Recap: Lantis walks into the picture and asks Tomoyo out. Where has Eriol been and what is he up to?

Chapter 13

"Hey, Eriol. I haven't talked to you in a long time." Tomoyo said, standing across from him on the sidewalk.

"Yeah, I know, I've been busy." He replied with a shrug.

They both frowned a bit. "Hey, we've been best friends for a long time," Tomoyo started, "And I've always been able to tell you everything..." She paused and Eriol was staring at her intensely, but he didn't say anything, "Well, the thing is, I have a boyfriend." She took a deep breath and prepared herself for what Eriol was to say.

"Okay." He stated simply, avoiding her ever violet eyes.

Tomoyo had a surprised look on her face. "Okay?" That's it? Wow that was easy!

"Yeah, Tomoyo, it's fine. You can date whoever you want. I'm ok with it."

She smiled at him brightly and gave him a big hug. It was the kind of hug only the best give to each other. Eriol patted her on the back awkwardly and smiled, but his sapphire blue eyes held a kind of sadness in them. Tomoyo didn't notice it.

Lantis comes up behind Tomoyo and put his hands over her eyes, "Guess who?" he said.

Tomoyo smiled. Eriol used to do this to me was her first thought, but that was unreasonable.

"Lantis!" she said with a giggle.

He slipped his arms around her waist, "Hey, babe, how about we catch a flick?"

Her smile was still glued onto her face, she seemed so happy but her eyes held a tint of regret, "Yeah, that'd be cool."

Lantis was a perfect gentleman with Tomoyo at the movies. He bought everything for her. He didn't try to do anything with her in the movie though. He knew better. Tomoyo doesn't do things like that. But he did hold her hand. Oh my gosh, he thought, I'm holding her hand! It's so soft and supple. A pause in his train of thought, I wonder what kind of moisturizer she uses. And so he chuckles.

Tomoyo just looked at him like he was weird and continued back to the movie.

After getting home from watching Pirates of the Caribbean by Disney, she got home and decided to check her mail.

Nothing new came to her except junk mail and forwards. She was a bit disappointed, but she didn't know why.

As she was laying in bed that night she realized there was still a hole. Eriol didn't email me. She rolled over on her side, facing the wall. A solitary tear slipped from her shut eyes. No more fell though. As much as she tried to sleep that night her mind was just unsettled. She could lay in her position for a really long time and not need to move, but as much as she tried, the sweet slumber would not come for her.

She finally got out of bed. It was 2:30 am. She was so restless she turned on the computer. Still no mail, but she was determined to write something. To demand why Eriol was being cold to her. She just didn't understand.

Eriol,

We've been best friends for all our lives. I don't understand why you are doing. It's no fair. You promised never to ditch me, and you haven't, but yet you do in a different way. You don't talk to me anymore. I never see you and you aren't around. I miss you. Please explain to me why you are doing this.

Forever,

Tomoyo

Her eyes had been clouding and getting misty ever since she wrote his name at the beginning of the letter. They threatened to fall from her delicate eyes, but she tried to force them back. Some single brave ones fell, while the others are left behind.

"Eriol," she whispered into the nothingness.

She debated whether to send it to him or not. It seemed risky to her. She might find out what she doesn't really want to hear. Is this how she wanted it to be? With out any second thoughts she quickly clicked the send button before she could delete her letter. She couldn't sleep still. Tomoyo browsed some web pages, not know what she was doing. She wanted to get to sleep, but yet she can't. And sure enough, she received a letter from Eriol.

Tomoyo,

I know I have been a little neglecting. I don't mean to, you know you are the most important person to me. I think I know the reason to why I was so cold to you in the past months.

When you told me you were going out with that Lantis guy I was hurt. It was like being kicked in the stomach. I couldn't stand to see you two together. So I isolated myself from you two. I couldn't stand to feel my heart break every time I see you with him.

Now I've said too much, I'm sorry. But I want to tell you how I feel so I won't delete it. Try and sleep.

Eriol

Tomoyo couldn't believe what she just read. She didn't know that Eriol still cared for her. She didn't know any of this. It was too hard to just guess. The tears that she held back earlier now flowed freely down her rosy cheeks. She didn't wipe them away. They fell onto her lap and

What am I going to do now? she thought, Do I really like Lantis? A slight pause, or is it Eriol that I love? Why does this have to happen? She thought about how in books there are many heroines with a lot of lovers and admirers. She had once envied them, now she knew what it was like and it was excruciating.

Joanni: I know that took me a while to get out, but I did it!! Sorry it's short. I'm happy for the reviews. My ficcy is almost done. I promise there will be a HAPPY ending. No worries. ^_^