I tapped the end of my pen on my cheek impatiently while staring hard at the clock hanging above the whiteboard. Who knew that it would take so bloody long for the minute hand to tick?

"...and so, that was what brought the downfall of..." I tuned out Samui-sensei's lecture on history, my ears only picking up the random "not cool"s littered around her sentences.

Come on, come on. I tapped the pen even harder.

Why was I waiting so desperately for the class to end? Because you see, the next lesson's a free period. And I always spend my free lessons in the rooftop garden with (Okay, I'm mentally blushing right now and my heart rate just sped up by 25%) Itachi. Oh God, I nearly giggled out loud!

But for the past week I've been greatly disappointed whenever I sprint up the stairs only to be greeted with an empty garden, and even more so when no raven-haired mega-sexgod appeared at the entrance no matter how expectantly I stared at it. It couldn't be due the fact that he's having classes, because I've already noted down the days when our free periods coincide (which happens a lot, yay!), and they definitely included the past days. I concluded that he has been skipping school, so I've been hoping to see him there today. And in addition, lunchtime's after that, and I'm hungy. So I get to see Itachi AND eat food! This is why I love fridays.

The class bell finally rang, and I immediately dashed out of the class after bowing to Samui-sensei ("Failure hand up homework on time, is not cool."), then slowing down to a brisk walk when I received weird looks for running through the corridors. Thankfully, the remarks about me partnerin-, wait I mean, Deidara partnering up with me have died down almost completely, with everybody deciding that he's only using my musically-inclined abilities; I did get here on a scholarship, afterall.

...Well, save for Riko and Rika, who torment me on a regular basis anyway.

I reached the staircase landing panting. I've never been the atheletic type, I can't even jog for a kilometre without collapsing for God's sake! I waited for awhile to regain my breath, then smoothed down my fringe and skirt. Okay, I've gotta act cool and nonchalant and go "Oh, so you're here?" and-

Nobody's there.

Okay, I had kind of expected that, but still I plopped down on the bench disappointedly. Damn, I should have brought along a book or something. Now I'll have to waste an hour sitting and stoning in the garden alone. I can't go to the music room either cos I heard that a Level 5 class would be using it.

Oh my God, it can't be because of that time in the music room, can it? Now that I think about it, I was kind of overly-dramatic when I thanked him. What if he took my words for real and decided to stop wasting his time on me? No... he's not that kind of person. What if found out about my feelings for him and found it awkward to be with me? Oh shit. But I've always been an expert in hiding crushes. Nobody had even suspected that I had crushes in middle and high school. But this isn't just a crush anymore... ARGH!

But maybe he's taken ill! Oh God, if that's the case then I hope he'll get better... I don't mind if he passes the germs to me if it means that he'll recover!

I sighed and looked at the fished swimming lazily in the pond. "I guess its just me and you guys again."

Oh Lord.

He is there.

I had dozed off on the bench, waking up five minutes after the school's Mini-Big-Ben chimed and then dashed to the cafetaria, in case all the food and seats were taken. I hadn't expected to see Uchiha Itachi around the food tables the moment I stepped into the dining hall. Oh thank God he's not sick!

I then felt a sudden tightness in my chest. So he's been avoiding the rooftop on purpose then? How could he! Surprisingly I was feeling kind of more pissed than I am sad. I decided to purposely stand next to him at the food tables. If he considers me as a friend (which I hope so...), he'll notice the look on my face and know that I've been waiting in vain at the garden! Hah!

I slightly raised my chin and strided over to where he was, arranging my facial muscles into what I hope was a I-want-to-cooly-let-you-know-that-I'm-miffed kind of look. However, the moment I saw him, all my resolution melted away. How can I possibly get pissed at someone so beautiful and gentle and nice and (the list goes on...)? If Itachi burns my room down or goes on a massacre I'm sure I'll find it in my heart to forgive him.

I nearly wanted to say hi when I remembered that I cannot let others know that we're associated. He had seen me too and I noticed him giving me the tiniest fraction of a smile and all my insecurity from before vanished. I'm sure he has a valid reason for not coming up to meet me! Then he padded off to join Sasori and Hidan, who was obscenely complaining about how the roasted ribs here aren't as good as the one he has at home.

I stared at his retreating back, slightly dazed. How nice it would be if I could just hug him from behind now...

"You look stupid, un."

I whipped around to see Deidara, who was trying very hard to suppress a laugh. Poor boy, he obviously hasn't been in love before.

I threw out my chin. "Says a guy with hair longer than most girls." Then I strutted past him, before realising in horror that Itachi also has long hair. Damn... Normally, I wouldn't have dared to said that, but from the classes we shared I realised that he wasn't as much as a threat as I thought he would be. And it seems like he enjoys bickering with me, so, yeah. (And he irritates me a lot...)

I joined Sakura and gang at the table without getting any food. I've had my fill from looking at Itachi, hehe.

The girls had felt bad for interrogating me last week after my "Rumour Day" without properly asking me if I was feeling alright, or even attempting to console me or something. They felt so guilty that they all got me some really pretty flowers from Ino's flower company. Did I mention that her family owns Hana Yamanaka, the world's most expensive and branded chain of flower retails? Seriously, their flowers are just so beautiful and they stay fresh for weeks. Mom's always hinting to Dad for them. Anyway, the point is that they are really nice people, and I felt bad for just leaving them like that on that day.

"Um, Shiori?"

"Hmm?" I happily turned to Tenten with a blissful smile on my face. I'm gonna be in a good mood for the rest of my day!

"You have pen marks on your cheek..."

...

I touched my face in horror while remembering a scene in class when I tapped the pen on it. The cap had not been closed.

I fought back a scream.

I blushed slightly in embarrassment when Deidara took a seat beside me in Geography class. He has been choosing seats beside me everytime we shared a class after That Day. I tried to avoid it by seating next to an already occupied seat or one next to a wall, but somehow he almost always manages to end up next to me.

Okay, so I looked even more of a joke when I retorted back in the cafetaria...But whatever, I can't turn back time now, right? I surreptitiously checked the side of my face in the reflective metal of the window frame, making sure there's no more residue ink even after the skin-flaying scrub I gave it.

The entire lesson went suspensefully quiet between the two of us. Usually he'd make some kind of jab at me which I would ignore or make a somewhat feeble retort if it really grated on my nerves.

At the end of the class however, he suddenly said to me in a really low and serious voice, "I need to tell you something, un. Music room, after school.", then swiftly walked out of the class leaving me standing and gaping like a fish.

'No, I won't meet him. I have better things to waste my time on.' I thought determinedly while walking the direction opposite of the music room after my last class.

I've been trying to come up with reasons as to why on Earth he would ask me to meet him in a secluded room after school, and thought of things as normal as him wanting to discuss the project without everyone looking and gossiping again, and stuff as bizarre as how he's actually gay and wants to tell someone that but he can't to his Akatsuki friends and seeing I'm (kind of) the only other person in school he has an actual conversation of sorts with. I mean, that explains the long, blond hair right? Man, that would be a damned shame. I mean, he's really handsome. (But Itachi is better, of course).

Oh God, what if... Okay, I feel so shameless for having thought this... But what if he wants to confess to me? I mean, its exactly like in those high school dramas that Mom and I watch! Boy teases and bullies meek girl who he's actually in love with, then threateningly tells her to meet him after school so that he can confess to her and then she'll reject him saying that she's already in love with someone else and complications will follow. IT TOTALLY FITS! No, that can't happen. Never. It would be totally scary. Though I will get kind of flattered...

OH HOLY MARY, what if he's still not over the bowl thing! And he's holding my family hostage in the music room right now with his pro-wrestler henchman pointing an M18 at them?

...Okay that would be completely ridiculous.

I gotta be sure though, and I turned heel and walked straight to the music room.

I forcefully slid open the door, breathing a big sigh of relief when there's no burly man and sobbing parents.

"What was that for, un?" I noticed Deidara sitting near the window, momentarily stunned by his beauty when the golden sunlight shone on his even more golden hair.

"Nothing!" I walked uncertainedly to the middle of the classroom, clutching my school bag tightly to my chest.

He gave me a weird look before turning his head to stare at the Koto in front of me. Maybe its just me, but does he look...Nervous...?

Oh God, this can't be happening... I thought wildly. I'm not ready for this! I don't know what to say!

"Shiori." He then looked at me.

Oh my God, nobody has ever confessed to me before! How am I supposed to react? Like the girl in the drama, all shocked and gasping dramatically?

"Do you-"

"-want to be my girlfriend? No!" I unintentionally finished his sentence for him.

A cricket or cicada, I don't know, chirped outside.

Oh my fucking God... What the HELL did I just say? I clasped a hand to my mouth, eyes wide and shocked.

Deidara was just as shocked, if not, his eyes were even bigger than mine, his expression of utter incredulity.

"What? No! Why in the world would I ask you that, un?" He regained his composure after a few moments, before bursting out in laughter.

"Hahahaha- Y-you're unbelievable- Hahaha!" He managed in between his guffaws.

"S-s-shut up, you asshole!" I looked down, my face burning in shame. That's it. I'm going to go home and hide under my bed and never see the light of day again. What is wrong with me? How could I- No, I don't want to mention it ever again. Oh God I should just kill myself now.

"If you're going to keep laughing, I'm going to go home!" I started to turn. I'll never be able to face him again. Why is it that my stupid mouth would go and say that? Oh God, I'll never be able to live this down. This is the biggest, goddamn embarrassment in my entire lif- HOLY SHIT WHAT IF HE TELLS THIS TO ITACHI?

"N-no! Don't go yet, un."

I paused and glared pathetically at him. Please just let me go home already...

After about fifteen minutes of silence (broken only by his occasional sniggers), the mood and atmosphere of the room finally got a little more serious.

"What I wanted to ask you, un." He started. I glared at him, daring him to laugh again, which thankfully, he didn't.

"Do you like Itachi?"

...

"What? No, of course not! I don't even know him!" I executed convincingly. Years of denying crushes certainly made me a professional in denying these kind of things, even after situations as weird and awkward as... just now...

However, deep inside, I was panicking. How did he know? Was I that obvious? Impossible! Did Itachi tell him about our meetings? And how can he ask this just so casually, even after what happened? This is just one thing after another!

He eyed me suspiciously, as though he knew better. Then he just shrugged. "Well, I guess that's good for you then. Its better if you save yourself some heartbreak, un."

Has he been stalking us or someth- Wait a second...

"What do you mean?" I looked at him, a sudden feeling of dread creeping up my veins.

He looked at me for awhile, then sighed and closed his eyes.

"Itachi already has someone else in his heart, un."

I stared at him, the full force of his words still taking its time to settle. He can't be lying right? There's no reason for him to.

"Why are you telling me this?"

Deidara surveyed my face again for awhile, a slight frown in his brows, as though he's comtemplating on what to say.

'Please tell me you're joking.' I thought pleadingly, his words finally connecting to my brain.

"Just thought you should know."

I didn't know what to say, my mind was reeling, my heart about to stop from the cold, awful feeling that was compressing it so painfully. There was silence before I finally croaked.

"Why should I? I mean, its none of my business right? Like I said, I don't fancy him or anything. I don't know him." I gripped a table next to me to steady myself.

The blonde gave me a look as though to say "Liar.", but thankfully, he didn't press on, just shrugged.

...So Itachi already loves someone else. At that moment, I didn't even want to find out who she was. Definitely someone prettier, smarter, richer, much less of an embarrassment than me.

Someone luckier.

I could feel tears stinging my eyes, but I blinked them back. No, I can't cry. Not in public, anyway.

"O-oi, are you okay, un?"

I almost forgot about Deidara being in the same room, even though he was the one who delivered the news to me.

"Y-yeah. Of course I am! I'm just, going to go home now." I forced a smile at him. He didn't say anything, just got up to follow me to the door.

"See you on... whenever, I guess."

"Hn."

Then we parted ways.

I don't know why I was feeling so sad. I mean, he's found someone he loves right? I should feel happy for him! What, did I really hope that he would reciprocate my feelings? How much more foolish can I get? And now that I think about it, I couldn't have had fallen in love with him. I just mistook some deep infatuation for something greater, that's all. I can get over this! I'll just stop going to the garden. I'll be over him in no time.

Before I knew it, I was already at the gate of my house.

Thank God its friday.

"Shiori-chan, are you okay?" Gen-san asked from behind the counter.

"What? Of course I am! Why, are my eyes swollen?"

"Well, no... But they are abit red."

I waved dismissively and just took the freshly-baked pastries from him to load onto the display. But from the crying I had last night, I expected my eyes to be bulging and blood-shot.

I sighed, heart still aching when I thought of yesterday. No, I won't feel sad anymore. I can get over him! It says so on the website anyway...

In all my sorrow, I actually went online and searched "how to get over a broken heart" while clutching a box of tissues and sobbing heavily. I even turned on some breakup songs. Don't laugh, I know I probably dramatised, but I was really desperately looking for something to ease the pain in my chest. It was also a good thing that my parents were out, I don't want them asking me questions.

Anyways, LoveAdviceOnline said that the number one thing one should do after a breakup (okay it wasn't a breakup that I had, far from it... but all heartbreaks are the same, right?) is to completely erase all connections with the heartbreaker. Right, so no more rooftops. I rarely see him in school aside from that anyway, so this should be easy. I also wanted to follow their "eat lots of chocolates" tip, but suddenly thought of the horror if I showed up on monday having gained 10 pounds.

Piece of cake. I'll get over this depression faster than I can say-

The bell on the cafe door tinkled, and a tall figure strode in.

"Itachi."

I nearly dropped the tray I have been holding.

Why does God like to torture me like this?

Author's Notes:

Hoho, poor Shiori. No time to even enjoy her new-found love. :P Hope my plot-thickening-thingy won't fail!

And btw, I've changed the summary abit. This story seems kinda cliched, I realised... sorry... But its so fun to write! I'll try to improve it!

And thanks for the reviews again, guys! I've re-read them for like, over 9000 times already! 8D
To Random Fan (oh God, I have fans? :D :D :D) : Yep, Ouran kinda gave me the idea for how Shiori would first interact with Deidara! Uh, am I suppose to make a disclaimer for this...? ._. And yeah, I'm trying to make the characters as close as the canon as possible, that's why I put them all in Levels by their original ages! If not, I would have done high-school. I think Shiori's more like a high school student than University...
alicelouise'x: Hey! Thanks for your reviews! :D Hehe, you can assume all you want, I'm not gonna reveal anything yet... XP and phew, I was afraid they would be OOC!
glitterthorn: Oh God, IKR! Honestly, I think that the "looks aren't important" thing is kinda bullshit. I mean, yeah its what's inside's that important, but its physical attraction that draws you to them in the first place right!

Okay, gotta stop rambling now. Review some more, please? :3