Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or the song Don't Stand So Close To Me.

Chapter Three:

Temptation, frustration

So bad it makes him cry

Wet bus stop, she's waiting

His car is warm and dry

Kakashi was just about to run to his car through the rain when he realized he forgot something back in his office. As he traipsed back down the long hallway, he got lost in his thoughts along the way.

Every corner reminded him of her. She'd be at her locker smiling and laughing as she talked with her friends, and then catching his eye, she would send him one of her special smiles. He knew it was wrong for her to pay that kind of attention to him, but he just couldn't bring himself to confront her about it. Truth be told, he enjoyed it. But it could never go any further than a smile in the hallway, and that's what had him leaning against a locker trying to reign himself in, tears of pent up frustration leaking from his eye and soaking into his mask.

After a few moments, he shook his head and began making his way again back to his office.

***

Sakura pulled herself up onto her hands and knees. Her clothes were soaked through completely and the contents of her bag were strewn across the soggy concrete. With some effort, she stood and began to gather her soiled belongings, tears mingling with the rain on her face.

As she trudged down the damp sidewalk, rain pounding into her skull, she noticed there was a bus stop up ahead. She hurried towards it as fast as her sore limbs could handle and soon escaped the beating rain. She then sat down on the hard wooden bench to wait for a bus that could possibly take her somewhere close to home. Somewhere other than this hell.

***

Kakashi ran into the puddle riddled parking lot and fumbled with his keys as he neared his car. Once he was inside, he quickly started the engine and turned the heater up. He then backed out and was on the road for maybe a minute when he noticed a familiar pink head sagging under an old wooden bus stop.

He stopped quickly and rolled down his window.

"Sakura?"

Sakura's head snapped up as she heard her name. Kakashi was quick to take in her battered appearance and the slight bruise forming along her right cheek as though she'd been punched in the face.

"Sakura, what on Earth happened to you?" Kakashi couldn't keep the anger from his voice. "Who did this?" he didn't wait for an answer.

Sakura watched as he reached over and opened the passenger side door. A small wave of the heat inside wafted onto the skin of her chilled cheeks and it felt like heaven for a moment.

"Come on, get in and I'll take you home," said Kakashi warmly. His anger was swiftly replaced with sympathy and all he wanted was for her to be warm and happy again.

"But…but I'm all wet. I'll ruin your seats," said Sakura quietly. Kakashi had to strain to hear her.

"Nonsense," he said as he began to rummage around slightly in his back seat. He triumphantly pulled a worn old green towel out and proceeded to place it over the passenger's seat. "There, now hurry and get in before you catch pneumonia."

Sakura gladly ran to the warm haven of Kakashi's car and was soon warm inside and out as four vents blasted warm air at her from all sides.

After a few moments of awkward silence, Kakashi's curiosity got the better of him.

"Sakura, please tell me, who did this to you?" she looked out the window at the fog and rain outside.

"No one, Mr. Hatake, I was just walking home and I tripped and fell," she said slowly, more to the window than to him it seemed.

"You know, we're not in school at the moment. You don't have to call me Mr. Hatake," he said, in an attempt to lighten the mood.

"Ok," she said quietly.

"So, Sakura, where do you live?" he asked. He hated this awkwardness more than anything. He wanted so badly for her to be comfortable around him.

"Just turn right on Konoha Blvd. and it's the third house on the left," her voice was dull.

"Sakura, I know someone gave you those bruises. You don't have to tell me who right now, but could you tell me why at least?"

Sakura suddenly burst into tears startling Kakashi so much he nearly went off the road.

"It's so horrible! Kakashi, they…they think I'm sleeping with you so you'll give me a higher GPA…" said Sakura between sobs.

He had suspected as much what with the way the other students gossiped and griped about his special treatment towards Sakura. He should never have singled her out. He should have done his best to keep his distance and treat her like any other student, but he knew that it was a losing battle either way. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't stay away, and now she'd paid the price for his obsession.

"Kakashi…you missed the turn," said Sakura absentmindedly. Her sobs had subsided quickly and left her feeling slightly numb inside. She was staring at him and the odd look in his visible eye.

"What? Oh, I'm sorry. I guess I just got distracted," he said as he pulled over, intending to make a U-turn once the road was clear.

In his frustration, he pulled down his mask in an attempt to make it easier to breath. He didn't notice the small gasp or the wide eyes of his passenger. He did notice, however, a small, cool hand reach out and touch his cheek so tenderly, that he couldn't help but lean into it.

When he turned to face her, her viridian eyes were opened wide and sparkling brighter than ever. She was still caressing his cheek.

"Sakura…" he whispered as he gazed back down into her eyes. She blinked, and in that second the moment was broken. She dropped her hand back down to her side and turned away.

"I think the road is clear now Kakashi," she said as she stared intently at her knees.

"Right…You need to get home," he said to himself as he turned around and took the right turn, finding her house quickly enough.

He pulled into the driveway and turned to say goodbye, but she cut him off before he could speak.

"Thank you so much for the ride Kakashi. Um…See you tomorrow," she said quickly as she practically flew from the vehicle, onto her front porch, in the front door and out of sight.

And that was chapter 3. Thanks for reading.