This chapter is awfully corny and stuff, but I think I like teensy doses of dramatic bits! It's a bit sad; not only because of Sakura crying (ehm...not sad for ME), but also my SAD attempts at humour. Sometimes I fail oh-so-hard. But hopefully, you don't mind =D

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto. Which reminds me, I haven't read the latest chapter yet! *gasp*

"Sak-Haruno, are you okay?" was the first thing he said to me.

We stared at each other in silence. His change of clothes had been useless because the rain had got him too. He still managed to look arrogant and hot. Suddenly, I remembered...I was wearing only a towel. I stood up blushing, apparently he had noticed my attire as well, for he turned a shade of red I hadn't seen him turn before and held up a hand to cover his eyes. Not much use, because there was a slight gap between his fingers.

"S-s-sorry!" He stammered, still blushing. "I was worried when you didn't reply to me so I pushed open the door and it wasn't locked and-"

"What are you doing here?" I interrupted. Not coldly or rudely...I just asked him. Curiously, I suppose. "I'm fine, by the way,"

"I'm glad," he smiled a small smile. "WHY THE HELL DID YOU RUN OUT LIKE THAT, YOU IDIOT?"

"Eh?" I shrank back, he was pretty damn loud. "I-I wanted to get out of there. I'm sorry, but YOU SHOULD BE TOO!" I yelled back.

"I was so worr-you almost got yourself fired, you harebrained fool!" he wouldn't stop with the scolding. "What if you got hit in traffic? Or caught pneumonia? What would you do, huh?"

"I said I'm sorry! Now YOU apologize!"

"What for?"

"You...you insulted me with that raise! The reason behind it, I mean."

"...really?"

I was surprised, "Uh, YES?"

"Oh. Well, I suppose I should apologize."

"I suppose you should."

"Yes."

"I'm waiting."

"...I'm sorry, Sakura." it was a whisper.

He said my name. He apologized to me, and spoke my name for the first time. My eyes widened and I'm sure I looked like an idiot standing there open-mouthedly staring. I felt my mouth try to formulate words, but it flapped soundlessly and hung in the air. He stepped forward, his hand beginning to tingle my shoulder as he spoke in concern.

"Are you alright, Haruno?" He'd reverted to my last name, but the feeling that came when he said 'Sakura' remained as a bubbly feeling in my stomach. The gentleness was too much for me in my current state of shittiness and I teared up. I tried to control them, honest, but my stupid emotions got the better of me. I didn't want to embarass myself like that; not in front of HIM!

As soon as he saw my face crumble, his brows furrowed and lips tightened like they had in the office. He stepped forward quickly and clasped his arms around me tightly. Suddenly, it was the coffee scene all over again. Except this time, the one burning up was me and it wasn't because of some darn creamy coffee. It was plain skin on skin and it felt REALLY good. His shirt was still unbuttoned and my towel was thin and short...dirty thoughts clouded my mind and dried my tears. I began to blush, because he was looking into my eyes now and it felt like he was reading my mind.

I didn't push him away. I didn't speak. We just stood there in silence, staring into each other's eyes. His arms and chest were surprisingly hard and I was tingly all over. We leaned in, or I think I did. Our faces were close, it felt like he was going to kiss me. But, as it's supposed to, thunder strikes at the most inopportune times. Being scared of thunder was something only Tenten had been cursed (blessed?) with. It was shocking, because I'd always thought the rest of were wimps, but Tenten (TENTEN!) of all people was scared of the loud rumbling sound.

Anyway, Sasuke jerked, and suddenly we weren't so close anymore. I remained still, thunder was just another noise in the background.

Don't fall for his charms. You'll end up hurt!

Ino's voice echoed in my head and I tried to be strong. I had laughed at them then, but now that I knew what kind of person he was, Uchiha Sasuke seemed like the one. You know, the One who you wait for all your life, calling him Prince Charming because that's what fairy tales called him. The one who makes all others pale in insignificance and all that crap? Yeah, I was becoming cornier by the minute - proof that I was falling in love.

He was talking while I drooled. Commanding my brain to quit with the nude mental images and concentrate on his words was hard. I did it, though.

"...take care of yourself and stay home till Monday. Consider it to be a (paid) sick leave." he spoke grimly and kept his arms folded tightly across his front. Mine were still clutching the tiny towel in place.

"Okay," That's all I could manage without pouting about him leaving.

"Don't fall sick, don't try to come back before Monday, and Haruno-" he looked back and smiled faintly. "Don't cry."

THEN he left, managing to close the door behind him.

Slowly I walked to my bedroom and pulled a big t-shirt over my head. Falling into my creaky bed, I snuggled into the covers and twisted till I got comfortably warm. I looked out my window, thinking about the man I couldn't have. Funny how those things turned out. Made you want them more which made it harder to accept that

My body was still hot where he had touched me and I despaired that I was doing what so many others had done. I despaired that I was falling for my boss, the forbidden man that we all encounter atleast once, who causes turmoil in our lives. I feared I wasn't going to escape this hurricane unscathed, because when I fall, I fall hard.

I am such an idiot.

CORNY. And abrupt. And silly. But I couldn't fix it. Too much, that is. It was too hard!

To save you the trouble: I hope you will forgive the crappiness and find it within yourselves to drop off an encouraging review or critique, telling me not to give up...*HINT HINT*