A/N: Yikes, this is super short. But I had a mental block and I thought it'd be better to cut off at where I did then
continue on. Plus I'm late on posting. I swear I'll make the next chapter twice as long as usual though. :)
I wasn't quite sure what to do at that moment. Do I pull Lee of his stool and beat him unconscious so he shuts up? Should I just run away?
This was embarrassing. This was exactly why I wasn't like Ino or Tenten or Hinata. This was why I wasn't popular; because I can't handle it. The three of them would never have gotten into this situation, they would have been able to manipulate and maneuver right around it. Me? I was just swerving straight into traffic. I was sliding downhill fast, and I'm pretty sure someone cut my brakes.
"Lee get down now!"
"No Sakura-chan! My love I have to apologize! I have to let everyone know!"
"Lee if you don't get down from there, I'M LEAVING!"
His eyes grew wide and he jumped down wrapping his arms around me. "No please Sakura-chan! Don't let me ruin your day! Stay and eat ramen!" He sang out letting me go and scooping his bowl up and pushing it towards me. "Sakura-chan you can have mine too!"
"I'll pass." I said refraining from smacking the bowl onto the ground and punching him in the face. I turned away from Lee and started walking straight through Naruto and Kiba, pushing them aside as I stalked down the sidewalk. I had to try and leave with some pride left.
"Sakura-chan! Sakura wait!" I started to slow down. "Sorry, Sakura. We-ha-we didn't mean-haha-to laugh at you or anything. It was Lee we were laughing at, the kid is as wacked out as Gai-sensei, he's practically a clone!"
It was Kiba, walking next to me smiling his goofy dog-like grin his brown shaggy bangs falling over his forehead.
"Ugh. Just forget it..." I said sullenly not looking at him, because how could I face him when I could still faintly hear Lee shouting back at Ichiraku's?
"So I take it you aren't going with him then?" He said smiling at me.
"Nooo!" I groaned.
"Hmm." He said looking at me as I tried my hardest to remain facing forward. "Can...Can I ask you something?"
"...Sure." I shrugged. It couldn't possibly be worse than the embarrassment I had just felt with Lee, not even five minutes ago?
"Well, uh, is Ino-chan dating anyone?" He said rather shyly looking down at his feet as we continued to walk.
Oh, right it could be worse.
"What? Wait, Ino?"
He looked up at me, "I'm sorry! I shouldn't have said that! It's got nothing to do with you Sakura-chan! I-I was just talking to Ino, because I....I like her and then, well she was going on about you, and The List...She just kinda asked me and I said sure, because I....I don't know. But Naruto and I thought it'd be a good idea anyway, to get you to start sitting with us, because your pretty cool Sakura-chan. We really miss hanging out with you like we did when we were kids and stuff. I just....I like Ino a lot, actually."
I stopped walking and he continued a few steps before he realized and turned back and stood in front of me. Seriously? I had just had one of the most embarrassing days of my life. First, Sai acts like a horrible date and insults me and makes me feel like an idiot for trying to connect with him. Then, Lee embarrasses me in front of random strangers on the street, Naruto, and Kiba. The cherry on top? I find out Kiba isn't even interested in me, he's trying to get closer to Ino...and he played the "friend card" to ease my pain.
Is that how she managed to get every guy on The List? Because they would all do anything for her or owed her a favor? And not just her, lots of them probably liked Tenten or Hinata too. I'm sure they weren't satisfied with the duds they got like Lee and Kabuto. They...they rigged this whole thing.
"Whatever, I don't care." I huffed. I could feel how hot my face was getting from sheer embarrassment and complete anger. "She isn't dating anyone." I said, stepping around him walking away.
I stomped through the courtyard as I wondered where the hell they could be hiding (and probably laughing at my stupidity) at.
How could I even think Sasuke liked me. How could I even imagine Itachi, Deidara, and Sasori knew of my existence.
I made my way through the lobby and turned into the hallway making my way to the girls' dorm.
"Sakura."
I wanted to scream. I wanted to rip the drinking fountain off the wall and hurl it behind me because, maybe just maybe, then people would learn to leave me alone.
That's really what I liked most. Being alone, not being the center of attention, planning my own life and not having people stop to talk to me about anything (complete with lies and fake smiles). I liked not having to keep up a stupid appearance. Like all the stupid people in this school do. Like my stupid friends and stupid guys.
I was at a breaking point at that moment, which is probably why I turned around and shouted "WHAT?!" very angrily, making the boy behind me stop in his tracks.
Sasuke raised a dark eyebrow. Mmm, he looked sexy in his uniform, with his blazer missing, tie loose, and the sleeves of his white dress shirt rolled up carefully to his elbows. In any other moment of my life I probably would have drooled all over the linoleum floor. There is however, always the exception to every rule.
"What'd I do now?" He said stuffing his hands into his pockets and walking towards me.
Ugh, please.
"I know the little game my so called "friends" have going." I said, my voice like an icicle as I actually held up both hands to make quotation marks in the air with my fingers.
"The List? I think everyone know about that Sakura-chan."
"Which one of them recruited you? Huh? Which one do you like? Tenten, she's pretty athletic, I'm sure you like a girl that's fit. Maybe Hinata? She's quite, you always hate when girls talk so much. When anyone talks so much. You probably have a crush on her. Or are you like Kiba? Is it Ino then, she is practically the queen of it all." I spat crossing my arms across my chest.
I took a step towards him, trying to jab my icicle like words straight into him. I can't believe I was so dumb as to think my friend since grade school, the guy I have been in love with for forever could possibly feel any hint of desire for me.
"I can't believe I was stupid enough to believe them too. Tenten is a good actor, but I didn't realize I was so gullible. Your all just a bunch of fake bastards, up on your high horses parading around the school like you own everything. AND EVERYONE LET'S YOU DO IT! The whole god damned student body puts you on a pedestal and practically worships you. I remember why I never hang out with any of you anymore! I hate all of it!" I shouted.
His oh-so-delicious-black eyes narrowed at me and all playfulness was absent in his expression. "You should really stop insulting people. We aren't fake, and you know it. People act like idiots around us but that isn't our fault. Some people use it to their advantage. Some. I don't know what your talking about with Tenten, Hinata, and Ino but I don't like any of them like that. You have no idea how I act so shut up."
"I have no idea how you act? Sasuke, I've known you since we were little. Your always all quite and brooding. You act all superior and push Naruto around. You insult people all the time, calling everyone annoying and stupid! I've always been nice, I'm not going to do what you say just because it's you. I don't care anymore."
"You should really, really shut up."
"Why? Are you going to make me Sas-uke-kun? Go ahead. Whatever you do I don't give a fuck." I said putting my hands on my hips and staring defiantly at him. Pshh, he had the nerve to lie to me! To tell ME to shut up! Oh hell no.
Sasuke stepped towards me and smirked. He wasn't taking me seriously. I was a joke to him, I was still just a joke to him.
My hand flew up and a loud smack rang through the empty hall as it connected to the side of his face. It was hard enough to make his head snap to the side and my palm sting as I drew it back.
I really hadn't planned that. All that anger at everyone and my frustration had built up. I really hate liars. I really hate being used. I hate being toyed with, and Sasuke really shouldn't try to mess with me.
Sasuke's expression changed to shock. I knew she should be afraid, I knew I should run or apologize or something. Sasuke had never been nice when fan girls had jumped him in hoards or when anyone picked a fight with him. But I was rooted to the spot.
"Well?" I said taking another small step to invade his space and push a reaction out of him. "I'm not going to shut up."
He stared at her. "What do you want from me?"
I thought about the question for a moment. "I want you to stop lying and tell me why your on The List."
He stared into my eyes and then blinked, shaking his head. "You want to know why?" He asked. Then his arm snaked around my waist and pulled me into him, and his lips pressed hard against mine.
Sasuke Uchiha was kissing me.
