Sakura was stunned.

Here she lay on the floor of the classroom staring up at the ceiling with her hand absentmindedly clutching her throbbing cheek. Despite her intellect, her mind just couldn't decipher what had just happened. That didn't stop it from trying though.

That morning had been a pretty standard morning. Wake up, shower, brush hair thoroughly, get dressed, skip breakfast, and meet up with Ino to try and get to the classroom before her. It was all so normal. That is until the blonde kid naruto had decided to approach her. She had noticed him before of course. He had always watched her from a different part of the classroom or playground. Not that it mattered. His grades weren't all that great, most of the teachers didn't seem to like him, the adults didn't like him, and most importantly he wasn't Sasuke. She had watched the boy in orange approach with a large smile. "Hello Sakura-chan I just wanted to say that you look very pretty, would you like to go out with me?"

She didn't quite know why but that made something in her snap. How dare this boy who wasn't Sasuke ask her out. Didn't he know that only someone as cool and handsome as Sasuke could even think of doing so? And the only one on that level was Sasuke himself? She felt the rage reach her face and raised her right hand and curled it into a fist. "You IDIOT!" she cried out as she slammed the fist down on the boys head. Now Sakura may not train all that much. Her body may have been weak from her dieting. However for some reason her punches always carried some serious power behind them. Everyone was sure that the blow would knock the poor boy to the floor. Instead they were surprised to see him standing with his head merely forced to look down.

"What was that for?" he asked sounding honestly confused as her raised a hand to rub his head,. "All I did was ask you out. A simple no would have sufficed."

Sakura was taken aback. Not only had the boy withstood one of her punches but he was questioning her? She didn't even think twice before replying, "It's because you're not Sasuke you idiot!" and took another swing at him.

This time the boy ducked. "Wait so just because I'm not Sasuke, I get hit? This goes for everyone? If a guy walked up to you with flowers and chocolates, and called you pretty before asking you out you would knock them out?"

That gave the pinkette pause; if someone that wasn't Sasuke did that… No focus Sakura you have to save yourself for Sasuke. He was the best after all. He stood at the top of the class. So what if he was cold. And wouldn't give anyone the time of day. And ran from her and the others. And… wouldn't compliment anyone. It… it just meant he needed someone with patience to help warm up his cold heart. Yeah that was it… It had to be. So she couldn't let anyone else get in her way. Even if they did act sweet and romantic, and looked past her forehead. Or even thought it was cute. Even if they promised happiness… it would be mediocre compared to what Sasuke could give… right? Right! "Yes I would." she said with conviction as she took yet another swing. Then another and another. She couldn't hit him. She kept swinging and he just kept dodging. She tried to keep at it but her lack of stamina caught up to her and then something no one saw coming happened. The blonde, who had long stopped smiling, slugged her in the jaw knocking her to the floor.

And that was how she found herself in her current position. She started to sit up and saw the boy frowning at her. "I had asked you out because I thought you were cute and had a really pretty smile. But if this is how you really are then it looks like looks aren't everything." he turned and walked up the stairs to an empty seat next to a pale girl with dark purple hair. The girl blushed rather visibly as the boy sat down. Sakura watched this as something seemed to twinge deep within her. It had felt like she just threw away something very precious yet she couldn't place what or why. After all this is what she wanted right? She turned and looked at Sasuke who just gave an 'hn' and looked away dismissively like always. She looked around the room and saw that her fellow fan girls didn't seem to care, but all the other boys in the room stared at her. It felt like they were judging her and several whispered to each other. Why? Why were they staring and judging her? She did nothing wrong. She was doing what she knew to be right. But then why did it feel so wrong?

She turned inward but found silence. The voice in her head that told her to keep going forward and shared her more aggressive thoughts had shut up. But why? The voice never shut up. It would always encourage her to pursue Sasuke and damn everyone else. So why didn't it say anything now?

By the time Iruka came in to start class she was already in her chair. As class started she felt the absence of a set of eye on her back. This was usually the time the blonde boy would start staring at her. She looked over her shoulder to where he was sitting and saw him instead looking to the girl next him with the same smile he graced her with. Then he looked at her as if sensing her gaze and gave her a cold look before turning back to his companion with that smile of his. Sakura turned back to the front of the class with a shiver. She had seen that look on Sasuke many times. Mostly directed at her. She should be used to it. But then why did it seem to hurt when the blonde used that expression on her?

Did she… did she mess up?