A/N: Thank you, oh great reviewers! I am eternally in your debt! But first,
I have to finish this story. Thanks for your vote of confidence. Sorry if I
haven't updated sooner. Okay, back to the story.
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Song lyrics
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I disclaim the story and the songs!!
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If You're Not The One
Chapter 6
New Beginnings
Sakura ran in between Eriol and Syaoron at the exact time Syaoron threw a punch to the jaw. Sakura turned around to face Syaoron (and his fist) and shut her eyes. 'Oh no!' She thought. She waited for the hit, but nothing happened. She slowly opened her eyes. Syaoron's fist was centimeters away from her nose. Sakura stared at his fist for a moment. She could feel herself get dizzy, her eyes cross, and her knees get weak. Sakura suddenly fell...
*...*
"Ughh," Sakura said, sitting up. "Where am I?" Sakura looked around. She was in someone's living room. When she got up too fast, she moaned in pain and held her head. Suddenly, someone came into view.
"S-Syaoron?" Sakura asked weakly.
"As much as you probably wanted it to be him, it's just me," said a boy with azure eyes.
"E-Eriol??" She asked even more surprised.
The figure nodded. "You're at my apartment, if you're wondering."
Sakura looked at her watch. 6:47 PM. "Oh my gosh! Dad's gonna kill me!" Sakura grabbed her backpack and opened Eriol's front door.
"Wait!" Eriol held her wrist. "Let me take you home-"
"NO!" Sakura yelled, breaking his grip.
"You're in no condition to go walking home." Eriol said calmly.
"And you're in no condition to tell me what to do!" She snapped.
"Why are you acting like this?"
"Because!" Sakura shouted. She could feel the tears form in her eyes. "Because I've lost everything! I've lost my best friend, Syaoron..." Sakura saw Eriol flinch when she mentioned Syaoron's name. "What is it?"
Eriol looked down. "So he was right."
"What? Who?"
"Tell me Sakura, did you really have feelings for me?"
"W-why do you ask?" Sakura asked hesitantly.
"Don't avoid the question!" Eriol yelled, taking hold of her shoulders. Sakura cringed as he shook her. "Tell me!! Were you in love with Syaoron the time we were dating??"
Sakura looked away and said dully. "No, I wasn't."
Eriol looked at her for a moment. His frown broke into laughter. Sakura's face contorted. "Hoe? What's so funny?" Eriol's smile went back to a frown. "Come on, Sakura! As convincing as that might have sounded in your head, it would be a bit more believable if you looked me in the eye and told me you had no feelings for Syaoron the time we were dating."
Sakura looked into his eyes then looked away. "I can't."
Eriol let go of her shoulders. Sakura grabbed her backpack and opened the front door. She looked back at Eriol, who was looking back at her, and closed the door behind her when she left.
*Kinomoto Residence*
Sakura opened the door. Fujitaka sighed in relief and smiled. "Thank goodness. I was getting a little worried."
Touya stomped downstairs. "Kaijuu, where were you?? Cheerleading practice ended two hours ago!!"
"I was at Penguin Park." Sakura sighed as she dragged herself up the stairs.
"Um, Sakura," Fujitaka began. "Dinner's almost ready..."
"I'm not up for dinner. I'm a little tired," Sakura said as she continued to crawl up the stairs. She finally made it up to her room and shut the door behind her. She collapsed on her bed and fell asleep.
*Penguin Park*
Eriol kicked loose gravel as he walked towards a swing; the same swing has sat on that day Sakura broke up with him. He sat there, touching his swollen face (A/N: The fight... the kick to the face... the cleats... ouch!), watching the sun slowly go down. 'What was I thinking?' Eriol thought to himself as he got up from the swing and walked towards the park bench. 'Sakura never loved me.' He sat down. He looked at the setting sun in the distance for a while when he heard a small noise next to him.
"Ahem,"
Eriol looked up. Azure met amethyst.
"Is this seat taken?" The girl asked.
He shook his head. "What happened to you?" He asked as he saw the violet- haired beauty slump into the park bench next to him.
"I lost my best friend," She looked over at him to see a midnight blue- haired boy sitting next to her with bruises all over his face. "What happened to you?"
The boy smiled. "I guess I'm friendless as well."
Both were silent as they sat on the park bench. "You know," he began. "It was here I lost someone. She was always so good to me before. She left me for another."
"Let me guess. You're Eriol."
Eriol nodded. "Tomoyo, I presume?"
Tomoyo nodded.
Eriol continued. "I thought she loved me. I'm thinking maybe she only dated me to get closer to Syaoron. She succeeded."
Tomoyo shook her head. "She would have succeeded if it wasn't for me."
"What do you mean?"
Tomoyo began. "Sakura could tell me anything, and I wouldn't tell a soul." She looked at Eriol. "And then she told me about you and Syaoron." She paused. "This next part's kinda weird..."
"Please continue." Eriol insisted.
"Well," Tomoyo chuckled. "I was jealous. She had two great guys that would do anything for her, and if she had to choose one of them, she'd still be lucky. Truth be told, I've never had a boyfriend."
Eriol raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure?"
"Yes I'm sure!" Tomoyo giggled and slightly blushed. "Why do you ask?"
"You're beautiful," Eriol smiled. He laughed. "I can't believe I just said that out loud."
Tomoyo laughed. "Arigatou." Her smile faded as she looked towards the sunset. "But there's more to looks, and more to being one of the richest girls in Japan."
"Oh I see," Eriol nodded. "You're afraid to give guys the benefit of the doubt."
"What?"
"Well, the way I see it, you don't think guys like you for your personality. You think it's because you have money and you have good looks that they like you. I bet many guys have asked you out, but you've said no because you thought they were asking you out for the wrong reasons, correct?"
Tomoyo blushed and said playfully, "You've found me out! I don't like you!" They both laughed. Tomoyo looked at Eriol and saw his swollen face. She touched it lightly. "If I hadn't told Meilin Sakura's secret, none of this would have happened. I wouldn't have been friendless and you're face wouldn't have looked like a punching bag."
Eriol shrugged. "I suppose, but to tell you the truth, I'm glad you did."
"Why?" Tomoyo asked. "So we could be miserable?"
Eriol smiled. "So we could be miserable... together." Tomoyo looked at Eriol and grinned. They both turned and watched the sun set in the horizon.
*Syaoron's Apartment*
Syaoron tossed and turned that night. He opened his eyes and sighed. He couldn't help but relive in his dreams what happened that afternoon. He could still feel the sharp pain of Eriol's blows. And when Eriol was defenseless, he'd let him have it. He swung, aiming at Eriol's jaw, when suddenly...
Sakura.
She was defending him. And Syaoron was about to hit her. She spun around to see him about to punch her face. He stopped himself and could almost touch the tip of her nose with his fist. She was terrified. He saw her fall... fall into Eriol's arms. He had enough.
Syaoron climbed out of bed. Syaoron put on his muscle shirt (A/N: ROOOOWR!!) and pants and opened the door to the balcony. Syaoron leaned against the railing and sighed. He could see the city lights of Tomoeda from where he stood (A/N: He's on the fourth floor).
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I hate to talk like this
I hate to act as if
There's something wrong that I can't say
I have this dream at night
Well almost every night
I've been dreaming it forever
It's easy to remember it
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(Syaoron POV)
'How did this happen?' I thought to myself. 'How could Eriol, my best friend, not tell me he was dating the girl I was in love with for three years?' That's right... I've watched that girl from the corner of my eye for three long years... and Eriol knew it, too. 'He knew how much I loved her. I never thought Sakura would love me. I didn't think she knew I existed! We barely met this year, but it seemed like I'd known her forever...'
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It's always cold
It's always day
You're always here
You always say
"I'm all right,
I'll be okay
If I can keep myself awake."
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I looked at my watch. 3:58 AM. I walked back inside my apartment and went inside the kitchen. I opened a bottle of aspirin only to find out it was empty. "Dammit," I cursed.
(Normal POV)
Syaoron threw the empty bottle in the trashcan and entered his room. He fell on his bed and sighed. 'What am I gonna do?' He thought before he fell asleep.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I get up early and look around me
I'm buying coffee by the pound
But when I'm sleeping
I'm so deep in it
I can't keep myself awake
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*Weeks Later *
Meilin walked alone in the empty hallways of Northwest High school. She looked at her watch. 8:12 PM. She made her way to her homeroom class when Syaoron stopped her.
"Syaoron, how've you been?" Meilin asked hesitantly.
"How do you think I've been?" He grabbed Meilin by the wrist and pulled her inside an empty classroom nearby.
"Syaoron! What are you doing?" Meilin asked, slightly blushing.
"Help me get Sakura back!" Syaoron pleaded.
Meilin broke free from Syaoron's grip. Her cheeks went red. "No way!" She opened the door to the classroom, but Syaoron shut it.
"Meilin!"
"I don't see why you want to get involved with that whore."
"Meilin-"
"Maybe you've forgotten what she's done to you: she dated your best friend!"
"Maybe she didn't know she couldn't date him!" Syaoron snapped. "Maybe Eriol knew I was in love with that girl for three years, and he asked her out anyway! She didn't know how much I loved her. I can't say the same about Eriol. You know what? I knew this was a mistake." Syaoron slid open the door and said to Meilin before her left, "If you're not gonna help, then you're just wasting my time." And he slid the door shut behind him. Meilin froze were she stood and remained speechless.
*Meanwhile*
Tomoyo and Eriol walked down the halls together. "Eriol," Tomoyo began. "This has been going on for weeks. I don't see why we have to pretend we're not friends."
Eriol looked at her. "I don't want Sakura to get upset at us."
"Since when do you care what Sakura thinks?"
"Since when don't you care what Sakura thinks?" Eriol asked slyly.
Tomoyo giggled, nodded. "I guess you're right. I don't want to upset Sakura. I mean, after what I did. I was such an idiot!"
"Don't dwell on it." Eriol winked at her. "So are you ready?" He asked as they stopped in front of their homeroom class.
"As ready as I'll ever be."
They slid the door open to their classroom. Syaoron and a few other students were sitting down at their desks. Eriol and Tomoyo went to their seats. Tomoyo looked at Syaoron and smiled. "Hey, how've you been?"
Syaoron asked irritably. "Is that question on everyone's mind today? First Meilin, now you... none of this would have happened if-"
"If I hadn't said anything." Tomoyo finished for him. "That is what you were going to say, right?"
Meilin slowly walked into class and took her seat behind Tomoyo. Syaoron took one look at both of them, then got up from his desk and walked out of the classroom.
"What was that all about?" Asked Tomoyo.
Meilin rolled her eyes. "This morning, Syaoron asks me to help him get back with Sakura. As if! He asked the wrong person for help."
Tomoyo grinned. "Yes. Yes he did."
(A/N: Hm... Will Tomoyo play cupid? We'll see...)
*In Between Classes*
"Eriol!!" Tomoyo ran through the crowded hallways to catch up to him. Eriol turned around.
"Tomoyo," Eriol looked around uncomfortably. "In case you didn't know what the term 'low profile' means..."
"I don't care! Right now, we have to talk!"
Eriol looked around, and sighed. "Okay, but make it quick. The tardy bell is gonna ring any minute."
"Syaoron wants to get back together with Sakura and needs our help!" Tomoyo said quickly.
"He asked for our help??" By the look on Eriol's face and the tone of his voice, he was pretty shocked.
Tomoyo grimaced and said tentatively. "Not exactly." Tomoyo shook her head. "Okay, okay, so he didn't ask us. I was kinda thinking we could help him out in our own way."
Eriol rolled his eyes. "We can't do that! Tomoyo, you're intentions are good, and you mean well, but we can't interfere!"
"We're not interfering!" Tomoyo laughed. "We're making things better! For all of us! Once Sakura and Syaoron realize we helped them get together, they might just forgive us!!"
Eriol shook his head slowly. "Uh. um. I dunno."
Tomoyo smiled. "Think about it!" And she left for her class.
*Lunch*
Sakura sat beneath a cherry blossom tree and ate lunch alone. It appeared as though ever since the fight, everyone wanted to avoid her. She took out her boxed lunch and sighed. "When will things be right again?" She asked herself.
"Sooner than you think."
Sakura gasped and turned around. Syaoron was standing behind her. "May I sit down?"
Sakura turned around indignantly. Syaoron sat down anyway and took Sakura's hand. She looked at their hands and looked up at him. "Please don't do this." Sakura pleaded.
"What am I doing?" Syaoron whispered.
Sakura looked over at Meilin, who was sitting with Tomoyo. "Go sit with your half-cousin. She doesn't want you to be seen with a slut."
"You're not a slut!" Syaoron laughed. "And since when do you care what Meilin thinks?"
Meilin's burgundy eyes caught Sakura's emerald eyes. Sakura turned to Syaoron. "Don't you get it? I don't want anything to do with you."
Syaoron's jaw dropped. "Excuse me? But who's the one who dated my best friend? If anything, I should be mad at you."
"Then why aren't you?" Sakura snapped.
"Because I'm still in love with you." Syaoron said, letting go of her hand. "And I've waited so long for you. I'm so close, I'm not letting you push me away." Before Syaoron got up and walked away, he said, "I'm not giving up. Not yet."
Sakura looked up at the cherry blossoms above her head. She sighed and ate the rest of her lunch. She'd look at Meilin from time to time and look at Syaoron, who would look at Sakura from the corners of his eyes. Sakura sighed. She remembered something Meilin had told her a few days ago...
*FLASHBACK*
Sakura was putting her things in her locker after school. Before she could put her books inside, someone shut her locker purposely. Sakura turned to see who had done it.
"Meilin. Why am I not surprised to see you?"
"Well hi to you, too. How've you been?" Meilin faked a smile.
Sakura rolled her eyes and opened her locker again. "What do you want?"
Meilin leaned against some lockers. "Oh, just catching up with one of my ex- friends."
Sakura laughed as she put in a notebook. "You think pretty highly of me, seeing how I never considered you a friend of mine."
"I'm not one to beat around the bush," Meilin frowning. "So I'm gonna say this once and make this as simple as I can."
Sakura shut her locker and looked at Meilin irritably. "And what would that be?"
"Stay away from Syaoron."
Sakura crossed her arms. "Now I'm gonna tell you something and I'm gonna make it as simple as I can... no."
Meilin raised an eyebrow. "Excuse me?"
"No, I'm not gonna stay away from Syaoron just because you say so. That'll be his decision."
"Honey, it is Syaoron's decision. I'm just relaying the message." Meilin smirked. "Ciao!" Sakura held back the tears as she watched Meilin walk out of the building.
*END OF FLASHBACK*
Sakura glared at Meilin. 'Well, well, Miss Meilin. Looks like someone's gotta 'thing' for their half-cousin.' She got up from where she sat and walked towards Meilin's table. Sakura and Meilin's eyes met.
"We need to talk." Sakura said, crossing her arms.
"Sorry. I don't socialize with whores." Meilin said bluntly, sipping her tea. Tomoyo, Chiharu, Rika, and Naoko remained silent, waiting for Sakura's reaction to Meilin's reply. Sakura said nothing, but didn't move. Meilin looked up at Sakura. "Um, if you didn't get the hint, I'll make it much easier for you. Leave!"
Sakura slammed her fist on the table, making the girls flinch. "NO!" Sakura said fiercely. "This was my school first. You think you and Tomoyo can just come here and ruin my life." Tomoyo's face went white.
"Honey," Meilin laughed. "You ruined it without any help from us!"
Everyone in the cafeteria went dead silent. Syaoron stood up from from where he sat. Eriol and Yamazaki, who were at another table, looked towards Meilin's table. Everyone anticipated what Sakura was to say next. Meilin continued. "Now, without making a scene, I want you to go back to your tree and let me and my friends eat our lunch in peace."
Some people in the cafeteria chuckled. Sakura was fuming. "Who the hell are you to tell me what to do?"
Meilin stood up from her seat ready to reply when Tomoyo stood up and said, "Guys, don't start."
"Shut up, Tomoyo," Sakura and Meilin said in unison. Some people laughed at their remark. Tomoyo sat down slowly when Sensei Terada walked towards the girls.
"Ladies. Is there something wrong?"
The girls shook their heads.
"Good." And he left.
*After School*
Meilin and Syaoron were talking by their lockers. Sakura was about to interrupt them so she could have a word with Meilin, but she heard Syaoron asking Meilin, "What was that all about?"
"What was what?"
"At lunch. You and Sakura."
"She's a mental case."
Sakura went inside an empty classroom nearest to the two so she could hear their conversation without being seen.
"I know Sakura better than that. I know you better than that. And knowing you, you probably said something to Sakura."
Meilin gasped. "Why do you think it's always me??"
"Because it is always you!"
"FYI, Sakura approached me!" Meilin glared. "I've gotta go. I don't have time for your accusations."
"Meilin! Stop being difficult."
There was a pause. Sakura continued to listen from the classroom. "Fine," Meilin's voice was heard. "I told her a couple of days ago that you wanted nothing to do with her."
"Hm, I wonder why you'd wanna go and do that." Syaoron said sarcastically.
"I did it for your own good!" Meilin protested.
"Or so you say." Syaoron muttered.
"What's that supposed to mean??" Meilin said almost in a whisper.
Syaoron stared at her for a moment, sighed, and took a step back before turning around. As he began walking, Meilin laughed. "You won't get her back. She wants nothing to do with you! I'm just trying to save you from getting hurt again." Syaoron didn't stop or didn't look back. He just kept walking. Meilin finished putting her things away when Sakura appeared in front of her.
"We have a score to settle."
"What do you want now? I thought I made it very clear to you I wanted nothing to do with you."
Sakura laughed. "You see that's the thing, Meilin. You want nothing to do with me. It seems Syaoron is still holding out for me, and I don't think you can handle that. So you'll tell Syaoron that I want nothing to do with him... but that's what I don't understand. Why would you go to all that trouble? Unless there's something I'm missing..."
"Well, as I said to Syaoron, I don't have time for accusations." And Meilin stormed off. Sakura raised an eyebrow. "I'll find you out eventually." She ran towards the direction of the gymnasium to dress out for cheerleading practice.
*Girl's Locker Room*
Naoko closed her locker. "Chiharu, I'm feeling kind of guilty for what we're about to do."
"Guilty?" Chiharu scoffed. "This is payback."
"This is not our problem." Naoko said, tying her shoes.
"Of course it is! I've got a psychopath in my cheerleading squad!!" Chiharu said sternly.
"Who just so happens to be the co-captain," Naoko replied bluntly.
"Look. I'm captain of the squad! I can decide who goes and who stays." Chiharu snapped. "And Sakura's out."
"Am I, Chiharu?" Said a voice above all the others.
The cheerleaders in the locker room turned around and remained quiet. Sakura walked inside the locker room. "Am I 'out'?" Sakura asked. "Why so I deserve to be kicked out of the squad? I've maintained an A-B average, an A in conduct, I haven't gotten detention..."
"But you would have gotten detention if that fight you had with Tomoyo hadn't been your first offense." Chiharu snapped. "Naoko and I saw you at lunch today. You were about to pounce on Meilin!"
"Not just you, but everyone at lunch saw what happened with Meilin and me." Sakura retaliated. "But I bet the majority of people in that cafeteria don't know anything that's been going on with Meilin, Tomoyo, and me, do you?" The cheerleaders remained quiet. I didn't think so. So I suggest you butt out." Sakura raised an eyebrow. "So you're kicking me out... because?"
"Because your violent behavior."
"That's not an excuse!" Sakura rolled her eyes. "And I'm not violent. I'm threatened."
Chiharu smirked. "Then let's vote. All those in favor of Sakura's resignation as Northwest High Co-Captain Cheerleader, raise your hand and say 'I'."
"I," Four girls said and raised their hands, including Chiharu. There were fourteen girls on the squad (not including Sakura) and four out of fourteen voted her out. Sakura raised an eyebrow at Chiharu.
"I," Said another girl.
"I," Said another.
"I," Said another.
"It's a tie." Sakura shrugged.
"I-I..." Said a quiet voice. It was Naoko. Sakura couldn't believe it. Her two friends voted against her. Chiharu grinned evilly. "Clear out your locker by this afternoon. Pom-poms and cheerleading outfit are to be turned in tomorrow morning in the office. Naoko, I appoint you as the new co- captain of the Northwest High Cheerleading Squad. All right ladies! To the gym!"
Chiharu gave Sakura a dirty look as she left the locker room. All the cheerleaders except Naoko left. Sakura opened her locker, pretending not to notice her.
"Sakura-"
"You must be thrilled." Sakura began. "Voting your friend out of the cheerleading squad just so you could be co-captain." Sakura opened her gym bag and threw her pom-poms and cheerleading outfit inside.
Naoko sighed. "Sakura, I didn't want to, honestly-"
"By the way," Sakura interrupted. "It's good to know you stuck up for me at lunch today. You know, when Meilin called me a whore. Good to know I have such a great friend." She zipped up her gym bag and held it over her shoulders. She looked at Naoko, who remained quiet, and said before leaving, "But Chiharu only appointed you co-captain after she kicked me out of the squad. I may be gone, but at least I'm not second best." Naoko watched Sakura leave. Sakura was right and she didn't like that.
*Daidouji Mansion*
Tomoyo was lying on her bed talking on the phone as she was doing her calculus (A/N: Notice how I keep bringing up calculus... math is my hardest subject! WAA!).
"Eriol, did you get problem number thirty-two?"
"Don't you mean, 'Eriol, can you give me the answer to problem thirty- two'?" Eriol mimicked in a girlie voice.
Tomoyo gasped. "Shut up! Sorry I suck at arithmetic!"
"Weren't you listening in class?"
"I had too much on my mind."
"Such as?"
"Sakura."
"What have I told you?? She'll come around..."
"No, silly," Tomoyo said playfully. "I'm talking about setting Sakura and Syaoron up. Oh, by the way. Have you given my proposition any thought?"
Eriol paused. "Not really, no."
"Well you've got five seconds to make up your mind."
"Well, um..."
"Five, four-"
"Wait a minute!!" Eriol said, cutting Tomoyo off. "How are we going to do that?? Syaoron won't talk to me, and Sakura won't talk to you..."
"That's why I take Syaoron, and you take Sakura."
Eriol sighed. "Sakura wants nothing to do with me."
Tomoyo laughed. "And you think I'm Syaoron's favorite person?"
"I guess you're right. This isn't gonna be easy." Eriol laughed.
"That's why I need you to help me!" Tomoyo pleaded. "C'mon!! Please?"
Eriol nodded. "Okay. Mission: Impossible has commenced."
Tomoyo grinned. "We attack at dawn!"
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A/N: FINISHED!! YAY!! This took forever to type (and forever to update, it seems). Sorry for the long wait on the update... writer's block. I want to keep you guys guessing, so no preview! By the way, the song in the middle of Syaoron's Apartment scene was "Keep Myself Awake" by Black Lab. Listen to it sometime. Please review!! I'd like to see what you think of my lame-o story! Notice how I've slowly gotten out of Japanese!! Haha, oh well, ja ne!
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Song lyrics
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I disclaim the story and the songs!!
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If You're Not The One
Chapter 6
New Beginnings
Sakura ran in between Eriol and Syaoron at the exact time Syaoron threw a punch to the jaw. Sakura turned around to face Syaoron (and his fist) and shut her eyes. 'Oh no!' She thought. She waited for the hit, but nothing happened. She slowly opened her eyes. Syaoron's fist was centimeters away from her nose. Sakura stared at his fist for a moment. She could feel herself get dizzy, her eyes cross, and her knees get weak. Sakura suddenly fell...
*...*
"Ughh," Sakura said, sitting up. "Where am I?" Sakura looked around. She was in someone's living room. When she got up too fast, she moaned in pain and held her head. Suddenly, someone came into view.
"S-Syaoron?" Sakura asked weakly.
"As much as you probably wanted it to be him, it's just me," said a boy with azure eyes.
"E-Eriol??" She asked even more surprised.
The figure nodded. "You're at my apartment, if you're wondering."
Sakura looked at her watch. 6:47 PM. "Oh my gosh! Dad's gonna kill me!" Sakura grabbed her backpack and opened Eriol's front door.
"Wait!" Eriol held her wrist. "Let me take you home-"
"NO!" Sakura yelled, breaking his grip.
"You're in no condition to go walking home." Eriol said calmly.
"And you're in no condition to tell me what to do!" She snapped.
"Why are you acting like this?"
"Because!" Sakura shouted. She could feel the tears form in her eyes. "Because I've lost everything! I've lost my best friend, Syaoron..." Sakura saw Eriol flinch when she mentioned Syaoron's name. "What is it?"
Eriol looked down. "So he was right."
"What? Who?"
"Tell me Sakura, did you really have feelings for me?"
"W-why do you ask?" Sakura asked hesitantly.
"Don't avoid the question!" Eriol yelled, taking hold of her shoulders. Sakura cringed as he shook her. "Tell me!! Were you in love with Syaoron the time we were dating??"
Sakura looked away and said dully. "No, I wasn't."
Eriol looked at her for a moment. His frown broke into laughter. Sakura's face contorted. "Hoe? What's so funny?" Eriol's smile went back to a frown. "Come on, Sakura! As convincing as that might have sounded in your head, it would be a bit more believable if you looked me in the eye and told me you had no feelings for Syaoron the time we were dating."
Sakura looked into his eyes then looked away. "I can't."
Eriol let go of her shoulders. Sakura grabbed her backpack and opened the front door. She looked back at Eriol, who was looking back at her, and closed the door behind her when she left.
*Kinomoto Residence*
Sakura opened the door. Fujitaka sighed in relief and smiled. "Thank goodness. I was getting a little worried."
Touya stomped downstairs. "Kaijuu, where were you?? Cheerleading practice ended two hours ago!!"
"I was at Penguin Park." Sakura sighed as she dragged herself up the stairs.
"Um, Sakura," Fujitaka began. "Dinner's almost ready..."
"I'm not up for dinner. I'm a little tired," Sakura said as she continued to crawl up the stairs. She finally made it up to her room and shut the door behind her. She collapsed on her bed and fell asleep.
*Penguin Park*
Eriol kicked loose gravel as he walked towards a swing; the same swing has sat on that day Sakura broke up with him. He sat there, touching his swollen face (A/N: The fight... the kick to the face... the cleats... ouch!), watching the sun slowly go down. 'What was I thinking?' Eriol thought to himself as he got up from the swing and walked towards the park bench. 'Sakura never loved me.' He sat down. He looked at the setting sun in the distance for a while when he heard a small noise next to him.
"Ahem,"
Eriol looked up. Azure met amethyst.
"Is this seat taken?" The girl asked.
He shook his head. "What happened to you?" He asked as he saw the violet- haired beauty slump into the park bench next to him.
"I lost my best friend," She looked over at him to see a midnight blue- haired boy sitting next to her with bruises all over his face. "What happened to you?"
The boy smiled. "I guess I'm friendless as well."
Both were silent as they sat on the park bench. "You know," he began. "It was here I lost someone. She was always so good to me before. She left me for another."
"Let me guess. You're Eriol."
Eriol nodded. "Tomoyo, I presume?"
Tomoyo nodded.
Eriol continued. "I thought she loved me. I'm thinking maybe she only dated me to get closer to Syaoron. She succeeded."
Tomoyo shook her head. "She would have succeeded if it wasn't for me."
"What do you mean?"
Tomoyo began. "Sakura could tell me anything, and I wouldn't tell a soul." She looked at Eriol. "And then she told me about you and Syaoron." She paused. "This next part's kinda weird..."
"Please continue." Eriol insisted.
"Well," Tomoyo chuckled. "I was jealous. She had two great guys that would do anything for her, and if she had to choose one of them, she'd still be lucky. Truth be told, I've never had a boyfriend."
Eriol raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure?"
"Yes I'm sure!" Tomoyo giggled and slightly blushed. "Why do you ask?"
"You're beautiful," Eriol smiled. He laughed. "I can't believe I just said that out loud."
Tomoyo laughed. "Arigatou." Her smile faded as she looked towards the sunset. "But there's more to looks, and more to being one of the richest girls in Japan."
"Oh I see," Eriol nodded. "You're afraid to give guys the benefit of the doubt."
"What?"
"Well, the way I see it, you don't think guys like you for your personality. You think it's because you have money and you have good looks that they like you. I bet many guys have asked you out, but you've said no because you thought they were asking you out for the wrong reasons, correct?"
Tomoyo blushed and said playfully, "You've found me out! I don't like you!" They both laughed. Tomoyo looked at Eriol and saw his swollen face. She touched it lightly. "If I hadn't told Meilin Sakura's secret, none of this would have happened. I wouldn't have been friendless and you're face wouldn't have looked like a punching bag."
Eriol shrugged. "I suppose, but to tell you the truth, I'm glad you did."
"Why?" Tomoyo asked. "So we could be miserable?"
Eriol smiled. "So we could be miserable... together." Tomoyo looked at Eriol and grinned. They both turned and watched the sun set in the horizon.
*Syaoron's Apartment*
Syaoron tossed and turned that night. He opened his eyes and sighed. He couldn't help but relive in his dreams what happened that afternoon. He could still feel the sharp pain of Eriol's blows. And when Eriol was defenseless, he'd let him have it. He swung, aiming at Eriol's jaw, when suddenly...
Sakura.
She was defending him. And Syaoron was about to hit her. She spun around to see him about to punch her face. He stopped himself and could almost touch the tip of her nose with his fist. She was terrified. He saw her fall... fall into Eriol's arms. He had enough.
Syaoron climbed out of bed. Syaoron put on his muscle shirt (A/N: ROOOOWR!!) and pants and opened the door to the balcony. Syaoron leaned against the railing and sighed. He could see the city lights of Tomoeda from where he stood (A/N: He's on the fourth floor).
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I hate to talk like this
I hate to act as if
There's something wrong that I can't say
I have this dream at night
Well almost every night
I've been dreaming it forever
It's easy to remember it
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(Syaoron POV)
'How did this happen?' I thought to myself. 'How could Eriol, my best friend, not tell me he was dating the girl I was in love with for three years?' That's right... I've watched that girl from the corner of my eye for three long years... and Eriol knew it, too. 'He knew how much I loved her. I never thought Sakura would love me. I didn't think she knew I existed! We barely met this year, but it seemed like I'd known her forever...'
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It's always cold
It's always day
You're always here
You always say
"I'm all right,
I'll be okay
If I can keep myself awake."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I looked at my watch. 3:58 AM. I walked back inside my apartment and went inside the kitchen. I opened a bottle of aspirin only to find out it was empty. "Dammit," I cursed.
(Normal POV)
Syaoron threw the empty bottle in the trashcan and entered his room. He fell on his bed and sighed. 'What am I gonna do?' He thought before he fell asleep.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I get up early and look around me
I'm buying coffee by the pound
But when I'm sleeping
I'm so deep in it
I can't keep myself awake
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*Weeks Later *
Meilin walked alone in the empty hallways of Northwest High school. She looked at her watch. 8:12 PM. She made her way to her homeroom class when Syaoron stopped her.
"Syaoron, how've you been?" Meilin asked hesitantly.
"How do you think I've been?" He grabbed Meilin by the wrist and pulled her inside an empty classroom nearby.
"Syaoron! What are you doing?" Meilin asked, slightly blushing.
"Help me get Sakura back!" Syaoron pleaded.
Meilin broke free from Syaoron's grip. Her cheeks went red. "No way!" She opened the door to the classroom, but Syaoron shut it.
"Meilin!"
"I don't see why you want to get involved with that whore."
"Meilin-"
"Maybe you've forgotten what she's done to you: she dated your best friend!"
"Maybe she didn't know she couldn't date him!" Syaoron snapped. "Maybe Eriol knew I was in love with that girl for three years, and he asked her out anyway! She didn't know how much I loved her. I can't say the same about Eriol. You know what? I knew this was a mistake." Syaoron slid open the door and said to Meilin before her left, "If you're not gonna help, then you're just wasting my time." And he slid the door shut behind him. Meilin froze were she stood and remained speechless.
*Meanwhile*
Tomoyo and Eriol walked down the halls together. "Eriol," Tomoyo began. "This has been going on for weeks. I don't see why we have to pretend we're not friends."
Eriol looked at her. "I don't want Sakura to get upset at us."
"Since when do you care what Sakura thinks?"
"Since when don't you care what Sakura thinks?" Eriol asked slyly.
Tomoyo giggled, nodded. "I guess you're right. I don't want to upset Sakura. I mean, after what I did. I was such an idiot!"
"Don't dwell on it." Eriol winked at her. "So are you ready?" He asked as they stopped in front of their homeroom class.
"As ready as I'll ever be."
They slid the door open to their classroom. Syaoron and a few other students were sitting down at their desks. Eriol and Tomoyo went to their seats. Tomoyo looked at Syaoron and smiled. "Hey, how've you been?"
Syaoron asked irritably. "Is that question on everyone's mind today? First Meilin, now you... none of this would have happened if-"
"If I hadn't said anything." Tomoyo finished for him. "That is what you were going to say, right?"
Meilin slowly walked into class and took her seat behind Tomoyo. Syaoron took one look at both of them, then got up from his desk and walked out of the classroom.
"What was that all about?" Asked Tomoyo.
Meilin rolled her eyes. "This morning, Syaoron asks me to help him get back with Sakura. As if! He asked the wrong person for help."
Tomoyo grinned. "Yes. Yes he did."
(A/N: Hm... Will Tomoyo play cupid? We'll see...)
*In Between Classes*
"Eriol!!" Tomoyo ran through the crowded hallways to catch up to him. Eriol turned around.
"Tomoyo," Eriol looked around uncomfortably. "In case you didn't know what the term 'low profile' means..."
"I don't care! Right now, we have to talk!"
Eriol looked around, and sighed. "Okay, but make it quick. The tardy bell is gonna ring any minute."
"Syaoron wants to get back together with Sakura and needs our help!" Tomoyo said quickly.
"He asked for our help??" By the look on Eriol's face and the tone of his voice, he was pretty shocked.
Tomoyo grimaced and said tentatively. "Not exactly." Tomoyo shook her head. "Okay, okay, so he didn't ask us. I was kinda thinking we could help him out in our own way."
Eriol rolled his eyes. "We can't do that! Tomoyo, you're intentions are good, and you mean well, but we can't interfere!"
"We're not interfering!" Tomoyo laughed. "We're making things better! For all of us! Once Sakura and Syaoron realize we helped them get together, they might just forgive us!!"
Eriol shook his head slowly. "Uh. um. I dunno."
Tomoyo smiled. "Think about it!" And she left for her class.
*Lunch*
Sakura sat beneath a cherry blossom tree and ate lunch alone. It appeared as though ever since the fight, everyone wanted to avoid her. She took out her boxed lunch and sighed. "When will things be right again?" She asked herself.
"Sooner than you think."
Sakura gasped and turned around. Syaoron was standing behind her. "May I sit down?"
Sakura turned around indignantly. Syaoron sat down anyway and took Sakura's hand. She looked at their hands and looked up at him. "Please don't do this." Sakura pleaded.
"What am I doing?" Syaoron whispered.
Sakura looked over at Meilin, who was sitting with Tomoyo. "Go sit with your half-cousin. She doesn't want you to be seen with a slut."
"You're not a slut!" Syaoron laughed. "And since when do you care what Meilin thinks?"
Meilin's burgundy eyes caught Sakura's emerald eyes. Sakura turned to Syaoron. "Don't you get it? I don't want anything to do with you."
Syaoron's jaw dropped. "Excuse me? But who's the one who dated my best friend? If anything, I should be mad at you."
"Then why aren't you?" Sakura snapped.
"Because I'm still in love with you." Syaoron said, letting go of her hand. "And I've waited so long for you. I'm so close, I'm not letting you push me away." Before Syaoron got up and walked away, he said, "I'm not giving up. Not yet."
Sakura looked up at the cherry blossoms above her head. She sighed and ate the rest of her lunch. She'd look at Meilin from time to time and look at Syaoron, who would look at Sakura from the corners of his eyes. Sakura sighed. She remembered something Meilin had told her a few days ago...
*FLASHBACK*
Sakura was putting her things in her locker after school. Before she could put her books inside, someone shut her locker purposely. Sakura turned to see who had done it.
"Meilin. Why am I not surprised to see you?"
"Well hi to you, too. How've you been?" Meilin faked a smile.
Sakura rolled her eyes and opened her locker again. "What do you want?"
Meilin leaned against some lockers. "Oh, just catching up with one of my ex- friends."
Sakura laughed as she put in a notebook. "You think pretty highly of me, seeing how I never considered you a friend of mine."
"I'm not one to beat around the bush," Meilin frowning. "So I'm gonna say this once and make this as simple as I can."
Sakura shut her locker and looked at Meilin irritably. "And what would that be?"
"Stay away from Syaoron."
Sakura crossed her arms. "Now I'm gonna tell you something and I'm gonna make it as simple as I can... no."
Meilin raised an eyebrow. "Excuse me?"
"No, I'm not gonna stay away from Syaoron just because you say so. That'll be his decision."
"Honey, it is Syaoron's decision. I'm just relaying the message." Meilin smirked. "Ciao!" Sakura held back the tears as she watched Meilin walk out of the building.
*END OF FLASHBACK*
Sakura glared at Meilin. 'Well, well, Miss Meilin. Looks like someone's gotta 'thing' for their half-cousin.' She got up from where she sat and walked towards Meilin's table. Sakura and Meilin's eyes met.
"We need to talk." Sakura said, crossing her arms.
"Sorry. I don't socialize with whores." Meilin said bluntly, sipping her tea. Tomoyo, Chiharu, Rika, and Naoko remained silent, waiting for Sakura's reaction to Meilin's reply. Sakura said nothing, but didn't move. Meilin looked up at Sakura. "Um, if you didn't get the hint, I'll make it much easier for you. Leave!"
Sakura slammed her fist on the table, making the girls flinch. "NO!" Sakura said fiercely. "This was my school first. You think you and Tomoyo can just come here and ruin my life." Tomoyo's face went white.
"Honey," Meilin laughed. "You ruined it without any help from us!"
Everyone in the cafeteria went dead silent. Syaoron stood up from from where he sat. Eriol and Yamazaki, who were at another table, looked towards Meilin's table. Everyone anticipated what Sakura was to say next. Meilin continued. "Now, without making a scene, I want you to go back to your tree and let me and my friends eat our lunch in peace."
Some people in the cafeteria chuckled. Sakura was fuming. "Who the hell are you to tell me what to do?"
Meilin stood up from her seat ready to reply when Tomoyo stood up and said, "Guys, don't start."
"Shut up, Tomoyo," Sakura and Meilin said in unison. Some people laughed at their remark. Tomoyo sat down slowly when Sensei Terada walked towards the girls.
"Ladies. Is there something wrong?"
The girls shook their heads.
"Good." And he left.
*After School*
Meilin and Syaoron were talking by their lockers. Sakura was about to interrupt them so she could have a word with Meilin, but she heard Syaoron asking Meilin, "What was that all about?"
"What was what?"
"At lunch. You and Sakura."
"She's a mental case."
Sakura went inside an empty classroom nearest to the two so she could hear their conversation without being seen.
"I know Sakura better than that. I know you better than that. And knowing you, you probably said something to Sakura."
Meilin gasped. "Why do you think it's always me??"
"Because it is always you!"
"FYI, Sakura approached me!" Meilin glared. "I've gotta go. I don't have time for your accusations."
"Meilin! Stop being difficult."
There was a pause. Sakura continued to listen from the classroom. "Fine," Meilin's voice was heard. "I told her a couple of days ago that you wanted nothing to do with her."
"Hm, I wonder why you'd wanna go and do that." Syaoron said sarcastically.
"I did it for your own good!" Meilin protested.
"Or so you say." Syaoron muttered.
"What's that supposed to mean??" Meilin said almost in a whisper.
Syaoron stared at her for a moment, sighed, and took a step back before turning around. As he began walking, Meilin laughed. "You won't get her back. She wants nothing to do with you! I'm just trying to save you from getting hurt again." Syaoron didn't stop or didn't look back. He just kept walking. Meilin finished putting her things away when Sakura appeared in front of her.
"We have a score to settle."
"What do you want now? I thought I made it very clear to you I wanted nothing to do with you."
Sakura laughed. "You see that's the thing, Meilin. You want nothing to do with me. It seems Syaoron is still holding out for me, and I don't think you can handle that. So you'll tell Syaoron that I want nothing to do with him... but that's what I don't understand. Why would you go to all that trouble? Unless there's something I'm missing..."
"Well, as I said to Syaoron, I don't have time for accusations." And Meilin stormed off. Sakura raised an eyebrow. "I'll find you out eventually." She ran towards the direction of the gymnasium to dress out for cheerleading practice.
*Girl's Locker Room*
Naoko closed her locker. "Chiharu, I'm feeling kind of guilty for what we're about to do."
"Guilty?" Chiharu scoffed. "This is payback."
"This is not our problem." Naoko said, tying her shoes.
"Of course it is! I've got a psychopath in my cheerleading squad!!" Chiharu said sternly.
"Who just so happens to be the co-captain," Naoko replied bluntly.
"Look. I'm captain of the squad! I can decide who goes and who stays." Chiharu snapped. "And Sakura's out."
"Am I, Chiharu?" Said a voice above all the others.
The cheerleaders in the locker room turned around and remained quiet. Sakura walked inside the locker room. "Am I 'out'?" Sakura asked. "Why so I deserve to be kicked out of the squad? I've maintained an A-B average, an A in conduct, I haven't gotten detention..."
"But you would have gotten detention if that fight you had with Tomoyo hadn't been your first offense." Chiharu snapped. "Naoko and I saw you at lunch today. You were about to pounce on Meilin!"
"Not just you, but everyone at lunch saw what happened with Meilin and me." Sakura retaliated. "But I bet the majority of people in that cafeteria don't know anything that's been going on with Meilin, Tomoyo, and me, do you?" The cheerleaders remained quiet. I didn't think so. So I suggest you butt out." Sakura raised an eyebrow. "So you're kicking me out... because?"
"Because your violent behavior."
"That's not an excuse!" Sakura rolled her eyes. "And I'm not violent. I'm threatened."
Chiharu smirked. "Then let's vote. All those in favor of Sakura's resignation as Northwest High Co-Captain Cheerleader, raise your hand and say 'I'."
"I," Four girls said and raised their hands, including Chiharu. There were fourteen girls on the squad (not including Sakura) and four out of fourteen voted her out. Sakura raised an eyebrow at Chiharu.
"I," Said another girl.
"I," Said another.
"I," Said another.
"It's a tie." Sakura shrugged.
"I-I..." Said a quiet voice. It was Naoko. Sakura couldn't believe it. Her two friends voted against her. Chiharu grinned evilly. "Clear out your locker by this afternoon. Pom-poms and cheerleading outfit are to be turned in tomorrow morning in the office. Naoko, I appoint you as the new co- captain of the Northwest High Cheerleading Squad. All right ladies! To the gym!"
Chiharu gave Sakura a dirty look as she left the locker room. All the cheerleaders except Naoko left. Sakura opened her locker, pretending not to notice her.
"Sakura-"
"You must be thrilled." Sakura began. "Voting your friend out of the cheerleading squad just so you could be co-captain." Sakura opened her gym bag and threw her pom-poms and cheerleading outfit inside.
Naoko sighed. "Sakura, I didn't want to, honestly-"
"By the way," Sakura interrupted. "It's good to know you stuck up for me at lunch today. You know, when Meilin called me a whore. Good to know I have such a great friend." She zipped up her gym bag and held it over her shoulders. She looked at Naoko, who remained quiet, and said before leaving, "But Chiharu only appointed you co-captain after she kicked me out of the squad. I may be gone, but at least I'm not second best." Naoko watched Sakura leave. Sakura was right and she didn't like that.
*Daidouji Mansion*
Tomoyo was lying on her bed talking on the phone as she was doing her calculus (A/N: Notice how I keep bringing up calculus... math is my hardest subject! WAA!).
"Eriol, did you get problem number thirty-two?"
"Don't you mean, 'Eriol, can you give me the answer to problem thirty- two'?" Eriol mimicked in a girlie voice.
Tomoyo gasped. "Shut up! Sorry I suck at arithmetic!"
"Weren't you listening in class?"
"I had too much on my mind."
"Such as?"
"Sakura."
"What have I told you?? She'll come around..."
"No, silly," Tomoyo said playfully. "I'm talking about setting Sakura and Syaoron up. Oh, by the way. Have you given my proposition any thought?"
Eriol paused. "Not really, no."
"Well you've got five seconds to make up your mind."
"Well, um..."
"Five, four-"
"Wait a minute!!" Eriol said, cutting Tomoyo off. "How are we going to do that?? Syaoron won't talk to me, and Sakura won't talk to you..."
"That's why I take Syaoron, and you take Sakura."
Eriol sighed. "Sakura wants nothing to do with me."
Tomoyo laughed. "And you think I'm Syaoron's favorite person?"
"I guess you're right. This isn't gonna be easy." Eriol laughed.
"That's why I need you to help me!" Tomoyo pleaded. "C'mon!! Please?"
Eriol nodded. "Okay. Mission: Impossible has commenced."
Tomoyo grinned. "We attack at dawn!"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
A/N: FINISHED!! YAY!! This took forever to type (and forever to update, it seems). Sorry for the long wait on the update... writer's block. I want to keep you guys guessing, so no preview! By the way, the song in the middle of Syaoron's Apartment scene was "Keep Myself Awake" by Black Lab. Listen to it sometime. Please review!! I'd like to see what you think of my lame-o story! Notice how I've slowly gotten out of Japanese!! Haha, oh well, ja ne!