Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.
Hey guys! This was born out of the blue. And it also kind of served as a birthday gift to myself. It's my first Highschool fic by the way and I hope you enjoy reading it :) So here it goes:
1.
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She seemed happy. She was trying to be. Because she had always been the pink-haired (and trust her, its natural) girl with a bubbly smile on her face.
He had always been the cool type. The prodigy. And everyone else thought he was dark and mysterious. But most of the time, he was just lonely.
She was basically not part of the cool-kid land. She was the normal nerd, like any school has. Straight A's. Never been to detention.
He was the prince of the cool-kid land, although he never asked for it. In fact, he hates it. Because he always gets the impression that sometimes people just seemed to forget that he's human. But he plays his character well. But at certain times when everything is just too tiring, he hides.
He hides in a secret spot inside the library. Well, not exactly secret but not much kids go inside the library so not much knows about it.
On the second floor, between the shelves of Konoha High Academy's Library is a round, wood coffee table with two chairs. Luckily, every time he goes there no one's there. He once checked the books on the shelves, Engineering and Architecture. Figures.
No one would be interested in this section, except for the males and geeks maybe. And luckily, the population of male student since his first year had always been just forty-five percent of the whole student body population. He had heard it was also the same when his elder brother went to school.
He checked the shelf fifth from the window and from the fourth level of the ledge he took a book he hid well between the electrical engineering books. It was paperback with a black covering, from a little distance, she could read the title of the cover— Looking for Alaska.
She fought the urge to be amused and internally she debated whether she should butt in to Uchiha Sasuke's happy time.
But because it was also her favorite spot in the whole town, next to her own bedroom, she sure is going to butt in.
"I finished that book last month." She said as she stood behind him sitting on her chair.
Startled, he almost fell on the chair. But because he was Uchiha Sasuke and Uchihas never fall, he didn't. Taken aback, he was quiet and out of wit. Despite being a proclaimed genius, a prodigy, never did he consider this to happen. He considered a lot of worst case scenarios, like finding out that his brother actually had sex on his room— and he did. For which, he almost beat his brother to death, only he didn't. Or more like, he can't.
But this— this was like an epitome of embarrassment.
The awesome Uchiha Sasuke was reading a young adult, angst novel. Imagine the headlines!
But he thought quick and never lost his composure and his poker face, although she had noticed that he was really taken aback.
"Hn." He went back to reading.
She grinned a little, understanding his little dilemma. And went on the seat across him and settled.
"This is a bit cliché, but you're on my seat."
"Hn."
She figured that he won't budge unless she annoys him completely. But she wasn't really sure if she should be really doing this. She knows this guy. He had been her classmate since kindergarten and a bit of a friend as well until third grade. Everything about him seemed mysterious and cool and indifferent. It was like, he was some sort of land mine, a restricted area, a commercial building that was shut down with a sign 'no entry'. He was someone you shouldn't be meddling with but can't help the urge to. And imagining her fangirls, it gave her shivers.
But after busting him with his little secret, she felt like she had the upper hand. So she leaned forward and took a look at what page he's reading.
"Ah, After." She leaned back to her seat and heaved a big sigh. "I hate that part. In fact, I hate all of it. I hate Alaska. I could never imagine someone to be so selfish. How could she die? How could she kill herself and leave Pudge like that? Everyone has sufferings. Third world countries are suffering. Some kids don't manage to eat three meals a day and that's their suffering! And Alaska—she was so emo just because she forgot her mother's death anniversary?"
She heard a loud noise and she noticed it was the book that was loudly closed. "Oops." She almost whispered. "I'm sorry, I never meant to spoil. Didn't realize you weren't on that part yet." Sakura said playfully.
He stared. Blankly. "You're still annoying as I remember, Sakura."
"I must say, I am touched you remembered me Sasuke." She smiled wryly. "And I must say I am shocked to find you here. Cool kids don't come here, as far as I remember." She stood up, took a large book from one of the nearest shelves, went back to her current seat as she dropped the book carelessly on the table. "This place is a nerd's haven. And I would really appreciate it if you back off before you start bringing your kinds here." She said in a serious tone.
"I don't really need you to appreciate." He backfired. "I like it here and I'm staying."
Sakura was fumed at the last statement. And Sasuke felt the glare that screamed death through her eyes, but ignored it.
I hate you. She thought.
"Then it would be safe to assume that you it doesn't matter to you if the whole school were to know that the oh-so-glory Uchiha Sasuke is hiding inside the nerds' lair reading Looking for Alaska— a so screwed up emo novel."
You do not mess with Haruno Sakura, especially when it's something territorial.
"Hn." He opened the book to the page where he last read and said, "Actually, it doesn't."
Her brows furrowed and her eyes focused on him, hoping he would carry on and enlighten her why he is spitting arrogance on her face.
And gladly he did carry on, "Do you actually believe that the whole school would actually believe a nerd? Need I to remind you who's the famous one here? " He smirk his godly smirk which actually made Sakura turn a light shade of red.
"Funny, how in my memory you were just a little boy who always cling to mommy." She smirked dryly. "I forgot the arrogant prick that you turned out to be."
"Hn."
"Ah yes. That's the idea." She smiled like she won the lottery. No, scratch that. She smiled like she won the world. "Your fangirls, or whoever in school, would probably find it funny that someone like me starts a rumor that someone like you is reading some emo-shit of a book inside my den." She paused for a second and prepared herself as if she's awarding a ceremony. She let out a sigh. And despite the poker face, Sasuke felt that this is not good.
"But someone like me has something precious. Remember kindergarten? Where you were dressed as Little Miss Japan? Oh yes, I still do have the photo." And she could swear she saw his eyebrow arched. Subtle, but not subtle enough.
"I mean, starting a rumor— well, that's what exactly a loser would do. But I'm not a total loser, Sasuke. See, I have perfect leverage. The bulletin board is totally the perfect spot." She grinned so evil. And even though Sasuke would never admit it his whole life, he felt something in his stomach at the memory of that horrible photo. Horrible, horrid, ghastly photo.
"Don't you think you're taking this a bit overly melodramatic?" Of course, he would never lose all his composure. Not in front of Haruno Sakura.
She was silenced for a moment. True, she was taking this too seriously. But this is her place, her territory. It's one of the few places where she felt safety. Comfort. Belongingness.
"You were never the kind to be out-of-place. So you really have no idea how much this place means to me."
She never met his gaze. And he couldn't look at her, too. He knew that there was pain in her voice when she said that. It was silent. Not so awkward. Not so comfortable.
"That's not entirely true, actually." Sasuke finally ended the silence. And Sakura raised her head to look at his expression. His obsidian eyes are still not meeting hers. But her emerald ones were focused on him. "Why do you think I'm here?"
"Because you're emo. And you don't really have to hide that, your fangirls dig that." She said flatly, shattering the almost-serious moment they almost had.
He just smirked, realizing she broke the tension. "I know. But sometimes it feels better to be alone. And not pretend to be anything. At least that was what I felt a few minutes ago."
"Well, my bad." The pinkhead's voice was a bit higher, obviously pissed a bit. But she realized it doesn't really matter now. Arguing against him won't make much sense anyway. "But… Oh well. It's almost time for Calc anyway." Sakura stood up and returned the book to the shelf. "I suppose it won't hurt. You pay this school as well so maybe you deserve every facility they have, including my haven."
She walked away, not looking back and she could feel his eyes following him. She paused for a moment and said, "But it's still mine Uchiha." Loud enough to make him know it was a warning. Soft enough to let him know he could stay.
For a while.
Thank you. He thought.
a/n: I know it's a bit cliche-The nerd and the hot guy. But I'm trying to make something not usual about it. I hope I can xD.
reviews please? :)