DISCLAIMER: I do not own CCS…CLAMP does. Well that's a bit obvious…hehe…pls don't sue me! I also don't own She's all That, A Walk to Remember and The Notebook.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Words in Italics means the character's thoughts. Please read and review! When I started getting reviews for my 1st chapter I'd do a little victory dance (lame I know) because I was so happy…then I'd continue to write! So please send reviews because they are my favourite things ever and I will continue to write for your pleasure! (hey I rhymed! Lame I know). This is my first fanfic! The storyline is based on the movies She's all That, A Walk to Remember and The Notebook (they're like my favourite romance movies…LMAO)
I'd like to thanks my editors (yes I have editors because I'm too lazy to edit myself) Sarah and Jennifer a.k.a.UnknownKunoichi
who have started their editing this chapter…and also to those who reviewed and my friend Anita for introducing me to the wonderful world of fanfiction!
Summary:
He was a typical teen…conformed and popular…she didn't belong and was misunderstood…their paths are thrown together and their lives are changed forever. It all comes down to who's by your side. Based on the movies She's all That, A walk to remember and The Notebook.
Chapter 2: Sad thoughts and feelings
Ring! Ring! Ring!
Sakura Kinomoto took her hand out from under her pink covers to turn off the alarm clock. She didn't want to get up but she knew she had to. The day before, she had promised herself that she would finish off her painting and show it to her teacher in the afternoon. She also had work later that day at the animal shelter so she quickly got out of bed. She brushed her teeth and went to her wardrobe. She looked at it and felt sad and lonely but knew that she had to move on. She didn't think she ever would.
Her mum Nadeshiko had died just 4 years earlier leaving her with her brother Touya and her father Fujitaka. Her mum understood Sakura and after she died, Sakura felt like there was an empty space in her heart. Her dad and brother were great but they could never replace her mother. On one side of her wardrobe were bright, colourful and fashionable clothes designed by her best friend Tomoyo. On the other side of her wardrobe there was old, plain and baggy clothing.
After Sakura's mum had died she didn't care about her appearance anymore. Her auburn hair which was once shoulder length and silky was now always tied up in a loose bun. She then had to get glasses because her vision got worse and instead of choosing a trendy pair, Sakura chose the ugliest glasses she could find. She wanted to hide behind the glasses and become invisible. She changed her whole appearance in hope that people would not notice the pain and sadness she felt of her mum dying and her secret. Sakura ceased to groom herself properly. She had braces before but changed them to a grey colour to make them worse. Her braces used to be a beautiful green that matched her eyes. Now they were grey.
The only people who noticed that Sakura had changed were her dad, her brother and Tomoyo and they were the only ones who knew her secret. Sakura could often see the worry in Tomoyo's eyes but she did not want to become the old Sakura again. Becoming the old Sakura meant that eventually she would fall in love and that was something she couldn't do. After all, her secret was a binding chain over her mind, she could not escape it.
Sakura sighed and grabbed some grey tracksuit pants and an oversized blue t-shirt. She then put on her old pair of grey sneakers and her glasses and went downstairs to prepare breakfast. When she got down she could smell pancakes being cooked; Sure enough her dad was cooking pancakes and Sakura could see whipped cream and strawberries on the table.
"Hey dad. I thought I was making breakfast today?"
"Yeh I know honey but I got up early and decided to make breakfast."
"Thanks dad."
"That's all right Sakura. So…what are you doing today? Are you going out with Tomoyo or anything?"
"No…I'm going to finish my painting and give it to my art teacher so she can have a look at it. Then I'm going to go to work. Oh and I'm getting my braces removed tomorrow."
"That's great! Well when you get home from work did you want to go shopping for clothes with Tomoyo? I got a pay rise at work and you're welcome to max out my credit card."
"Nah it's okay dad…"
Sakura could see the worry in her father's eyes. She felt guilty at acting in such a cold way. Before her mum died she had been happy and cheerful. She used to ask her dad for shopping money at least once a week. Now it had all changed.
"Morning Sakura...morning dad." said Touya as he entered the kitchen.
"Good morning Touya." Sakura and her father said. Sakura got up from the table and started to walk down to her art studio.
"Sakura you haven't finished your breakfast."
"Um…I'm not really hungry. I'll be down in the studio." With that Sakura walked down to her art studio.
"Dad I'm getting worried about her. She rarely eats…she doesn't even live like a normal teenager!" said Touya.
"I know…but I can't do anything. She'll move on when the time is right for her."
"Dad it's been 4 years since mum died. Sakura's been getting thinner everyday. She doesn't care about fashion, boys or anything like that. Dad, don't you see what she's doing? She's hiding from the rest of the world by making herself invisible and she's miserable I can tell. She thinks people will feel hurt when they find out about her condition, so she stays quiet."
"I know that. It hurts me to see my daughter that way but I can't do anything Touya. We have to trust that she'll change herself or someone special will come into her life and change it for her."
"I hope you're right dad." said Touya worriedly.
"For Sakura's sake I hope I am too."
Sakura sat down on her stool and took the blue cotton covering off of her canvas and looked at her painting critically. It showed a woman who laid down dead in a man's arms with the sky opening up above her in white light like heaven. She still had the sky to finish and she did that cautiously and carefully. As Sakura painted she thought about her studio. It was her place of refuge from the world and no one ever went in there except for her. She thought about the painting that was in front of her.
It's so sad. Just like my life…it looks so depressing. The woman reminds me so much of mum. I remember when mum died. Dad held on to her hand until the last minute and all I could do was cry…
Sakura did want to change but she did not want to hurt the people around her. She desperately wanted to become a normal teenager but knew she could not. She wanted to experience all those things…
I want to have a normal life…I want a boyfriend, going out to parties, hanging out with more people than just Tomoyo and not having to worry about the years ahead. Why does life have to be such a burden sometimes?
When Sakura finally finished her painting she put it in her calico bag, put on her roller skates and whizzed to school. When she got to Art Room 2 she knocked on the door and stepped in. Ms. Taylor looked up and smiled.
"Hi Sakura. Did you bring your painting for me?"
"Yes miss. Here it is."
Sakura took out her canvas and placed it on a stand.
Ms. Taylor looked at the painting for what seemed to be forever.
"Sakura…your painting has been exquisitely done…I mean, the tone and texture looks all fantastic and its superbly done…"
"But…?"
"But the painting seems to have such a sad message and meaning. One of the most important things about an artwork is its meaning and I think colleges would rather see artworks that are more…how would you say it?...optimistic. Do you understand what I'm saying?" asked Ms. Taylor kindly.
"Yes I understand miss. I guess I shall start a new painting."
"But Sakura remember even if you paint a happy painting, but you do not feel the meaning of it yourself, the painting will not seem your own. To paint something special you must feel the emotions yourself and put your heart and soul into it."
"Thanks Miss. I'll see you tomorrow."
"Bye Sakura."
As Sakura skated to work she thought about what Ms. Taylor said.
To paint something special, you must feel the emotions yourself and put your heart and soul into it.
Sakura sighed unhappily. How on earth was she going to paint a happy painting?!
She slid behind the counter and started jotting ideas down for her next painting. Sakura's job was manning the counter and assisting anyone who wanted to look for a new cat or dog. She loved working there and was always happy to see children's faces light up when they got a new pet. Tomorrow she would get her braces off. She started to worry. What if people start to notice me? I can't be noticed. I need to stay invisible…maybe I should wear baggier clothing…or maybe I should eat lunch in that secluded spot behind the library…Tomoyo won't like it though…
Sakura continued to think of ways to make herself uglier. She hated drawing attention to herself. Ring! A family of three walked in the door. There was a mother, a father and a little boy. He looked around 7 or 8 years old. All three had large smiles on their faces and Sakura felt her heart melting at the sight of such a cute and happy family.
"Thanks so much mommy and daddy! I'm so excited! I can't believe you're letting me get a dog!"
"Hahahaha it's okay Jayden, I think you've proved to me and your mum how responsible you are…"
"Yes you have my little baby…now let's ask this nice girl to help us…"
"Hi there Sir and Miss, what type of dog are you looking for?" asked Sakura.
"Well you see, it's my son's birthday and we'd like for him to choose a dog of his choice. So could you please show us the dogs you have that need homes?"
"Yes of course I can. Just this way please." Sakura motioned her hand to a door and walked inside with the family of three trailing behind her. The young boy looked like Christmas had come early for him. His face lit up in delight at all the animals he saw.
"So I guess I'll let you have a good look around and if you need any help in choosing a dog just ask me. I suggest a puppy for the little boy though." said Sakura.
"Why is that?" the mother asked her.
"Well when you get a puppy you get to grow up with it until it becomes a dog…and there's a stronger link between a child and a puppy that has grown into a dog than a child who has got a dog but was never able to see it transform into a puppy."
"I see what you mean…can you please direct us to the puppies then please?"
"Sure…they're right at the end on your left."
The family of three walked down the aisle and to the puppies section. Sakura watched as the little boy looked at all the puppies and wondered which one he would choose. She walked down to the family and asked,
"Have you chosen a puppy yet?"
"Well Jayden likes these two puppies but he doesn't know which one to choose."
I looked down at the two puppies in the little boy's arms. In his left arm there was a beautiful snow white Samoyed and in his right arm there was a little husky with cute blue eyes.
"Hmmm I guess the best one would be the Samoyed for Jayden."
"Why's that?"
"That's because the little husky is disabled. Her legs are deformed. She can't help but stand like a ballerina in first position. I don't mean to be cruel or anything but it'd be a lot of work and money to choose the little husky. Also she's a female so you'd have to pay for her to get desexed." said Sakura. I hope I don't come off as a mean person…but what I said was true…it'd be such hard work for a little boy to look after a disabled puppy.
"I see…what do you think Jayden?"
"Mommy I want the little husky!" The lady and her husband's eyes widened in shock at their son's decision.
"Can I ask why you want the little husky Jayden?" asked Sakura curiously. This boy is strange. Every child that has come here always wants the healthiest, fittest and fastest dog. Why is he different?
"Well miss…It's not fair of me not too choose the little husky just because she was born like that isn't it? I mean, she'll always sit here with no one taking her just because she's different. If we were all like that then we wouldn't have friends we love so much. She's different and she's sick. I want to take care of her. I don't want to reject her just because she's sick. That's awfully unfair. So that's why I'm taking the ballerina dog."
"Okay then…well come to the front and I'll fix up the papers for you. I'm glad you chose the little husky after all!"
After the family of three left and Sakura was back at her table she thought about what the little boy had said. She's different and she's sick. I want to take care of her. I don't want to reject her just because she's sick.
Sakura sighed. The little boy's words stuck with her for the rest of the day.
TO BE CONTINUED….
AUTHOR'S NOTE: I hope you guys liked this chapter even though it was kind of sad, but I wanted to explain Sakura's feeling and why she looks ugly. Please Review!!
