Purely Coincidental

She was a free spirit and he a successful business man. She didn't care for love and he didn't have the time for it. Two strangers meet in an empty movie theater and nothing is ever the same.

A/N: I own nothing (not even the magazine I refer to).

Chapter 11

Mocking bird
Can't you see?
Little girl's got a hold on me like glue
Baby I'm howling for you"

~The Black Keys, "Howlin' for You"

"Sorry about having to cancel Friday," Syaoran told her ruefully. "I asked that my meetings be in the afternoon only on Fridays but this one could not be switched."

"It's not a big deal," Sakura assured him.

She meant it.

They had decided to get together on Wednesday instead of their usual visit on Friday. Since they had to work around both their schedules, they could only fit in a couple of hours in the afternoon. The weather was nice and so Sakura asked if they could meet in the park by her school. Syaoran agreed.

"Mother asked about you," He announced after a few seconds.

Sakura's heart sped up, "What did she say?" She tried for nonchalance and failed.

"She liked you," Syaoran assured her before gesturing to an empty bench. It was the first one they had seen.

"Please," Sakura scoffed and plopped down on the wooden bench. "Your mother hates me."

Syaoran struggled, "Mother is very cold but do not mistake that for hatred."

Sakura softened. She shouldn't have assumed that because she hadn't been overly nice that his mother disliked her. "I'm sorry. I'm just pertinacious."

He looked amused. "Pertinacious?"

"Yeah," Sakura's face turned red. She hoped she hadn't used it wrong. She was saved by her phone ringing suddenly. When she saw her roommate and best friend's name, she politely excused herself.

"I looked like an idiot."

Tomoyo smothered a giggle. "Please tell me you did not use your word of the day."

"I did," Sakura admitted, her face burning. "I'm pretty sure I used it wrong."

Tomoyo snorted, "Why'd you even buy that thing anyway?"

"You know why," Sakura said quietly, glancing to make sure Syaoran wasn't close. He was still sitting on the bench with his phone out. He was typing furiously.

It made her feel special that he only brought his phone out when she was not around. Plus, she knew he was an important business man. How else could he afford his nice clothing?

"Why should Li care about your vocabulary?"

"Adults have expansive vocabulary," Sakura insisted. "If I sound intelligent maybe he won't think I'm an immature and stupid kid."

Tomoyo sighed loudly. "Do you really think that Li would pick his friends from their vocabulary?"

"Of course I don't think Syaoran would-" She paused when she heard a branch snap. She glanced at the bench and he was gone. She turned back to the tree and was confronted with Syaoran.

She jumped a mile high.

"What were you saying?" He asked, once she had calmed down. He took a step closer.

She gripped the phone tightly. "You scared me."

"You didn't answer my question," He teased, but she could see he was serious.

"Oh," She stuttered, trying to think of a way out. "I wasn't saying anything."

"I distinctly heard you say, and I quote, Of course I don't think Syaoran would," He stopped and gestured for her to continue.

She knew she was stuck.

"I was just saying that-" Sakura paused, trying to make it subtle.

Tomoyo whispered something about the costume party and Sakura almost sagged in relief.

She wasted no time. "The cheerleading squad is throwing a costume party. Tomoyo just wanted to know if you would go. Don't worry," She smiled brightly. "I told her you wouldn't be interested."

Syaoran looked hurt. "Why would you tell her that?"

"It's a college party full of college students. Why would that be fun to you?" Sakura asked kindly, not sure why he was upset. Last time she invited him to a bar, he wouldn't talk to her for days.

"I get it," He said dully, taking a step back. "You think I am old."

Sakura panicked. "No, I don't more like mature."

He blanched.

"You're not helping," Tomoyo said quietly into the phone.

"I would love for you to come," Sakura confessed, now scared of being anything less than honest. "I just didn't want you to feel obligated like last time."

"When is it?" Syraon asked after mulling over Sakura's explanation.

"Let me talk to him," Tomoyo announced loudly and Sakura dutifully handed the phone over.

Syaoran took it and hesitantly held it to his ear.

Sakura waited patiently and picked at her dress. It was white with painted blades of grass. Sakura thought the design was a little weird but Tomoyo said her eyes shined with the dress. Sakura wanted to look nice.

For reasons she did not care to think about.

"I'll have to check my schedule," He was saying.

His eyes were watching the whole conversation Sakura and she worked hard to act like she didn't notice.

"Are you sure that was the only thing that prevented you from asking?" Syaoran asked an hour later, when they had to part ways.

Sakura was surprised. "What else could it be?"

"I don't know," Syaoran said, even though it was obvious he had an idea in mind.

"I was honest before, I would love for you to come. But don't think you have to, only come if you can and want to," She stood on her tiptoes and kissed him quickly on the cheek before she could think before disappearing.

"What do you think?" Tomoyo asked, after she led Sakura to the full length mirror in her room.

She smoothed down the white fabric of her dress down. "I think I'm going to start sweating with this dress and a cape on."

Tomoyo waved her concerns away. "It is a chilly day and we'll be inside. There will be air conditioning."

"I'm going to look silly with this much clothes on," Sakura complained, grabbing the long red cape. It was beautifully made and lightweight but still a lot fabric.

"If you wanted to dress like a slut you shouldn't have asked me to make your clothes," Tomoyo glared at her friend. She wasn't really upset because she knew that was not what Sakura wanted.

Sakura protested, "I did not mean it like that."

"I know," Tomoyo said with a laugh before going into the bathroom to get herself ready.

"I'm so glad you're here," Chiharu greeted the pair when they entered the venue.

The cheerleading squad had decorated the room the day before so there was little to set up the day before. It looked like a quintessential Halloween party except it was in May.

"Emiko is trying to wear pasties and underwear as a costume." Chiharu explained as she dragged Sakura and Tomoyo toward the bathroom.

"What is wrong with this?" Emiko whined once the group was the bathroom. Chiharu had to do a special knock before Naoko would open the door. It was locked as soon as they entered.

Sakura blushed and Tomoyo choked at her basically naked figure.

Chiharu made an exasperated noise, "Contrary to what you believe, no one wants to see you naked."

"Don't you have anything else to wear?" Sakura asked, once she had found her voice again.

"Yes," Emiko sighed loudly, as if she could not understand the big deal.

A knock interrupted their conversation.

"Is the captain in there?"

"Yes I am," Sakura answered.

"It's time for your speech," The voice said.

Sakura groaned, "What speech?"

"An introduction," Naoko corrected, sensing her fear.

"I don't think I can," Sakura admitted, glad they were locked in a bathroom for the first time.

Tomoyo unlocked the door and pulled Sakura out. Chiharu called after them with promises to figure out the costume issue. Before she knew it, Sakura was on a makeshift platform and telling everyone she hoped they had a good time.

"See that wasn't so bad," Tomoyo consoled once she stepped off the platform.

"It was worse," Sakura wailed dramatically. "I stuttered like an idiot."

Tomoyo laughed but patted her arm. They decided to get something to eat with Naoko and Chiharu once they escaped the bathroom. The party started at 7 but most of the people in attendance were part of the clubs. Rika did not arrive until 8, dressed as a school girl.

The five girls danced on the side of the floor as the place filled up. It was extremely crowded by 9. Sakura was not surprised when she felt someone touch her. The reflex was to turn to see who it was, she hoped it wasn't Westley trying to grind on her again (it was!), and saw Syaoran. Even though she was in the middle of the dance floor, she was unable to move.

He was wearing black and he stood out in the sea of colors. His pants were fitted and he wore black leather boots. His black shirt had the first two buttons undone and revealed a part of his chest. His cape was tied at the nape of his neck. The only dash of color was in his belt.

He stared at her, not moving.

Tomoyo was dancing when she noticed Li.

"You made it!" She called going over to him while grabbing her camera out of her bag. She did not want to miss a second of their interaction. She pressed the record button before she had reached him. "You look great!"

"Who are you supposed to be?" Sakura joined her friend and left the others dancing.

"Peter," He whispered in her ear because the music was too loud.

"Like from my movie?" Sakura yelled, unable to keep her excitement off her face. She wasn't sure if it was because they were couple costumes or the proximity that was making her stomach flutter.

He nodded, smiling wolfishly.

"Then we have to dance," Sakura announced and grabbed his hand to lead him through the dancing people.

Tomoyo waved to Sakura before running to the DJ booth.

"The next couple songs are dedicated to the beautiful cheerleading captain that made this all possible!"

Sakura froze and looked to Syaoran, who was still allowing himself to be led. "This is so embarrassing!"

"Why?" He laughed, his eyes lighting up. He loved that she hated the attention. He was constantly surrounded by people who demanded it.

She groaned even louder when she heard Sam the Sham and the Pharaoh's "Little Red Riding Hood" start.

"May I have this dance?" He asked, with a flourished bow.

She laughed and immediately accepted. Sakura was unsure of how to dance to this song so they just held hands. When "Hungry like the Wolf" by Duran Duran came on they danced silly. They spent more of the time laughing than actual dancing. But when Fever Ray's "The Wolf" came on, Sakura panicked. There was no way that they could continue dancing like that.

She took a deep breath and made a choice.

She twisted so his arm was around her and her back was pressed against him. She took another deep breath and willed herself to calm down.

His arm tightened around her neck. "Is everything alright?"

She nodded and closed her eyes. She began to move slowly to the beat and he followed her lead. One arm gripped her hip but the other one remained draped possessively across her collar bone. It was an awkward embrace but their dancing felt intimate.

And sexual.

And right, so right.

Sakura relaxed into his embrace and let herself be surrounded by sandalwood and Syaoran.

"Do you want to watch the tape of you two dancing?" Tomoyo asked for the third time the following week.

"No," Sakura said resolutely as she walked the aisles.

"Why not?" Tomoyo insisted, following her with the cart.

"It's weird," Sakura grabbed her favorite cereal and put it in the cart. "I remember it in a way that makes it perfect. I don't want to watch the tape and see an ugly expression on my face, that I look weird when I'm dancing, or that he's not even in to the whole thing."

"He was definitely in to it," Tomoyo muttered under her breath.

"What was that?" Sakura asked, curious.

"Nothing," Tomoyo told her with a laugh.

They walked around the grocery store for a little while longer, making sure to get everything on the list. Tomoyo was always in charge of the list after several mishaps which involved Sakura buying the same thing multiple times and missing other things all together. Sakura used this time to gather her courage to ask Tomoyo a question that had been plaguing her since the night of the dance.

"Do you think I was obvious?"

Tomoyo stopped the cart. "What do you mean?"

Sakura blushed. "I feel like I was hanging all over him. I hope he doesn't think of me negatively."

"You obviously weren't looking at his face," Tomoyo admonished as she pulled the cart in a line. Every cash register had a significant line so it didn't take much thought.

"I can't deny that," Sakura admitted with a laugh. "Did I tell you what a good job you did on his costume?"

Tomoyo smiled brightly and walked forward as the line moved. She was glad when they stopped close enough to the magazine rack because she wanted to catch up on her gossip. "Look at this-" She picked up the National Enquirer and froze.

"What?" Sakura questioned when Tomoyo didn't respond. Sakura tried to get a glimpse of the magazine but it was hidden behind Tomoyo's other arm.

"Let me see," Sakura begged and reached around her friend.

Tomoyo put up a valiant fight and was able to successfully hide it. Sakura acted like she gave up and grabbed the other one on the stand. She ignored Tomoyo and looked at the cover to see what had her friend so upset.

It took her a second to get it.

"Is t-that me?"

Its been like TWO MONTHS! Ho-ly crap! I rewrote this so many times and still hate it. I gave up and just uploaded it.

I am so sorry.

Updates will be less than two weeks from now on, not that theres that many left anyway. But I hope that helps.