The glorious sun had gone down about half an hour ago. Now the crisp evening air settled upon the earth as silence claimed the abandoned streets. It was dark except for the dim lights streaming from the house. He shifted to a different position on the grass. He closed his eyes and rested his head back onto the tree trunk. YOU HAVE TO STOP THIS! His mind screamed at him. Stop feeling sorry for yourself!
"Hey man...you all right?" His eyes opened to meet the eyes of the all too kind Ben Sallas, his cousin and one of his best friends.
"Yeh, fine," he mumbled.
Ben took a seat next to him. "What's that?" Motioning to the old-fashioned possession in his lap.
He blinked and looked down in his lap. He took a moment before hesitantly answering, "It was my mom's." It wasn't really a lie. It was technically his mother's.
Ben must've hit a nerve because a unnatural silence surrounded the two. Noticing it, Ben changed the subject. "Hey I have a friend, her birthday is coming up in a couple of days. She's gonna throw a pretty impressive party... well from what I heard anyway. You wanna come?"
He cocked an eyebrow, "You have a friend? A female friend? Just a week after we settled into a new country and just two days after we started school?"
Ben put on an offended expression. "Hey! I'm good looking, it's not that hard to believe, is it?"
His friend choked out 'self-centered' in between mocking coughs. Ben laughed as he patted his childhood friend on the back a couple of times. "You might wanna see a doctor about that nasty cough."
He chuckled, "Now really, who is she?"
"Do you remember the pen-pal project last year? Well, lets just say I actually kept in touch with my pen-pal." Ben said as he got up and turned to face his friend. "Anyhow, you gonna come eat? We're gonna have dinner soon. It's salad and lasagna."
"Nah, I'm not that hungry. I think I'm going to turn in for the night...and I guess I'll come to that party, I don't have anything better to do." He said, also getting up, box in hand. They started to walk toward the house.
Finally they reached the back door. "All right cool, it's two days from now, on Saturday. And hey, if you feel hungry later, you can raid the kitchen." Ben said as he walked into the dining room.
He turned around and wearily walked up to his room, for a goodnights sleep.
Meiling groaned into her pillow. Two days, there was two days to find a present for Tomoyo. Being friends for five years, didn't exactly help in deciding what her present should be. Tomoyo was going to be throwing a party on Saturday, and today was Wednesday. She frowned, she didn't really feel like going to any social gatherings. She'd much rather stay home and poke around the house. But it would do good for you to go out, her mind told her. She scowled her mind for being right.
The voice at her door sent Meiling jumping. She could see a figure's shadow underneath her door. Wei's voice floated through the door, "Meiling, it's dinner time, come down and eat."
She called out to the retreating shadow of a familiar, older man, "I'll be down in a second."
Hopping out of her tangled covers, she shivered as the wind blew at her through her open window. She tiptoed over to shut it, and gasped as she saw the enchanting sky glimmer with a million fiery-white orbs. Smiling, she quietly shut the window and hurried down the stairs for dinner.
Two days later, the Saturday morning sun hit Tomoyo Daidouji's face as she rubbed the sleep from her eyes. Suddenly, she jumped up grinning. Today was her birthday. Her 16th birthday! With a broad smile, she ran a brush through her hair and changed into a light yellow and blue sun-dress. Once she was done, she wandered out into the cold hallway with the smooth wooden floor. Tomoyo slid down the marble banister as she laughed gleefully and thought about the party, which was tonight. Landing with a gentle thud, she walked into the dining room for breakfast, with a content smile on her face.
After breakfast, Tomoyo sat waiting for Eriol to come help her prepare for the party. She smiled and walked with a little bounce to the door and opened it. On the other side stood the immaculate Eriol Hiiragizawa. He had a wide grin on his face.
"Well," Eriol said after a moment. "Aren't you going to invite me in?"
"Oh! Gomen!" Tomoyo smiled sheepishly. "Come in, come in!"
She stared at what he was holding with careful thought, "A little to the right."
Obeying, he did as she wished.
"Move it up," commanded her unsatisfied voice.
Frowning, he moved it up.
"No...that doesn't look right. Tilt it to the left a little." Her fingers were held away from her in a square shape, as she eyed the banner.
Groaning he started to complain, "Daidouji-san!" But he complied to her request anyway. "We've been doing this for over an hour!"
"Don't exaggerate Hiiragizawa-kun." She mumbled. She surveyed the banner once more and then smiled. "Perfect."
His face broke into a smirk, "Who me?"
She rolled her eyes while she turned and walked down the stairs toward her back yard. "No, I was talking about your unsightly behind."
He wiggled a finger at her. "Tsk tsk...Daidouji-san! Just what are your eyes doing there?" He raised an eyebrow and smirked at her, "Well, at least I know your looking there."
She fumed at him blushing, while they glared at each other. Then suddenly after a minute or two, they burst out laughing.
"Who would want to look there anyway, Hiiragizawa-kun?" She said as she plopped herself down on a big lawn chair. Eriol smiled to himself and took a seat next to her.
Before he could answer, a bubbly Sakura ran through the back doors and toward the two. She had a smiling Meiling and a scowling Syaoran behind her. Tomoyo and Eriol stood up to greet the trio.
"Hey, Tomoyo, Eriol!" Sakura gave her best-friend a big hug and handed her a box wrapped in white with pink ribbons. "Happy Birthday Tomoyo!!!"
Meiling gave Tomoyo a hug too. "Yeh! Happy Sweet-16 Tomoyo-chan!" Meiling said as she handed her a small box gift wrapped with yellow happy birthday wrapping-paper. "You better like it! I spent a lot of time thinking of what to get you!"
"Arigato Sakura, Arigato Meiling." Tomoyo beamed.
"Syaoran...your turn." Meiling whispered, nudging him.
"I hope you like it, I didn't know what else to get you Tomoyo," Syaoran said smiling a bit.
"Arigato, Syaoran!" Tomoyo replied smiling while she accepted the gift.
Sakura smiled at them all. "Now that's over with, lets continue with the decorating!"
Sakura gave Tomoyo a look as if for permission. Tomoyo nodded. Sakura smiled and opened her bag, out flew a yellow blob.
"Fooooooood!" He yelled as he plunged toward a table full of pastries.
Hm...heh! Well, that was odd... O_o;; Erm...does anyone want cliff hangers...? I can write some if ya like...hm...::deep in thought:: well R&R! thanks!