I'm already up to twenty chapters! That's like... A lot. Well, it is for me. Kind of a big deal. Not as big as when I reach 100,000 words, though. That's going to be a big deal. Not too far away, either.

This is a Tomoyo and Eriol chapter. Sakura and Syaoran are still in it and all, but T&E are the ones with things going on. So if you're a fan of them, this chapter is for you.

Oh! So, last chapter- or maybe it was even before that- I read comments on how the characters don't respect each other's privacy, so... For those of you who think that, you'll love this chapter. And by love, I mean hate. Just one part. I think it's funny, though.

Before I forget, the second time it's Sakura's POV, it starts out with talking, but I don't say who is speaking. Just to be clear, you don't need to know unless I use a name.

Sakura's POV

Alright, Sakura, you can do this. Just go in there and say good morning. It's not the end of the world. All you've gotta do is say, 'Good morning, Syaoran'. It's as simple as that. You can do this.

With that final thought, I energetically push aside the classroom door and enter with a face grin plastered on my face.

Oh, crap. Where is Tomoyo? My plan doesn't work without her here!

Alright, time for Plan B.

"Good morning, Syaoran!" I say loudly as I set my things down and take a seat.

Syaoran looks up from the book he's reading and meets my eyes. From the looks of it, I'd say that he didn't notice me walk up. "Good morning, Sakura. You're here rather early, aren't you?"

"Yeah, well, I actually stopped by the art room for a while. By the way, have you seen Tomoyo yet today?"

"Um, no. She might've been here," he says, looking over at her desk, "but if she was, she didn't say anything."

"Oh, I see..."

Silence.

No! No! No! I didn't plan this far ahead. What am I supposed to do now? Okay, think, Sakura, think! Something! Anything!

"So, whatcha reading?" Smooth. Mental self-five.

Syaoran frowns and lifts up the book. It's only as he's lifting it that I realize it isn't a normal book. Way too big. "I'm just going ahead reading some of the upcoming chapters."

I gawk at him in a mixture of horror and disgust. "You're reading ahead? Why in the world would you do that?"

"Just getting a head start. I find it easier to follow along when I have a general idea of what we're doing first. Plus, if I have any questions, I can just ask during the lesson." I don't think I've ever heard Syaoran ask a single question. Not that I'm going to point something like that out.

"Makes sense, I guess. Although it sounds excruciatingly boring."

"Yeah, it kind of is," he agrees with a broad smile.

Ah. This isn't so bad. I don't know what I was worrying about before. It's as if nothing ever happened on Friday. Heck, maybe it didn't. Could I have imagined the almost-kiss? Oh well, I guess it doesn't matter.

"You should try reading an actual book. I've tried it before. It's quite nice."

He gives me an odd look. "You don't say."

"Yeah. While I was eating in the library, I was also reading. Got through an entire book."

"Did you?" Is that sarcasm I detect?

"I did. Naoko could probably find something for you. If you want."

"I'll consider it."

"You should," I insist. "She has an infinite knowledge of books."

"Well, I know where to find her." His smile doesn't quite reach his eyes as he redirects his attention to the book in front of him.

Turning around, I grin to myself. Nailed it.

Tomoyo's POV

"Eriol-kun! Good morning!" I race into classroom 3-A with a huge smile. I got here early specifically to talk with Eriol. He's on morning duty this week.

"Tomoyo-hime. You're here early."

Kya! Eriol seems to have taken up the habit of calling me princess. Not all the time, but when he does, I find it so adorable that I start blushing like mad.

"I-I wanted to see you," I mumble, shyly twirling my hair. "Do you mind if I help?"

"If you'd like to."

"I think I would." Giggling like an idiot, I pick up some chalk from the board and begin writing the date. "So, Eriol-kun, how are settling into Tomoeda?"

"Very well. There are times I miss my home in England, but the people here are kind and welcoming." He says it while looking at me, and I find myself blushing even harder than I was when he greeted me.

"It makes me happy to hear that."

We continue our conversation, shifting from one topic to another until other students start to file in. It isn't until a few minutes before the final bell rings that I leave.

Secretly, the thing I'm looking forward to most is lunch when I get to see him again.

Sakura's POV

"They totally like each other."

"Totally."

"It's almost hard to watch."

"Well, I think it's sweet."

"Yeah, but it's also kind of awkward. I have no idea what to say to them."

"None of us do. Why do you think we're sitting over here gossiping like a bunch of schoolgirls."

"Because we are a bunch of schoolgirls?"

"Speak for yourselves."

"Why are you even here, Takashi?"

"Because those two," Yamazaki says, jerking his thumb in the direction of Tomoyo and Eriol, "are in their own little world, and Syaoran is being moody again."

"I can hear you."

"I know, that's why I'm saying it."

"In what way am I being 'moody'?"

"Dude, you're always moody. You're just worse today for some reason."

"What the hell does that even mean?"

"You two, knock it off," Chiharu snaps.

Both of them grumble, but back off, nonetheless.

"Back to the matter at hand." We redirect our attention to the pair sitting a ways away from us.

"Those two are... Those two are..."

"Spit it out!"

"They're just so cute together!"

We all sweat drop. "Naoko..."

Immune to the rest of us, Naoko goes on. "It's like a story taking place right in front of us! Don't you see how exciting this is?" She questions with stars in her eyes.

All of us, excluding Tomoyo and Eriol, are currently sitting a corner of the roof watching the two lovebirds talk and flirt with one-another. Well, mostly. Syaoran has been sitting off to the side, staring at the rest of us like we've lost our minds. Maybe we have. Although, the only reason why we're sitting here talking about them is because none of us actually know what to say. Yamazaki was right; those two really are in their own little world.

"If this keeps up, are we going to have to sit in a corner and eat like this every day?"

"Now that I think about it, how have they not noticed that we're all sitting over here away from them?"

"Strange, isn't it?"

"Very curious. Very curious, indeed."

"Is this all you girls talk about?"

"Still a guy."

"Sure you are," Syaoran agrees sarcastically while snickering.

Yamazaki glares at him and challenges, "If you want to talk about something else, why not pitch in?"

"Nah, I'm good." He brings a water bottle to his lips and swings his arm back, taking a few long gulps. His hair falls away from his face, and along his neck, his adam's apple moves with each gulp of water. I try not to stare, but totally fail.

Good grief, he's hot. Whatever it is he's doing, it shouldn't legal. I know we're sitting in the sun, but come on! Isn't it autumn? You don't need to be drinking so much damn water, Syaoran! Screw hydration! He can shrivel up like a grape into a raisin for all I care. Whatever it takes to make him stop looking like a damn male model.

It's like he's trying make people swoon over him. Thankfully, the four other girls on the roof don't seem to notice. For some reason, I'm the only one effected by it. Probably because Tomoyo is flirting; Chiharu is in love with Yamazaki; Rika just sees him as a classmate, and Naoko is way more interested in watching other people's romances unfold than her own.

"Are you always this reserved, Li?"

Syaoran looks at Naoko and shrugs.

"You can take that as a yes," I tell her. "Syaoran isn't exactly a social butterfly, if you know what I mean."

"I'll take that as a compliment. In case you didn't notice, most people don't want to be compared butterflies."

"You are mistaken, my friend," I say sounding like a wise elderly person- which I most definitely am not. Holding up my index finger, I go on. "Most of the male population doesn't want to be compared to butterflies."

"While we're on the topic of butterflies, did any of you know-"

"Oh, no, you don't!" Chiharu quickly shuts poor Yamazaki up before he can finish what would most likely turn out to be another one of his elaborate tales. "What's gotten into you lately, Takashi? I thought you were finally over the whole telling lies twenty-four seven thing."

Smiling mischievously, Yamazaki asks, "Have you noticed the sudden increase in people we're having lunch with?"

"Of course I- Wait! This is about your audience?" Chiharu slaps her face and groans. "You've gotta be kidding me."

"On the contrary; I am totally serious."

"You're going to scare everyone away!"

"Actually, I find the stories quite interesting."

Chiharu hangs her head. "Please don't encourage him, Naoko-chan," she pleads helplessly.

As I watch my friends interact, I find myself smiling. It's refreshing that everyone is able to get along so well. At first I wasn't sure whether or not Naoko would want to eat with myself and the others rather than reading in the library. She seems to be getting along well with Rika and Chiharu, though.

I've also noticed that Chiharu has been happier lately. Her parents are still going through the process of getting a divorce, so I'd assume her home life isn't particularly pleasant. Thankfully, while she's here will all of her friends, she laughs a lot.

Rika has always been cheerful and outgoing, so she gets along well with all seven of us. Even Syaoran talks to her sometimes.

As for Yamazaki, he's been telling us all sorts of stories. Eriol even pitches in when he's not already with Tomoyo. Clearly Yamazaki is having the time of his life, because he's always grinning whenever he's talking.

It is also quite apparent that Tomoyo and Eriol are enjoying themselves. If they're not flirting, they're sneaking desirable glances at each other. Most of the time it's adorable, but when I'm trying to talk to Tomoyo and she's not listening to me, it can get kind of irritating.

Last- but most certainly not least- is Syaoran. He's actually been doing quite well for someone who doesn't typically like talking to people he doesn't know. Then again, he's known most of us for a while, except for Naoko and Eriol.

Naoko sometimes talks to him about school. I don't know what exactly about, because I tune out. Mainly study tactics and exams. Smart people stuff.

He and Yamazaki sometimes sit off to the side with Eriol. It's a guy thing, I assume. When the three of them aren't around, the rest of us have 'girl's talk time', a name dubbed by none other than Chiharu.

Hard to believe that it's only the sixth day we're all getting together as a group to eat lunch. I'd say that I could get used to it, but I already have.

Tomoyo's POV

As Wednesday's lunch draws to an end, I find myself already anxiously awaiting tomorrow's lunch. Twenty-three more hours. Maybe I'll go to sleep early tonight.

"Tomoyo-san!" I turn around almost a little too excitedly at the sound of my name coming from Eriol's lips.

"Yes, Eriol-kun?"

"May I steal you away for a minute?"

Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh! We were just talking most of lunch. What could he have to talk to me about that he couldn't have said during the hour we were eating lunch?

"You may."

I follow him away from the senior hall and the other students hurrying to class.

"So, what did you want to talk to me about?"

"Actually, I have a question for you. I know that we've only just met, and I don't mean to sound too forward, but would you care to let me escort you to dinner sometime?"

Oh my gosh. Did I just hear him right? Did he just ask me out to dinner? As in a date? Is this really happening? Am I dreaming?

Pointing a finger to my chest, I manage to ask, "Me?"

Eriol chuckles. "Yes, you."

"To dinner?"

"That's what I had in mind, but anything will do. Just so long as it's with you."

My face feels like it's on fire. "U-um... Sure." His head falls slightly sideways. "I-I mean yes. Definitely yes. I'd like that very much."

Eriol's face immediately lights back up and his smile grows even wider. "Great. We'll talk about the details tomorrow, then?"

"Sure." He smiles ever brighter now, this time with a playful glint in his midnight blue eyes. "I mean yes. Until tomorrow, then."

We head back to our respective classes and reluctantly part ways. I have a lot to tell Sakura about.

Sakura's POV

Green. Yellow. Blue. Red- No, no! Too much red! Too much red!

"Damn it! No!"

"Having some trouble?"

I sigh. "Yeah. Messed up the balance. I'll still be able to fix it, though." Hold up. I spin around and squeak in alarm. "Syaoran? What are you doing here?"

The brown-haired boy enters the room, shutting the door on his way in. "Just curious to see what you do every morning."

"But how did you..."

"You mentioned the other day that you came here in the morning. Figured I'd poke my head in and see what it is you're working on."

"Ah. Well, I'm just..." I glance over at the painting. "Exploring surrealism."

Syaoran openly laughs. "I see that. What's it supposed to be, anyways? Fireworks?"

Nope. "If that's what it looks like to you, then sure. Fireworks it is. It's surrealism, so it can be anything you want it to be."

"So, if I look at it and see a post-apocalyptic alien species taking over Earth, that's what it is?"

I can't help but laugh. "If that's what you see. But, hey, it's supposed to look cheerful." I try to sound at least mildly offended.

He shrugs. "You're the artist."

"Ha! Yeah, I suppose I am."

He sits on one of the stools a few feet away to watch me. There's a lull in the conversation, but after a while, Syaoran finally admits, "Okay, I lied. I didn't come here just to watch you struggle with color schemes."

"Kind of figured. Alright, fess up. Why are you here?" I put down the paint and turn to face him.

"Well, for one, I was wondering whether or not you'd talked to Daidouji about what you told me the other day."

"Not, not yet. Why do you ask?"

"I'm curious to know how she takes it. Quite frankly, I'd also like to have a few words with her on the matter."

"Well someone's being rather cryptic. What, you can't talk to me about it?"

"It's not that kind of a conversation," he tells me with a half-smile.

"What's that supposed to mean? Isn't the conversation about me?"

"Yes, but that doesn't mean you need to be there." I narrow my eyes and he sighs. "Look, if Daidouji has a hard time handling the news, I think it would help for me to talk to her."

I raise an eyebrow. "You?" I challenge, doubting his abilities.

"Yes, me. Li Syaoran. The jackass who left his best friend when she needed him most. And, consequently, ended up ruining the friendship."

I flinch away from him a bit. "Well, geez. Don't hold back. You do realize that you were just criticizing yourself, right?"

"I'm well aware. We're both thinking it, though."

Picking up the paint once more, I return my attention to the canvas in front of me. "Maybe," I say, dragging out the vowels.

He lets out a dry laugh. "I'll admit, it's not my favorite topic."

"You brought it up. Actually, now that I think about it, you're always the one bringing it up. Seriously, if you don't like talking about it, then why did you insist on having an in-depth conversation about my feelings on the matter? Especially when I made it so plainly clear that I did not want to talk about it."

"You know the answer to that."

"Yeah, yeah. We 'needed' to talk about it. You said that."

"And was I not right?"

I shoot him a pointed look. "You know, it occurs to me that I never did get to yell at you."

He frowns. "Yell at me? Yes you did. Multiple times. In your house and during detention."

"Okay, first of all, you broke into my house."

"You left the door open."

"Because you forced it open! You were pushing from the other side!"

He shrugs. "It was actually kind of fun."

"No, it really wasn't. It's the sort of thing I did when I was a kid."

"Nostalgia."

"More like crime."

"Oh, come on, you knew it was me. You wouldn't have tried to close the door in the first place if I hadn't been there."

"How does that help your argument?"

Silence.

"That's what I thought. And secondly, you were trying to get under my skin that day in detention."

"I was trying to talk to you."

"Well, you got what you wanted, then."

"What you told me wasn't-"

"Syaoran," I snap. "Do you value that shirt?"

"Um..." He glances down at himself. "Well, it's my uniform, so I guess."

"Then I would advise you to stop talking."

He frowns. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means that I'm currently holding in my hands a brush and a pallet full of paint, and if you keep talking, your shirt will become my new canvas."

There's a low whistle. "You would seriously paint on my shirt? Isn't that kind of... Juvenile?"

"Whether or not it's 'juvenile' is irrelevant. And I'll have you know that this paint is acrylic."

He feigns a gasp and says in an annoyingly sarcastic voice, "Oh, no! Not the acrylic!"

"Haha, keep laughing-" he's not laughing- "but I'll have you know that this paint both dries fast and is nearly impossible to remove."

He raises an eyebrow. "Is it?"

I roll my eyes and resume painting.

"You know a lot about paint, don't you?" He asks, suddenly serious.

The question throws me. Of course I know a lot about paint. I started taking art classes during junior high school and fell in love. I felt connected to it. The way I was able to pour out all of my emotions onto a piece of paper and turn it into a work of art made me feel like I was doing something meaningful.

"Of course. I come here all the time," I say with a nostalgic smile.

"That's not it."

My eyes dart over to him. He sits leaning over, eyes fixated on me.

"I don't doubt that you come here often, but there's more to it."

Surveying his demeanor, I ask, "What makes you so sure?"

"Your eyes. They light up whenever you talk about it." I feel my cheeks grow warm.

I don't know how to reply, so I try to redirect my attention to the painting in front of me.

After a minute of silence, Syaoran finally speaks. I can tell he's uncomfortable by the way he shifts on the stool and runs his fingers anxiously through his hair.

"Look, Sakura, about the other day..."

The other day? As in the other day? What on Earth does he have to say a about it? And why is he shifting topics to this of all things? He's giving me no time to mentally prepare myself for this. I've been trying to forget it ever happened. It's way too embarrassing to talk about! Doesn't he see that?

He takes a deep breath, and hold mine. "I just wanted to apologize."

Wait... What?

I openly gawk at him. "Apologize?"

"Yes, apologize. I overstepped my boundaries. If I made you uncomfortable, then I'm sorry. It won't happen again."

He's totally lost me. "What won't happen again?" I thought we were talking about how I almost kissed him. Why would he apologize for that? And how would what he did make me uncomfortable when I'm the one who was throwing myself at him?

For a moment, he doesn't say anything, but instead stares at me intensely. Finally, he sighs and looks away, saying, "Never mind. Don't worry about it. It won't happen again."

Hold up! I'm totally confused right now? Are we even talking about the same thing? "Um, alright?"

Syaoran simply nods, then scans the room. "Say, do you keep your old paintings in here, too?"

"Uh, yeah. Why do you ask?"

"Mind if I take a look?"

"W-what?" I stumble over the word.

Syaoran rises to his feet. "I'm curious to see what it is you work on most of the time." There's something almost mysterious in his eyes. "And that painting you were working on back when..."

Hesitating, I rise to my feet, setting down the equipment. "Yeah." I beckon him over to me as I approach my storage space. "For the most part I just keep them here," I say, gesturing to the space between the counter and wall with the windows. There are only five paintings there at the moment, all covered by a large cloth.

He looks down at me. "Do you mind?" He asks stepping up to the paintings.

"W-well... I suppose not," I mumble. Before he can do anything, I reach out and grab his arm. "But just... These are really personal, so just..." I struggle with what to say.

Syaoran turns around and faces me. "If you would rather I not look, it's fine." His voice is soothing.

I smile weakly, too relieved to protest. "Thank you, Syaoran."

He nods.

"When I'm ready, I'll show you."

"Alright." He looks past me for a brief second before locking eyes again. "Do you mind if I stay?"

Feeling relieved and carefree once more, I ask, "Are you going to be reading another textbook today?"

He chuckles. "Does it bother you?" He asks with raised brows.

I tug my lips down in disgust. "Little bit."

He gives me one of those 'did you seriously just do that?' faces. "Well, in that case, you'll have to think of something for us to talk about, because it's all I have to do."

I grumble and turn around again. "Wonderful. You know, I wasn't kidding when I said you should talk to Naoko. She can find a book for you faster than the librarians."

"I'll keep that in mind, but don't get your hopes up. I'm not a huge reader."

"Well, clearly it's about time you change that. I feel bad watching you torture yourself with that textbook."

Syaoran simply rolls his eyes and we both sit down in our former spots, still going back and forth about his pick of reading material.

Tomoyo's POV

Day: Saturday; Time: Six o'clock; Place: The Southeast Tomoeda Station.

That's what Eriol and I agreed on for when and where to meet up. It's also where I'm currently headed. There's still a few minutes before six. I wonder if Eriol is already here...

As the station comes into view, I get my answer. Standing there, typing something into his sleek navy blue phone, is Eriol Hiiragizawa.

My breath hitches.

He's dressed very casually, especially for someone who seems so elegant and regal most of the time. He has on a pair of denim jeans and a gray t-shirt. Something about it makes my heart flutter. Then I blink and everything around me changes.

In front of me, still wearing the same clothes, is an older version of Eriol. He's knelt down in front of a flower bed with a gardening shovel in his hand. My entire vision tunnels. It's not until I spot the hand on his shoulder that I realize someone has walked up behind him. Adult-Eriol raises his head and looks over his shoulder at the person. I follow his gaze and my heart stops.

Is that who I think it is?

Long, flowing violet locks fall over the woman's shoulders and back. Her bangs hang less than an inch from amethyst eyes.

She sets down the flowers she's holding and wraps her arms around the man's neck. He places the shovel down in the dirt and pulls off one of his gloves. Then he raises his hand to the woman's cheek and pulls her face closer to his.

All I can do is watch, wide-eyed. No way am I actually seeing this. I haven't even know Eriol for two weeks! Why am I fantasizing about something like this? Is it just because of what he's wearing? I think I need to go see a doctor, because my brain is turning into mush.

Right as their lips are about to meet, a voice calls out my name and pulls me from my daydream.

"Tomoyo-hime!" My face instantly turns red. Eriol flips his phone shut and slips it into his pocket, walking over to where I stand. "You're here!"

"Yeah. Sorry, were you waiting long? I didn't realize I was late." I glance over at the clock in front of the train station.

"You're right on time, I just got here a bit early. I will confess that I am a bit nervous. Besides, what kind of man would I be if I made such a beautiful maiden wait out in the cold?"

Beautiful maiden? Is he talking about me? I need to learn to control how much I blush around this man. It seems like every sentence out of his mouth has me turning into a human inferno.

"So, where are you taking me?" I ask sweetly.

He grins. "It's a surprise."

"Hm. Well, will we be taking the train, or walking?"

"It's nearby, so we can walk. Will that be alright?"

I nod. "Of course. Lead the way."

He smiles and we begin down the sidewalk. We make smalltalk on our way. I study the types of places we pass. There's a food market, toy store, pet shop and other normal looking places. I haven't noticed any crazy fancy looking restaurants yet. Although, Eriol is dressed casually, so it must be someplace that's fairly ordinary.

I snap out of my thoughts as Eriol comes to a stop and turns to me.

"We're here."

I lift my gaze to examine our location. In front of us, with a signboard out front reading 'Ramen Noodles' in large kanji, is a nice quaint, traditional building.

"A Ramen shop?" Awestruck, I turn to him, my eyes wide.

He explains, "Since I'm new, I went around asking if anyone knew of any good places to eat around town. One young man in particular spoke especially passionately about this particular shop."

"We're going to have ramen?"

"That's what I had in mind. Will this be alrigh?"

"Oh, I don't mind; I'm just a bit surprised."

"Well, it's only the first time I'm taking you out, so I didn't want to do anything too fancy."

"That's actually a bit of a relief," I assure him with a sigh. I was expecting him to take me to some high-end European restaurant. It's a bit of a relief that he took me somewhere so casual.

He chuckles. "In that case, I'm glad I took that young man's advice. I'll be sure to thank him when we next meet."

I smile. He's so thoughtful. Eriol really does talk as if he's much older than his actual age. For some reason, I like it, though.

Stepping forward, Eriol slides open the door of the traditional Japanese building. He turns and waits for me to enter before following.

The second I set foot in the shop, I'm greeted by the mouth-watering smell of cooked ramen. Glancing back at Eriol, I feel a warmth spread across my chest and smile.

At first I was nervous about today, but now I feel completely at home. Maybe it's the warmth of the shop, or possibly the smell of ramen, or it could simply be the presence of the man next to me. All I know is that I could get used to this warm fuzzy feeling lingering in my chest.

And that's it for Tomoyo and Eriol's first date. I didn't and won't actually write out what happens unless it's Tomoyo telling Sakura about it. I hope I didn't let all you E+T fans down. *Hangs head* It's a struggle writing Eriol's dialogue, so sorry if it's a total fail. I'm trying.

Oh yeah, and I'm saving the painting thing for another chapter. That's going to be a whole other emotional roller coaster. Maybe next chapter. Maybe not for another three or so chapters. Depends. Gotta check my notes for the story, because the next major plot development won't come until the end of the season. Those of you who read closely will probably be able to guess why.

Anyways, I'm off.