Chapter 08

Monday came around slowly. My weekend was…well, dull. I spent half the time thinking about exactly what I was going to say to Sasuke. And the other half was spent helping my mother bake for a kindergarten event for Kyuubi. But finally, after ten pies, three cakes and a tray of muffins, it is Monday morning. I'm walking into school with Sakura, who can't stop running her hand through my hair.

"It's just really soft now. No that it wasn't before but now it's all cute and… short!" She squeals and pats my head again. "I did a damn good job, don't you think?" She's been saying that since Saturday. I just nod and turn the first corner to go to my locker and Kiba is already there. As soon as he sees us he turns his head and bangs it against his locker.

"I can't see you like this!" he cries. "All the beautiful hair… gone. Why?"

"Calm down, you drama queen." Sakura rolls her eyes.

"It'll grow eventually." I add. But I plan on cutting it again. I'm over long hair… besides, it's going to be more comfortable in the summer. Think positive.

After taking my books and borrowing some notes from Sakura we are off to math class. It's not like I'm eager to meet Sasuke or anything… but on the way I keep glancing around, trying to find him through the crowd. I bump against a few students and Kiba scowls me for not paying attention, taking my hand and leading me while I keep searching. I can hear how the guys we pass make their witty comments and the girls giggle and whisper to each other.

Right now, I couldn't care less.

Once we reach our classroom Kiba lets go and enters after Sakura. I sigh and just as I'm about to follow them I happen to glance to my right and guess who's there? Who's standing with his guitar against the wall? Who's talking awfully close with a tall senior girl and not protesting when she presses her lips against his and begin to suck face right in front of me?

This shouldn't be as horrible as it is. This really shouldn't be stinging like it is. This definitely isn't right.

I watch how Ino runs her hands trough Sasuke's hair and I want to push her away so bad. But I don't, obviously. I just stand there, gawking like the idiot I am. It seems like hours until they finally break apart and Sasuke notices me looking at him. His eyes go wide and he kind of… pushes her away? Yeah, he pushed her away, and she's yelling at him now. Sasuke doesn't even look at her and just grabs his guitar and stalks off the other way. She runs after him and I can still hear her screaming after she turns the corner.

It's not like I'm anything to him, so why did he look like that when he saw me? And why the hell did he push her away? I am not complaining but… I don't know. What's wrong with me? I don't care what Sasuke does… do I?

"Naruto! What the hell are you still doing out there?" Kiba calls from the classroom and I jump a little. Oh, right, Math class…

"Coming…"

OoOoO

After third period is over we walk to the cafeteria for lunch. I decided that I'm going to find Sasuke and talk to him right after lunch, but I can't really wait.

"You guys go ahead, I'll be right over," I say to my friends and they nod and walk away. They probably know what's going on…

After a few minutes the cafeteria is packed and there is no sign of Sasuke. Even Neji walked in and made sure to step on my foot on his way. I ignored him and kept waiting. I'm not sure what I'm going to tell him… and I had a whole weekend to think about it.

Okay, that's fifteen minutes and he's still not here! What if he's with Ino? No, don't think about that. And I try not too. And I try not to notice how my fists and teeth clench at the though of it.

Where the hell is he? He knows, I told him that we'd talk on Monday! And… oh, I think I know where to find him.

OoOoO

And well, of course I'm right. That's his spot, beside the tree, facing the football field. I should have known when I saw he had his guitar with him today. He looks like he did that day, when I first asked him. He's wearing only his shirt despite of the cold breeze and he's playing softly, his back to me. I feel like I felt that day, too. I'm nervous as hell, what if he laughs at me?

But, I know he won't. He wouldn't.

"Hey." I say when I reach him and he turns to look at me over his shoulder.

"Hey…"

"Can I sit down?" This is awkward.

"Yeah… you don't have to ask." He lifts an eyebrow and I blush. I sit down next to him and he starts playing again. "Your hair looks nice."

"Thanks. Uhm… what's that all about with Ino before?" He stops and pretends he's tuning the guitar.

"What do you mean?"

"She was pretty loud… What happened?"

"Nothing, I don't know." He sighs and puts the guitar down. "She's annoying."

I didn't hear you complaining when you had your tongue down her throat… Hey! Where did that come from?

"She is…" I get up and sit in front of him because he's not looking at me and I don't like it. "We need to talk."

"Yeah… I…"

"Wait! Me first. I was thinking the other day… that maybe I shouldn't have said that on Saturday. I can't make you answer me on a set date." He's looking me in the eye now. His eyebrows are raised in what could be surprise… or not. Can't really tell. "I… uhm… The question still stands. I still want…" I blush, I can't help it. "I still want it, you know… that."

"Naruto…"

"Wait! Let me finish." I held my hand up and he shuts up. This is so embarrassing I don't need any interruptions. "I still want to, but I want you to want it too."

Deeper blush here.

"I kind of… I think I…"

I'm such an idiot.

"I think I kind of like you."

Sasuke's mouth drops open and his cheeks turn pink. "What?" He shouts and I cringe. "I thought… You said you didn't!"

"I know…" I whine and burry my face in my hands. "But today… when you were with Ino… I was angry, you know? I was jealous." I sound so stupid!

Sasuke is silent. I look between my fingers and he's still looking at me with that bemused expression on his face.

"Say something?" I cry.

"What can I say?"

"That you don't care and that you'll pay no attention to my stupidity and won't let this affect your decision?"

"I… can't say that." I close my eyes.

I screwed it up.

"I can't say I don't care."

I'm such a pansy.

"And I can't ignore your stupidity."

Thank you…

"But I won't let this affect my decision, ´cause I spent my whole weekend thinking about it and…"

Stupid crush on stupid Sasuke.

"I'll do it."

Stupid… WHAT?

OoOoO

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