Disclaimer: Look to the first chapter. ALWAYS look to the first chapter.
Notes: Oh my God!! You guys have just been fantastic, really. I am basking, and writing as fast as I possibly can, how can one group of people be so nice?! I've never had this many reviews, you're all so inspiring, seriously. Despite the fact I have many of the chapters already written, I'm taking your advice seriously. I can't believe it. Truly. You have to be the nicest people. SO, I'm bringing this chapter out early. Because of your fabulousness. Keep being wonderful, it's probably not hard. Look at me ramble, but I love you! I'M ADOPTING YOU ALL!
Dedications: Wow-o-wow, you guys have been just super-e-duper! I'm dedicating this to you, the reviewers! Also to Zenin, who's the best beta ever and ever and ever? You are! Thanks for the valley-girl comment, I really loved that.
--*--
Daring to Dance
Chapter Three: Running as fast as I can.
By Emmy
-*-
Syaoran and Sakura found themselves face to face as Lisa put them together. His eyes widened, and then narrowed. "What are you doing here?" he hissed.
Sakura put her hands on her hips, her cheeks flushing with anger. "What's it to you? I got a job offer at a Spanish place." She raised her chin. "I need to learn to salsa."
Lisa clapped her hands and the group all adopted the traditional starting position. Syaoran felt a bit of trepidation as he pulled her close; Lisa yelling out steps and clapping her hands. Sakura couldn't believe how close they were getting; she was practically moulded into him. But when the music started, it began making sense to her and the moves began flowing easily.
Syaoran also found that when Sakura danced well, he danced just as well. It was like an inner competition between the two – who could be the best? Lisa clapped her hands and the music stopped. The class was all staring at them. Lisa had the miracle-look on her face again. "You two need to see me after class."
Sakura and Syaoran broke apart, feeling every pair of eyes on them as Lisa uttered that fateful sentence.
Syaoran and Sakura faithfully trudged up to Lisa's office after class. Lisa positioned herself behind the desk and sat down, motioning for them to do the same. Sakura gracefully seated herself against the wall, tucking her legs to the side. Syaoran sat next to her, cross-legged, and leaned back. Lisa looked at them for a long moment before uttering: "You guys are, like, wow."
Sakura blushed and looked away. Syaoran remained stone-faced as Lisa continued.
"You two were the best I've ever seen in a beginner's class! And that's why I'm asking you to be in a novice competition. It's a month away, so we wouldn't have much time. I'd need you in here three times a week for private lessons. This would be like, super intense." She took a deep breath, staring hopefully at the two. "Can you guys handle it?"
Syaoran looked over to Sakura, whose mouth was agape. She squeaked out, "A-a competition? Us!?"
Lisa nodded, and then added enticingly: "The prize money is ten thousand dollars."
Syaoran shrugged. "I guess I'll have to quit working here. I can write at the office on the days we don't have practice. But I'm in."
Sakura nodded quickly. Lisa grinned at her. "It's a lot, isn't it?"
Sakura gulped and nodded again, Syaoran nodding also. (They made a funny picture, like two bobble-head figurines you see in the back of cars, completely in sync.)
Lisa began speaking again. "It's not easy or cheap to be in the competition circuit. But I'll give you the lessons half-price and I'll do all I can."
Syaoran stood. Sakura watched the muscles in his arms move as he lifted himself smoothly from the floor. She drifted away with the thoughts of the prize – but was jilted out of it by a tanned hand in front of her…attached to the arm that she had been watching earlier. Syaoran was offering to help her up.
Sakura felt a sudden delicious thrill run down her spine; making her quite aware of how unexpectedly gentlemanly Syaoran was acting. She blushed slightly, and took the hand, rising as gracefully as she could.
Lisa smirked. "You'd better introduce me to your girlfriend, Syaoran."
Sakura raised her eyebrows and turned to Syaoran, fully expecting the reporter to firmly deny any attachments. No one was more surprised than she when he gently took her by the elbow, throwing his shocking reply over his shoulder as he ushered Sakura out of the studio.
"Her name's Sakura."
He dropped her elbow as they exited the building, but continued to walk close to her side.
--*--
Today was to be the first practice that they had with Lisa, and Sakura had an hour to kill before she needed to get dressed. She flopped down onto the couch and became lost in the pages of a magazine.
When she came to a page with a quiz labeled "Friend or Foe?" it got Sakura thinking. Was Syaoran her friend, or her foe? She picked up a pen and crossed out "Foe," deciding Syaoran couldn't be her enemy. But was he her friend?
In the broadest sense of the word, yes.
Sakura's thoughts flipped back to the fact that Syaoran was always on her mind. She smiled to herself as she realizes that the phrase "One-track mind" was completely appropriate here.
She leaned back into the couch and switched on the TV; soon becoming engrossed in the latest adventure of her favourite show. She felt the couch sag down a little with introduction of a new body. Sakura glanced over and gave Syaoran a smile. He smiled back at her and reached to pick up the remote.
Sakura whacked his hand away. "If you want to know what's going on, ask…because there's no way you're changing the channel."
Syaoran sat in silence for a few minutes. The silence soon got to him, and he sighed. "Fine then. What's going on?"
Sakura leaned back casually and put her feet onto his lap, too focused on the television to notice the stunned expression on Syaoran's face. "The main character, Joslin, has found out that her best-friend/love interest loves her too! Now he's finally told her. And in this episode, he's flying home to see her face to face. They're exchanging star pendants because it's sort of a tradition between lovers. Romantic, isn't it?"
Syaoran snorted, trying his best to ignore where her feet were. "Never would happen."
Sakura didn't even look at him. "It's just a show. No need to go all funny about it," she muttered, annoyed.
He shook his head and the two sat there – the television blaring and Syaoran getting quite comfy with Sakura's feet in his lap. Then, when he heard the main character saying, "You'll come back for me, right?" he also heard sniffles.
Sakura's sniffles.
She abruptly moved her feet and leaned back on the couch, wiping her eyes. Syaoran awkwardly put an arm around her shoulders and she leaned against him.
"It's only a show, Sakura," Syaoran whispered. "Please don't cry."
Sakura snuggled into his arm and her voice came out muffled. "I kn-know…but it's s-so romantic!"
They watched for a few more minutes before Syaoran turned the television off and turned to her. "We have to go to the lesson soon." He frowned, remembering. "Tell me, Sakura…why do you want to take the job?"
Sakura sat up and reached for the remote, but he held it away from her. She lightly punched him in the shoulder and smiled. "It pays a bit more."
Syaoran cleared his throat, a desperate attempt at being casual. "Who owns the place?"
She shrugged indifferently. "I think it's 'Antonio' something, and the place is called 'Spaghettios!' Cute name, huh?"
He immediately began shaking his head slowly. "Don't take the job, Sakura."
Sakura stood up, staring suspiciously at him. "Why?"
He stood, running a hand through his messy hair in an agitated manner. "I just know the guy, ok?"
Sakura put her hands on her hips and cocked her head to one side, a slightly annoyed tone to her voice. "He's offered to pay me more." She watched with even more annoyance as he just ran a hand through his hair again.
"You shouldn't take the offer. I know that guy. He's not the best person around."
Sakura balled her fists – quickly realizing how angry she was becoming, but not caring. "Maybe it's easy for you to turn down job offers, but with me, I have no choice! I need the money."
Syaoran was getting angry too. Sakura bristled harshly at the sarcastic tone in his voice. "For what? I always wanted to know how dancers spend their extra cash. New dresses, perhaps?"
Sakura threw her hands in the air, exasperated with his lack of care. "For your information, I'm tired of being financially indebted to you! I want to be independent! To have an apartment of my own!"
Syaoran shot back, fast as a whip. "You'd be nothing better than a slut living on the street if you took that job."
Sakura felt like she'd been slapped – hard. With quiet, shaking fury, she slowly pointed at him. "According to your article, I am already nothing but a slut."
He glared fiercely at her. "You love throwing that in my face, don't you? I said I was sorry!"
Sakura's hands found her hips again and she took a proud stance. "And I don't believe it. You said your readers liked when you acted like a bastard…but is it really just an act, Syaoran?"
The door bell rang, just as Syaoran looked as if he'd gathered a dangerous arsenal of insults. They both shouted at the door, "What?!"
Syaoran strode over and yanked open the door. On the other side stood a very cheerful looking Lisa holding a CD player.
She smiled brightly. "We couldn't use the studio today 'cause they're all booked; and so I'm here! I'm like…a walking dance school! I'm a bit early, though, sorry." She looked at Sakura's flushed, angry cheeks and Syaoran's pissed-off position and chirped carefully, "Am I interrupting something?"
The two in question shook their heads forcefully, sent each other another hate-fuelled glares, and marched over to help Lisa push away the couches. Lisa surveyed the scene. "It's good enough."
After everything was set up, they awkwardly took the dancing position. Syaoran held Sakura as far away from him as he could. Lisa had to physically push them together. Sakura could tell the lesson wasn't going to be good.
Lisa put on the music and demonstrated with Syaoran, then shoved him over to Sakura. "Just do what you did last week."
Sakura immediately put her foot the wrong way. Syaoran threw her an annoyed glance. Lisa demonstrated with her own feet and Sakura tentatively put her feet the right way, still trying to be as physically far away from Syaoran. She twisted and turned, but couldn't find herself getting the steps right. She could see Syaoran's pretend worry-face, which was hiding his joy at seeing her botch something up so badly. His comment kept running over the music: "You'd be no better then a slut…"
She lost all concentration. Lisa's continuing praises and encouragement faded slowly away, till all she could hear was Syaoran's voice in her head saying the horrible, mean comment all over again. She was only brought back when he exploded, "For the love of God, Sakura, watch your bloody feet!"
He was rubbing his foot in pain and glaring at her angrily. Sakura brought a hand to her mouth, embarrassed beyond belief. "Oh…god, Syaoran, I-I-"
She whirled to Lisa. "I-I have to quit. I'm sorry, I really am."
And she turned around and ran, her white skirt billowing around her legs and tears filling her eyes. She ran quickly down the stairwell – she could hear Syaoran yelling her name from the top, but she kept running.
She didn't want to see him – not after what he'd called her. And then she'd gone and stepped on his foot and screwed everything up! She opened the door and ran out into the freezing rain. Sakura didn't notice the droplets hitting her until she was soaked through and standing under the larger bandstand in the park. Her skirt had gone obscenely see-through and her shirt stuck close to her. She sank onto the ground and pulled her knees up to her chest, sobbing, because she was just so scared of the park at night.
It had felt like hours before she heard a distant voice shouting her name. She looked up, shivering fitfully when she caught sight of him. A large umbrella was protecting him from the rain, and he was yelling her name loudly. He was looking everywhere, clutching a jacket in his hand. Slowly, she picked herself up and walked out from under the stand, tears mingling with the rain on her face. Syaoran's eyes widened when he saw her. He ran towards her, quickly covering her with the umbrella and wrapping the jacket around her. His voice was low and troubled.
"I'm so sorry, Sakura. I shouldn't have called you a whore. I was angry – I know that guy. He'd hurt you…and I…I care."
Syaoran was confused. Why did he care? What was keeping him so attached to the safety of this tiny female who was looking up to him with large eyes and a sad look? Did he like her in that way?
No, he realized he didn't. He definitely cared for her as a friend. But could it ever be more?
Syaoran shoved these thoughts away, focusing on the shivering Sakura. He put an arm around her and brought her close for a hug. She shivered and mumbled, "Will Lisa forgive me?"
He pulled back and grinned. "She told me that you were having an 'off-day'"
Sakura broke out laughing, and it seemed – just for a moment – that the argument had never happened. He laughed along with her. She looked up at him and smiled stunningly, sticking out her pinkie. "Promise you'll never call me a slut again?"
He linked pinkies and smiled down at her, his dark eyes laughing. "As long as you don't call me one."
She laughed, but they held the pinkies for a moment. After letting go, he wrapped an arm around her shoulder and she wrapped an arm around his waist – convincing herself it was for warmth – and they walked back to the apartment together in comfortable, companionable silence.
--*--
Well, that's over! Another five days, another update. Life is good, isn't it? But if you're all good and nice, then I'll make it three days, if possible.
