A/N: Many apologies
Disclaimer: I don't own CCS
..:Chapter Seven:..
On the Side Lines
Friday came! Finally!
Sakura was currently sitting in math class (her worst subject mind you) watching the long black arm of the clock in the front of the classroom tick by slowly. It was the last period of school. All Sakura wanted to do was finish her day here without having to do math. She looked back to the board where the teacher filled the once green space with white chalk marks. All of the fractions, numbers and mathematical equations were spinning fast in her head in confusion.
When it came to math, Sakura was hopeless.
Sakura squinted at the board, trying to figure out the problems that laid before her and the rest of the students. She sighed and gave up. She'll leave the problems for the brainy kids as usual. Sakura looked back at the clock, hoping this time that it will move in a faster pace that previously.
No such luck.
Suddenly she was taped lightly on the shoulder. Sakura turned around to face Tomoyo. With a small smile, she pointed towards the door. Sakura looked to where Tomoyo directed her vision and saw Meilin standing behind it, grinning and holding a cheerleading uniform in her hands as she gave a signal to Sakura. Sakura nodded and quickly raised her hand.
"Uhh... can I please go to the washroom sensei?" she asked, hoping that he would allow her to go. The teacher stopped talking and sighed.
"Be quick." Sakura smiled and stood up and left the class and headed to Meilin, who was slouched against the wall. Meilin stood up straight and both girls began to walk down the halls.
"What's going on?" Sakura asked, since of course she had no idea what Meilin wanted.
"I wanted to go on the bus early. Didn't want to be alone so I thought you'd be up to it. If not, you can go back to class-" she said as they headed for the side door.
"I'll come. You don't know how much suffering I did in that horrid class," she said without hesitation. This put a grin to Meilin's face.
"I can imagine."
Syaoran stared at the window as he sat in his desk lazily in his History class. Today they we're watching a movie documentary about Japan that was probably made somewhere in the seventies. Every two seconds some bars would overlap the screen, as if wanting to give the class a seizure. The man's monotone voice easily bored Syaoran and the rest of the students. To put it simply: the movie was shit.
So that's why Syaoran was looking outside for something more entertaining. Even a rock on the ground would do!
Suddenly two familiar girls caught his eye. He watched curiously as they entered a bus. What the heck were they doing? Syaoran wanted to exit the class right then and there and have a word with those two. He turned back to his desk and was about to pack his stuff in his bag when a pink folded note on top of his stuff caught his attention. On the cover was his name written in nice feminine cursive letters. He quickly opened it, intrigued at what was to be found inside.
You know Syaoran-kun, you're looking really hot today.
Good luck for your soccer game this afternoon.
I'll be cheering you on as always,
Lisa Wong
Syaoran turned around and looked at the back row where the sender of the note sat. He gave her a confused expression but she just made a flirty smile and winked at him. Syaoran turned around and crumbled up the note until it became a paper ball. Syaoran was confused. Why was she making communication with him?
He finished packing his stuff and got up and left, not caring what the teacher would say. He passed a garbage can in the hall way and threw the pink ball inside it, hoping to never receive anything from that girl again.
"Are you sure we're on the right bus?" asked Sakura as she looked around her surroundings. This bus felt familiar, especially that sweaty bus smell.
"Definitely," replied Meilin as she headed towards a seat near the back. The bus was long and had grey seats. This particular bus had large amounts of dirt and garbage everywhere and smelt exceedingly with sweat, grass and mud. Sakura wanted to imagine a cleaner bus, one that smelt like flowers and girly stuff. She couldn't imagine a whole team of girly cheerleaders on this type of bus.
"So... what are we waiting for?" asked Sakura as Meilin looked through the windows impatiently. Meilin was about to reply when someone's voice suddenly was heard.
"Hey babe!" came a voice from the front of the bus. Sakura looked to find two familiar boys.
"Haru-kun!" chirped Meilin as she went to hug Haru, the soccer team's goal keeper with dark brown eyes and short hair to match. He had pale skin and was very tall. In fact he was the tallest on the soccer team; a great height advantage to save goals.
"You know Sakura right?" she asked as she let go of him and pointed to Haru's previous team-mate. Haru looked at Sakura. She waved nervously.
"Best defender we had on the team," he said with a grin.
"Thanks," said Sakura with a slight blush on her cheeks... Haru probably didn't here her since he was back to kissing Meilin. Sakura looked away in disgust. She never liked seeing people who showed public displays of affection. As Sakura turned away from the two, her vision was directed towards a certain black haired guy.
"Hey Kinomoto," said Logan, not looking at Meilin for the fear of his life. It was a good thing she didn't notice him.
"Wong-kun," said Sakura coldly, changing her mood at once.
"Look I don't really happened to me that other day but-" he began to apologize.
"Save it. Let's pretend that it never happened," said Sakura as she closed her eyes.
"But it did happen! I feel so horrible! You didn't deserve any of that shit!" 'Sounds a lot like Syaoran' thought Sakura.
"Please forgive me. If there's anything I can do... I'll do it," said Logan taking her hands in his. Sakura opened her eyes
"Yah... just leave me alone from now on. Ok?" said Sakura as she quickly took her hands away from his grasp.
"You know, I always did like you. I never treated you like everyone else. I treated you like the most precious beauty that you are. Hope that you know that... and no. I won't leave you alone. You deserve someone to be with... someone to hold you... someone to love you-" Sakura couldn't' help but to think of Syaoran as Logan said those words... but less possessive of course.
'I want to be with Syaoran. I want him to hold me. I want him to love me just as much as I love him. But how can that be possible if all that we'll ever be is friends?' she thought as Logan kept talking on about he'd be the perfect man for her.
"Sakura?" asked a voice in the front of the bus. It was the voice that she was just thinking about. She looked to see Syaoran standing there in the front, looking at her with concern and confusion. Could there also be a hint of jealousy in there as well? She turned back to Logan.
"Wong-kun. You're a great guy. Just not the one for me," she told him gently, hoping that he'd take the hint. Logan nodded and quickly whispered in her ear.
"Just remember that I always adored you more than anyone else has and ever will." Logan gave a hard glare at Syaoran who easily matched and beat his glare. Logan stopped glaring and gave a warm smile to Sakura before getting off the bus. Sakura watched him leave and soon she was found sitting down right next to Syaoran.
"Did he hurt you?" he asked with concern in his eyes.
"No I'm fine," she replied with a smile. There was a silence and both looked away from each other.
"What are you doing on this bus?" he asked as he broke the silence. Sakura pointed to Meilin and Haru sucking faces in the back seat.
"So my cousin stole you so she could make out huh? Would you like me to escort you back to your bus?" he asked knowing how incompatible it would be to be here.
"No. It's rather stay here with you... and my other former team-mates," she added quickly. Syaoran nodded. He would let her stay. The team was like family to her and he just removed her from the family tree. She didn't deserve that. He would make sure that he made it up to her.
Sakura was looking outside of the window while Syaoran looked down at his lap. Neither said a word for a long time. All they heard where smooching noises coming from the back that made them both blush. Syaoran broke the silence to ease the tension.
"Sakura..." he started off, looking at her seriously. Sakura turned to look at him, waiting for what he would say. They just stared in the others eyes, as if drowning in them.
"Hey Kinomoto! What brings you back?" said a voice interrupting what Syaoran was going to say. Sakura lost eye contact with Syaoran and turned to see the bright face of Yamazaki.
"Decided to pay you guys a visit," she grinned.
"It's good to see you," he said as he took a seat in front of the pair. "So how's cheerleading working out for you? The guys tell me you're looking pretty hot."
"Uhh-" Sakura stuttered with a pink tinge of embarrassment. She couldn't reply since a loud voice interrupted all conversations.
"Ok ladies sit your asses down now!" cried a voice at the front of the bus. It was the soccer coach. He always wore his navy tracksuit and his soccer cap. Sakura guessed that he was balding at the top. All of the players where now on the bus and did as they were told. 'Just like the good old days' thought Sakura. Except it wasn't since she wasn't supposed to be here and Logan would never be on the bus. Suddenly the coach stopped and stared at the back in confusion.
"Kinomoto? Li? What are you doing on this bus? Don't you know this is for soccer players only?" he asked looking at the two girls.
"We know coach. Please let us stay, just this one time," he looked into Sakura's puppy dog eyes. The coach's hard expression suddenly turned soft. He sighed.
"I guess... if the players don't mind." The boys nodded there heads. The coach nodded.
"Well it's nice to see you again Kinomoto," he said with a smile.
"Glad that you think so," she said as she grinned at the guys. A lot of male bonding will soon be done again like old times... except it wasn't since she wasn't supposed to be here and Logan would never be on the bus.
Sakura stepped off the bus and looked at her surroundings. Black and green banners, posters, and other merchandise surrounded her vision. Those were the colours of their rival school, the Central City Cougars. Sakura quickly went to blend in with her other cheerleaders and Meilin came shortly after. The Reedington Dragons began to do there routine of warm up drills. Sakura missed it. She missed playing on the team. She missed the feel of the ball on her foot.
She missed the love of the game.
It was half time. None of the teams scored yet. As the guys took there water break the cheerleaders were supposed to come out and perform there routines. It was half time. None of the teams scored yet. As the guys took there water break the cheerleaders were supposed to come out and perform there routines. Sakura and Meilin had to sit this out since they were here to observe. They've already practiced the routines with the squad before but Lisa had told them that she didn't want them to ruin it, therefore only coming to observe.
"Sakura, I'm going to go see my Haru," she whispered to her. Sakura nodded with a knowing grin.
"Have fun," she told her with a giggle. Meilin gave her a wink before running off.
Sakura watched the squad cheer, wishing that she'd be there as well, instead of doing absolutely nothing. She was stuck on the side lines, being a wasted use of space.It was the most boring soccer match that she's ever been too.
That is until a good looking guy came her way.
"Hey there," said a voice from behind her. Sakura turned around. There stood a guy with long black hair in a ponytail and a tanned complexion. He wore a smile on his lips and his eyes seemed to twinkle. Sakura couldn't help but smile back.
"Hey," she said a little quietly.
"I must say that you're the most beautiful creature that I ever laid eyes on."
"Uhh... thank you," she stammered with a blush on her face.
"You better take your eyes off her if you want to ever see tomorrow," said a growl from
beside her. Sakura turned to her left and frowned.
"That's not very nice to say Wong-kun," she told Logan. What the hell was he doing here?
"Sorry, I didn't know that you had a boyfriend," told the man with an apologetic smile at Sakura before going away.
"He's not her boyfriend," said a voice on her right side. Sakura instantly recognized the voice.
"Syaoran?" she asked as she saw him glaring at Logan.
"Get back to the bench Wong," Syaoran told Logan, not even looking at him
"But-" he began.
"Now!" he growled. Logan did what he was told.
"Syaoran-kun?" asked Sakura quietly, not wanting to get Syaoran even more pissed than he was.
"Uhh… I'll be on my way," said the dude as he headed back to his team. Syaoran was still glaring at the guy's retreating figure. Sakura was also going to go back to where the cheerleaders were until Syaoran spoke.
"Shouldn't you be cheering your pretty little face off with the rest?" he asked, making her turn back to look at him.
"Wong-san said that I should only observe," she told him with a frown.
"Maybe you should start observing the routines and stop observing the players on the other team," he said sharply. Sakura was shocked and confused.
"What?"
"You heard me," he said with narrow eyes. Sakura began to understand why he was doing this.
"I can't believe you're jealous!" she said with a little laugh.
"I- I'm not," he stammered, trying to keep cool.
"Yah, and I'm the queen of England," she said sarcastically.
"It's just not right to be fraternizing with the enemy," he told her sternly. She rolled her eyes.
"What ever Syaoran, just win the damn game ok?" she told him. Syaoran gave her a smile before going back to his team.
"For you, always."
Sakura was in a happy state. Today was the day that Touya was coming home to visit. She couldn't even remembered the last time that Touya came... that's how special this was.
The dinner was cooked, the table was set, everything was perfect for his arrival. The only thing missing was the guest. Sakura and Fujitaka waited patiently for Touya to come.
Seconds turned into minutes while minutes turned into hours. They were getting worried. Outside it had started to rain and still no sign of him. What could've happened?
"I'm sorry Sakura but I have to head off to bed because I'm off to an excavation site tomorrow morning," said Fujitaka as he apologized to his daughter who was looking out of the window.
"I understand dad. I'm just going to wait for him a bit longer," she told him giving him a bright smile.
"Don't stay up too late," he said as he gave her a kiss on the forehead.
"I won't," she replied as she went back to watching her post by the window. By now, Sakura was getting a little sleepy. Where the heck was he?
The door bell rang. Sakura opened her eyes and peered out the window. Touya's car wasn't in the drive way. Only her dad's. Could Touya have gotten dropped off here? Sakura walked to the front door in a quick pace. She unlocked the door (since Touya didn't have a key anymore), turned the door knob and opened the door in one swift move. Sakura couldn't hold in her excitement.
It quickly dissolved when she found out that it wasn't him.
"Syaoran! What are you doing here?" she asked as she saw Syaoran with wet dark brown hair and a tinge of pink on his cheeks from the cold.
"Mind if I come in?" he asked her with a small smile.
"Sure," she said as her little disappointed face turned back into a smile as she lead him inside the living room. "Take a seat."
Syaoran did what he was told and sat down on the creamy coloured couch, but not before hanging his damp jacked and taking off his shoes. He watched as Sakura leaned on the banister, a small frown on her face.
"Sakura? What's wrong?" he asked in a serious tone. Sakura snapped out of her thoughts and looked at him.
"Nothing," she said as she put on a fake smile.
"I know it's not nothing," he told her, seeing right through her disguise. He looked at his surroundings. There was a table set up in the dining room and candles that were blown out. What Syaoran noticed is how there was still food on the table, none which was eaten.
"Were you expecting someone?" Sakura's eyes seemed to suddenly tear up and her body began to shake slightly.
"Touya…didn't come," she told him in almost a whisper. Syaoran looked at her, not liking the sad look on her face. He suddenly got up and stepped near her, pulling her body close to hisinto a hug.
"It's ok to let it out," he whispered gently in her ear. Sakura nodded and her tears came out.
"He told me he would come! He lied to me," she cried in his chest.
"It's ok Sakura. Maybe he has a good reason for not showing up," he told her soothingly as he and her sat on the couch.
"Maybe you're right," she told him as he gave her a heart warming smile as he wiped away her tears. She leaned her head on his shoulder as he wrapped an arm around her. They stayed like that for a few moments, enjoying each others company, not wanting to end it.
"Hey... good game today!" she said it above a whisper.
"Thanks. It wasn't the best game but we still managed to win," he told her sincerely.
"No thanks to Wong-kun," she told him. Sakura suddenly took her head off his shoulder, making him take his arm off of her.
"Hey! Isn't there supposed to be a party going on right now?" she asked, wondering why the soccer team captain is with her right now when he should be at a victory party.
"Oh you didn't know? I changed the date to tomorrow night at my house. Are you coming?" he asked , hoping that she would show up. Sakura's face was filled with horror.
"Sakura?" he called out, seeing as she was in a paralyzed state.
"Oh..."
Next chapter: Sakura will finish her sentence!
A/N:Sorry for the long wait and the shitty chapter. Hopefully you didn't find it too bad. Please review and tell me what you thought... I'd love to hear what you guys have to say.
Am I moving too fast? Too slow?
Tell me what I'm doing wrong!