Chapter 9

The sun peeks through a window on a Saturday morning and shines down on the head of a girl, so far into her dreams, she doesn't remember the day before. A day, she believes, will go down as the worst day of her life. Thinking back now, she honestly had no reason to be upset or feel any kind of resentment towards her best friend because their entire relationship was a fraud from the very beginning. She was also to blame because she agreed to the entire charade but he should have just told her face to face that he wanted to end the games. Feelings aside, she would have understood. Or at least, she would have pretended to.

Stirring from her slumber, she rolls over and glances at the time to see that it is a quarter to eight but makes no move to get out of bed. As tradition, Eriol and her would meet together at his house and venture around Penguin Park for an hour or so, grab some ice cream, then to the movie store to rent a DVD to watch later in the evening. Today, however, she would break their tradition because she wasn't up to seeing Eriol at the moment, or ever again.

She spent all night worrying her bottom lip, all the while wondering how she should approach the new situation. It wasn't as if she wasn't expecting it but it was so sudden, she hadn't even thought as to what she would do or how she would honestly feel if they decided the game was over. She certainly did not expect to fall head over heels for the guy that was for certain .

Frustration sets in again as she throws the covers back and pads over to the restroom. Hands clenched around the sides of the sink, Tomoyo gives herself a good once over. Her complexion was fair compared to others as they opted for the tanner look or to fake-bake in a booth but it was nowhere near the gothy look. Twisting a strand of her purple hair, she noted its sleek long look but its color normally threw people for a loop with it being not common. Moving to her eyes, they were a rare shade of amethyst but maybe its uniqueness would deter suitors because it wasn't normal. Glancing at herself one last time, she concluded that she just wasn't interesting enough or just too uncommon. Turning away, she peels away her night clothes and hops in the shower, hoping to scrub away all her doubts and problems.

After drying off, the weather forecast predicted temperatures of 68 degrees so she chooses a cream long-sleeved wool sweater, where the collar splits on the side and drapes across the left side of her shoulder. She adorns a pair of dark blue skinny jeans and tucks her feet into black knee-high boots. After bidding her mother farewell, she takes a walk to the park to rethink her relationship with Eriol.

"Oh Eriol honey, you just missed her, she said she was going to the park to think some things over. She did seem rather down yesterday, would you happen to know why?"

His heart drops as he hears this. "Honestly, yes, I do believe I know what the problem is." More like who. "Thank you Mrs. Daidoujii, I'll be going now."

"It's no problem dear."

He turns and makes his way quickly to Penguin Park.

Sitting dejectedly on one of the park benches, Tomoyo quickly runs through every moment her and Eriol spent together, ever since their first meeting. Smiling to herself, she begins to wonder why it took her so long to realize her feelings for him. It was always there, niggling at the tip of conscious, telling her the extra thump her heart beat, the heat that would creep up her cheeks, and the eagerness to spend each and every single second with Eriol. Sighing, she leans back and looks up into the sky, and slowly the tears leak out. One by one, they trickle down her cheeks until they start falling more rapidly.

'It hurts. So much so, that my heart feels like it's going to burst. I honestly cannot take it anymore.' Right there for the world to see, she bends over, clutching the fabric above her heart, and allows the tears to fall on Mother Earth.

Scratching his head, Eriol begins to feel anxious as he nears the park. Uneasiness fills him as he rapidly scans the park for Tomoyo as he spots her form doubled over on a park bench. That is when he feels his heart slamming against his ribs as he notices her trembling and the sound of her crying reaches his ears. His feet begin running towards her without him even realizing it as he yells out her name.

Watery eyes snap open as she feels her heart stop. 'Please don't let it be him. I can't do it right now. I can't look at him without my heart breaking again.' Remember to breathe, she quickly decides to make a run for it. She refused to look at him until she could at least pretend not to be in love with him anymore.

But before she can even raise her head, she is pulled up to her feet and engulfed in a pair of arms. 'It's so warm' was all she could think of as he hugged her to his chest as though she would disappear.

"Tomoyo! Tomoyo, are you okay? Are you hurt? Why are you trembling so much? What's the matter?"

She hears everything but is unable to generate a response as it finally dawns on her who's arms she is in. Dumbly, she looks up as Eriol holds her at shoulder's length and begins inspecting her. When he reaches her face, he feels his heart stop. Tears were streaming down her face at a rapid rate, yet she wasn't saying anything as to why she was crying, but before he can ask her again if she was hurt, she quickly shoves him away and runs.

'I can't do it. I just can't.' She squeezes her eyes shut as she runs blindly, paying no regard to the car rapidly coming down the street as she begins to run across.

"TOMOYO!" She hears Eriol scream before her vision turns black.