Disclaimer: Don't own them. These wonderful characters belong to CLAMP. . .
definitely not mine.
.
Warnings: Alternate Universe. No Clow cards, no magic, different lifestyle of the characters. . . yada yada. SakuraXSyaoran, EriolXTomoyo. . . a fusion with another story. . .
.
Feedbacks: ONEGAI!!!! Please review!! I wish to hear all your comments!!!
. . .
FORBIDDEN LOVE
. . .
.
Chapter One: Chance Encounter
.
.
"I still can't believe your dad let you take the car today." Tomoyo Daidouji said as she gaze out the window at Hanover High's red brick façade, which was coming into view.
.
Sakura Kinomoto smiled at her best friend's remark. Tomoyo knew just how hard Sakura had had to fight her father's trust since she had gotten her license. It was Sakura's first solo flight, and she was both thrilled and nervous.
.
As she stopped at the crosswalk to let a jostling stream of students cross the street, Sakura sighed. "Perils of the profession, I guess. Insurance agents can't help but be nervous about their own kids driving."
.
Tomoyo laughed, her sparkling blue eyes crinkling up at the corners. "My father is so glad to be rid of one of us, if only for a few hours, that he practically throws the car keys to my sister or me."
.
"Lucky you."
.
Because she was an only child, Sakura envied Tomoyo's home life -- which included three brothers and two sisters, a dog, two cats, and a talking minah bird named Kero. Everything was thrown together in a rambling, two- story Victorian house that Sakura described pleasant pandemonium.
.
Tomoyo's father owned a shoe store in downtown Clinton, which was a lucky thing, he always said, since he was trying to keep a family of centipedes in shoes. Tomoyo inherited her sense of humor and dark, bluish-black hair from him. She had acquired her warmth from her mother, who reminded Sakura of her own mom. Her mother had died five years before when Sakura was eleven. She still missed her a lot, although the pain wasn't so bad as it had been at first.
.
Every time Sakura caught herself wanting to trade places with Tomoyo, her friend would tell her how lucky she was to live in a quiet house and have her own room where she could do whatever she wanted, such as play her CD's without someone screaming to stop making a racket, or where she didn't have to worry about younger brothers and sisters needing their shoelaces tied or borrowing her best sweater and return it with jam smudged all over it.
.
No one ever screamed at Sakura. Her father wasn't the screaming type, though he would use a booming tone that left no doubt that he meant business. He was strict, too strict, Sakura thought, often treating her as if she was six instead of sixteen. Even though Sakura knew this was because her father cared about her and was concerned for her safety, it grated on her. She had read in a magazine once that overprotectiveness was synonymous with single parenthood.
.
As for brothers and sisters, Sakura would gladly have traded a sweater or two for the boisterous camaraderie that abounded in Tomoyo's home, even if the fireworks really got going there sometimes.
.
"What did you do to convince him, anyway?" Tomoyo asked as she peeled the foil wrapper from a stick of sugarless gum. "Wave a magic wand or something?"
.
"Well – it might have something to do with the suits he wanted me to pick up at the cleaners after school. Or" – her green eyes slanted in a mischievous sidelong glance – "It just might be the chocolate cake I made him in home ec the other day. Chocolate happens to be Dad's favorite."
.
Tomoyo groaned, looking down at her pleasant curves. "Please don't mention that word in my presence! I'm supposed to be on a diet, remember?"
.
Tomoyo was always on a diet – usually some crazy fad diet like starving herself on grapefruit and hard-boiled eggs for a whole week – but whatever she lost she usually gained right back. A confirmed 'yoyo', in Tomoyo's own words. Sakura refrained from saying anything. She thought her friend looked fine, but it was no use telling her. Anyway, Sakura knew it wasn't what other people thought about you, it was what you thought of yourself.
.
Sakura knew this because of her own uncertain feelings. She got good grades, she knew she had some talent as a singer, and her friends told her she was attractive. Alone in her room she would study herself; her reflection in the mirror showing a slender girl with shiny, shoulder-length chestnut hair and wide-set, emerald green eyes that needed only the tiniest bit of mascara to make them stand out. She didn't even mind, really, that her nose was a little on the small side or that one front tooth turned in very slightly. Yet even when she added up her assets, Sakura still felt insecure and awkward about herself. It wasn't that she wanted to be someone else, someone prettier or more popular or more talented – she just wished she could be more comfortable in her own skin.
.
And then there was the problem of her father. . .
.
"I promised up, down, and sideways that I'd be extra careful and wouldn't go over the speed limit," she said. "Even then he gave me a twenty-minute lecture about not following other cars too closely and not park in too- tight spots and not --"
.
"In other words," Tomoyo cut in, "no fun, right?"
.
"Oh, well," Sakura said, then sighed. "He is right, you know. It's dumb to take chances, and I do act without thinking sometimes. But still, I'm no speed demon. Dad knows that, or he wouldn't have given in, chocolate cake or no chocolate cake."
.
At the mention of chocolate cake again, Tomoyo hurriedly changed the subject. "Hey, did you see the notice on the bulletin board about the spring concert? Are you still thinking of transferring out of chorus into the a cappella choir?"
.
Sakura shrugged, her face growing warm. "I don't know. Ms. Mizuki wants me to, but I'm not sure I'm ready."
.
"Oh, c'mon, Sakura! It's fun there! If you transfer, then we'll be together!"
.
The a cappella choir was more of an elite club than a music class, although it was graded as one. Normally Sakura would have had to wait until her junior year to be eligible, but Ms. Mizuki felt she was ready and was willing to recommend the transfer. Sakura wasn't so sure. The kids in the a cappella choir were really good; in addition to the performances they gave at school, they have participated in several local concerts and had won awards at regional festivals. Sakura heard that one of the local TV station was going to televise their spring concert. . .
.
The mere thought of being on television was enough to start her stomach somersaulting.
.
Tomoyo reacted with indignation. "Are you kidding? You have a very lovely voice! You're just chicken to try out, aren't you?"
.
"Oh, Tomoyo," she said, moaning, "I want to be in the choir, but I just don't know if I can get up and sing in front of a bunch of people. What if I have a solo?!"
.
"Why don't you worry about that if it happens? Honestly, Sakura, you have to take some chances to get anywhere. You just don't believe in yourself enough. Look at you. You're pretty, smart, talented. . . and besides," she added, giving Sakura a sly glance, "maybe it would give you a chance to get to know Syaoran."
.
Why did Tomoyo have to bring him into it? Sakura wondered. As if she didn't have enough to worry about already! The thought of Li Syaoran, star tenor soloist of the a cappella choir, brought flames to her cheeks. Besides having a fantastic voice, he was one of the most popular – and the most gorgeous – boys in Hanover High.
.
Only Tomoyo knew about Sakura's secret crush on Syaoran. Sometimes, she was embarrassed even to have her best friend know. In addition to being a soloist in the choir, Syaoran, a natural athlete, was the star player in many school sports. Having a crush on Li Syaoran was a little like having a crush in a movie star. Half of the girls at Hanover had crushes on Syaoran, and most of them had about as much chance of getting a date with him as they did with Keanu Reeves.
.
On the other hand, as Tomoyo was ready to point out, Syaoran was available, which only meant that although he had no shortage of dates, he wasn't going out with anyone in particular – he had broken up with Meilin Li, a distant cousin of his, the year before. But with all of Syaoran's activities, it didn't seem as if he had enough time for a steady girlfriend. Along with his many rehearsals in school, he was also taking voice lessons from a private tutor. . . a fact that says that pursuing his career is more important than his social life.
.
Sakura didn't know if she should be discouraged or not.
.
"If I decided to try out," she announced firmly, "it won't be because of Li Syaoran."
.
Tomoyo's pretty face dimpled at a smile as they headed through the gates of the parking lot. "Whatever you say, although. . ." Her voice trailed off as something in the distance caught her eye.
.
"Hey, Sakura," she said, "could you let me off here? I see somebody I have to talk to about a history assignment."
.
"That somebody wouldn't be Eriol Hiragizawa, would it?" Sakura asked teasingly. She would have known something was up even if Tomoyo hadn't told her. History, which had always been Tomoyo's worst subject, was suddenly all she could talk about.
.
Now it was Tomoyo's turn to blush, but her eyes sparkled merrily as she slid gracefully from the front seat of the car. "Who else? You didn't think I meant Abraham Lincoln, did you?"
.
Sakura watched with a smile, as Tomoyo bob off in the direction of a handsome, dark-haired boy near the front steps. Soon the two were talking excitedly. Sakura couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy as she drove off in search of a parking space. It was obvious Tomoyo had found someone special. 'When will it be my turn?' Sakura wondered, her chest tightening slightly.
.
She was so lost in her thoughts, she forgot to pay attention to where she was going and made a too-abrupt turn as she rounded a row of parked cars. A midnight black convertible was backing out in front of her, but it was too late to stop. In the horrifying split second that was left, Sakura slammed her foot against the brake, her heart lurching as her front bumper connected with the sports car's rear one in a sickening crunch.
.
A tall, brown-haired boy in a green sweatshirt catapulted from the tiny car and raced over to where she was sitting, her hands locked onto the steering wheel. She was unable to stop quivering. His face loomed in the open window, wearing an expression of tightly controlled anger that flipped to anxious concern when he saw how deathly pale she was.
.
"Are you all right?" he asked. She nodded, blinking back tears of shame as she watch his anger return. "Why didn't you honk or something? Damn, I didn't even see you!"
.
Sakura was trembling so hard she didn't trust herself to speak. The shock of recognizing who she had run into was almost worse than the moment of crash. It was unbelievable. The kind of awful coincidence that doesn't really happen in the life, only in bad movies.
.
Of all the people at Hanover High she could have bashed into, she had to pick Li Syaoran!
.
"I'm s-s-sorry," she stammered. "I guess I wasn't looking. It was all my fault." Tears spilled down her cheeks.
.
Syaoran softened slightly and reached out to place a comforting hand on her shoulder. ""I'm sorry I yelled. It could have been worse, I guess. At least no one was hurt." Then he glanced over at his car and flinched. "It's just that I'd saved my summer money all year hoping for a car like this to come along. This is the first day I've taken it out. What rotten luck!"
.
Numbly, Sakura forced herself to climb out and inspect the damage. Her legs felt as if they might collapse at any moment. What steeled her was the thought that Syaoran might have to catch her if she fell. She had day- dreamed about him holding her in his arms – but not like that!
.
She groaned as she surveyed the extent of the damage. One of the convertible's taillights and one of her head-lights had been shattered, and part of the convertible's rear end was dented as well.
.
"My dad's going to have a fit!" she whined.
.
Well, that wasn't exactly true, she thought. He would be upset, but worse than that, he would be disappointed in her. That was the hard part. Just when she was on the verge of proving to him how grown-up and trustworthy she was, this had to happen!
.
Syaoran's thoughts echoed her own. "I know what you mean. My mom's not going to be exactly overjoyed, either. I wasn't supposed to be driving this until I got insurance. The trouble is I got this stupid ticket last year for running a stop sign. . . Hell, when she finds out about this, I'm dead!"
.
All that time Syaoran had been kneeling to get a closer look at the damage, but when he straightened up, Sakura saw that he was a couple of inches taller than she. It was the closest she had ever gotten to him, and she was surprised, for she always imagined he would tower over her. At that distance, she was uncomfortably aware of his handsome face, stunning amber eyes, and slightly messy dark-brown hair. Her heart galloped when she realized that he was staring at her, too.
.
For a brief instant Sakura forgot about the two cars welded together in front of them. All she could think about was the fact that she was actually standing there talking to Li Syaoran. She was glad she'd worn something nice – beige skirt and a new candy-pink blouse instead of her usual jeans and T-shirt. Her pulse thudded in her ears as one corner of his mouth lifted in a smile that was a Li Syaoran trademark.
.
"Now I know why you look so familiar," he said. "You were in the Christmas concert." That was when Ms. Mizuki's chorus classes had merged with the a cappella choir to perform the 'Christmas Star'. Sakura was surprised he remembered her.
.
"Right," she mumbled. The same voice that had soared in the Christmas Star was now sticking in her throat like a glob of peanut butter. She managed to add, "Your solos were great."
.
He looked surprised. "You thought so? I had the flu that night so I really felt I blew it. Do you ever feel like you want to take a big eraser and rub out a day in your life?"
.
In spite of her embarrassment, Sakura found herself laughing. "How about today?"
.
Syaoran joined in, momentarily dissolving the tension that had lain between them. How could he be so nice after what she had done? Sakura wondered. She found herself thinking that having a crush on someone wasn't the same as really knowing him. Before that day, she had admired Syaoran from a distance -- he might have been a statue she'd seen in the park and thought was beautiful. But now that she had actually met him and seen how nice he was, Sakura wished desperately for a chance to get to know him better – to see if the wild flutterings inside her could develop into something more.
.
She told that her father was an insurance agent and that she would explain the whole thing when she get home. She was sure the company would pay Syaoran's car.
.
Syaoran looked relieved. "That should smooth Mom over a little. After she gets through chewing me out, that is. You know how lawyers can be about sticking to the rules.
.
"Your mother is a lawyer?"
.
Syaoran grinned. "Yeah."
.
"That's really neat." Sakura was impressed.
.
"It is, but try living with one sometime. You never win an argument."
.
"What does your father do?"
.
Syaoran shrugged. "He's a lawyer, too, but they're divorced."
.
Sakura could have bitten off her tongue for being so nosy. She didn't even know why she'd asked – it just seemed like a natural question. She relaxed when she saw that Syaoran wasn't going to hold it against her.
.
"My mom and I live in the apartment building down the block from the courthouse," he volunteered. "It's convenient for her, and most of the time I have the place to myself, so it works out during rehearsals. Gives us a place to study our scores and sing where there's not a bunch of kid brothers and sisters getting in the way."
.
Sakura thought of Tomoyo's house – how full of life and fun it was, even if it got messy and the little kids were terrors sometimes.
.
"I don't know," she said. "I always thought it'd be nice to have a brother or sister. Being the only one gets sort of lonely."
.
Syaoran gave her a long, thoughtful look. His amber eyes were so intense, she thought. They were like lasers cutting into her innermost thoughts. She noticed how the sun brushed the ends of his brown hair, turning them a lighter shade.
.
"I guess I know what you mean." Syaoran admitted slowly, as if it were the first time he'd done so.
.
They were interrupted by the sound of the bell in the distance, reminding them they had only five minutes to get to their first-period classes. Sakura was still a little shaky about driving, so Syaoran offered to park the car for her. Afterward she told him she would call him when she had spoken with her father.
.
Syaoran fished an old piece of paper from his wallet and scribbled something on it. "Here's my number," he said, handing it to her.
.
"Thanks." Sakura stuffed it into her book bag, knowing she would treasure that dumb piece of paper forever, no matter how this whole thing turned out. "Well. . . see ya."
.
She was half-way across the parking lot when Syaoran yelled after her, "Hey! What's your name – I forgot to ask!"
.
"Sakura!" she yelled back, her voice rising. "Sakura Kinomoto!"
.
His eyes, even from that distance, sent goose bumps up her back. "I'll remember that," he said, grinning.
.
A fragile bubble of hope rose in her. I'll remember that. . . it shimmered brightly for a minute before it abruptly exploded. Of course he would remember her! After she had practically wiped him out, how could he possibly forget her?
.
.
.
TBC. . .
.
Soooo. . . should I continue this?
.
REVIEW PLEASE!!! All your reviews will be greatly appreciated and very welcome!!!
.
.
.
Warnings: Alternate Universe. No Clow cards, no magic, different lifestyle of the characters. . . yada yada. SakuraXSyaoran, EriolXTomoyo. . . a fusion with another story. . .
.
Feedbacks: ONEGAI!!!! Please review!! I wish to hear all your comments!!!
. . .
FORBIDDEN LOVE
. . .
.
Chapter One: Chance Encounter
.
.
"I still can't believe your dad let you take the car today." Tomoyo Daidouji said as she gaze out the window at Hanover High's red brick façade, which was coming into view.
.
Sakura Kinomoto smiled at her best friend's remark. Tomoyo knew just how hard Sakura had had to fight her father's trust since she had gotten her license. It was Sakura's first solo flight, and she was both thrilled and nervous.
.
As she stopped at the crosswalk to let a jostling stream of students cross the street, Sakura sighed. "Perils of the profession, I guess. Insurance agents can't help but be nervous about their own kids driving."
.
Tomoyo laughed, her sparkling blue eyes crinkling up at the corners. "My father is so glad to be rid of one of us, if only for a few hours, that he practically throws the car keys to my sister or me."
.
"Lucky you."
.
Because she was an only child, Sakura envied Tomoyo's home life -- which included three brothers and two sisters, a dog, two cats, and a talking minah bird named Kero. Everything was thrown together in a rambling, two- story Victorian house that Sakura described pleasant pandemonium.
.
Tomoyo's father owned a shoe store in downtown Clinton, which was a lucky thing, he always said, since he was trying to keep a family of centipedes in shoes. Tomoyo inherited her sense of humor and dark, bluish-black hair from him. She had acquired her warmth from her mother, who reminded Sakura of her own mom. Her mother had died five years before when Sakura was eleven. She still missed her a lot, although the pain wasn't so bad as it had been at first.
.
Every time Sakura caught herself wanting to trade places with Tomoyo, her friend would tell her how lucky she was to live in a quiet house and have her own room where she could do whatever she wanted, such as play her CD's without someone screaming to stop making a racket, or where she didn't have to worry about younger brothers and sisters needing their shoelaces tied or borrowing her best sweater and return it with jam smudged all over it.
.
No one ever screamed at Sakura. Her father wasn't the screaming type, though he would use a booming tone that left no doubt that he meant business. He was strict, too strict, Sakura thought, often treating her as if she was six instead of sixteen. Even though Sakura knew this was because her father cared about her and was concerned for her safety, it grated on her. She had read in a magazine once that overprotectiveness was synonymous with single parenthood.
.
As for brothers and sisters, Sakura would gladly have traded a sweater or two for the boisterous camaraderie that abounded in Tomoyo's home, even if the fireworks really got going there sometimes.
.
"What did you do to convince him, anyway?" Tomoyo asked as she peeled the foil wrapper from a stick of sugarless gum. "Wave a magic wand or something?"
.
"Well – it might have something to do with the suits he wanted me to pick up at the cleaners after school. Or" – her green eyes slanted in a mischievous sidelong glance – "It just might be the chocolate cake I made him in home ec the other day. Chocolate happens to be Dad's favorite."
.
Tomoyo groaned, looking down at her pleasant curves. "Please don't mention that word in my presence! I'm supposed to be on a diet, remember?"
.
Tomoyo was always on a diet – usually some crazy fad diet like starving herself on grapefruit and hard-boiled eggs for a whole week – but whatever she lost she usually gained right back. A confirmed 'yoyo', in Tomoyo's own words. Sakura refrained from saying anything. She thought her friend looked fine, but it was no use telling her. Anyway, Sakura knew it wasn't what other people thought about you, it was what you thought of yourself.
.
Sakura knew this because of her own uncertain feelings. She got good grades, she knew she had some talent as a singer, and her friends told her she was attractive. Alone in her room she would study herself; her reflection in the mirror showing a slender girl with shiny, shoulder-length chestnut hair and wide-set, emerald green eyes that needed only the tiniest bit of mascara to make them stand out. She didn't even mind, really, that her nose was a little on the small side or that one front tooth turned in very slightly. Yet even when she added up her assets, Sakura still felt insecure and awkward about herself. It wasn't that she wanted to be someone else, someone prettier or more popular or more talented – she just wished she could be more comfortable in her own skin.
.
And then there was the problem of her father. . .
.
"I promised up, down, and sideways that I'd be extra careful and wouldn't go over the speed limit," she said. "Even then he gave me a twenty-minute lecture about not following other cars too closely and not park in too- tight spots and not --"
.
"In other words," Tomoyo cut in, "no fun, right?"
.
"Oh, well," Sakura said, then sighed. "He is right, you know. It's dumb to take chances, and I do act without thinking sometimes. But still, I'm no speed demon. Dad knows that, or he wouldn't have given in, chocolate cake or no chocolate cake."
.
At the mention of chocolate cake again, Tomoyo hurriedly changed the subject. "Hey, did you see the notice on the bulletin board about the spring concert? Are you still thinking of transferring out of chorus into the a cappella choir?"
.
Sakura shrugged, her face growing warm. "I don't know. Ms. Mizuki wants me to, but I'm not sure I'm ready."
.
"Oh, c'mon, Sakura! It's fun there! If you transfer, then we'll be together!"
.
The a cappella choir was more of an elite club than a music class, although it was graded as one. Normally Sakura would have had to wait until her junior year to be eligible, but Ms. Mizuki felt she was ready and was willing to recommend the transfer. Sakura wasn't so sure. The kids in the a cappella choir were really good; in addition to the performances they gave at school, they have participated in several local concerts and had won awards at regional festivals. Sakura heard that one of the local TV station was going to televise their spring concert. . .
.
The mere thought of being on television was enough to start her stomach somersaulting.
.
Tomoyo reacted with indignation. "Are you kidding? You have a very lovely voice! You're just chicken to try out, aren't you?"
.
"Oh, Tomoyo," she said, moaning, "I want to be in the choir, but I just don't know if I can get up and sing in front of a bunch of people. What if I have a solo?!"
.
"Why don't you worry about that if it happens? Honestly, Sakura, you have to take some chances to get anywhere. You just don't believe in yourself enough. Look at you. You're pretty, smart, talented. . . and besides," she added, giving Sakura a sly glance, "maybe it would give you a chance to get to know Syaoran."
.
Why did Tomoyo have to bring him into it? Sakura wondered. As if she didn't have enough to worry about already! The thought of Li Syaoran, star tenor soloist of the a cappella choir, brought flames to her cheeks. Besides having a fantastic voice, he was one of the most popular – and the most gorgeous – boys in Hanover High.
.
Only Tomoyo knew about Sakura's secret crush on Syaoran. Sometimes, she was embarrassed even to have her best friend know. In addition to being a soloist in the choir, Syaoran, a natural athlete, was the star player in many school sports. Having a crush on Li Syaoran was a little like having a crush in a movie star. Half of the girls at Hanover had crushes on Syaoran, and most of them had about as much chance of getting a date with him as they did with Keanu Reeves.
.
On the other hand, as Tomoyo was ready to point out, Syaoran was available, which only meant that although he had no shortage of dates, he wasn't going out with anyone in particular – he had broken up with Meilin Li, a distant cousin of his, the year before. But with all of Syaoran's activities, it didn't seem as if he had enough time for a steady girlfriend. Along with his many rehearsals in school, he was also taking voice lessons from a private tutor. . . a fact that says that pursuing his career is more important than his social life.
.
Sakura didn't know if she should be discouraged or not.
.
"If I decided to try out," she announced firmly, "it won't be because of Li Syaoran."
.
Tomoyo's pretty face dimpled at a smile as they headed through the gates of the parking lot. "Whatever you say, although. . ." Her voice trailed off as something in the distance caught her eye.
.
"Hey, Sakura," she said, "could you let me off here? I see somebody I have to talk to about a history assignment."
.
"That somebody wouldn't be Eriol Hiragizawa, would it?" Sakura asked teasingly. She would have known something was up even if Tomoyo hadn't told her. History, which had always been Tomoyo's worst subject, was suddenly all she could talk about.
.
Now it was Tomoyo's turn to blush, but her eyes sparkled merrily as she slid gracefully from the front seat of the car. "Who else? You didn't think I meant Abraham Lincoln, did you?"
.
Sakura watched with a smile, as Tomoyo bob off in the direction of a handsome, dark-haired boy near the front steps. Soon the two were talking excitedly. Sakura couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy as she drove off in search of a parking space. It was obvious Tomoyo had found someone special. 'When will it be my turn?' Sakura wondered, her chest tightening slightly.
.
She was so lost in her thoughts, she forgot to pay attention to where she was going and made a too-abrupt turn as she rounded a row of parked cars. A midnight black convertible was backing out in front of her, but it was too late to stop. In the horrifying split second that was left, Sakura slammed her foot against the brake, her heart lurching as her front bumper connected with the sports car's rear one in a sickening crunch.
.
A tall, brown-haired boy in a green sweatshirt catapulted from the tiny car and raced over to where she was sitting, her hands locked onto the steering wheel. She was unable to stop quivering. His face loomed in the open window, wearing an expression of tightly controlled anger that flipped to anxious concern when he saw how deathly pale she was.
.
"Are you all right?" he asked. She nodded, blinking back tears of shame as she watch his anger return. "Why didn't you honk or something? Damn, I didn't even see you!"
.
Sakura was trembling so hard she didn't trust herself to speak. The shock of recognizing who she had run into was almost worse than the moment of crash. It was unbelievable. The kind of awful coincidence that doesn't really happen in the life, only in bad movies.
.
Of all the people at Hanover High she could have bashed into, she had to pick Li Syaoran!
.
"I'm s-s-sorry," she stammered. "I guess I wasn't looking. It was all my fault." Tears spilled down her cheeks.
.
Syaoran softened slightly and reached out to place a comforting hand on her shoulder. ""I'm sorry I yelled. It could have been worse, I guess. At least no one was hurt." Then he glanced over at his car and flinched. "It's just that I'd saved my summer money all year hoping for a car like this to come along. This is the first day I've taken it out. What rotten luck!"
.
Numbly, Sakura forced herself to climb out and inspect the damage. Her legs felt as if they might collapse at any moment. What steeled her was the thought that Syaoran might have to catch her if she fell. She had day- dreamed about him holding her in his arms – but not like that!
.
She groaned as she surveyed the extent of the damage. One of the convertible's taillights and one of her head-lights had been shattered, and part of the convertible's rear end was dented as well.
.
"My dad's going to have a fit!" she whined.
.
Well, that wasn't exactly true, she thought. He would be upset, but worse than that, he would be disappointed in her. That was the hard part. Just when she was on the verge of proving to him how grown-up and trustworthy she was, this had to happen!
.
Syaoran's thoughts echoed her own. "I know what you mean. My mom's not going to be exactly overjoyed, either. I wasn't supposed to be driving this until I got insurance. The trouble is I got this stupid ticket last year for running a stop sign. . . Hell, when she finds out about this, I'm dead!"
.
All that time Syaoran had been kneeling to get a closer look at the damage, but when he straightened up, Sakura saw that he was a couple of inches taller than she. It was the closest she had ever gotten to him, and she was surprised, for she always imagined he would tower over her. At that distance, she was uncomfortably aware of his handsome face, stunning amber eyes, and slightly messy dark-brown hair. Her heart galloped when she realized that he was staring at her, too.
.
For a brief instant Sakura forgot about the two cars welded together in front of them. All she could think about was the fact that she was actually standing there talking to Li Syaoran. She was glad she'd worn something nice – beige skirt and a new candy-pink blouse instead of her usual jeans and T-shirt. Her pulse thudded in her ears as one corner of his mouth lifted in a smile that was a Li Syaoran trademark.
.
"Now I know why you look so familiar," he said. "You were in the Christmas concert." That was when Ms. Mizuki's chorus classes had merged with the a cappella choir to perform the 'Christmas Star'. Sakura was surprised he remembered her.
.
"Right," she mumbled. The same voice that had soared in the Christmas Star was now sticking in her throat like a glob of peanut butter. She managed to add, "Your solos were great."
.
He looked surprised. "You thought so? I had the flu that night so I really felt I blew it. Do you ever feel like you want to take a big eraser and rub out a day in your life?"
.
In spite of her embarrassment, Sakura found herself laughing. "How about today?"
.
Syaoran joined in, momentarily dissolving the tension that had lain between them. How could he be so nice after what she had done? Sakura wondered. She found herself thinking that having a crush on someone wasn't the same as really knowing him. Before that day, she had admired Syaoran from a distance -- he might have been a statue she'd seen in the park and thought was beautiful. But now that she had actually met him and seen how nice he was, Sakura wished desperately for a chance to get to know him better – to see if the wild flutterings inside her could develop into something more.
.
She told that her father was an insurance agent and that she would explain the whole thing when she get home. She was sure the company would pay Syaoran's car.
.
Syaoran looked relieved. "That should smooth Mom over a little. After she gets through chewing me out, that is. You know how lawyers can be about sticking to the rules.
.
"Your mother is a lawyer?"
.
Syaoran grinned. "Yeah."
.
"That's really neat." Sakura was impressed.
.
"It is, but try living with one sometime. You never win an argument."
.
"What does your father do?"
.
Syaoran shrugged. "He's a lawyer, too, but they're divorced."
.
Sakura could have bitten off her tongue for being so nosy. She didn't even know why she'd asked – it just seemed like a natural question. She relaxed when she saw that Syaoran wasn't going to hold it against her.
.
"My mom and I live in the apartment building down the block from the courthouse," he volunteered. "It's convenient for her, and most of the time I have the place to myself, so it works out during rehearsals. Gives us a place to study our scores and sing where there's not a bunch of kid brothers and sisters getting in the way."
.
Sakura thought of Tomoyo's house – how full of life and fun it was, even if it got messy and the little kids were terrors sometimes.
.
"I don't know," she said. "I always thought it'd be nice to have a brother or sister. Being the only one gets sort of lonely."
.
Syaoran gave her a long, thoughtful look. His amber eyes were so intense, she thought. They were like lasers cutting into her innermost thoughts. She noticed how the sun brushed the ends of his brown hair, turning them a lighter shade.
.
"I guess I know what you mean." Syaoran admitted slowly, as if it were the first time he'd done so.
.
They were interrupted by the sound of the bell in the distance, reminding them they had only five minutes to get to their first-period classes. Sakura was still a little shaky about driving, so Syaoran offered to park the car for her. Afterward she told him she would call him when she had spoken with her father.
.
Syaoran fished an old piece of paper from his wallet and scribbled something on it. "Here's my number," he said, handing it to her.
.
"Thanks." Sakura stuffed it into her book bag, knowing she would treasure that dumb piece of paper forever, no matter how this whole thing turned out. "Well. . . see ya."
.
She was half-way across the parking lot when Syaoran yelled after her, "Hey! What's your name – I forgot to ask!"
.
"Sakura!" she yelled back, her voice rising. "Sakura Kinomoto!"
.
His eyes, even from that distance, sent goose bumps up her back. "I'll remember that," he said, grinning.
.
A fragile bubble of hope rose in her. I'll remember that. . . it shimmered brightly for a minute before it abruptly exploded. Of course he would remember her! After she had practically wiped him out, how could he possibly forget her?
.
.
.
TBC. . .
.
Soooo. . . should I continue this?
.
REVIEW PLEASE!!! All your reviews will be greatly appreciated and very welcome!!!
.
.