Pretend that everyone is American. They all have American customs. Everyone is American...they just have Japanese names. haha :)

Chapter One

The Meeting

"Mmm, this is really good!" Sakura said while smiling around her spoon.

"Jiraiya thought you would like it," Sai commented as he stuck his hands into his apron's pocket.

"Oh please, she loves anything cherry related." Ino pointed out.

Sakura laughed. "I can't argue with that," she said as she scooped another spoonful of Jiraiya's Sweetshop's newest creation: the Cherry Blossom Sundae. She and Ino had chosen to stop by the shop before heading home after school.

"And I love my sundae." Ino spooned her Triple Chocolate Mudslide into her mouth. After she swallowed she turned to Sai. "You knew what I wanted before I even ordered." Ino grinned.

Sai blushed slightly but even the slightest blush looked beet red against his pale skin. He cleared his throat. "Well, you always order that right? And if a guy doesn't even know his own girlfriend's favorite things—"

Ino's laugh interrupted him and Sai blushed more profusely. "Come here," she said as she pulled him by his apron's straps.

Sakura watched the happy couple share a kiss. She looked down at her lap and fidgeted slightly in her chair. She let the spoon dangle in her mouth as she peeked through her bangs. Sakura felt a pang of sadness as she saw the two rubbing noses and exchanging silly lovers' talk. She immediately dropped her eyes again.

Don't get her wrong, she was really happy for them—really!—but their lovey-dovey scenes brought up some nostalgic memories. Oh, how it reminded her of—

"Oi, Lover-Boy! You're supposed to be workin' back here!" Naruto called from behind the register and the long line of people waiting to order. Sakura looked up while Sai and Ino pulled apart to glare at the blonde annoyance. "What! It's gettin' packed and I need help!"

Sai sighed. "Looks like No-Balls over there won't shut up until I go help him."

"Gah! I heard that!" Naruto exclaimed as a group of girls giggled.

Sai walked back behind the counter. "You were supposed to…"

That's when Jiraiya burst in. "Oh-ho, is that giggles I hear! My pretty girl senses are tingling!" He ran up to the register and pushed Naruto out of the way.

Naruto skidded across the floor and into the wall. "Gah! Pervy Manager!" Naruto exclaimed as the same group of girls giggled. Sai just stood by with his usual blank expression.

"Ah-ha-ha, hello ladies!" Jiraiya greeted. "What can I do for you on this fine day?" You could just see the drool begin to drip from his mouth.

Ino stood up. "Maybe we should get going too," she said through clenched teeth. "Sai, I'm leaving!" She yelled as she quickly took her remaining sundae to go. Sakura followed suit and called a farewell as they exited. Both girls were now on the streets of Konoha.

"That's good timing," Sakura started. "It was getting too crowded for my taste." She bit down on another spoonful of cherry ice-cream to keep from laughing.

Ino huffed. "That guy really creeps me out! If it weren't for Sai or my chocoholic self I'd never go there again!" She suddenly brightened. "Speaking of Sai, we were planning on inviting everyone to that new teen club they're opening up next Saturday."

"Eh, that's not really my scene." Sakura breathed out.

"What are you talking about! You used to love dancing!"

"It's not the same without—"

Ino held her hand up to silence her. "That's why you should go so you can meet someone new." She sighed. "Sakura, you can't stay single forever. Think about it, Sai and me, Hinata and Naruto, Tenten and Neji, Temari and Shikamaru and—for crying out loud!—even Gaara and Matsuri are together! You know how antisocial Gaara is!"

Sakura sighed in frustration. She knew where this was going. "What's your point, Pig?"

Ino twitched slightly then took a deep breath. "My point…is everyone's found their other half and we want the same for you. It kills me seeing you mope around—"

"Well, maybe I can't ever be happy again! My 'other half' is halfway across the country!" Sakura snapped. "Just leave it alone, Pig!"

"He is not your other half and stop calling me Pig! Billboard Brow!" Ino growled back. That's when the insults flew as they walked through town.

"Ya know what Forehead! How about I stick my foot up your—Ah, Sakura! Look out!"

"What the hell are you going on about—Ah!" Sakura slammed into someone. "Ah, I'm sorry! I didn't mean to…" She started but she stopped to view the horror in front of her. Her sundae had ended up on the other person's white shirt! If the ice-cream didn't stain it, the cherry syrup sure would! "Oh no! I'm so sorry!" She grabbed the napkins she had stuffed in her pocket and began wiping.

"Ugh! You think 'sorry' is going to fix this!"

Sakura looked up at mid-wipe. "Hey! At least I said sorry! You as—" Her insult suddenly caught in her throat. Oh God… she had just bumped into a guy…a very good-looking one at that.

He narrowed his eyes at her. "Come again? Are you going to finish that sentence?"

Sakura immediately scowled. He's just another good-looking jerk! She told herself. I've met enough in my lifetime, thank you very much!

"Like I said, I didn't do it purposely." She said as calmly as she could.

"Like that matters! My patience is very low as it is so what are you going to do about this!"

Sakura yanked the napkin away from his chest and put a hand to her hip. "Well I was going to help you clean up a bit but you piss me off so do it yourself!" She shouted as she threw the wad of napkins at his chest.

To her anger, he caught them perfectly. "I piss you off! I think it's the other way around, Little Girl."

"I am not a little girl! Aren't we, like, the same age! And it's your fault! Who just stands around in the middle of a sidewalk like some idiot!"

"Oh-ho, I'm the idiot! Really? Maybe you should watch where you're going next time!"

Sakura turned away from him and crossed her arms. She focused her glare at a shop window. If she got any angrier at this jerk she'd end up killing him. She then stuck her nose in the air and shut her eyes. "I refuse to partake in your petty, childish arguments."

He raised a brow at her. "What the fuc—OW!" He was now hopping up and down on his right foot and cradling his left. "Did you just stomp on my foot?"

"C'mon, Ino!" Sakura shouted as she grabbed her friend's hand and started to run.

"You brat!" The jerk yelled after her.

Sakura turned back to stick her tounge out at him. When they were a good distance away Sakura let go of Ino's hand. "Good. We're safe," she confirmed as she turned to Ino who was literally rolling on the floor laughing her ass off.

"Bahahahahahahahaha!"

"What's so funny!"

Ino wiped a tear from her eye. "I think…in your own way…you….just…flirted!" Ino exclaimed between laughs.

Sakura snorted. "As if! He was a total jerk! Anyways, I need to get home."

When Ino got her breathing under control, she stood up and dusted herself off. "Fine, but I know you can't deny it Billboard Brow, you think he's hot."

"He's a jerk," Sakura repeated.

"You're not answering the question," Ino sang.

"Okay I'm leaving now!"

"Hey! Wait up!" Ino yelled as she ran after her.

Ugh, damn it! That stupid brat! Now my shirt is a mess and I'm all sticky! He thought.

And where was his grandmother! She was supposed to be at the bus station at 3:30 and it was already 4! She knew he hated to be kept waiting! He paced back and forth while cursing under his breath.

"Sasori? Is that you?"

He stopped at mid-pace and looked up. Sasori sighed. "Hello, grandmother."

Her eyes dropped down to his shirt. "My! What on Earth happened—"

His glare silenced her. "I don't want to talk about it."

Chiyo smiled rather timidly. "Well, shall we get going?"

"Ah-ha-ha," Sasori laughed bitterly. "I was ready to 'get going' about half an hour ago."

"I apologize. I had business to take care of," Chiyo said as she headed to her car.

"Right," Sasori responded as he grabbed his luggage and followed her.

"But I'll make it up to you!" Chiyo's face suddenly brightened up. "For dinner tonight I invited one of our neighbors to eat with us. I think you'll like her she's around your age. She always comes over and helps me with housework. She's feisty at times but kind nonetheless."

"Feisty, huh?" Sasori's mind went back to the brat.

"We're here!" Chiyo exclaimed as she opened the front door to her home.

Sasori walked in and set his bags down. "It's….nice," he managed.

His grandmother smiled anyways. "Those can go upstairs to your room," Chiyo said, referring to his luggage. "It's the first door to the left and there's a bathroom attached if you want to clean up a bit. Is the rest of your stuff coming later?"

He nodded. "The Bitch said she'd come extra early so she wouldn't have to see me. I hope you're up by then." Sasori stated as he lugged his stuff upstairs before she could comment on his use of language. He opened the door to his room and shut himself in. He immediately went to the attached bathroom and hopped into the shower.

At least the old hag had the mind to get the bathroom ready for a guy, Sasori thought as he reached for the Axe brand shampoo. When he was done showering, he quickly dried himself off and changed into a black v-neck t-shirt, which had his old school's emblem—a red cloud, and an old pair of jeans that were becoming frayed at the knees.

Sasori looked at his new room. There was a bed, a nightstand, and a dresser but other than that it was pretty bare. He coiled his face in disgust at the light blue walls. Yup, he'd definitely have to paint over that. He plopped himself down onto the white-sheeted bed and stared up at the ceiling.

Yup, you're life has reached total boredom, he thought bitterly. At least you had fun when with the guys when you lived with the Bitch.

Sasori heaved out another sigh as he left the room and headed down the stairs. He was still using the towel to dry his hair. As he rounded the corner to the foyer he saw his grandmother talking to someone at the front door. He stopped.

"So he's up in his room?" The other person had said.

"Yes, but come in, come in!" His grandmother insisted.

"Who's that?" Sasori suddenly asked. That other voice sounded familiar to him. He didn't know why but it kinda annoyed him too.

"Ah, here he is now! Sakura meet Sasori and Sasori this is Sakura," Chiyo said as she moved aside to reveal a very familiar girl. Her smile faded in an instant and Sasori dropped his towel.

"You!" They both exclaimed simultaneously as they both pointed an accusatory finger to the other.

Yup, there was no mistaking that roseate hair and those cat-like, emerald eyes. She was the girl responsible for his ruined shirt and still throbbing foot.

This had to be a joke! She blinked. No it was the same red hair with a slight wave and sharp brown eyes. He was the same jerk from earlier!

Dun-da-dunnnnn! :) Well that was the first chapter, tell me what you think and once I get some feedback I shall continue. Thanks for reading!