T minus 111 days

Syaoran knew something was wrong the moment he saw her figure in the dim lighting of the lamp posts.

He didn't bother with greetings. "What's wrong?"

She looked like a deer in headlights, but waved it away. "Nothing." Her smile was weak.

"If it was nothing it wouldn't have bothered you so much."

She looked as if about to say something, then looked at him, and thought better of it. "Nothing." She repeated, weak, but firm.

Syaoran was hurt that she didn't think she could confide in him, but he let it go. Walking beside her as they entered the Student Center - where many other students were also working on their projects with their partners - the trip to the White Space was quiet.

They sat down on the floor as they had done so numerous times before, spreading out their belongings. Syaoran resisted a glance at their whiteboard and their progress, but rather sat down next to Sakura without a word.

Pretending to act normal, but not really normal for he was slowly and deliberately taking out his sketchbook, Syaoran waited patiently.

Sakura had blanked out the moment she sat down - actually, blanking out would be a slightly inappropriate term, for her expression emitted a turmoil of emotions.

Syaoran suppressed a sigh as he stared helplessly at a blank sheet of paper, sneaking glances at his partner.

After what felt like a century, Sakura stated with a frighteningly emotionless voice, "He cheated on me."

Syaoran stilled. Then unable to contain his immediate reaction of anger in only a clenched fist, he stood up.

Seeing the movement, Sakura frantically explained, "You're the only person I told, and I -I'm not ready to tell even Tomoyo - because she'll say I told you so. I just- everyone else, I know they won't listen to me, I know it, they'll go and hurt him." Seeing Syaoran turn around to send her a glare, as if to say, 'and I won't?'

Sakura stood up as well, to meet him eye to eye with a tilt of her chin. She continued, "but I can trust you to listen to me. Please, don't hurt him. I know Josh, Syaoran, and just without my friendliness he's already being punished. Just the reminder that he lost the one thing he held on the most tightly, he's already beating himself up."

Syaoran seemed to be fighting himself. Finally, he let out a strained, "He hurt you."

"And now he's only hurting himself." Sakura responded.

With a long, deep sigh, Syaoran sat back down, admitting his defeat. Sakura sat down next to him, relieved and grateful. He then turned to her, looking into her eyes, "Are you okay?"

Without answering the question, Sakura commented lightly - though her reminiscent smile showed otherwise - "Touya never let me date. And now I understand why." She laughed dryly.

The way she laughed nearly broke Syaoran's heart. He focused on something else, however. "Touya?"

"My brother." She looked away dismissively, hinting that she doesn't want to elaborate.

Again, Syaoran asked, "Are you okay?"

Being faced with a question she couldn't quite answer, Sakura responded helplessly, "I don't know. I - when I saw - I guess I felt...betrayed but after I broke up with him, I felt relieved, like I just unshackled myself. And I think I was waiting for something like this to happen, deep down, for an excuse to break up with him."

"You two weren't a good terms recently, right?"

"yeah," Sakura sighed, "We fight a lot but yeah, recently it's been really bad and I guess he felt lonely, and that's why he...and also, I never slept with him, and he needed, you know."

Syaoran understood what she meant, though she barely finished her sentences. He declined to comment, however, because he knew he would say something he'll regret later. He settled with saying, "You and Eriol would've done well with a psychology major."

"Yeah, but architecture's cooler." Sakura smiled like a Colgate commercial.

It never failed to amaze Syaoran how easily Sakura could be distracted from a sad event. Syaoran decided he didn't want to make that smile go away.

Holding up his index finger, he spoke factually, "Speaking of architecture, we need to work on design now that we've done a layout."

Straightening, Sakura grinned enthusiastically, clapping her hands childishly. "This part I'm actually excited for."

"Oh, so you were just pretending to be excited about layouting with me for the past week." Syaoran looked away childishly in mock hurt, "I see how it is. You think I can't handle the truth."

"I was just humoring you." Sakura placated, "there's a difference."

Syaoran huffed.

"Oh, cheer up, you drama king," She patted his head, but couldn't resist ruffling his soft hair, earning a youthful scowl. She went on, "You can pretend to be excited about designing with me for the new few weeks."

Syaoran's scowl didn't go away, "But I do like designing!"

Sakura frowned in thought, then smiled optimistically, "well then, we'll need to find something you don't like so you can pretend to like it with me!"

The scowl turned into a serious frown. "That doesn't sound fun."

"Like chick flicks!"

The response was immediate, "absolutely not."

Sakura sunk visibly, but not for long. "Visiting the animal shelter!"

"People actually do that?"

"That's it!" Sakura grinned, "you're coming."

And Syaoran couldn't quite say no to such a bright, excited expression.

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Note: and their experience will be left to your imagination! I know, I know, I'm evil and I force people to actually use that right brain of theirs. But it'll be fun when people review and tell me what they think happens! (wink wink)

Short chapter, I know, but sometimes less is more.