A/N: I've finally updated, if you've been reading this story since I started writing it you would realize that this is the earliest I have ever updated. For particular reasons I'm trying to update a little faster that usual. To be honest, when I first started writing I didn't take the story too seriously though I thought it was a good idea. Thanks to the reviews, I love writing it now. I'm willing to answer all questions in the next.

Chapter 6: The Plot

The phone kept on ringing. Syaoran did not do anything; it was as though he couldn't hear it. Sakura folded her arms and rubbed them with her hands. "Aren't you going to answer that?" She asked softly.

Syaoran shook his head and flowed back to reality "Oh…yeah the phone." Before he could reach for it, it stopped ringing. Sakura looked at him.

"Can I use the phone now?" she asked.

"Sure…"

Sakura walked toward Syaoran's bedside table. She sat on the bed and reached out for the receiver. She punched in the numbers and held the receiver to her ear.

"Hello?" she began.

"Sakura! Where the heck are you, you don't know how worried I am-I called a search party…come home." Touya yelled in a worried tone.

"Don't worry I'm okay." Sakura said with no emotion "I'm at Syaoran's house, you know the big house near the newsstand, come pick me up."

Sakura hang up.

Suddenly there was a knock on the door "Syaoran! I know someone is in there." Yelan yelled.

Syaoran gasped. "She knows you're here!" he panicked. "Hide!"

Sakura immediately stood up and looked around "Where?" she asked

There was another knock on the door, this time it was even louder "Syaoran! You can't hide her; I heard her talking on the phone."

Syaoran purposely hit himself "Oh, yeah the phone downstairs."

"What should we do now?" Sakura was desperate.

Syaoran covered his mouth "The only thing to do….surrender."

Sakura's eyebrows rose, she bit her lip then thought "What's the worst that could happen?"

Syaoran unlocked the door and opened it. Right in the middle of the door was Syaoran's Mother. She wore a blue robe and furry blue slippers. Her hair was loose and her face pale. She looked quiet young compared to what Sakura expected her to be. Sakura looked at her and thought "She must use a lot of anti aging cream or she must have had Syaoran at a young age." She gave Sakura a quick glance then looked at Syaoran.

"I hope you have a good explanation." She said in a strict tone.

"I do…Um Mom this is Sakura." Syaoran began sweating just by saying her name. His Mother had already warned him about socializing with Sakura.

Sakura tried to smile but she was still recovering from the sadness that fell upon her earlier. Syaoran's mother didn't bother looking at her. Instead she gave Syaoran a mean look. "Well Syaoran, I'm waiting."

Syaoran couldn't withstand the pressure, instead of explaining he looked at the floor and muttered "I'm sorry Mother…it won't happen again."

Sakura was stunned. Syaoran gave up so easily, whenever it came to her he would push until he got his way. She blinked and looked at Syaoran. "What an idiot." She thought.

"You are supposed to be grounded." Yelan added.

Syaoran looked up at her then to Sakura "I think you better leave."

Sakura's rolled her eyes "Miss. Li, Um…Syaoran's Mom it wasn't his fault. I came here by myself through the window two hours ago. It's not Syaoran's fault, I take the full blame. He warned me so don't punish him…please?" Sakura pleaded "I'll just go…I'll be out of your hair in no time."

Yelan just looked at Sakura. Sakura began to feel uncomfortable. She bit her lip then looked at Syaoran's Mother. "I like you're hair." She said in a squeaky voice which gave away her discomfort. "You must use a lot of hair spray and um…make up…I like you're robe it's tight." Sakura said.

"Young lady, are you trying to say I'm fat?" She asked.

"Oh…no what I meant to say was that…" Sakura gave up.

"Are you done?" she asked.

"Pretty much…did I mention that it's my entire fault?"

Syaoran's mother shook her head and sighed. She looked at Syaoran; the moment she did her anger faded "its one thing that you're skipping classes, now this?"

She brushed her hair back and leaned closer to Syaoran "Syaoran, maybe you and I need to have the talk again, you just can't bring you're girlfriend in your room."

Syaoran freaked, his face turned red and he breathed in deeply. He felt humiliated. He looked at Sakura who looked as though she was going to burst into laughter. She covered her mouth and turned away. She wanted to look as though she was not listening.

"She is not my girlfriend!" Syaoran declared. "Mom, Sakura and I are friends, nothing more! You can ask her…"

"Syaoran, you know there is no use in trying to deny it."

"I'm not." Syaoran said serious.

"Okay, then what is she doing here?"

"She wanted to borrow books." Syaoran replied.

"We have a front do- wait a minute, Sakura? Isn't she that girl who got you to skip school?" Yelan speculated.

"No I decided to skip classes; Sakura didn't force me into doing anything."

Yelan didn't say anything, Syaoran could sense bad vibes.

"If it makes you feel any better she's just about to leave."

"I'll be in my bedroom." She said walking away.

When she was finally gone Syaoran looked at Sakura then smiled "That wasn't so bad."

"She hates me, right?" Sakura asked staid.

"She doesn't hate you…she just doesn't know you."

Sakura walked out of Syaoran's room and stood by the door next to him "I can take a hint; I know when I'm not wanted. I'll wait for my brother by the gate."

"Don't go… you can wait for him here."

"No, it's okay."

"I can walk you to the gate." Syaoran insisted.

"It's all right, really, I'll be fine."

Syaoran watched her leave; she took a few steps down the staircase then stopped. She turned around said "Thanks for letting me stay."

"Anytime, don't forget your shoes."

Sakura looked at her feet then wiggled her toes. She looked up at Syaoran and smiled "Oh yeah, I'm barefooted." She turned away and walked to the door.

Syaoran walked back into his room. He kept on thinking about how close he was to realizing the reason why she is an outcast. Though he liked her company and thought that all the terrible things everyone says about her are nothing but lies, he couldn't help but feel as though he was far from understanding her.

…………………………….

Saturday afternoon Syaoran rang the doorbell to the Kinomoto residence, it was as though no matter what happened he always found a way back to Sakura. He pressed the button again. The door opened.

"You want Sakura right?" Touya said quickly.

"Yeah, is she around?" Syaoran figured he was the famous Touya, Sakura usually talked about him.

"She's around. I just need to ask you a question, why are you hanging around with my sis."

Syaoran blinked, he didn't know where to begin "I think she's interesting." He replied

"This is not some prank? I don't want to see my sister get hurt."

"I wouldn't hurt her…but you would if you send her away" Syaoran said trying to break through the barrier. Syaoran already knew that he was not very wild about Touya.

"She's not going anywhere." Touya replied.

Syaoran smiled, "That's great. Can I talk to her?"

"Come in."

Syaoran did as told "Where is she?"

"In her room, upstairs, you can't miss it."

"Okay….I'll go upstairs." Syaoran nodded. Just being in the same room as Touya was strange.

He approached Sakura's room. His trail stopped when he heard someone singing. He paused and smirked. He made his way to the door then stopped. She had headphones in her ears and her eyes were closed. She was singing and moving her waist, Syaoran didn't recognize the song but she sang it well. He leaned on the wall and watched her. He couldn't help but smile. He rubbed his cheek and gazed. She turned around then opened her eyes. Her jaw dropped and her cheeks turned red. She covered her mouth. "How long have you been there?" she asked stunned.

"Only enough to know you're a great dancer…and singer."

Sakura gasped. She removed the head phones from her ears then folded her arms. "What-what are you doing here?" she asked trying hard to maintain her bad girl reputation.

"You forgot you're cape at my house."

She tapped her foot "It's only a cape Syaoran; you didn't have to come all the way here."

"I was in the neighborhood so…"

"What the heck would you be doing in the neighborhood, your Mom doesn't know you're here, right?"

"I was visiting Tomoyo and no my Mother doesn't know. She can't stop me from being you're friend and I think she knows that."

She tucked her hands in her pocket and rocked her feet back and forth "I should have known."

He took a quick glance at her then turned away.

"Don't think I didn't see that." Sakura said.

"See what?"

"You're looking at me, is there something wrong? And why are you smiling?"

"Isn't it obvious, Sakura you were dancing; I never thought you were into that stuff."

Sakura had an annoyed look on her face "Tell anyone and I'll kill you, I swear."

"Don't worry, I wouldn't dare." Syaoran assured.

"Good cause-cause it would be a bad thing if you-just keep your promise."

"Sakura, you should be a cheerleader, try out for the squad."

"I'm never going to hear the end of this-what are you doing here, I'm sure you didn't come all the way here just to give me back my cape."

"No, you said your brother was sending you away and I just wanted to see how you were doing."

Sakura stopped rocking "He said he was only joking, stupid huh?"

Before Syaoran could answer the door bell rang "I better get that." Sakura said rushing downstairs. Syaoran followed her.

Sakura opened the door. Standing before her was Tomoyo. "What!" Sakura barked. In a way she was trying to prove to Syaoran that she still had it.

"Hi Sakura, I know it's strange that I'm here but you know that kid down the block, well he switched our mail…." Tomoyo stopped when she saw Syaoran coming standing behind Sakura. The friendly look on her face grew bitter. Syaoran saw her and smiled.

"Hi Tomoyo, what are you doing here."

"Funny, I was about to ask you the same thing." He saw that she was furious.

"What happened to going straight home?" Tomoyo asked.

"Sakura forgot her cape at my house."

"Which cape? Your house?" Tomoyo asked trying to keep her cool.

Syaoran realized he was empty handed; he searched his pockets then slightly smiled "I must have forgotten it."

Sakura shook her head and sighed. "You're wearing it."

Syaoran touched his head "What do you know, I'm wearing it."

"Syaoran I can't believe…." Tomoyo stopped when Sakura snatched the mail from her hand and slapped the door.

Syaoran's eyes widened he looked at her "That was mean." He commented.

"Like I care."

"I guess you don't." Syaoran said.

She dropped the mail on the kitchen counter then looked at Syaoran "Why are you wearing my cape?"

Syaoran took it off. "I had nowhere to put it so I wore it and….forgot." He placed the cape on the counter. "I think I better get going, see you on Monday."

"Yeah, Monday…" Sakura said calmly.

………………………….

Monday was another normal day, before classes Tomoyo, Rika, Naoko and Chiharu stood in the hallway waiting for the bell. Chiharu went on about the stupid stories Takashi had been making up lately. Tomoyo was the only one who seemed out of it. Though she was facing Chiharu it was easy to tell that her mind was somewhere else. She sighed drawing the attention of the other girls. Chiharu stopped talking and looked at her concerned.

"What's the matter?" she asked.

Before Tomoyo could speak, she saw Syaoran talking to Eriol. She turned her head away and replied "Nothing, nothing is wrong."

"Is it Syaoran" Rika the least confident of the group asked.

Tomoyo nodded "He's not interested in me." She complained.

"What makes you think he's not interested, did he tell you that?" Chicharu asked.

"No but I get the feeling he prefers being around Sakura than he does me. I don't know why I bother when I'm clearly not wanted, I give up."

Chiharu's eyebrows rose "Give up, now? Tomoyo, the dance is on Friday what if you don't find a date by then, did he say he liked her?"

"No." Tomoyo shrugged. "She slammed the door in my face yesterday, he was at her house. He didn't bother talking to me after that."

"Maybe you guys are looking at this the wrong way." Naoko the girl who used to wear glasses and now wears contact lenses began "If Syaoran is not in love with her maybe she's in love with him."

Chiharu grinned "Yes! That makes sense. Syaoran is clearly hot, there is no way any girl can spend time with him and not fall in love besides Sakura is not very attractive, Syaoran can't possibly have feelings for her."

"I've got an idea..." Rika began "Why don't we ask her."

Tomoyo sighed "What are the chances that she'll talk to us; the only person she talks to is Syaoran."

"We'll just have to ask her…I think she's in class." Naoko said.

In class Sakura was as usual, at the back of the class. She was gazing outside. The girls entered class-room. They stopped walking the minute they spotted her.

"I forgot how scary she was." Naoko commented.

"What if she gives us that zombie look of hers or even worse…eat us."

Tomoyo looked at her friends and sighed. She couldn't believe how dense her friends can be "She's not going to bite us, Syaoran is with her all the time, and he's in one piece."

The girls didn't seem convinced "Tomoyo, you ask her…" Chiharu said.

"I'll do it only if all of you come with me."

The girls looked at each other almost terrified. They looked at Tomoyo. From the look in their eyes Tomoyo knew they were on her side. They walked to Sakura casually and stopped at her desk.

"Sakura…" Tomoyo began.

Sakura looked up then turned away.

"The girls and I were just wondering…well." Tomoyo could feel her palms sweating. "I know it might come strange to you and I hope you don't take it personally, believe me, my intentions are good, really they are and…"

Chiharu muttered "Tomoyo, can you just get straight to the point."

"Oh yeah, do you have any feelings for Syaoran, just a question of wonder, you don't have to answer it."

Sakura looked at Tomoyo then blinked "I won't answer it." Sakura said abruptly.

The girls looked at each other then turned away. They knew immediately that they were all thinking the same thing. The moment they walked out of the classroom Chiharu blurted out "She so likes him, I knew it!"

"Come on, let's not jump into conclusions." Tomoyo said lifting her hand to her cheek and resting it in her palm.

"I'm sorry to break this to you Tomoyo but there is a chance that she might just win Syaoran, you have to make you're move, maybe Syaoran doesn't go for looks. Time's a wasting. The war has just begun!" Chiharu said hysterically.

Tomoyo rolled her eyes; she didn't want to participate in anything that involved ending Sakura and Syaoran's friendship. In a way she was happy that Sakura was finally talking to someone yet she knew once Chiharu said they were going to do something, they ended up doing it.

"Nothing major; right?" Tomoyo asked unsure.

"Of course….all we have to do is somehow get Li to see the monster Sakura really is." Chiharu said excited. "I've got a better idea, if she's in love with Syaoran….we have to somehow get her to fall in love with someone else but who? Who is brave enough to date Sakura?"

The girls looked around. Rika's eyes lightened "Luca!"

Tomoyo looked at her befuddled "Luca! Luca hates her and she hates him."

"But Luca is still great looking and he'll do absolutely anything for money." Chiharu grinned.

………………………………….

A/N: On the next chapter Luca begs Sakura forgiveness and asks her to go to the da….I think I better stop. If you want to know what happens next, review kay 0