Beauty and the Geek

Chapter Eleven

I walked up the road from there and waited for a bus, any bus that would go near the hospital. As luck would have it, the first bus that pulled up stopped right next to it. I hopped on and hoped that Sasuke was doing okay on his own. It pulled up to the hospital 10 minutes later, and I exited, looking up at the building as I did so. Looking round for the entrance I made my way across the car park and through the big glass doors.

The lady at reception smiled up at me as I approached the desk.

'Can I help you?'

'Yes please, I was wondering if you could tell me what room Sasuke Uchiha is in? He came here about an hour or so ago'

The lady tapped away on her computer for a few seconds.

'Oh yes. He is in ward 3 on the first floor. He's in a stable condition'

I breathed a sigh of relief 'Thank you'

I checked the map and then went off to find him. I went up a lift and wandered around hurriedly for a while until I found this ward 3, the door nearly caved in as I burst through eagerly. There was Sasuke, at the far end lying down with his eyes shut. I wondered if sneaking up on him was a bad idea. Probably.

I crossed the room and sat down on the little seat next to him. Was he asleep? He hadn't opened his eyes yet. I put my bag and coat on the floor before resting my head in my hands on the edge of the bed. However after a few minutes of staring out the window I was bored beyond measure. I prodded his arm.

No response.

I coughed lightly, and prodded his arm, increasing the intensity of the prod.

No response.

I made a louder noise, punched his arm with my iron fist and said his name. Ah, that did the trick. He opened one of his eyes, upon seeing me he simply closed it again. The nerve!

'Sasuke' I said again.

No response

'Sasuke' I dragged out his name, prodding his arm again. 'I know you're awake' Instead of prodding his arm I prodded his face. But he still didn't move. Getting slightly impatient I leaned over and stuck my finger in his ear forcefully, making him open both his eyes and sit up slightly, moving slowly due to his rib.

'Awake are we?' I asked him quietly.

'I am now' he grumbled

'How are you feeling?'

'Other than the pain in my ear, I'm fine'

'Be serious' I playfully punched his shoulder.

'The doctor said it was the cartilage that was broken, the tissue connecting the rib to the breast plate. So technically it isn't a broken bone, even though it's still called a fractured rib. It will cause some difficulty breathing, but that's it. If I rest for a while it should heal up. Apparently'

'Right. Well...I'm glad you're okay.'

'Are you?'

'Of course I'm glad'

'Are you okay though?'

'Yeah I'm fine. Why wouldn't I be?' He raised an eyebrow. 'Oh right. School.'

'Tell me'

'Well...things were being difficult'

'How so?'

'Urm...I got a lot of looks'

'So that's why the head mistress thought you were pregnant?'

'No...'

'Why then?'

'Well...Karin started this rumour...' I looked over at Sasuke to see his eyes look downwards.

'I see'

'Yeah' there was a long silence. 'So, how did you end up fracturing your rib?'

'A locker-slamming. I got beat up'

'Who did it to you?' my voice rising embarrassingly high.

'Some guys'

'Who?'

'Look Sakura. I don't want to talk about it' he looked away to the side, so that his duck butt hair was facing me. I felt bad for him, and I knew he must be feeling pretty rough right now, worse than I was. And that was pretty rough.

'I'm sorry'

'Hn'

'No really, I am. I know that everything's going to be really hard on you now...'

'Why?'

'Well because...well because of what happened'

'And what happened?'

'Sasuke, you know what happened'

'I know. Just tell me' I looked at him confused, before continuing anyway.

'I was in a pretty dire situation, and you came in and got me out of it. Even though you put yourself at risk' and with that I glanced at his chest, at his ribs. I felt a pang of guilt. This was my fault, if I had some more back bone I could have done something, and then Sasuke wouldn't have gotten involved, and then he would be fine now.

'I'm sorry Sasuke' he turned back round and looked me deeply in the eyes. I felt myself blush a little under his gaze. After an incredibly awkward space of time, he motioned for me to come closer. Uncertainly, I leaned in, so that he could whisper whatever he wanted to say to me.

'Sakura?'

'Hm?'

'You don't need to be sorry'

'But I-'

'Sh' he silenced me with a finger on my lips. My eyes widened...where was this leading to? My heart rate increased as I noticed how very close we were to each other.

Then he moved his finger away, and after looking into my nervous eyes for a few moments, he leaned over and kissed me.

I reeled back in shock, but he brought a hand to the back of my head and deepened the kiss instead. I could feel his hot breath against me, and I felt no need to resist this once, a tingle shot down my spine as I leaned into him, wrapping my arms around his neck and placing my hands on the nape of his neck. Our lips moved against each other softly, and I felt no rush, I could hardly think.

Through the bliss however, I could feel my lungs starting to burn from lack of air, and I reluctantly drew to the side, breathing heavily downward onto his shoulder. My arms still around his neck, I could feel him breathing heavily as well, his breath tickling my ear.

Now came the hideously awkward moment when neither of us knew what to say.

I was still leaning over and not exactly comfortable, but I didn't want to sit back down because then it would mean eye-contact, and he would comment on something like how red I was or how dishevelled I looked as though I had been the one who kissed him. Before I could think it over I leaned back fully and plonked back down onto the little chair at the side of the bed.

The silence dragged on. Sasuke being Sasuke, was unlikely to be the first to talk. And I didn't want to start, what on earth was I meant to say anyway? I cleared my throat and he looked over to me. I unintentionally glanced at his lips and blushed like a school girl...wait-

'Sakura' he said with nonchalance, like that just didn't happen.

'...yes?'

'Kiss me again'

'I didn't kiss you in the first place'

'Just do it'

It only hit me later that night that I was in an actual RELATIONSHIP with Uchiha Sasuke. And I had to hold myself together. We were the only two who knew about it, and we vowed to keep it top secret. I couldn't even tell Ino.

I'd left the hospital an hour later and headed home, knowing Sasuke would be back in school in a day or so. I wanted to know who hurt him though; I wanted them to pay with their lives. Kicking my slippers around on the floor, I texted Ino and the others to tell them that nothing out-of-the-ordinary had occurred toady. I couldn't take the risk. If news got out that Sasuke and I were...you know, then all hell would break loose. Throwing myself onto the bed, my thoughts drifted to him. I wonder if he was thinking of me. What was he thinking about me? I held my head up with my hands, looking up at the wall covered with anime pictures and band posters that he's never even heard of.

Would Sasuke really like a person like me? I was so different from everyone else he hangs out with. Our tastes couldn't be more different, likewise with our status in the school. I pouted and let my head sink down into the pillow. I'd had my first kiss today, with Sasuke Uchiha. This was something I would remember for the rest of my life. Who knows if this'll work out? Probably not. There's too much between us that could ruin everything.

I liked Sasuke, even though he could be a jerk. And I wanted this to work, I wanted to have lots of happy memories with him, but realistically would that happen? Not because Sasuke's gloomy, but because everything else could block its path.

Grabbing my phone and switching off the light, I called his mobile, I felt nostalgic doing this, remembering all those times he had called me weeks back. After a while, I heard a muffle and finally a voice.

'Hn' I hadn't been happier to hear that hn.

'It's me'

'I know'

'...Aren't you going to ask why I rung?' I asked after a while, expecting him to elaborate on what he said.

'Why did you ring?'

'Well, aren't you worried that all this is going to back fire on us?'

'...No'

'No? If anyone finds out our lives are over'

'We'll be fine'

'No we won't'

'Trust me. When have I ever been wrong?'

I hesitated for a while

'Fine'

'Night-'

'Wait!'

'What?'

'...Talk to me for a while'

'About?'

'Anything. Like you used to on the phone'

'We have all the time in the world to talk Sakura. Why so late at night?'

'Never bothered you before'

I heard him sigh irritably 'Pick a topic'

'What?'

'Just pick a topic'

'Urm...history?'

'Be serious. I'm not going to talk to you about history'

'How about travel?'

'Sakura'

'Okay okay! How about food?'

'I'm going to bed'

'Sasuke...' I dragged out his name like I'd done earlier today.

'What?'

'Night' I smiled cheerfully, hoping he could hear the smile through the words.

'Good night. I'll see you tomorrow. You better visit me or I'll kill you'

'Good threat'

'Night'

'Night'

I put my phone back on the shelf and nestled down into the covers. Seeing Sasuke after school was going to turn into a real experience, especially after today's kissing episode. I blushed at the thought again. Before hitting myself mentally.

I really needed to grow up. Kissing is a normal part of life Sakura, wake up and smell the java. I always freaked out over the love-related parts of life, now that they were becoming parts of my own life; I needed to stop being such a kid about it all. I AM IN A REALATIONSHIP NOW. I am officially a true teenager; I've ticked the list of required teenage things to do, apart from the weed smoking. I think I'll leave that one out.

The next day after school I stopped off at the shop to get some food, before heading off to the hospital. Remembering the route from yesterday I made my way to Sasuke's ward. Approaching his bed I saw him sitting more or less upright, staring blankly at his phone.

'Hey' I gave a little wave as he looked up at me 'how are you feeling?'

'Better' he smiled slightly.

'Was that a smile?'

'No'

'I bet you've got a lot of messages' I said with an off-tone, I myself didn't know if that was good or bad news. I took the seat that I took yesterday and rested my hands on the edge of the bed.

'My inbox is full. And it can only take up to 200 messages'

'What are people saying?'

'...stuff'

'stuff?' I raised an eyebrow

'Stuff that you don't need to hear'

'And why not'

'Stuff that I don't want you to see' he winced slightly.

'Why don't you want me to see?'

'Because it's not...that nice'

'Have all your friends turned on you then?'

'All but one'

'And who is it?'

'Naruto'

'The loud blonde one?'

'Hn'

I thought about him for a while, he seems one of the nicer people in Sasuke's friend group. Come to think of it, he tried to stop Karin in the whole Oz fiasco. I guess I owe him a platypus. And I don't often say that.

'I like Naruto' I said, smiling.

'What do you mean, you like him?'

'He stopped Karin from ripping Oz in half that time. He's a good person, and clearly he's a good friend' I looked down at Sasuke's phone.

'I guess'

We sat in thoughtful silence for a while. Before I remembered the food I had bought with me.

'Are you hungry?'

'A bit'

'I bought chocolate' I bent over and shuffled around in the bag before whipping out a big bar of milk chocolate. Drooling with anticipation, for I was starving, I ripped open the packet and snapped off a row for him. I handed it over to him, but he didn't take it.

'Don't you like chocolate?'

'I do'

'So you're hungry, and you like chocolate. But you don't want it?' I raised an eyebrow

'My arms feel weak'

'...Your arms are fine' I said, raising my eyebrow further.

Instead of replying verbally he opened his mouth slightly. Oh no. I wasn't going to feed it to him. I broke of a piece and put it in my own mouth, making him narrow his dark eyes in growing annoyance. I over acted with the chocolate's deliciousness, making delighted humming noises and rubbing my tummy, but it did the trick.

'Oh just give me some then' he snapped, and I smugly handed him a piece, watching as he bit into it eagerly.

'So' I began, not really knowing what to say next. 'Is the chocolate nice?' my stupidest question of the day so far.

He simply nodded, and I passed him another piece as well as one for myself. I twiddled my thumbs, something I often do when nervous, awkward or uncomfortable, which encompassed pretty much everything I was feeling at the moment.

'So' he said this time, gazing at me. 'How have you been finding everything?'

I considered his question for a moment, it had been hard, only because I went from someone no one gave a second glance to or noticed, to someone who was suddenly known by everyone in the school. And they all made a bloody good job of showing it too, pointing me out and whispering. Thinking back on it made me want to shy away from it all again, and I lost my appetite for the chocolate all of a sudden, my stomach feeling sick.

'Well, clearly not as bad as you've been finding it. I haven't been exiled from my friends and beaten up' I said playfully, lightly punching his shoulder. But as the words came out of my mouth I regretted it. A wash of pain spread across his face for a second, before he went back to his normal poker face. 'I-I' I couldn't find the words fast enough 'I'm sorry'

'What for now?' he looked away, down to his phone which his hands encased.

'I didn't mean for that t-to remind you of it, I just- I'm sorry' I couldn't find what I wanted to say.

'It's okay'

Although Sasuke was an ice cube for most of the time I'd known him, he surprised me then by moving his hands and taking mine in his, our fingers entwined. The phone forgotten on his lap. I looked up at him, and for the first time since I'd known him, I saw a depth to his eyes. More than just the ice exterior he put on all the time. I knew he hadn't had a particularly enjoyable life, that much goes without saying. His parents were always away, and most of his 'friends' weren't his friends at all, so fickle and shallow. His whole life had just developed into the massive fake...thing.

Maybe I could help him get better? Or maybe I was the one who caused this whole charade in the first place, if we hadn't become friends none of this would have happened to him. I inhaled deeply and looked back down at our entwined hands. I squeezed his hands gently and looked back up at him. I gave him a smile and he returned it, though not quite reaching his eyes.

'Sasuke. I know I keep on apologising, but I am sorry. I really, really am. Everything you've built up in school, I just knocked it all down'

'It was so fragile anyway, it was bound to come crashing down at some point'

'Now you're stuck at the bottom...with me' I didn't mind it, but I knew he wouldn't feel comfortable being at the bottom of the social rank. It was the equivalent of the pig farmer back in the middle ages. From royalty to peasant, you could say.

'I'll be fine Sakura... It's not like my whole life is over now'

'...you keep telling yourself that'

'I always wondered what it would be like to be at the bottom of the hierarchy in school anyway' he pondered

'Well you're going to find out. If your old friends start picking on you-'

'Picking on me?'

'Bullying you'

'Hn'

'Then just ignore them. It's how I do it with 99% of the school'

'You got bullied?'

'Well obviously. Karin made sure of that, especially this year'

'Karin did?'

'To tell you the truth...' I leaned in slightly, as if she was in the bed next to us listening in, which wouldn't surprise me. 'I think she was jealous' I whispered

'Jealous?'

'Uh huh'

'Why would she be jealous of you?'

'Oi!' I said defensively, swatting his arm.

'No offense intended'

'Of course not' I gave him a suspicious pout before continuing 'I think she was jealous of not getting your undivided attention'

'She wanted my undivided attention? I think I would notice that' he scoffed

'You'd be surprised. The moment you started talking to me more, she had it in for me'

'So this is my fault'

'Yep' I popped out the 'p' at the end. 'But it's not all that bad. My friends are people you can count on, other than Naruto, I'm guessing you don't have many friends like that?'

'Not really'

'I think that, although the situation seems really bad now, I think we'll both come out better at the end of it' I said, smiling happily. I had this feeling that Sasuke was going to become a better person if he spent some time with some people who cared for him and liked him for who he was. Even though he would get ridiculed by the whole school for it. But everything has it's time, and everything ends. Eventually the idiots will get over it and leave him alone.

That's what I was betting on anyway.

There was a commotion outside the door for a few seconds, making us both look over to it, and then Naruto sprang into the room holding a bouquet of flowers. I smiled broadly at the fact he'd brought flowers, what a guy. I felt so happy that Sasuke had a friend like him

'Sasuke!' he called out loudly, waving. Even though he was only on the other side or the room, his voice still deafened us both.

'Keep it down' Sasuke said, though the happiness was evident in his voice that someone else had come to visit him. Naruto made his way over and tossed the flowers into Sasuke's face.

'Looks like I'm stuck with you guys now' he said, pulling up a chair next to me by Sasuke's bed side. 'Nice to see you again Sakura' a lazy grin spreading across his face, I grinned back. I liked Naruto; he was such a people person. It was nice to be in his company.

'What do you mean, stuck with us?' I asked, turning to face him properly. My hands slipped out of Sasuke's.

'Well, I've also been exiled.' He said the word with finger quotations. 'But I don't mind, I've still got my best friend...oh yeah and Sakura' he winked at me

'Hey!' I swatted him playfully 'Am I just a back-up now?'

'Nah' he opened up his arms and offered me a hug. A little taken back, but happy nonetheless, I moved forward into his embrace. Before pulling back and noticing the chocolate bar on my lap, he followed my gaze.

'Hey you've got chocolate' he pointed out, his voice going high with eagerness.

'So what if I have?' I held it in front of his face playfully.

'Gimme some' he gave me a puppy dog look, and I laughed, breaking off a piece. But similarly to Sasuke, he opened his mouth instead and pleaded with his eyes; his eyebrows knitted upwards into the picture of what he thought looked cute. I laughed again before leaning forward and popping it in his mouth, pressing my finger under his chin and up to shut his mouth after. He grinned at me and bit down on the chocolate.

'You like?' I asked almost huskily, leaning back, enjoying this game.

'Very much' he nodded appreciatively 'How much have you got left?' he replied in the same husky tone.

'Not much' I frowned, looking down at the almost empty packet. Breaking the mood entirely.

'Wanna get some more? I saw a vending machine on the way up. I got money!' he shoved his hand in his pocket and bought out a hand full of change, imediatley changing back to his child-like way of acting. I smiled and nodded eagerly. He stood up and held out his hand, waggling his eyebrows at me, making me laugh loudly. I took his hand without a second thought and followed him out of the room.

With a shock of realisation and a stab of nervous regret I remembered Sasuke sitting in the bed alone. And I'd just left with Naruto and left him in there all by himself, not even looking back when we left.

'Naruto' I said questioningly as he fed the money into the machine a few corridors away from the room Sasuke was in.

'Hmm?' he hummed in reply, his tongue poking out as he pressed in the numbers with concentration.

'We just left Sasuke all on his own...' I brought a hand up to my chest, feeling guilty for running off like that.

'Sakura, Sakura. He's fine, he's not going to get worked up if we go buy some M&M's'

'I hope so...'

'He's not that fragile of a person. He won't care. If anything...'

'What?' I asked as he trailed off.

He motioned for me to come closer, and then he leaned in to whisper in my ear, his breath tickling me.

'He prefers to be alone half the time' then he leaned back and shrugged at me, before bending down and picking up the M&M's from the bottom if the machine.

'I guess he does' I thought about it, and most of the time he was rather despondent. Maybe I was annoying him by talking to him all the time.

'Do you think I might be annoying him since I talk to him a lot?'

He laughed 'probably, but he gets enough of that from me. I'm sure he's used to it' he stood up to his full height and offered out his hand. 'Want to run back?'

With a grin I placed my hand in his and we raced back, unaware how much Sasuke had actually been affected by all that.

Sakura never knew he could be such a jealous type, she was about to find out.

YESSS they finally kissed haha, took me long enough to write it, I know.

Hehe, bit more drama? I hope so, there's more to come, so keep your eyes peeled for the next update.

And can I just say how thrilled I am to have 100 BLOODY REVIEWS! Thank you soooo much everyone! I finally feel like my story is progressing, so thank you for your encouragement and I hope you enjoy what's to come in the story.

Yaaay for plot twists and drama! x