The Tales of a Flower
Summary: Meet Haruno Sakura and her two best friends, Uzumaki Naruto and Uchiha Sasuke (pick only one Saku!). As a teenager in the real world, she will have to face school detentions, girl fights, and love, love, love! This is the life of Haruno Sakura.
Chapter Three: My Best Friend
Saturday…how she loved Saturdays! Sakura could relax and sleep in and stay up late for the next Sunday…and…well that was how she spent her Saturdays.
"Sakura wake up! You are going to be late!"
The teenager groaned.
The elder Haruno sighed. "Sakura!"
"…no…five more minutes…"
"Sakura, I swear, if you do not wake up this instant you can say goodbye to your cell phone!"
With that threat, Sakura shot straight out of bed, her eyes wide open. She turned her head to her mother and said, "Mom, that's not fair…"
Mrs. Haruno sat on her daughter's bed and ruffled her already disheveled pink locks. "Sweetie, I'm your mother, it is fair."
"Mom!"
"Oh dear," she replied, her laughter diminishing, "you should get ready…"
Sakura blinked sleepily and picked up her alarm clock. Her emerald eyes grew big.
"OHHHH CRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAP!"
"You're late."
Sakura panted deeply with her hands on her knees, her hair covering her face. She has just rushed in the classroom and that's her greeting? She looked up angrily at one of her best friends, her joyous eyes icy. "Gee, I could have sworn I was early!" she retorted sarcastically. "Seriously, do you think now's a good time to piss me off even more?"
Sasuke shrugged his shoulders. He turned away. "Just trying to lighten up your mood, Saku."
"Sasuke I swear one day you are going to be dead!" Sakura threatened, taking the sit next to him.
He smirked. "Uh huh sure."
Sakura looked at him and stuck her tongue out at him. "Jerk."
"Dork."
"Loser."
"Freak."
"Meanie."
"Oh wow, meanie hurts."
"Shut up," Sakura said, her voice tired. "I don't want to fight today…"
"Fight? That was a fight? Come on Saku, you can do better than that, can't you?" Sasuke asked, pushing her limits. He shook his head, when she was tired; it was no fun teasing her.
A lavender haired girl turned around in her sit to face Sasuke, a smile on her lips. "You guys fight like a married couple."
"No we do not!" they exclaimed in unison.
"I wouldn't fall for an ass like him!" Sure Sakura, go ahead and tell yourself that…
"Who in their right mind would fall for her!"
Sakura looked at him in shock.
"Sasuke, that was too mean! You shouldn't be mean to a lady…that's so un-gentleman like!" Aya said, giggling.
Sakura sniggered at his flushed face. It really made her day to see him cower at the face of another girl…she couldn't help but feel a little teensy weensy jealous. Hey, Sasuke was her best friend; she could not help but feel a little protective.
"A-aya!" Sasuke chocked out, smiling back. "I didn't mean to…"
"Right," she said coyly and averted her attention to Sakura. "Sakura, ignore this idiot."
She saluted Aya, "Will do, Captain!"
Aya giggled and gave Sasuke one more smile. Sakura could only watch this. She did have to admit, Aya was pretty, and she and Sasuke have been getting awfully close lately…
"Sakura!"
She looked up to face the moderator of their group. "Better late than never, I suppose. But, since this is the graduation committee, and it is part of the school, I will have to issue you a detention. It will be after school on Monday."
"But…Mr. Kakashi! That's not fair!"
"I'm sorry Sakura, but rules are rules."
There goes her perfect record.
Sakura sulked through out the whole lecture and discussion of the committee meeting. Today was definitely not her day. To make matters worse, Ryo and Lisa were a little too busy in that corner over there; of course Kakashi couldn't see it because he was too busy writing something on the board.
Forget about him, he's not worth it.
Around 12:30, the meeting ended. Sakura waved goodbye to her other friends and walked slowly out of the school gates. Her stomach growled. "Oh, I forgot breakfast!"
She flipped back her hair and stopped. Lease they could do is have the decency to do that in private!
There they were, Ryo and Lisa, the couple of the century, making out in pure daylight…on the bench for the world to see. Lisa was fiddling with his hair while Ryo's hands made Sakura wish they stayed away from the girl. Sakura held down the urge to walk up to the two, part them, and say, "MAKE ROOM FOR JESUS!"
Sakura glared at them, her emerald eyes turning dark and scary. Oh, I just want to walk over there and…!
"Saku, glaring isn't going to make them stop."
Sakura jumped back in surprise and scowled. "Sasuke!"
"You should see your face, its priceless as hell!"
Sakura gave him her trademark pout.
Sasuke gave her his trademark smirk.
Aya gave them both her knowing smile. "Aww…now you guys look like a married couple!"
"AYA!" They screamed in unison, both faces flushed.
She giggled, and tucked a few strands of her lavender hair behind her ear. "I was kidding, no need to get all messed up about it."
Sakura sighed. "That wasn't funny."
"Was for me."
"Aya, you're too cruel."
"No, I just hang around Mr. Uchiha too much."
Sakura looked at her, confused. Then she looked at Sasuke, who managed to remain quiet, a faint blush on his cheeks. "Oh," she said lightly, "I had no idea you guys were at it!"
Aya blushed deep red. "Sakura…cut it out!"
She chuckled. "I was kidding, please don't kill me!" she said sweetly.
Sasuke cast a glance to Sakura then a peek at Aya. "Hey Sakura, Aya and me are going out for lunch…and yeah, want to come?"
Sakura looked at the two then back at the bench where Lisa and Ryo were now cuddling like crazy. She slowly brought her attention back to Sasuke and Aya. "No, it's alright. Besides, it'd be cuter if it was a date, right?"
All she got were a pair of teenagers blushing.
Sakura walked the seven blocks back home…well actually; she was only able to walk one and a half blocks…in almost fifteen minutes.
"I'm hungry…" she whispered weakly. She wanted to go with Sasuke, but 1) she wanted to give them some alone time and 2) she had no money.
"I'm…almost home…almost…" Sakura smiled to herself. "I can't wait to eat…"
"Sakura?"
She looked up and saw a frowning Naruto staring at her with concerned sapphire eyes. "What's wrong?"
"Eh…Naruto…I'm just hungry…"
"Oh…well, I'm about it eat, want to join me?"
Sakura smiled at him. "No, it's alright, I just you know, have no money."
"It's alright!" he replied cheerfully, "My treat!"
"Oh God, thank you so much!"
Naruto smiled.
"Hey Sasuke, do you think Sakura…?"
Sasuke sighed. "She'll be fine."
"Okay…But what about Naruto…?"
"He'll be fine."
"Ryo…?"
"He's dead."
"…me?"
Sasuke just smiled.
Sakura smiled gratefully, munching on the French fries in front of her. "Naruto, you're awesome!"
"Yeah, yeah, I already knew that," he replied, watching the girl eat. "Is that all you want? I mean, I can get you something more filling…"
"It's okay…I need to get home after anyways…"
"Ah."
"Yeah…"
Sakura knew awkward silences, and this, above all else, was the most awkward silence she has ever been in. She sipped her soda consciously and felt Naruto's gaze on her. This was really getting weird…she smiled at him and stood up. "Thanks again, Naruto. You saved my life!"
Naruto smiled back. "Anytime. But hey, let me walk you home at least."
Sakura looked startled at his request and nodded, a gracefully smile playing here lips. "Sure!"
Sakura walked side by side by Naruto, her house already in view.
"So…Sakura, where'd you go today?"
"Naruto, you idiot!" Sakura said, playfully punching him on his arm. "I had that grad meeting."
"On a Saturday?"
"Yeah."
"Bummer."
"You could say that again."
"Bum –"
She placed a finger on his lips. "I didn't mean it literally."
Sakura smiled again at him as he scratched the back of his head, his contagious smile on his lips. Other than being her best friend, Naruto was someone Sakura can look to when she was feeling down. She was her clown to turn her frown upside down!
…
God, she thought, I need to get out more…
"Well, thanks for walking me home, Naruto…" Sakura said very quietly, she didn't realize that there was a faint blush on her cheeks, "and for keeping me company…and yeah."
Naruto looked away for a bit, his eyes looking everywhere except on her.
Sakura was getting nervous.
Really nervous.
They were best friends for cripes sake! They have been for the longest time ever! Why did they both choose now to get all flustered over nothing…?
It was nothing right?
After all, he was just Naruto! He wasn't as spectacular as THE NAKAMURA RYO (that ass!) or the hottie who played Anakin Skywalker in Star Wars Episode Two AND Three or as cool and collective and wonderful and cute and the list can go on as…
Him.
Yeah, basically, Naruto wasn't a dream sensation guy that Sakura could instantly fall for.
"Sakura?"
She blinked a couple times and looked at him. Poor boy, he looked so confused. "Y-yeah?"
"Are you alright? I-I mean, you're all red. Do you have a fever?" He walked up to her and placed his hand on her forehead, "You're pretty warm too…"
Sakura instantly drew back, her blush deepening at his touch. HE'S NARUTO! NARUTO! HE'S NO SAS – I mean – HE'S NO RYO!
"I'm fine!" she said quickly, her face still flushed. She turned away, opening her door. "Naruto…"
He looked at her. "Hm?"
She looked down, avoiding any contact with his eyes. "You're…not him, but, you can be better…" she whispered.
"What? I'm sorry I didn't hear you."
Sakura sighed. Why the hell are boys so stupid? "Forget about it!" She took one last glance at him and walked in her door, but before she could close it, Naruto opened it up again.
"Tell me!"
The girl shook her head and rubbed her eye, "Why so persistent all of a sudden?"
Naruto opened his mouth to say something, but not a single word was uttered. Why did he want to know what she has said? Oh yeah, he loved her, and what she said mattered to him. He blushed at his own thought. Yeah, it was probably some lame thing about Ryo, she wanted to say something about him; whether he would like it or not, Naruto still wanted to hear it. "Tell me, please?"
"No," she whispered, kissing him on the cheek. "Thanks again."
Naruto just stands there, his heart fluttering, his hand on his cheek, and the biggest smile the world has ever seen.
The clock on her bedside drawer chimed 1:00.
The moon was bright and full outside her bedroom window.
The bed was set and waiting for a tired and sleepy teenage girl.
The bedroom door was open, the lights on in the hallway.
There she was, Haruno Sakura, sleeping on the couch, a glass of water on the coffee table. Her crimson blanket wrapped around her body, her braided pigtails messy and unruly. Her breathing was slow and steady, and she muttered incoherent words in her sleep. Sakura was dreaming…
Sixth grader Haruno Sakura stood proudly on the stage as Ms. Anko gave her the sport's trophy awarding her for excellence it sports and excellence in class: the ever coveted (by her at least) Principle's Award. Beaming, she stepped off stage and sat in between her two best friends, Uzumaki Naruto and Uchiha Sasuke.
"See! I knew I'd get this!" she said, staring at the white and silver angel atop the trophy. "I knew my hard work would get me somewhere!"
"Congrats Sakura!" Naruto said joyfully, patting her on the back. "I'm happy for you!"
Sakura's smile only widened.
As the three walked away from the school, Sakura holding two trophies – the second one being Most Improved in Volleyball – Sasuke holding three and wearing a medal, and Naruto carrying only one and the same medal as Sasuke.
"Football, track, basketball, is there a sport you can't play?" Naruto asked, eyeing enviously at the trophies his friend had.
"I can't play volleyball," he replied, looking over at Sakura as he said that. She stared at him back, a coy smile pointed at him.
Sakura turned away quickly, the heat in her cheeks rising as she said randomly, "Ryo got three trophies too…"
The blonde boy groaned, "Ryo, Ryo, and Ryo! That's all you ever talk about! What is it then; do you have a secret crush on this guy or something?"
Sasuke instantly looked at Sakura with a look of…jealousy?
Sakura blushed, "Not really, well, maybe…the guy doesn't even know that I exist!"
"So, you do like him!" Naruto teased, laughing.
"NO! I never said that! Besides, there's someone else I like…and it's not really Ryo…"
Sasuke sighed, "Damn, as long as it's not Ryo then I'm cool with that."
Naruto looked at her mischievously, grinning like there was no tomorrow. "Sakura! Tell me!"
"No."
"Please."
"No."
"Sakura!"
"No damn it! No!"
"OW! Sasuke you didn't have to hit me!"
"But she said no so stick with that!"
Sakura giggled and decided to get a little pay back. "What about you Naruto! What's this I hear about you liking LISA HONDA?"
Sasuke smirked. "Yeah, I heard that too. What's the deal? Hiding it from us?"
Naruto turned bright red, "Shut up! I'm going home!" He stormed away, his unoccupied hand shoved in his pocket.
"Oh, I think he's mad…" Sakura said quietly, running a hand through her shoulder length hair. "I think I'll apologize…" She began to walk towards him when she felt a tug at her wrist.
"Sakura."
She looked at her wrist and saw that Sasuke, one of her best friends, holding it.
"Y-yes?"
"Is it true?"
"What is?"
"That you like Nakamura?"
Sakura pulled away, "Like I said before, not really…there's someone else I like."
Sasuke stared at her emerald eyes, a faint blush on his cheeks. "Can you tell me?"
"Hm…maybe next time okay?"
"…okay."
She smiled at him and walked away, forgetting momentarily about Naruto and rushed all the way home, her heart beating faster than before. Sasuke was 'holding' her hand…oh…bliss!
Sakura practically danced to her bedroom. She twirled around in her socks and placed the trophies on her shelf. "Oh! Sasuke! If only you knew!" she squealed. She continued to twirl around in her room, thinking of a very sweet and romantic way to tell her best friend she really liked him – no, no, not the blonde one, the suave raven haired one.
KNOCK KNOCK!
Sakura stopped mid-twirl. She scowled as she walked down the stairs in a huff. She opened the door wide and was about to say something witty and sarcastic but stopped herself. She blushed at the sight on her doorstep. "Sasuke…what are you doing here?"
"I didn't get to congratulate you remember? You know, the Principal's Award…" Sasuke shifted uncomfortably, something hidden behind his back.
"Oh. Thanks!" she smiled at him, her inner Sakura dancing the victory dance.
Sasuke blushed. "Sakura…"
"Yeah?"
"These," he said, showing Sakura what he was hiding, "are for you. I heard that you liked the white ones so…"
If happiness could kill, Sakura would have died and gone to heaven. "Roses!" she whispered, staring at the bouquet of white roses. Her emerald eyes were gleaming brighter than before. She suddenly blushed again, realizing what he just did. "Sasuke," she started, "why?"
He looked down as she reached for the bouquet. The moment her hand touched his he began to mumble words.
"What?"
Sasuke looked her in the eye and before she knew it, he leaned in and kissed her. Right there, on her porch, the sun setting across the horizon, Sakura had her first kiss. It wasn't from any old guy; it was from Uchiha Sasuke, her best friend…
Her best friend…
Sasuke was one of her best friends.
Even if she felt all giddy inside, even if it felt so good to finally be kissing the boy she's liked for quite some time, she felt as if it was wrong. Maybe it was just her friend senses, but something felt definitely wrong…the problem was she couldn't put her finger on it.
She pulled away from him, trying desperately to hide the huge blush. "Sasuke…"
He, on the other hand, was looking straight at her, stunned by what he did. "I'm sorry," he mumbled, and bolted way from the porch.
"Sasuke wait!"
Sakura just stood there, tears welling up in her eyes. No sixth grader was supposed to experience that! What the hell? Sakura slammed the door shut, slowly sitting down. She dropped the bouquet and stared at it long and hard. She sat there, staring at the stray white petals…
"Stupid Sasuke…"
The next school day, she and Sasuke were on small talking terms. Naruto didn't say anything because he knew better; besides, he was too busy trying to get Lisa's attention…
Sakura couldn't take it. He kisses her one minute, runs off the next and next thing she knows, he's acting as if nothing has happened! She did not like that. Just because she was young, it did not mean that she was naïve.
"Hey Haruno!"
Sakura snapped back to reality to see the auburn haired boy she has been "crushing" on. "Nakamura, what is it?"
"Well…I was wondering…since you're smart and all, could you help me with my homework?" he asked, running a hand through his oh-so-nice hair.
She smiled at him. "Sure!" Forget Sasuke! Ryo was way cooler looking anyways! She looked across the classroom to find Sasuke staring at her, hurt.
'I'm sorry…but it's partly your fault!' she thought.
Sakura followed Ryo out of the classroom, taking one last glance at Uchiha Sasuke; her first crush, her first kiss…
Her best friend.
Sakura shifted slowly from her sleeping position, the blanket dropping to the floor. She curled up into a ball and whispered, "Sasuke…you idiot…"
To Be Continued…
Author's note: oooh…I took a whiles again! whoopsy…but I have an excuse! FINALS! Haha….yea….finals….stinking school…haha….the make room for Jesus bit is what can be used when a couple get a little too freaky at dances…I saw a teacher do that once…she had a ruler…dude, that was scary though…she popped out of nowhere, placed the ruler between them and said, "Make room for Jesus!" haha…glad that didn't happen to me, my date isn't that kind of guy turns away rambling while blushing like a madman XD Reviews/comments/suggestions/flames/anything else is welcome!
Next time….Ooh la la! Sakura sure does have lots to think about! Especially now that Sasuke has a girlfriend…GASP! And that Naruto has declared his love to his special someone…GASP! And Sakura has her first basketball game of the season…GASP! Teamwork people! TEAMWORK! Sakura...focus! FOCUS!
