled just outside the passenger door.
Syaoran laughed. "Shouldn't I be the one at the wheel of my car?"
"Too bad. You were too drunk to drive last night and I needed a ride home so I drive today." Sakura giggled. He opened the passenger door. "Wait!"
"What?" He asked jumping back.
"You can't sit there." Sakura giggled.
"Why not?" He asked looking at her weirdly.
She giggled, "You've been replaced."
"What?" Syaoran asked smiling a bit. "By who?"
"Kero." She replied and looked forward trying not to laugh.
Syaoran looked down and saw the stuffed animal in the front seat and smiled. He placed the seat belt over the small stuffed animal and kissed Sakura lightly. "Wouldn't want anything happening to him, now would we?"
Sakura giggled and unbuckled herself as she got out of the driver's seat. Syaoran took her place and she got into the passengers seat, with Kero in her lap. "Sorry Kero." She whispered before flashing a smile at Syaoran. Syaoran smiled back and hit the gas, not wanting to be late for school.
She tossed around in her sleep, her mind nowhere near at ease. The stir caused a maid downstairs to wake up, inquiring to what the noise was.
"Honestly Kinomoto, I'm not going to be all 'It's not you it's me', because quite frankly, it is you."
"No," Sakura muttered in her sleep. She tossed around more and there was a knock at the door. On the other side were her parents, Touya, Jacob, and the maid that Sakura had woken up.
"Sakura?" Touya asked through the door.
It was the first game of the season for the Varsity Breaker soccer team. Syaoran was stretching on the sidelines next to Sakura.
"So yeah, I'm gonna score the winning goal for every game, just you watch."
Sakura rolled her eyes teasingly. "Yeah, and then you'll become the best soccer player in the world."
"You watch." Syaoran warned, pointing at her before hugging her, aiming her giggle. "I'm gonna be a pro and lead the national team to be World champions, scoring the winning goal in every game. But... I guess I'll be alone."
Sakura giggled and kissed him lightly. "Don't worry babe, I'll be there when you lead your team to be World champions."
"Positive? Promise?"
"I promise." Sakura smiled. "I'll be right there in my designated seat, cheering for you when you become the best freaking soccer player in the world."
Syaoran chuckled before kissing her again, "That's why I love you."
"Sakura are you okay?"
"You and me? What the hell was going through your head?"
"Sakura open up!" Touya said rapping on the door hard. The knob wouldn't turn it was locked and he was getting desperate. When the thrashing continued, he stepped back and rammed into it.
Once.
Twice.
BAM! The door hit the floor and he rubbed his shoulder a bit before running over to his sister.
"How pathetic."
Touya saw how red Sakura was and felt her forehead, snatching his hand back. "Jacob start the car!"
Jacob nodded and rushed out the door along with the maid. Touya picked Sakura up and followed out the door, Fujitaka and Nadeshiko following closely behind. "She's burning up." Touya whispered as they rushed down the stairs. Sakura was still muttering something as they were driven to the hospital.
"I can't believe that you actually believed I loved you."
And everytime you smile or laugh you glow,
You dont even know! yeah! woah!
Tomoyo sighed she stared at the clock on her wall. 4:15 .
The DVD drive on her computer popped open and she took the DVD in her hands before sighing. "I'm so sorry about this Sakura but it's for your own good."
On it she wrote, 'Sakura Kinomoto Part 5732, Worst moments.'
So I'll wait 'til kingdom come.
All the highs and lows are gone.
A little bit longer and I'll be fine.
I'll be...fine
A little bit longer (You don't even know) by The Jonas Brothers
Um, for those of you who PMed me and noticed my patter, yes.
Sorry for the long wait! Please review! Start looking on my bio and tell me what story you want to read next!