A New Semester of Love
Thanks for the reviews!!! You people are so wonderful! ^_^ Thank you for reading.
Enjoy!
Chapter 8: A Nervousness
Tomoyo stood with her back against the door for some time, her mind rushing with thoughts about what had just happened. She could still feel the warmth of his lips on hers…she slowly reached up with her right hand and touched her lips hesitatingly…remembering the feel of him. I can't believe that he...I didn't know he felt like that…
She moved her hand away and sank down onto the floor. She hadn't realized she was shaking till then…she felt completely weak. I'm so confused…
***
Eriol stayed outside of Tomoyo's room for some time after the door had shut. He couldn't hear any sounds from within. He again sighed. I can't believe I did that…I shouldn't have done anything…I could have just told her how I felt if I really needed to do anything…I can't believe I ruined such a perfect day with something like that…
He slowly began walking up to his own room, glad that Syaoran was off helping Sakura take care of her father. He sank face down onto his bed, not moving. He groaned, banging one tightly clenched fist against the wall. I'm such an idiot…
***
Sunday evening, Sakura finally returned with good news about her father. His fever hadn't been so severe, and she and Syaoran had left him feeling much better. He would even be able to lecture the next day for his class.
Tomoyo just smiled at her as she came in, happy for her that her father was doing okay.
Sakura quickly began to unpack her small bag that she had taken home with her, humming with her as she did. She opened Kero's drawer and placed a cupcake she had brought from home in it.
Tomoyo looked down at the book she had open before her as Sakura finished unpacking her things. Her thoughts of the previous night kept coming back to her, making it impossible for her to concentrate at all on anything else. Should I tell Sakura-chan what happened? I wonder what she'd think…
"Tomoyo-chan?"
She turned a page of the book absent mindedly, her thoughts still remaining on Eriol's kiss. I still can't really believe it happened…it seems kind of like some strange dream…but it definitely wasn't a nightmare…I didn't hate it…
"Tomoyo-chan?"
Tomoyo finally looked up as Sakura waved her hand in front her face. "Oh, I'm sorry. Did you want something?"
Sakura stared at her for a moment, worry in her eyes. "Are you okay?"
Tomoyo looked at her for a moment, then looked away. "I'm fine."
Sakura just continued to look at her. There's definitely something wrong… She sighed. "Um…do you know where Kero-chan is?"
"He went outside earlier. I think he wanted to fly a bit."
"Ah, okay," Sakura said, still looking at Tomoyo worriedly. I wonder what happened…
***
"So how is your father, Sakura-san?" Rika asked as she sat her tray down at the table the following evening. "I heard that you went home because he was sick and that's why the lecture had been cancelled."
Sakura smiled up at her friend. "He's doing good."
Rika smiled. "That's good to hear."
"So what did you all do this weekend while we were gone?" Sakura asked, looking around at the others who were sitting around the table.
"I read a lot for some of my classes. I got a lot of work done that I needed to do," Naoko replied.
"Same with me," Rika added.
Eriol and Tomoyo both sat there silently as Sakura's gaze turned to them. Tomoyo's cheeks had begun to turn pink; she remained staring down at her food.
Eriol also grew uncomfortable. He kept his eyes purposefully away from the girl beside him and coughed. "We went out a little Friday, but other than that I didn't do much."
Tomoyo just nodded in agreement.
The rest of the group looked at each other, all confused as to Eriol and Tomoyo's behavior. They were all quiet for a moment.
Naoko finally broke the uneasy silence. "I got a letter today…from Chiharu-san and Yamazaki-kun."
The group's attention turned toward Naoko looked through her bag to find the letter. Sakura's gaze lingered on Tomoyo for a tiny bit longer…she saw her glance slowly at Eriol, then quickly away, her eyes focusing now on Naoko. I really wondered what happened…she's been acting strange since I got back last night…and now Eriol too…I wonder if something happened between them…
Sakura's thoughts were interrupted as Naoko began to read the letter to them. It was a short letter, talking about the past few months the group had been separated, complaining that all of them at Tokyo had never come down to visit like they had last year, complaining also that the one trip they had planned to take back home had been cancelled, but a true wish for the health of Sakura's father was apparent in the letter.
The letter went on to say how they were all just waiting for the end of the semester and for last assignments and finals to be over with, and it ended with a not so surprising P.S. by Yamazaki-kun, stating that, the origin of final exams was when it was made a long time in England as a way to get out of a major war. Those who did well on the exam would be exempt from signing up to fight, and those who failed would get a special kind of cake that was meant to slightly ease the pain of failure but would be required then to sign up for the draft.
Sakura and the others looked around at each other at this astonishing new fact. Naoko continued reading, however, with a second P.S. from Chiharu telling them to not believe Yamazaki's lie.
"He was lying?" Sakura asked, her expression confused. The others sweatdropped.
"Too bad we didn't get to see them this past weekend," Naoko said.
"We should plan something with them during the break," Rika suggested. "It's not too long now till the semester is over."
"Yeah it'll be fun for all of us to be together again," Sakura said. "They haven't even gotten to see you yet since you've been back, have they Eriol-kun?"
"That's right. I guess I got here too late," he replied. "It will be nice to see them again."
The group chatted for some time longer about the past when they had all been together last for a significant amount of time, which had been about seven years before. They had a lot to catch up on considering the time Eriol had visited the previous semester hadn't been enough time to really talk about much at all…and the way events turned out during his visit hadn't really put them in much a mood to reminisce. But now they had plenty of time, and would have even more during the upcoming holidays when the group would be completely reunited.
About an hour later, they finally decided to leave. Rika and Naoko left them outside the dining center to return to their own room, leaving Sakura, Syaoran, Tomoyo, and Eriol to walk back to their own dorm together, just like normal. But this time there was a definitely noticeable silence between Eriol and Tomoyo.
When they reached the dorm, Eriol stopped as the rest began to walk into the building. "I think I'm going to go off for a walk. I'll see you all later." And with that, he turned and walked off before any of them had a chance to even say anything at all.
Eriol walked for some time, not really caring where we was going, his mind still concentrated on Tomoyo and the past Friday night. I know I ruined everything with her…I haven't even seen her before dinner today since Friday…and she would barely even look at me. I bet she hates me now…I should never have done anything…why did I have to mess everything up like that? We were doing good just as friends…and I know I wanted more than friendship with her…but now I really don't think I have a chance…not after I just kissed her like that…
He looked up at the dark sky above him as he walked, his step slowing as he came to rest beside a tree, leaning against it, feeling weak. The moon was shining down on him from above…only a tiny sliver of the moon was visible. He sank down against the tree, sitting on a larger root that was protruding from the ground. He brought a finger up and laid it against his own lips…remembering the feel of Tomoyo's lips a couple nights before…I think I scared her…she didn't respond at all when I kissed her…
His thoughts were interrupted as he suddenly heard voices coming closer from his left. He stood up and hid behind the tree, not wanting to be seen. He watched as a couple walked past him, laughing, holding hands. He stayed there silently until they disappeared from sight…then sank down once more onto the large root of the tree. He sighed. I don't know what to do…
***
"Tomoyo-chan…" Sakura began as the door closed behind them after they had gotten to the room. Tomoyo looked up at her, noticed Sakura's worried expression, and looked away. "What's wrong?"
Tomoyo remained silent for a moment as she sat down at her desk and opened her laptop. She sat staring at it. I don't know what to tell her really…I don't really understand how I feel…
"Tomoyo-chan?"
"Nothing's wrong," Tomoyo hesitantly answered, her voice quivering slightly as she spoke.
Sakura just kept looking at her. "Did something happen with Eriol-kun? He seemed to be acting strange today too around you."
Tomoyo looked down as a bright red blush grew on her cheeks. Sakura noticed. "It is, isn't it?" Tomoyo remained silent.
Sakura sighed and sat on her bed, lazily picking up a book that she needed to read for a class and opening it. "I'm sorry. You don't have to tell me anything you aren't comfortable with."
Tomoyo looked over at her best friend as she began to read. She smiled a little as a few minutes passed and Sakura failed to turn even one page of the book. She's definitely not reading…I know she's worried…I should tell her…but I really don't know what to say. But it might be helpful if she knew…I don't know…
The rest of the night passed quickly, silently. The two girls just remained in their rooms; Sakura finally did start to read, and Tomoyo began writing a paper that was due later that week.
Near midnight, they finally decided to go to bed. Kero had gone to sleep about an hour before, and now the two girls were left awake in the dark, their thoughts making it difficult to sleep. A bright orange moon shone in through the cracks in the blinds. Tomoyo stared up at the ceiling in the dim moonlight. She couldn't stop thinking about Eriol.
"Sakura-chan?" Tomoyo called out quietly.
"Yeah?"
Tomoyo hesitated. "Um…about Eriol-kun…he…" she stopped. Sakura waited. Tomoyo took a deep breath. "He kissed me."
Sakura sat up in her bed and looked over at Tomoyo. "He kissed you?"
Tomoyo sighed. "We went out Friday after you left…we went to eat lunch…and just shopped around a little. And we decided to find a place to watch the sunset…and it was really pretty. We were at a park outside of Tokyo on a hill facing right at the sun as it was setting…it was so pretty."
"It sounds like it would be," Sakura said.
Tomoyo was quiet for a moment. "We…um…we finally got back here around 9 or so…I told him that I had a lot of fun…he was just looking at me all weird…and he…well he ended up getting really close…and he kissed me." She hesitated before continuing. "I…was so surprised…I just stood there…and when he stopped I just said that I should go and left him. I was just…really surprised…I didn't know he…I didn't think he would…" she stopped.
Sakura sat there silently, her eyes widening as she listened to Tomoyo tell her what had happened. "Oh wow…" she whispered. "Do you…like him?" Sakura asked slowly.
"I don't know," she replied, sighing.
"Syaoran-kun and I have thought he liked you…but it's still surprising that he would suddenly kiss you like that," Sakura told her.
"I guess I should have believed you when you hinted before that he might like me," Tomoyo said..
"We kind of thought that you liked him too," Sakura admitted.
Tomoyo looked over at Sakura then looked back up at the ceiling. "I think I'm going to try to sleep now," she mumbled. "Goodnight Sakura-chan."
Sakura smiled a little. She does like him. "Goodnight Tomoyo-chan."
Memories of her times with Eriol flashed through Tomoyo's mind as she lied there, fully awake. She remembered that she had always been happy to see him, a real smile always lit her face every time she saw him. She remembered the numerous times he had made her blush…it had been easy for him…and I had always liked it when he teased me…when he was sweet to me… She looked again at the moonlight streaming in through the blinds. Maybe I do like him…
***
End of Chapter 8
***
Sorry that it's been longer than normal since I've updated. I just moved into my dorm, and I've been having a lot of internet problems. Hopefully things will get better.
Yue's Lady: the thing that happened to Sakura included her being tricked by some guy that only wanted one thing from Sakura. You can read the story about it if you like called A Semester of Deceit and Love. It's the prequel to this story.