Sugar Pink: Oh wow!! I didn't think that this story would get as much review as it did! I'm so happy!!!!!!!!! PLEASE REVIEW THIS CHAPTER TOO, LIKE YOU DID THE OTHERS! You people are the best! Thank you for all the nice things you've said in your reviews!
Disclaimer: CCS doesn't belong to me, I don't own CCS. Sweet and simple.
The Bet I Bet You Wish You Never Have Made
Chapter 5: Feelings to Melt the Ice, and Feelings to Melt the Friendship
"Ivy, honey, do you know who I ran into today while I was out shopping?" Mrs. Parks smiled at her daughter.
"Who?" Ivy sighed, not really caring.
"That nice boy you were tutoring the other day. Syaoran, he said his name was. He told me to give you this as a thank-you gift for tutoring him." Mrs. Parks handed Ivy the silvery package.
"Mom! How could you? How could you accept it for me when I just turned it down?" Ivy shrieked.
"Why don't you open it, dear?"
"I don't want it! Give it here, I'll give it back to him tomorrow! Might as well hit him in the head with it too." Ivy grumbled.
Next day
"Take your filthy present back, Li!" Ivy threw the silvery box at Syaoran.
"Whoa!" Syaoran said, surprised. He caught the box before it dropped to the floor. "Hey, you didn't even open it yet!"
"I don't want it! Don't you dare of telling my mother to give it to me again!"
Syaoran opened the present himself. "But I got it especially for you. Here." He showed her the silver heart pendant, with her name on it. Ivy looked at it, stunned. He actually got her something like that?
Syaoran took the opportunity and crept up behind her. He quickly snapped on the necklace around her neck.
"Hey!" Ivy protested, realizing what he'd just done.
"Bye!" Syaoran said, and dashed off quickly. Ivy stared after him. She gently brushes her fingers across the heart pendant on the necklace. No boy had ever given me a gift before...
Later
"Oh, Syaoran, there you are!" Sakura smiled.
"Oh, you were looking for me, Sakura-chan?" Syaoran asked. It was lunchtime and he was wondering why Sakura wasn't carrying her lunch with her...
"Oh, you see Tomoyo and Eriol is on one of those romantic picnic lunches of theirs and Rei and Meiling is going out to McDonalds for lunch." Sakura babbled.
"And your point is...?" Syaoran already knew what she was going to say. She had forgotten her lunch and she was going to ask if she could share his. He smirked. He knows her too well.
"And...Well...my point is--"
"Okay, Sakura, you can share my lunch." Syaoran smiled. Sakura looked up at him, shocked.
"How did you...how did--"
"Never mind how I knew. Come on." Syaoran smiled again before taking a confused Sakura by the hand, leading her to the Cafeteria.
"I think I should forget my lunch more often." Sakura grinned, eating a sushi out of Syaoran's lunch. Syaoran scowled at her.
"You're going to have to provide me with your lunch tomorrow, Sakura." He said.
"What?"
"You heard me! And be sure to bring some of those chicken sandwiches that I like." Syaoran smirked. Sakura pouted.
"Fine, I'll bring an extra big lunch just for your appetite tomorrow" Sakura giggled.
"That sounds excellent. Now be a good girl and finish off my carrot sticks for me." Syaoran gestured to the pile of carrot sticks.
"No, I'm not going to eat your veggies for you. Now be a big boy and eat them yourselves while I finish off your chocolates." Sakura giggled. She reached for one of the chocolate candies before Syaoran's hand stopped her.
"No way! Those are mines!" He argued and grabbed one of them. Sakura pouted and tried to reach for another, but Syaoran waved the chocolate that he's holding in front of her.
Sakura stared at him in confusion.
"Open wide, little one, and let your elder feed you." Syaoran said in a baby voice. Sakura was about to protest, but suddenly, she got an idea. She smirked at bite the chocolate that Syaoran was waving in front of her.
"That's a good little girl--ow!" Syaoran yanked his hand back. Sakura had bitten his finger! On purpose!
"That's what you get for teasing me, Syaoran-kun." Sakura giggled. Syaoran scowled at his friend.
"Aw, is the little big baby hurt?" Sakura asked, still giggling.
Meanwhile
Ivy was sitting at her usual table for lunch. There's Kinomoto and Syaoran--uh...Li, again. They're always together. What's up with that? Ivy scowled at the sight of them. Then she stopped herself. Why is she scowling?
She couldn't be jealous...could she? After all, she had just met Syaoran. But he's really sweet and caring...wait, what am I thinking? I hardly even know him!
Later
"Thanks for the lunch Syaoran-kun!" Sakura smiled.
"It's okay, just remember it's your turn to treat me tomorrow." Syaoran winked at her before opening his locker. He grabbed his History binder and textbooks before closing his locker shut. He felt a presence behind him and frowned. Slowly he turned around and saw...Ivy.
"Whoa!!" Syaoran's eyes widen in shock. What did she want?
"Am I really that scary?" Ivy asked, her voice isn't icy, but more in an emotionless tone.
"Uh...no, you just...surprised me, that's all." Syaoran covered up, but really, he's thinking, you have no idea how scary you are!
"So...what can I do for you?" He asked.
"I just wanted to ask you something..." Ivy's voice trailed off, not having any eye contact with him anymore. He noticed that she was still wearing his necklace...that's a good sign that the bet was a sure win.
"Well, what is it?"
"Are...are you and Kinomoto just friends?" Ivy asked. She can feel her cheeks burning up.
"Yeah...since practically forever. Why? Did you expect Sakura and I to have a brother and sister relationship instead?" Syaoran joked.
"N-no, but I was just checking. Bye!" And with that, Ivy walked off. Syaoran stared after her in great confusion.
After school
"And then she came up and ask me if my relationship with Sakura is just friends." Syaoran said. He was walking home with his two friends, Eriol and Rei, and telling them the conversation he had with Ivy earlier that day.
"Syaoran, dude, I say that girl had developed feelings for you." Rei smirked. Syaoran stared at him.
"Now that you mention it...that sounds likely. I mean, why else would she care about Syaoran's personal relationship with Sakura-chan." Eriol put on another one of his innocently evil smile. Or was that an evilly innocent smile?
"Well, if you put it that way, I guess I'll try asking her out to see if you guys are right." Syaoran smirked.
Back at the Li's mansion
Syaoran sighed as he thought about the bet. Ivy was just one of the girls. There's still Cathy, April and...Sakura...
He winced as he thought about Sakura. Will she still be his best friend, the person who has always been there for him after he...breaks her heart? He quickly shook the thought off, and tried to concentrate on how to ask Ivy out tomorrow.
Rei and Eriol had been so sure that she had feelings for him, but he has to try this out for himself. He was so deep in thought that he didn't even hear the phone ringing next to him. Suddenly, the maid entered his room, with a pile of freshly folded laundry. She stared at the young master, wondering why he's not answering the phone.
"Master Syaoran?" She said quietly. He didn't reply.
"Master Li Junior." She tried again, more loudly. Syaoran finally snapped out of his train of thoughts and stared the maid who looked about 40 years old.
"Yes?"
"Your phone is ringing, sir." She said politely, putting his clothes away.
"Oh, right. I was thinking so I didn't hear it. Thanks, Mary;" Syaoran sighed as he snatched up the phone before the person on the other line hangs up.
"Hello? Oh hi, Sakura-chan. Why are you calling?" Syaoran asked.
"Oh, Syaoran-kun, you've got to help me this time!" Sakura said in an urgent voice.
"Hmm, yeah, what is it?" Syaoran replied, was listening, but he was mostly thinking about how to ask Ivy out on a date without getting hit on the head again.
"I don't get the new math unit we're working on! It's about...about...oh I don't even know what it's about! Can you come over tomorrow after school? I'll meet you on the soccer field, okay?" Sakura pleaded.
"Huh? Oh, yeah, all right." Syaoran said. Now what did Sakura said again?
"...Did you hear what I said, Syaoran? Tomorrow, the soccer field, you get it?" Sakura asked tentatively.
"Yes, yes, tomorrow, after school, on the soccer field." Syaoran repeated after her.
"Okay, then, bye!" Sakura hung up the phone. Syaoran put the receiver back and lay his head down again.
All he heard was "tomorrow after school, at the soccer field" but why did Sakura wanted to meet him again? This is too hard to remember. Now...how will I get Ivy to go out with me?
Meanwhile
Sakura sighed happily as she put down the phone. Now she doesn't have to worry about anything! Syaoran will explain the unit to her, and she'll be fine.
"Did you solve your math troubles, Sakura?" Fujitaka asked.
"Yes, I did, Dad! Syaoran-kun is coming over tomorrow to help me with it." Sakura replied happily.
"Syaoran is always helping you with your math, isn't he?" Fujitaka asked. Sakura thought about it. Yes, it's true. She had asked Syaoran most of her math problems when she should be asking the teacher about it.
"Yes, Dad, but Syaoran-kun is really, really, really good at math, so I'd rather ask my best friend than ask that scary math teacher." Sakura shuddered at the thought of her teacher.
"Don't you think you should be thanking him?" Fujitaka asked.
"I do thank him, Dad." Sakura replied.
"Why don't you give him something? I'm sure he'll be happy to know that his efforts are helpful to you." Fujitaka suggested, smiling at his daughter.
Sakura thought about it. "That's a great idea, Dad! I think I'll...bake him something?" Sakura looked at her father hopefully, as if asking, is that a good enough thank-you gift?
"I'm sure he'll like that, Sakura." Fujitaka smiled warmly. Sakura's emerald eyes brighten up and got up immediately from the kitchen chair that she was sitting on. She grabs her pink apron and started to work.
"I think I'll bake him some...cupcakes! Yeah, Syaoran loves chocolate cupcakes!" Sakura smiled brightly, tying up her auburn hair and got to work right away.
Couple hours later
Sakura smiled proudly and looked at her finished work. She had decorated the top with icing and sprinkles and she had started to put them away in a small box. She'll give them to Syaoran tomorrow when she sees him at the soccer field.
Then she remembered something. She promised Syaoran that she'd make some chicken sandwiches for him tomorrow for lunch! She quickly put the cupcakes away and got to work again. Nothing too good for her beset friend!
Next day
Syaoran waited for Ivy in front of locker. Finally, he spotted her.
"Hey, Ivy!" He shouted.
"Oh...hi, Li." Ivy said. Her voice was no longer cold towards him, but it was not 100% that warm either.
"Didn't I tell you to call me Syaoran?" Syaoran flash her one of his charming cute smiles. Ivy ignored that--or at least tried to.
"Whatever, what do you want?"
"I was wondering if you'd like to have lunch together?" Syaoran asked, holding up his lunch. He had told the kitchen to pack extra today.
"What do you mean by have lunch together?" Ivy questioned.
"Oh, you know, to eat together, so I can get to know you better?" Syaoran tried again.
"Fine, I'll be down in a minute." Ivy sighed, putting her books away.
"Great, I'll see you in the Cafeteria then." Syaoran smiled before walking to the cafeteria.
"Syaoran-kun, there you are!" Sakura said, running up to him. "I got my lunch, and the sandwiches you wanted."
"What sandwiches?" Syaoran frowned.
"The chicken sandwiches that you said you wanted yesterday." Sakura reminded.
"Oh, right! But I got my own lunch today, Sakura, thanks anyway. Quick, go back to your seat! Don't come near me during lunch today, okay?" Syaoran warned.
"Why?" Sakura frowned.
"Because I'm waiting for this--uh--girl to arrive and if she sees us together, she'll think that we're dating!" Syaoran explained.
"Oh...okay..." Sakura frowned, feeling a bit hurt.
"Here she comes, now go!" Syaoran pushed Sakura back to the table where Rei, Meiling, Eriol, and Tomoyo were sitting. Sakura frowned again, before walking back to their usual table.
"Hi, Ivy! Come on, I got us a table!" Syaoran smiled at the blond girl. She didn't say anything, but she sat down next to him anyway. Syaoran tried to make small talk during the whole lunch and Ivy just gave him simple answers to his simple questions.
"So...are you busy after school today?" Syaoran asked.
"Why?" Ivy questioned, her aqua blue eyes glared at him lightly.
So, the ice hasn't completely melted yet...I'll change that, Syaoran thought silently.
"Oh, there's that new ice-cream place that just opened and I was wondering if you'd like to--"
"No." Ivy answered.
"What?"
"I said no. I'm not going anywhere with you. I'm done eating, bye." And with that, the blond haired girl walked out of the Cafeteria.
Syaoran grumbled to himself after she'd left. He was so close!
After school
Sakura looked outside the window before leaving the classroom. It was raining, and raining hard!
"Oh no, I think I've forgotten my umbrella today...who knew it would rain? Oh well, I'm supposed to meet Syaoran-kun after school for math tutoring anyway. He always has an umbrella with him." Sakura said to herself. She walked to her locker and packed up.
Syaoran also had noticed that it was raining. He took out the green mini umbrella that he had always carried around in his bag. He was about to leave, when he saw Ivy grumbling something that sounded like,
"Stupid weather, who told you to rain on the day I didn't bring my umbrella and mom is at work?"
Syaoran suddenly got an idea. He ran up to the blond girl. "I have an umbrella. Can I walk you home?" He gave her another one of those cute, charming smiles of his again.
Ivy stared at him for a while before saying, "Fine, but only this time because I don't have my umbrella with me."
Syaoran smiled and nodded before opening the green umbrella and putting it over both their heads.
Meanwhile
Sakura stood under the roof of a portable near the soccer field, waiting for her friend. Under her arm, was a white box, filled with the cupcakes that she had baked for Syaoran.
"Where is he? Thank goodness for this portable classroom, or else I'd be drenched!" Sakura sighed as she continued to wait.
"So, this is where you live?" Syaoran asked. He was in front of a cosy looking red brick house.
"Yeah, now goodbye!" Ivy said with her emotionless tone. It was better than her icy voice, at least, Syaoran thought.
"Okay...so, aren't you going to pay me?" He asked, giving her a playful smirk.
"What do you want? A knuckle sandwich? I don't have money with me, Li." Ivy glared.
"Well, how about a kiss instead?" Syaoran can't believe he actually had the courage to say that!
"You know I happen to have my math textbook in here with me," Ivy patted her schoolbag, "and that textbook is heavy enough to put you in a coma if I hit you with it."
"Aw, won't give me a kiss? Well, I guess I'll just have to kiss you instead." Syaoran grinned. Before she could protest, he leaned down and gave her a soft kiss on her right cheek. He heard her gasp, and pulled away
He looked at her surprised face. "See you tomorrow!" He said, before dashing off. He had to run as quickly as possible, before she could pick up a rock and hurl it at him.
Ivy stood there, completely shocked. Syaoran Li had just kissed her, and now she's...blushing? She shook her head. She can't be having a crush on him! She just can't!
At the Kinomoto's house
"Dad, where's the kaijuu?" Touya asked. It was not like Sakura to not be home by now.
"I'm not sure. I'm getting worried. She and Syaoran should be here by now." Fujitaka frowned.
"Why would the gaki be here too?" Touya growled.
"Sakura invited him over today to help her with her math." Fujitaka answered.
"I'm going out to her school to find her. It's almost dark, and it's raining." Touya said, grabbing his coat and an umbrella.
At the school
"Gosh, where is Syaoran-kun? I hope he's all right, it's not like him to leave me waiting like this...what if he's hurt?" Sakura frowned, still waiting under the roof of the portable classroom. She had a feeling that the school is deserted now, and it felt creepy to be here all alone. Suddenly, she saw a figure in the distance.
"Is that onii-san?"
"Sakura! There you are! What do you think you're doing, standing outside after dark in a rainstorm!" Touya scolded his sister.
"Touya, I'm worried about Syaoran-kun! He's supposed to meet me here!" Sakura said with concern.
"Come on, kaijuu, I'll take you home, and you can call the gaki then." Touya sighed, holding the blue umbrella over his younger sister's head as well.
Later
Sakura dried herself off with a towel in her room. She was about to pick up the phone and call Syaoran, but then, suddenly, she heard her father's voice.
"Sakura, Syaoran is here to see you."
Sakura dashed downstairs to find Syaoran standing there.
"Syaoran-kun, there you are! I was so scared something happened to you since you didn't show up!" Sakura smiled happily, glad to see that her friend is okay.
"I'm so sorry, I forgot the whole thing about meeting you on the soccer field!" Syaoran apologized.
"You forgot? But you never forget stuff like this." Sakura frowned.
"Come on, we'll talk in your room, okay?"
Sakura nodded and the two of them went upstairs to Sakura's room. Sakura closed the door behind them.
"So, where were you?" Sakura asked.
"Well you see I was walking this girl home..." Syaoran's voice trailed off.
"You were too busy entertaining your next dating target, weren't you?" Sakura accused.
"Well, she didn't have an umbrella, and I don't want her to catch a cold, so--"
"Well, I didn't have an umbrella either! I was waiting for you outside in the cold for two whole hours! Two whole hours, Syaoran! And now you come and to say you're sorry? You're two hours late, and I bet you didn't even remember right away when you got home! If Touya didn't come to find me, I'll probably still be waiting for you out there!" Sakura yelled.
"You were waiting two hours for me? Sakura, can you at least smarten up? Anybody would have left if I'm only 15 minutes late, and you waited for two hours! It's not my fault you're so stupid to stand in the rain that long!" Syaoran shouted back. As soon as he had said that, he regretted it. He saw the hurt in Sakura's emerald eyes.
"So now I'm stupid, huh? Is that why you didn't show up? Are you ashamed to have a friend 'stupid' enough to believe that you'd show up? The only reason I waited was because I trusted you to be there, Syaoran. I trusted you to always be there by my side when I need you. I never thought that you'd leave me alone when I needed you most. Yet today, you proved me wrong because you think some stupid flirting game you play is more important that friendship!" Sakura cried, her emerald eyes filling up with tears.
Syaoran looked down at the floor. He felt guilty, he knew he shouldn't have said that Sakura was stupid.
"Well, why do you need to see me in the first place?" He asked.
"I told you over the phone, I needed help with my math!" Sakura yelled. "So now you don't listen to what I say either? Or is what I say not worth remembering?"
By now, Syaoran had about enough of her yelling. She was yelling at him because he didn't show up to help her with math?
"Will you shut up!" He shouted back at her.
"So I didn't show up for a little tutoring session. What's the big deal? I mean, it's not like you'll ever understand math even if I did show up! And remember I don't have to tutor you. I'm only tutoring you because I'm willing to, but if I'm not willing to, then I don't have to. Why don't you ask someone else to help you? I'm not going to put up with your temper anymore, Kinomoto!" He yelled, using her surname.
Sakura felt tears sting her eyes harshly. But she isn't going to cry--at least not in front of him!
"You don't have to put up with my temper anymore then! Today just goes to show how unimportant our friendship is to you! Now leave and get out of my room, Li! I never want to talk to you again!" She shouted, using his surname as well.
"Fine, I don't want to stay here with you any longer either!" Syaoran huffed. He marched out of her room, got downstairs, ignored Fujitaka's offer for him to stay over for dinner, put on his runners, and got out of the house.
Sugar Pink: That's all for this chapter, folks! I tried to make it shorter, but I don't know where I should stop! Is it too long? I'll try to make the next one a bit shorter if it is. Please review!! I love to read your comments and feedbacks! R/R!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
