Disclaimer: I don't own:
edward cullen
my melody
hello kitty
standford
I would promise to love you now
But I would lovingly let you down
Oh, I have the hardest time resisting you
And oh, If you feel the same way
then how can we be friends
He's right you know, we can't go on like this
And oh, I try to give you everything
And if I fail, well then I failed
But at least I gave you something
If I Fail - Cartel
Tomoyo was glad she changed her outfit before leaving her house to go to a restaurant with Eriol. But she hated how underdressed she felt. She knew full well that sweat pants and a hoodie wouldn't do well in a crowd like this and her dark grey, silken lines and pleated seams dress with a yellow belt and frilly, white cardigan was more appropriate, but seeing all the red-carpet-qualified outfits around her, made her wish she had the ability to shrink or be invisible, so at least she could steal some food before running out the door crying.
"Don't worry. You look fine." Eriol said after tucking in Tomoyo's chair and sitting in his own seat, across from her.
She stopped her fidgeting, and smiled, "Thanks, Eriol. But this place is really expensive; we didn't really have to go here."
"No, I like it here, and we're already seated." He replied, handing her a menu, "I don't mind spoiling you."
She giggled, looking through the menu. All this kindness and assumed-love confession on Valentine's Day made her head feel like exploding. She wished the food she had ordered would come quick or else there might be some serious health problems up in this crib. She grimaced in disgust as she imagined blood and guts on everybody's food and pretty attire.
Eriol chuckled, noticing her grimace as she stared at nothing, "What's up with you? Is it the escargot?"
"Huh?" She shook her head and laughed, "It's nothing. Just me in my own little world. And I actually did order the escargot."
"Have you ever eaten escargot?"
"Nope."
"Well, then why'd you get it? What if you don't like it, and I wasted seventeen bucks on you?" He grinned through his fake anger towards her.
She shrugged, "I've never tried it before, and I've always wanted to. Don't worry, I'll finish it. You know what they say, hunger is the best seasoning!"
She could feel her stomach eat itself as she watched the waiter make their way towards them with their food. Her stomach had her going through roller coasters of addicting tastes of escargot and butterflies. Not that she ate butterflies, but she figured eating across from Eriol felt like the silent moment after everybody stops talking when the food in front of them is really good: the food is satisfying, but there's a strong need for conversation.
"How's the escargot?" he asked with a hint of a smirk on his face, holding his fork full of salmon above his plate and bringing it to his mouth.
Tomoyo hummed, "Like buttery-garlic."
He coughed at the soda he was sipping at and placed a fist over his chest, "Oh, really?" he laughed, "Guess you won't have a problem with Edward Cullen appearing at your window tonight."
She giggled, "I was thinking the same thing! It's about time he stopped stalking me at night."
"Why didn't you tell me? I would've gladly thrown him off of your roof for you!" he smiled, making the candle-light accentuate his charming facial features.
"Aw, too inconvenient and I wanted to try escargot-method, first." She replied, reflecting his bright smile, "Now, I can cross snails off my list and move on to eating horses and rabbits."
He chuckled, wiping the edges of his mouth on a napkin, then placing it on his lap to lean back and rest until the waiter came to take away his empty plate, "You have a list?"
She nodded, doing the same with her napkin, and resting her chin on the palm of her hands. She hoped he didn't mind her elbows on the table as bad manners-even though she knew it was-but it was Eriol, after all, and she can't do anything except be herself.
"Have you tried birds' nest soup?" He asked with a challenging stare.
She smirked, "Syaoran's sisters make it all the time. Have you?"
He replied with a nod, then continued, "Balut?"
"From the Philippines? I ate that like crazy when I was six, but it's not good to have too much or you'll vomit," she blushed and muttered, "like me."
He chuckled, shaking his head, "Do you still eat it?"
"Not anymore. The smell makes me sick, now, but I ate it already so it's crossed off my list of strange delicacies. Do you like balut?"
He hummed and shrugged, "Doesn't taste great, but doesn't taste bad. I can tolerate it." He hummed again, "Um, octopus?"
"Yup."
"Live octopus?"
She furrowed her brows together, "No, have you?"
He grinned, "You gotta chew it well, or else their suction cups stick to the inside of your mouth or your throat."
She widened her eyes in amazement then lowered their level to comfort and smirked, "Sounds dangerous."
"It's good, though." He shrugged, "How about-" he lowered his head with a smile, "No, never mind-"
"What?" She was on the edge of her seat, leaning forward with so much eagerness her hair dangled near the lit candle.
"I know you've never eaten it before." He shook his head with the same smile.
She tapped her knuckles lightly on the table with an eager smile and curious, bright eyes like a child wanting to know a secret, but then being told they'll know when they're older, "Tell me."
He leaned his cheek on his knuckles and shook his head once again, as if to apologize, "I can't."
"Why not?" She hunched her back with a pout.
"Alright." He leaned back on his chair with his hands in surrender, making Tomoyo sit on the edge of her chair again, "Fried tarantulas?"
She unconsciously leaned back and shivered, the excitement gone from her and replaced with a fearful and discouraged grimace. She squeaked, "There is such a thing?"
He smiled sympathetically, but reassuringly, causing Tomoyo to secretly thank God for unexpected moments like these to make one of Eriol's best smiles come out and make her feel better. "In Cambodia." He replied.
She left him hanging by staring at him with slight disgust and disbelief, resulting in him to continue after a near minute, "They're pretty big." He bobbed his head in a nod.
"Oh, that's sick." She leaned back crossing her arms and glaring at the disgusting thought of dead, humungous fried spiders, making Eriol feel a bit relieved at her response after her moment as a statue, "Have you tried it?" she asked with small nausea in her sentence.
He frowned at her emphasis of the pronoun, "No, I've seen them in Cambodia. But if I did, would your perspective of me change?"
She knew it wouldn't make a difference. He knew how much she hated spiders and she unknowingly trusted him enough to not drag her to a showcase of fried spiders. She knew for sure he would never let her near one, and if he ate a spider, she just hoped it wasn't recently or if he was planning on it, then she hoped it wasn't anywhere near her. If Eriol ate a spider, she wouldn't think of him any less but as more of the person she's wanted to know.
She leaned forward, reaching for his arm, "You know I-"
"Eriol?"
Tomoyo ceased her hand mid-way from Eriol's arm and blinked at the newcomer in front of their table. A petite, blue doe-eyed, sunny blonde with a champagne and white colored dress with layered-ruffles smiled fondly at Eriol. She had a white-toothed smile, accentuating her tanned skin, and her dress did just what it was supposed to: emphasize her petite, girly, doll-like figure, which made her look just her age with a hint of darling, innocent sophistication. Her arms were relaxed to her sides and her weight was shifted on her heel, causing her to lean back and take a swift look at Eriol just to make sure it was him. Envy filled Tomoyo's being; every move this cliché-seemingly-"California" girl made her seem so graceful and model-like, almost ready for a picture at any moment.
"Katsumi! It's good to see you!" Eriol replied enthusiastically. Tomoyo thought he would be the usual gentleman and stand up to greet Katsumi, but he stayed flat in his seat, like he was expecting the newcomer to leave in a little while.
Tomoyo felt stupid with her hand limply hanging in the air and decided to wave pathetically, as if hoping to catch her attention, but Eriol added, "This is Tomoyo."
She stopped her pathetic waving and shook hands with Katsumi's weak grip, while Tomoyo held her hand firmly. She hoped her firm grip was welcoming instead of dominating. Somehow, Katsumi made Tomoyo feel like she was too rough with her movements compared to Katsumi's gentle and timid ones. She seemed to smile at Tomoyo like a housewife meeting her child's new friend: warm smile but inspecting gaze.
"Nice to meet you, Katsumi." Tomoyo said with a polite smile, which caused Katsumi's face to brighten in child-like joy.
"It's nice to meet you, Tomoyo!" She smiled enthusiastically, letting go of Tomoyo's hand.
"What are you doing here?" Eriol asked with a polite smile.
She grinned and looked over to her left where a couple was smiling, laughing, and eating comfortably, "I'm spending Valentine's Day with my parents."
"I'll go and say hi," He stood from his chair, but Katsumi put her hands up.
"Oh, you can't!" she waved her hands, "I'd be interrupting your little get-together!"
You already are, Tomoyo thought. She suddenly felt convicted at feeling anger at such a cute girl, but her feelings mixed with confusion as she recalled Eriol's comments about Katsumi the other day. Tomoyo had a hard time believing such a cute and polite girl would ever try to get out of studying or want to play video games. She joined Eriol to her feet, not wanting to be impolite to such a cute girl, "I don't mind."
"Are you sure?" Eriol and Katsumi asked in unison, but Katsumi seemed to have a hopeful response with her palms glued together while Eriol had a look of uncertainty.
She grinned and shrugged, "It's no biggie."
"Oh!" Katsumi clapped her hands together, "Come with me!"
They followed Katsumi, leaving behind their table and walked over to the older couple's table. Katsumi greeted Eriol and introduced Tomoyo to her parents, while they curved their lips upward warmly. Katsumi's parents carried themselves with sophistication and pride of their age in a tuxedo and a dress with a vintage wrap, unlike the other older members of the restaurant who had extravagant attire to illusion themselves into making them look young. The genuine warmth of their greetings and compliments made Tomoyo's heart flutter at their cheesy, but real kindness, like 'What a beautiful girl', or 'How wonderful, you look very cute in that dress'. They joined Katsumi's family in small talk with Tomoyo sitting in between Katsumi and Eriol and, taking their check from their abandoned table to their new one.
"Were you planning on doing anything after this? Since it's Valentine's Day?" Katsumi asked the younger couple.
Eriol nodded, "Some dessert."
"Dessert?" Katsumi asked, with Tomoyo almost about to say the same thing but stopping herself.
"Yeah," he shrugged, "Some ice cream, maybe."
Katsumi looked to the distance and whispered to herself, "Ice cream…"
Even though Tomoyo felt like she was so inferior to Katsumi in the area of daintiness, she fought the urge to squeal at her cuteness. Her voice was as cute as that My Melody character from Hello Kitty, if My Melody had a voice.
"Katsumi loves ice cream." Her father added.
She snapped out of her trance with a tiny shake of her head, "Where will you be going?"
Eriol was looking out the window with his cheek leaning on the palm of his hand and turned his attention to Katsumi in the corner of his eye, he hummed, "That place by the shore."
"Near the beach?" she exclaimed, "Can I go?" she looked down and put her finger to her bottom lip, as if shushing herself, "I mean-"
"Katsumi-" her mother scolded with her coffee half-way to her mouth.
"I don't mind." Tomoyo butted in.
"You don't?" Eriol and Katsumi exclaimed in unison.
"You don't have to, Tomoyo." Katsumi's father insisted.
Tomoyo hands fidgeted in her lap, she turned away, trying to avoid Katsumi's doe-eyed hopeful gaze, and turned to Eriol, "I don't mind if you don't mind."
He shrugged again, "I'm fine with it."
Katsumi gasped, making Tomoyo turn to her direction. She hugged Tomoyo's arm, "Is it really okay?"
"Y-yeah." Tomoyo blushed at her lame stutter as Katsumi squeezed her arm tighter, but weak like a little kid from her aunt's daycare that tries to lift Tomoyo to her feet when she's too exhausted to play. Tomoyo felt herself fill with a strange, but wonderful burden to be able to look over such a petite girl. She figured this girl had some super cuteness power, but she didn't mind. No wonder guys like girls like her. It must make them feel masculine to be depended on by such a cute girl. Tomoyo sipped her melted ice and prayed no one saw her blush from her thoughts.
Tomoyo blinked and rubbed her eyes as she felt Eriol's Buick slow down in front of her mansion.
"Psst." Katsumi whispered from the front seat, "Are you awake?"
Tomoyo groaned and sat up straight from the back seat. She'd never sat in the backseat of Eriol's car before, but somehow Katsumi convinced her that Tomoyo was tired and needed the rest before they went to the ice cream shop together. According to Katsumi, she said she had the tendency to get sick in a car, so her parents' always let her get shotgun because it seemed to make her feel better.
Tomoyo sighed, and drowsily reached for the door handle, but Eriol opened it before she did. "I'll walk you to your door." ,he insisted, giving her his hand, which she gladly accepted with a sleepy grin, and mumbled a thank you.
"Bye-bye, Tomoyo!" Katsumi waved bye with her head out the window, and Tomoyo returned it with a sluggish wave.
Eriol stopped at the top steps of her porch, not letting go of her hand. Tomoyo could've sworn holding Eriol's hand was a dream but he snapped her out of her assumption as he spoke, "I'm sorry. I planned today to be for just the two of us, but I didn't mean for Katsumi to-"
"It's fine." She replied softly and grinned lethargically. Hanging out with Katsumi didn't bother her, but giving Katsumi the attention that seemed fit didn't give her enough time to talk to Eriol, even though he was always no less than three feet away that night. He seemed to be out of it that night and Tomoyo figured she'd just address him about it later, since Katsumi had been hanging on her arm and talking to her like crazy.
Eriol gaped like he was about to say something, but grinned instead. The type of grin where you already know it's unnecessary to apologize or even communicate in that moment.
"Tomoyo! You forgot your purse!" Katsumi chirped, handing Tomoyo her purse with a little skip in her step.
"Thank you." She took her purse, letting go of Eriol's hand, "I'll see you later." She added, searching for her keys.
"Right, later." Eriol waved along with Katsumi before Tomoyo entered into her house. She leaned on her closed door and sighed, exhausted from the extreme sociability of Katsumi, satisfied that she'd be able to say she spent Valentine's Day with Eriol, and disappointed Katsumi was the last one to have a ride in Eriol's car, instead of her. She shook her head and headed for her room. Maybe, she was overreacting; maybe, she just needed to chill.
"How was your day with Eriol?" her father asked from the living room in his recliner with a coffe mug in his grip, causing her to halt in climbing up the steps.
She headed to the living room and perched on the arch with a reply of, "Good.", then left to her room. She stripped off her dress and mini-wedges, and then snuggled into her loosely-fit sweater, not concerning herself to wear any pajama bottoms, and snuggled into her blanket on her bed. She rubbed her head against her pillow, grateful for the warmth after walking around in February weather.
She frowned, remembering her day with Eriol that ended up with a new friend. Katsumi was one who talked and talked with no end, so she was probably talking to Eriol with no end in his car as she was thinking her very thought. She sighed and closed her eyes; feelings concerning crushes were useless anyway. What use were they with the upcoming ACTs next year? She was determined; she wasn't going to pursue Eriol or even continue her feelings for him. She hated worrying about something as insignificant to her life as of now, and she hated how cliché she was being; a teenage girl worrying her ass off over a damn crush? That wasn't Tomoyo Daidouji.
She yawned, knowing sleep would fall over her once again in less than five minutes, but she groaned as her ringtone rang on her bedside table. She scowled and flung her arm to her bedside table, perfectly grabbing her phone and flipping it open to her ear, not bothering to check caller-id.
"Hello?" she answered.
She heard somebody clear their throat, "Tomoyo?"
"Naoko?" Tomoyo sat up with confusion written across her face. Naoko barely ever called or texted, unless it was for informative reasons and not just for small talk.
"Yeah." Naoko replied, her voice cracking.
"What's up?"
"You know how I'm graduating this year? Since I got most of my credits from sophomore year and I completed them this year by attending AP classes?" Naoko asked, while Tomoyo nodded absentmindedly, already knowing Naoko was graduating. Although they were taking pretty much the same AP classes for junior year, Naoko was graduating early since she took an AP class last year, causing her acquire all her credits and leave the leftovers for college credit.
"Yeah?"
"I- It's-Can you come here?" She stuttered.
"Yeah," Tomoyo turned to her clock, reading it to be five minutes till nine o' clock, "Are you home?"
Naoko muttered a "Yeah", and Tomoyo assured her that she'll be there in ten minutes before hanging up. She flung her blanket off and reached for her closet. She hastily bounced into her cargo shorts that were too cold to wear for February, but she figured knee-high socks would help fight the cold, along with her comfy Audrina jacket.
"Where are you going?" Takao asked, coming out of the kitchen when he heard Tomoyo stomping down the stairs.
"Can I head to Naoko's really quick?" Tomoyo asked, hoping to sound casual, like her urgency didn't exist.
"What for?" he asked with disbelief.
"She's got my textbook for first period and I forgot to do homework for that period, so I can't fit time to do homework early tomorrow unless I get it now." She rambled, fighting the urge to slip on her Keds that were three feet away.
"Uh," he shrugged and headed to the den, "Do what you want, but don't use the car. I forgot to put some gas and I need the littlest bit left so I can reach the gas station tomorrow."
"Alright." She hastily slipped on her Keds, and swung the door open and closed it with a slam. She ran in the cold, with the wind biting her cheeks and bare, purple knees and shooing her hair from her face along with Eriol and Katsumi slipping away from her mind. In half-a-mile and eight minutes, Tomoyo reached Naoko, who was sitting on the steps of her front porch, with her elbows on her thighs and her hands holding her droopy frown. She stood up as Tomoyo panted her way towards her and joined her on her front steps.
"What's up?" Tomoyo repeated, sitting on a step and leaning her hands back, trying to adjust her lungs.
"I'm sorry for making you run here." Naoko replied, sitting down herself.
"It's cool. I need the exercise." Tomoyo grinned.
"Thanks," Naoko returned the grin momentarily, but was replaced with her brows furrowed in distress, "-but you know how my parents want me to stay home for college?"
Tomoyo nodded, as Naoko reached into her jacket and pulled out a long, manila, catalog-type envelope. She held it to her chest, "It's from Stanford." She whispered.
Tomoyo gasped and sat up straight, "Have you opened it?"
She nodded, and bit her lip as a tear escaped, "What am I gonna tell them?" she sobbed and took off her glasses to wipe her eyes.
Tomoyo scooted closer to her friend and wrapped an arm around her to pat her back, "It's Stanford." She whispered, unsure of what to say, but she didn't know what crazy parent wouldn't let their kid go to one of the most prestigious and diverse universities with a transfer class of about thirty each year, with their very own child as the acceptance.
"I know, but my parents already got the Tomoeda Local College acceptance letter and they're completely set on me going there." Naoko sobbed quietly, as Tomoyo rubbed her arm, "I just can't," Naoko paused and continued, "I know I should do what my parents tell me to do, but I don't think they know what I'm capable of."
"You feel like you're suffocating by staying here? Need to have the opportunity to at least stretch your wings?" Tomoyo said, already having a little taste of what Naoko was feeling.
Tomoyo hated Tomoeda Academy with a passion. She felt it was too restricting-even though Tomoeda Academy's school programs are many-she felt like the teachers, and even the students couldn't hold up their effort into working hard. She loved St. Augustine; there were students smarter than her and challenging her in every way, and although the challenges in academics and sports seemed so tiring, that was what Tomoyo lived for: the deep satisfaction of at least having an opportunity to take part in a challenge. She knew Naoko was destined for better things; staying in Tomoeda would make her a gem, definitely, but Naoko wouldn't live up to her full potential if she stayed here. Naoko would be a gem in dirt. Staying in Tomoeda would just make her ingenuity rot without even having the chance of being worn out to perfection.
Naoko nodded, resting her head on Tomoyo's shoulder, wiping her tears and silently stopping her sobbing.
"You what they always say in those kiddie shows?" Tomoyo asked, remembering the kiddie shows her aunt would always play on the television while working in the daycare.
"Like Barney?" Naoko croaked with a small smile and a hint of curiosity, but not the least bit surprised at her friend's seemingly purposeless question.
"Remember how they always say or imply-," Tomoyo did her best Barney impression with a deep, dopey voice, "Do the right thing boys and girls!"
Naoko cackled, wiggling herself out of Tomoyo's grip and facing her friend with a fresh smile. Tomoyo laughed, "Barney's right. The only thing really left to do is tell them."
Naoko stared up at the night sky and sighed. She nodded, "When I'm ready."
"When you're ready, or rather, when your parents are ready?" Tomoyo inquired.
Naoko stood up, and patted dust from her bottom, "In any case," she turned to Tomoyo with a grin, as if saying, 'there's no need to worry'. "Ready as any of us will ever be."