I tried to read between the lines

I wondered if they ever read my letters.

That was my first thought of the situation.

The small slightly torn cardboard shoe box was certainly empty,

All sight of my pitiful letters to my parents were gone.

I slowly traced my pointer finger within the inside of the box, silent as the thought still triggered itself with my head. Kimi had known where my parents were, he had sent all those letters away to them and maybe now they will realize the reality of my little world. A parent-less poverty with a good looking boyfriend and grades in school that could make the honor roll have to pick up their jaw from the floor. Oh yeah, and a bit of a anime nerd, though it really goes with saying. I ran a hand through my red-ish hair, sighing as truly I didn't know what to do with myself. I mean, my cousins were obvious to handling themselves, shit, they're taking care of me if anything else. Yet I was still afraid. I was used to having things fall between my fingers, nothing would be as different, right? A knock on my door distracted me from my bunched ball of emo emotion.

"Oi Tayuya, Kimi says to stop sulking in your room," A voice spoke dully as the bedroom door to the room was opened, revealing Ukon, only one of the bastard twins. "Don't you have a life or something?" He said with a sigh and I rolled my eyes, laying on my back on my bed, I stared up to the all white creamed colored ceiling. "Yeah, you got a boyfriend don't ya? Why not snog him a bit and do what most people do, ya know, have a life and such?" Sakon supplied and shoved his twin albino out of the way of the doorway, which wasn't ignored as his twin swatted his arms in a flailing motions to shove him back. With a soft released breath, I felt a blush on my face, something I was naturally used to when ever somebody said something involving him, my boyfriend. Involving Sasuke. Speaking of Mr. Perfect, he hadn't been calling recently, not that I expected him to call every second but surely he had more evil plans in mind to try and tempt the pink haired goddess at his side. I got comfortable as his partner in crime and right now, I felt like Bonnie without my Clyde.

"Sasuke's...busy." I sighed to the twins, closing my eyes to try and block everything out.

"Busy, eh? Sure, right, I bet he is." One snorted and surely the other agreed.

"That he would be, hogging up some time on someone else's phone line." The other pest agreed and I shook my head, even though the jock could do better, I knew he wouldn't be too much of an asshole to "cheat" on me, if we really were considered a couple anyway. After all, he can't be mad at me unless he made it part of his little love plan but even then what could he complain about? I stole a few singles of a tip at the restaurant that one time, sue me, I had a family to support. Not everyone could live off their rich CEO of a father like certain people. Although, "My father focused on Itachi more". I opened my eyes slowly, seeking the white coloring above me, only to have two sets of black eyes staring at me. "Oi, What 'chu dreaming bout?" I could have sworn one of my eyes twitched as I flung my arms to shove the two back. "Nothing dammit, just get out of my room!" I shouted and sat up on my bed with a huff, watching with a hard gaze as the two British idiots left in a spazzic serge of energy. Once they left and the silenced had wrapped around me, thoughts came like a flood and washed away all worries of money and school and my family. Maybe I should call Sasuke, ya know, to see what the latest plan would be.

After all, time was short and the homecoming game was...tomorrow. I froze, then that means practice tonight and then homework, of which Haku made sure I wrote a paper on why responsibilities are important, and then the stupid big day tomorrow. Honestly, I was split on what to feel about the dance tomorrow. It seemed that the plan was that was when the big break up was going to happen, Sasuke had told me about it and as usually it didn't affect me. After all, it was a fake relationship anyway and the world may think it's the most tragic thing but for me, it seemed like a get rich quick scheme. Tugging at my jacket that hung off my shoulders, I prepared myself for Marching Band, the place that cleared my head when things always seemed wrong, although I didn't have many friends in it. Or truly any friends to begin with. I was embarrassed to do Marching Band at all, I was a nerd I know, the only thing that embarrassed me was when all the parents came to pick their kids up and I was left standing by myself in realization and envy that I would have to walk home alone again. I sighed and trudged myself down stairs.

"I'm going to practice." I shouted to the group that clustered in the living room.

"Practice for what?" Ukon asked and sat up to sit backwards on the couch to look to me.

Sakon repeated his twin's action and stared with a grin.

I debate on whether to tell them, though I bet they could use a good laugh. "I have marching band practice." I sighed and wiped my mouth a bit, feeling my braces becoming spitty and made myself drool a bit. Fucking braces, I hate them. Although nothing was more attractive then that, I know. I watched as the twins giggle at if I had told them a dirty little secret, I raise an eyebrow as I truly question their sanity. "Anyway...practice, yeah." I mumbled and shoot my eyes to the door, hearing the usual from Kimi. 'Be safe, blah blah, I trust you, blah, try not to get raped on the way home' . Ya know, the parent speech. With a nod, I close the door behind me with a slam. Fast forward my walk to school and most of practice as I'm sure you know Haku-sensei is a very nice and polite man, yeah, wouldn't want to change the image with a yelling aggressive band director. I shuffle in my set, my eyes set to the empty bleachers to hold focus. I freeze as see a black suit and one hell of a smirk, my hands tighten on my flute and it seems if I squeeze it anymore that I might break it in half. Good. Mr. Wonderful had nothing better to do then watch a band practice? Tch, I'm sure. I ignored him completely, even when we got a break between sets and all the stupid girls of the clarinet section spazzed about the god sent jock in the stands, their giggling burns my ears like holy water to a demon.

I felt strange about the situation. I mean, I guess it's great he came or whatever but I felt like a child being watched over whenever I was on my own. I had been on my own since I was seven, though I wont exactly say how that happened. Let's just say it involves a bus stop, one dollar singles, a slap across the face, a locked door and a broken doll house. Yeah, suck on that angst anime characters, who's got the fucked up past now? I smugly smile to Sasuke in the stands and turned my back to retreat back to another hour of practice. After another hour of yelling and marching, the band is dragging into a tight group. Haku gave a speech of doing our best and all that jazz and his kind smile returned to his face and I couldn't help but smile myself. All the practices and shit, it would finally be over. Not being able to help myself, I looked to Sasuke who smirked, an eyebrow raised as he was now standing, leaning against the main rail of the bleachers. I shook it off, not caring what he was thinking or giving me that look for. After we were dismissed, I walked from the field, tired and sweaty. Hearing clunking footsteps, Sasuke followed down the bleachers ramp to follow after me.

"Hey babe." Really now? He has completely ignored me for some time and that's the best he come up with?

I turn to him in a pause, his innocent blinking coal eyes shun out my hateful emotions and I sigh.

Rolling my eyes, I jump at the chance to bring my arms around him.

His warmth instantly corrupts me and I take it all in. He made have ignored me but at least he was saying something, even it was just 'Hey babe.' Fuck you too if you say I'm getting soft. I'll have you know that after I hugged him, I stood on my tip toes and put my flute to good use, right up against his head. With a scowling pout, he rubbed his head. "That's for ignoring me, pretty boy." I told him and waved my flute around for emphasising, my other hand at my hip. It was enough to get ignored by everyone except family and Rock Lee but even a fake boyfriend should act like care enough to tell me what's going on instead of the silent treatment. So what if Sasuke was amazing in looks and could trick any girl with a single word, he reminded me of Tamaki from Ouran High School Host Club. Though his egotistical self showed more then a sweet side. "My phone was busy and I have a life other then you, ya know." I rolled my eyes, something in my mind kept shouting the name 'Sakura!', he was talking to her, right? "Busy with what? Other girls or her?" I asked, fuming as he was wasting his money if he didn't try with his stupid plan like I was. "Besides, if you had a life, you wouldn't spend it using me or stalking miss wonderful."

Seeing a smirk grow on his face, I braced myself to hit the jock again. God, he pissed me off. "Why are you so jealous all of a sudden?" His smooth words cut my emotions off, I blinked behind my glasses as I was stunned with his sudden accusation. Jealous? Why the hell would I be jealous of any girl he talked to, Sakura was different, what girl wouldn't be jealous of her? Not that I was or anything. "I'm not jealous Sasuke, last time I checked, we weren't actually dating." I said, shaking my head as I was giving up on this, I was fucking tired and dealing with this now only made me worse. Beginning to walk off, my wrist was caught and with a groan, I tugged myself weakly at an attempt to get free. My fingers slipped into a tight grip and Sasuke joined by my side as he lightly tugged me along. "At least let me give you a ride home, I don't trust you alone this late at night." Gee, thanks dad. I thought but my hand squeezed his, whether either of us wanted to deny it or not, I was grateful. Plus, I'll admit it, I missed the awkward company in the black corvette on the drive home and the rush of cold air at my body from the passenger side.

"Hey Sasuke..." I manged to spit out, the silence slowly killing me.

"Hn." I smiled at that weakly, reaching out my hand to touch his on the gear shifter.

"Look, I'm sorry...ya know, arguing and all that bullshit-"

"It's fine." He quickly says and I looked to him and blink, waiting for more then just silence from him. He then turns to me with a smirk and a gleam of amusement in his eyes. "Don't worry bout it, okay? After all, it was kinda funny." Instantly I tear my hand from his and give a look of shock. Funny? Seeing me pissed off was a joke to him? Oh, Then I'll show him something hilarious. "What was so funny?" The jock chuckles and turns his eyes back to the road and keeps that stupid smirk. "Your jealousy." With a huff, I shove myself close against the door at my side, staring out the window to watch the light of the streetlights pass, feeling my cheeks burn a bit. I wasn't fucking jealous, I wished he would just see that. Besides, I knew he would leave me soon. The stupid dance. Sasuke seemed almost unaffected by the event that was coming. I couldn't really fuss about it, after all, he didn't like me after all. Sakura Haruno, Miss pretty in pink, was all his. I squirmed a bit against the passenger seat, pushing my body hard against the door as I sighed. There was still time until then, right? At least we come make this stupid fake romance last, even if only for a day more. He wasn't Sakura's yet. Not that I cared. Though now that I think about it, I wonder how Naruto feels about Sakura's little late night calls to Sasuke. Hmm, I wonder.

I felt myself tense a bit, those late night phone calls. I wondered what they even talked about, knowing Sasuke's ego, mostly about him. After all, the two held nothing in common at all. Neither did Sasuke or I but somehow, we remain stable. Oh well, maybe it's just fool's luck. Anyways, We get back to my house and I mumble a thanks as the car halts, opening the door I stick one foot to the pavement and look over my shoulder to find that dumb smirk on Uchiha's face. Though I was used to that look. "What?" I asked with a raised eyebrow, my head lowering a bit to make my glasses slide down the bridge of my nose. With a tug at my wrist, my body jolted back and crashed right into the capturing lips of Sasuke Uchiha. I don't know why he did this too me. I kissed back though, not knowing why. I don't know why Sasuke toyed with me like this. Being in such a fake romance and then actually acting like he cared. Holding my hand, kissing my cheek, protecting me and now this. It formed knots in my stomach, ones I couldn't untie. I was getting attached even though I say I wouldn't. The warmth on my lips, the taste of him, the taste of Sasuke sparked my lips and at that moment, I wouldn't deny it. I craved him.

Though his cockiness got in the way and I withdrew myself as I felt a wet tingle on my lips.

I stared at him, he wanted entrance into my mouth, a french kiss. I wasn't stupid. Lee had always taken things very slow with me, trying to make me experience things that would make us both blush and feel too shy to do. So we never did them but it made me think. It was sad that when Lee and I first kissed, I didn't count it. There was no special moment, no shimmering lights under a moonlit dark sky with numberless stars. Nothing. It was an accident of a sloppy kiss. Compared to that, Sasuke took the gold. Though what was the point for it? Speechless, I watched him smirk and slowly run his tongue over his lips. My face stung with heat as I adverted my eyes, why was he looking at me like that? "W-Well I'll be going then, bye Sasuke." I said lamely and left as fast as I could, gently pulling my wrist from his grip. "Later babe." He called and I sighed as I slammed the door behind me, shoving my hands into my baggy pants as my footsteps smacked on pavement. I walked up to the big black iron gates and pushed myself past them and up the steps to my house. Opening the door, I peered in to see either the twins fussing over a game or Kimi in the kitchen. Neither happened. Though Kimi was in sight, sitting on the couch with his body stretched, book in hand.

"Hey Kimi," I said as I walked inside and closed the door behind me, beginning to take my jacket off. "Where is everyone?" I asked and as usual, Kimi didn't even look to my direction but spoke in a calm mumble. "Twins are upstairs, the others, who knows?" Meaning the twins are screwing up my room and the other two were smoking somewhere. Typical day. Awesome. Making my way around to the kitchen, I heard Kimi begin to talk again, I attempted to focus on his words as I stuck a pair of chopsticks between my lips and reached for a bowl from a cupboard, standing a bit on my tip toes. "-You left that slip on the floor..." Was what I managed to catch through all of it. What slip? I quickly shifted my eyes eyes to the counter to find a single sheet of paper and a scribble upon it apart from other typed words. I set the bowl down and walked over to it, taking the chopsticks from my mouth. Oh yeah, the dance slip. Sorta forgot about that. With a long sigh I thanked Kimi for the reminder and felt that my stomach wasn't rumbling as much anymore, leaving all thoughts to construct around the stupid school dance. The flickering image of the dress that was bought for the occasion brightened my mind, the short black dress that was hidden behind many other clothes and forced back by a mountain of manga and boxes that hide clusters of unknowns of my closet. I found my finger had been tracing over the paper while I had distracted myself, the clear cursive of a signature in the guardian space. Real clever Sasuke, I thought with a soft smile. Without a second thought, I made my way to the stairs to stomp up to my room and kick the twins out. Kicking my door open, I saw as they were sprawled hanging upside down on my bed reading manga in their grip.

"Alright brats, get out, fuck around in Tayaya's room time is over."

I said and the two helped themselves to sit like normal boys should and got up from my bed, leaving the blankets and sheets a mess. How thoughtful. "She's acting like we were gonna blow something of her's up." Ukon grumbled and was the first to pass me by, his twin not far behind. "Maybe next time we should." Sakon snickered and I gritted my teeth at that. "Do that and I shove an explosive up your ass." I spoke back and slammed the door behind them, fumbling with the lock a bit. Doing a quick gaze over my room, I saw it was still messy and clustered, though my focus stopped at my closet door. That stupid black dress. I guess I really would have to wear it tomorrow wouldn't I? But then... "When Sakura and I get close enough, I want a break up in front of everyone, alright?" What was going to happen then? "After then, you'll be done working for me and receive a bit more of the cash that I usual pay you and I'll have Sakura, We'll both get what we want." Would we be strangers then? Would we ever speak at all? I moved the the closet in silence, finding my dress for the dance, I picked it from it's hook and laid it on my bed. Unraveling it, I stripped to put it on and turned to the full body mirror that was on the open closet door. I blinked to my lanky figure in the beautiful dress. Weakly I lifted my hand to take my hat from my head and my glasses from my face. My ratty pinkish hair was fallen over my shoulders and I looked almost pretty. Almost. The fist time for something. The first and last dress I will ever where and it's for the occasion of getting dumped, fake dumped. I squeezed my hands into fists, colors of white becoming of them. I moved to my dresser where a brush was, hoping I could brush out some of my self pity and look half way decent for my break up. As I reached for the brush, wads of twenties and fifty were crumpled upon my dresser. A nerve within me snapped and I found myself I smacking the bills away with a hard swat of my fist.

What use was money now to me? With a family that buys pretty much everything for me and provides, what was I suppose to do with it now? I shook my head, things were complicated with me, I should never forget that. I backed into my bed and sat down, bouncing slightly on the mattress. What was going to happen if Sasuke 'broke up' with me and...I didn't want to be "dumped"? I didn't want to miss calling him an idiot, feeling the cold touch of the air conditioner in his car, have him hold my hand and faked it the best I've ever seen anyone do. Don't look at me like this is a corny situation, I'm not breaking down. It just felt good to smile and laugh and tease the pretty boy until he got pissy and then I would laugh again cause it was okay to do things like that with him. We could tolerate each other well enough to even act like a real couple. I picked at my nails, seeing the dirt under them, I felt my stomach ache as if it was being stretched like taffy. What if I lost the dance slip, would it still be over? Besides, Sakura wouldn't be with Sasuke, she has that other kid. Naruto, yeah what about Naruto? After a million reasons of things that could turn to excuses, I began to realize one thing that I was suppose to not let myself do. If I ran down the stairs fast enough and made it to the phone, I would punch in his phone number and try and cough up the words. I would tell him that he was an idiot, I liked the cold air rides in his car, when he held my hand and teasing him until he tried to ignore me or insult me right back. I was scared to lose it all. I laid down on my bed and stared to the white ceiling, still wearing the black dress that would be present of my 'ending' relationship. I released a long sigh and closed my eyes, it was like catching some sort of virus. Maybe the T-Virus, I snorted. I was turning into one of them, one of the girls that had fallen so low, so very low into deadly position. So right now, I'll admit it. I like Sasuke Uchiha, there. I like him more than a pretend girlfriend could like a pretend boyfriend.

I'm not quite sure if that's saying something but it was enough.

Enough to make my eyes 'sweat'.

Finally, I was reading between the lines, this wasn't about the money after all.

It was about me, a geeky girl in high school falling for the school jock, I laughed at this, my life was starting to be like a manga.

One with pages of the good and bad parts and the ending torn out.


A/N: So I finally updated this, it took me long enough, right? Well then, now that Tayuya is actually starting to care bout Sasuke, this story actually seems fitting to be considered romance. Yay. ^-^ I haven't got much to say except that you should expect more crack one shots cause boredom is a sin and so is not updating other chapter stories which I know is bad. Remedy is on it's way and as for Perfection, well it's in progress. As for others that are asking for yet another WeskerSheva, I might consider it even though I said to not expect a sequel to Monster or Virus, I might add a chapter to Virus or do another one shot. Maybe. Well then, enough of my rambling, please review and thank you for the read. :)