(A/N: Don't let the title deceive you, there ain't a thing religious about this story, except for the occasional OMG wandering around. This is my first time writing anything besides those dinky little essays for school, so sorry. Plus, a word of warning, I can't type for the life of me, and I am known to have problems with technology, so lookout for mishaps. )
Disclaimer: I do not own a shred, it's all Clamp. What can I say, I lack the creativity.
Chapter 2:Under Her Skin
"Class I'd like to introduce you a new student, Li Syaoran from Hong Kong," Ms. Mizuki read off of the attendance card handed to her. "So what do you go by? Any nicknames?"
"Li. Just Li," Came his calm reply.
"Well just Li, welcome to Physical Science. Hmm, let me see where to place you. The class is broken up into trios but I'll just break up one of them so you will have a partner for this semester. Class, would any of you like to volunteer to be his lab partner?" Ms. Mizuki said scanning the class as a wave of hands shot into the air, all girls.
"Oh come on," Sakura muttered rolling her eyes, "I know he's good looking…"
Meilin and Tomoyo shot her a look.
"Alright, alright, he's very good looking, but he's a jerk! Who would want to be stuck next to an icicle of a guy all class?"
Another look from her friends.
"Don't answer that." Why am I getting unsettled, it's not like I want to be near him in any manner. Wouldn't that be hell on earth. I pity the girl with the misfortune of being picked.
Maybe Ms. Mizuki needed glasses or something because what came out of her mouth next was not expected, well at least not by those in the class. "Li why don't you and Sakura go to the empty lab table in the back." WHAT! I didn't even have my hand raised; has she gone blind?!?!
Sakura stomped to the back as Li with unreadable eyes sat in the chair next to her. Tomoyo and Meilin were busy giggling glancing back at their friend. Oh they knew her well and seeing her angered reaction proved one thing, Li had already managed to get under her skin. "Things could very interesting," Tomoyo remarked.
"Okay class, can anyone tell me what Physical Science is?" Ms. Mizuki questioned.
"Oh, oh! I know.!" Shouted Liam, hand in the air practically a foot above his chair.
"Yes, Liam?" Ms. Mizuki asked tentatively. Liam was sort of the class clown but unintentionally. His density tended to lead him to saying stupid things.
"It's the study of the human body!" The class went silent not sure whether he was serious or joking. "You know, 'cause it's physical and the body gets physical. Right?"
"Sorry Liam that would be Anatomy, but a logical way of thinking. Physical Science is the study of the world around us. This semester we will be covering many elements of the world around us and comparing them to their scientific counterparts such as water and evaporation, fire and combustion, and lightning and electricity.
"Today's lesson is on light," Ms. Mizuki began. "The light we see is not all that it appears to be. Think about when you have physical colors; the absence of them gives you white and all of them together and you get black. With light it is the opposite. Without any light of any color you are in darkness, but take the whole rainbow of colors and together they produce white light. Now your assignment is to use as many objects as you can to split light into its components. Be creative there are many, prisms, crystals, water even. We will then go into the differences in each color wavelength at a later time."
~Ding Dong~(A/N: my school bell dings, rather than rings, fun huh.)
"Look's like we've run out of time. Alright that means you'll have to do this either during free period or at your homes with your partners."
Li got up to leave when Sakura stopped him, "Ummm I'm not available free period. The counselor is dragging me in to talk about my habitual tardiness, sorry."
He said nothing.
"So where do you want to do the lab?"
Please don't make me say it, she silently begged, but he still did not respond.
Sighing, "My place is available if need be." He just nodded and then accepted the address she wrote down.
It's a good thing Toya won't be home. Sakura thought as she watched Li leave. I have a feeling he wouldn't like Li very much… Then again I wouldn't blame him.
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Sakura survived her other classes, antsy to get outside for lunch. To be able to breathe in that cold ocean air and wash away the frustrations of the day. The lunch area was actually a calming place. It was a grassy yard overlooking the bay, the salty breeze rustling through the leaves of the many trees. She and Tomoyo made their way to the usual table in the yard, under the shade of a weeping willow that partly hid them form the view of other students. Already sitting, waiting, was Eriol. Upon seeing him Tomoyo squealed and ran to him.
Another mushy reunion, Sakura thought with a smile. Secretly she wished to find someone she could connect with. Cold amber eyes flashed through her mind. That's ridiculous. Like I could find a connection with someone as frozen as him. He's so cold that he'd probably freeze anyone who tried to get that close to him. Besides, he probably can't even connect dots much less living objects. Shaking off the shiver she had felt run through her body at the thought of him as she joined Tomoyo and Eriol.
As Sakura was sitting down she heard a familiar voice saying, "Why don't you have lunch with me and my friends." Oh no.
Sure enough Meilin was walking towards the table with Li at her side. I can't seem to avoid him anywhere, first in the hallway then in classes, and now even during lunch, the most sacred time at school and he invades it. Has he no respect for the holiness of food?
Meilin made introductions and surprisingly enough Eriol and Li began to talk. Well, at least he knows how to be civil.
Sakura lost her sight as she felt a warm hand cover her eyes.
"Guess who?"
She swung around and found herself gazing into brilliant blue eyes.
"Ben!"
Ben took a seat beside her. "So…. Do you want to go to the dance?" He wasn't trying to push; he knew she'd had some dance dates from hell and he was trying to show her that some dates weren't all that bad. Though he had to admit getting into a car accident, being stalked by your date, and having to search for your date's suicidal friend all in one dance did not sound like fun.
"Ummm," Sakura just happened to notice that Li had stopped talking and could feel his gaze upon her and Ben. The nerve of him to stare, like any of it's his business. "Sure. It sounds like fun." Tomoyo smirked upon hearing her acceptance. Guess a little anger gave her the courage to overcome the past.
Ben's face lit up with excitement as he wrapped his arm around Sakura's shoulders giving them a squeeze. They had been good friends for quite a while, hitting it off the moment they met. A few weeks ago Ben had confessed that he had feelings for Sakura. She had always been attracted to him and decided to give the whole going out thing a try, but for some reason she had a vague feeling that something was amiss.
Everyone began to talk about the dance, filling Li in with all the details. Somehow Li's character fit in well with the group's dynamic, as if his calm seriousness added a balance they had lacked. But that balance was about to become disrupted.
None other than Tara, the supposed queen of the junior class, sauntered up with her entourage. There was no sense of individuality in that group to say the least. All looked like a mix between J Crew and a porno, sort of the preppy slut look. Tres chic right? Tara led the group with an iron fist masked behind false smiles and feigned care. She had been one of the many girls disappointed in science class when Sakura was chosen to be Li's partner. Sakura guessed she was here to stake her claim, making Li her next target.
"Why, hello Li." Tara purred as she leaned over the table, making sure he had a clear view to what her low cut top revealed. "I'm here to see if you need any help settling in. It can be so hard fitting in to a new school and I'd be so glad to assist you in any way."
Sakura normally found this behavior disgusting for the obvious reasons but she wondered why a white hot anger began to boil inside her a she saw Tara flirt with Li.
"You know Tara, it is winter now. Don't you think it's a bit cold to be wearing a shirt like that, if it has enough material to be considered a shirt?" Meilin coolly remarked.
Seeing that her presence was unwelcome Tara cut to the chase. "The Winter Formal is this weekend. It would be a wonderful way to meet people. So if you need someone to make introductions feel free to come by my way."
"Sorry Tara, hate to burst your bubble," but not looking apologetic in the least, "We are going to the dance as a group, aren't we guys?' Meilin asked looking around the table. Everyone nodded their heads, playing along.
"Isn't that a shame? Well if you change your mind just come and find me." And with that Tara signaled her groupies and went stalking away.
Li gave a look of thanks to his cousin. He wasn't used to dealing with girls. Back home he spent most of his life training, preparing for his future. Interacting with others had been low on the list of things to do in his life.
"So are we really going as a group?" Ben asked.
"Looks like it," Meilin said. "But don't worry you can still be couple-ie, just we'll all show up together." And with that it was set. They would all meet up at the Rae residence, sharing a limo to the Winter Formal. Hopefully not the Winter Formal from hell, Sakura prayed.
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(A/N: Hey, hope your enjoying. If so please say so. If not, feel free to flame. I welcome it all.)
What to look forward in the next chapter: sparkly lights, wrestling, a grumpy brother, and odd inner thoughts!