.::Spilling Stars::.
By Fantasiimaker
*A/N- Sorry for the wait.. -_-;; I might take a bit longer to update for a few chapters because of all these end-of-year projects and studying like crazy for finals. Argh!! But as soon as summer comes, I'll be able to write whenever I want! ^_^ Thanks for waiting patiently. Here's the fourth chapter, enjoy!
~Chapter Four: Eriol
"Okay kids, since a lot of us are new here, we'll start off this week with some 'ice-breaking exercises'. We'll be getting to know each other better and learning how to work well with each other." Mr. Tanaka grinned. "That means working with new people, not people you've been best friends with since third grade. I'm sure you'll have fun." The class groaned.
"Alrighty then," said Mr. Tanaka. "Look around, grab a partner, someone sitting close to you, and I want you to find out about each other using those questions on the board. Write it down on binder paper, please. Use at least five questions that I've listed, and make up five on your own. Then you get to introduce your partner to the class. Okay, get to work!"
Immediately, about half of the class jumped to their best friends. The other half sat waveringly, staring around uncertainly at who they might want as a partner. Sakura sat amidst all this, only able to think one thing: Syaoran. Why wasn't he saying anything to her, not even a hi? Had she done something wrong?
"Hey, wanna be my partner?" Sakura jerked to attention. A girl whom she knew belonged to Tomoyo's crew had sauntered over to Syaoran and was staring at him, waiting for an answer. He was quiet for a moment, contemplating. Say no, say no, please say no, Sakura urged silently.
"All right," said Syaoran, and the girl sat down happily across from him. Sakura watched with a sinking heart. Of course. How could he say no? If he could be so nice to a girl he'd met over vacation, he could say yes to a girl asking to be his partner. What was she thinking?
Feeling a tap on her shoulder, she turned around with a polite smile ready on her face, but it quickly drooped into an annoyed frown when she saw who it was.
"Sakura! My little cherry blossom, what is up?"
She turned away in disgust. "I'm not your cherry blossom. Go away, Eriol." This was the last person she wanted to be her partner. "Why don't you go pair up with one of the girls from your adoring fan club?" she said, pointing. Sure enough, a group of girls were gathered a desk or two away throwing goo-goo eyes at Eriol. He gave them a winning grin and waved.
"Not as good of a reaction as last year," he commented, turning to Sakura. "I believe I have some competition now. See how they're all watching the new boy? Besides, you and I need to catch up." He winked.
"Go away," she said again, heaving a sigh. "Go practice your playerisms on some other girl."
"Aww, I'm so hurt. If you're always gonna be so mean, how will you ever get a boyfriend?"
Sakura didn't answer. Curiously, Eriol watched to see what she was gazing off into space at. He grinned and poked her in the side. "Oooh...Sakura's in looooove!" he said.
"Shut up! You don't know anything!" she said. "Why are you even talking to me?"
"Because you're my darling old friend from elementary school, and I want to know..." he paused to glance at the board. "...What would you do if you didn't have school today?"
"Knock you out and ship you off to Alaska," she shot back at once. She found herself laughing along with him. It was infectious. Oh well, she might as well put up with him for just one class, since he helped take her mind off of Syaoran. But then...she couldn't stop thinking about him with that girl.
"Don't worry Sakura, I'll help you get together with him," he said, smiling evilly.
"Don't you dare!" she cried, kicking at him as hard as she could. At her loud outburst, Syaoran turned to see what was going on. She ducked her head quickly, blushing.
On the way out of the classroom, a fuming Sakura stared at Syaoran's back. What right did he have to act so cold to her? What a jerk! Emboldened by attempting to strangle Eriol numerous times, she scrambled forward and caught Syaoran's arm.
"Why won't you talk?!" she said, facing him directly. "You act as though we haven't even met! Why can't you just stop hiding behind that silent mask of yours and talk to me?"
"I'm sorry," said Syaoran. He stared at her expressionlessly for a long moment, then left her standing there in the hall, completely bewildered.
It was lunchtime.
Sakura stared out over the people scattered across lunch tables. There was nowhere for her to go, so may as well go to the library again. Gripping her food tray tightly, she walked slowly towards the library, trying not to look too much like a loner. What a crappy year this was turning out to be.
Just as she almost reached the door, she bumped into someone and tripped. Her tray flew out of her hand and splattered all over the ground. "What the-!" she cried out, and then she saw the girls. Most were from Tomoyo's group, but some she didn't recognize. They were all eyeing her with a disdainful expression, as though she were a disgusting garden snail that was meant to be squashed.
Sakura glared back at them. "What do you want?" she said.
"Stay away from Syaoran and Eriol!" a girl named Yumiko snarled. "What right do you have to be so familiar with the two hottest guys in school?"
Sakura snorted. "Oh, since when did Syaoran become-"
"Shut up!" Yumiko snapped. "I'm just warning you, you'd better leave them alone. They deserve better than the pond scum you are."
"What would you do if I don't?" Sakura shouted, burning with fury.
"Then don't hope that anyone in this school will ever talk to you again. Especially Tomoyo. And, we also have...this." Sneering at her, Yumiko pulled out a folded piece of paper and began to read aloud, "Dear Keichii, This is your love-bunny Sakura. I love you soooo soooo much. I dream about your-"
"Give me that!" Sakura leaped forward, snatched the letter from her, and crumpled it up tightly in her hands.
"That's fine. We have plenty of extras," Yumiko smiled, holding up a thick stack of papers.
Sakura felt tears of anger and frustration stinging her eyes. This was so unfair...she didn't know what to do. What could she do? All she knew was that she couldn't give up. She had to defy them until the very end.
"May I see this?" Sakura looked up. It was Syaoran. Without even looking at her, he went straight to Yumiko. She felt her heart sinking within her chest. Even Syaoran was against her now?
Blushing, Yumiko handed him the entire stack. He flipped through them silently. "Lovely picture," he said at last, holding one up. Sakura stared. It was a Photoshop-altered picture of her with a horribly deformed nose, rotting teeth, and hairs in unnatural places all over her face.
"You idiot!" she yelled, taking a swing at Syaoran. He ducked and came back up, smiling amusedly. "Just joking," he said quietly. Then he walked over to a nearby recycling bin and dropped the stack of papers inside.
"Disk, please," he said, holding out his hand. Startled, Yumiko dug into her pocket and handed him a floppy, her hand trembling. He tossed it into the trash can and brushed off his hands. "I don't want to see that kind of abomination again," he said, and turned on his heel. "C'mon Sakura."
Wide-eyed, she followed him away from the gaping girls.
"Where are we going?" she said, trotting to keep up with his long stride. He didn't answer.
They stopped suddenly. "Sakura!" cried Tomoyo, wrapping her friend into a hug and sobbing into her shoulder. "Sakura, I'm so sorry, I didn't know they were like that! I can't believe it, I can't believe I ever called them my friends! Please forgive me!"
"I had to hold her back to keep her from killing them all," said Eriol with a smile.
"You're here too?" said Sakura wonderingly, looking around at the three.
"Oh yes. I happened to see what was going on and I was going to swoop in to save you, but I had to restrain violent Tomoyo here. So I sent my boy Syaoran to do the job, since he was more likely to keep his head," he grinned.
"Don't listen to him Sakura, he didn't do anything but stand here like the chicken he is," said Tomoyo.
"Ah, speaking of chicken, it seems we are lacking of a lunch. What say we all go eat some delicious junk food together?" Eriol winked suggestively at Sakura and Tomoyo.
"No!" they both said at the same time.
Syaoran was already gone, starting toward the food bar.
"Now we can talk about everything that we've missed!" Tomoyo smiled at her friend as they started to walk home after school.
"Okay!" Sakura smiled back. She had her best friend back now, and everything was just like it had been before. The only thing missing was Meilin, but she could deal with that issue later. Just being able to talk to Tomoyo, walking beside her, was flooding her confidence and happiness. She wouldn't be alone for the whole year!
"Turn that way," Tomoyo said suddenly, stiffening.
"What? Why?" Sakura asked, glancing behind them.
"No, don't look, he'll see us!" But it was too late. Tomoyo looked pointedly away as Eriol bounced up to them.
"Hello, ladies! We meet again!" he said, glasses flashing in the sun. "Hi Tomoyo." His head bent down slightly, shading his eyes, and Tomoyo found herself looking back into them, her heart pounding quickly.
"What are you doing here Eriol? Don't you have your limo to take you home?" said Sakura exasperatedly.
"Well, I decided to walk with my new friend. And since he's new here, I think I'll show him around the place," he said, and stopped to wait for Syaoran. "Yo, hurry up! Look who's here, it's Tomoyo and Sakura!" Syaoran walked past him swiftly, but Eriol caught him and thrusted him in between the two girls so that Syaoran was next to Sakura and he was next to Tomoyo.
"Hey!" Tomoyo complained, but he shushed her and pointed. "Oh..." She saw Sakura's sudden awkwardness and understood. "So that's what you're up to!" she whispered to Eriol with genuine warmth, for the first time ever. "That's-that's really good of you."
"Ah, that Tomoyo Daidouji would be nice to me for once in my life! I can die happy!" he said dramatically, pretending to faint.
"Oh, go away," she said, walking ahead.
Eriol raced after her, calling out, "Alas! My darling Tomo, come back!"
Sakura laughed, still walking next to Syaoran. "I've never noticed it before, but those two seem to get along okay," she commented. "What do you think?"
He stared at her blankly.
"Oh c'mon Syaoran! How come you're acting so dumb? I know you're not really like this!"
"How do you know for sure?" he said, looking at the puffy white clouds sailing slowly across the clear blue sky. "How do you know that the me you knew back on the trail wasn't just a made-up mask, and that this me isn't the one that's real?"
"Well..." Sakura paused, thinking. This was more words than he any he had said to her all day. "Well, it couldn't be. What you are right now isn't the real you...is it?"
"Who knows?" he said, smiling sadly. There was silence for a while as they walked along, listening to the sound of cars passing by on the road. Sakura almost said something to break the tension, but he spoke again.
"I've moved a lot," he said. "Each time, I've never really been able to keep my friends. When you leave, when they don't see your face anymore, they tend to forget and move on. Who cares about someone they never see?"
She looked at him. "Are you scared that this will happen here?"
"Scared? I don't know. Maybe... But maybe if I don't make any friends, it would be easier than if I had to make some and have them forget me. Saves time, doesn't it?"
"But how would you survive without friends?" said Sakura.
"I don't know..." He changed the subject. "Are you my friend?"
The sudden question caught her off guard. "M-me?" she stumbled. He watched her patiently, waiting. "Yes. That is, if you want me to be."
"Hey you guys, Syaoran's inviting us to his house!" called Eriol from ahead as he turned a corner into a large house.
"What?!" said Syaoran. "I never said that! Wait! Let's go, Sakura, we'd better get there fast or my mom might..." Trailing off, he grabbed her hand and pulled her with him as he ran. She felt a thrill at his touch, her senses focusing on this connection between his hand and hers.
Out of breath, they burst into the house after Tomoyo and Eriol. "Syaoran, you're home?" said a woman's voice. Sakura gasped. Yelan appeared from one of the inner rooms, looking around quizzically at them all. She smiled warmly when she spotted her. "Sakura! It's so good to see you again. Come Syaoran, invite your friends to sit down. Would you like some drinks? Tea?"
"Don't worry about it ma'am, we'll be going in a moment," said Eriol politely. "But thank you very much."
"Oh now, don't let me scare you kids off," Yelan smiled. "Stay as long as you'd like. I'll be inside if you need me. Remember your manners, Syaoran." She glided away, leaving the four of them alone.
"Want some tea?" Syaoran growled, looking down at the floor.
"No thank you," Tomoyo giggled at how stiffly he was standing.
"Yes, please," said Eriol, seating himself comfortably on the couch and putting up his feet.
Syaoran walked past him irritably. "Go get it yourself."
"Syaoran," Sakura spoke up suddenly. "If Yelan's your mother, then..."
"Yeah. She told me about you. Then she was going to have me go to another private school near here, but I said I wanted to try a public school for a change." He went into a different room.
"Ohohoho! Sakura!" Tomoyo laughed. "That translates into 'I wanted to go to your school!'"
"No it doesn't! It doesn't mean anything!" protested Sakura, trying to keep from blushing and failing. She stepped into the room Syaoran had disappeared into and saw him fingering a book of sheet music. He was standing next to an elegant, expensive-looking grand piano. But then, there were a lot of expensive-looking things in this house.
"Do you play?" she said.
Syaoran looked up. "A little," he muttered.
"Let's see if this piano is properly in tune," said Eriol, seating himself at the piano bench with a flourish. "How about...this song. I call it: 'Für Tomoyo.'" He grinned at Tomoyo, who reddened and looked away stubbornly.
As soon as his fingers touched the white and black keys, a river of dream-like melody flowed through the house. Each note was a drop of sparkling crystal rain hitting water, carrying with it an achingly enchanting beauty. Tomoyo stared in disbelief at this changed Eriol, at how concentrated and serious he looked while urging sweet music from the piano. He was so truly different. Where had this side of him been hiding?
*A/N- Review! Before I die from these evil finals... T_T ^_^;;