A Shoulder To Lean On

Chapter Eleven

A/N: You all know about what is happening in the story and it would just annoy you if I went over it again. So I'm not! I'm actually writing to tell you that the story is nearing it's end! I hope you have enjoyed the first chapters. I'm not sure how many specifically because I just love to write and I get carried away!

Please review my stories more because I'm very happy to receive them! Thank you! :D

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No, I haven't made up my mind yet.

Sakura's mind was frantic whether or not to take the chance of a new love with Eriol or to keep her one-sided love with Syaoran. She was confused to see why she was considering taking up Eriol's offer of becoming his. He wanted nothing from her but her love. Before his lips dangerously near her trembling lips, he whispered his last convincing words,

"Don't waste your love on him when you know we can have each others."

Then a silent chiming vibrated in Sakura's pocket and made her jump from his grasp. He sat there for a second then leaned back. Sakura nervously reached for her phone and flipped it open.

"Hello?" She said timidely.

"Sakura!"

"Syaoran-kun!?" She breathed in a flush of embarassment. Her face was redder than before when Eriol had almost embraced her. "How did you get my number?"

"Long story. Are you free?" Sakura squealed.

"Am... am I free?" She stammered uncomfortably.

"Would you like to come with me to that café near Penguin Park?" He asked casually but in Sakura's ears, his voice was like an angel's soft singing.

"Uh, sure, whatever." She said almost breathless with exhaustion and simple mindedly arranged to meet him there as soon as possible.

"Great. Drinks are on me." His parting words were before he put down the phone. As soon as the line was dead, she couldn't quite meet Eriol's eyes. She dreaded his expression now and she didn't want him to ever look like that.

"Eriol-kun...!" She began without turning around, "I'm very sorry. I have told you my true feelings and... they cannot change."

It was true what she was trying to explain. She was helplessly falling deeper with that boy and she couldn't change them. She turned around with a smile but it didn't quite look meaningful.

"I'm hoping that we can become best friends in the future."

She took off without looking over her shoulder. She knew it was probably for the best. She wanted Eriol to get over her but she didn't want him to forget her all together. She likes Eriol too but only as a best friend. It's the same feelings as she has for Tomoyo, she was sure of it. But then why was her heart racing as fast as when she's around Syaoran?

Eriol was sitting on the bench with his eyes covered by his black fringe. They were empty with confusion. He had a desire and he couldn't give up. He had never felt this way before and he assumed straight away that it was love. Because he concluded to this, he had one wish only in his heart.

"Sakura," He muttered to himself and didn't care if anyone listened, "I will possess you!"

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"Syaoran-kun!" Sakura called as she entered the café and sat down opposite him. He smiled her way and waved notes in front of him like a fan. Usually, his smile causes her face to fill up with blood but this time she was uncormfortably nervous. Eriol inturded her mind. She shook her head and grabbed her mobile. She didn't know why but she needed some sort of distraction.

"You are okay, Sakura?" Syaoran asked in worriedly but he looked slightly bemused, "You seem terribly anxious. I'll pay for the drinks, I did say that drinks are on me. You needn't bring any money."

"I would have but I'm ridiculously broke!" She admitted and blushed this time. "I'll pay you back as soon as I get the money."

"It's fine, I'm serious. I'm going to pay no matter what." Syaoran insisted with a grin and Sakura smiled back with the same tone of tease in her voice.

"And I'm going to pay you back no matter what." He laughed. Sakura didn't know whether to sulk because he was laughing at her or to be amazed by his sudden good mood. Wasn't he in a big bad mood this morning?

Maybe the reason wasn't because of the kiss last night.

An urge of happiness struck through her and the rest of the evening went along quickly. They laughed until their sides hurt and chatted until their throats were raw with so many words that had passed through. The bill was a huge fuss since Syaoran kept saying that she needn't pay her back.

"Besides, how would you get the money?"

"Chores around the house. I'll have my allowance soon." She insisted but she knew that he implied something else.

"Have you tried any job applications?" Syaoran asked. Sakura was amazed by his interest.

"No, have you?"

"Not really. My money is sent from my wealthy family at home." He sighed at the mention of his family.

"You say that like it's a bad thing." She pointed out and squinted her eyes at him.

"I appreciate all the money they are sending over to help me stay over here but I want a proper job to pay for supplies. I want to be independant and earn my own money."

"You're independant just by living on your own." She said but then realised it wasn't much of an arguement.

"It can be lonely." He sighed again and looked around. Anywhere except at Sakura. She was probably pitying him or getting angry by being so sulkly over receiving money.

"Can I visit you sometimes?" She asked a little red in the face. She did want to see what his flat was like but she hated seeing him so lonely. She wanted to be with him too.

Syaoran was caught completely off guard and looked at her. She was being serious about it too. He stared at her for a few seconds while mulling it over in his head. He wanted her to come over, of course, but it would be slightly embarassing. He decided to pluck up his courage and smiled to her.

"I'd be glad if you did."

There was a silence from then. Sakura had turned red again and looked away. Syaoran looked away politely and out the window. It was getting dark by then. Sakura looked at him in the cornr of her eye and he did the same. It wasn't an awkward silence, it was like there wasn't much more to be said silence. Finally, Syaoran smiled Sakura's favourite smile.

"If you'd like, you can invite Daidoji too."

"Tomoyo?" Sakura asked.

Suddenly, her mouth was dry and her mind was blank. How could she not remember this before? Her face turned pale as she remembered what Tomoyo had told her. Then she remembered what Eriol had told her. She had completely forgotten her best friend!

How foolish can I be?

Her eyes started to water and her vision blurred.

"Sakura!" He cried and ran to sit next to her rather than opposite. He gave her a tissue and put an arm around her shoulders. "What is it?"

She couldn't tell him. She really wanted to tell him but she couldn't. Actually, she could if she left one part of it out. She really wanted to tell someone and she wanted to tell Syaoran most of all. Besides, he had told her a lot about himself that evening. She felt content about this because she felt that she knew him a lot better. So, he should know about this too!

"Tomoyo-chan... she likes someone." She sniffed as Syaoran dabbed the tissue gently on her cheeks. "But this person doesn't like her back because... this person likes somone else."

"I see." He understood. "Can you tell me who Tomoyo likes?"
"I'm not sure I should be telling you that." She murmured. She didn't know why she really wanted to tell Syaoran. She felt like she could tell him anything; he was someone to rely on. She took a deep breath and whispered,

"Eriol-kun...!"

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A/N: Oh noes! What'll happen now? Chapter twelve coming soon!! :D