Recap: Tomoyo just made up her mind on how she is going to act from now on and she decided to tell Sakura about her decision. Meaning as Tomoyo doesn't believe in love anymore.
Chapter 12
Sakura was in utter shock at what she heard. She did not think that those words would come out of Tomoyo's sweet and innocent lips. "What?!" she asked feebly, but with enough emphasis to make Tomoyo reconsider what she just said. "What?" Sakura repeated again.
"I don't believe in love anymore," Tomoyo said simply, shrugging as she said so.
This was ironic considering all the times Tomoyo had actually thought about love and considered it. Tomoyo would read all kinds of novels, but the ones she loved best were the ones that contained a some sort of romance in it. She would always swoon and dream that some day she would find the perfect guy for her; her prince charming.
Her dream shattered and Tomoyo was forced back into her harsh reality; the darkness around her deepening with every misfortunate event.
She explained all this to Sakura who was sitting on the other end of the phone line listening helplessly. What could she do to help Tomoyo feel that there was hope in love again? No one seemed to have found an answer to that question.
School was the same usual building with the usual events. Everyone had their own problems and didn't seem to notice anyone else's. Sakura had been avoiding Eriol ever since he never committed himself. She would avoid eye contact whenever she saw him and turn suddenly around when she saw him in the hall way. She hadn't talked to him for about a couple of months now. They both tried in vain to communicate with each other in some way, but it always ended up in an argument and frustration with one another.
Tomoyo did receive a phone call from Eriol one day. She was listening to practicing playing the piano when the phone rang. She was a bit started by the sudden loud ring.
"Hey, Tomoyo, I called to say that I just moved. I don't live by you anymore."
"Oh..." was all she said in a very disappointed tone.
"May I take this seat?" a guy asked when he arrived late to English class, hoping to find a place to sit but arriving that the conclusion that the desk next to Tomoyo was the only empty one.
Tomoyo didn't bother to lift her head from her paper to see who was speaking to her. She simply heard herself say, quite casually, "Go ahead."
Tomoyo hasn't set a glance to the kid that sat next to her. She was busy focusing on her school work or other wise not thinking at all. By the end of the class, she turned her head to look at the board at the front of the class and turned to see a very handsome guy sitting next to her. She couldn't believe her eyes. He seemed to be like one of those guys she fantasized to meet one day in the near future.
"Hi," she said quietly, but enough for him to hear her.
He smiled broadly at her and said, "I was wondering when you were going to look my direction." Tomoyo flushed a bit looking slightly ashamed. "Don't concentrate so hard. It would be a shame if you got wrinkles on that cute face of yours." Tomoyo blushed slightly, " Anyway, my name's Lantis, I'm new to this school. And you are..."
"Oh, my name's Tomoyo. Nice to meet you Lantis. Where did you come from?" She asked him nicely, though she noticed that his amber colored eyes haven't lost contact with hers yet. He has a clearly playful glint in his eyes. He looks cute when he smiles, she thought silently. Uh oh. I can't fall for another guy this soon can I?
She was quickly lost in her thoughts she didn't hear his response. "Huh?"
Lantis just smiled his radiant smile and said, "I think you are choosing not to listen to me." he saw the look of surprise on Tomoyo's face and chuckled, "I came from Kyoto." Tomoyo nodded her head in understanding and tried to smile at him genuinely and coming to the conclusion that she could relax and enjoy herself in his company.
Over the next couple of days Tomoyo found herself more happy. She wondered the cause of this and found it to be Lantis. They were completely at ease with each other and they have been talking to each other endlessly, whenever they could in class or on the phone at home. They lived too far away from each other to actually hang out together.
Tomoyo was sitting in the car just going for a ride with her mom one day where she saw Lantis riding his bike somewhere near the grocery store. She was happy to see him, she waved and smiled brightly, but as the light turned green and the car was driving away, she stuck her tongue out at him and he acted offended. Tomoyo laughed, He's so cute with that brown colored hair flying in the wind. She found herself thinking, I really do like the way he dresses too. He seems to be so casual. He doesn't care what others thinks of him. What does this mean? She keeps asking herself, Does this mean that I have a crush on him? Is that possible? Tomoyo decided to talk about this with Sakura.
"Well, what do you think?" Tomoyo asked after she explained everything.
"Hm..." was all Sakura hummed. "I'm not really sure. If you like him you should just ask him out. I'm sure he likes you too."
Tomoyo's face fell into a kind of half frown. "Why do you think he likes me?"
Sakura gave a laugh as though the answer was obvious, "Everyone likes you Tomoyo, it would be not normal if someone didn't like you!"
Tomoyo smiled; Sakura really did know the way to lift a girl's spirits. "Thanks Sakura, but that's not what I meant."
"I know, but I thought I could stall for a few moments." Tomoyo said nothing so Sakura resumed, "Well, you have a great personality and you are beautiful."
Tomoyo heard the hint of pride in Sakura's voice, "Thanks a bunch, Sakura."
"Hi, Tomoyo!"
"Oh! Lantis! I didn't think you would call!" There was clearly surprise in her tone.
"Yep, well I can't very well wait until the ends of the earth for you to call you know. I may die before then." They both laughed lightly.
"So what's up?" Tomoyo asked casually.
"Um..."
Uh oh, Tomoyo thought when he didn't say anything for a moment, what if he has bad news for me?
"Tomoyo will thee do me thy honors of going steady with me?" he said with a fake medieval accent. He was apparently nervous, but tried to cover it up with his wit. Tomoyo hesitated and he took it as a sign of rejection, "Look, it's ok if this squire, meaning me, isn't the type for the beautiful princess, I under–"
But she cut him off. "No, Lantis," she said with a certain cheerfulness. "It's not that you're not my type. I was just wondering about stuff." She took a breath, "But I do like you too. It's just that, I don't know."
"Don't know what?" he was confused.
"Well, if things don't work out, then can we be friends again after wards?"
Lantis laughed, "Of course I would still be your friend! It's not like I'm going to just ditch you if things don't work out!"
She gave a sigh of relief. These words reminded Tomoyo of Eriol for a second, but she brought her mind back to the present.
Lantis was trying again, "So, what do you think?"
"Yes, Lantis, I want to go out with you." She said this with the a big smile, her cheeks flushing a bit.
Joanni: Hey I'm so sorry it took me forever to get this out. I was on vacation and then I forgot my ideas. BUT thanks to all you reviewers and you may have noticed that Lantis is from Magic Knights Rayearth from Clamp also. Heh, I really like him. THANKS!
