Crossing Roads
"Good Bye?"
It didn't seem like a whole day had passed.
Not at all.
But it did, and as Syaoran pulled over at the curb and as he witnessed the brass letters on the building.
Tomoeda University
He had to realize.
The daylong car trip he had planned to take with Meiling was over.
And the girl sitting besides him was nobody like Meiling.
"Sakura?" He said before realizing it, "We're here."
She nodded as she turned back on him from the window, "Sakura? Does that mean I can call you Syaoran?"
Syaoran bit his tongue. What the hell.
"No." He answered quickly and reached for his side of the door.
She didn't say anything. Which was strange. It was usually Syaoran who would end a conversation with a silent answer.
As he pushed himself out the tired vehicle the blast of hot air spun him around until he was dizzy. The sky was still a rich sensational blue. The roads were less crowded here but still as well very familiar to his home city and Salina. It seemed he hadn't traveled more than two feet rather than hundreds of miles.
The road curved down with the enormous city and Tomoeda University was just one of the many buildings that cluttered the small sloped street.
He stretched his long arms and yawned. It had been a long and interesting trip. He was ready to get this year started. And he badly wanted to sleep in a real bed.
He was tired of driving, but it felt as if a part of something important had just ended, and it didn't feel good.
Hearing the other door slam shut he watched Sakura copy suit in the stretching followed with putting on her sandals. He watched as she flopped up and down the street and dropped his own arms. She wasn't smiling.
"Kinomoto?" He asked, wondering why the usually cheerful girl was looking rather depressed.
"Uh hm?" She said absentmindedly. Syaoran stared at a parking meter besides her. Every time she would stare at him, he found it hard to open his mouth.
"You don't look excited – it's your last year here isn't it?" Syaoran shrugged, pulling at his jacket as he spoke.
"Oh – I'm just…nervous." She said, biting her lip. She was, it felt the same way every time she would transfer.
Syaoran nodded, not exactly believing her explanation but shrugged and decided to manage his own business. Which was.
One, apply for his dorm.
Two, park his car
Three, Eat. God he was hungry.
Simple enough. Syaoran moved towards the trunk as Sakura did the same. Syaoran tossed it open and looked down at the rumpled stack of pink and black bags. It seemed only minutes ago did he swing them in to the trunk for her.
"Need help with these bags?"
"I managed before you came along you know." She said, smiling a little.
"Yeah," Syaoran stopped talking after that.
The two moved silently, taking turns with the bags and dumping it on the streets like a machine taking commands.
After everything was piled up the steps of the University did Syaoran lock up his car and open his mouth again, "What are you going to do about the towing?"
"I called my brother – at Salina – he said he'll handle it," Sakura said quickly, she was pulling a heavy bag across her chest and over a shoulder. The other two she held with her arms. Syaoran couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at the sight. She looked ridiculously off balance carrying three enormous bags.
He, himself, wasn't carrying anything. He still had to park his car.
"What do you have in there? Clothes?" He remembered going on vacations with his family. The entire truck was piled with his sister's entire closet. And he was forced to carry it all.
"No – I have books and other…things…" She answered nervously.
Syaoran's eyebrows disappeared underneath his hair. God it was hot. If he was still wearing his white t-shirt it wouldn't be that bad. But he had to just change in to his black shirt and a pair of cargos.
She was wearing a simple blue tank top and capris. Her feet were still accommodated with a now dirty, sandy, dusty, and muddy pair of flip-flops. Her outfit looked rather breezy.
"Yeah okay – let's – go." He said uneasily and headed for the building's double doors, trying to keep his eyes ahead. Syaoran shot a very lonely and neglected plant a sorry look as they passed the stairs. Its leaves had wilted and crumpled to the twisting waves of heat, he felt sorry for it.
Syaoran heard Sakura shuffle after him. It was the way she walked that was so loud. The bags must be a big hassle.
Syaoran reached the door first and pulled inside, a blast of conditioned air chilled his neck and arms. It was refreshing.
He held the door open as Sakura struggled after him.
The entrance hall for Tomoeda was a familiar site to Syaoran. The usual large desk that curved to the end of the room and the large chandelier that dropped from the ceiling. The floor was different, they had replaced the old rug, now it spanned a wide red carpet already a little gray from people's sneakers and boots. To one side there were double doors that led to the school campus, the other, the doors that led to the dorms. To get to the garage, he needed to go back out on the streets.
The only thing different that caught his eyes was the large blue sign hanging above the desk it read with big comical letters, "WELCOME TO THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR!"
Syaoran found it irritating that it sounded vaguely like a preschool greeting and sauntered over to the table. There was only one working employee there. And she wasn't a secretary or a teacher he knew.
She glanced up at him through small spectacles and wore a look of annoyance on her face, "Name?"
Syaoran cleared his throat and said gruffly, "Li Syaoran."
"Grade?" She plowed.
"Senior."
She flipped through a stack of folders and fished one out than slid it across the counter for him to see, "Room 601 – your classes are listed and they start this Monday."
Syaoran checked with himself. Today was Friday. He had a weekend to get adjusted. That was fine. He wasn't in that of a rush get back to work and finals.
"Thanks." He said and took the vanilla folder and watched as Sakura nearly collapsed at the counter.
"Name?"
"Kinomoto Sakura." She said, smiling.
The lady ignored her, "Grade?"
"Senior."
She took a particularly long time looking for her folder and Syaoran was asking himself why he was even bothering to wait for her. He sent her to their destination. It was over.
This was it.
"Hey Kinomoto – "
She turned on him and grinned, "What, no Sakura?"
Syaoran rolled his eyes, "Anyways – I'm gonna go and park my car okay? I'll see you…"
She blinked, "Sure…I'll see you…"
Syaoran nodded and awkwardly turned his back to her and started for the door. This could may as well be the last time he'll ever see her again. Tomoeda was an enormous school, it took up about ten blocks of the city. It would be a miracle if he ever even caught a glimpse of her. Even in his senior year did he not even know half his classmates.
Surely, he'll never meet her again.
This was it.
Sakura seemed to be still watching his retreating back and reading his mind. Because when he was just two inches to the door she called at him, "Bye Syaoran! Thank you so much! I'll miss you okay!"
Syaoran stopped and decided she deserved a good bye from him. He turned his head to peer at her from across his shoulder and gave her a very rare smile before shutting the door behind him.
Sakura sighed as she watched him enter his car and drive off out of sight.
She was probably never going to see him again. Sakura shrugged and turned back towards the counter. No big deal…right?
"Ah – here we are – miss Kinomoto Sakura – you transferred from Avalon just this year – no wonder I couldn't find your transcript." She handed her a similar folder and looked at Sakura for probably the first time, "Dorm 304, third floor – number four, and the elevators are to your right." She explained.
Sakura smiled and expressed her thanks before hobbling in that direction.
"Are you rooming in 304?" Someone said.
Taken by surprise Sakura managed to drop one of her bags on the floor with a large thump. She glanced upwards to see a blue – eyed girl with a friendly expression on her face. She reached for the bag that Sakura had dropped.
"Here let me help you," She offered. Sakura gladly let her retrieve the bag on the floor. Her arms were killing her. And she had been too guilty to ask Syaoran for help with any more of her problems.
"What's your name?" The girl asked as they started back towards the elevators. Her voice invited confidence on Sakura's part and she answered willingly.
"Kinomoto Sakura,"
"That's a really pretty name! Mine's Daidouji Tomoyo – pleased to meet you." She said. Her dazzling blue eyes sparkled as she smiled. They exchanged warm greetings.
"Tomoyo is a pretty name too."
"Well – we better get to know each other."
Sakura gave her a confused look. After all, who would randomly walk up to people and demand that they get to know each other.
Tomoyo laughed as she pulled the bag closer to her shoulder, "I'm in 304 too – so we're rooming!"
"Oh!" Sakura said, startled, "Than pleased to meet you Daidouji – "
"Call me Tomoyo –I really dislike formal greetings – we're not sixty years old you know!" She said, her eyes sparkling with her. Sakura smiled.
"Tomoyo than – and you can call me Sakura."
"Sakura – chan!" She tried out loud, "I love it."
Sakura laughed as the two stepped in to an awaiting elevator. It was when she had turned to her side as they went in did Sakura was sudden hit with a realization about this new friend she had made.
"You're - !"
Tomoyo looked at her with a gentle smile, "pregnant."
"Well – I – congratulations!" Sakura said incredulously just as the doors slid shut. Now in the light, Sakura was certain of the slight bulge underneath her clothes and was amazed she hadn't noticed it when they first met.
"And you know who the dad is?" She said as she turned her body to face her.
"Well – I – no – I'm new at Tomoeda." Sakura said.
"Right!" Tomoyo's eyes lit up, "Sorry – he has a kind of reputation at this school – I forgot you weren't from around here."
The elevator reached level three with a quiet soft ding and the two stepped out to a large hallway. Brown doors lined the halls until they turned out of sight. Sakura followed after her new roommate as they walked briskly past them. The air was a bit dingy from the lack of air conditioning and Sakura felt her throat run dry.
"I'll introduce you to him," Tomoyo said, grinning, "He's in the room across from ours – I requested it – you'll like him – c'mon!"
Sakura dazedly hurried after the blue-eyed girl.
"Do we have any other room mates?" Sakura asked as they rounded the corner.
"Not that I know of – not yet – the limit to a room is three but Tomoeda is such a highly selective school that its only usually two – there – see – 304 – our room and right across from it," Tomoyo trailed her finger to the door labeled 302 and pointed.
Sakura tried to protest but Tomoyo was already knocking on the thin piece of wood, the bag she carried was on the floor besides her feet, "Eriol open up – I know you're in there!"
Meanwhile, a boy came strolling down the hall way and Sakura had to plant herself against the opposite wall for him to get through. He ignored Sakura and said to Tomoyo, "Looking for Hiiragizawa?"
"Yeah – have you seen him? He said something about the downtown library this morning – but he should be back by now," Sakura saw the worry on her face. So they cared for each other. She wondered if they were married yet.
"I passed him in the garage a while ago – maybe he's asleep – well – I heard Li got here just now – I'm going down to meet him – see you Tomoyo," The boy waved cheerfully and bounded down the corner. Sakura stared after him. He did say Li did he?
Tomoyo groaned and was about to turn away when the door flew open revealing a very disarrayed man in a t-shirt and pajamas, he was rubbing his eyes with one hand and holding his glasses in the other, he was caught in a mid yawn when he noticed them standing there, "Hey – need me?" He said humorously, "Or you just missed me?"
Tomoyo rolled her eyes and took his hand, "I want you to meet your neighbor and my roommate – this is Sakura Kinomoto."
Eriol jerked his head up and they exchanged silent introductions as they looked at one another, he extended his other free hand after repositioning his glasses on his face. Sakura noticed that he was rather handsome when he wasn't half sleeping and shook his hand like good colleagues. He had a firm yet gentle grip.
"Pleased to meet you – you can call me Eriol – I'm sure Tomoyo's told you all about me," He said, smiling widely.
"Don't act spoiled – she just got here," Tomoyo said briskly pulling her hand away and moving to stand by Sakura's side, "Go back to sleep – I wouldn't want you to pass out when school starts next week – shoo." Tomoyo ushered him back in his room ignoring his loud protests. But Sakura caught the smile he had directed at her and she grinned. She had a feeling they were going to become more than just acquaintances.
Tomoyo turned on her heels and inserted her own keys.
"Now – may I introduce to you," She said, pulling at the knob, "Our paradise away from homework, parties, and stress."
Than as if creating a dramatic moment, Tomoyo smiled brightly and tossed open the door with a flourish.
Syaoran groaned as he reached the elevator.
Sakura had left her purse in his car. How the heck was he supposed to find her now? The dorms had twelve stories to it. And at least fifty rooms on each level. Oh god.
He held her purse far from his body; afraid it might jump up and attack him. It was pink for god sake. What would people think if they saw him carrying around a pink bag?
"C'mon c'mon." Syaoran said out loud as the elevator descended.
He shifted his weight around nervously pulling at his black duffel hanging off one shoulder.
The elevator doors slid open and Syaoran breathed again. It was empy. He walked in quickly, and jammed in the number three.
He would dump off his stuff in his room first, than somehow, get a hold of Sakura.
Syaoran sighed deeply as he leaned in the back of the elevator. This was fantastic. He had already decided to never see this girl again. Here he was, desperately wishing he knew where she was.
His life could be so simple.
Ding.
Syaoran pulled himself out on to the sixth story and started down the hall. For the last couple years he'd always been on the first two floors, it felt strange to have to wait so long.
His long empty strides ringed across the hallway.
Alright, 601.
Grumbling loudly as her bag got in the way with his keys, Syaoran quickly turned the knob to his new room and threw it open. It was empty. Perhaps his roommate hadn't arrived yet and prayed he hadn't been assigned with a small immature freshman hadn't hit puberty yet little boy.
He threw his bag on to a nearby empty chair and turned for the bathroom, only to discover in shock that someone was standing in front of it.
"Jesus Christ!" Syaoran quickly turned around to hide his red face and looked out the window.
What the hell was the school board thinking; this is a damn girl's dorm!
"Sorry! Sorry!" He apologized angrily as he scooped up his bag quickly and turned his head. He ducked his gaze and hurried out of the room, cursing loudly.
The girl stood, wide-eyed and open-mouthed as the door slammed shut and Syaoran's furious footsteps faded away.
"Who was that?" A girl asked as she peeked her head through the door, "I heard a guy's voice."
The girl in the towel dismantled her original shock and smiled happily, "That was Li Syaoran, I can't believe he was actually in here!" She shrieked and sank in to her covers a dreamy look on her face.
"Over there," Tomoyo waved her hands, "Is where I sleep."
Sakura looked across a twin bed wrapped in purple fabric. Spread across it were many cushions of all shape and sizes.
"And that's where you'll sleep – it's kind of empty – but if you want – I can make bed sheets for you." Tomoyo gave her an apologetic look as she turned her body around and so did Sakura's gaze, "We have an extra mattress for our third possible roomie but unfortunately I don't think we are going to have another member – so I folded it up and see – its in that corner."
Sakura noted both beds and mattresses with a nod.
"Okay let's see – I have a stereo – its right over there on top of the table – oh and that's my table the messy one – yours is the one next to it – you probably can't tell because they're connected." Tomoyo turned to face Sakura and gestured at the other side of the room, "And here – we'll probably most likely eat take out the whole year – because I only brought a small fridge and a microwave – but Eriol works at a local restaurant and he usually sneaks lunch in so we won't starve."
She smiled and so did Sakura. This place was already feeling like home.
Tomoyo put a finger to her lips, "Now what am I forgetting – I already showed you the bathroom – so – oh of course!" She led Sakura to a side of the room she had failed to mention, "The closets – how can I forget – now I have to deeply apologize for this – we have to share one closet – and I'm taking already more than half the space – as you can see…" Tomoyo threw open the sliding doors and Sakura was shocked to see all the different clothes, dresses, and sweaters jammed together like dried fruit in an airtight bag.
Sakura noticed that some of them had long trailing unfinished needles to them, "Did you make these?" She said curiously as one particular shirt only went past the sleeves.
"Some of them…my mother likes to send me new fashions every season even though I tell her not to – I have to throw them out as they come in because we really don't have much room," Tomoyo frowned slightly and sealed her side of the closet off before sliding open the opposite end, "I hope this is enough – if you want I can empty out – "
"No! It's fine – I hardly have any clothes – I only have two pairs of pants – its fine – really!" Sakura cried, shaking off Tomoyo's apologies.
Tomoyo dropped her frown and looked cheerful again, she clasped her hands together and raised her arms to give Sakura a friendly hug, "That's great! Can't wait to start a year with you – it'll be a time you won't forget – I promise."
