Naruto sighed closing his locker. Lee stuffed his books in his locker beside the blonde's noticing something was wrong. "You ok Naruto?" Lee asked locking the hideous green metal door.

Naruto slumped against the lockers as the halls crowed up, "Nothing." He said walking along sighed the boy in the bright green spandex. Naruto climbed the stairs with the frown that has never been seen there at Konoha High. The boys sat in the back of a bright class room Lee still studying his best friend. "Ok, I was talking to Kiba about asking Sakura to the Homecoming Dance-"Naruto sighed.

Lee's eyes bulged as he looked away, "So?" Lee interrupted turning towards Naruto when Sakura walked in the sent of lavender filled the room.

"Well, I don't think she likes me." Naruto whispered looking at the pretty girl.

Lee bit his bottom lip turning back to Naruto, "Want me to talk to her for you? I mean I'm her partner in home economics." Lee admitted sighing as her emerald eyes met his while she was picking up her bright red pencil. She waved as the bell rang.

Sakura turned to Ino who was beside her as Hinata joined in the conversation. "Ok, so if you knew a guy liked me you would tell me right?" Sakura asked hushed to the girls as Kakashi began his lesson.

"Totally, right Hinata?" Ino stated giggling looking over at Naruto and Lee. "Sakura don't look now but I think we're getting checked out." She whispered as Kakashi stepped near them.

"Ladies! Is your little chat about make-up or what ever more important than my algebra lesson? He shouted slamming his hand down on the desk making everyone jumped. He returned to the chalk board explaining how to get X by it's self.

"Who?" Sakura asked Ino slightly looking over her shoulder.

"Naruto, look who's looking right at you." Lee whispered looking straight at the pink haired beauty.

"Rock Lee! Haruno Sakura! Outside right now, I will not tolerate disruption." Kakashi hollered as the two slowly walked out into the hall.

Sakura leaned against the wall looking at her feet with a slight blush, "Wow, how embarrassing huh?"

Lee nodded as he neared Sakura so he could bathe in her sweet scent. "Um…so do you have a date for…the Homecoming dance?" He asked fighting off a blush. Sakura's eyes widened and a blush cover her cheeks. "Because I have a friend who is too shy-"

"I'd love to." She giggled. "Tell…your 'friend' I'll be ready at seven…and not to be late!" she smiled as she entered the class room right as the bell rang.

Lee clinched his eyes shut, crap! He thought as Naruto threw his bag at him. "Come on, lunch time!" Naruto cheered as they followed the rest of the herd of students crowding the stairs. The boys sat at their lunch table that they had always sat at. Naruto pigged out on his ramen as Lee picked at his curry. Naruto looked over at his friend. His brow furrowed, "You going to eat that?" He asked as Lee pushed it towards Naruto. He brought a fork full up to his lips then stopped."Wait is this…"He looked to see if any one was listening, "Spicy?" He whispered as Lee shook his head no.

"Not since last time." Lee said sadly looking down at the table, how was he going to tell his best friend that the girl he was in love with thinks that he asked her out…

"Dude! Earth to Lee?!" Naruto burst out as the cafeteria fell silent and a table of the girls from their Algebra class began giggling at them.

"Hi!" Sakura sang to them as she and Hinata giggled Ino sat there her arms tightly cross her chest hating every minuet of it.

Naruto became beet red and Lee gave them a weak wave. He couldn't flirt too much in front of Naruto, he might make a connection that he liked the pink haired beauty and then stress their friendship 

over a girl. No, Sakura wasn't just any girl…she was the up most gorgeous girl, no woman that ever filled a room with a sweet lavender scent. His heart lurched and did flip flops as the intriguing scent neared him but alas he wasn't in the cafeteria anymore nope his mind escaped into a beautiful meadow with the lovely Miss. Sakura Haruno.

Naruto could only stand that dopey smile that took Lee's face. He rolled his blue eyes hitting the back of his neck, "What's the matter with you? You act like you're in love or something…" Naruto spat hatefully as Lee came back to Konoha High.

"Huh?"

"Oh my gosh you are!" Naruto assumed scanning any pretty girls in the direction that Lee was facing. "I see Temari eating with her painted up brother and the sadistic one. Gaara isn't it?" Naruto asked still staring at the boy who was making sand fall onto the table. The sand suddenly stopped and the air felt a bit thick.

"What is it Gaara?" Temari looked up from her compact seeing his stare fixed on to boys who were staring back at him.

I can feel the flutter of their hearts…its making the blood rush through their veins quicker than normal. Gaara thought glaring at the two.

Ino sat there horribly irritated at Sakura for flirting. "You're such a flirt…and a bad one at that." She snapped turning to her food that had sat there for most of the lunch hour. The bell rang and everyone filed out of the cafeteria.

Sakura dragged her feet she didn't want to go to gym, she loathed gym. An idea hit her when she saw Lee and Naruto heading for the gymnasium too. "Hey!" She shouted loping towards them with a smile growing on her face. "Gym really sucks…" She began when she reached them. Both boys agreed. "Why don't we…" She looked to see if anyone was listening, "Skip?" She whispered her smile still growing.

Lee shook his head to quickly disregard that suggestion, "We can't we'll get into trouble, and besides coach Orochimaru will make us run laps on Wednesday if we miss today." Lee stated and regretted it as soon as he did.

Naruto watched Sakura's smile fall, "I think it'd be okay, just this once." He said with his boyish smile and a chuckle in his voice. "Come on Lee do something spontaneous…" Naruto dared, thick with sarcasm. Lee shook his head no and the two were quick to get off campus.

Lee sadly walked into gym as the bell rang Coach was already handing out uniforms for the year, hideously green shorts with dark blue stripes on the side. Everyone went into the locker rooms and changed then quickly came out everyone tugging on the shorts. "Ok twenty laps around the field; come on 'ladies!'" Orochimaru shouted as the boys and girls ran in short tight shorts.

"This is humiliating!" Lee heard Sasuke complain as he quickly finished his laps with lightning speed.

He watched everyone run in groups and wished he had gone with her.

Her giggle filled the air, "Um, truth or dare?" She asked the redness in her face not moving.

Naruto's eyebrow raised, "Dare…" He said so seriously.

Sakura thought a moment looking around the tunnel for inspiration, "I dare you to…tell me something nobody else knows…" She giggled as Naruto's face looked displeased.

"That's not a dare!"
"Yes it is no do it…or you lose…" Sakura pointed out.

"I-I…" Naruto looked down at his feet, "Still sleep with a nightlight…" He admitted with a deep blush.

Sakura laughed hard after that one, "I do too!" She continued to laugh until Naruto got an evil look in his perfect blue eyes.

"Truth or dare?" He asked slowly awaiting her answer.



"Um…truth-"

"That's not fair!"

"How is it not?" She giggled.

Naruto thought a moment then his eyes got all glazy, "Is it true…that you wanna kiss…me?"

Sakura blushed, "That's not fair, you can't just bring up someone who's not here!" She shouted and jumped at her echo.

Naruto looked confused watching her face burn with a blush; he looked away from her hearing the bell ring. He helped her out of the storm drain and headed back to school utterly confused. "Hey Lee! How was gym?" Naruto laughed walking hi best friend back into the building.

Lee looked down, "Boring I should have joined the two of you, oh and we got our uniforms today…short shorts." Lee said with a shudder as the two parted one racing up the stairs one down the hall.

"Today class we will experience the wonders…of life." Gai said his bright black eyes shifted on each face. The bell rang as Sakura raced into the class room and fell into a seat next to Lee breathless. "Miss. Sakura, thank you for joining us today." The man sighed turning to his desk and grabbing an empty fish bowl. "Now everyone gets a little slip of paper and I need you to write your name on it ok?" He asked ripping a piece of notebook paper into slips and passing them to the teens who stared blankly up at him. "Now here's the obvious part, I come around the room and you put the paper in the bowl." He said collecting the folded pieces of paper.

"Lame!" Ino coughed, and began giggling to Hinata whose face was burning red.

The strange teacher gave the blonde a look and took her slip of paper, as soon as he had all of them he rested the bowl on his desk stopping at his notepad.

"I wonder whets going to happen today?" Sakura asked Lee, looking at the home Ec. teacher curiously.

"Ok!" He shouted bringing the bowl back around the class, "Now take one slip of paper, if it's your name or some one of the same gender then please put it back." He instructed.

Sakura held her head in her right hand. A random selection of names who are of the opposite gender…oh my god we're not passing out-

"Choji!?" Ino shrieked loudly looking at the paper then at the boy. Her face became horrified.

Hinata sighed; too bad Naruto-kun isn't in this class…she thought.

"Hyuuga, congratulations you're the next contestant on the bowl is right!" The black eyed teacher exclaimed loudly startling Hinata.

Hinata hesitantly reached into the glass bowl and pulled out a slip, "Sh-Shikamaru…?" She squeaked her face blood red.

"Wanna trade?" Ino offered then quickly got a dirty look from Gai.

Gai stopped in front of Sakura. Sakura shrugged. What ever, its no big deal. She thought until she read in the neat hand writing the name. "Rock…Lee." She gulped as her hands became very clammy.

Gai's eyes widened. He froze refusing to breath at that moment. He fixed his gaze on his pupil, "YEAH! IT'S THE POWER OF YOUTH! Congratulations!" Gai shouted with his thumb up and his eyes watering.

Sakura blushed staring horror-struck at her teacher wondering what had possessed him to do such a thing. She turned to her partner who she could tell was fighting back the urge to give Gai the thumbs up. The bell rang finally and Sakura made a mad dash out of there.

Lee waited until everyone was out of the class room before he approached his teacher, "Gai sensei?" He asked as Gai turned to him smiling.

"Yes Lee?" He asked his eyes began to water again.

"I was wondering something-"

"What? You know you can ask me any thing…"

"Yes, well…um why did you outburst like that? It was kind of embarrassing-"

"What?" Gai asked his smile fell.



"No, no I mean, I respect you…but, you're…to silly." Lee stated looking down.

"Silly?" Gai gasped, "But, Lee you've never complained before-"

"Well I like her, a lot…I'm just afraid she's…afraid of you-"

"I understand, Lee here's a note incase you're tardy now go to class." Gai said coldly to his favorite pupil.

"I'm sorry Sensei!" Lee sighed heading out of the door hanging his head. I wonder what the name picking was for… Lee thought entering the empting hall. "Way to go Rock Lee…" He sighed angrily at himself for upsetting his sensei. The bell rang for the last class as he slowly walked up the stairs, although he loved English he couldn't pay attention he was to distracted by the love of his life, and his fatherly figure.

"Um, L-Lee?" Hinata whispered from her desk that had been pulled against his. She looked at his face she could feel the pain radiating off of him she turned back to the pile of note cards they were working on. "It would be quicker if you helped!" She said hardly audible.

Lee looked at her then hung his head, "I'm sorry I'm letting you down Hinata!" He said loudly as he grabbed some cards read his vocabulary list and began quickly writing them on the lined side of the card.

Hinata stared at him, what got into him? She shook her head, "Lee…you have to draw-"

"How about this, I'll draw for my ten you draw for your ten, and I write the words on all of them?" He asked taking her pile.

She nodded in agreement and finished writing her word, euphonious. She began drawing on the blank side, "Lee…what could symbolize abridge?" She asked thinking and biting the tip of her pencil.

Lee stopped writing and thought a bit, "It means to shorten, to diminish right?" He asked seeing her nod slightly he began to think harder.

"Teacher's will you please send all the freshmen to the auditorium immediately?" The loudspeaker crackled.

"Should we bring our stuff?" Lee asked seeing everyone stuff their backpacks and throw them on their backs. He nodded and did the same the halls were crowed with the youngest high school students crowding through a small double door. Lee saw Naruto and pushed passed some students to greet his best friend as they finally made it inside the auditorium. It wasn't the first day so at lease they wouldn't have to sit through the rules.

"Students we have desided to become open campus." Lady Tsunade began then stopped seeing many confused faces, "Which means you all may go off campus for lunch." She smiled before waves of shouts filled the echoing room. "But! But!" She tried as the students still wouldn't be silenced. "SHUT UP!" She shouted instantly quieting them. She collected her self before continuing, "But if this doesn't work we will have to go back to closed campus, and how an we keep that from happening? Kakashi will tell you that, the floors all yours." She chuckled going to her seat.

The silver haired teacher sighed as he got up on the stage, "Come back to school when lunch is over." He said turning and leaving the stage. The bell rang and all hell broke loose everyone was running shoving just trying to go meet up with friends.

Naruto was very ecstatic he couldn't bring down that smile down a bit. "Lee do you know what this means?" She asked once getting outside the school building.

"Um…we'll have to start bringing lunch money?"

"No! Well yeah but that's not what I mean." Naruto shouted sitting on a big rock beside a green door and a courtyard wall. His smile couldn't move from his face he was truly ok. Naruto sighed hopping up and heading home.

"Bye Naruto!" Lee called hopping onto Naruto's rock. He was smiling the sun warming his cheeks until Neji passed him.

"Lee are you coming?" He asked with a frown watching Lee hop off the rock.



"Oh yes I almost forgot training today!" Lee said following behind Neji. He looked behind him seeing TenTen racing towards them her arms waving wildly.

"Guys!" She shouted reaching them breathlessly, "Guys! Training was canceled!" She said standing next to Neji. Her hand met his and the two of them walked off.

Lee sighed, his smile fell; Gai sensei never canceled training, not even that one time when he broke his arm in three places he was still ready to train. "I hope it wasn't because what I said." He was spinning to see if he could find his beloved sensei. He saw Sakura. His heart leaped into his throat sending a warm salty taste in his mouth.

"Leave me alone Sasuke!" She shouted pulling out of his grip.

Sasuke stood there surprised, "But…you love me…" He hissed closing the distance between them.

Lee watched not able to move just staring blankly at him. From the corner of his eye he saw Gai sensei slowly walking past him his head hanging. Lee focused back on Sakura now seeing Sasuke push her to the ground, why wasn't any body seeing this? He took a deep breath turning to Gai something caught his eye. Sakura's green eyes looking up at him helplessly, now he couldn't turn his back on her. "Leave her alone Sasuke!" Lee shouted running to them and suddenly he disappeared then reappeared right behind him.

"Lee." Sakura gasped when Ino suddenly knelt beside her.

"What the hell? Leave my boyfriend alone Lee!" Ino shouted throwing a high heel at him, "Come on Sakura, let's get you cleaned up." She said helping her up and glaring at Lee.

Lee stood there stunned, "Sasuke was hurting her!" He shouted at Ino's retreating back right as Sasuke turned and shoved Lee to the ground.

"Shut up loser." He hissed gruffly following the girls back into the building.

"What was up with that?" Ino asked wetting a paper towel and lightly dabbing Sakura's scrapped shoulder.

"Ouch." Sakura gasped looking at the running water, "Don't blame Lee, he was saving me-"

"He was attacking my- what do you mean saving you?" Ino snapped staring deep into Sakura's emerald eyes.

Sakura blushed looking down trying to avoid her best friend's defiant stare, "He was hurting me. He pushed me to the ground because I…OUCH!" Sakura pushed away from her friend's harsh hold. "What ever I'm out of here!" Sakura shouted running out of there her eyes watering. "Move!" She shouted smashing into Sasuke sending him down to the tailed floor.

Lee remained on the ground he couldn't believe his adored Sakura side with Sasuke. "It's not fair is it?"

Lee looked up surprised to see Gai's smiling face and an extended hand to help him up. "W-what do you mean sensei?" Lee asked taking his helping hand. Gai began walking away slow enough for Lee to catch up quickly.

"Lee, you do something right for a…friend just to get a fist in the face, well-"

"I get what you mean." Lee chuckled smiling back to Gai, "No its not fair but-"

"Lee!" Sakura called running to them. "Lee!" She shouted again before running into him embracing him into a tight hug. "I never got to thank you…" She whispered in his ear.

Gai smiled down on the two, "I'll see you later." Gai chuckled leaving them alone.

"Sakura, you don't have to apologize, I-" Suddenly he couldn't speak, her lips were touching his. The sweet scent of lavender filled his nose his heart pound hard in his chest he brushed the back of his hand against her soft cheek. In a blink he was staring into her beautiful green eyes.

"L-Lee…" She began with a light blush covering her cheeks. The school campus was empty for the most part it was a quiet and peaceful afternoon.



Lee smiled at her then had a wave of guilt, "Sakura…I-I can't do this." Lee sighed walking off leaving Sakura standing there feeling confused.

"Lee…come back…?" She plead standing there watching him walk away her heart fell deep into her stomach . She closed her eyes tightly shut not wanting to cry not this time. She turned heading towards her home slowly, "I thought…he liked…me." She sighed as she turned a corner and disappeared off of the school's campus.