Chapter 11
Sakura's POV
So I've discovered something today (Saturday – also the day after Mr. Moron was awarded his prize): You can't study for exams while an F-ing gorgeous jerk is on your mind – especially if you have to go to the gorgeous jerk's house the next day to work on your science project. Now, my opinion could be biased because I am probably the only person who has to speed study (because the math exam is in four days and the English exam is in five – that's right, I'm a crammer) and figure out what I'm going to do about this whole Sasuke-being-a-moron-thing so I can work on my science project that is to be presented in three days.
So, I've been at my desk in my room for 2 hours and all I have done is two math questions and re-read one chapter of Macbeth. The reason for my poor conductivity is that every time I start to work, my mind drifts off and I find myself replaying Mr. Moron's debut in my head. And then I scold myself for not working and for even thinking about Sasuke – but then I tell myself that I should be thinking of him because what am I going to do tomorrow!?
I had reached my third hour of studying (or lack there-of) when I told myself that I would take the high road and go to Sasuke's tomorrow – and if he's an ass about it, I would have Naruto on my side, because I didn't do anything wrong.
And my dear sister arrived just in time for me to forget about doubting my decision of going to Sasuke's – the doorbell rang, and I answered it.
Puriti entered the house with a flourish. Her hair perfectly wind-blown, sunglasses gleaming in the light, and her clothes looking like they just came out of a magazine add.
"Sakura!" she squealed, running towards me. When she hugged me I could see over her shoulder my dad coming in with her many bags and suitcases.
Let me tell you a little bit about my sister – just so you get a taste at what is going to happen over the next few weeks.
My sister isn't afraid of 'stepping out of the box', and she doesn't have any problems with confidence. She likes to be original (as she puts it) and can sometimes be very, very wild – excessive partying included with the package. I'm not quite sure how many boyfriends she's had or how many she's had at a time, but I know she gets pretty friendly with them, if you know what I mean.
But before I continue my explanation, you have to understand something. Puriti may sound like she's on the 'bad shit list', but she really isn't. So I don't know if she excessively smokes pot or sleeps with guys around the clock, but what makes her different is what she doesn't do – because that side of her personality is so much better. I can't explain it, but everyone seems to love my sister – everyone. It might be because she's always so happy or she brings the better side out of people, or it might even be something so completely insignificant; whatever it is that she has, makes people love her.
But she isn't an angel or a Mary-Sue. If you look back at some of our home videos, there are plenty of clips that show me playing innocently with my Barbie dolls, and then Puriti coming and snatching them out of my hands. And there is the occasional person that clashes with her and a bitch fight starts, and a lot of the time, I have problems with her too.
Puriti always seems to be the sun, and me the shadow. If I'm good at something, she's better at it, if I want something, she's already got it. Sometimes, I wish that she wasn't always there because then, I'd be the one who is glorified. I guess it's just one of those sibling things where there is always a problem.
But back to the present.
"Hi!" I greeted back, and returned the hug.
"Oh my god, I can't believe I'm actually here! It seemed like forever when I planned to come – did you know I'm staying for all of Christmas Holidays?! Isn't that great!" Puriti said while holding my hands and bouncing up and down- that action reminded me of Sarah ona sugar rush.
"I know – but you should have Facebooked me – then I'd know when you were actually coming," I replied.
"Well I was here and there on my way so I didn't know exactly when I'd arrive – oh! That reminds me! I bought you something!" and we went up the stairs, following my dad who was carrying all of the luggage to Puriti's room. On the way she blabbered on and on about how I'll love my gift and how this guy she hooked up with knew someone who had the same thing as what she was about to give me. It's only been a couple of minutes and already I'm put-off by her over-exuberance.
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Sasuke POV
Sasuke woke up that day with a nasty hangover, a cloudy memory of the previous night, and a nagging feeling, telling him to look up the word 'jealousy' in the dictionary.
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Sakura POV
Puriti and I lounged in my room later that night. While Puriti cuddled with Samuel, who surprised her with his skinny physique, I told her about my dilemma- and she actually had a solution. As she explained it to me, I fiddled with my new cellphone – the gift that Puriti had given me.
What she told me to do was when I go over to his place, I should act confident. If he remembers, he'll think that I'll either not mind what had happened, or I'll seem not afraid or intimidated by him. If he doesn't remember, than there will be nothing to worry about. To solve the exams problem, she told me to bring my study stuff over to his place and we can all study as a group.
This seemed like a good enough idea, even though her idea of Sasuke isn't exactly what he is in reality (considering I left out a lot about him and the incident that happened).
But I didn't follow the plan at all.
I tried to, but it is so easy to talk about something. Actually doing that something is a whole other story.
I was going to be confident, but I ended up acting like Sarah in a thunderstorm.
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Sasuke POV
Sasuke stared at her for a long time. When she first came into the library, where Naruto and he were already situated and working (well, Sasuke was), she seemed very uptight. And when she sat down, Sasuke started the staring.
And it wasn't like he was glaring – it was more of a calculative I'm-trying-to-remember-what-happened-between-me-and-you-but-I-can't-remember look.
And he tried to remember until Sakura's face completely drained of colour – she saw him staring.
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Sakura POV
I felt myself go completely pale. He was staring at me – no, he was glaring at me with an I-remember-what-happened-and-I-am-not-happy look.
I didn't know what to do. All the options that I had wouldn't do anything to make the situation better so all I could do was sit there and be very quiet and hopefully, he will eventually forget my presence.
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Sasuke POV
So something did happen. Shit. Because she wasn't even blushing – at anything he did. Currently she was curled up in a ball – her feet up on the seat, chin on her knees, one arm curled around her legs and the other writing down the information for their project – and she just kept getting paler and paler.
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Sakura POV
He just kept looking at me, and then he'd nudge me randomly; while he was passing by to the kitchen or reaching for something across the table – and I'm not sure if these nudges were meant to be as a show of resentment or if they were completely accidental.
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Sasuke POV
Something big happened that night, and though he couldn't remember what it was, he knew just how horrible it could be – knowing he wasn't the nicest person can lead to not very nice situations. So Sasuke decided he will find out what happened – that or make Sakura stop acting like a fucking mouse caught in a trap.
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Sakura POV
Sasuke actually spoke. For the first time since I came to his house that day, he talked. Well, it wasn't exactly something important, and it's not like he wanted to – Naruto had asked a question and since I was too nervous to answer, Sasuke did.
"You guys wanna help me study?" Naruto asked. We had just finished working on our project and he pulled his knapsack – which was unusually large considering Naruto barely did any work – and dumped it on the table. Apparently he had the same idea as me and Puriti.
I didn't say anything and when Naruto urged us with a 'guys?' Sasuke spoke.
"No."
"Aw, come on! I'm gonna fail if you guys don't help me! I mean Sasuke you're like a genius dude and Sakura, you're like awesome and stuff at school," he begged.
I decided to answer this time because I believed Naruto when he said he would fail if we didn't help him, and whether or not Sasuke assisted me, I had to help him – I was his friend and if I could help him then I would.
"…Okay…" I squeaked, and as Naruto cheered, I quickly glanced at Sasuke with nervous eyes to see his reaction, but then quickly lowered them to my lap – he was staring at me again.
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Sasuke POV
Fucker.
Now he had to help the dobe study. And it would take him a long time too – because Naruto is friggin stupid – a fucking monkey has a higher IQ than he does.
And why Sasuke feels that he has to help him is because after Sakura chirped 'okay', she looked at him with puppy-dog eyes. Puppy-dog eyes.
This was a guilt-trip, he knew it – it had to be a guilt-trip, because why would Sakura ever do puppy-dog eyes unless he had done something so over the top that he had to do a favor. A fucking favor. He never gave favors. The word didn't even exist in his vocabulary. Favor. What was she thinking? She could never get him to do a favor.
Though he somehow found himself outside studying with Naruto and Sakura and half-watching Sarah swimming in the pool. And he had the head-ache of the millennium – nothing Sakura or Sasuke did could get any information through Naruto's thick skull.
But he wasn't doing a favor – Sarah had come into the library and begged for Sasuke to life-guard for her as she swam in the pool. Sasuke calmly pointed out that there were other staff in the house that could watch her, but according to Sarah they weren't 'superfantabulous enough'.
And then, after the three moved their work place to outside, the studying just sort of happened. But it's not like Sasuke agreed to anything, so it wasn't a favor. At least, that's what he told himself.
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Sakura POV
It was boiling outside. Even though I was in a tank top and a skirt, I was melting. I was actually internally rejoicing every time a droplet of water splashed from Sarah in the pool beside us. And that pool looked so tempting – it was only a couple of steps away – if I really wanted to I could pretend to fall off of my chair and fall in the water. But that would be way too embarrassing, no matter how hot it was. And I was probably getting really sunburned – I didn't want to be nerdy and ask for sunscreen (it's not like I could in the mental state I was in then).
I had calmed down by the time we got outside, though I was still very nervous… and very anxious and worried and edgy and jumpy and panicky and tense and uneasy.
So I guess I was just as bad as before, but maybe a little more aware.
"Whew, it sure is a hot one today," Naruto said and took off his shirt. He took off his shirt. If it was possible for me to get any hotter in this weather than I think that had done the trick. I mean, I don't like Naruto anymore, but he has a tattooed, tanned, and at the time glistening, six-pack- so I had the right to become very, very, very warm.
And the colour finally rushed back into my face as a huge blush.
"Hey Sakura? You alright?" Naruto asked, referring to my red face.
"Uh, yeah, I'm fine. It's just really, um, hot out here," I answered, and Naruto believed me.
It's a good thing he didn't notice me staring at his stomach.
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Sasuke POV
How could he not notice her staring at his stomach? How stupid could he be?
How could he not realize that the reason behind her blush was his fucking being shirtless?
And how could she just stare at him like that – so easily – and not even spare a glance in Sasuke's direction?
Look at me.
Sasuke took off his shirt too – possibly from the heat, and possibly for another reason.
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Sakura POV
OH MY GOD oh my god oh my god oh my god.
My hand was fanning myself that's so hot it was – no, I had taken my math notes and was fanning myself with them.
They were both there and shirtless and sweating and toned.
And it was really really really hot.
Really hot.
And I couldn't concentrate either, my eyes kept flickering to both of them – well, both of their chests.
And it was SO hot. I mean, outside was hot, the weather was hot, I was hot… they were hot…
"I think I'm going to go stick my feet into the pool for a sec," I mumbled and quickly got up and out of the chair, flicked my sandals off, and sat at the pools edge.
Sarah swam over to me with a life jacket and water wings, and started explaining how she was a mermaid in the water. I listened in relief – this was something that could start to cool me down.
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Sasuke POV
She was looking – no, drooling. But at both of them. Not only Sasuke.
"Gettin' hot too?" Naruto asked, and then grinned, leaned forward and said for only Sasuke to hear, "Or is it because of Sakura?"
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Sakura POV
There was suddenly a huge splash. I mean huge. When the waves receded, and the bubbles cleared, I saw Naruto surface – and the chair he was sitting on.
"What the-" Naruto started but then closed his mouth because young ears were present. "Sasuke what did you do that for!?"
I looked back to Sasuke to see him sitting as he was before, except he had a smug smirk on his face. Then his eyes flickered to me and then right beside me. I followed his gaze too late. Naruto already snuck up on me and pulled me into the pool.
I surfaced in the water partially spluttering out of surprise, and blushing with embarrassment – A yellow top can be pretty see-through when wet and a skirt isn't the best thing to swim in. Especially if there are other people around. Other guys around.
So I stayed in the pool with my arms crossed over my chest and my legs together, knowing that they could probably see certain things if I tried to get out.
But they weren't paying attention to me, well, Naruto wasn't.
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Sasuke POV
Naruto climbed out of the water and soaking wet, made his way to Sasuke.
Sasuke stayed seated with cocky, mild amusement.
Naruto then said 'It's your turn.'
Sasuke met the blondes' eyes and infinitesimally tensed for the first move.
Naruto then tried for a headlock but ended up grabbing air.
Sasuke had ducked and lunged for Naruto.
Neither of them seemed to notice the exceedingly red-faced girl watching the fight in awe.
Neither of them seemed to notice.
Look at me.
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Sakura POV
I think that if I wasn't in the pool, I would have spontaneously combusted.
Two shirtless, wet, hot, guys were play-fighting. Oh my god. I think I could die happy.
And then one of them charged the other – right into the water. Right where I was.
I managed to swim out of body contact, but I still got majorly splashed by the wave that followed. And I still got caught in the fight.
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Sasuke POV
Sasuke had never done this sober. This swimming in the pool with his clothes on thing. He had also never done so much to get a girl's attention. He had also never seen Sakura's bra and underwear.
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Sakura POV
Naruto, caught up in the action, decided it would be funny to lift me up and throw me. I didn't think it was all too fun because my hands flailed up to keep balance as he raised me into the air showing off my blue Victoria Secret bra which was visible through my yellow tank top.
It also didn't help that he threw me right into Sasuke.
He grunted on impact and was pushed back into the water with me on top of him.
Okay now freeze time and look at my position.
I was on top of a shirtless Sasuke in the water with my bra showing. Where were his hands? One on my waist and one on my shoulder. Why? To keep balance?
We both came up coughing for air – well I did. Sasuke kind of came up… and that was it. He didn't let go of me and he didn't give a reaction.
He was still holding my waist – wait no – my thigh, and he was holding my shoulder – except his hand seemed to be wandering downwards and in the opposite direction of my back.
I quickly scrambled away and swam over to the shallow end where I was pretending to catch my breath and where Sarah was pretending to be a mermaid.
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Sasuke POV
Now the night of the party didn't seem as big of a deal as before, because Sakura wasn't pale anymore. She was the exact opposite.
And she was looking at Sasuke.
Look at me.
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Sakura POV
All I could do was sit at the edge of the pool (still wet) with my arms over my chest, and my mouth hanging open. All I could do was stare.
This looked like something that came out of an Abercrombie ad. A really wet Abercrombie ad.
So these two guys (really hot two guys) are play-fighting (really hot play fighting), with the majority of their clothes on (their shirts were off… and it was really hot), in the pool (which was really hot 'cause they were wet).
And it was really hot. Really.
So no one can tell me that it was weird or whatever to stare at them, because (as previously mentioned) it was really hot.
But then I wasn't the only one staring.
Naruto had caught site of me and slowly, while keeping his eyes on me, stopped what he was doing.
And then Sasuke did as well.
And then it was really silent (except for Sarah splashing around and singing songs from the Little Mermaid).
My eyes kept flickering back and forth between Naruto and Sasuke as my arms tightened around my chest, feeling very conscious of myself.
Then Naruto spoke.
"Whoa, Sakura! What happened!?"
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Sasuke POV
What happened!?
What happened is right!
What the hell happened to the annoying scrawny loser that was moments before in the pool? Because all Sasuke saw was a stranger.
A very attractive stranger.
"What?" she answered, sounding a little frantic.
"Your hair!" Naruto replied.
"My hair?" she sounded confused.
Sitting at the edge of the pool was someone looking very similar to Sakura, except way more… something – he couldn't find the right word. And it wasn't the hair he was focusing on.
Her clothes were wet and clinging to her skin – letting show the curves that could have been hiding. Her skirt had run up her legs and was showing the smooth flesh of her thighs. Her shirt at become see-through, showing off her revealing undergarments, and her arms were crossed around her chest in a provocative manor – pronouncing her cleavage line. Sasuke couldn't help but let his eyes follow the water droplets that slid down to that area.
"It's… different!" Naruto exclaimed.
Now Sasuke focused on the hair – but it didn't click why Naruto was gawking over it – her hairstyle was nothing new. He had seen the curls before, when she had walked (and gotten lost) in the rain on the way to his house. The large green eyes that contrasted with the pink of her hair were opened wide at the accusations coming from the blonde.
A drop of water made its way down between them and dripped off the end of her nose and fell on the plump lips beneath. Altogether, her face wasn't hard on the eyes – it was the exact opposite – even in the confused expression it held.
But then Sasuke came to a realization. It was the all too familiar blush that made him believe it. The bright green eyes and the pink hair – it was extremely hard to believe – but this girl sitting at the edge of the pool, the one that was about to give him a nose bleed, was Sakura. It was fucking Sakura. Remember the old paper-towel girl that annoyed him time and time again? Well, it was her.
It was fucking her.
When did Sakura get so, dare he think it, hot?
But maybe it was just the water that was doing this. Or heat exhaustion. Or something. Because he wasn't seeing this. Or, maybe it was that he wasn't comprehending it.
Sakura and hot? In the same sentence?
She had never looked like this before, why the sudden change? Why the fucking sudden change?
"Why!?" Sakura threw her hands to her hair (revealing her fairly unguarded chest), trying to make out the problem. And then her expression changed from confused and frantic, to realization, to frantic again. "Oh my god!" And then she started to ramble.
"Oh my god my hair! I can't believe it! I completely forgot and now it's not straightened and curly! Ew! Oh my god! I should have-"
"It looks good!" Naruto cut in.
Sakura stopped speaking and looked appalled. Then her eyes took a suspicious quality, "Not funny – you are so lying!" And then she slid back into the water, re-wetting her curls. She surfaced with her head tilted upwards so her hair would gather slickly at her back.
Isn't this the start of some R rated movie?
Sasuke's pulse then quickened when she used her hands to smooth back the stray hairs and then tied the whole thing up into a tight bun. This also left her upper body, clad in wet see-through clothing, free for all eyes to see – for Sasuke's eyes to see.
It's a good thing the pool is cold.
"I wasn't lying! It actually looked good!" Naruto blurted out, and then looked to Sasuke for back-up.
But Sasuke didn't look back, nor did he reply – he couldn't take his eyes off of Sakura.
And that's when Sarah broke her leg.
A/N Whoa! Random! I could so leave you guys in a cliffy (not a very good one…) right now. But I won't, cuz then you'd be mad at me for leaving you hanging and for a short chapter. Oh, and you guys were asking for it – so I did it – I finally made Sasuke realize that Sakura was pretty – and it hit them harder cuz he LIKES HER! We all know it, he just won't admit it. Oh, that Sasuke. SO I'm gonna get back to the story now…
It was the sound that reached him first – it was the sound that told him trouble was coming.
The sound was that of a diving board being jumped on.
And he turned his head just in time to see the event occur.
Sarah must have made her way to the deep end – where she wasn't allowed to go – when Sasuke was… distracted. She must have climbed out of the water and she must have climbed on to the diving board – where she also wasn't allowed to go – and decided to try it out.
What Sasuke heard was Sarah taking her first bounce, and then her second, and then on the landing of her third, Sasuke turned and saw Sarah's foot slip, her expression change from mischievous delight to surprise and terror, her body twist to a 45 degree angle as she fell to the water on the left side of the diving board, the side of her shin hitting the edge of the board with a thunk!
By this point, Sasuke had already started a mad head-up front crawl towards her, his eyes wide and his mind thinking only one thing 'Holy Fuck! Sarah!'
The distance between the diving board and the water wasn't far – only about two feet – and it was a good thing Sarah was wearing a life jacket and water wings so she would float to the surface easily.
And when she did, an ear-shattering scream erupted from her mouth.
"Oh my god!" That was Sakura.
"Holy shit!" That was Naruto.
"Sarah," Sasuke said calmly, trying to hide the panic in his voice when he reached her. He didn't want to touch her though, in case anything else was hurt besides her leg.
I should have been watching!
When Sarah's scream finally cracked, she broke into sobs.
I should have been paying attention!
"Sarah," Sasuke said again in a low, soothing voice, "Sarah, where does it hurt?"
The answer was pretty obvious – Sarah's shouts and hollers of 'My leg! My leg! Ow! Ow! Ow!' made it clear.
"Oh my god! Sarah?! Tow her in! Tow her in!" Sakura had swum over and Naruto had gotten out of the water and ran over to the side where the action was happening.
"Bring her over here!" He called from the edge.
Sasuke and Sakura carefully and slowly towed Sarah towards Naruto and lifted her out of the water.
"OW! MY LEG!"
"Watch her leg!"
"I'm watching it! I'm watching it!"
"OW! OW! OW!"
"Oh my god! Look at it!"
The injured area had already taken the tint of blue and had started to swell.
"Naruto, get my car ready," Sasuke said with reluctant conviction.
"I get to drive the Maserati!?"
"Fuck! Just go!"
"Okay! Okay!" Naruto then ran around the house and out of sight.
Sasuke picked up the howling child who cried even more if her leg moved the slightest bit. Sakura followed him into the house and then blurted out, "Rice! We have to do Rice!"
"What the fuck?"
"Rice! The acronym! The first aid thing!" And she pushed Sasuke – who was still holding Sarah – into the kitchen.
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Sakura POV
I never thought I'd use my first-aid training – the summer course turned out to be handy. Even when we were all panicking (Sasuke was too, even if he didn't show it – I could tell from his eyes).
RICE
R rest and reassure.
I immobilize.
C cold compress.
E elevation.
When I brought Sasuke into the kitchen, he put the still screaming Sarah onto the counter. As I yelled instructions out, we both searched and found the items needed.
We ended up taking a pack of frozen peas and securing them onto her leg with a cloth and duck tape. As I did this, Sasuke tried calling one of his parents.
A couple of the house staff peered in to see what all the commotion was about, and as we were leaving the house, Sasuke directed them to call his parents, who he was currently unable to reach, and tell them that they were taking Sarah to the hospital for a possible broken leg.
Naruto was waiting in the front seat of the Maserati Diablo when we got outside. His expression was tense and worried, though you could see the excitement he had for being able to drive Sasuke's car.
Sasuke and I slid into the back seat where he held the majority of Sarah on his lap while her leg rested on mine. His expression was completely stoic as we rode to the hospital, staring straight ahead and briefly closing his eyes or glancing down at Sarah. He would also occasionally lean down so his mouth was at her ear and he'd whisper something that I couldn't hear. His arms were wrapped around her so she was cradled into his chest, and this seemed to calm Sarah the tiniest bit. Her howls turned to sobs and her screams turned into anguished cries – but at least she wasn't breaking our ear drums anymore.
When we got to Emergency, Naruto dropped us at the door and then went to find a place to park.
Sasuke, Sarah and I must have looked like a pretty odd group coming in - Sasuke and I were still very wet from the pool, Sasuke was shirtless, and Sarah was crying and still in her bathing suit (her life-jacket and water wings came off in the car).
After we signed in, we waited for our turn on one of the benches, ignoring the stares we received from others in the room (who weren't staring for long due to Sasuke's glare).
When Naruto returned and Sarah's crying still hadn't ceased, I decided to help. Kneeling in front of her and Sasuke (she was still on his lap), I talked to her in a soothing voice. I did what my mom used to do when I was little and I got hurt – that was to run my hands through her hair and whisper words of comfort. When I glanced up to Sasuke briefly, I found that he was staring – at me. I quickly looked away and got back into my seat, blushing and a little embarrassed – I must of looked weird when I was calming Sarah down.
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It took only a half hour to get a doctor to see us – the nurse was young (and flirty) and got us in ahead of others. The Doctor did a quick x-ray and confirmed that her leg was fractured. By the time he put a cast on her, Mrs. Carter had gotten to the hospital and I was able to go home – not that I wanted to – I wanted to see how Sarah turned out.
But it was getting late and my dad would probably be wondering where I was since I didn't have my new cell phone with me. So Sasuke drove Naruto back to the Carter house where the orange Lexis was waiting in the driveway, and then drove me straight to my house – and this was done all in silence.
But the weirdest thing happened when he dropped me off.
I said 'thanks for the ride' and 'I hope Sarah is alright' and things along that line, and when I looked to Sasuke, he was staring at me, again.
And I stared back. For a long time. And I didn't blush.
The sun had gone down and lights in the car were basically the only light. It seemed to illuminate his pale skin and make his eyes and hair seem even darker.
My fingers reached out to touch his arm on their own accord, but the moment they touched his skin, my mom burst out of the front door of my house and ran over to the car shouting things like 'What the hell are you doing?', 'It's so late out!', and 'Why isn't your cell phone with you?'
I snatched my hand away, my face turning red (like it usually does) and quickly got out of the car mumbling a 'thanks' and a 'bye' and ran up to the front door with my mom trailing close behind me – still yelling.
Well at least I know she cares a bit.
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Sasuke POV
He sat there staring at the spot that she touched for a while after Sakura had left the car.
It tingled where she touched – no, it burned. And the burn spread through his arm, to his chest and settled in the pit of his stomach.
This burning wasn't an angry one though – it seemed one of…lust? Or maybe a desire? Because he wanted to touch her back. He wanted to touch her. But there was no other feeling behind it – he just wanted to touch her back. And this want seemed to grow to a need but he didn't understand why and it confused him to no end – and Sasuke didn't handle confusion all that well.
A passing set of headlights snapped him out of his daze and he shook his head clearing his thoughts- or at least trying to. He then put the car into drive and headed back for his house. Or maybe back to the hospital. Or maybe he would just drive.
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Sakura POV
I got to my room and I closed my door and I couldn't contain the squeal building up in my throat. It had to come out.
Was that a moment I had there with Mr. Uchiha? Was it?
'Cause I swear it was! Well, at least it did to me!
My mom let the issue drop once she realized I wasn't listening about half-way up the stairs to my room, so I was free to bask in the glory of my moment. MY moment.
He was looking at me and I was looking at him and then I wasn't blushing and then he wasn't glaring and then I touched him and it was soooooooo great. My hand felt like it was on fire! Wahhhhh! I think I might have been exerting some pretty loud squeals and squeaks and hyperness all alone in my room. It was CRAZY! Oh my god I had a moment! And I want another one!
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The next morning was Monday, but since exams were starting, I didn't have any school – and I didn't have any exams that day either. This thought alone was enough to make me happy, but when I remembered my moment, I was ecstatic.
I was in such a good mood that I could tolerate my mom. I was in such a good mood that I could tolerate waiting 45 minutes for Samuel to actually eat something. I was in such a good mood that I could tolerate my sister being in the spotlight. Heck, I was in such a good mood that I could even tolerate studying with Naruto.
And then that made me think that Naruto didn't get much studying done yesterday because of the whole Sarah incident.
And then that made me think that I should call Naruto and ask him if he still needs help studying.
And then THAT made me think of Hinata and her and Naruto getting a push in the right direction.
And then THAT made me think of me getting a push in the right direction and possibly another moment?
So it was decided. I would call Naruto and Hinata and ask them if they wanted to come over to my place and study (and hint for Naruto to ask Sasuke to come too) and then after studying we could all go to the beach or something (okay, so maybe I wanted to see them shirtless again…).
Naruto and Hinata were able to come but Naruto said that Sasuke didn't want to come. He also said that the real reason for Sasuke not coming was to be with Sarah, but was 'too much of a cold bastard to admit it'. And guess what? That made me think of another thing – and that was to draw a picture or give a 'get well soon' card or something for Sarah. But that is aside from what was happening today.
I noticed that when Hinata and Naruto are together, they don't talk much, or interact much. Or do much at all.
We were at the dining room table in my house where there was a lot of space to work on. Naruto and Hinata were sitting beside each other and I was across from them, so I could observe what was going on pretty well. I think Samuel was hiding- I really should try and make him more social.
Naruto would ask a question and Hinata would answer in a stuttering jumble of words. Then as Hinata was explaining, Naruto would sidle closer to her – so close that they were touching and I could see Hinata's hair swinging a little from Naruto's breath – that's how close they were. And of course Hinata's face was beat read and Naruto was a tad oblivious. And of course Hinata would shuffle her chair away from him with a smile on her face. And of course Naruto would shuffle right back next to her.
By the time I suggested we should start to head to the beach, the couple was halfway down the table from where they originally were.
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The beach was moderately crowded, though we were still able to get a very good spot.
I had dedicated my time to working on my tan, so that meant laying out in the sun with in a bikini and listening to my ipod. Naruto had dedicated his time to try and get Hinata to go swimming, and Hinata dedicated her time to trying to not go swimming because that would mean she would have to take off the baggy t-shirt she insisted on wearing over her bathing suit (which was a bikini that Ino and I forced her to buy – she was just shy to show it).
As I tanned I drifted in and out of a light sleep where I witnessed clips of what was happening between Naruto and Hinata – and let me tell you, going to the beach was the right thing to do.
The first time I woke up, Naruto was still persuading Hinata to go swimming. Hinata had taken to declining politely and blushing a lot – because Naruto was bare chested.
The second time I woke up, Hinata had gotten her t-shirt off and was now hugging herself, and Naruto was getting even more enthusiastic because he knew she was close to giving in.
The third time I woke up, the two weren't present. I lifted myself to my elbows and groggily looked around – and when I directed my gaze towards the water, I saw that Naruto was successful.
The fourth time I woke up, Naruto and Hinata were drying off with their towels and Naruto had offered to get ice cream. I think he asked me too but I pretended I was still asleep – today was about them.
The fifth time I woke up, I saw something very surprising. Hinata and Naruto were sitting very close together, and Hinata was actually, purposefully, touching him. And they were kissing!
Naruto had on hand resting on Hinata's waist, and the other he was leaning on for balance. He was initiating most of the kissing, but it wasn't like Hinata wasn't responding. She had one hand clutched to her chest while the other was tentatively touching his chest, and her head was tilted up, ready to receive.
Now this got me wide awake, but I decided to pretend to be asleep again because if they knew I was aware of them, Hinata would become completely embarrassed and it would ruin their moment. So I closed my eyes and I accidentally fell asleep again.
The sixth time I woke up was also the final time. I felt a gentle hand on my shoulder and opened my eyes to see Hinata looking down on me.
"Sakura, y-you're getting a s-sunburn," she said, "And N-n-naruto and I are r-ready to g-go."
"Uh, okay," I replied and looked myself over only to find that I actually did get a sunburn – not a bad one, but it still gave a reddish tint to my skin.
Once we packed up and were heading back, I noticed that Naruto had his arm around Hinata's shoulder and lightly holding her against his side – and Hinata didn't even move away, though she blushed a lot.
Yeah, the beach was a very good idea.
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Guess what.
Almost everything that was or will be between me and Sasuke went back to the very beginning. And I mean the very beginning.
We didn't have any exams today, but we did have our science presentation, so that meant our whole science class had to be at school for the length of a normal period so we could all take turns presenting.
So when I went to school and saw Sasuke, my mind had reverted to becoming completely obsessed with him again. That meant not paying attention to anything else, constant staring, almost drooling, and sometimes blushing.
It was like the very first day of school – the beginning – and all I could think was Sasuke.
And I guess Sasuke decided it would be the first day too because you know what he did? He totally ignored me. Even when I was sitting right beside him. And when he wasn't ignoring me, he was glaring at me. I couldn't even talk to him or be near him – this Sasuke sort of scared me.
It was like I could feel the cold vibes emanating from him, I could see the 'fuck off' sign reverberating in the space around him.
And this totally got me confused because I had no idea what was going on. I thought we had a moment – but I guess I was wrong. He was the cold, mean, stoic (and gorgeous) Sasuke that existed in the beginning.
And, this may sound a little random, but I think Mr. Kakashi has an all-seeing, all-knowing eye.
I say this because he pressed the fast-forward button and made everything go back to the present.
Except he kind of messed up.
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Sasuke POV
Sasuke can do almost anything. And if there is something Sasuke can't do, he either finds a way to be able to do that something (which happens the majority of the time) or he ignores it and pretends it doesn't exist. That's just the way Sasuke works.
Something Sasuke can't do is handle Sakura Haruno.
It's not that he can't handle her literally or physically (because, by all means, that's something he does best), he can't handle her mentally.
Or rather the feelings for her, mentally.
And the feelings for her are new to him. Well, almost new.
What Sasuke feels for Sakura is an undeniable attraction of sorts (though he would never admit it). It is confusing to describe, because this attraction (according to Sasuke) is a mixture of not minding her constant existence in his life, and a wanting to touch her.
But the majority wanted to touch her.
And Sasuke thought that maybe if he fulfills this wanting, it would go away and he would be satisfied.
But Sasuke never got a chance to fulfill it, because handling Sakura was something he couldn't do.
So, like some things, he chose to ignore it.
But it is very hard to ignore these feelings when he was in the very hot science room where the air conditioning had broken, and the one he had these feelings for was sitting right beside him.
And continuously fanning herself with one hand.
And constantly fiddling with the hem of her shirt to let the air flow underneath.
And frequently playing with her hair.
And persistently staring at him.
Did he mention that the room was very hot?
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Sakura POV
Mr. Kakashi initiated his plan when everyone had finished their presentations.
Some groups, along with ours, used a projector for visual aid – and according to Mr. Kakashi, the last group to use it should be the ones to put it away.
Naruto, Sasuke and I were the last people to use the projector.
And when Naruto realized this, he bolted for the door to escape the work, yelling, "Hah, see ya Mr. K!" over his shoulder.
And that left me and Sasuke.
Ignoring Mr. Kakashi's rule as well, Sasuke didn't think twice about walking out the door.
So that left me. Alone.
"Sasuke? I don't think Sakura here can do the job by herself." Mr. Kakashi called just as Sasuke crossed the threshold.
So maybe I wasn't alone. Except I'm not sure which is better- being alone or being with the mean Sasuke.
Sasuke turned and walked back into the room, irritated. I was a little surprised by the little resistance and the possible obedience he showed.
"These are the keys to the storage room," Mr. Kakashi explained and tossed the key-ring to the annoyed Sasuke, "When you are done, you can drop them on my desk." He sat down at said piece of furniture and opened his porno book. Ew.
It was silent for a pretty long time, where Mr. Kakashi read his book, Sasuke waited with a bored but expecting expression, and I stood near the projector in an awkward silence.
"Well?" Mr. Kakashi looked up and motioned for us to get going.
"Oh, um, sorry sir," and in a rush, I picked up the projector and walked out the door, Sasuke following me silently.
It was only until after I was in the hallway and walking, did I realize how heavy the piece of equipment actually was. I shouldn't have been carrying it; Mr. I've-got-a-really-really-nice-body-that-is-loaded-with-muscle should be.
But he was being the old Sasuke. And I didn't like the old Sasuke very much. The old Sasuke scared me.
He would glare at me when I spoke, and then completely ignore the fact that I actually did speak – even when I started with, "So, how is Sarah doing?" He would just walk on and disregard my existence.
He even ignored me when he saw me struggling with the fricken heavy projector.
But then everything changed when we entered the storage room.
Sasuke had unlocked the door, had enough decency to hold it open for me, and flicked on the lights. When the door closed, I turned to Sasuke and asked him if he could help me lift the projector to its proper shelf – even though it wasn't that high up, the hunk of metal was slipping from my grip and my arms were shaking with the effort of holding it up.
When Sasuke didn't answer, I turned to him with a desperate look and was about to ask again – but all that came out was a 'Sssssaa…'
Sasuke was right behind me. And staring. I mean really staring.
I could feel his breath on my face – that's how close he was to me, and it was making me very dizzy.
I don't know how long we stood like that. A couple of seconds? A minute? 5 minutes?
And then what happened next was so unexpected I nearly dropped the projector.
Sasuke suddenly dropped the keys, closed the space between us and before I even knew what was going on, I was pushed towards the back wall of the very tiny storage room, and was heatedly making out with him.
And this kiss wasn't slow and seductive like the first time he ever kissed me, it was kind of rough – but I wasn't complaining. Because I think there was some tongue action in there.
And guess what? I still had the projector in my hands.
So that's why I slowly and unconsciously slid down to the floor with my back against the wall, so the projector was resting on my lap and not on my exhausted arms.
And guess what else? The kiss didn't break that whole time – he ended up kneeling in front of me – his hands on my face and in my hair. Oh my god, it was amazing.
But the moment I realized that my hands were free and I went to touch him, he realized what he was doing and abruptly stopped.
Yes, he stopped. And he stood up, took the projector from my hands, put it on its shelf, and walked out of the storage room just like that. Just like that.
I was left sitting against the wall, alone in the storage room, still dizzy and very confused from the incident that had just played out.
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I was in a daze as I walked back to Mr. Kakashi's classroom. Sasuke's kiss left me dizzy and dazzled, but his abrupt departure left me utterly confused. I still had the memory of his hands in my hair, his lips on mine, and the ferventness of his actions. Overall, I was hardly conscious of where I was going or wary of the projector room keys clutched tightly in my hand.
It was a voice that snapped me back to my senses as I approached the classroom.
"Now, is there anything you want to talk about?"
The lazy but informing voice was almost impossible not to recognize. Mr. Kakashi was talking. The voice was coming through the open door to his classroom.
But wait, there were voices.
"Hn."
Now if Mr. Kakashi's voice was almost impossible to not recognize, than this was impossible. If the infamous word/grunt wasn't a giveaway, than the cold indifference behind it was.
Sasuke Uchiha was in the room with Mr. Kakashi- and they were having a conversation. A seemingly serious conversation.
Despite the obvious nosiness of my actions, I could not help but sidle up against the lockers and listen.
"You're sure," Mr. Kakashi spoke, "there aren't any problems you'd like to discuss?"
"Hn" Sasuke again.
"No… issues?" Was the reply.
"No." Sasuke's tone was clipped.
"You're sure? There aren't any problems, dilemmas, predicaments about anything?" He emphasized the next words, "About any one?"
My heartbeat raced at the inference.
"No." Sasuke's tone seemed more annoyed.
"No girl problems…" Mr. Kakashi inquired.
Sasuke's reply was cocky, maybe amused, "Tch, no."
"Not even with someone?"
Sasuke was annoyed again, "No."
"Not even with a special someone?"
"No." but his reply was to quick, and too forceful to have any credibility. From what I could tell, and probably Mr. Kakashi as well, was that Sasuke was hiding something.
The idea made me almost hyperventilate. The idea of Sasuke hiding something about a girl- could it possibly have to do something with someone he just recently made out with in a cupboard?
"Sasuke," Mr. Kakashi sighed and it almost sounded disapproving, although it still sounded as if he expected the given behavior. "I'm supposed to check up on you, I want to."
He was met with silence.
"And if there is anything you have issues with, you should let me know. Maybe I can help."
Sasuke's next words were ground out, "I don't have any issues."
Then there was a long stretch of silence. It was so quiet, I was afraid my drumming heartbeat would give my position away.
And then Mr. Kakashi sighed again, still sounding disappointed, "You know, these tattoos aren't here for nothing."
My sudden interest was sparked- the tattoos on their wrists. The little swirly thingies. What could they mean? Are Sasuke and Mr. Kakashi somehow related? Or part of some pact? Did they get the tattoos together? Maybe they are related. Weird. My love interest and my teacher. But how are they related? Maybe Mr. Kakashi is his uncle, or godfather- but Sasuke's an orphan… Maybe he's a friend. Or a friend of the Carters?
The rest of their conversation was muffled in my head by the rampage of thoughts- I mean, Mr. Kakashi and Sasuke related? I wouldn't even know if I hadn't eavesdropped. Like, how is it eve-
"Sakura."
I heard my name. No- someone was calling my name. I was frozen against the lockers. My thoughts were frozen, heck I think my heart was even frozen.
"You can come in now," Mr. Kakashi's voice continued.
How did he know I was there? What am I going to do now?
It took quite amount of willpower to not run away from the situation. But I looked down at my fist, where the projector room keys were still clutched. I still had to return them.
It then took even more willpower not to throw them into the room and then run away.
And when I looked up from my fist, the one person I dreaded seeing me there, even more than Mr. Kakashi, walked out the door, right in front of me.
He glared.
And although this was the mean Sasuke, the one who ignored me, the one who glared- it wasn't the icy, irritated look that usually sent chills down my spine and left me cold.
Rather, I blushed and felt embarrassed as I watched him proceed down the hall and around the corner.
"Sakura?" Mr. Kakashi asked again.
The next few moments I rushed. It took me a total of total of three seconds to walk into his room, facing the floor, set the keys on his desk, and race out of there- only looking up once to see the slight grin that appeared over the top of his porno book.
Was he grinning at me? Or Sasuke?
Or…
His porno book?