What if things were different?
Chapter 6.
I know this is late. I'm VERY sorry. I've been on holiday and was stuck with what to write in this chapter, now that I'm content with it, here you are!
(Thanks for reviews!!!!)
It wasn't as easy as I would have liked it to be. In the halls as I went from class to class all I could hear was: "That's the girl who's Dad died." Or "I bet her grades are gunna drop" etc. I ignored it, but still, sometimes, it would hit a nerve.
At lunch, I found Hinata sat quietly at a table at the far end of the cafeteria. Smiling, I sat down next to her.
"How are you?" She asked politely.
"Good. You?"
She nodded, then something behind me caught her eye.
I turned around to see Naruto talking to a tall dark haired boy I'd never seen before. Squinting my eyes to get a better look I realised he was talking with Sasuke. It was the first time I actually saw him at school, and that's probably why I didn't recognise him at first.
They seemed to be discussing something serious, then Naruto smiled and nodded towards us. Sasuke slowly turned his head, and looked directly at me. For a moment our eyes met, he didn't look uncomfortable, or upset to see me. He was wearing a dark hoodie and jeans. It was annoying how something so simple looked so beautiful. Turning back to Naruto he said something, Naruto shrugged, then Sasuke walked off to another table too far away for me to see who he was sitting with.
Once Naruto finally go to our table, giving Hinata a small peck on the cheek, where she blushed a slight shade of pink and immediately concentrated on eating her sandwich I asked,
"Why were you talking to Sasuke?" It came out a bit harsher than I realised so I cleared my throat, "I mean, are you two friends?" I asked more nicely.
"Well, we've been paired together in biology, I thought maybe he'd like to eat with us." He said casually.
"And he said no?" I already knew the answer but I felt the need to clarify.
"Yeah. Do you know him or something? Wait, that day, I remember..." He trailed off, looking at me confused.
"Oh. Yeah I...knew him." I said quickly, not wanting to go into details.
"Sasuke," Hinata started, "I heard he does some serious stuff outside of school."
"Like what?" I asked, curious.
"Oh I don't know, but I was told that he was in some really ugly fights back where he use to live." She said raising her eyebrows.
"Really?" Naruto asked surprised.
"Yeah, but I don't know if it's true..." She shrugged, and I could tell this conversation was over.
All afternoon all I could think of was Sasuke. I wondered whether he really did get into some bad fights, and if he ever got hurt... It was so frustrating knowing we shared something and he threw it all away. And of course there was the fact that I was going to be working at the same place as him. Will it just end like this? Will we never be friends? I guess I'll find out tonight.
With a sigh I turned towards Madame Héritier and tried to concentrate on what she was blabbering on about in French.
"Isn't that Sasuke?"
I looked over at the entrance to The tigress. And sure enough, Sasuke was just opening the door before he disappeared inside.
"Looks like it." I tried to say as casually as I could manage.
"Well, I'll come pick you up at ten okay?" Naruto said starting the engine to his car.
"Yeah, see you later." I said getting out of the car and shutting the door behind me.
As I made my way across the parking lot to the restaurant I heard Naruto shout "Good luck!!!!" before the street went silent again. Taking a deep breath, I opened the door to the restaurant and stepped inside.
I couldn't believe it. It was already buzzing with people! Straight away Jubi saw my stranded/confused/Scared expression and rushed over to me.
"Hey Sakura! Glad you could make it! Now, Put your things through there," He pointed to a small dark door just right to the kitchen with "Staff Only" sign on it, "In there you'll find a Tigress t-shirt," He paused to look me up and down, "It may be to big but it'll have to do for now."
"Ok.." I said as he pushed me towards the door.
"Five minutes max! ok?" It wasn't much of a question as he rushed over to a table leaving me alone before I could answer.
I went through the door to find a small box kind of room with 5 or 6 pegs hanging on each wall. Most of them had coats and handbags hung on them already. I went up to the peg that had a Tigress t-shirt hanging on it, guessing it was mine, I pulled my white shirt off and put the other one on. It was in fact a little too big. But It wasn't uncomfortable.
When I went back into the restaurant there was a girl, probably a little older than me, smiling at me.
"Sakura right?" She said cheerfully.
As she smiled I could see how her brown hazel eyes seemed to twinkle in the bright restaurant light.
"Yeah." I answered.
"I'm Tenten, Jubi told me I needed to show you around and tell you what to do and stuff, it's easy really once you get into the whole routine thing."
I smiled, more to myself, she seemed like a nice person.
"So tonight there are four of us, Me, you, Karin," She pointed to a tall redhead getting orders from a family consisting of three kids, she had a horribly annoyed expression on her face, "And Sasuke." She said pointing to his tall dark manly form carrying a tray of drinks to a nearby table.
"Pretty quiet he is, but he's quite funny when he wants to be." She said smiling, "So, anyway..."
She explained to me where the dishes that needed to be taken off to which table were and where the dirty dishes went. How each table had a number from 1 to 20, and where extra menus were. Even know I was listening, I couldn't get the fact that Sasuke hadn't even glanced at me once.
"Well, look, go get them a table!" She said half an hour later pointing to an old couple that just walked throught the door.
"Right." I said nervously.
I sat them down at a table for two and gave them menus, helped around a little by clearing away empty drinks, then came back to take there orders. Ripping the small sheet of white paper from the little notebook Tenten had given me and went into the kitchen and stuck it on the wall with the rest of the orders.
Feeling pleased with myself I went to walk out of the kitchen when the door suddenly opened and Karin stomped right into me.
"Watch out idiot." She said viciously.
I blushed and rushed outside.
"Yeah, she usually gets like that when there's someone prettier than her in the same room." Tenten said glaring at Karins back.
My eyes widened and yet again I felt my face burn.
"So, yeah you did good! I'm gunna go and get on with my job now, if you need me, just call." She said grinning before rushing off.
I stood there for a few seconds panicking, but quickly recovered and went over to a table that required assistance.
"Well done kids, busy night that was, I ain't promising tomorrow a'll be any different, anyway, get out, the lot of you."
Everyone chuckled, apart from Karin who'd left the minute she had finished. I turned towards Tenten who was currently talking to Sasuke.
"...And well I don't know really, I'll have to listen to it again." She said.
"You can hold on to it for as long as you want, but I'm just saying, Smashing Pumpkins is the best." Sasuke said grinning.
"Hmm, alright, well night Sasuke." Tenten said turning in my direction.
I busied myself by flicking away nonexistent dirt on my shirt.
"Right, I have to say Sakura, you did great today," She turned around to find Sasuke putting his coat on, "Didn't she Sasuke?"
"Yeah," He said looking straight at me, "She did."
I blushed, "Thanks."
We headed outside where I found Naruto leaning against his car smiling.
"Hey Sasuke!" He called.
The two boys started to chat whilst Tenten and I said our goodbyes.
"Well I'll see you tomorrow Sakura."
"Yeah, tomorrow." I smiled.
I nervously made my way towards the two boys where they were talking about something for their biology project.
"Okay, we'll do it like that then," Naruto concluded, "You need a ride?"
"Nah, I don't live far from here. Thanks anyway." He turned and almost knocked me over hadn't he grabbed my arms.
"Sorry!" I blurted quickly.
"It's fine," He let go, "I didn't see you."
There was slight silence, both of us not knowing what to say. He ran a hand through his hair, looking behind me he said, "I'm gunna go, see you tomorrow."
"Okay, um, bye."
As he walked away I met Naruto's raised eye brows and confused gaze.
"What was that?" He asked.
"What was what?" I said climbing into the passenger seat.
"What was what," He mimicked, "You know what it was."
"What?!" I said frustrated.
He grinned. For some reason it made me laugh.
"Just get me home idiot."
"Suuuuure."
I rolled my eyes and stared out the window, probably with the same stupid grin Naruto had a few seconds ago.
