Disclaimer: I don't own Madonna's song Inside of Me.
Chapter 7: Hiding Behind the Cold Mask
The fog was still thick and the sky was still covered in darkness when Tomoyo awakened. She quickly fixed her bed and went down the stairs. "Good morning, mother." "Good morning dear. I see you're up early. Are you going to do anything special today?" "I would like to ask you if I could spend the morning by the lake. Albert told me sunrise was a beautiful sight when you watch it at Rosewood Lake." "True, true. But are you sure you won't be afraid of going there alone? I mean, it's very early. Though I'm sure you'll be quite safe," Margaret smiled. Tomoyo beamed. "Thank you mother!" And she ate up her breakfast happily.
The lake was still dark when he got there. No birds were chirping, and the wind was blowing gently, causing fluid ripples to break the lake's surface. Edward took of his shirt and shoes and waded into the cold water. "Now this is the life," he remarked quietly as he floated on his back and gently moved around the lake. "No disturbances, just a peaceful way of starting your day." As soon as he said that, a rustle among the bushes was heard. His sharp senses noticed it immediately and he swam back to the bank and hid behind some trees. "Must a wild animal," he muttered. A cloaked figure emerged from the dark and went to the edge of the lake. Edward watched it carefully as a hand appeared and took off the hood. He gasped as the beautiful face of Tomoyo came into picture. "Catherine?" he recognized her. But he decided to watch her activities for a while. Tomoyo surveyed the scene. The mist was slowly fading and the sun was rising. She immediately went to sit on one of the tree roots where Albert and his friends stayed yesterday. He was horrified when Tomoyo sat in front of his hiding place. "My clothes!" he whispered in a near panicky tone. "She mustn't see me like this!" He continued his inner debate when a thought struck him. Now why do you seem so conscious about Catherine seeing you? You could just walk over there and get your clothes. You managed to ignore her yesterday, why not today? That gave him courage and purposefully walked behind her and cleared his throat.
Tomoyo gave a start when she heard someone from behind. "E-Edward!" she said when she saw his lean, still wet body. "I mean, Mister Edward, you gave me a fright!" He lost his nerve when she spoke his name without the formalities. "I- I'm sorry." A blush crept up to his cheeks but grabbed his self from becoming a complete idiot in front of her. "I mean, I didn't mean to surprise you." The awkward scene remained for a few minutes until Tomoyo decided to end it. "Why aren't you with your friends? Shouldn't you be working also?" Her statement startled him. "I don't work." "You don't?" "Yes. Because we have enough money to sustain ourselves." "I see." She could relate because she was also in the same state as he was. Before. The word suddenly rendered her in silence. Before, everything that came before this was in a blur. She frowned at the thought of what had happened. The memories came flooding back to her. Eriol. "What's wrong?" Edward asked, seeing the girl quite disturbed. He put on his shirt and tapped her shoulder again. Tomoyo looked at him in response. Suddenly, she was seeing a different person than the one standing in front of her. The gray gaze turned into blue orbs and the frowning face changed into a smiling one. Edward was having a hard time with himself. He didn't know why, but he was starting to get nervous. Why was she staring at him like that? He felt his face burn when Tomoyo's purple gaze settle on him for a long time. He looked away. "Wait!" she suddenly spoke. When Edward looked at her, she suddenly shook herself. "No, it's nothing. I just remembered something." Edward seemed inquisitive, but Tomoyo didn't want to answer that. "I need to go home right now. Aunt Margaret must be looking for me." It was Edward's turn to stop her. "Margaret? You mean Margaret Blake?" She turned. "Yes. Does she work for you?" He nodded. "She sews my sister's clothes." "Oh. " Then the air suddenly got really balmy. "I really must go. I have a lot of chores to do." She walked away, but stopped when Edward called her again. "Can I see you again?" Such a simple, innocent, and harmless request. But to the two, it was a shocking moment that spoke blaring volumes to their own silence. "This afternoon, when the sun is not very high and the breezes are cool," Edward added, much to his own surprise. Tomoyo's blush deepened and didn't look back when she answered. "I'd like that."
"You're going where?" Margaret's arched eyebrow heavily attested to the maternal qualities all women seemed to suddenly posses once they had children. "At Rosewood Lake this afternoon." "And why are you going there?" Tomoyo swallowed. "Nothing, I would like to rest in a more quiet area." Margaret's face remained impassive while Tomoyo pleaded silently. Even Tomoyo was suddenly surprised when she caught herself wishing to see the lad. She was somehow attracted to him despite of his faults. "Just be careful on your way there and back here, all right?" "Yes!" she cheered. "I mean, yes, I will."
Tomoyo found Edward waiting for her on a rock. "I'm sorry for my lateness." He shook his head. "No it's okay, I just got here myself." Then he stood up. "Let's begin, shall we?" She took his offered arm and he led her to a small boat by the bank. Edward reached out his hand and Tomoyo took it. Their gazes got locked while Tomoyo sat down and Edward heaved himself in. It was momentarily broken when Edward reached for the oars and started paddling around the lake. Tomoyo busied herself with a tune while Edward was paddling quietly.
I can't stop thinking of you The things we used to do The secrets we once shared I'll always find them there In my memories
But this heartache isn't going anywhere In the public eye I act like I don't care When there's no one watching me I'm crying
I will always have you, inside of me Even though you're gone Love still carries on Love, inside of me
I keep a picture of you Next to my bed at night And when I wake up scared I know I'll find you there Watching over me
Edward stopped paddling when he heard her soft voice. He lowered the oars carefully and stared quietly at her face, which was looking at the waters, still not noticing that he had stopped.
When my world seems to crumble all around And foolish people try to bring me down I just think of your smiling face And I'm flying
You'll always be inside of my heart Inside of me
I will always have you, inside of me Even though you're gone Love still carries on Love still carries on
I will always feel you You'll always be inside of my heart I'll always have you inside of me I will always have you
Time had stopped as they gazed at each other intently, not bothering to break off. The lad was completely enthralled by the simple grace each of the facial curves as it formed the smooth contours of the girl's face. This is art in its most chaste form, thought Edward. A true face revealed beneath the unsmiling mask, Tomoyo concluded in all admiration as she saw beyond his steely eyes. His face was totally breathtaking, like Adonis of the Greeks. Edward continued to wonder why Mother Nature didn't make ladies like her anymore. Most of them were snooty, too shy, or too irritating. But this unfound beauty was unique. She possessed the grace of a tall reed, the beauty of Venus, and the courage of a soldier. Truly, this one is a gift from the heavens. He smiled. Tomoyo blushed when he smiled at her. The boy whose friends labeled him, as Pygmalion's descendant and whom she had considered uncouth actually possessed a beautiful white smile! She turned and looked to her right, when the winds gently played with her hair and caressed her cheek. "I think it would be good for us to go back." They parted ways silently.
Albert's jaw dropped when Tomoyo confessed her afternoon whereabouts. "Sorry mother," she finished with her head bowed. Then a long silence followed. Tomoyo looked up and opened one eye. Albert was pounding on the table and gasping in silent laughter while Margaret was pressing her lips tightly, apparently fighting the urge to laugh. "Considering the huge amount of worry you've caused me Catherine, I have every right to reprimand you. However, because you have contributed to a cause that would undoubtedly be a very big help, I would forgive you," Margaret said while making a solemn face. Tomoyo's face brightened and went to hug the elderly lady. "Thank you." Turning to Albert, "What is so funny?" The lad let out a big guffaw and kept on laughing until he was panting for air. "I'm so sorry, Catherine. It's just that I never thought I'd see the day when the old bloke would fall for a fair girl. I can't wait for the guys to hear about this!" "No! I mean please, surely it would embarrass him if the other guys found about it," Tomoyo pleaded. "Mother please, don't make him." "Oh. Why do I suspect that something's happened more than just a boat ride?" Margaret smiled. Tomoyo wasn't falling for this. "Nothing else happened, really! But you've got to promise to keep it a secret, all right?" Margaret nodded "I promise."
The fog was still thick and the sky was still covered in darkness when Tomoyo awakened. She quickly fixed her bed and went down the stairs. "Good morning, mother." "Good morning dear. I see you're up early. Are you going to do anything special today?" "I would like to ask you if I could spend the morning by the lake. Albert told me sunrise was a beautiful sight when you watch it at Rosewood Lake." "True, true. But are you sure you won't be afraid of going there alone? I mean, it's very early. Though I'm sure you'll be quite safe," Margaret smiled. Tomoyo beamed. "Thank you mother!" And she ate up her breakfast happily.
The lake was still dark when he got there. No birds were chirping, and the wind was blowing gently, causing fluid ripples to break the lake's surface. Edward took of his shirt and shoes and waded into the cold water. "Now this is the life," he remarked quietly as he floated on his back and gently moved around the lake. "No disturbances, just a peaceful way of starting your day." As soon as he said that, a rustle among the bushes was heard. His sharp senses noticed it immediately and he swam back to the bank and hid behind some trees. "Must a wild animal," he muttered. A cloaked figure emerged from the dark and went to the edge of the lake. Edward watched it carefully as a hand appeared and took off the hood. He gasped as the beautiful face of Tomoyo came into picture. "Catherine?" he recognized her. But he decided to watch her activities for a while. Tomoyo surveyed the scene. The mist was slowly fading and the sun was rising. She immediately went to sit on one of the tree roots where Albert and his friends stayed yesterday. He was horrified when Tomoyo sat in front of his hiding place. "My clothes!" he whispered in a near panicky tone. "She mustn't see me like this!" He continued his inner debate when a thought struck him. Now why do you seem so conscious about Catherine seeing you? You could just walk over there and get your clothes. You managed to ignore her yesterday, why not today? That gave him courage and purposefully walked behind her and cleared his throat.
Tomoyo gave a start when she heard someone from behind. "E-Edward!" she said when she saw his lean, still wet body. "I mean, Mister Edward, you gave me a fright!" He lost his nerve when she spoke his name without the formalities. "I- I'm sorry." A blush crept up to his cheeks but grabbed his self from becoming a complete idiot in front of her. "I mean, I didn't mean to surprise you." The awkward scene remained for a few minutes until Tomoyo decided to end it. "Why aren't you with your friends? Shouldn't you be working also?" Her statement startled him. "I don't work." "You don't?" "Yes. Because we have enough money to sustain ourselves." "I see." She could relate because she was also in the same state as he was. Before. The word suddenly rendered her in silence. Before, everything that came before this was in a blur. She frowned at the thought of what had happened. The memories came flooding back to her. Eriol. "What's wrong?" Edward asked, seeing the girl quite disturbed. He put on his shirt and tapped her shoulder again. Tomoyo looked at him in response. Suddenly, she was seeing a different person than the one standing in front of her. The gray gaze turned into blue orbs and the frowning face changed into a smiling one. Edward was having a hard time with himself. He didn't know why, but he was starting to get nervous. Why was she staring at him like that? He felt his face burn when Tomoyo's purple gaze settle on him for a long time. He looked away. "Wait!" she suddenly spoke. When Edward looked at her, she suddenly shook herself. "No, it's nothing. I just remembered something." Edward seemed inquisitive, but Tomoyo didn't want to answer that. "I need to go home right now. Aunt Margaret must be looking for me." It was Edward's turn to stop her. "Margaret? You mean Margaret Blake?" She turned. "Yes. Does she work for you?" He nodded. "She sews my sister's clothes." "Oh. " Then the air suddenly got really balmy. "I really must go. I have a lot of chores to do." She walked away, but stopped when Edward called her again. "Can I see you again?" Such a simple, innocent, and harmless request. But to the two, it was a shocking moment that spoke blaring volumes to their own silence. "This afternoon, when the sun is not very high and the breezes are cool," Edward added, much to his own surprise. Tomoyo's blush deepened and didn't look back when she answered. "I'd like that."
"You're going where?" Margaret's arched eyebrow heavily attested to the maternal qualities all women seemed to suddenly posses once they had children. "At Rosewood Lake this afternoon." "And why are you going there?" Tomoyo swallowed. "Nothing, I would like to rest in a more quiet area." Margaret's face remained impassive while Tomoyo pleaded silently. Even Tomoyo was suddenly surprised when she caught herself wishing to see the lad. She was somehow attracted to him despite of his faults. "Just be careful on your way there and back here, all right?" "Yes!" she cheered. "I mean, yes, I will."
Tomoyo found Edward waiting for her on a rock. "I'm sorry for my lateness." He shook his head. "No it's okay, I just got here myself." Then he stood up. "Let's begin, shall we?" She took his offered arm and he led her to a small boat by the bank. Edward reached out his hand and Tomoyo took it. Their gazes got locked while Tomoyo sat down and Edward heaved himself in. It was momentarily broken when Edward reached for the oars and started paddling around the lake. Tomoyo busied herself with a tune while Edward was paddling quietly.
I can't stop thinking of you The things we used to do The secrets we once shared I'll always find them there In my memories
But this heartache isn't going anywhere In the public eye I act like I don't care When there's no one watching me I'm crying
I will always have you, inside of me Even though you're gone Love still carries on Love, inside of me
I keep a picture of you Next to my bed at night And when I wake up scared I know I'll find you there Watching over me
Edward stopped paddling when he heard her soft voice. He lowered the oars carefully and stared quietly at her face, which was looking at the waters, still not noticing that he had stopped.
When my world seems to crumble all around And foolish people try to bring me down I just think of your smiling face And I'm flying
You'll always be inside of my heart Inside of me
I will always have you, inside of me Even though you're gone Love still carries on Love still carries on
I will always feel you You'll always be inside of my heart I'll always have you inside of me I will always have you
Time had stopped as they gazed at each other intently, not bothering to break off. The lad was completely enthralled by the simple grace each of the facial curves as it formed the smooth contours of the girl's face. This is art in its most chaste form, thought Edward. A true face revealed beneath the unsmiling mask, Tomoyo concluded in all admiration as she saw beyond his steely eyes. His face was totally breathtaking, like Adonis of the Greeks. Edward continued to wonder why Mother Nature didn't make ladies like her anymore. Most of them were snooty, too shy, or too irritating. But this unfound beauty was unique. She possessed the grace of a tall reed, the beauty of Venus, and the courage of a soldier. Truly, this one is a gift from the heavens. He smiled. Tomoyo blushed when he smiled at her. The boy whose friends labeled him, as Pygmalion's descendant and whom she had considered uncouth actually possessed a beautiful white smile! She turned and looked to her right, when the winds gently played with her hair and caressed her cheek. "I think it would be good for us to go back." They parted ways silently.
Albert's jaw dropped when Tomoyo confessed her afternoon whereabouts. "Sorry mother," she finished with her head bowed. Then a long silence followed. Tomoyo looked up and opened one eye. Albert was pounding on the table and gasping in silent laughter while Margaret was pressing her lips tightly, apparently fighting the urge to laugh. "Considering the huge amount of worry you've caused me Catherine, I have every right to reprimand you. However, because you have contributed to a cause that would undoubtedly be a very big help, I would forgive you," Margaret said while making a solemn face. Tomoyo's face brightened and went to hug the elderly lady. "Thank you." Turning to Albert, "What is so funny?" The lad let out a big guffaw and kept on laughing until he was panting for air. "I'm so sorry, Catherine. It's just that I never thought I'd see the day when the old bloke would fall for a fair girl. I can't wait for the guys to hear about this!" "No! I mean please, surely it would embarrass him if the other guys found about it," Tomoyo pleaded. "Mother please, don't make him." "Oh. Why do I suspect that something's happened more than just a boat ride?" Margaret smiled. Tomoyo wasn't falling for this. "Nothing else happened, really! But you've got to promise to keep it a secret, all right?" Margaret nodded "I promise."