Transformations
Chapter 7: The last days
Authoresses note: Weee!!! My birthday's November 10! And I beat the deadline! I planned to have this chapter up by my birthday, and I do! Woooo! It's been hard to find time when I'm inspired to write, but its here! Not my longest chapter, but I think it's a decent chapter. I put lotsa thought into it, and this is actually the second version of it…and I like this one better. Well, things have been reeeaally weird for me lately, but I hope this chapter isn't weird too! ^___^;;; Hope you like it! Everyone say happy birthday to ME!
DISCLAIMER: for my birthday I wish I was in CLAMP, and owned all the CCS characters! ::blows out b-day candles on the pretty cake:: Wah, but I don't! …it this comes true though, I will soon enough though! ^o^ But it won't…not this anyway…well I can dream. For now, all I own is the plot, and Jenny and Brendan. Now on with the chapter….
The next few days followed uneventfully. The students continued to grow excited as the days until summer vacation were counted down.
5
4
3
2
…but Syaoran really didn't care that much. While the others were out enjoying their last high-school days with parties and get togethers at the pizza place, he chose to stay in his apartment, staring out the window thinking. On this particular day, with only 2 days left before graduation, Syaoran was at Sakura's house, staring out the window of her living room window.
"Uh…you okay Syaoran?" a voice asked from above him. Sakura looked down at where he sat, and passed him one of the two cans of soda she held in her hand. The other hand carried a bowl of chips, which she lowered onto the coffee table in front of them. Sakura plopped down next to Syaoran, sitting pretzel-like.
Syaoran tore his attention from his thoughts, and turned back to Sakura, "Yeah, I'm just a little tired. I stayed up late yesterday," he explained, but only telling half of the reasons why he had seemed more distant during the last few days since prom. Sure, he was tired, and he did stay up late, but she didn't know why. It was because he couldn't tell anyone. At least not yet. How could he tell Sakura that Jenny broke up with him, because of…her? Because she thought he liked her? But then again, what if he did? That was harder to come upon the answer. He knew it wasn't wise to tell Sakura that Jenny was mad, partly because of her. Knowing her, she would try to sort things out but telling Jenny it wasn't true. That wouldn't help. But did he? Maybe, just maybe he really did like Sakura. Maybe…
"That's good," Sakura grinned, "it's just…you seem a little different since prom and um…well yeah," she stumbled across her words, trying not to talk directly about the breakup. She really wanted to help him, but she didn't even know what happened.
"Thanks Sakura. You're a good friend. But really, I'm okay. I'm just thinking about…college," he lied again. At this point, college was the last thing on his mind.
"Okay, but if you need someone to talk to or anything, I'm always here and- oh gee, I guess that's what Eriol and Yamazaki are there for, eh? I not sure you'd wanna talk and I don't think that's my job…" she ranted on, laughing slightly.
Syaoran grinned, "Yeah, we only made a deal that said you were going to help me with standing out, not for a counselor," he joked, starting to feel better. Then another stray thought ran through his mind, what are we going to do about our deal? She already spent enough time on me, and I have to make sure I can do the same fore her…but we probably won't have more lessons for me, right? Nothing left now that Jenny's gone…
"Oh, look at the time, it's already 5:00! I'm supposed to meet Brendan in the park in about…10 minutes!" she glanced at her watch and jumped up, darting up the stairs. Halfway up though, she stopped and grinned, "Hehehe, well I guess we'll finish this another day then. You can go ahead and leave now if you want," she told him and retreated to her room.
Syaoran nodded slowly, starting to pack up his books. Five minutes later, when Sakura had finished changing, Syaoran stood waiting by the doorway, his backpack slung over one shoulder.
Sakura, no longer in her school uniform, but into a pair of overalls, skipped over to him, and opened the door. The two short pigtails tied loosely in her hair swayed as she held it open for Syaoran. "You didn't have to wait for me," she said, but a grin showed she liked his company.
"That's okay. I didn't really feel like walking back alone anyway. And I wanna ask you a question…uh," Syaoran started.
"Oh yeah, are our lessons done?" Sakura innocently brought up, before Syaoran could ask the same.
Syaoran scratched his head, confused for a moment that she had just took his words, but shrugged, "Uh, It doesn't really matter anyway. There's not much time left in school, and you already did a lot for me. It's my turn to help you,"
Sakura nodded. If someone looked hard enough, they might have seen a flash of disappointment. "Okay then. But wouldn't that be cheating or something? Can't I do something to help you? We can just hang out if you want. Even if it's only for a few days. I just wanna make sure you don't get the short end of the deal,"
Syaoran laughed softly, "Heh okay then. I guess so,"
"But also, I don't think I helped you that much…but then again, I helped you find your first love!" she cheerfully said, skipping ahead of him a few steps. "Err…if it was love,"
Syaoran smiled and stood by the corner of the sidewalk, as they waited for the cars to pass. After a minute, he smiled, "Well no, you're right. I guess I did find love," he muttered half to himself. Just it wasn't planned this way. The thing is, feelings won't be returned in this case. Sakura already had the perfect relationship. I can't be selfish and ruin hers just because of what I want. But still, I know I didn't get the short end of the deal. No matter what happens, I'm glad to know Sakura.
"Well, I'm going this way," Syaoran gestured to his right, stopping. "I'll see you tomorrow,"
Sakura nodded and waved goodbye, starting in the opposite direction. "Bye," in only a few minutes, she had reached the penguin park, where little kids surrounded the small sprinkler set, running around. Sakura, like them wished to keep cool from the sticky, thick heat that lingered in late afternoon. Taking a small detour, she passed the sprinklers. The small drops of water that sprinkled gently against her face as she passed slowly. This had been a great year. And she had made two new friends recently, too. If only she could make them as happy as she was…but how?
"Hey Sakura," a voice called to her.
Sakura ran a finger along her now damp hair, and smiled at Brendan. He was dry, and showed no traces of tiredness from the warm weather as he stood in front of her. "Oh, hi Brendan. Hehe, I'm just cooling myself off,"
Brendan grinned, "Yeah, it's getting pretty hot now. You looked like you had something on your mind just now,"
They slowly pulled away from the small crowd of 5 year olds, leaving the park. "Oh, just thinking about some stuff. This year has been really fun, right? It seems to have gone by so fast," she trailed off, and skipped ahead a few steps, giving her a head start, compared to Brendan's long legs.
"Yeah, it has," Brendan agreed.
"But I just hope everyone had as good a year as I did," Sakura added, and suddenly she knew what to do. I'll get Syaoran and Jenny back together. I don't know why they broke up to begin with, but I'll help them out.
~~~~~ Jenny ~~~~~
"So sad about us," she mumbled, softly singing along with the music she was listening to, through her headphones. The thick heat wavered around her, and where she sat on the front steps of her house. She could have just stayed cool in the air conditioning like her sister, but she didn't want to. That was what she had done the past few days, and she was starting to think she would become one of those moping people who stayed in the dark, dwelling on their past. Gee, but I'm still listening to the same song on repeat. And it's a sad song…well too bad, I just feel like it. She wiped a few beads of sweat from her forehead, and fidgeted with the rubix cube she held in her hands, trying to match another two of the red sticker blocks together. Was I wrong to dump Syaoran? What if i was wrong? Was it just me? But it's too late…isn't it?
"I'm such a jerk. I let my superstitions get the better of me," Jenny muttered to herself, and hit her forehead with the cube, half annoyed that she had been so foolish, and half that she couldn't finish the cube.
"Jenny, your cell phones ringing," a voice called from inside the house. Her sister stuck her head out the window, handing her a phone.
Jenny slowly reached for it, and without a word of thanks waved her away. "Hello?" she muttered dully into the small silvery flip phone.
"Hi Jenny! This is Sakura," the voice explained, cheerfully, unlike Jenny.
Jenny bit her lip, and sat up from the slouched position she had been in. "Oh, hey Sakura…what's up?" she asked, not really sure what to say. Since the prom, it felt a little weird talking to Sakura…since she was pretty much the reason why she had broken up with Syaoran. Did she even know why they had broken up? Had Syaoran told her?
"Nothin' much," Sakura lied, but Jenny didn't notice. To her, making her friends happy was the top goal before graduation. "I was just thinking; wanna go get some ice cream tomorrow? Everyone else's coming too. It'll be fun," she added.
Jenny bit her lip harder. Everyone? Would Syaoran be there too? Finally she gulped and nodded, "Sure, why not?"
"Yay! Okay, we're just gonna go right after school tomorrow. Oh, but I was planning to get the presents I got for all of you after…can you come with me to get them at my house? Before we meet up with them for ice cream?" Sakura asked, laying out her plan.
"Sure," Jenny agreed. Then both said their goodbyes before hanging up. Jenny closed her eyes and leaned back against the door, sighing. What did tomorrow await? If she saw Syaoran what would happen? They could avoid talking to each other in school, but with less people…they would have to talk.
Authoresses note: I've changed my b-day wish! Now I wish for lotsa lotsa reviews! Now that one might happen! It's all up to you!!! So review!!! (hey, that rhymes…)