A Semester of Deceit and Love
Chapter 10: A Withdrawal
Tomoyo looked sadly over at the girl next to her, who was studying intently, and had been studying non-stop for the past five hours. Sakura hasn't been herself since what happened over a month ago. She's never studied like this before…although she is getting better grades than she's ever gotten before. But it's just not like her...
She watched as Sakura yawned, stretching her arms above her head, then continued with her homework. Tomoyo sighed. I thought that maybe when she found out that Ryan had been sentenced to two years in prison, that she would feel better. But she hasn't changed at all.
"Sakura-chan?"
Sakura looked up slowly toward Tomoyo.
"Would you like to take a break with me? We could go get something to drink," Tomoyo suggested hopefully.
Sakura shook her head. "No, that's okay. I'm fine. You go without me."
Tomoyo just stared at her best friend, who again had turned back to her studies. She slowly got up and left the room. Sakura didn't even look up as Tomoyo left, shutting the door gently behind her.
Tomoyo stopped as she closed the door, leaning heavily against the wall. I don't know what to do…
***
Syaoran looked down at his feet thinking as he made his way down the hall back to his room. He couldn't stop thinking about Sakura and how she'd been acting lately. Not cheerful at all. And she's been staying by herself more than she used to. She never goes out with Daidouji-san anymore. And she barely ever talks to anyone else.
He suddenly bumped into someone.
"Sorry," he mumbled, not looking up and continuing to walk.
Tomoyo, who had been almost slammed up against the wall, stared after Syaoran. He hasn't been acting normally either.
"Li-kun?"
Syaoran finally stopped at the mention of his name, looking back to see a worried looking Tomoyo.
"Yes?" he asked quietly.
"Are you okay?" she asked him.
He looked at her. "Oh, you were the one I ran into. I'm sorry."
Tomoyo stared at him, her face falling slightly. "It's okay," she said. "But are you okay? You've been acting weird since…" her voice trailed off.
Syaoran just looked back at her for a moment. "How's Sakura-san?"
Tomoyo sighed as he avoided her question. "I don't think she's okay."
Syaoran nodded. He already knew. I wish I knew how to make her feel better. I think she thinks it's all her fault… He almost growled as he thought about Ryan and what had happened a little over a month before.
He turned away from Tomoyo and began walking once more. Tomoyo just watched him as he left. She sighed.
***
Sakura hunched over her books a few days later in the library. The beginning of finals was only a week away. She looked at her watch. She still had two hours before her next class.
Her eyes drooped a little as she continued to read a book for one of her classes. It had been a long time since she had gotten a decent night's sleep. She just couldn't sleep, or her sleep was fitful, filled with bad dreams of the recent past.
She forced herself to stay awake, deciding to switch subjects, realizing that reading was not going to help her stay awake. She pulled out her Calculus textbook and began to work some practice problems. Even with all the studying she had been doing, math was still causing her significant trouble.
Fifteen minutes later, Sakura dropped her pencil exasperatedly, having not even completed one problem correctly. She sighed. I just need to study some more. I want to get a good grade in this…
Syaoran watched her silently from a few tables away. Sakura hadn't even noticed when he had arrived. He looked worriedly at her. Her clothes were falling loosely around her, and he could tell she was tired. She hasn't been eating right since then…and all she does now is study. This isn't healthy.
He watched nervously as a young male student approached her and began talking to her. Syaoran was too far away to hear what he was saying. But Sakura soon shook her head politely, saying a few words. The student looked disappointed but almost not surprised as he began to walk away. Syaoran sighed. She's been staying away from everyone…especially the guys. And they all like her. They must be surprised that she's not with anyone and doesn't seem to want to be. But…I'm kind of glad that she's refusing all of them…
Syaoran groaned quietly. What am I thinking? Can I really be that selfish?
Syaoran's eyes widened as he heard Sakura suddenly groan. He decided to go over to her. He almost smiled when he saw the math that was causing her so many problems. She looked up as he approached, then looked quickly away.
"Do you mind if I sit here?" he asked, pointing to the seat across from her.
"That's fine," she mumbled.
He looked again at the math laid out before her. "Do you want some help?"
Sakura looked at him. He almost gasped as he finally noticed the dark bags under her eyes, which had dimmed slightly. Sakura looked away, uncomfortable under his stare.
"It seems like you're having some problems with your Calculus," he said.
Sakura nodded. "Yeah…I've never been good at this."
He leaned over to take a glance at her book. "Let's start then," he said smiling at her.
She smiled back.
***
About an hour later, Sakura and Syaoran finally closed the book and sat back tired. Syaoran sighed. It had been harder than he had expected to help teach Sakura the material she had been having problems with. I guess she really isn't a math person…but she did eventually get it. He smiled. I'm glad she let me help her. It was nice to be close to her for a while…
Sakura looked over at the young man before her. He's always so nice. He never used to have this kind of patience…especially not with me…
"Thank you, Syaoran-kun," she said softly.
He blushed slightly. "It was no problem. I'm glad I could help."
She smiled at him. "Well, I guess I better be going. I have a class soon."
Syaoran looked at his watch, his eyes widening. He sighed, then laughed. Sakura stared at him confused. "I missed my class," he explained. "I completely forgot about it."
"I'm sorry!" Sakura apologized, looking downcast. Syaoran just smiled at her. "It's perfectly fine. That class is too boring and too easy anyway. Don't worry about it, okay?"
Sakura smiled weakly at him.
"If you ever need help again, just ask, alright?" Syaoran told her. "I wouldn't mind helping you at all."
Sakura looked at him surprised, then looked quickly away as a small blush began to creep over her face.
"Thank you," she said again, turning to leave. Syaoran watched her as she walked away and out of the library. His face finally brightened for the first time in a long time. He smiled.
***
End of Chapter 10
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