Hi, I am back!!!! With a new chapter, hope you guys liked the prologue and enjoy your reading!!
'' Thoughts
"" Dialogue
* * * * * Time had passed
Disclaimer: I don't own anything.
An Exchange Student
Chapter 1: New friends and a new life.
Knock, knock. A girl with purple-tinted black hair opened the door. She wore a HuaFen Basketball T-shirt and shorts on this cool spring day. She had dark brown eyes and rosy lips. Her hair was up in a pony tail and she had obviously been working out.
"Are you Samantha Chen?" Sakura asked politely in Chinese. She had been studying Chinese ever since she determined to be an archeologist and attend the finest school in that field.
"Hi, you must be Sakura Kinomoto. It's lovely to see you. Yes, I'm Samantha Chen, but people call me Sam. Please come in," Sam said as she helped Sakura with her luggage. (assume everything is spoken in Chinese unless noted). "I hope you won't mind sharing this apartment with me. There's really no one else but you and me. Sometimes my friends come but that's really it." She said as she led Sakura into their rooms. It was a large room with a bunk bed. There are two desks, one with computer and one doesn't, some drawers and a HUGE closet full of clothes. The wall is full of basketball, soccer, field hockey, and swim trophy, ribbons, and awards. "It's not much but I hope you'll like it."
"It's wonderful. But what about your parents?" Sakura asked as she started to unpack her boxes into empty drawers and space.
"Oh, they are always traveling on business. So I have my own place. Good thing Hong Kong kids don't need a legal guardian when they are 16." Sam said as she helped Sakura unpack.
"So are you on the basket ball team at HuaFen?" Sakura asked, noticing her outfit.
"Oh, right now I'm the co-captain of the soccer and basketball. Our soccer team is the best. Undefeated since 3 years ago. I play field hockey in the fall and swim in the summer. But soccer is truly my sport. Do you do anything back in Japan?" Sam asked, trying to get to know Sakura.
"Oh, I'm a cheerleader all seasons long. Do you have a cheerleading team there?" Sakura asked.
"Of course, I'll introduce you to the captain tomorrow. I'll go order us some pizza for dinner. Is cheese pizza okay with you?"
"Sure, thanks."
* * * * *
Monday at lunch in the cafeteria.
"Sakura, how was your mourning?" Sam asked as she led her around to her table. The cafeteria was packed with people so they had quite a long road to go.
"History and Japanese were the best. Math was okay but Chinese is really hard, even if I'm just in level 5. I can't wait till Archeology class this afternoon."
"Don't' worry. A lot of people here are from other countries for its great archeology program. Maybe people are in level 1 Chinese so don't worry about. Enjoy." Sam then pointed out her friends from far apart.
"The red-head's name is Melissa. She's the captain of field hockey and co-cap b-ball. The one beside her, the blond, is Michael and also her long time boyfriend. They've been going out since forever. He's from the US and is the captain of boy's b-ball and plays defense. The guy next to him with the highlighted brown hair is Brad. He's a sweetie and he's the goalie of the soccer team. The guy across from him with the dirty blond hair is Cameron. He's really a player and is the football captain and plays midfield. The girl next to him with light brown but dyed to blond hair is Hanna. She's a real heartbreaker and is the captain of dance team. Roger is on the other side of Cameron and really likes to suck up to him. He's from Africa and is also a football player. The head cheerleader and the soccer co-cap don't seem to be here yet. They are probably under a bleacher making out. They've been going out for a couple of weeks now. I'll introduce you to them when they come." Sam said as she led her in front of her friends. Even with all the info on the people, Sakura still felt a little uneasy. Sam sat down beside Brad while Cameron insisted on Sakura sitting beside him.
"What brings such a fair lady into our presence?" Cameron said as he kissed Sakura's hand. Sakura blushed a little as she sat down. Roger, Brad, and Michael greeted shyly. Melissa immediately offered to help Sakura around school but Hanna give Sakura a look of dislike.
As the group casually started talking about classes and the newest gossip, Brad suddenly said. "The star couple is here." Sakura turned around and saw….
Syaoron and Meiling were working their way through the crowd after just having Chinese 11 together. He felt this familiar aura around him all mourning, but he hasn't told Meiling about it yet. He and Meiling started going out a few months ago after his 1 millionth lecture from his mother and elders and some other relative of sorts. He decided to cave in. He was going to marry her anyway so why not get use to it now. Syaoron loved Meiling dearly as a sister but couldn't give her the love she wanted. Meiling was ecstatic when Syaoron asked her out. She said it was the best day of her life. Syaoron couldn't bear to hurt her.
Now an old feeling had came with this aura. 'It couldn't possibly be.' Syaoron thought. 'just let it go and have a good lunch with your friends.'
"The star couple is here," Brad said, as it was the usual greeting for them since they started going out. A brown hair girl turned around.
"Sakura!" Syaoron said suddenly, dead stopping in his tracks. Meiling was so surprised that she dropped her books.
"What are you doing here?" Meiling asked, still in surprise mode.
"Hi, you guys know each other? Cool," Michael said.
"Sakura, Li's my co-cap in soccer and Meiling's the head cheerleader," Sam added. The last statement surprised Sakura.
"Hi, Meiling and Syaoron." Sakura said, trying to hide her uneasiness.
"Hello Sakura," Meiling said. It's not that she didn't like Sakura. Sakura's a likable person. It's just that she might be the one who could steal away Syaoron even after all these years.
Syaoron and Meiling sat together beside Sam.
"It's nice to see you again," Syaoron finally found something to say. He was working hard to stop a blush from creeping up.
Sakura paused for a moment on what seems like an eternity to Syaoron. Everyone thought she was processing the Chinese but she was really thinking about what to say.
"I wish I could say the same," Sakura answered in Japanese. Only Syaoron and Meiling understood. Syaoron felt he had been hit with a ton of weight.
"I have to go to my classes to get some of the work that I need. I'll see you guys around," Sakura said in Chinese as she stood up. No one knew what just happened.
"Do you want me to walk you?" Cameron offered as he stood up besides her.
'Don't go with him Sakura, don't go with him,' Syaoron secretly thought but no such luck.
"Sure, that would be really helpful, thank you" Sakura said. They left the table together.
"So you guys know each other?" Roger said.
"Duh!" Hanna said with more dislike. She always wanted Syaoron for herself and is really mad at Meiling. Now comes another who knew Syaoron from before.
"How did you guys knew each other?" Sam asked.
"Long story," Syaoron said. "I have to go to Physics early to set up a lab. I'll see you guys later," Syaoron said as he left.
"oooooooooooooohhhhhhhh," the group teased.
"Stop it," Meiling snapped. "This is not the best subject to talk about around him."
"Why not?" Roger asked. He was truly stupid.
"Just because," Meiling retorted.
* * * * *
'Oh, no!" Sakura thought as she opened her locker after her last class. 'I forgot to ask Sam for a key to the apartment.' "Excuse me," Sakura said as a boy pass by her. The boy was awed that someone as beautiful as Sakura was talking to him. "Do you know where the soccer team practice?"
"A..at the …practice…f..f..field behind the sch….school," the boy stuttered. He was wearing these huge black-frame glasses and short pants with suspenders.
"Thanks," Sakura said. She walked toward the soccer field.
From far off, she could see Sam the mist of the soccer players since she was the only girl on the team. She could see that she was playing one on one with a defensive player and a goalie. On the other side, an amber hair boy was doing the same thing. The rest of the team was just running drills. Sakura silently awed. That was a great way to run a team. This way, everyone gets some attention to work on his or her personal needs.
"Sakura!" Brad called. He was the goalie of the closer goal. Syaoron and the defensive player also stopped. Sakura went down to the field. Sam, Cameron and Michael were all present when Sakura reached Syaoron and Brad.
"What are you doing here?" Brad asked, giving Sakura shy smile. Cameron, on the other hand, completely pushes everyone aside to talk to Sakura.
"What a beautiful lady like you doing watching our horrendous practice?" He said as he kissed Sakura's hand again.
"Keep away from her," Syaoron said suddenly, unable to control his anger. He will not allow Cameron to hurt Sakura as he does with other girls.
Sakura blushed. 'What does he meant was that?'
"What's your problem? I thought you already had a girl," Cameron retaliated. The guys doesn't like each other very much.
"I think he meant to keep your sweaty self away so Sakura won't run with disgust," Sam said. "It's really not that effective to impress a lady when you are dripping with sweat." The rest of the team laughed. Cameron, to Sakura's surprise, kept his cool. It's like he expected Sam's retaliation.
"Then I shall meet milady some other time when I am properly attired," Cameron said, flashing Sakura with a 1000-volt smile. Sakura blushed a little under the crowd but Syaoron thought different.
'Sakura, don't fall under his spell. You don't want to get hurt like some others before you. Don't be stupid'
"What are you doing here? You're disturbing practice," Syaoron said. Even though he didn't mean it, it came out coldly.
Sakura felt someone just slapped her. A part of her knew she loved Syaoron but she had convinced herself that she was over him. Now, it's like they've never been friends before. They've never been through all the card capturing together. 'It's like I'm a stranger.' Sakura thought. Sakura didn't know how to reply. She fought to control her tears.
"Oh, how dumb of me," Sam said, slapping her forehead. "I forgot to give you a key." Sam saw Sakura's hurt by Syaoron remark that she didn't know how to answer. Sam walked over to her bag and brought out a Guess necklace key chain with a silver key on it. "Do you mind to make another copy of the key? There's a key store behind the building."
Sakura nodded and left with the key. She ran as fast as her legs can carry her. From a distance, she heard the whistle and Sam and Syaoron orders to keep practicing.
* * * * *
Sam and Sakura sat down at a table consist of everyone but Melissa and Michael. Sam sat beside Hanna and Sakura beside Cameron again. Everyone made a point to say hi and they started to gossip about where Melissa and Michael might be. Syaoron and Sakura stayed out of that conversation. In fact, they weren't talking at all.
"Oh, today's Friday. What are we going to do tonight?" Sam asked. It turns out that it's a tradition that the group hangs out every Friday night.
"Oh, my house. We could grill what Melissa and Michael are were doing at lunch then," Cameron said. Everyone seemed to agree.
"I don't think my parents are going to let us in our house any time soon after what happened last time," Hanna said. "And we are never allowed to go to Syaoron's house."
"More like mansion," Brad said. "It's huge."
"You've been there before?" Hanna asked. "I thought it was forbidden."
"Oh no, just passed by before," Brad answered. "We really need a tour of your home you know?"
"Well, we are constantly flooded with guests so it's not really convinent for my mom," Syaoron said, even though it wasn't true. People aren't allowed to know where the Li Clan is.
"Are you coming to the gathering?" Cameron asked Sakura.
"I don't' know. I have lots of homework and I still need to unpack a few things," Sakura didn't' really want to go. The group urged and persuaded her.
"She will go if she has the time," Meiling said in Sakura's aid. "Now will you all stop bothering her like a bunch of little kids?" The group didn't say anything about the party after that.
* * * * *
"I know you don't really like most of my friends," Sam said to Sakura in her room. Sam was changing for the party.
"No, they are wonderful. And they are really, really…."
"I just want you to know that you don't have to hang out with us if you don't want to. I just wanted you to hang with my crowd because it's easier on the both of us. We would get to know each other better that way. And we could have more to talk about. This is a perfect opportunity for you to know them." Sam said as she slipped into a pair of faded jeans shorts and an orange tube top.
'What could it hurt? I might get to know these people better, why not?' "Okay, I guess," Sakura said. Even though she knew she would meet Syaoron there. 'There are other people there. I just don't have to take to him. It's not like I'm still in love with him.' 'But you are." A little voiced in Sakura's head said.
Sam interrupted her thoughts. "Let's go. It's already 8:40. We have to be there by 9."
* * * * *
After all the little talks and a movie, the gang decided to play truth or dare.
"Truth or dare, Meiling," Melissa said.
"Truth."
Melissa already had an idea in mind. "Tell us, which base have you gone with Syaoron?"
Sakura's heart jumped. The group huddled closer to Meiling.
"None," Syaoron answered for Meiling.
"Now, now, the question's for Meiling, not for you," Cameron said. "Or are you afraid of the truth?"
"The answer is none," Meiling answered. The group was a bit skeptical. Sakura's heart slowed down a little. 'Why do I care?' 'Because you still care about him' 'no I don't' 'yes you do' but Hanna broke her thoughts by asking Sakura truth or dare. Sakura hesitated a little. There were some pretty dangerous dare performed and she wasn't sure she's up for that.
"Truth."
"Hanna didn't even pause when she asked, "What's your true relationship with Syaoron?" Syaoron was drinking so he spilled some water.
"Scared?" Brad asked. Syaoron ignored him.
"What do you mean by true relationship?" Sakura asked.
"I mean are you guys just friends back when you guys knew each other or is there something more?" Hanna asked.
Sakura's eyes caught Syaoron's. They stared at each other for a while. 'What was I to him? What AM I to him?' She broke off the eye contact with Syaoron to answer the question.
"Just friends," Sakura said. "Maybe not even that."
Syaoron's heart felt someone just stabbed him. 'How can she think that? After all we've been through. After all the time I protected him, cherished him, loved her.' 'You still love her now.' A little voice said in his head. Syaoron didn't want to think anymore.
Hanna was going to ask more when Cameron stopped her. "She have answered the question so don't bother anymore. Syaoron, truth or dare?"
"Dare." All the boy had chose dare. Cameron thought about it for a while. Every had been whispering ideas in his ears but he decided to use Sam's idea. He put pieces off papers in a hat.
"Syaoron, I dare you to kiss the girl whose name is drawn out of this hat," Cameron dared. "Of course, Meiling's name is not in there. That would be too easy. The whole point of this is to see if dare to do this in front of your girlfriend." The group grinned.
"You are evil, Sam," Syaoron said.
"How do you it's her idea?" Brad asked.
"No one is as evil as she is," Syaoron simply said. He put his hand in the hat and drew out a piece of paper. Cameron took it as people gathered around him.
"The lucky girl is…." Cameron waited for special effects. The group drum-rolled. Then, his face fell.
"Sakura." He said softly.
Syaoron's head swung around and met Sakura's eyes. The room quieted. Sakura's and Syaoron's heart jumped.
Will they kiss? Or will Sakura be too hurt to accept Syaoron? Or will Syaoron be too loyal to Meiling and his family to follow his heart?
Hope you liked this Chapter. Email your comments to me at sakuralover2004@hotmail.com if fido's giving you any trouble. R&R!!!!!!! :)