AN: sorry for the delay. I decided to finish the fic "Eye Contact" before I continued with this. And i finished that so now THIS is my priority.

Chapter 2

Tomo walked over to her tennis back which rested on a nearby bench. She and Mieko Ishibashi were training with Kiyoko Morino Buchou and Isumi Morino fukubuchou. They were girls chosen by Kiyoko and Isumi (they were twins so everyone called them by their first names to set them apart) along with the couch to head the girls tennis team the following season and so they often met up for extra practice.

Tomo plopped down on the bench, resting her racket across her knees and grabbed her water bottle. She took a long drink of it and then draped her towel around her neck. Ishibashi approached too and took her seat beside the other girl.

"Nee, Kiyoko Buchou is so hard on us!" moaned the other girl as she leaned back and closed her eyes. Ishibashi had dark brown hair and a bob cut with a swooping bang secured with two flowery pins on one side.

"Yeah, I guess they really want us to continue on this way! It's not every year that both the boys and girls team make it to Kanto, you know!" Tomoka beamed.

"You're right!" Ishibashi said, suddenly sitting up. "We can't disappoint our sempai! And you and Ryuuzaki-chan will be our unstoppable doubles pair!"

"Yeah. Ishibashi-san! Let's make it to the nationals!" Tomoka cheered a bit too loudly.

Ishibashi only winced slightly at Tomoka's enthusiasm. "Haha Osakada-chan! Save it for the court!"

Tomo covered her mouth, " Sorry! I kinda get worked up! Hey! Since we're going to be captain and co-captain you can call me Tomo-chan."

"Ok," the other girl nodded. "Tomo-chan. You can call me Mieko!"

Just then Kiyoko and Isumi came trooping over. They went to their tennis bags and put their rackets in before turning to their kouhai.

"You two did a really good job today!" Kiyoko complimented.

"T,thanks!" Mieko blushed.

"Yeah," Isumi nodded in agreement with her sister. "I think we are definitely leaving the team in good hands."

"Say, Isumi, why don't we treat these two girl to a dessert!" Kiyoko asked.

Tomoka and Mieko's eye visibly lightened. They were going to be treated to a dessert by the Morino twins! That was quite the privilege. The Morino's were really well liked and popular.

"That sounds good! Why don't you two get dressed and we can head out, ok!" Isumi said turning to the younger girls.

The Morino girls both picked up their bags and headed for the training room and Mieko and Tomoka hurried to do the same. As Tomoka reached for her bag she noticed that her cell phone charm was sparkling in her bag.

"Who could that be?" Tomoka asked as she flipped it open. She had a message from Sakuno. She swung her bag over her shoulder and followed Mieko and the Morinos to the changing room, happily contemplating the strawberry shortcake she was about to indulge in. Besides, she had told Sakuno she was going to be at training to day. What could be so important that the clumsy girl would try to interrupt that?

Tomoka put the phone in her ear and waited for the message.

"One new message--" The phone began.

After that was over Sakuno's voice came up.

"Tomo-chan! You told me to meet you at your house at 2:30 right? It's 3 o'clock and your brothers are starting to annoy me to death. Did I get the time wrong? Call me 'k. Bye!"

Tomo-chan listened to the message again. 2:30? She was supposed to meet Sakuno at 2:30? For what? Tomo scrunched up her face in confusion. Sakuno knew darn well that Tomo trained at--

Oh right-- Sakuno and Yuuta's 6 month anniversary was that weekend and Sakuno wanted Yuuta to go to get ready with her. They had to pick out Sakuno's dress and shoes and make up and do her hair and nails and--- Tomoka's heart dropped. How could she have forgotten something that important!

Tomoka looked at the time. It was nearing 4 o'clock! Sakuno was normally patient but she wasn't a fool! Tomoka knew she had to hurry home.

"Aa, sorry Sempai-tachi. Mieko-san! I gotta go home! I forgot something I have to do!!!"

Tomoka quickly gathered her things and bolted out the door, forgetting all about strawberry shortcake and only hoping Sakuno didn't bite her head off when she got to the house. A girl could hope.

--to be continued--

AN: review plz. It makes Hiyoshi almost happy enough to forget about gekokujou... almost