-The Seed of Doubt-

We were in his car in front of my house. We just came from a nice dinner date. Getting to spend time with him left me in a giddy mood, especially since we didn't get to go out too often. Between how busy we have been with school and the strictness of my parents when it comes to going out, dates like these hardly happened nowadays. Not that we didn't get to spend much time together. We were practically inseparable at school and it was never difficult to keep in touch thanks to cellphones and the internet. These dates were just a bit more special than how we regularly hung out.

I turned to him with a smile on my face and moved to give him a hug and thank him for the night out and the ride home like I usually do. I was about to pull away when he stopped me. He held me close and quietly said my name.

"Sakura"

He pulled away slowly and looked at me with that shy but happy and loving look I had grown accustomed to in the months that we have been dating. And we have been dating for quite a while. Almost seven months. While we weren't official, we definitely seemed like we were.

"Yes Sasuke?" I looked at him with a curious look on my face. It was like I already knew what he was up to. It was kind of long overdue given that nowadays people don't really do much dating and go straight to the whole boyfriend girlfriend relationship. He took my hands in his and looked me straight in the eye and I felt my heart stop.

"Let's make it official. Will you be my girlfriend?"

Time seemed slower and I couldn't really think. I had been waiting for this moment and I had been sure I'd say yes. Seconds passed and I still hadn't uttered a single sound. Suddenly my heart was racing and I felt the pressure to give him an answer.

"Sasuke. . ."

It was all that I could get out. I tried focusing on him and I noticed the look on his faced was replaced with a worried look. Disappointment seeped in as it slowly dawned on him that this wasn't going to go as he expected. I couldn't stand to look at what I was doing to him so I pulled him into a hug.

"I'm sorry. But no."

I felt him tense up in my arms. I can't believe that those were the words that just came out of my mouth.

"Why?"

He sounded so broken. I let him go but I still couldn't bring myself to look at him.

'I don't know' "I'm not ready yet. I'm sorry"

He didn't deserve this. He was nothing but great. He made me feel special. He took care of me. He did everything he could to make me happy. He did everything right. So what was wrong?

". . . Okay. . ."

My heart felt so heavy with guilt.

"Good night . . . I. . . I'll talk to you tomorrow?"

I forced myself to look at him and I felt my heart break at the sight that greeted me.

He forced a smile but his eyes told me all the emotions he was feeling. Disappointment, confusion, sadness, and. . .

Hurt.

"Yeah. . . Night Sakura"

I watched his car as he drove off and wondered. . .

'Why didn't I say yes?'