Best Friends - Chapter Fourteen

Disclaimer: I own the characters and the story plot; tell anyone otherwise and CLAMP will kill me, and then you will never know the end of the story! So, don’t plagiarize, this is my crap.

The night of the prom, Sakura was getting ready in her room when her mom came in.

“Hey sweetie, I just wanted to take a few pictures of your big night.” She beamed, taking a few snapshots of Sakura at her dressing table.

“Sure thing, mom.” Sakura smiled.

“So, when is your date coming?”

“Uhm,” Sakura checked the Hello Kitty clock on the wall. “in about twenty minutes.”

“And.. do you like this boy?”

“Well, yeah he’s great nice, and sweet but…” But he doesn’t even come close to comparing with Syaoran.

“You know, sometimes, the best thing for yourself to do is forgive.” Nadeshiiko said, as if reading her daughter’s mind. Still smiling slightly, she took a few more pictures and left Sakura alone with her thoughts.

Twenty Minutes Later

“Honey, your date’s here!” Nadeshiiko yelled up the stairs to her daughter.

Xishi was standing in the hall, looking very suave in a midnight blue tuxedo and matching tie. His hair was gelled in spikes but still in the messy, untamable way that was reminiscent of Syaoran’s messy chocolate hair. But that was nothing compared to what Sakura looked like.

She came down the stairs like and angel, floating down the steps like they were clouds. Her pink dress shimmered in the light. It clung to her curves and outlined her perfect figure. The bodice had intricate stitching in a darker shade of pink. The skirt had a slit in the side that went up to mid-thigh. Sakura was wearing a skirt underneath in the same shade as the stitching on the bodice. However, it only went part way to cover up the slit so a lot of her toned leg was still exposed.

Her hair was up in a ponytail with two wavy strands falling to frame her face. The hair in the ponytail cascaded down her back in riglets. To top it off, she had sprayed some sparkly hairspray to make it seem like she had stars in her hair. The make up she wore mad her seem older, more mature. That image was totally wrecked when she tripped on the last stair and fell flat on her face. If he had been faster, Xishi could’ve caught her. As it was, the boy had the reflexes of a garden snail. Syaoran could’ve caught me. She thought, and then pushed herself off the floor and her thoughts as far as she could. She smiled, to assure both her date and her mother that she was perfectly alright.

Blushing, Xishi handed her a corsage that went with her dress perfectly. It had one pink rose and one white rose on a black stretchy band that was loose on her wrist. Syao would’ve known to get me a super small wrist band. One part of her said. The other part reprimanded her by saying, Well, Syao ain’t here, alright? He’s with that obnoxious Jet wannabe.

They turned to leave when Nadeshiiko cried “Wait!” And then snapped several more pictures of them standing by the door. She beamed and kissed her little girl on both cheeks. When she pulled back, Sakura was surprised to see tears glistening on her mother’s cheeks. “My baby girl…” Then she excused herself and told them to have a wonderful time.

Sakura gasped, Xishi had rented a black stretch limousine, complete with a concierge who opened the door for them with a smile. Xishi took her hand and gently tugged her toward the limo.

“You look really beautiful.” He told her huskily. She blushed and smiled, but couldn’t help thinking that Syaoran never would’ve needed to say it, she’d know by looking in his eyes. With that final bittersweet thought, she got in.

Syaoran was having a crappy time. Kiaki, looking resplendent in a black and white Versacci dress and gloosy lips, seemed to be uninterested in him, no matter what he said. She belittled him with her sarcastic comments and brushed him off when he told her she looked pretty. “Don’t I always?” She snorted arrogantly.

So it was pretty much a relief when she ordered him to fetch her something to drink. He gladly left her presence and decided to not bring her the drink and instead pretend he couldn’t find her at the end of the night. His spirits crashed when he saw Sakura and her date, the policeman guy, dancing with each other to a lively, upbeat song. Suddenly, someone tapped him on the soldier. He tensed, thinking it was Jet, and then relaxed when he recognized his half-sister’s amused giggle.

“I’m not gonna bite.” She teased. He cocked an eyebrow. “That was one time!” She defended, and beamed. “Although, I might bite you again if you don’t dance with me right now.”

“Sure, why not? My date’s got a bad case of The Bitch and seems to be paying attention to everyone but me.” He replied.

“Where is she! I’m gonna go give a piece of my mind! The nerve of her! Ruining this night just for you! Where is she! Lemme at her!” Mei Lin growled, baring her sharp canine-like teeth.

“Whoa, chill, imotou-san. I don’t want to see her anymore than I have to tonight, let’s just dance, okay?” He calmed her.

“Fine, let’s dance.” She grumbled.

As they danced, Syaoran couldn’t keep his eyes off Sakura. He couldn’t think of anything other than the way her dress clung to her body or the way the light hit the sparkles in his hair. He would’ve given an arm and a leg to be where that Xishi was. Little did he know, Sakura felt the same about Mei Lin.

Across the room, Sakura kept sneaking glances at Syaoran when she thought Xishi wasn’t looking. When Xishi turned so that her back was to Syaoran, she craned her neck to try to see what he was doing. Her neck started to hurt so she tried to take the lead but Xishi wouldn’t budge. When she looked up at him, his usually happy blue eyes were glimmering with sadness. “What’s wrong?” She asked him.

“I really like you, Sakura. I’m having a great time, but I don’t think this is working out.”

“What? Why? “ She asked, puzzled.

“I came here with the hopes of capturing your heart. As it happens, it already belongs to someone else.” He looked purposely at Syaoran and Mei Lin, swaying in time to the music and laughing. “I wish you both the best of luck.” He said hoarsly, his voice cracking. And then he walked away.

“My heart belongs to someone else, but it’s not like he wants it.” She said softly to herself. She ran outside, to the warm, cleansing air and cried softly to herself, so as to not disturb the couples in the bush, having a bit more fun than the school intended.

“What happened?” A well-remembered voice asked her. She looked up to see Syaoran gazing at her in concern. Seeing his face, all her defenses dissolved and she pulled him close in a hug, something she’d been wanting to do ever since she got back from China. “Xishi dumped me.” She mumbled into his shirt.

“You don’t need a guy to be happy.” He comforted her.

“Yes I do.”

“No, you don’t”

“YES I DO!”

“NO YOU DON’T!”

“Then why am I only happy when I’m with you!” Sakura blurted.

“I… wait, what?”

“I’m only happy when I’m with you.” She repeated, softly this time. She tensed, fearing rejection almost as much as she feared ghosts. He put his finger under her chin, tilting it so she was looking him in the eyes. He closed his eyes and kissed her. His lips were warm and tantalizing, invoking her senses. She involuntarily graoned and pulled him in deeper into the kiss.

“Well well well. Ain’t this a happy reunion.” A steaming Kiaki told them drily.

Oh shit.