"Didn't think you'd come," Sakura said to him. Sai wrapped his arms around her and smiled.
"Of course I would come," Sai said, shaking his head. "Even though I am not really a great dancer."
"Me either," Sakura said.
Sai looked a little distraught then, "What's up with him?" he asked.
"Who?" Sakura asked stupidly, looking back.
"Uchiha over there," Sai said. Sakura glanced at Sasuke's direction, who was standing on the edge of the dance floor. Their eyes met briefly and broke contact when a girl came in front of him.
"Has a problem with you," Sakura shrugged, although she thought it was absolutely ridiculous to why Sasuke even disliked Sai. It should have been Sai who couldn't stand to be in the same room as Sasuke. Not Sasuke. Sasuke had no reason to dislike Sai after what he did to Sai.
"No I mean," Sai sighed as if trying to find the word. "It's like he's…mad…that I'm with you. Like he's jealous?" Sai had it wrong. In fact, she was sure Sasuke thought her to be a nuisance. Someone below him. She was sure he saw himself as if he was better than everyone else.
"If anything, he's not mad or jealous. I could hardly think he is," Sakura said.
"Right," Sai nodded. "Well, let me go to the bathroom, and you wait here. Save another dance for me, Sakura." Sai stepped back and left, leaving Sakura alone.
"Sakura!" Rock Lee came then, and bowed. "Would you dance with me?"
"Ye-"
"Look! A fight!" someone yelled and Rock Lee turned around and before Sakura knew it, she saw Shino getting shoved across the table.
"Shino!" Sakura exclaimed, running up to him. She looked up and saw Choji looking down. "Hey Shino are you okay?"
"Argh," Shino moaned.
"He called me fat," Choji said, stepping forward and looking like he was about to swing a punch.
"Guys, violence is not the answer," Rock Lee said, coming between Shino and Choji. Choji pushed Rock Lee out of the way, making him stumble back a few steps. Then Sakura saw the glint in Rock Lee's eyes. He wasn't going to-
Rock Lee landed a punch right on Choji's face.
Sakura helped Shino get up, and there was a crowd around them now. "Fight! Fight! Fight!" the people chanted. Sakura shook her head and helped Shino get out of the mess.
"You didn't have to," Shino said.
"You're right I didn't," Sakura said. "But why did you even…"
"I'm fine. Really," Shino said, walking away, leaving Sakura alone again. Someone touched her shoulder. She turned around.
"Hey do you say we leave this place?" Sai asked.
"Yeah, that would be good," Sakura agreed. She didn't want to be there when the teachers came. It was a dance, not some WWE fighting match.
"Great- come on," Sai took her hand and led her to his car- a silver Toyota Camry.
"Where are we going?" Sakura asked him, smiling as she got in the car. Sai turned it on and left the parking lot.
"Well you said that you liked pizza. I hope you're hungry," Sai said as he stopped at a red light. Ask him about you and him.
"I do," Sakura said. She couldn't ask him. Not now. Not yet. Sai parked at the Pizza Palace parking lot and they walked in and sat on two chairs, and ordered Hawaiian pizza for her and veggie pizza for Sai. The wait wasn't long at all; they got their pizzas really quickly.
"So how are you with everything? I mean I know it's hard with the robbers and everything," Sai said, taking a bite of pizza and looking at Sakura.
"It's okay. I mean I hope that Sasuke can find them," Sakura said as she picked up her pizza and looked at the pineapples that didn't look too appetizing.
"Sasuke?" Sai asked, raising an eyebrow as she sipped her coke. "What does he have to do with this?"
"He's…helping my family to track down the robbers. He's working with the police," Sakura replied. She didn't want to talk about the robbery. She wanted to talk about anything but the robbery.
"And they haven't….found the people yet?" Sai asked.
"No, as far as I am concerned," Sakura said.
"Yeah my cousins got robbed too once," Sai said. "It's horrible, really. I hope that you guys find the robbers." Sai took out his phone and frowned. "I'm so sorry Sakura, something came up- I have to go. It was nice being with you," Sai got up from the chair. "I will talk to you later!" he left Pizza Palace, leaving Sakura alone. She just looked at the food and sighed.
"Here's your bill," the waitress said, breaking Sakura's thoughts. She looked at it and sighed, giving the waitress a twenty and getting up herself. This was the second time she had to pay. Not that she really minded, but she thought it was nice if the guy paid. But Sai said something was up, and had to leave. That was it. Not that he didn't want to pay or anything. Though he did leave fast. She looked at her cell phone time. 11:14 pm. It was a little late.
Sakura got out the pizza place, and stopped, slapping her forehead. Sai left. And he was her ride. She was without a car. She called Ten-ten and Hinata but they didn't pick up. Neither did her parents. She walked down the sidewalk, clutching her purse. She would just wait until someone came. She heard footsteps behind her and immediately swung her purse back, twisting her body with full force.
"Ouch," a monotone voice said, which meant that the person wasn't really hurt. And she recognized that voice.
"Oh it's…you," Sakura sighed in relief. She was happy to see him rather a mugger.
"Wanting someone different?" Sasuke asked, and Sakura couldn't help but smirk a little. "Do you always randomly hit people with your purse?" Sasuke rubbed his face. "What do you have in there anyways? Rocks?"
"No," Sakura answered, "just a book and my first aid kit."
"Ah, your handy dandy first aid kit. You out of all people need it the most," Sasuke said, smirking. Sakura narrowed her eyes at him for a second.
"It's not my fault I thought you were a mugger," Sakura retorted.
"What are you doing out here alone late at night in the cold anyways?" Sasuke asked.
"I…." Sakura didn't want to tell him Sai left and she was stranded without a car. "Had a date…"
"With Sai," Sasuke finished. It wasn't a question.
"Yes," Sakura said.
"And where is the gentleman anyways?" Sasuke asked looking around, and she knew he was, in his own way, being completely sarcastic about the gentleman part.
"He left because he had to go," Sakura replied.
"You know, he did take away my dance partner at our song," Sasuke said and Sakura clenched her purse tightly. Their song. They had a song now? What was the name of the song anyways? Why was he even talking about a song they didn't have?
"He did ask nicely," Sakura glanced at Sasuke, whose lips twitched.
"As if you didn't need saving from Kiba," Sasuke remarked.
"I could have handled it," Sakura argued.
"Oh yes, stepping on his foot plenty of times would make any guy not want to dance with you." Was Sasuke making fun of her? "Yet here you are sitting out here looking like you don't have a ride," Sasuke observed.
"No," Sakura lied, lifting her finger to twirl her hair; she was not going to ask Sasuke for a ride. "I'm just waiting."
"I'll wait with you then," it wasn't a question. Sakura sat down on a nearby bench and Sasuke sat next to her, coughing a little. She looked over at Sasuke, who was already looking at her, smiled a small fake smile and went back to looking at the road.
There were a few moments of silence.
Sighing she went ahead and told him, "Okay, I left my car at school and I am waiting for someone to get me."
"If you want I can-"
"No thanks," Sakura interrupted him, knowing what he was going to say. Sai didn't even ask about if I have a ride. Maybe it just slipped his mind…
"Are you sure? Because really, I can take you to the school parking lot," Sasuke said.
"No-"
"So you're here with no car and you won't let me take you," Sasuke said, looking at her. "Why?"
"It may be a bother for you," Sakura said. Sasuke gave a low chuckle.
"Nonsense, it won't be a bother, not for you, Haruno," Sasuke said and Sakura swallowed, not knowing what he meant for that. "There isn't any room to argue. If we were to go on our two dates, I wouldn't have left you here alone like Sai did."
"You don't know-"
"I do know Haruno that he left you here without a second thought. Even if I had some important matters to go to, I would still have made sure you were home," Sasuke interrupted her. "Made sure you were safe. Didn't I tell you? There are muggers everywhere."
"What are you doing out here anyways?" Sakura questioned, changing topic. She knew though that Sasuke would have made sure she was safe. She stared hard at the ground, not wanting to make eye contact with him. Not wanting to think about their dates.
"Unlike you, I didn't have a hot date," Sasuke answered and raised an eyebrow slightly at Sakura. "The orphanage that you wanted to help- St. Louis Orphanage- is not far from here. The dance ended early because of some fight I had to break up, then I went to the orphanage and was planning on how to make it bigger." Sakura thought that was actually kind of Sasuke to do. "Afterwards, I wanted to get something to eat when I saw you alone standing out here in the cold and then you kind of attacked me."
"So eat," Sakura said, looking at the restaurant behind them, the Pizza Palace. Then, a guy that Sakura recognized- the pizza guy that Naruto called once- Killer Bee- came out of Pizza Place. He looked over at them, carrying two boxes of pizza.
"Sasuke my home boy you should listen to the pretty lady and eat. And you know what? It'll be my treat," Killer Bee said. Sakura was flustered. This guy heard her?
"Yes, Sasuke, go eat," Sakura urged, so you don't have to sit next to me and make me feel weird things.
"I will," Sasuke said, still looking at Killer Bee, "once I get the pretty lady to a ride." Sakura blushed red. He just called her pretty! Did he think she was pretty? Did he mean that? She turned to him, but he was looking at Killer Bee. He just called me pretty. Her heart was hammering. With a little joy.
"I got to go, but I will see you around, fo' sho'," Killer Bee left then, leaving Sasuke and Sakura alone again.
"You know him too?" Sakura asked.
"I get pizza from him," Sasuke said. "Old friend." Sakura looked up to see Naruto coming out of a red car. So he got her text. Relief washed over her because she was about to ask Sasuke to give her a ride. Now she didn't have to.
"Hey Sakura!" Naruto waved over. "I got your 911 text and came here-oh hey Sasuke! You came to her rescue instead? You know, you could have told me."
"No I still need a ride," Sakura said. "Thanks Naruto for coming."
"So Sasuke isn't giving you a ride?" Naruto's eyebrows scrunched up.
"Yes," Sakura said just as Sasuke said, "No I am."
"Uh-" Naruto looked back and forth between her and Sasuke.
"You're taking me," Sakura said through clenched teeth.
"Give the lady what she wants," Sasuke said. Naruto nodded and guided her to his car. Sakura looked back at Sasuke who was standing there, hands in his pocket looking far away, like he wasn't standing on the sidewalk. Her eyebrows furrowed slightly. She didn't know what made her not want to go with Sasuke. He was being nice to her, offering her a ride, yet she declined. He was there when she needed him.
Unlike Sai.
XX
School kept her busy and Monday through Thursday passed. Friday evening Sakura was at work and the only bright thing was when Sakura heard someone screaming her name. "Sakura! Sakura!" Shino breathed coming to her, running, and smiling. Sakura never seen him look so happy. Maybe he found a new species of bug or something. "She said yes!"
"Wait," Sakura looked at Shino, "Karin is going to the ceremony with you?" Her school had this ceremony hosted every year on Friday for teachers and students to be at, with her principal Tsunade giving out a speech to all the students. For some reason, her classmates took it really serious and it was a big event. And usually, couples went together, so it was kind of big if Karin wanted to go with Shino.
"I asked her- just like you told me to- and she said-I directly quote it- 'I would love to go with you' isn't that great?" Shino exclaimed.
"Yeah," Sakura nodded her head. "That's really great. Maybe Karin isn't so horrible."
"I know! I'm so happy," Shino said.
"Me too, Shino," Sakura smiled. Did she mistake Karin? Was Karin actually a sweet girl? Did she go for the geeky types too?
"Well," Shino looked at Sakura waggling his eyebrows, "I have to get prepared." Sakura waved good bye to him feebly.
Karin came in just then, laughing with her posse.
"So I just told him I would love to and he believed me," Karin said in line to her friends. They all laughed and Sakura's fists clenched. "Like, what kind of loser do you have to be to date or even be seen with that weird bug guy? All he talks about are bugs."
Karin was just playing and hurting Shino's feelings. No one should do that to anyone. Sakura looked at Ten-ten and cocked her head. "Break," Sakura said, going to the back.
She explained to Ten-ten what she wanted to do.
"Don't do it!" Ten-ten hissed. "It's Sasuke you want to ask! Sasuke Uchiha!" Sakura gave Ten-ten a look. Come to think of it, Sakura hadn't seen Sasuke in a few days at the coffee shop or at school. Ever since he offered her to the car ride on Saturday, she hadn't seen him over a week. Not that she cared or anything, but he usually came and was known to be a regular with wonderful tips. All the waitresses noticed him and wanted to serve at his table. She remembered she had to go on a date with him. She already picked out what she was going to do, the day after the ceremony, on their date. It was going to be plain and simple and nothing special. He was definitely not going to be impressed. Ten-ten did give her all the ideas of going to a beach and having a picnic, but Sakura didn't want anything remotely romantic.
"No, I have to tell him," Sakura said. "He'd be heartbroken anyways." They came out from the back and Shino was there again, to her surprise. He looked upset. Sakura scanned the shop and saw Karin wasn't there anymore.
"Karin said she couldn't go because a family member died, so she won't be going." Shino said, coming to sit on the stool in front of the counter.
"Shino, if I went with the ceremony with you, would you go?" Sakura asked. Sakura glanced at Ten-ten, who was shaking her head.
"Yes I would, but don't you already have a boyfriend? Sasuke Uchiha?" Shino asked.
Sakura almost dropped her cup she was cleaning. Ten-ten laughed out loud.
"That would be the day," Ten-ten sang.
"Wha- what? No. No way," Sakura said, shaking her head vehemently at the absurd thought, shooting a glare at Ten-ten's direction who was smirking. There was no way Sasuke would like her. Or her liking him.
"Are you sure? I mean I see the way he-"
"Shino, there is nothing, will be nothing, going on between me and Sasuke," Sakura said. "I'll go with you to the ceremony."
"Wow," Shino said. "I…can't thank you enough."
"You're welcome," Sakura said, smiling. "I hope we can have fun."
"Yeah, Sakura, if not Karin, then you would be my second choice," Shino said, nodding at her before leaving. Sakura looked at Ten-ten who just shrugged.
"Should have asked Sasuke," was all Ten-ten said.
After work, Shino picked Sakura up in his red Corolla. He was wearing a suit, all fancied up and glasses. She picked out a black empire waist dress and red pumps that she was going to regret later because she would get blisters. She got in his car and he drove to the school.
When she got there, the cafeteria was transformed into some dining hall with round tables and white table cloth surrounding the room. With a big podium in the middle. She and Shino found a table and sat down. Sakura scooted her chair more in when Shino sounded nervous, looking up, "Sasuke, hey. What are you doing here?" Sakura froze. Sasuke was here? Where was he for the past few days?
"Well. You see, I was looking for Sakura all day today," Sasuke said, "then I came here and finally found her." Sakura looked up to see Sasuke in a white dress shirt with his sleeves half rolled up, showing his forearms, with a red tie and black pants, his back facing the table, but looking directly at her, crossing his arms and leaning back.
"Really?" Sakura asked, but she wanted to tell him she hadn't seen him in a few days either, so it wasn't like they could really talk. She was looking for him too. Just not too much.
"Actually, I was going to use this day for our date going to be a surprise, I had everything planned out, but…" Sasuke glanced at Shino, "I guess he did the job for me. So you and Shino, huh?"
"Just as friends," Shino interjected. "Nothing more."
"Really Sasuke? You were looking for me?" Sakura asked, surprised. "I was going to tell you tomorrow to meet me at the coffee shop so we could go out…on our date. My day. But I didn't see you. But I wanted tomorrow to be my date that we have to do."
"Works for me," Sasuke handed Sakura a piece of paper.
"What's this?" Sakura asked, opening the paper.
"My number," Sasuke replied. "So that we can contact each other. Unless you wanted me to mail you it."
"Oh," Sakura looked at it. She had something every girl at her school wanted. Maybe she could sell it.
"Call me when your shift is over and we can go on our date," Sasuke said.
"What about your…day?" Sakura asked, looking up at him. Sasuke smirked as he looked over at Shino again, and turned to her. Shino probably wanted to strangle her, with the looks Sasuke was giving him.
"I think that will have to be another day," Sasuke answered, looking one last time at Shino. "Don't worry though. You'll know soon enough."
"Can't wait," Sakura said before she could stop herself. Sasuke looked at her, a glint of mischief in his eyes.
"Me too," Sasuke said, half smiling. "For tomorrow."
XX
Saturday came in a flash.
It was going to be an easy day, Sakura thought. She was dressed simply, with her skinny jeans and boots with her shirt, but it didn't really matter what shirt she wore because her peacock black coat that went down to her knees was covering it. On her date, she just planned on watching a movie. Not just any movie, the horror kind that probably would make her turn on her lights at night for a week. There was nothing romantic about the movie, just gross, bloody, action. Except she did remember Ten-ten talking to her about the movie the other day, that the love interest died a gruesome death. She would get her date over as quick as possible and then hoped that Sasuke on his date did something boring like take her to a fancy overly expensive restaurant. Then their two dates spending time together would end. Not that it was so horrible, it was just… Sasuke wasn't really the easiest person to talk to. Sai, on the other hand, was easy to talk to. Safe, she thought.
"I hope you don't get scared easily," Sakura said to Sasuke, who was walking behind her. She was actually the one who got scared. Paranoid, mostly. She glanced over at Sasuke, who was rubbing his temples which was for a while now. "Are you okay?" she asked, a little concerned. She noticed he was coughing too.
"Just a headache," Sasuke said. Sakura could put two and two together.
"You're sick," she stated, knowing why he missed some days at school and his absence in the coffee shop. Sasuke stopped rubbing his temples.
"No-"
"Yes you are," Sakura said placing her hand on her hip stopping and Sasuke stopped too, turning to her in the middle of the sidewalk with people roaming around. "That day you gave me your jacket and it was cold made you have a cold."
"Just because it's cold does not mean that you get a cold," Sasuke said, looking away.
"You are sick. Could be serious," Sakura argued, not believing he didn't call her to tell her that he was sick. So much for her plans of getting sick. Maybe that was his evil genius plan- to get sick on the date and he was just one step ahead of her. I feel you, Sasuke, very well played.
"It's not," Sasuke said, smirking irritatingly.
"You're sick, Sasuke, and you should-"
"No I'm not it's just-"
Sakura impulsively placed her hand on Sasuke's forehead when he turned to look at her. His forehead felt hot and he was definitely having a fever, or will have one. All because of her. "Well? Have you reached your verdict?" Sasuke asked, cocking his head to one side.
"You mister, are sick and we are going to your house pronto. What did you think coming out here instead of resting? You should be home," Sakura said firmly, not knowing why she even cared about his health but finding herself that she did. Looking at him closely, he did look a little sick, but still looked good.
"And miss our date?" he asked, interrupting her thoughts, and his eyes held hers for a few seconds before Sakura looked away, her face red from the heat of his gaze.
"Your health is more important than some kind of…date," Sakura replied to him, but secretly was a little happy. Sasuke came to their date even though he was sick? And it seemed as if he wasn't really faking his sickness.
"Then I guess we won't be watching the scary movie," Sasuke noted.
"No we can't. You need rest," Sakura said. She wanted to watch the movie, and to see it with Sasuke would have been a little interesting, to say the least. She wondered what kind of movies he was even into. But she didn't want him to watch it with her while he was sick. Heck, if she was the one that was sick and Sasuke told her, she would have called him and told him she wasn't feeling well. But Sasuke didn't do that.
"Rain check?" Sasuke asked her softly.
"I'll hold you on that," she said to him. Sasuke smirked.
"Good. Now, let me take you home."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Sorry but not sorry for the not-so-date-date. They (Sasuke and Sakura) will have their moment, in time. I want it to be the right moment.
Appreciate all that review!
Until next time folks(: