Day 03

Prompt: Carnival

Summary: Sakura is tasked to man the kissing booth at the carnival.

Author's Notes: So this came out of nowhere. 8D I didn't have anything planned for today, to be honest, but what can you do when an idea hits you? This was written in a rush as a result, though, so I didn't have time to proofread much before posting. I'll do it later after I get some sleep. (yawns) Also, this was inspired by a scene from the movie 'She's The Man'. :)

Change log: I edited some things but again, nothing major so there's no need to reread. :)

Warning(s): FLUFF. AU.

Sakura had been dreading this day since her mother brought it up with her two weeks ago.

Haruno Mebuki was part of an elite society reserved only for Konoha's richest and though Sakura would rather not associate herself with such snooty older women and their bratty daughters, she really had no choice on the matter: her mother had finally agreed to let her continue playing soccer for the school team but only if she did this "little" favor.

Things were easier said than done, though.

The Junior League, as the society her mother belonged to was called—Sakura always wondered about the 'Junior' part when it was basically the adults who were running everything—had set up a carnival as a fundraiser for charity and although Sakura was not opposed to the carnival itself nor its cause, it was what she was asked to do that had her wishing she were somewhere else at that moment.

This is for soccer, she had to remind herself as she stared at the wretched booth in front of her and, beyond that, the long line of males that stood waiting for it to open.

'KISSING BOOTH', the banner hanging above her read in elaborate, cheesy-looking cursive—though backwards from her angle—and she could only curse her luck as she eyed some men that… just didn't seem like her type at all.

To prove her point: right at the very front of the line, Rock Lee eagerly bounced on the balls of his feet, his purchased ticket clutched tightly in one of his hands as if he was afraid the wind would blow it away, waving at her too enthusiastically with the other. The dude was nice and all, but Sakura really wished it were someone else in his spot.

This sucks, she thought morosely as she took a seat on the stool situated inside the claustrophobic booth. Luckily enough, she was only expected to be there and be smooched by a bunch of unknown men for 30 minutes before her substitute, some other poor girl, would sit there and be smooched by another bunch of unknown men.

But still, that would be 30 minutes of putting up with all that crap and pretending that she didn't mind having her lips touch someone else's—someone that wasn't a certain raven-haired, onyx-eyed schoolmate of hers that she may or may not have had a crush on since forever and who may or may not like her back, if their casual flirting and their mutual friends' constant teasing were anything to go by.

He could at least be there waiting in line, too, if only to make the whole ordeal worth it, especially since his mother was also a member of the league.

But alas, the crowd was devoid of the handsome face of the Uchiha and she gave a miserable sigh as one of the organizers cheerfully reminded her, "one minute before we open up the booth, dear; and don't forget to smile." The last part was said with as much intimidation as she could inject into her saccharine tone and it made Sakura cringe inwardly at how creepy the woman seemed.

She turned toward the front to face the queue with a forced smile, fists bunching up the material of her dress on her lap in nervousness. She was shaking, that much she was aware of, but the organizer merely placed her hand on Sakura's shoulder and squeezed it, albeit too tightly to properly comfort the girl in any way.

When the time to start operations finally came, the organizer happily called out to the first customer—an excited Lee who was adorning the biggest grin she'd ever seen from him—and Sakura drew in a breath at the impending awkwardness. She shut her eyes real tight and willed for the next 30 minutes to pass by quicker than ever as she sat stock-still.

However, as she waited for the unpleasant feeling of an unwanted kiss, she came to the realization that nothing was really happening.

Opening one eye to peek at her surroundings, Sakura noticed with much surprise that instead of Lee, it was another person's face hovering in front her, a familiar and confident smirk in place. Behind him, she could easily spot Lee's and everyone else's disgruntled glares directed at Sasuke—but he really didn't seem to mind one bit.

From beside her, the organizer tried to placate the mob that started complaining about him cutting in line and turned toward the Uchiha, scandalized and on the verge of panicking.

"Uchiha-san, just what do you think you're doing?" the older woman scolded.

"I have come to kiss Miss Haruno," he stated all-too-casually. Sakura blushed and nearly choked on her spit at his bluntness, but the organizer was not amused at all.

"Thank you for taking interest in our kissing booth, Uchiha-san, but I'm afraid that you have to buy a ticket first before you get to do that," she informed him with fake politeness accompanied by a fake smile.

"I already did that."

"Then you're going to have to wait in line."

At this, Sasuke shook his head disapprovingly and said, "Ah, I'm afraid I can't do that. You see, I've paid for enough tickets for the entirety of Miss Haruno's shift and so I have to claim my purchase right now; otherwise, I won't be able to get my money's worth."

Sakura merely sat there dumbfounded as she allowed his words to sink in. Sasuke then turned to her and reached out to take one of her hands before gesturing for her to follow him.

She dazedly nodded in agreement and let go of his hand in order to exit the booth, the organizer stunned into silence as Sakura walked past without even so much as a glance, before joining Sasuke at his side as they stalked off.

"Hey! Hold on just a minute, buddy! We paid for the kissing booth, too, y'know!" protested one of the guys in line.

Sasuke, ever the arrogant one, turned to the man and responded, "So wait for the next shift." Then, to drive the point home, he took one of Sakura's hands in his once more and confidently declared, "This one's mine," walking away as they left the men to their grumbling.

It was silent between them for a few minutes as Sakura tried to digest the implications of his words; but first, she had to thank him. "You really saved me back there, Sasuke-kun. Thank you."

The tips of his ears burned red but he nodded in acknowledgment anyway.

"I meant what I said back there," he told her, abruptly stopping in his tracks.

Not quite sure of what he was referring to, she cocked her head to the side in confusion and waited for him to clarify.

"About you being mine," Sasuke explained, looking serious but very much sincere despite the flush spreading to his cheeks, and she couldn't help blushing, too.

However, she swiftly regained her composure and proceeded to give him a smirk that could probably rival his own. "Okay, but how about those 30 minutes' worth of kisses? Do you still intend on claiming them?"

"Are you suggesting we make out for 30 minutes?" he teased right back, amused and no longer shy himself.

"Hey now. Who said anything about making out? That was only an innocent kissing booth!" she countered with a carefree laugh.

He smiled fondly at her despite her remark and quipped, "Well, we'll get to that eventually, I suppose. By then I assume it'd be free of charge."

She hummed thoughtfully before sending a grin his way. "I guess we'll have to see about that. But for now—," she said as she stepped closer to him and tip-toed to wrap her arms around his neck.

"Here's the first of the kisses you purchased," Sakura whispered, their noses touching and lips mere centimeters apart, before closing the gap between them and giving him just what he paid for and more.