Disclaimer: I will never own CCS *darn*

At Your Side

By Silver MoonStar

Chapter 3: A Challenger Mentally, Physically, Academically, (You get the picture)

General POV

"Sakura!!! Get up!" Tomoyo yelled into Sakura's bedroom. With a loud yawn and big stretch the girl got up casually until she saw her alarm clock - "7.45??!! I'm running late!!!" She grabbed her clothes that were all over the place. Then she grabbed her towel and rushed to the bathroom at a record's time.

When Sakura got out of the showers it was exactly 8am. Everyone was nearly out of the door. "Sakura!!!" Tomoyo called. "I know, I know, I'm coming," Sakura said shoving a piece of toast into her mouth. She skidded in front of the doorway, pulled out her keys and slammed the door shut before locking the gate. Together they rushed off to college without another word.

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Huffing and puffing, our CCS gang arrived at school 5 minutes after admission. "Ahh, nice of you to join us," the teacher said. The class twittered with whispers and giggles. Sakura blushed a deep crimson. Tomoyo just grinned while the other two looked quite out of place. "Sorry, Mr. Seanen, I overslept," Sakura spoke up. "Take your seats," Mr. Seanen said sternly. Sakura went to the near end of the room where her seat was and Tomoyo sat beside her, followed by eyes. Syaoran scowled while Eriol had one his usual smile.

"You two?" Mr. Seanen questioned. "We're the new students," Eriol said politely. "First day here and you're late?" the man asked raising his black eyebrows. "We were in the same apartment as the girls so we left late because one of them was hard to wake up," Li growled. "You could have jolly well turn up earlier, why did you have to wait?" Mr. Seanen said in his contrary voice. Li didn't reply. 'Great, my first impression was bad' he thought.

But the teacher didn't dig into the matter anymore. He turned to the class and said, "Right, class. Today we have two new members to our merry gang. This is Eriol Hiiragizawa and Syaoran Li." Eriol bowed the traditional Japanese bow but Li remained as he was on managing a itsy bitsy smile(A/N: Real cold as a stinking fish isn't he?). A silence proceed after that. "Take your seats gentlemen," Mr. Seanen gritted, "Do I have to instruct you to do everything?"

The class sniggered including Sakura and Tomoyo. The two climbed up the steps looking for a place to sit (A/N: The classroom is sort of those lecture places in Universities, you know the one with the steps). A lot of girls signal to Li to sit beside them wherever there was an empty space. Some even shifted places to allow space. But the latter climbed steadily on with his companion until he reached to the back, behind Sakura and Madison.

"Now can we start the lesson properly?" Mr. Seanen asked patiently. Eriol gave a thumbs up. Li got out his stationery and notepad.

"Today's lesson in our Literature Class is on the works of Shakespeare. . ." Mr. Seanen started. Everyone groaned. "I know you guys don't like him that much but at the end of this term, we will have to do a play. Either that or I get to choose the play," Mr. Seanen said good- naturedly. "Oh Romeo, Romeo. . ." a girl sitting front exaggerated. All the girls giggled. "Now, now Mary- Beth. We may not be doing Romeo and Juliet," Mr. Seanen smiled. "Bubble, bubble toil and trouble," another boy commented. "Shut up Leo!" his friend snapped. "Let's do A Midsummer Nights' Dream," Madison contributed. "Yeah!" several others supported her idea.

Seeing that several students were already agreeing to the idea. "That's one for the Midsummer Nights' Dream. Any other suggestions?"

It went on for the rest of the lesson. In the end, A Midsummer's Night Dream, Hamlet, Othello, Romeo and Juliet and Macbeth tied each other. "Tonight, your only homework for Literature class is to research on which play is appropriate. Class dismissed," Mr. Seanen said. He gathered up his things and rushed off. The class took their time on packing up.

"So, Madison which play do you think it's going to be?" Sakura asked her friend. "I'm still going for my suggestion," Madison said. Slinging her bag strap over her shoulder. "Why not Romeo and Juliet?" Eriol asked from behind her. "Ugh, too mushy," Sakura muttered. "I agree with Sakura and besides we don't want a flooded auditorium after that do we?" Madison grinned. "What about you Li?" Sakura asked the silent boy. "Macbeth," he replied dully. "Eye of newt, Lizards Tongue. . ." Sakura chanted running down the steps.

"See you at the apartment later!" she shouted going out of the door [followed by several boys (]. "Where is she going?" Eriol asked curiously. "Cheerleading Practice," Madison said going down the stairs with him. Li stared after them. He was alone, as usual.

"Hey, Li. . ." a girl stood beside him. Li turned and saw a blonde girl with blue eyes smiling flirtatiously at him. He heard giggles coming from the bottom of the room. There were several other girls gathered in a group pretending they weren't looking. 'They're going to get a piece of Li Syaoran, watch me,' Li thought evilly.

"Yeah?" Li said casually. The girl giggled, "I'm Jessica Lange." "So?" Li asked coldly. The girl seemed unruffled. "I think we'd make a cute couple if we're acting Romeo and Juliet," Jessica said still giggling. 'God, this girl is so straight' Li thought. "Listen, Jessie or whatever your name is, I'm really busy, can we talk about this later?" Li said moving away. "Bye sweetie- pie," Jessica called after him while he went down. 'That is so damn revolting' Li shook his head. When he passed Jessica's group, she was there telling her tale. "He called me Jessie!" she giggled. The other girls burst into squeals of laughter.

As he was passing the field where there were several boys playing soccer, a ball came speeding towards him. "Look out!" everyone on the field yelled. He dropped his books immediately and with quick reflexes, he kick the ball with incredible force that went straight into the goal(A/N: This scene is from the episode of the Time Card right?). Everyone else was stunned and still dazed. "Hey! You there!" the coach called directing at him. Li himself look pleasantly happy at what he did. "Would you join our team?" the coach yelled at him. Li waved back to agree, dropping his serious pose. "What's your name kid?" the coach shouted again at him.

"Syaoran, Li Syaoran," Li hollered not even annoyed at the "kid". The coach scribbled something on his board. 'So it wasn't that bad after all' Li thought contentedly, walking past swooning, admiring girls. Sakura's POV "So, Sakura, how is Li like?" Chiharu asked. "Why would you want to know?" Sakura asked back, twirling her baton expertly. "Just wanted to ask," Chelsea replied while they toss the batons into the air. "He's confusing at extremely bad- tempered," Sakura replied catching the baton (A/N: She mastered the move! Yay!). "Just the way I like it, tall, dark and handsome," Chiharu said.

"And the way I like it," a new voice entered. It was Jessica (the irritating brat again). She had tied up her hair into an elegant ponytail. "Hi, Jessica," Sakura greeted her politely. She wasn't one to be rude (A/N: Except to poor Li!). "Listen Kinomoto, if I catch you and him-- " Jessica threatened. "Relax, I can't stand that gaki anyways," Sakura said reassuringly. "What's a gaki?" Jessica asked suspiciously. " A brat," Chiharu giggled. "Whatever, just don't go near him," Jessica said walking away.

"B*tch," Chiharu muttered. "leave her be, people like that never get paid out in the end, besides Li is a gaki," Sakura chuckled. She jumped over Chiharu's back and landed with a clean split. Everyone around her applauded. No one could do a finishing move with a split except Sakura. Sakura beamed. "Good, Sakura," the Cheerleader congratulated her. "You should be in my rank." "No, I still can't master a few moves yet," Sakura said modestly. "Don't be so modest Sakura," Rika, Naoko and almost all the others cheered her on. Sakura blushed (#^_^#!). Only one person wasn't happy, yep, it was Jessica.

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Tomoyo's POV "That's creative Tanya, yeah you could trim down that side, wait!" Tomoyo was saying. She rushed to the screen and pushed up a strand of hair of the actress filming. "Continue." "Back to you Tanya, I think the dress is really good. How did you design it that way? It's ingenious," Tomoyo praised the girl. Tanya was in Tomoyo's crew of budding directors and designers. Right now they were having a mini discussion. Tanya's blush was clear even against her dark skin. Tomoyo was a good director, designer and chairperson.

"Are you sure?" Tanya asked humbly. "I am never unsure," Tomoyo said firmly.

"Ms. Tomoyo," someone called from the doorway of the small studio, "Someone is here to meet you." Tomoyo looked up and motioned at Tanya to wait for a moment. Eriol was standing at the door. Her heart skipped a beat. 'What's wrong with me? I've only known him for a day and this?' Tomoyo wondered.

"Are you busy?" Eriol ask in his charming voice. "Quite," Tomoyo replied managing to not cause a tremble in her voice. "Oh, I suppose I'll tell you later then," Eriol look downed. Tomoyo looked at him. It was obvious that he was at the verge of bursting out something. "I think I can wrap up my work," Tomoyo said. "Just hold on for a minute." Eriol's smile returned.

Tomoyo rushed back to Tanya, "Sorry-" Tanya smiled understandingly, "You can't let that guy wait for you. . ." "Thanks," Tomoyo nodded. She grabbed hold of the papers of Tanya's dress design. "I'll try to see if I can make any improvement in it for you." Tanya nodded while Tomoyo dashed out with Eriol.

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The café's air-con was slightly chilly. Tomoyo and Eriol sat at a secluded corner. "What's up?" Tomoyo's heart beat at an abnormal rate. "Uh. . . you see. . . there's this girl," Eriol began hesitatingly. 'OMG!' Tomoyo exclaimed inside her mind.

"Yes," Tomoyo encouraged him. Eriol opened his mouth but a waitress zoomed up between them, "What would you like?" "A. . . frappacino (A/N: Is that how they spell it?)," Eriol said. "Just hot tea for me a one sugar cube," Tomoyo added. The waitress rushed off. "Well?" Tomoyo turned back to Eriol. "There's this girl I know. . . ever since I was young," Eriol said hurriedly. Tomoyo's heart sank but she didn't show it, "And?" "Her name is Kaho Mizuki, and I. . ." Eriol stuttered. "You think you love her but you don't know how to tell her?" Tomoyo grinned mischievously. She didn't want to break his heart so let's play matchmaker for a while.

"Uh. . ." Eriol stared at the table. Tomoyo knew she had hit home. "First, what makes you love her?" Tomoyo asked. "I guess whenever I talk to her, her golden- brown eyes just tell the truth and she makes me feel happy whenever I'm around her. . ." Eriol said. His eyes had a dreamy look in them while he talked. 'He's in love all right' Tomoyo sighed. "Tell, her!" Tomoyo said. "How?" Eriol snapped back. "You want it to be something fancy like in a song or something?" Tomoyo started to lose patience. "I don't know. . ." Eriol replied quietly. "Think about it, kay? When you've decided, tell me," Tomoyo patted his hand. Eriol looked up and for once he saw Tomoyo in a different light.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ A/N: This one is quite short but I think it's obvious that E+T moments are coming up and S+S is quite apparent. Which play should the class act? And what do you guys think of Jessica? Or Kaho? R+R please Byee!!!