Author's Notes: Okay, since the asterisks are not working, I'm not gonna stall this fic any longer. I've made my decision. This fic isn't gonna be R since it's not gonna have any over 17 stuff, and I'm gonna cut down a little on the extreme swearing. If you know what I mean. Although PG-13 is allowed one of those words once in a while, I'll see to it that it's very rare. Sorry for any problems guys.

Title: Head Over Heels

Author: Shinsei Kokoro

Beta-Reader: AmaiOkashi

Chapter: 7: Obsession

Updated: 17th July 2004

Syaoran Li P.O.V

It'd been three nights. But exactly the next day, I was out of there. It probably had been my second shortest stay in a jail, but for Yamazaki it was the first. Monday morning. It was chilly, and the cold stung against my wrinkled blue shirt from Friday.

He couldn't stop cussing all the way the police drove us back to my apartment. The other four came in another car.

We'd been bailed. Because the charges weren't that high, we hadn't been court marshaled, and it'd all been thanks to my mom. She did a little bribing.

But she hadn't bothered taking the first plane to see her son, because instead she was busy grieving over one of her friend's death.

Not that I cared or anything…but the dead need to rest in peace. With her mourning, it's all but Hell. But I was glad that she didn't decide to come along. Although I did talk to her on the phone, I received a whole half an hour of lecturing until the police were forced to take the phone from my hands.

The assholes couldn't even afford long distance calls.

Feh.

But right then, I was in my own bed, while Yamazaki was in the next room, swearing all the profanity to Chiharu who had accidentally asked if he was treated well. While he was throwing a tantrum, I was trying to take back all the sleep I'd lost.

Under only a sheet, I turned on my face and forced myself to look towards the dark end of the tunnel. It was five in the morning, and I still had to go to school.

That's what you get when you live in a crummy town and go to some god damned school.

I was pissed off.

And with Yamazaki tearing everything apart, I was seriously thinking of sending him on a trip to that graveyard I saw on the way back to our apartments.

But it felt like hell to fall asleep on my bruises. I kept rolling and cringing. The joints in my legs suddenly falling numb all over again.

Yup. That's right. This is what you got sleeping on the hard floors of Tokyo Side, Tomoeda Police Station. It stunk in there and there were no jokes out for grabs.

A bloody hell hole in fact.

I rubbed at the bruise on my neck. Damn straight dude. You ain't gonna go into that stink of a tart ever again.

Minas had come to hunt me down a few hours before. She'd started cooing over me, but Meiling had decided to take her strength at test. She'd dragged the girl all the way out and slammed the door in her face.

A little tragic, since I was in need of some time pass. But I guess I needed some time out.

I rolled over.

Meiling had checked in on me not too long ago, telling me I was boiling in a fever cauldron.

I checked my forehead. Seriously, I never could identify a fever, no matter how hot my head would be.

I turned on my back, and kicked off the sheets.

Yamazaki's voice was running through the walls. But I fumbled at the table next to my bed, and grabbed the packet.

Fumbling the little stick into my mouth, I lit it vehemently.

Feeling the smoke running down my throat, I relaxed. It felt good. It always did. Don't know how these little beauties could cause so much of trouble, but they didn't reach the level of intensity with the dope that was deep in my drawers.

I'm a guy who saves thing y'know. No harm done in that.

I leaned back, and stretched out my legs.

I glanced at the magazine below at my bed, and ignored them. The asses we'd creamed hadn't bothered reporting of their four hundred bucks that had got nicked from them. I grinned.

Score to me.

School would be interesting today. In fact, I was looking forward to it. By what Meiling had told me, I think I'd be getting quite a welcome.

Okay, what I'd said just then was supposed to be my way to compete with sarcasm. Not honey coated aye?

I'd got to school late. Not because I was deprived of sleep, because the only thing I did in the fig of a prison was sleep, and swear in my dreams. My car had busted out on me. Meiling had used it while I was away, and she'd finished off the gas.

Bitch.

I had to hitch a ride with an old friend who worked at a nearby liquor shop.

For the first time, I couldn't smell the alcohol on him. So he'd started laughing and told me the whole story.

It was his anniversary today, and he wanted to look and smell his best if he was to meet his wife at the graveyard.

I didn't know why he bothered, because I doubt she'd be getting up from her grave to make a toast and have some champagne.

The hallways were empty the moment I stepped in. So it gave me a clear chance to get a few things from my locker.

I could see the few scribbles of "Asshole"s and "Crack your pot bro?" on the metal door, but who cared? Maybe I'd get some geek to swap lockers with me.

I looked at the locker next to mine.

Maybe not.

Sakura Kinomoto P.O.V

My Computer Research assignment had come out a mess. I know. This is what I got for doing everything at the last moment. But I couldn't stop thinking about Syaoran.

How long was he going to stay in jail?

Was he ever coming out?

I'd confess to god once again. Lit a candle and stood there for half and hour until one of the nuns got me outside to continue working on the leaves on the grass.

I'd gotten this job out of my dad. He'd stopped coming here ever since his first wife died. Nadeshiko. That was her name. And for some reason he keeps telling me that I look like her. It's weird. But I guess I feel good about that in a way.

It was a long hour drive from home, but it was all worth it.

But last Saturday I guess it wasn't really my day. I was hung-over from Rika's party and still had to bear the shock that I'd been all over Van at the party.

It made me sick.

I'm not joking. Sick to my stomach. Not only because I didn't want to do something like that with someone like him. But I did something like that with him when I was drunk.

Rika told me that if it hadn't been for Eriol spotting us, I'd be somewhere very different. She said we'd only kissed, and Van had only went as far as taking off his shirt, but I still couldn't help but make a face.

Because I'd had the most weirdest of the dreams…not that they weren't the usual. But I think while Van had gone and done his kissing business with me, I think I'd gone crazy. Crazy enough to think that I'd just been with Syaoran all along. In his warm arms, and his shirt smelling like musk.

So while I was busy with my hang-over and dad was giving me lectures as I made trips to the bathroom, I don't think he would notice that his daughter needed to be taken to the mechanics, and get her brain and heart fixed.

I felt jilted. It had all felt so real that Saturday morning, I woke up smothering my face in a pillow.

Argh. Damn those drinks! I don't think you have ever seen me near the punch table at any other parties. They gave you useless dreams. Dreams that lead you on.

I guess I should have thanked Eriol for all his heroic efforts. He'd been giving me weird looks. As for Van, he did not even bothered apologizing. Instead, he started a very gleeful conversation with me the moment I had entered Homeroom.

I wanted to punch him.

Hard.

And leave a nice big black juicy bruise. Yeah. Just something to remember me by, when he came across other girls in his near future.

And Eriol. I think he's been trying to avoid me. And with all his new-girlfriend antics, I didn't have the time to notice. Because as soon as the bell rang, he walked off, leaving behind Van, Rika and me.

"Thank him later. He probably just rushed to go meet Tomoyo" She grinned after me.

"I bet." I left the room murmuring.

And just making me think about it all over again made me wanna bang my head into the computer screen in front of me.

I stayed up all night yesterday trying to finish the assignment, and then had to end up getting a bit of help out of Touya's.

He was helpful for once. Don't know why.

I fumbled with the mouse in my hand, and looked at the guy next to me.

He rarely spoke.

"Hey" I made a gesture at him.

His ruby eyes turned my way, and stared.

For a few seconds I waited, but I didn't know he was waiting for my question.

"Well?" he turned impatient.

"Oh. I was just saying hi"

He gave me a weird look, "Right." And with that he looked back at his screen, his fingers flying over the keyboard.

"What an idiot." I ended up muttering darkly, turning the page over of my Computer manual.

"I heard that." Ruby eyes were back on me.

Wow. What a friendly guy.

And the moment I was out of class, rumors were flying around again.

I had to whirl back a girl by her shoulders, "Excuse me? But what did you just say?"

The girl was just backing off, scowling as she patted her jacket, and away from my reach "I said the freak got bailed."

I hope I didn't sound too happy, because my fists were clenched once again.

I looked back at her slowly, "Oh no." I managed to mutter out weakly, before I turned around with my largest smile. And it never slipped off.

Who else could it be?

I think I was laughing and popping balloons from inside, because Tomoyo was suddenly in front of me.

"Hey. What are you so happy about?"

I shook my head absently. Maybe I should stop grinning so much? Nah.

"Nothing."

She wagged a finger at me, "Don't lie girl. Did you say yes to Van?"

I almost gagged at her question, "No. That's a definite"

"Did you finish that research assignment you had?"

"In a way. But it's not that. Just something. Don't worry about it," I mumbled on.

"Did the priest tell you your future and about your hunk of a husband?"

"No. And I don't think priests can tell the future."

She thought about it for a second, and then swayed her wavy hair, "Come on! Just spill."

I shook my head, my heels suddenly feeling bouncy, and my neck tingly; "It's nothing."

She pouted a little, "Fine. Don't tell. 'Cause I won't tell you what Eriol and I did yesterday." She suddenly turned away.

And then instantly, I found myself pulling at her jacket, "It's nothing I swear! What did you and Eriol do yesterday?" I was hoping not to sound too desperate and weary. Because it was nothing I really wanted to know.

But I guess Tomoyo was in a too good of a mood to care for anything, "I called him over for dinner!" She melted away my tension, "And then he met with Mom. It was so cool, and she totally liked him Sakura. You don't know how cool this is!"

Her words did tell me how cool it was, but I don't think this cool thing was gonna be so cool after she found out what her cool person was actually trying to do. Heh. Now was that cool or what?

"Tomoyo. Don't get too—," I started to tell her sympathetically, trying my best to be gentle on breaking her bubble, but I guess the subject always had to bend fate.

"Yo babe…" An arm had suddenly grabbed her waist, and I could soon see the couple getting on with a hard-core Frenchie.

I had to turn around. But before I could walk off, Eriol's hand was on my shoulder.

"Hey. We didn't ask you to leave"

I looked over at Tomoyo, and then away from her red face.

Then at him, "Don't want to disturb you guys."

He was laughing. And she was blushing.

I just stared at him. But before I could say anything more, a girl was dragging off Tomoyo.

"C'mon Tomoyo! You're on the piano today, remember!" They complained, and then she was instantly waving at us.

"I'll see you guys later! I need to run off before the orchestra starts without me!" Then she added not very softly at me, "Here's your chance to thank him"

And with that she was off.

And with that, we were alone again.

And with that I was getting freaked out again.

"Thank me for what?" he suddenly asked, the same old big grin surfacing up.

I don't know how this happened, but the anger was seeping through me again.

"Why are you doing this?" I was whispering, and his grin faltered a little.

"Is that what you're supposed to be thanking me for?"

"Eriol!" I grabbed at his sleeve as he let his attention stray to wave at a few guys on the other end, "Come one. Tell me. Why are you doing this?"

I tried sounding desperate this time.

He turned to face me, "Doing what?" His expression was innocent.

Damn him.

"You don't fool me Eriol. What you're doing is sick."

Absently he glanced at his wristwatch, "And if we stand around here with me asking you what I've done, we're really gonna be late for Chemistry." He was walking off.

So I had to speed-walk after him, "You are such an asshole! Just because I said no to you, doesn't mean you have to go do all this with Tomoyo only to get back at me. It's not making me jealous or anything you know."

He gave me a sideway glance, his face suddenly going grim, "Aren't you supposed to thank me for Friday night? If I hadn't seen you guys—"

"Thank you!" I interrupted him, "Thank you for dragging Van off me and punching his lights out!" I erupted, "But stop doing this Eriol. It's bloody stupid! If she finds out then—,"

"If she finds out you mean." he completed me abruptly.

I was suddenly stomping, and I was glad to the fact that not many people were around, "You won't get me either way Eriol. You're gonna break her heart!"

He stopped. So, so did I.

"You don't wanna go out with me. So how do you know, that I'm doing all this only to change your mind?"

"Because! I know" then added in a hushed voice, "You kissed me"

"So? I kiss lots of girls."

And at that moment, I wanted to grab him by his shirt and rattle him.

"But do you drag every one of those girls into the boys' toilets and start confessing your love to them? Is that what you do?"

"Maybe." We were walking again. This time, our pace stronger.

"Oh. And is Tomoyo your next target? Dragging her off, and confessing until she dumps you?"

He turned my way sharply, "Hey. I'm not on you anymore. Or are you really getting jealous?" He was smirking this time.

I gritted at my jaw, and pushed past him.

The hallway was empty.

I had had enough of him.

"You're getting jealous." I could hear his voice trailing my stomps. So I made a grab for it.

Stuff Chemistry!

I decided it then and there as I missed the class door, and made a dash for the girl's toilets before anyone from class could spot me.

I ran.

Slammed the vacuum door, and came to a sudden halt as I fixed myself in front of the mirrors.

I was panting.

I was red and burning in my sweater.

I slipped it off and slid it over the hand dryer.

I don't know why I kept staring at my reflection, but that's exactly what I did for the next five minutes.

I couldn't. I couldn't go to class and face him.

I didn't have the courage to step past the class opposite mine and restrain myself from peeping and seeing if Syaoran was there.

Was he there at school?

Was he getting creamed?

And was I really jealous?

I gave my head a quick furious shake, and contained the deep breaths from escaping.

"No" I could hear myself murmuring, "No"

Eriol was hot. But not what I needed.

I wasn't.

I wasn't jealous.

I couldn't be.

There was no way that could happen.

There was no way Eriol's plan would actually work.

"Tell me you're not talking to yourself."

I was immediately turning around, and almost tripping myself, but as I found myself hitting the back of the basins, I let out a large sigh.

"Meiling…you freaked me out!"

She stayed where she was, leaning against the wall, "Actually. It's you who's doing the freaking part. What's been chasing you?"

I had the answer on the tip of my tongue, but it was just then I noticed that there was another girl next to her. Her brunette hair curled, and her eyebrow piercing twitching as she narrowed her eyes.

I think she was glaring at me.

Hmm…not quite sure.

"Um…I just had to leave class." I answered instead.

Meiling grinned, and dumped a tissue into the bin, "What do you have?"

"Chemistry…"

The other continued to glare.

"You?"

"Math" She rolled her eyes, "I just walked out."

I laughed. And then trailed off, as the girl's glare just got heavier. But Meiling was suddenly hitting her shoulders, "Cut it out Chiharu." Then she looked my way, "This is Sakura."

The girl didn't respond back. Her lip was in a thin line, and I didn't need to be told twice about her behavior.

She probably thought how raw it was to find someone like me interacting with someone like them.

"Hi." I gave her a weak wave.

I don't really think that was her way to say hi, because with a loud enough curse she was storming out, murmuring out a little, "Wait till someone finds out."

Meiling didn't react, but as the girl was out, she gave the mirror a little mutter, "Bitch."

"Uh…" I found myself mumbling, "Did I just miss something here?"

She shook her thick pony, and continued with the mascara she was waving at her eyes.

"Oh, don't worry. Chiharu's just got things in a bunch. She's pissing me off though."

From where I was standing I could see the large blue belly button under her mid-riff top.

I stayed quiet for a few seconds as she continued on with her make-up, which seemed not much as she thickened the layer over her eyes with a dark layer of eyeliner.

"I heard about…um…your cousin." I was looking at myself into the mirrors.

I didn't look at her when she glanced my way, "He's out, y'know."

"I know." I answered almost immediately, then added, "I heard."

I think I saw her smirk my way, "Did he tell you that I wouldn't be coming for practice the other day?"

I turned to look at her, confused for a second, then recognized what she was talked about, "Yeah. He did."

Somehow, I figured she didn't want to talk about him being in jail and I guess that was fine with me. But as always, I guess she didn't bother beating around the bush.

"What do you think of him?"

I think I had paled, or gone utterly red, because Meiling was once again giving me that smile, "Eh?"

"C'mon. What do you think of him? Do you think he's hot?"

Suddenly feeling the uneasiness flow in and squash me, I looked around helpless, "I…I don't even know him."

"Quit kicking the bread Sakura. Just tell me."

Without any warning, I found my defenses starting to kick in, "H-hey. It's nothing. I swear. It's not like I like him or anything. I mean c'mon…" I gave her my best nervous laugh, and held my mask tight, "We hate each other."

Only her brows rose, and she gave me a roll of an eye, "Really? Cuz I don't think he really does. You sure you don't have the hots for him?"

I couldn't tell if she was teasing or what, because her ruby eyes seemed rigid, "N-no! That's not what I meant. I mean, I don't. Seriously. I don't like him"

She gave a shrug, then pulled at her jacket, and zipped it halfway, "Whatever." she made her way towards the door, then turned back, "Try to stay away from him though. What you've heard from your friends about him is probably true. He gets crazy, if you know what I mean."

I gave her a weak nod.

Opening the door a little, she gave herself a little thought, "Oh. By the ways, I'll meet you tomorrow after school on the backfield. We need to finish that race."

I grinned tightly, "All right."

Waving a bye, she shut the door after her and this time I was left by myself. I leaned back against a wall, and then sat myself on the side of the basin.

Pulling my cardigan around me tighter, I licked my dry lips.

Phew. Now that was one close call.

I couldn't help but wonder why Meiling had suddenly asked me about him all of a sudden?

Had Syaoran slipped something out? Had he gone and told everyone of me being obsessed with him? Had he?

Or was Meiling just trying to clear a few things out?

It had me confused, but I wasn't sure if I was supposed to spend anymore time here thinking about it, while missing out on Chemistry.

Jumping back down on the floor, I busied myself combing my hair with my fingers. I hadn't really had the time to shampoo it this morning.

I gave it a little toss.

I offered myself a satisfying nod, then loosened my belt by a notch. It was too tight. I rubbed at my cheeks, and patted them back to normal.

I think I'd gone a bit red with Meiling questioning me, and Eriol's freaky responses.

With a final check, I slipped through the door.

Now.

What would be a good excuse for missing first ten minutes of a psychotic teacher's class?

Syaoran Li P.O.V

I don't think she was at school today. Because even if I'd arrived five minutes late to Chemistry, I couldn't see her in her usual seat in the room across, right near the window where you could see the hallway. Instead I had people shooting me dirty looks, as I made my way to my own room.

Van was sitting next to an empty seat, and I think you can say that I was a little pissed off.

I'd been planning to talk to her again today.

Man.

Now, what the hell was happening to me?

Oh yeah. That's right. I was supposed to be getting her on with a fling with me. Just to check her out. No harm in that. As long as she does it by my rules.

For a moment I found myself thinking if she'd changed her mind about me. It had been a night-in-and-out weekend for me, and I looked a bit upside down from where I was thinking.

I'd thought about it for the whole of Chemistry, ignoring all the notes being given. Actually I think I'd been thinking about her throughout my holiday at jail. It seemed weird.

I tapped my feet tensely.

She better be here today. She better.

Yamazaki had taken the day off. With Chiharu, busy cursing me for taking him to his hell; I was certainly not glad to see Shiroi back on his feet.

"Yo man! 'Sup!"

He'd gotten together with an old girl while I'd been behind my diet in the rat hole, and he wouldn't shut up.

"And man! She's stinkin' rich! I'd never been to her house before, but she's loaded for a chick with no parents"

I didn't think I had the strength to remind him again that she was a missionary who'd jumped here from wherever she'd been staying.

American.

But she was still that same ol' bimbo. The lost girl, who'd do anything to keep him staring at her skirt.

It was lunch.

And I still hadn't caught sight of her. Meiling was busy with her new boy, and I ignored them from their business next to me.

Waving my smoke around, I looked away from a duo of ringed brow girls smiling my way, and smudged at the ashes on the concrete under me.

The guy next to me opened an eye as I kicked back a ball, which had come flying towards me.

"Did you break it off with Minas?"

I scowled at him. I could tell he was still doped from whatever he'd been taking.

"What's it to you?"

"You do know she's been playing you right?"

I rolled my eyes, "You think?"

He didn't look away, "You're a bore bro. She ain't even that hot." he leaned back again, "I've seen better."

Minas wasn't here at school today. Something about her brother keeping her in. But I answered anyway, "Oh yeah. I've seen much better." I smirked to myself.

After smoking my fourth that day, I'd walked off with Shiroi. Swearing at a couple of guys, and giving the finger at a son of a you know what, we were walking to meet me with this girl across the street. He surprisingly looked okay, with his black eye fading well. And the colour was back in his eyes.

He was lucky.

Not to have a mother who was a clinic nurse, but to have a stuck-on family. He'd even ditched us to have dinner with his family on Christmas Eve, while the rest of us were slandering on the dark streets of Tokyo. Not mugging anyone, but just laughing around drunk, and having Yamazaki throw up at every cross section.

He'd missed it. The bloody fight. The ride with the cops. And the night we spent at the shelter.

There was no cake or any presents, but Meiling had someone shove in a six-pack for us. It made up for all the wine, gifts, and the rides on pulling at Santa Claus's beard. Oh yeah. It sure did.

"Dude…what the hell is up with you? Still crapped?" He gave me a 'suck it in mate' look.

"No shit" I bobbed my head, not bothering to look at him. I was busy on my look out.

I couldn't see her.

"Man. Forget it. I don't see your mom stalking you anywhere, so you're clear all right?"

I gave him my slightest acknowledgement, "Wait till she finds out I do dope."

He gave a shrug, as we walked down the slinky cement bridge to B block, "Don't you think it's kinda obvious. What else does a lil' rebel do in a country all on his own – minus the hippie cousin – without any guardians, or without any watching security. Seriously man, I'd thought you were rich enough to get your own butler or something."

"I did. Sent him back, though."

He gave me a crooked grin, as we shared a laugh, "Oh yeah. Leave it you to just spend all cash on some druggy's coke and mushies. You could have at least bought that large-screen TV on sale in that shop Yamazaki saw. But you gotta do what you gotta want."

I shrugged one-handedly, "Bro. It's my money. I ain't gotta get no one anything with that."

We walked through the gates, and glanced at the sturdy pale blue Skyliner parked against the curb.

The three girls inside unbuckled, and were soon sliding out of their doors.

Each hot. Long-haired. Glam n' damn.

The girl in the front didn't waste her time in grabbing Shiroi by the shirt and kissing him. He responded.

Her name was Maya. She swayed as Shiroi held her firmer. Definitely on dope.

"What're you on?"

She smiled sweetly at him, "A lil' coke"

He didn't smile back. Shiroi didn't do drugs

She'd come wagging for him. From some Fukaitashi Girls High. I'd never heard of it before. But it was a good kilometer away.

They'd finally walked towards the pavement.

Yeah. If it weren't for that Volkswagen driver honking like a lost dude, they'd still be making out on the middle of the road.

I plopped myself down on the pavement and leaned against the side car-park wall, waiting for them to get over and done with it.

One of the girls stood against the school's wired fence. She jiggled at the car keys in her hand, and we locked eyes for a second.

Almost.

She was a brunette.

Green-eyed.

I ignored her smile and looked away.

Almost. But not anywhere near Sakura.

The other girl joined her after a few minutes, and they started conversing on some party. On some guy.

Shiroi and his girl were too busy whispering, and kissing in between sentences.

But soon enough I found then standing in front of me. I think was I busy thinking.

I looked up.

"How much do you cost?" Maya was suddenly asking, her eyes darting at Shiroi for a second.

"I don't deal."

"How much do you pay then?"

"A few bucks."

"How much?"

I scowled, "Hard chase. Why don't you just drop it, eh?" I glanced at Shiroi.

I wasn't the kind to give away my secrets. My deals were sacred. That's right. No one could grab them.

I think I heard him mutter something close to an after-jail-syndrome. But I didn't wait to find out. Because I was pushing myself up on my feet, and walking off.

I wasn't pissed.

I was tired…and my fists felt like punching someone.

I scanned the quad from where I was standing. Eriol Hiiragizawa was busy flirting with one of his girls.

Would he like a dent somewhere on his face? What about a bloody nose? Or maybe a broken arm?

I stopped for a second. My eyes didn't blink.

But there she was.

Laughing with her girlfriends.

Her fingers clutching onto books.

One arm hugging herself and another hand at the side of her head.

I growled.

Her hair looked wild.

She was pretty.

Even hot.

I turned around and headed towards the backfield. Shiroi could come on his own. Before turning by B block, I glanced just for a second over my shoulders.

I think she was looking my way.

I'm not sure.

Her smile had frozen. And before I turned back around I could see the books from her arms falling.

I grinned.

At least she hadn't walked into a wall.

Sakura Kinomoto P.O.V

That's right.

I dropped them all.

All three of them.

Right when he'd turned back around.

I think he'd laughed. I'm not sure. But here I am, swearing at myself for being an idiot. Why, oh why, couldn't I keep my cool near him?

Why!

Dammit! Why?

I'd seen him the first time he was staring my way. Near the school gates. Mysterious looking. Hands dug in his gray hoody. It was impossible to miss a face like his.

I was calm then. Rika had just cracked a joke, and I was laughing. Hopefully not too much. I've always thought that I look munted when I laugh

"Sakura. Are you okay?" Rika was suddenly asking as she picked one of the books that had landed near her feet.

"Yeah." I managed to mutter, as I looked at the hallway down B Block, "Just fine."

The three girls I was standing with followed my gaze quizzically.

"Oh my gosh!" one of them suddenly squealed in my ears, "Are you looking at Van!"

I blinked.

They squealed louder.

Rika blinked.

I sighed.

"Don't tell me you just dropped your books because he was kissing Hana." Her voice was a low.

I laughed nervously, "No!"

I think they were convinced after that.

The rumor would probably go around after lunch. With ears and mouths like these girls, the whole school was definitely gonna know.

Sakura Kinomoto has the hottest hots for Van Minaro.

I made my worst facials. And by today, Syaoran's also gonna find out someway or the other. Moreover so will Eriol.

This was bad.

I shook my head vigorously as the girls surrounding me suddenly started chatting about Van's room and how the backseat of his car was so spacious.

I groaned. Blinking innocently didn't work anymore, so I groaned louder.

"No." my voice croaked, "I don't like him."

And that's how it remained till English. I could hear the guys behind me trash talking about Van's and my first imaginary date. The girl beside me glowering in my face. She some kind of ex-ex-ex-ex girlfriend of his. He'd dumped her for cheating on him.

Somehow, I think everyone in my grade knew that the feeling between Van and me were mutual. To which they were so wrong. They were missing my side of the story.

Tomoyo gave me a sweet smile as she slipped into the desk beside mine; Eriol at her tail. Let's just say that he wasn't looking very happy.

His eyes were in slits the moment we locked eyes. I had to writher away and give the girl next to me, my full attention.

She was grinning. I think it was too much. Well, too much for my liking anyways.

"I think you finally knocked some sense into yourself, girl. Like you finally listened" Yep.

Like totally.

Tomoyo was gushing about it.

Eriol, who sat beside her, gave her a weak smile as she turned his way, "Eriol. Don't you think they'd make the most bomb couple in the whole school?"

His deep eyes scrutinized at me, and he shrugged.

He shrugged.

"Yeah. I guess" then a smirk capped his scathing eyes, "But I'd reckon we are way better."

Giggling like some cabbage that couldn't find a cutting-board and a knife, she leaned in for a gnawing kiss.

Ex-cuse me!

Did that son-of-a-pipsqueak just say what I think he said?

I turned away from the sickening scene, my face fuming. So I was a red tomato, but at least I knew where the knife and the chopping-board was!

Way better?

Way better?

Way better?

I chewed at the inside of my cheek, my jaw hardening.

Asshole.

I'll show him way better…

I slapped my eyes shut.

That is, once I happen to get the nerve to ask Syaoran out, get him a new identity, and pull that earring off his ear.

Way better? What the hell did he think of himself? He wasn't the only stud button in this school for sure.

I sighed. I hope it wasn't one of those dreamy ones, because Van was suddenly taking the seat next to me

"Hey." his flirty grin trying to smooch at my face.

I looked at my desk, the sour feeling returning at its strongest force.

I wanted to get out of there. Because not only did I have the devil on one side of me, but also the Satan himself and his new girlfriend.

Great.

I was doomed.

Maybe God would take some pity on me for all the voluntary work I'd done at churches. If I got lucky, maybe he would even send me some kind of angel.

But considering the types of lucks I run into, you can expect my luck to jump off a cliff just to get away from me.

Yeah. And along with Shakespeare's gibberish, I might as well jump down that cliff myself.

Like…totally.

It wasn't half way up the period, until I decided I had enough.

I ran. Ran as in bolted out of the door.

Ran as in whispered the teacher my oldest excuse in an expired woman's Excuse Book. I ran.

I know I'm a wimp. A disgrace to every woman out there who can't slap some guy who's flirting with her in open by breathing down her face, and kissing her fingers. But that's the only thing I could do.

Because if I'd given myself even a little chance to give him a word, then there'd be an appealing hole right in the middle of his face.

That…that moron!

Right in the middle of the scene when Juliet shoots herself in her cocky brains!

Van had just laid an arm over mine, and slipped his fingers through mine. And it had been so casual, that I hadn't even realized it until my fingers were grazing against his lips.

I had been so taken in by the love between two idiots in a TV screen who couldn't just run away and get married that I'd lost all my interest in the devils I was amongst.

I'm not sure if anyone has seen it, but they sure couldn't have missed me falling of my chair, and hitting my head against the seat behind me on the way.

Yeah.

Now I know what else to add into my Most Embarrassing Moments collection.

I'd jerked my hands away from him, and knocked myself out.

And he'd even had the nerve to even take me a hand! And you know what's worse? I allowed myself to grasp those fingers and pull myself up.

Those same fingers which held mine ten seconds before.

Seriously. I've never met any guy who was this thick. Never ever.

But with Tomoyo's grin and Eriol's scowl, I knew I had to make a run for it.

If the two idiotic lovers in my English book hadn't thought up their options, I sure wasn't gonna miss my chance.

I didn't care what this would look like to anyone in that class, but my heart was on the verge to explode. And I wasn't missing any one of my options.

Which seemed to be just one at that moment.

Hiding my embarrassment, and my need to strangle Van till he's choking and spending his every coin on a plastic surgery for his mangled neck.

The doors in the hall passed me in a blur.

I passed a confused teacher and a couple making out like there was no tomorrow. With a few turns I made a head start towards the girls bathroom, hoping the teacher wouldn't go telling on me, since I'd left in too much of a hurry to bother with a pass.

It was empty as usual.

Waggers didn't come here. It would probably be the most obvious place for a teacher to check out.

But I couldn't be bothered with that.

I was mad.

I could almost see the smoke running from my ears in the mirror.

I was pissed majorly at Van for his stupidness. Mad at Eriol for acting like an ass. Mad at Tomoyo for her being an idiot and falling for Eriol's tricks. And sincerely ticked off with myself.

"Dammit!" I glare at my reflection.

Why did I always attract the wrong guys? The guys I didn't want to share a kiss with! The guys I didn't want to hold hands with?

Why?

Was it on my face? "Choose me. Cuz I only go for idiots?" or maybe, "Hey handsome. You're a doofus, but I think that's good enough for me?"

Or was it just that they saw something in me that Syaoran didn't?

I lapsed at my thought.

I heard the vacuum door open. Then fling close after a few seconds.

I didn't move an inch.

I couldn't care less if someone saw me here staring at myself in the mirror like a retard. My hair was a mess. My left mascara looked a little smudged, and my nerves were still a little wild.

"Trying for the Olympics?"

I jumped. But I didn't turn.

That voice. I think I'd be able to recognize it anywhere.

I looked through the mirror, then made a double glance at the lanky figure.
I think I'd frozen. Or maybe my brain had stopped processing. But whatever it was, it didn't keep me from whirling around.

It had just locked my sound box.

He was a guy. As in the guy was Syaoran Li. Wearing a grin. The gray hoodie long gone to replace a black tee. And his blue Speedos unlaced.

I tugged at my brain lamp, and I found myself blinking and almost spluttering words out of my mouth.

I wish I had been thinking of words. But at that moment I don't think I was capable of thinking. Maybe god was finally paying me back for all those hours of labour.

Because he was there. Right in front of me. Just two meters away from my reach. In the middle of a girl's toilet.

Yes. You heard me.

What else could be more romantic?

Shinsei Kokoro