Title: Happily Ever After

Genre: Humor/ romance

Summary: "This is all your fault Sasuke-kun," Sasuke snorted making the adult Haruno even madder. "How so?" Sasuke raised his brows. "Sakura didn't believes in 'Happily Ever After' anymore,"

ONE

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I cursed myself silently as the red stop figure lightens up just as I reached the zebra crossing. Honking buzzes through the air and people busying themselves either with chatting, texting or on the phone.

I sigh inwardly as I look at the moving cars on the street. The school is almost one kilometer from my house and yet my mother refused to drive me because she has the whole 'destined encounter' going on in her head.

She loves love, I mean the whole cliché-but-sweet-romantic-love thing. She watches too much romance drama and she believes, by having me walking to school by foot would increase the chances of me meeting my fated ones (as she called them).

"Think about it, as you walk aimlessly

(I don't walk aimlessly…my aim obviously would be the school)

your heels suddenly got stuck in a tiny hole,

(you know I always wear flats)

or falls…

(I'm not that clumsy, you know how flexible I am)

or knock into your fated one

(hello! I've got prefect eyesight I can obviously dodge people)

…and immediately falls in love…

(there's nothing stopping you isn't it?)

…and then, you two would keep looking at each other as you part

(I'm speechless)

and by destiny, you two met again…

(I'm totally speechless!)

at the school,

(I can't listen to this anymore)

or at your favorite bookstore

(that's a lie….hello! we just moved, therefore there's no single 'my favorite' thing going on yet in this town)

or at the just opened café

(…)

or at the…

(this is not gonna end isn't it?)

Think about it. Isn't it great dear?" She finally stops her fantasies about my non-existence love life ignoring my thoughts which I clearly voiced out loud and clear. Thus, bringing me in my current situation, which is me walking to school when my mom is clearly capable of driving me all the way to school on her way to her new workplace.

You probably have it figured, but my family consist of only me and my mom (and her weird theory of love). They just had a divorce, which reasons they (try to) hide from me since my mom don't want the whole me-turning-bad-and-depressed-due-to-mom-and-dad-conflict thing going on.

"We don't love each other anymore," is what my mom told me with a totally made-up convincing expression as if I'm a mere two years old child when I saw the divorced papers. But I didn't pry more into it (not like I was asking in the first place) since I know how hurt my mom had been (..and well, I know the real reason already).

Since my mom loves love, she obviously believes in 'happily ever after' and deeply loved my father very much, but clearly my father didn't feel as much (although I heard him begging my mother not to leave him the night my mother presents him with the papers claiming that he still loves her) since he keep on cheating on my mom with some other younger girls (which I happen to saw couple of times). But I think he do love mother, he's just too stupid and too egoistic. After the divorce, my mom got a full custody of me, which I gladly comply and we decided (more like her only) to moved and starting anew.

"Go ahead and introduced yourself," I can't help but stare at the masked figure in front of me who is supposedly to be my homeroom teacher (he doesn't sounds like he got a cold and the fact that his skin looks young but his hair are all grey amazed me). Upon arriving at the school (rather reluctantly) I immediately head to the principal office and was brought to this teacher who's known as Hatake Kakashi and he brought me to his class while mumbling about 'having to come early to class' to himself.

"Haruno Sakura," ...and I ended it. I don't really do introduction since it's obviously going to be useless anyway, not like these people are going to pay attention and actually remembers a thing about I say (I even saw people throwing paper plane at each other...what are they? Two?). In fact, they won't even remember my name I bet. Except for the pink thing going on about me. Yeah, believed it or not I've got pink hair as in naturally bubblegum pink hair.

"…cold," Kakashi-sensei (he insisted on being called by his first name) raised his right brows as he looked at me probably anticipating a more exaggerated introduction. I just smile awkwardly at his remarks.

The class went on pretty normal afterwards, Kakashi assigned a set of exercise (he's also my math teacher) and went on reading a suspicious looking (even his giggle creeps me out) orange novel by the title 'come come paradise' (is he really a teacher?).

I almost yelped as a crumple piece of paper lands on my table suddenly. I stare at it for approximately 3 minutes before turning around searching for the responsible twerp that I'm gonna beat up afterwards.

I stopped at a grinning idiot blonde who practically screamed 'I did it but I'm innocent' on his face. I narrowed my eyes at him and he motioned his finger pointing to his desk asking me to read. I frowned and a smirk makes it way on my face.

I lifted up the crumpled paper showing it to him who in return nods furiously and soon turns devastated and me smirking triumph and the paper flying freely outside the building.

The cycle pretty much continues (minus my triumph smirking) for several times before I grow impatient and finally gave up (seriously this guy has so much endurance).

[Hey! I'm Uzumaki Naruto. If you have any question just ask the great me.]

There, I read it and crumpled it back and throw it out again.

[Hey! Come on. I'm bored~ Let's chat ^^]

[Neeeee Sakura-chan. Don't ignore me.]

[Sakura-chan where did you come from?]

[Sakura-chan do you have a boyfriend?]

[Hey! I'm don't-care-whoever-or-whatever-you-are-and-obviously-don't-want-to-be-bothered-and-don't-want-to-be-called-Sakura-chan-by-the-retarded-you. If you have any questions do not ask me!]

To add, I even take the initiative to glare at him and finally no more crumpled papers were seen on my desk.

"Sakura-chan!" I blinked twice as I saw Uzumaki Naruto plopping down his chin on my desk in front of me.

"Yes, Uzumaki Naruto-san?" I replied, Kakashi-sensei's period is already over and English was supposed to follows after.

"No! No! Just call me Naruto," The blonde grin like an idiot and took a chair from the seat in front of mine and pull it over to sit. "Ehe…I actually thought you're gonna brush me off and were totally prepared,"

"I don't like people bothering me during lesson," I do have the urge of brushing him off just now though but decide to be nice considering his endurance.

"Ah! Is that so? I thought you're cold, just like teme!" I never thought this guy could be so loud. I mean, I'm just right in front of him and just him talking sounds like yelling.

"Hey, isn't the teacher supposed to have entered by now?" I asked, doodling randomly on my notebook.

"Hmm don't know. I don't mind even if the teacher didn't come in though," Naruto grins somehow make me smile. "Hey teme! Where is Kurenai-sensei?" I jumped slightly as Naruto suddenly screamed looking over behind my seat.

"Hn,"

I turned around on impulse and immediately look front again. Naruto frown and suddenly lean closer to me.

"What's wrong Sakura-chan?"

"Nothing! Nothing is wrong," That came out rather intense. I smile to reassure him but it turns awkward. "…guess the English teacher is late huh?" its so obvious that I was trying to change the topic.

"Yeah, oi teme! Don't just 'hn-ed' me. You're our class representative," and thank god for Naruto's idiocy. His attention turns to the one behind me.

As soon as the bells ring, I (try to) walk calmly and quickly out of the class eager to escape from this cruel reality. I sigh in relieve as I'm far enough from my classroom, wrinkles appear on my forehead as I think harder.

I should have known. Mother was overly enthusiastic and it would explain her whole exaggerate explanation regarding 'destined encounter' this morning. I'm going to kill her!

"Sakura-chan," I yelped as Naruto greeted me from behind and accidentally punched him on the nose.

"Ah, I'm sorry Naruto. You…haha you surprised me," I managed an awkward laugh as I turned around to find out Naruto cupping his nose. That got to hurt since I put a lot of strength in that punch.

"No worries Sakura-chan, I'm fine," Naruto raised one of his hands to assure me but I knew better. I sigh taking out my tissue pack.

"Let me see it Naruto," Naruto moves his hand and redness covers his nose, I let out a sudden laugh, he looks like Rudolph and it's not even winter.

"What Sakura-chan?"

"Nothing," I smile meekly and just shoved him a piece of tissue. "I'm glad it's nothing serious,"

"Told you so,"

I think that I must have done something bad in my previous life, I mean I keep meeting people I would rather avoid in my whole life. I almost screamed when Naruto, who kindly enough to offer me to eat lunch together direct me towards a table full of people in which a beautiful blonde includes. Her hair, eyes, figure of speech and the way she move haven't change at all.

"Guys, this is Sakura-chan. Well, Hinata-chan met her already, she's a transfer student in our class," Even though I tell myself over and over not to stare at her, my eyes seems to have mind of its own.

"Sakura?" I can sense a really surprised voice came out of her mouth and I can feel my mouth distort a little.

"Ah, hey?" I greeted totally unsure what to do. Should I leave? Or should I just pretend I didn't remember her.

"You haven't really change all these years huh," leave, yeah I should leave.

"What, you know her Ino?" I flinched upon hearing her name. I can't believe I'll be hearing my best friend's name again err..ex-best friend. I gulped.

"Know her? That would be an understatement," Ino smirked, totally had me at the tip of her fingers.

The atmosphere suddenly turned tense. Everyone else on the table just remains silent probably figure out the source of the tensed atmosphere. I was ready to leave and had already turned around when suddenly the number one person I refused to meet again was standing right in front of me. That causes a sudden action of me turning back.

"Oh, hey teme. Where were you?" Unfortunately the one person I hope to save me is totally clueless of the current situation.

"I better leave, thanks for the invite though Naruto," I immediately take my leave out of the cafeteria, refusing to turn back although I heard Naruto calling me.

Maybe I've done something bad towards Naruto in my past life, that's why he's making me meet these people I don't want to. I'm getting a transfer back. I don't care even if I have to live in a dormitory back in Suna. I'll even get myself expelled if my mother refused to do so.

The rest of the day is even worst. Every single time, I have to be careful not to mistakenly turn around. Even after the school ended, I abruptly stand up and almost run into him who is already right beside me. But he just continues to ignore me (thankfully) and I survive the day.

The walk to home feels unnecessarily longer when compared to heading to school this morning. I sigh heavily while looking up into the sky. How could I have forgotten my own hometown? It doesn't even feel nostalgic walking around here again. Nothing reminds me of the past, except for 'those' two at school. I feel like I've been deceived (which totally true). She even goes as far as quitting her favourite job back in Suna.

Oh my god! That gotta be it! She was asking me over and over whether I'm excited or not to be moving back to Konoha! (...and I thought she had lost her mind).

For all my life, my childhood life mostly I spend in Suna and I barely remember my own hometown (but I do remember perfectly what happen at the said town though). We had moved when I was four (I think) and I didn't even bother to remember the name of my hometown which I do not want to set foot in again.

I stopped abruptly as I feel vibration from the left pocket of my uniform. Flipping my phone open, my face finally lit up as I read the caller ID displayed on the screen.

"Te-"

"Sakura-chan!!" looks like she's faster than me. I giggle as I squinted my left eye from her screaming.

"Yes, good to hear you're all cheerful Temari," I greeted finally smiling contently for the day.

"We missed you Sa-chan," I let out a laugh as I hear Kankuro's voice whom I recognize very well and the only one who calls me 'Sa-chan'. Temari must have put her phone on loudspeaker.

"I miss you guys too! ...and it's been only two days,"

"So, how's your new school?" my smile turned upside down as I reminisce the events occurring during lunch time.

"Sa-chan?"

"I don't think I can survive another day at school without you guys," I confessed almost wailing. Get this, I seldom wails...

"Then just transfer back, you can live with us. There's no need for you to move into the dormitory," another masculine voice makes me grin even wider as I recognize him very well.

"What, you were there Gaara? Should have said something earlier," I exclaimed totally forgetting about my previous worries.

"He's just sulking since you decided to leave after all. But I guess, he can't resist your whining," Temari explained. I can totally see her grinning mischievously at Gaara right now who in turn only glares back.

Me and Gaara go way back. The day I enters Suna Kindergartenwe stick together like glue. No, not like how you imagine, we're just best friend. Yeah, says who girls can't be best friends with guys? It's happening and you should just shut up and learn to accept it.

"That's reaaaaaallly tempting. In fact I wanted to pack up all my things right this moment, took the earliest train available to Suna. But, I only have one mother in this life and I'm not gonna leave her alone. Especially at this time, she needs me, period," I admit that my mother may seem happy-go-lucky and gets on my nerve every time she opens her mouth going on about her weird theory of love, but deep inside her heart she's breaking silently trying to piece her 'un-repairable' self back together.

"Well yeah, about your mother…we're very sorry. But, you can still come and visits us sometimes right?"

"Of course! I wish vacation comes early," I sigh and we proceed to a more favorable topic.

"Yo, Sakura-chan," I almost dropped my cell phone right that moment.

"Na…Naruto," I'm actually going for the calm and composed look but clearly I failed miserably and end up with a distorted smile.

"What's wrong with you Sakura-chan? You've been really weird. Or is that your usual behavior?"

"Are you done or not?" I tensed up immediately as I heard his voice for the first time. I had realized Naruto is with him but I didn't expect for him to speak.

"Right, wanna hop in Sakura-chan?"

"Erm…that… it's okay! I love walking you see,"

"Come on, it's not much trouble anyway,"

"Really…it's o-"

"Just get in woman!"

I think I'm going to pray and ask for forgiveness from Kami-sama for whatever sin I've done in my past life…

…and to Naruto also.

The journey to my house is just like I expected, really tense. It was mostly Naruto who's doing the talking and I would sometime answers with a nod or 'yeah' and 'hmm'.

Uchiha Sasuke on the other hand, just remains silent and his eyes fixed on the road. Even when Naruto introduced us he just remains calm not showing any reaction that he knows me or whatsoever when I'm on the other hand have difficulty to even breathe and my heart is pounding like crazy.

"Bye Sakura-chan," I just smile at Naruto who waved frantically at me. They had dropped me off right in front of my house. I guess he didn't remember me after all. Though it's kind of ridiculous since there's no way he would forget a childhood friend with a naturally pink hair. However, for now, that seems to be what I wanted to believe…or hope so.

I think…that could have turned out better, but no matter how much I try and change it over and over again, I still can't get the impact I wanted. It just won't come out. So yeah, try not to flame, constructive critics are appreciated though

…and yes if you've read my previous story, it's been deleted. I've left it for so long and still don't have a good flow of plot. The story just kinda died and I decided to delete it (it's not even that good anyway). But I hope I have more endurance to actually finish this one.

That being said… yes, no actual plot yet but it's getting there. Also, English is not my first language, so bear with the grammatical errors and incorrect sentence structures (Do tell me about it though). I know I've got broken English (LoL).

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