Author's note: Hey, will I decided to do another story after all the reviews I got for "Nothing Stays The Same", my first CCS fanfiction. Thanks to all of you that reviewed for me, this story could not be possible without your support (This one's for you!) As always the story is my idea that came out of my head but the characters, sadly are not. Sakura, Li, Kero…etc. etc. belong to CLAMP. Don't sue me, I have no dinero. Muy broke-o. : ) (I know that Spanish is all wrong! Haha!) Anyways, enjoy and as always review!

Note 2: Sakura and Li are seventeen now, ending their Junior year in high school. The whole ordeal with the hope card did happen but he didn't tell her his feelings afterward. He went back to Hong Kong and just returned like…three years ago. This is my story so I can bend reality, okay? I don't follow the rules! I'm a rebel! *laughs at own joke but then stops when noticing no one else thinks it's funny*

Chapter One- Loneliness Is Worse

A girl of seventeen ran out the door in a frenzy on her rollarblades, trying to race time. That would be a problem since she was already late and school would be starting in another five minutes. It would take a miracle to make it to her first class on time, but she didn't rely on her wishes or pleadings with God to allow her to be on time. How could she? Reaching into her knapsack quickly, she looked around as she pulled out a hard paper object with her index and middle finger. Today, she thought, time would be on her side.

            Sakura quickly looked around for anybody since nobody could see what she was about to do as she grabbed around her neck for her key. I wonder where everyone is, she thought. Oh yeah, they're at school. She turned into an alley way in case someone spotted the bright light or the seal that would shortly make its appearance.

            "Key of the Star, with powers burning bright, reveal the staff, and shine your light! Release!" The seal brightened beneath her as she grabbed her long pink staff that had only begun to grow longer with her height. She was nearly a foot and a half taller than her previous self five years ago.

            She held out a card in front of her and then let it slide from her grasp as she raised her staff, "Time Card! Release and Dispel! Time!" An old man emerged from the card and waved his staff, signaling time to stand still. She smiled at the old man and thanked him for his help before flying on her rollarblades to her high school. She couldn't believe that in a few weeks, her junior year as a high school student would end.

            As she glided down the streets frozen in time just for her, she thought back to the past few years. Her mind always seemed to flow back to the past; it was becoming a daily routine in her life now. How she missed how it was like when Li and even Meilin were around. Sakura's life seemed less exciting when she didn't have any cards to capture, even though she used them frequently to make them feel like they were still important to her, which they were.

            She smiled as she thought of Li. He had returned from Hong Kong about three years ago, midway through her freshmen year. Sakura could still remember how cold he had been to her, or tried to be distant but he couldn't. She remembered vividly the night where he confessed his innermost fears to her.

            It was raining and he had volunteered (well pretty much was forced) to tutor her in Mathematics. Like always, she was horrible at it but tried her very best and was getting better with each lesson and soon would not even need his help anymore. She remembered the one lesson on that rainy day a few months ago when he tried to teach her some trigonometry.

Sakura remembered when she couldn't grasp the concept. It was just not clicking. She couldn't help but to cry in frustration when he had all but given up on her, like she had given up so many times before. But most vividly she remembered when he hugged her and apologized… "I'm sorry, Sakura. But don't give up, okay? Where would be now if you had given up every time you didn't succeed when you didn't capture a card or when I…when I shot you down. Sakura, you are…really strong. I'm afraid that you'll lose that. Don't…it keeps me strong." They didn't work on math for the rest of the night; instead they talked about everything in their personal lives…well, until Sakura's brother kicked him out at midnight.

            Ever since then, they had been closer. Now best friends, he had gradually become more comfortable around her. At times he was still a little distant, but she eventually got what was bothering him out. He smiled and laughed more. But Sakura, on the other hand, was doing less of that as of late. She felt as if the world was collapsing around her. Tori had moved out less than a month ago to complete college and her father had been in Europe for the past month on another archaeological adventure. Even though she had Li and Madison, her closest friends, Sakura couldn't help but to feel lonely. Her house was too sad. Everything had changed.

            As she entered the school, she rollarbladed down the hallway, laughing. Sakura could never imagine another possible time where she could do this, so she did it freely. Approaching her locker, she took off her rollarblades and put on her shoes. She hummed a sad love song to herself as she opened her locker and looked in her mirror and straightened out her jacket and tie. She was in Tori's old school now and her uniform had drastically changed since elementary and junior high school.

            She looked in the mirror one more time quickly as she was about to leave, but then stopped and stared straight at herself. Her hair was longer now, like her mother's and everyone always complimented her on her looks but that didn't help. She was too sad. And it wasn't just because of her absent father or because Tori was gone. Something wasn't right. She couldn't pinpoint it, and this led to more frustration and anxiety.

            Sakura looked at her setting and noticed that everyone was in their classes already in the frozen time period and she chanted some words to herself as her staff shrunk to the key around her neck and the time disappeared back into the card and the world was alive once more. She turned to the classroom door and took a deep breath before stepping into her first class. Try to be happy today, she told herself.

            "Good morning, Sakura!"

            "Hello, Rita."

            "Hey, Sakura, I finished that novel I told you about. You have to hear what happened at the end."

            "Okay, Nikki. Maybe later."

            "Sakura! I heard we're trying new stunts at cheerleading today. Shouldn't be hard for you, though. You always get everything fairly quickly."

            "I guess so, Chelsea."

            Sakura did her normal hellos to all her friends. She would always answer in a few words or less, never wanting to further venture in conversation. For some reason she only felt comfortable talking to Madison and Li. Was it because of her brother moving out? Yes, he was a jerk sometimes but she loved him more than most things. And her dear father was gone and sent postcards but that wasn't enough. She missed him and he wouldn't be back for another three months.

            She sat down in her seat and decided she just had to be more cheerful today, even if it killed her. I just want to be happy without forcing myself to be though, she thought. Oh, well, just put on a happy face.

            "Good morning, Madison!"She said, trying to act cheery. Madison smiled at her which made Sakura smile too, knowing that Madison didn't see through her acting.

            "Good morning, Sakura. Someone's early today. How did you ever manage that?"Madison smiled some more and Sakura actually felt much happier. Maybe today would cure her, she thought.

            "Well let's just say that time was on my side,"she smiled, knowing her little secret. Madison at first was puzzled but then started to smile as well, understanding Sakura's clue.

            "Ya know Sakura,"someone started from behind her. She turned to face him. "You shouldn't use your cards like that."

            "Good morning, Li!"Sakura layed her hands down on Li's desk and smiled at him. She couldn't stand it if Li was in a bad mood today. She needed him to make her happy which he had been trying to do for the last week. Sakura felt that Li knew something was wrong. "I like to give the cards some exercise. They still mean a lot to me after all these years. I know they enjoy it and besides I wasn't late to school today."

            "Was anyone around when you used them?"He asked, looking a little worried. After all this time he still worried about her. How could he not?

            "Of course not, Li! I thought you knew me better than that!"Sakura laughed. Madison joined in.

            "Li, Sakura can manage the cards perfectly well. You of all people should know that!"

            He smiled and started laughing as well. "Yeah, of course."His face turned serious as he continued, "Just be safe, okay? I don't want you to overexert yourself. You can still become weak by using the cards, ya know."

            She smiled at his concern and put her hand over his, which made him blush slightly, "I'll be careful. I promise." He looked at her shyly and patted her hand once before removing his hand from her grasp. Li didn't want to blush any longer than he had to.

            Sakura paused, thinking of how to word what she wanted to ask Li next. She was just so scared of rejection. Not wanting to handle that but not wanting to be alone tonight she just decided to spit it out. "Hey, Li?"

            "Yeah?" He said, looking at her. With those eyes. Damn it all to hell, she thought. It's hard enough to ask him but now he has to look at me like that.

            "What are you doing after school?" She looked straight into his eyes and it was then that she figured that he knew about her sadness. His eyes seemed softer than usual and full of worry. She looked away, trying to avoid it.

            "I have soccer practice, why?"He asked gently. Yeah, he knew. It was obvious to him. Her smile was not filled with the happiness he was used to feeling.

            "Well, after that, do you want to go dress shopping with me?"

            Li wasn't ready for that question. He thought she would ask him to come over for help on homework or to watch a movie together but not to go dress shopping. He smiled at the thought of spending time with her. He was after all, still in love with her, ever since the fourth grade. He couldn't deny it, especially since he came back to live in Japan last year. At first, he tried to distance himself from her by dating other girls, but it didn't work. He just loved her too much. So slowly, he stopped dating as much and opened himself up to her. She always accepted so he fell in love with her even more. There was nothing to stop this feeling from growing inside and she just continued to let it grow more.

            "So, what do you need a dress for, Sakura?"
            She finally looked at him and tried not to let him know that she was nervous about asking him. Sakura now really wanted to tell him that she had been lonely. She wanted to be held by him and tell him how much he meant to her. She knew that would never happen because he was Li but she wanted to be with him tonight. "It's not for me. It's for my cousin. I was supposed to go with my dad but…"Her father. She felt her vision become a little blurry at the thought of her dad. Sakura could feel Li's gaze penetrate her mind for answers but she was unwilling to give them now. "Anyways, it's her birthday and since Madison has her audition today, I was hoping that you would…um…"

            "Go with you?"He finished.

            "Uh, yeah,"Sakura said, blushing.

            He paused for a moment, letting his happiness sink in that she had asked him to hang out with her and ask for his opinion. He waited for the smile to appear on his lips before he answered. "Sure, I'll go."

            Sakura looked up at him and smiled too, "Really?"

            "Yeah. I'd love to help."

            "Oh, Li!"She wanted to jump out of her seat to give him a hug, but she didn't as she realized that most of the class was watching her, even the teacher. She slowly turned around, her cheeks red as she finished whispering to him. "I'll pick you up at six, okay?"

            Now that no one could see him, he rested his chin on his hand and smiled, still red. "Sounds good, Sakura." He loved her name. It was so beautiful.

            "Okay, great,"she whispered back as the teacher began teaching the days lesson.