Oh, Syaoran, Meiling said gently, her voice dripping with concern and worry, What's happened to you?

The boy beneath her blinked several times, groaning as his body contorted slightly, his injured leg burning with pain. The girl kneeling over him had straight curtains of silky sable hair and a milky complexion, her elegant face overcome with sadness and worry. Her scarlet eyes were wide and strangely empty. She looked so .. familiar ..

he said hesitantly, staring at her in confusion. He knew her face from school; she was a girl who was always surrounded by a crowd, a crowd that often jeered at him as he passed them by. Why the hell would she be here and talking to him?

That's right, she said gently, pushing a glittering strand of jet black away from her concerned face. What's happened to your leg? It looks horrible!

Syaoran merely stared at her in shock- she had never been this sweet to him- as she surveyed his leg. She gasped loudly when she saw that it was covered in swelling red and purple boils.

It looks like a jellyfish sting!, she said, clasping a hand over her mouth.

Yeah, it is, he said lamely, feeling suddenly very uncomfortable. It hurts like a bitch, too.

At this he squirmed and winced, realizing that under no circumstances was he able to stand alone, let alone walk or drive his motorcycle home.

Oh, dear, said Meiling as he groaned. He froze for a moment, thinking that he had heard a bit of sarcasm in her voice, but then let it go. She wasn't that evil, even if she had been, at least within the walls of his school, nothing more than a stuck-up bitch to him.

He pursed his lips at this; why was she being so kind to him, anyway? Was it the fact that he was now injured, while at school he was a healthy target? Or maybe she was really a nice girl once free from school and her clique of friends ..

His mind settled on this answer as he stared at her, the ties of her black bikini blowing in the wind.

she said finally, turning to him with a smile for a brief moment. She knelt down beside him, reaching a warm arm around his shoulders and helping him to his feet.

He bit his tongue accidentally as his teeth gritted with the pain of standing; blood flooded his dry, tense mouth. Meiling was supporting his left side as they stood, unusually strong for a thin, pale girl.

Let's get you to the parking lot, then, she said rather cheerfully, stepping forward. Syaoran moved to walk with her, then froze in his place.

I can't leave, he said aloud, furrowing his chestnut brows. He looked franticly around the beach, spotting only a few random strangers. I came here with Sakura. We need to find her first, she's ... I'm her ride.

Meiling repeated innocently, pausing. Her pale lips fell into a frown. You came here with her? Oh .. dear.

Syaoran said, turning to look down at Meiling. She blinked her crimson eyes slowly, looking as though she were tragically sad over something.

Is she that girl with long, red hair, she asked sadly, and green eyes? Thin, not so tall .. new at our school?

Syaoran said, elongating the word in confusion. That's her. Now, let's start looking for her and then we can-

Meiling said, her frowning deepening. We .. we can't, because she's gone.

Syaoran repeated, flinching in shock. What do you mean she's gone?

She's no longer here, Meiling said, sighing and lowering her eyes. I watched her leave the beach with these two strange boys .. very handsome .. tall, tan .. blonde .. they were all over her-

That's impossible, Syaoran said, his voice angry and tense. She wouldn't do that. We came here together, we ... it was her idea! ..

I'm so sorry, Meiling said tearfully, But I saw her go myself! She was laughing, and she looked like she was .. having so much fun .. I had no idea she'd come here with you, or else I would have stopped her and talked some sense into her!

Syaoran said nothing. Inside, a morose part of himself was mourning .. he had pushed her too far .. so far she'd felt she'd had to run away from him ... but a larger part of him was seething with anger, and the familiar bitterness he had mastered when dealing with those at school who had so often ridiculed and abandoned him.

In that case, he growled, Let's just get the hell out of here.

I think that's best, said Meiling quietly, stepping forward and leading him toward the parking lot. He never saw her secret, twisted smile.

They walked in silence toward the parking lot, Syaoran's mind seething with anger and his heart aching with fresh rejection, his fists clenched so tightly that they were beginning to bleed, until he abruptly stopped.

he said suddenly. I came here on my motorcycle .. there's no fucking way I'm going to be able to drive myself home ..

Meiling repeated eagerly, turning to him with a wide smile. Oh, in that case .. let me drive you home!

Right, sure, Syaoran said quickly, not really caring as they walked slowly and painfully back to the parking lot. His mind was on Sakura and Sakura alone.

She kissed me, he thought desperately, remembering their sweet, slow embrace. It felt so real, so .. perfect. For a second, I felt like I was .. connected to her somehow, like we were ..

His lips began to shake, whether in anger or sadness he could not tell.

Regardless, he thought shakily, how could she do this .. leave me here with no warning, no goddamn explanation .. go off with some pair of horny assholes .. surely I can't have deserved ..

Or maybe I do ..

He swallowed heavily, wiping his eyes with his free forearm.

I knew it was too fucking good to be true.

===============================================


The alarm rang steadily on, its sound pulsing in the early morning sunlight. The lump until the bundle of twist blankets and sheets stirred suddenly, then groaned loudly. A hand shot out and slapped the alarm clock hard- silence fell.

The bundle grew still once again.

Sakura was curled up on her side until a pile of blankets, sheets and pillows, her knees tucked just under breasts. Her emerald eyes were dark and wide, empty except for the pain swirling within them. She stared out into the darkness of her little cave, her lips and hands trembling. She could still feel the tears dried upon her face, feel their tightness on her cheeks ... her eyes stung, and she knew they were bloodshot. She'd only managed a few hours of sleep.

She'd sobbed for hours, refusing to eat, refusing to rest, refusing to acknowledge anything other than her own despair. He'd left her there, stranded. She'd hurried back to the water, clutching two cold, wet soda bottles, and found it empty except for the waves. She'd searched everywhere, not finding him ... she even feared, terrified, that he had drowned, until she finally searched the parking lot and found his black motorcycle gone.

He'd simply left her there.

She began to cry again as she thought over and over what could have happened. Of course, she'd been rude in suddenly leaving to get a drink, but her throat had been on fire .. he seemed hurt after she'd pushed him away, but that .. that was no reason to just abandon her without explanation. It was no reason to just leave her behind.

Sakura whimpered and, crawling limply out of bed, sulked to the closet and began to slowly pull on her uniform.

She would talk to him about it today, she thought numbly.

=========================================


Sakura walked automatically down the hall, heading for her locker. Homeroom was not for another ten minutes; the hall was still loud and filled with people, all talking and laughing, all having fun.

She rubbed her bloodshot eyes, hoping not to meet Syaoran surrounded by such a crowd. She laughed to herself; if only she could be laughing with them ..

And then, he gave me a ride on his motorcycle!, a sharp, familiar voice claimed loudly.

A chorus of s sounded from the group of girls surrounding the speaker. She tossed her long, shiny black hair, continuing.

You should have seen his house, she said haughtily, her crimson eyes flashing. It was huge! You'd never know from the clothes he wears that he's so loaded ..

Sakura had stopped in mid-step, turning now to eavesdrop on the conversation. People passed around her in the hall as she stood still, transfixed.

said one faceless girl, Imagine the gifts he could give you!

I can't believe this is Syaoran we're talking about, said another, giggling. He's so .. strange and .. well, scary, you know .. violent ..

He's just a loner, purred Meiling, tossing her hair once again. He may be like that here, but when you get him alone, he's so romantic ...

Sakura choked, unable to bear hearing anymore. She nearly sprinted to her homeroom, running inside and collapsing hard into her desk as tears began to pour down her already pale, exhausted face.

She understood now where Syaoran had gone ..

She choked back a sob, unable to believe what she had just heard. How could he have just left her, just left her alone so he could leave with that .. that .. that cruel ..

Sakura sighed painfully as she struggled to hold back her tears. She would talk to him later ... she had to ..

She rubbed her wet, bloodshot eyes with her sleeve, praying it was all some elaborate lie.

============================================

Her chance came at lunchtime. Sunlight was streaming down upon the large crowd of students in the school courtyard, some standing, some lounging on the grass, but most crowding the long, wooden picnic tables. Sakura swallowed hard, her eyes focused on her goal as she stepped out into the light.

Syaoran was sitting, as usual, half-hidden beneath a tree. He was not eating; rather, he was reading a book whose title Sakura could not make out from her distance, but she which she noticed was boldly red and black. His face was empty and withdrawn, his serious expression set; he looked perfectly normal, at least, normal as far as his own standards.

Sakura walked toward him hesitantly, her whole body trembling slightly with nervousness.

Please, she silently prayed, please .. let this all be some kind of elaborate misunderstanding ..

Syaoran did not notice her presence until she had knelt in front of him on the overgrown grass, her lips quivering and her eyes wide and reddened. He paused for a moment, his lips a thin line, then loudly snapped his book shut.

He looked up at her, his amber eyes cold and empty.

Well, hello, he said icily. How fucking nice to see you.

Sakura blinked, her fear fading into confusion. Why was he so furious with her, what had she .. ?

she said shakily. What's .. what's wrong?

What's wrong, he repeated tensely, glaring at her. He appeared to ponder his answer for a moment, then narrowed his eyes coldly.

What's wrong is that you have the nerve to come over here and talk to me after what you did.

Sakura frowned, her heart sinking as her mind became more and more confused.

I don't know what you're talking about, she said numbly. What exactly did I do to you?

Don't play innocent with me, Syaoran said murderously. It's disgusting.

Tell me what I did, Sakura said, her once timid voice now strong with anger and coldness.

His amber eyes were flaming, dark and dangerous, as he stared into hers. He narrowed them further, then, his voice slow but enraged, he spoke.

You left me there. You drag me to the fucking beach and then you leave me there .. you go off with some pretty tan assholes with no explanation, you don't even bother to tell me why you ..

Wait, what?!, Sakura said, shocked and now furious herself. How could he believe something like that?!

Don't try to tell me you didn't!, Syaoran exploded, leaning forward to stab his glare into her eyes. Meiling saw you leave with them! You were even laughing, you cruel-hearted, manipulative little ..

she cried, insulted. You left with her, you gave her a ride on your goddamn motorcycle and now she's bragging to the entire school about it .. you ... you left me behind, not me!

You're the one who left me, Syaoran hissed. I left because you were already gone. I was stung by a jellyfish, she found me and gave me a ride home because I couldn't drive my bike .. she gave herself and me a ride on it .. she helped me and you weren't there!

You were .. stung?, Sakura said, momentarily stunned from her anger. Are you .. are you alright?

Oh, I'm just fucking fine, Syaoran said, his dark, flaming amber eyes burning with suppressed fury. I can't believe you would just leave, you lying ..

Sakura said desperately, blinking her tearstained eyes. You have to believe me ... I didn't leave. I walked around everywhere looking for you, I was so scared, I .. I thought you had drowned until I saw that your bike was gone, and then I knew you'd left me behind, and I ... I swear I looked, I swear I didn't leave with anyone other than myself! I couldn't find you, you'd already left!

Tears began to pour down her face, and at this, Syaoran's eyes seemed to calm and soften. His gaze froze on her face, and for a moment, he believed her.

But why would Meiling make up a story like that? It made no sense ..

You're lying, he said coldly, Just to cover your own dirty tracks ..

Sakura choked, feeling overwhelmed and incapable of speech. He wasn't hearing a word of her explanation, he was ... blindly following the lie he had been fed by that .. why didn't he trust her?

I had to find a payphone to call for a cab home, she said hoarsely, her voice cracking. I was exhausted. I'd looked everywhere for you for over two hours, I .. I didn't give up until I saw that your bike was gone. I really didn't believe that you had just left me there .. I would never do that to you, I .. I swear I wouldn't .. you should know that I wouldn't ..

Why would Meiling lie to me?, Syaoran said tensely, but his voice was softer now, quieter and lacking in fury.

I can't believe you trust her over me, Sakura said shakily, her voice rising as she thought of what Meiling must have done. I can't believe you'd trust in her after ... she doesn't care about you at all! She told me the first day I was here what a disturbed, violent freak you are!

Syaoran's eyes widened in shock, and Sakura knew she'd hit a deep nerve ..

Is that what you think of me?, he said slowly, his voice cold and angry once more. Is that what you've always thought of me?!

No, Syaoran, I, Sakura struggled, but Syaoran only glared at her, cutting her off in his anger.

Just shut up!, he said furiously, JUST SHUT UP! You're just like everyone else, I should have known that there was NO ONE out there who could understand me, who could lo ... just SHUT UP! YOU'VE BEEN LYING THIS ENTIRE TIME, YOU'VE BEEN-

Sakura said desperately, tears pouring down her cheeks, It's the truth! It's true what I've been telling you, I don't think you're a freak, I think you're gentle inside and I .. I .. !

And at this she threw herself into Syaoran's chest, crying, clutching at his black t-shirt in desperation. She felt his body stiffen immediately, felt his chest heave ..

And then, a moment later, she felt a pair of strong hands on her shoulders, pushing her roughly away. She fell back onto the grass, crying out in surprise and brief pain.

Syaoran, I-

DON'T TOUCH ME!, Syaoran screamed, turning from her and clutching at his face with his hands, tears dripping from his closed eyes. Just get away, you .. you ... you lying WHORE!

Sakura flinched. He was still following that absurd lie of Meiling's, he still believed that she ... that she would just .. he had no faith in her whatsoever.

She realized, with a chill that ran down her spine like black ice, that there was no love between them. No love at all, if this was as highly as he thought of her.

She stood numbly and clumsily, and then, her legs shaking and tears still pouring down her pain-stricken face, she ran.



================================================================

Well, that was a bit of an explosive chapter. I actually didn't intend for the fight to be so intense, that's just ... the way it worked out as I was writing, I suppose.

If you think Syaoran's reaction was blind, heartless and dramatic, then you're right. What you have to remember, though, is that Syaoran has been abused for years. He's taught himself to expect rejection and to not trust others, to push them away ... thus his overreaction ...

If you're worried about this story becoming dark and twisted and filled with page after page of endless angst, don't. There will be love in the next chapter ... there is always love. Love is what this whole story is about, anyway!

Well, in any case, I suppose that's all. Once again, thank you for all the lovely reviews! They truly, truly do brighten up my days. Please review if you have any comments or suggestions, I always appreciate them! Much love, Anthea. ^^