The Endearment of Fake Dating

by MemoryWriter

Sakura needs of a fake boyfriend & Sasuke needs a qick rebound girl to maintain his popular highschool status. When they decide to PRETEND to date how long will it be until the tomboy and the playboy learn that they may actually be falling for each other?

21. The 'Undeniable Feeling' Pt3

Update: 2015
Also working on a comic version, with original characters. In progress.
Tumblr: sammakesamess
DeviantArt: MemorySoul

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Step7: The 'UNDENIABLE FEELING' Pt3

Sasuke is tested as to how far he'll go for Sakura when an old foe of the gang appears, as a competitor in a male beauty pageant, and he's willing to steal Sakura away. Despite Sakura needing to find a real fiancé anyway, Sasuke 'forces himself' to train to become a gentleman in order to protect Sakura. Are the guys going overboard or is there a real reason to stay away from the potential male model threat?

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"Dammit we're gonna be late!" Kiba groans in complaint, all of us outside the pageant site. Who would've thought getting here an hour early wouldn't be early enough. We were outside waiting to get in past thousands of screaming girls. Heh. Then again I shouldn't be surprised. Some of the world's hottest young men under one roof to compete who's the hottest? Ino would be here in a heartbeat.

"Good grief," Shikamaru says, some girls pushing up against his arm in an attempt to cut up front.

"If only Sasuke could see us now," Naruto frowns, trying to protect me from getting squished. He's holding up his board to keep from getting knocked over.

"Sakura, you have your mom's pass, don't you?" Neji nudges to me. "Go on ahead without us. We'll catch up."

"A-Are you sure?"

"Yeah go ahead," Naruto nods, using his board to push a way for me out of the line and to the side. "It'll take forever for us to get inside. One of us needs to be in there and make sure the teme's in."

I nod, taking the guys advice. I take the pass from my shirt pocket and place the lanyard around my neck, squeezing my way out of the line of screaming girls and going over to the special clearance line. Much shorter and faster. With a show of the special clearance pass, I'm allowed in.

This lanyard lets me go anywhere, doesn't it. Eventually I find my way out of the crowds and not waiting to get anywhere. The center of the stadium is where all the spectators are being seated, and that's where most of the people are.

In the back rooms of the stadiums are the dressing rooms. The makeup rooms. The lounge where all the contestants are being kept. I enter the lounge with my pass to a guard and begin my search for Sasuke. Instead, I find a list on the wall of all the present and competing contestants, and my eyes scroll down for Sasuke's name. "Come on Sasuke…." Uano. Ubachi. Ubatsu. "Uchiha," I smile, relieved. Sasuke made it in time.

"Sakura!" Ryo Hanazawa calls. Behind me I see the familiar face walking up to me. He greets me with a hug that I return. "You made it."

"Yeah I wouldn't miss it for the world."

"Came to support me?"

"Ah, definitely," I assure. Is this guy really as bad as the others say. I'm still wary but, I'm starting to lean towards harmless. "It's almost 4. You feel ready?"

"Eh, a little. To be honest I'm actually a little nervous," Ryo whispers close to me. "Everyone here looks so experienced. Makes me wonder if I can make it through the first round."

"I'm sure you'll do fine." While talking with Ryo, I see past his shoulder a familiar duck-shaped hairstyle. Sasuke. "Sasuke!" I grin, running past Ryo. The brunet frowns at the distraction.

A dresser is helping Sasuke put on a new jacket before he realizes I'm coming over. "Sakura?" Sasuke reacts. I run straight to him and throw my arms around him, acting super happy to see him as a girlfriend would. (Well, partially acting.) "What are you doing here?" Sasuke blinks, returning the hug.

"The guys are still out in line and they got me to go through instead," I whisper back, still hugging him and swaying sort of. "Told you I'd be around."

Sasuke smiles into my school shirt. "Thanks," he whispers. But amidst out hold, he sees Ryo walking up to us, fake friendly smile forming the closer he approaches.

"Sasuke, Ryo greets, just as we break our hug. I let go of Sasuke to stand beside him, but Sasuke's arm doesn't leave my waist, and he keeps me close to him. "Oh Sakura you know Sasuke?" Ryo acts. Sasuke glares. He knows Sasuke and I know each other.

But of course I'm out of the blue. And acting sort of as well. "Aw yeah. Sasuke and I are dating," I say a little too convincing, patting Sasuke's chest, which he doesn't appreciate apparently. I stop. So Ryo and Sasuke really do know each other. "But uh, I hope you guys do your best. I'll be watching from the sidelines."

"Good to know," Sasuke nods, hand still around my waist.

Sakura. Leave. Now. "I'll see you guys around okay? Buy Ryo," I nod. "Bye Sasuke."

"Bye."

Without warning I accidentally (I think) kiss Sasuke's cheek before walking off scene. As I'm
walking, my face contorts and my mouth makes all these different shapes. Oh my gosh what did I just do. "He's gonna kill me for that," I manage out, holding my lips as I walk out.

I'm gonna kill her for that, Sasuke says mentally, still somewhat in shock from that kiss on the cheek. But he hides it well.

"Cute," Ryo acknowledges, back to his ways now that I'm gone. "It's a shame you'll have to break up with her." Ryo walks away, with Sasuke staring from behind.

Meanwhile with me, I manage to return to the main room where the audience is, and I can see the guys all sitting in a row together in some pretty decent seats. I climb up the middle walk way and towards their row. "Guys!"

"Sakura there you are," Kiba grins, eating popcorn he brought in his jacket.

"Saved you a seat," Naruto says, after I walk past Neji who's nearest the isle. I sit between him and Naruto, with Kiba and Shikamaru in front of them. "Did you see Sasuke?"

"Yeah in the back," I nod, getting comfortable. "I met Ryo, too."

"Oh," Naruto says. He's silent. For once.

"Was he a douche bag?" Kiba asks nonchalantly, tuning around in front of me. Shikamaru looks back too.

"No actually. He was, pretty nice to me," I report Probably not what they want to hear, but it's true.

"Just watch, Sakura. You'll see. He's scum," Naruto whispers to me as the lights dim. The competition starts, and before long, the announcer and head judge commences the opening ceremony, which consists of showing off all the contestants to the audience.

"And here they are!" the woman announces, and with that spotlights shine onto the stage, and cameras roll, showing faces on the large screen behind them. Girls scream and cheer for the well-dressed apparent models. And in the midst of it all, we manage to see Sasuke. "THERE'S OUR TEME!" Naruto shouts, standing in his seat. "WOOOO!"

If I could I'd sweatdrop, leaning back a bit towards an ignoring Neji. "Naruto that's not something you want to cheer."

"There's Ryo," Shikamaru speaks up, head in hand. On the opposite side of the stage, we see the brunette styled model, walking inot place along with everyone else. The tension round me changes drastically, but I have to trust that he's not who he says he is. Right?

"These are our fifty starting contestants for the 23rd Leafville Male Model Pageant!" Everyone claps, but I keep my eyes on Sasuke, who's stoic and emotionless face stands out from the other guys' smiling pearly white teeth.

"The guy could at least crack a smile," Naruto muses.

"No. This could be interesting," Shikamaru smiles, finding Sasuke's standing out amusing.

"The first round will consist of Fashion Choice," the head judge announces to the contestants. "You will have ten minutes to return back stage and pick out a new outfit according to the theme we present to you when the clock starts."

"Fashion sense," Kiba nods, shifting his head left and right. "Sasuke's got this right guys? I mean, look at what he's wearing now."

"I think his dresser chose that for him," I frown nervously.

"Oh."

"Twenty-five of you will be eliminated from this first round!" the judge warns, causing me to swallow whatever spit is being held in my mouth. So many. Oh man. Will Sasuke be able to actually beat these guys? They're all at least used to this kind of stuff. Sasuke's… not. No matter how much training Kakashi did for him… AND WHERE THE HELL IS KAKASHI?

"The final winner of the 23rd Leafville Male Model Pageant will win free entrance to the after party gala at town hall, along with being the privileged escort of Sakura Haruno!" Not expecting that, suddenly a huge picture of me appears on screen, in a huge blue ball gown. Mom must have submitted that picture. She took it on her phone.

The Shikamaru stifles a laugh while Kiba laughs hysterically, ending with Neji flicking the back of his head. Meanwhile I sink embarrassed down into my seat. Oh my gosh this cannot be happening. "Nice pic," Naruto whispers teasingly.

"Shut up," I push.

The screen switches to a time of ten minutes, frozen. The judges counts down. "And ready, set-" A buzzer sounds off, and all the guys on stage look back to the screen to see the theme of the first round. And in huge white on navy print, it spells out: STREET DELINQUENT.

My mouth. It's open. Wide. "Wha…."

"What the fuck," Kiba manages out, saying exactly what we are all thinking. The contestants already well on their way head back to the lounge to change. But… Wow.

"Sasuke's lucky," I blink. "Guess he needs it."

"Well, he's using it," Neji says beside me. I nod in agreement. Totally. That was way too lucky.

x-x-x-x-x

Backstage, Sasuke makes it back finally and sees all these guys scattering around everywhere. Dozens of racks suddenly fill the lounge, and Sasuke compares the sight to a super sale at a mall. Only, with all guys.

"Street delinquent," Sasuke mutters, walking slowly and calmly in. "How convenient but…" Sasuke notices what everyone else is noticing. Just about all the clothes and accessories that have been presented; they're all so… expensive looking. Classy. Beautiful. None of them spell out 'street delinquent' in the least bit. The rules require a top, a bottom, shoes, and a prop for when you present yourself down the runway. Sasuke sees no props anywhere.

"Send out to the antique store," one guy calls on his phone.

Another one is sending out some secretary butler. "Go to the nearest art store and buy me those paint spray things in cans."

"So they're buying their props," Sasuke scoffs, snuffing at the rich. Isn't that cheating? No matter. No one's yelling at them. But still, Sasuke's just as lost as everyone else. He's just now showing it.

The time limit is shown on a smaller flat screen in the room, showing the time limit. 6:30. Six minutes left about. I'm running out of time.

The lounge slowly empties as Sasuke calmly looks through the racks. "This is ridiculous," one guy says nearby. "How are the judges supposed to see 'street delinquent' in these? I practically wore this line in my Venice Fashion Show."

"Leave it to the judges to throw us off with wanting commoner's apparel," another guy says, looking at his selection of clothes. "Maybe if we tear them apart a bit?"

"That's what everyone else is doing. Heh, then again, commoner's re-use their same clothes all the time. Maybe they all have rips and tears after all."

Sasuke's eyebrows narrow down, taking that to offence. Sure commoners reuse clothes, but that doesn't mean we don't take care of the clothes we have.

"Better hurry up, Uchiha," Ryo taunts, walking back and behind him. Ryo snips some scissors in the air near Sasuke's hair – scissors for his found clothes. "Four minutes left."

"Four minutes," Sasuke mutters, now the last one in the lounge and still in his presentation attire. You don't have to look punk by destroying good clothes. Sasuke knows that. Coming from such a low class family, Sasuke could never imagine destroying such expensive looking clothes, as prissy as that sounds. "Hn," Sasuke smirks, an idea striking itself in mind.

x-x-x-x-x-x

"These are the longest ten minutes of my life," Naruto moans, his forehead resting on the front seat by his knees.

I rub Naruto's back. "Don't worry. It's almost time, and Sasuke-" Sasuke's doing okay right? "Sasuke's fine," I say with enforced enthusiasm. At first I was a little relieved that the theme was street delinquent, but the longer we wait, the more I worry if it's as easy as I think it'll be.

"AND THE TIME IS IN!" The judge announces, with a buzzer going off. Naruto wakes up instantly, and I sit up a little straighter, hands clasped together, a little nervous.

"Sasuke better beat Ryo," Kiba mutters, going back and forth in his seat, with his feet up on the sat in front of him. Luckily no one's sitting there. Akamaru barks in Kiba's lap in agreement, before growling at Ryo's mention.

Again with all of their… hate. "Remind me again why Ryo's such a bad guy?" I ask quietly.

"Because he's capable of winning," Neji says plainly, not even on his laptop right now. "He's a cheater. And a manipulator. If he's ever nice to anyone, it's only for his own gain." Like how he's always nice to me. "Not to mention he used to really have it out for Sasuke. I doubt anything's changed about that."

I want to believe Neji. I really do. But, it's just not in my nature to just,, hate someone on command without reason.

"Plus, if he were to win," Naruto adds in, rather serious. "He'd get to be with you for a while night. Alone. Without us." I know that. But when Naruto puts it that way, it actually sounds kind of intimidating. "Remember how before you met us Sakura? And how you thought we were the scum of the school and just horrible with women?"

"We are horrible with women," Kiba notes, only for Neji, and plus Shikamaru this time, to flick him again.

"I wouldn't say I thought you were scum," I defend. Scum sounds a little harsh.

Naruto shakes his head, placing is hand on my arm on the chairs' arm rest. "My point is that you didn't think very highly of us. People are afraid of us. For the right or wrong reasons I don't know. But this guy? Ryo? He is someone you should be afraid of," Naruto says with a squeeze of his hand over my wrist. I gulp, and Naruto's eyes look sincere. "I don't mean to scare you, Sakura. But Ryo? He- He's the epitome of Hollywood Jerk! He'll screw as many women around and won't care one bit about them."

Ryo? That kind of ladies' man? But, he's… he's acting…

"Kind of like Sasuke," Naruto laughs empty-heartedly. "But, Sasuke's a nice guy… he has a conscience. Maybe he doesn't listen to it all the time but, the guy's got one." I laugh a little too at that note. But Naruto's frown returns, and he squeezes my hand this time. "You can't end up with Ryo tonight," he whispers, almost begging me not to, as if I had a say in all this.

Naruto, the idiot of the group and the most light hearted. To hear these words and in this manner, I just… can't not believe him. Ryo… really is that bad. Now I'm scared. I squeeze Naruto's hand back in return, facing forward again. "Then we'll just have to hope Sasuke beats him."

One by one, each of the contestants oen by one go down the run way, presenting their image of 'Street Delinquent'. Each one is different – a few the same – some totally outrageous – a handful actually pretty good. And their props are all different as well. Some are pretty interesting. There're spray cans, bats, mallets, the middle finger, and to the extreme point, huge caliber guns.

Kiba's mouth opens wide at the guy carrying a giant gun the size of a leg. "Where the hell are these guys getting these props?"

"They're buying them," a girl behind us says, opting us all to look back. A fangirl of one of the contestants by the face on her shirt. "They sent their secretaries out to buy last minute supplies for them."

"They can do that?" Naruto and I ask at the same time? The girl merely nods, while the guys and I all look at each other. What the hell kind of prop does Sasuke have? Is she saying we could've helped him all along?"

"AND NOW, RYO HANAZAWA!" the judge announces, and just as he last teen walks back, a new young man enters from the side, walking down the runway. It's Ryo alright, and I have to admit, he actually is in that 2% that I actually think did it right.

Ryo walks confidently down the runway in a rather casual manner, as opposed to most of the other guys who walked roper and upright. There's no posture, and no expression. His whole aura practically spells out street delinquent. If anything, he could practically be one of us. His huge sequined tank top has holes in it, and a rather huge beanie hoards over his eyes. Ryo's pants are skin tight and leather, bu have countless rips and tears, along with intentionally scuffed up dress shoes. How you can manage to make such nice clothes look so bad with as many cuts, it's…. wow.

"Did all these guys just cut up their entire wardrobe?" Shikamaru asks us, looking back and at Kiba.

"AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, SASUKE UCHIHA!" Curse his last name beginning with U. He's going last in all the categories isn't he?

But all of our worry is washed away, and replaced with an even HIGHER anxiety when Sasuke doesn't appear when his name is called. "Um, Sasuke Uchiha!" the judge announces once more.

"Tell me when it's over," Naruto shudders, his face hiding in my shoulder, as if we're watching some horror movie.

All of a sudden, a huge fast zoom of a flash appears flying up into the air. It takes time for the spotlight to find it, but the sillouete appears to be Sasuke on his board, knees bent with a hand holding the side of the board with the other arm up in the air.

Cheers fill the stadium as Sasuke hits that perfects landing, spinning himself until he faces forward, arm holding the kicked up board and the other arm up in the air for praise. He has the audience eating out of his hands. And not just for the skate trick.

Sasuke's naturally back stuck up hair is streaked with some kind of red streak behind. His old school shirt is buttoned out from the collar, with his tie loosen ridiculously and literally tied in a loose knot. He has a blazer on inside out with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, and some spare tape wrapped around his hands, accented by expensive looking leather gloves with the finger tips cut off. Below his waist, he's wearing fancy business pants way too large for him, but they're held together with a fitted belt, and rolled up to his knees. Instead of walking down the runway, Sasuke glides slowly along in a straight line on his skateboard – his feet wearing leather high top sneakers, a rare find amongst those offered in the lounge. As for props, the board is one, and then slung over his shoulder is his half open school bag. And just noticing it now, Sasuke has…. toast in his mouth?

"And not one rip," Neji nods, impressed. It isn't sloppy, either. "The Uchiha delivers."

"GO SASUKE!" Naruto screams, clapping alongside the fangirls.

"He just used everything he brought with him," I realize, watching him kick up his board at the end of the runway and walk back with it under his arm. I clap as well, a confident smile on my head. I'm not too sure about the judges, but Sasuke definitely won us over. Quick witty thinking, too. Good job, Sasuke.

"Haha, he even used the bread he didn't eat for lunch today!" Kiba laughs, still clapping too. "Genius!"

Shikamaru smirks, getting a text from Ino: "I'm impressed." Shikamaru replies mutually to her message, quite proud of his friend, too.

With Sasuke having gone, everyone lines up once more in presentation formation, and the judges have calculated and decided who will stay and who will go. "When I announce your name, step forward, and you have gained admittance to the next round. Countless names are called first, even though there are only twenty five to be called. Eventually, Ryo is called forward, received with many whoos and screams, but we haven't heard Sasuke's name yet. Naruto and I are practically clinging to each other, just begging to hear it already.

Neji notices us, sitting next to me. "Stop it guys you're embarrassing."

"Well if they'd just call his damn name already!" Naruto barks at the Hyuuga.

After about five more names, I see Sasue close his eyes. "And… Sasuke Uchiha!"

"YES!" Naruto and I scram, jumping out of our sets and jumping up and down. The others cheer as well, but I'm just happy he passed! To round 2! SASUKE YES! Meanwhile, Sasuke up on stage sighs in relief and steps up to the last open space to the half who will continue on in the contest. Ryo, behind him, glares at the Uchiha.

With twenty-five remaining contestant left, we all anticipate to hear the next round. "Before we move onto the next round," the head judge announces. "You will have a half hour break interval. However, this competition will be the talent portion of this competition."

"Oh boy," Kiba sinks.

"During your break you have until the end to prepare our station hands with what you'll need to showcase your talent. You are dismissed."

With a simultaneous thank you to the judges, the remaining twenty-five march back stage, and he dimmed lights tint back into brightness. With that, a couple of the guys stand to stretch.

"You better go check on Sasuke backstage," Neji advises me.

"Yeah," I nod, side stepping again to get past Neji, whie Naruto waves me goodbye. Making sure my pass is still around my neck, I manage to find my way back to the guys' lounge. I realize other older men and women there aen't workers either, but servants or personal helpers owned by the remaining other twenty-four. I'll have to make up as Sasuke's.

"Sasuke," I call, trying to widn my way around the busying 'help'. Left and right I see styists repairing guys' make up, or giving them touch ups and whatnot or a change of clothes. Intead, I manage to snag something from a concession stand on my way.

Insie the lounge, I see Sasuke taking off th ridiculous parts of his outfit and cleaning out his hair of the red streaks at a nearby sink. "Sasuke," I smile, only to be stopped by Ryo, who comes up with a grin in front of me out of nowhere. "Ryo!" I grin, trying to be polite.

"Backstage again I see," he smiles.

"Yeah. But you did great out there."

"Thanks," he smiles. But, I have to remember what the guys said. And, I'm here for Sasuke. Remember that, Sakura. "Sorry Ryo but uh, I have to go see Sasuke."

For a moment I almost see Ryo's eyes falter. But not in a sad way; more so in an… upset way. He steps sideways with his arm out, and I walk over to Sasuke. The back tips of his hair are wet, but ri of the red streaks. "You did good, Uchiha," I mock, squeezing his shoulder. "It was cool seeing you dress as if in your natural habitat."

"It's because I'm a delinquent right?" Sasuke laughs, splashing a little more water on his face. I throw him a towel lying around.

"Oh and uh, I snagged this for you," I say, holding a plastic wrapped tomato ham and cheese sandwich. "The guys are saying how you didn't eat lunch today you must be starving."

"I am. Thanks," Sasuke says with a half smile, hastily taking the offer. He shakes his head. "I'm thanking you too much in one day," he notes with a quick bite.

I shrug my shoulders. "All these other guys have people they hire helping them out. I'm just evening out the playing field. Anything else you need?" I smile, having fun with this.

Sasuke laughs at my enthusiasm, but looks in the mirror as water drops from his hair strands. "Yeah actually," Sasuke says, surprising me. I didn't expect him to ask for help so suddenly and out of nowhere. "It's the talent portion."

"Oh," I say. "Weren't you just going to play the piano?"

"I thought I was, but I overheard some of these guys talking. Their 'talents'? Heh, they're going to knock me out of the next round too easy," Sasuke looks to me suddenly. "So you're my back up."

My head jumps, and uncomfortably fills my expression. I don't like where this is going. Sasuke looks way too confident. "When I said I'd help you I meant fetch you food or dab your sweat after breaks or whatever. What exactly is it you want me to do?"

"Dance with me."

"I'll see you later, Sasuke-"

"Haruno wait," Sasuke calls, grabbing my shoulder and stopping me from leaving. Dammit. "Please. I don't know what else to do. You know how to ballroom dance. We tried it before. What do we have to lose?"

My dignity. "Won't it be cheating if I'm in the thing anyway? Aren't I 'the prize'?" I frown. Wait did he just say 'please'?

Sasuke shrugs. "We dress you up, put on a wig, it won't matter. Besides, I don't think it's against the rules in the first place." Sasuke suddenly turns very serious. "Come on, I seriously need you right now."

I try to tear my eyes away from Sasuke's. Just say no Sakura. It's that easy. "…" You're not saying no Sakura say it. "Okay." You're weak Sakura.

"I owe you," Sasuke smiles. Oh gosh now he's smiling at me. I've created a monster. "Come on, I know a place we can practice and fix you up," Sasuke rushes, pushing me out of the lounge and to somewhere else. I say words of protest but we're already moving. But behind where we once stood, Ryo comes out from behind a pillar. A disapproving frown plays onto his face.

But for the rest of the short break, Sasuke and I rehearse what we remember of the Viennese Waltz from Kakashi's lessons, along with track we manage to find and give to the pageant staff. Sasuke already has a tux ready to change into, so he takes about the last ten minutes of his break helping me make over.

"This is so backwards," Sasuke muses, fixing my wig. "How's your make up?"

"I dunno Sasuke. There's only so much I can do with a mirror the size of my finger nail," I say, using a small reflective shard laying around. I'm surprised there's no small mirrors around here. We're in a mirrored-wall dance studio, so I could've always used that. But Sasuke wanted me to surprise myself. "This is as good as it's gonna get," I say, hoping I didn't mess up my whole face. "How's my hair?"

"Fake and beautiful and stuck. It's perfect."

"Perfect," I say back. I laugh, and Sasuke helps me stand up. I'm already in my drapery dress, sparkling in the single light. Sasue isn't changed yet, but his tux is on a hangar. Sasuke walks me over to the mirror-wall, with which we danced in front of earlier for practice. But now, my focus is my two minute transformation. My pink hair is waist long, and my make up, I did so much better than I thought I did. I can barely see what I did! (I think that's the point).

"Wow," I breath out, looking at myself. The dress is beautiful, but simple. And the beauty is in my face and hair. My beauty. I touch the mirror, wondering if it's a dream. "No stylist or salon my mother's given me to has ever made me feel as beautiful as I do here."

Sasuke walks up slowly behind me in the reflection, content and smiling. His hand lands on my bare shoulder. "See this is what you'd look like if you tried every now and then." My hand strokes my pink hair, dripping over my chest. It feels like it's mine. "Anyway uh, I'm going to go change in a flash okay?"

"Hurry up!" I call, snapping back into reality. Sasuke snags his hangar and rushes out of the dance studio for the speed change. While I'm waiting in the dim light, I try to practice the dance routine we just made up. My arms hold up, pretending Sasuke were in front of me. I close my eyes as I imagine the music, and I get so lost into it that I almost fail to hear the opening door and the moving footsteps. "Sasuke-"

It's Ryo. And he too is dressed in a button down with a tie and vest. "Sakura."

"Ryo," I blink, not expecting him. What's he doing here? "Hey."

"Hey. Just finished performing my talent. Violin," he mimics with his hands, but he eyes me, a blush appearing on his cheeks. "Wow. I heard Sasuke would be performing a dance but I didn't think his partner would look so, wow."

"Heh. Thank you, Ryo," I blush, scratching my wig. Can't scratch that right. He walks up to me and sweeps himself into my dance, imitating my earlier movements. With my hands on his shoulder and his palm, we spin, and I almost forget it's Ryo and not Sasuke.

"You're a very good dancer, Sakura."

"Thank you, Ryo."

His head leans in, close to my ear. "It's too bad."

I almost ask 'huh', but Ryo's next move beats me to it. Ryo's swift foot holds far and swings straight into my right ankle. For some godforsaken reason, his dress shoe edge is super hard, and I feel the impact straight to my bone. Somehow, my ankle fails on me and I cripple, almost falling if not for Ryo catching me.

"Ah…!" I wince, gritting my teeth. My left leg supports all my weight now, but the pain still echoes through. "Ryo-" When I look up, despite Ryo's save, his face is a scary expression. Vengeful. Successful. "Sakura are you alright?" he fakes, supporting me.

"My ankle," my voice cries quietly, squeezing his hand and should. I feel like I've jst been stabbed by a friend. Would I rather be stabbed? I dunno. I've never been stabbed before, but I'm in soooo much pain right now either way. Shit this hurts… "The guys were right. You, you're a cheater."

"Cheater? You slipped Sakura what are you talking about?" he asks in that fake concerned tone. Shut up, Ryo. "All accusations aside, it sounds like you'll have to sit this one out, Sakura. You should rest on that leg. Ooh and those heels. Sounds like Sasuke better find another talent to perform."

Sasuke...

Suddenly, Ryo leaves me to fend for myself. I almost collapse from the pain, but I refuse to fall in front of him. Ryo finally leaves, and I'm frozen in my position, my hand grasping onto the balance pole attached to the mirror wall. I don't know if I'll be able to dance like this, but if I don't, Sasuke's out. It's almost time, and Sasuke doesn't have enough time left to think of other ideas.

"Why do I feel like crap…" I ask myself, looking at my reflection. Physically I look the same, but suddenly I don't feel beautiful. I feel played. I thought Ryo was my friend. "Sasuke was right."

"What am I right about?" Sasuke asks, walking in. His tux is almost complete. He's just tying his tie. "There was a bow on this before but I think we both know how I am with manually tying bows."

I force a laugh, and stand upright against my brain's judgment. "Come on, we better hit the sidelines before they call your name."

"Yeah." As Sasuke walks back, I try to catch up and manage to walk upright and inconspicuously. I refuse to back out or show weakness. Not because I want Ryo to know he's gotten the better of me. But if Sasuke finds out I've injured myself, he won't let me dance and he'd rather throw the contest. Or at least I think that's what he'd do. I'm still not taking that chance. I'll do as much as I can with my leg now before it really swells and begins to hurt like hell.

x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x

"Where on earth is Sakura?" Neji notes, the seat between him and Naruto still empty.

"Yeah Sasuke's almost up. She missed all these freak shows," Kiba adds, finding this part a little entertaining.

"AND NOW, SASUKE UCHIHA PERFORMING THE VIENNESE WALTZ."

All of the guys feel stupefied upon hearing the announcement. "Huh?" Kiba and Naruto say together.

Music fills the stadium as a fog machine works its magic on stage. The light dims, and the waltz music glies Sasuke and I in under a spotlight. "Found her," Shikamaru speaks up.

Despite my ankle, I ignore it and perform the minute and a half waltz with Sasuke. In heels. My elegant dress flies with our spins and twirls, and it feels like I'm flying on air as our hand connect and disconnect among the fog covered floor. With every step my ankle feels like it's on fire, but I masquerade the pain on my face. Though, there's only so much I can do.

"You alright?" Sasuke whispers quickly during the one second we have our foreheads connected.

"I'll explain later," I whisper painfully before drifting away from Sasuke again. The song almost ends, and I'm supposed to fall slowly backwards as Sasuke catches me from behind, and I rest my head back onto his shoulder. At first I wonder of my injured foot can take the pressure of our finale, and when I find that it can't, it's too late and I'm falling.

"Sakura," Sasuke realizes. Instead of that slow ending we rehearsed, Sasuke rushes in and slides across the fog to catch me. Because of the fog no one sees my slip up, but our heads land close enough together to still show off that dramatic ending we wanted. Our super angled touching foreheads hold as we pant, and cheers fill the stadium.

With the music over, we hug as a silent congratulations. But when Sasuke tries to pull back, my arms are wrapped desperately around his neck, with my head still in his shoulder. My head shakes a little as I refuse to lift my head. "It hurts," I whimper, unable to move any longer.

Sasuke thinks for a moment, still in the spotlight. But he scoops me up into his arms and walks me off stage, my face still buried in his shoulder. Instead of going to the lounge where everyone else is waiting, Sasuke return to an empty dressing room, where a couch is. Sasuke lays me on it and finally sees my face. It's red and my eyes are puffy, with my voice sniffling and hiccupping. "Sakura what happened-"

Sasuke while removing my shoes notices my right ankle, reddening and swelling. His eyes are frozen as he looks to me. Sasuke doesn't know whether to yell at me or, who knows. "Sakura what happened," Sasuke says, deciding against lecturing me. He removes my wig and grabs tissue to remove my makeup and dry my eyes. But I can't speak. It hurts.

x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x

While the guys are waiting out in the audience, Kiba gets a text buzz from his phone. It's a text from Sasuke. Come back stage. Need help. Kiba finds the message odd, but he hides the phone anyway. "I've gotta take a leak," he says, walking out nonchalantly.

Kiba searched for the route back stage. And while a security guard is talking to some of the shows staff, Kiba sneaks in with some other people walking in. "Now where is Sasuke…" Kiba mutters, Akamaru hiding in his jacket. Akamaru peeks his head out, sniffing a scent. "Can you find him, boy?"

Akamaru's head points and sniffs a certain direction, and Kiba follows to a closed dressing room. Hesitantly, Kiba knocks. "Uh, Sasuke-"

The door opens, and Kiba is immediately pulled in. Kiba yells in reaction, but upon seeing where he is, he calms down all of a sudden. I'm lying in a dress on a couch from dried tears, and Sasuke's hands are full with bandages. "What happened here?"

"Ryo," Sasuke answers, too mad to explain. "I have to head out there before they think I forfeit. Can you watch Sakura for me?"

"Y-Yeah," Kiba accepts. Sasuke grabs Kiba's shoulder with a squeeze before running out. Akamaru immediately jumps out of Kiba's jacket and whimpers at the foot of the couch. I sniffle a little as I reach down to pet Akamaru. He licks my palm instead, and I feel a little better.

Kiba kneels at the end of the couch and inspects my injured foot. He's gentle with it and I'm thankful for that. Still, it doesn't spare me from being the one who has to explain things. As he wraps my foot for me, I tell him the circumstance as to why Sasuke changed his showcase to dance and how I became like this, with Ryo coming in and trying to sabotage Sasuke by injuring me so I couldn't dance.

"Wow," Kiba almost laughs, but not smiling. He's sitting on the end of the couch with my foot on his lap as he wraps it. Akamaru walks back over with an ice pack in his mouth. "Thanks, buddy," Kiba says as he places the ice pack on my newly bandaged foot. I wince a little, but it eases away. "Better?"

"Much," I lean back with a thumbs up.

"Good," Kiba nods, moving the ice to the side a little. "I'm almost done wrapping so just hold still a little longer." Oh, you know when Kiba has that no-nonsense feel about him he means trouble. "Now that you're better, care to explain to me why the freaking fuck you'd throw yourself out there with THIS," Kiba emphasizes, pointing both hands at my ankle, and then picking up one of my heels. "And in THIS." I can't look at Kiba. "Was it because you didn't want Ryo to think you were beaten?"

"No." That's exactly what Sasuke said. "Sasuke's pretty mad at me, too."

"Well duh. Look at you!"

"Hey I didn't do this for myself okay? I don't have pride like you guys do. I just-" What, Sakura? "I didn't want to let Sasuke down." Hearing so, Kiba's temper retreats a little, and his shoulders loose tension. "Don't look at me like that, Kiba. You said it yourself: Ryo can't win." Now I so know why. "And Sasuke's… doing all this for me. If I'd told him I'd injured myself, I don't think he would've let me out there. And he'd forfeit."

"You don't know that," Kiba barks. "He would've found another way. Sasuke doesn't give up," Kiba tells me off. "But," he calms, "he also looks out for his friends." Kiba looks down at my ice pack, moving it a little. "He's probably a little steamed right now because he feels like a dick."

Heh. Never thought of it like that. "Friends," I scoff. "You know, Kiba…? These past few months, hanging out with you guys, I think you've all grown on me."

"You've grown on us too," Kiba nods.

Akamaru jumps up into my lap, snuggling close to me as I stroke his fur. "Like, some of you guys just, opened up and welcomed me with open arms. I feel something different with each of you. But with Sasuke, he's… He's just difficult," I surmise.

Kiba laughs at me. "You guys don't think you're friends?"

"We've established that constantly," I reminisce, remembering how we both denied out loud how we aren't dating. We aren't friends. We're coworkers. We're part of a deal. We're allies. Helping each other out for a common goal with a set of benefits singular to each of us. "… Are we friends, Kiba?" I ask curiously.

"Hell yeah," Kiba knuckle touches, making me return so with a small smile. "I've always thought we were friends, Sakura. And the guys think so, too. We all wouldn't be here if we didn't care about you," Kiba says, unusually very wise right now. "And Sasuke wouldn't be putting up with all this crap too if he didn't sincerely care about you either," Kiba points out.

"You sound so much smarter than me all of a sudden," I say with a half-hearted chuckle. "And I know it's kind of late but, when did you learn how to fix injuries like this?" By now my ankle is wrapped and Kiba's icing it with the gentleness of a baby's first punch.

"Heh," Kiba laughs a little. "Being all deep and knowledgeable in this medic-crap would ruin my image." Uh-huh. "To be honest it's kind of 'cause of my dad."

"Your dad?"

He moves the ice around the bandages. "Yeah. He's a real mess. Imprisoned murderer, psycho, all that cliché TV drama jazz."

"N-No that's horrible," I say, trying to assure him it isn't cliché. I don't talk to the guys much about their personal lives unless they let me in, but the way Kiba talks about his is so… carefree and casual.

"Hey don't look so worried. He's gone now. He's been in prison for years."

I guess that's good. "Do, you live by yourself?" I throw out.

"Nope," Kiba shakes his head shamelessly. "I've got my big sis and my mom now. And before you ask I don't miss my pops all that much." I watch the way Kiba handles my ankle. Almost just as good as Itachi when he treats my skating injuries. "I guess the reason why I'm aiming for this medical stuff is because I'm afraid to turn out like him."

"Like your dad?" I ask in disbelief. "Kiba you're nothing like him."

"Believe me I am," Kiba laughs, acting. "We curse, we have the same lack of rationality, we're violent; spitting image of the bastard, too." Kiba shakes his head but shrugs. "To make up for it I'm kind of planning on going to medical school one day, you know? Not exactly my ambition but, I wanna make up for all the crap my dad's done. It's people like him and Ryo I hate." Kiba smiles at me. "And it's victims like you I have to babysit. Hm, maybe babysit's not the best word but, you know what I mean."

I never knew such a potty-mouth like Kiba would have this kind of life in the back of his head. "Well I know one thing you've got that you dad probably never had before."

"What's that," Kiba humors.

"Us as friends," I smile, referring to the guys and me. Naruto, Neji, Shikamaru, Me. Sasuke…. Mm.

Kiba sees me drifting off again and he's amused. "As cheesy and heartwarming as that actually was, you still upset with Uchiha? Hey we're all friends right?"

"Hn. Friend or not he's pretty mad at me for this," I sigh out, looking at my ankle. "You think he'll forgive me?"

"Friends always forgive," Kiba assures with a gentle slap to my ankle. He momentarily forgets it's injured and I hold in a scream as Kiba freaks out.

x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x

Shortly after I've changed and Kiba's stabilized my bandages from falling, he helps me walk back to my seat back with the other guys. By now the stage is empty and everyone's casually talking amongst themselves. It makes me wonder if Sasuke's passed the next round. Either way he must be back at the lounge, and I'm glad he didn't see Kiba and me on the way.

"Sakura you're ba-" Naruto stops midway upon seeing Kiba supporting me walking. Shikamaru's eyes grow wide while Neji does a double take. "Sakura what-?"

I wear a sheepish smile. I've been wondering how to explain this to them. "It's a long st-"

"Ryo," Kiba answers simply, and I give him the hardest stare

"I thought we agreed we wouldn't say that!" I lecture.

"I lied."

"What did that bastard do to you?" Naruto asks protectively, climbing over Neji to see what happened to me. He sees my foot up in the air behind me, bandaged. "Oh my gosh did you get that after dancing?"

"Before," Kiba answers as Neji slides down a seat so I can sit by the isle. They help me sit carefully while Shikamaru watches from the row in front.

"How'd this happen?" he asks sensibly.

"Ryo tried to sabotage Sasuke," I try to sum up as shortly as possible. "He hit my foot and, whatever. It's fine now."

"Does Sasuke know? Naruto asks, standing beside me with Kiba.

"Yeah. He's actually kind of mad about it," I admit, looking down at my twiddling thumbs. Since when do I ever twiddle my thumbs. Am I, feeling guilty for Sasuke? No. I didn't do anything wrong. I, I dunno.

"They got into a fight," Kiba whispers to Naruto, who goes 'ohh'.

"… But did he make it?" I remember.

"Yeah. They knocked it down to the last ten," Neji says as Kiba takes his original seat back next to Shikamaru in front of me. "The next round is going to be a speech about-"

"No man don't tell her," Naruto melts, crisscrossing hi hands in front of his chest. What? Why?

"It's about romantic relationships and how you view them," Shikamaru recites plainly, holding his head back to look at me. What.

"SHIKAMARU!" Naruto fires. I'm turning embarrassingly red in my seat. "W-WHAT THE HELL!"

"What; she was going to find out eventually," Shikamaru shrugs, rather tired.

I take a deep breath n before removing my lanyard from around my neck. "Hey Naruto?" I ask, holding out my access pass to him on the isle. "Use this to get backstage to Sasuke. Someone needs to be with him for moral support and it can't be me."

"So you're sending him?" Neji whispers to me, as I slap his shoulder with a tiny laugh.

"But why? You said he practically yelled at you," Naruto defends, taking my side over Sasuke's. "He doesn't deserve any help."

"Please Naruto," I beg. "I'll feel terrible if I end up being the reason he messes up this round. Just check up on him and make sure he's doing okay?"

Naruto is tough, holding his pout as long as possible. But his face tires out soon enough and he makes the loudest, most attention-grabbing groan. "Fine! But only because you're asking," Naruto gives, marching stubbornly back up the aisle. With the worst over, I sit back and relax in my seat, exhausted.

x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x

Back stage in the lounge, with just ten contestants, including Ryo, left, the lounge is a ot more empty, with the others preferring to be elsewhere, preparing their speech. They've been allowed to write down their thoughts and bring their paper up to the podium to give their speech. Sasuke is sitting alone at a table in the lounge, trying to wrap his thoughts around such a pointless topic. Romantic relationships.

Public speaking and annunciation is no problem for the young Uchiha. But, the topic? Sasuke was just brain-blank. All relationships he's had – none of them have ever been romantic. Pleasurable? Yes. Enjoyable? Yes. Romantic? Not… so much. Romance is dead to him.

"This sucks," Sasuke mutters, his paper blank and pencil tapping on the desk. The led is making indents. Not only could he not focus on such a foreign topic, but his mind was also drifting to the injured girl he left under Kiba's care. Kiba gets the most injuries in skating, mostly because he's so extreme, so Kiba knows how to treat common injuries – siting why he asked for Kiba's help. But still, I was there. In his mind. And I wouldn't leave; this bothered Sasuke.

"How long are you going to keep staring at that paper, man?" Naruto asks dumbfounded, across Sasuke on the other side of the table.

Upon seeing the blond, whom he hadn't sensed coming in at all, panics and sits straight up, looking at the open door an back at a bored looking Naruto in front of him. "What- how'd you-"

"Sakura's pass," Naruto replies flatly, holding up the card from his shirt before dropping it.

"Did she send you here to check up on me?"

"Believe it," Naruto replies bored, kneeling beside the table instead of sitting. "And good thing I did. Either you're writing in invisible ink or you're on writer's block, dude."

"That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard."

"Wow, no wonder you snapped at Sakura. You're all man-PMS on everyone," Naruto handles, sitting up on the table.

Sasuke exhales. He doesn't need to snap at Naruto – as much as he wants to. "Is Sakura okay?"

"She's back out in the audience with Neji and Kiba and Shikamaru. Her foot's all wrapped up." Sasuke doesn't say 'okay', but he continues as he was doing, and this irks Naruto. "What that's it?"

"Look you either help me with this or you go back out there."

Naruto's eye roll up. Suddenly he feels the roles are switched, and that Sasuke's being the immature one now. "Okay look the topic is relationships right? Just write about your fake relationship with Sakura." Sasuke's face is empty. "I'm serious."

"What fake relationship? You mean the one where I take her on dates to my car? The one where she sleeps over to 'tutor me in math'? Naruto you know me. The only relationships I know are the ones that are like with, with…. Karin!" Sasuke slams his back into his chair, tossing his pencil back. "Personally I'm feeling more shitty about Sakura and the fact I don't have one decent presentable relationship to talk about – only I don't know which one's worse."

"You sound conflicted."

"Thank you Professor Einstein."

"Alright geez enough with the sass. Look, I'll help you write about how you uh, you and Sakura have this perfect romantic relationship okay? I'm good at cheesy."

"I know."

"Stop insulting me I'm helping you."

"Force of habit."

Naruto's anger vein throbs on the back of his head, but I sent him back here to help Sasuke. Apparently it's a lot more challenging, and angering, than initially thought. "Just for that you go and pick up that pencil you threw."

x-x-x-x-x-x-x-xx-x-x-x-x-x

After a few minutes of passing time, I've been with Neji, letting me watch him work. I've always wondered what Neji's always doing on his laptop. Apparently he's been helping his uncle all this time with Hyuuga Family business stuff the most casual way possible without being fully dragged into it. Still, it was entertaining to watch.

But along the way, it's ten contestants, and ten speeches to go through, all about the topic of love or romance or dreams of marriage or whichever. They were painful to listen to, because as I'd take them in, I'd wonder if I'd ever get the chance to experience that, knowing my circumstance. My birthday's only right around the corner I remember. By this time next year, I'm already engaged… Will I be happy?

Speaking of questioning happiness, during Ryo's speech, probably full of bull and lies and whatnot, I couldn't help but feel the rising tension from the three guys round me. Even I felt a little irked. But it's no use getting mad. The only way to get past this, is to make sure he doesn't win. "And where the heck is Naruto, anyway?"

"Right here," Naruto grins, marching down the aisle and sitting on the floor next to my seat, so I wouldn't hve to move.

"Oh here do you want to sit down-?"

Naruto holds m shoulder to keep from trying to stand. His face is ridiculous. "I seriously don't want to be offered a seat by you of all people." Haha. He's right.

"Well you ain't taking mine, Uzumaki," Kiba yawns, crossing his legs from where he's holding them up in the empty seat in front of him. "Wake me when Ryo's speech is over."

Naruto shakes his head, and motions for me to lean in to listen. "I was in the back helping Sasuke with his speech."

"Really."

"Yeah. He was kinda stumped. Sasuke's next after this bastard right?"

As Ryo finishes his speech, ending with the stadium's clap and screams and choruses of 'awwws', he ends up in the lounge, empty. Ryo enjoyed the emptiness of the backstage. It showed him how much closer he was to winning. Nonetheless he could hear someone in the bathroom. Changing. None other than Sasuke he'd guess. Sasuke was the only other one who's stay in the lounge anymore.

Walking past the table, Ryo catches eye of a blazer and a piece of paper, undoubtedly the Uchiha's speech.

By the time Sasuke walks out, dressed in a change of clothes for the speech, he notices a blot of black on the table. Fearing the worst he rushes over and before he can touch his paper, there's liquefied ink all over the sheet, spilled from a tiny bottle of ink for feather pens. Most of the guys wrote their speeches in old style dipping pens, and Sasuke had a feeling he knew who sabotaged him again.

Nonetheless, Sasuke self-lectured himself for leaving his stuff outside alone. Now what?

x-x-x-x-x-x

"Up next, Sasuke Uchiha giving a speech on his view of today's romantic relationships," the head judge introduces. We clap for Sasuke as he walks up to the podium, blazer classically rolled up by the elbows and hands casually in pockets. "Yup, I helped him write it," Naruto brags elbowing me.

"Then why isn't holding it?" I ask nervously, noticing Sasuke just standing there.

"He's just going to pull it out of his pocket or something," Naruto tries, getting a little nervous too. "… Okay why's he not pulling it out."

For the five seconds Sasuke blanks out, in his mind it's about five minutes of fast paced thinking. Come on Sasuke. Think , he tells himself. Sasuke tries to remember what he and Naruto wrote, but it's just not coming to him. Instead he remembers what they talked about while writing.

"So you never intentionally took Sakura out. Ever. On a, say, scheduled time per say."

"No Naruto I've never taken her on a date."

"Sasuke we're lying!" Naruto reminds him with a bang the table The blonde's already squatting on top of it, staring Sasuke down in anguish. Naruto's growing more frustrated by the second. It's like tutoring a stubborn freshman AP Calculus. Naruto groans, holding his head down. "If anything, Sasuke, why don't you just call it a day and just speak from the heart?"

"Are you kidding me?"

"Just wing it! Who needs this stupid piece of paper to say how you feel?!" Naruto encourages, throwing his hands up in the air. "You're supposed to be writing about your 'love for your girlfriend' right? Think about some other chick you've dated before. I mean, even if you don't love Sakura t-then just, talk about her even, you know?" Naruto sits back, looking up. Such an awkward turn of events. "Maybe to you it ain't a real romantic relationship, but it's still a relationship."

"Yeah. The one where we practically blackmailed her into skateboarding."

Sauske and Naruto laugh at that take on us. "But, we really do have something with Sakura, you know. Me, Kiba, Shkamaru. Heck even Neji" Naruto looks to Sasuke. "Even you, you teme." Sasuke stares at the paper. "Just, think about her. You won't stay mad at her forever for that dance stunt. She stuck her neck out there for you."

Sasuke remains silent, refusing to admit so.

Naruto exhales patiently. How backwards, Naruto being the voice of reason. "You know, Sasuke? You really piss me off sometimes. But right now – you're just screwing with me. You have any idea how lucky you are to have someone like Sakura?"

"I don't have her, you moron."

"'Fake-girlfriend' I know I know. But look at her she practically gave leg for you. Open your eyes, man. If you don't tell her you care and how you feel about her, then… guys like me may swoop in and try to steal her form you one day if you don't man up and wallow your pride," Naruto jokes. Halfly anyway. "Now come on, let's BS this speech already so you have something to say up there."

Of course Naruto was just trying to get Sasuke to feel better enough to write whatever last minute masterpiece they managed to make in five minutes. Winging it definitely wasn't the plan, but it looks like right now it is, due to his lack of crumpled paper.

"I…" Sasuke starts. The spotlight is right on him, so the audience is pitch black from the view of the stage. He can't see his friends anywhere. Or the judges. It's like, he was talking to no one. Maybe… "I, I can't do it," Sasuke starts.

"He doesn't have it," Naruto mutters to himself, feeling a heart attack coming on.

"To be perfectly honest, I am romantically challenged," Sasuke says into the podium. My eyes are stuck on him, wondering what he's doing. Kiba's mouth is hung open slightly, and Neji looks so confused. Even Shikamaru woke up. "I grew up a player, I saw all girls and women as playthings and, I was a horrible person," Sasuke announces to everyone.

Small murmurs fill the stadium, and I don't dare blink. Sasuke what are you doing?

"And I was totally fine with it! In fact I… thought that was how it was always going to be for me," Sasuke goes on, 'reciting' his speech on romantic relationships. "But for the longest time I just thought I was right. Romance just, sounded so stupid to me. Romance is temporary and it never lasts. It's some fake dream you think is real and then you wake up in the real world and suddenly romance is about as important as what's in the back of your fridge."

"Tell me when it's over," Naruto groans, leaning over into his knees while covering his eyes.

"But…" Sasuke finally says. "That doesn't mean relationships should only be about sex or appearance either… And I realized that when I met the most… annoying, stubborn, stupid, and flattest girl ever." Suddenly my world freezes. He's talking about me… in that freaking context. "And for what seems like forever, she never ceases to find a way to annoy me, frustrate me, put me into some sort of trouble, and just drive me totally insane for no apparent reason," Sasuke says. "And along the lines she ended up becoming my girlfriend."

At that, the 'aw's finally go off, and I see where Sasuke is going with this. He's talking about us. And our fake relationship. Naruto beside me peeks through his hands and out to the stage.

"Okay so there's no romance and there's no sex. Boo I know. But strangely enough I think I found something underneath all that and, it's just… I don't know," Sasuke says, sounding honestly lost. "She and I don't act like a couple at all, and that's probably the best part. It's because I'm not in love with her because she looks sexually appealing to me or because she's romantic or I'm romantic. It's like we've automatically just skipped all that and just, found something better." Sasuke pauses, exhaling. "I know everyone's ideas of the perfect relationship is different, and I'm not bashing on anyone's views. But, with me, I'm just weird. My girlfriend is flat. My girlfriend is not like a lady at all or in the least bit. My girlfriend and I have never even considered sex because… who knows! And then when… I least expect it, she just, surprises me with the coolest things. And we're just… happy the way we are."

I know Sasuke can't see the audience. I know. I've danced up there. The people you're speaking to are in darkness. Yet, somehow, I can see him staring straight at me. "And, I don't think I can go back to the guy I used to be, chasing short skirts and hooking up with the next best girl I see every ten seconds… And I feel guilty now, too. That's a new one," Sasuke adds last minute. "And if my girlfriend could see me now… I'd probably start apologizing for all the stupid stunts I pull and all the ridiculous things I say without thinking… I never normally feel guilty for the horrible things I say or do but, all of a sudden now I do. And, I guess I'm still figuring out the word relationship along the way."

I didn't know it until now, but I'm smiling ever so slightly. Trying not to cry. Sasuke Uchiha you… you're horrible.

"At the end of the day I'm just a guy," Sasuke shrugs. "I'll always be stuck a certain way with the same horrible traits that'll never leave my system. But if anything… It's that I'm grateful to have a relationship with a girl who would probably be better off without me… And that's my point today… Just knowing you value the relationships you don't deserve and how lucky you are to have one – with anyone – romantic or not…" Sasuke's smiling at me. "I feel lucky." Sasuke looks out to the judges and the rest of the darkness. "That's it."

Girls all over stand up and clap, screaming the word deaf into my brain. But I can't hear any of it. I'm too busy trying not to cry as Sauske waves his hand, walking back off stage. "Sakura?" Neji notices.

"Holy shit," Kiba says, jaw still down. He laughs a little. "I think we just totally lost our leader, guys."

"Naruto what the hell kind of speech did you write with him?" Shikamaru asks, looking back over Kiba.

Naruto's arms go up. "Don't look at me he pulled that right out of his ass all by himself."

"Well then," Shikamaru laughs, still in shock. "Guess you guys should have no problem acting as a fake couple now right?" Hah. Yeah…

"And the results are in!" The head judge announces, silencing the stadium as the last ten contestants all line up on stage. "Two finalists will be picked for round 5! First to step up…! SASUKE UCHIHA!"

"YEAH!" Naruto and Kiba high five in cheers. I'm still not over Sasuke's speech, and I feel all, fuzzy inside? It's so weird. I know the whole speech about him and his 'girlfriend' is partially made up and fake, but I think… I think I believe some of those words. I won't be able to go back stage with him this break because of my foot, but we should talk. Sasuke and I.

"And… RYO HANAZAWA!"

The two competitive rivals return and stand up together at center stage, taking in the applause as the last two contestants. After all this, they're still neck and neck. And the winner of this final challenge will determine it all. The guys and I clap together for Sasuke.

"Cute speech, Romeo," Ryo whispers to Sasuke on stage. "You're not leading poor Sakura on are you? It'll be a shame having said all that only to break up with her after I beat you."

"Cut the crap, Hanazawa," Sasuke says, face still forward. "You hurt her. It isn't smart to keep threatening me." Sasuke's sideways glare is enough to secretly intimidate the brunette. With that in mind, Ryo faces back forward.

"Now," the judge starts into the microphone. "Now that we've narrowed it down to our two well deserving finalists, the next and final round will start right now!" What? "And this time, the judges won't be us." Double what? "There are slips underneath each seat in this stadium, and the audience will tally votes together and choose who the winner of our Leaveville male beauty pageant will be!" I can't help but sink a little in my seat. Is it good that the last ote is determined by the public? "Our televised audience can also vote! Call in or text to 2-800-LFVLLEMP! The votes close in the next ten minutes so pick your favorite!"

"Ino you better help out…" Shikamaru silently texts.

"There they go," Naruto watches as Sasuke ad Ryo head off stage while another time appears on the huge screen. "How do you think it'll fly?"

"Who knows," I exhale, pulling out my tally from underneath my seat already along with Naruto's. Kiba's looking for something to write with. My vote's obvious, but it could go either way. And knowing Ryo, can't underestimate him just because it's up to the public. "You alright?" Kiba asks me, hitting my knee.

"Yeah yeah I'm good," I nod. "I'm just a little suspicious."

"Way ahead of you," Neji says beside me, already typing into his laptop at that lightning speed. The screen shows up all these different popping windows that make my head spin. By the look of things, he must heve somehow connected to the main computers of the place. "If Ryo tries to pull anything through the tallies then I'll know." His hand goes under his chin. "Ten minutes is a lot of time to mess with the system."

"I fucking love having smart people in our group!" Kiba barks to the air, crossing his legs up on the chair.

"Sakura Haruno?" a man with a head set calls. He has a pass round his neck, too. "We need you back stage for hair and makeup."

"Right. Prize. Me," I remember with a sheepish exhale. "Duty calls." Naruto helps me get up and leaves me to the guy to help limp to the backstage, so I can become presentable for the winner. Oh gosh, I can't breathe.

x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x

Over where Ino is, she lays in a private bathroom Jacuzzi, with her laptop resting on top of a side tble beside the tub. The live TV stream of the pageant is on while Ino enjoys a tropical room service drink. Meanwhile, her phone vibrates next to the computer. A text.

Ino unlocks her phone. "Shikamaru - You better vote for Sasuke." Ino scoffs. "Like I don't know what I'm supposed to do." While Ino's enjoying her vacation, a quick glance at her laptop shows the televisors showing a bit of backstage. I'm being escorted down a hall to get made up for when I'm presented as the prize, and Ino laughs a little. "You go girl," she toasts.

Along the lines, Ino notices another thing, very far back in the background of the shot I'm in that no one would ever notice – unless they had a super high-def laptop monitor like Ino. "What…" Ino squints. It's a little dark, but brightening her monitor, she sees a sillouete. Two people. Interacting. In secret.

Ino dries her hands and pulls he laptop side table closer to the tub. She re-records the pre-commercial scene and sends it to Neji. "Knowing that Hyuuga he must have his computer on him," Ino mutters. "I know all hair style outlines. That's their Ryo guy definitely." Ino narrows her eyes after pressing send. From what Shikamaru's texted her so far, Ryo's done nothing by get in Sasuke and Sakura's way. "I don't have the programs to see more into the footage but Neji should."

x-x-x-x-x-x

Back with the guys in their seats, Neji hears a slight ping and sees he's received a video from Ino. He remains silent first, watching it, but not before seeing the message from the girl. "Look in the top right corner in that weird shadow. I think it's Ryo. Can you look at it closer for me? Looks like trouble."

"Five minutes," Naruto says, having stolen my seat. By now everyone is just waiting.

Neji does his magic and takes the shot seven second footage and edits it for a clearer picture. Professional high definition zoom. Adding exposure and contrast. Sharpening. And before long, he has the image. It's Ryo, discretely passing a wad of cash into a tech guy's jacket as they 'pass' one another.

Naruto, noticing the wild windows on Neji's laptop, leans over to look, and he catches the final still. "Neji?"

"Ryo's pulling a bribe," Neji catches, searching the stadium's system again for a background check.

"What?" Shikamaru and Kiba look back.

"Ino just shot me footage of what the television's steaming everyone outside watching. Before they cut to commercial she saw something and asked me to check it out. Look." Neji turns his laptop around to show the guys. The message is received.

"So now what?" Kiba asks, alrt as Akamaru growls. Couldn't you detect it or whatever on that super computer of yours?"

"To do what I think they're doing, to go undetected they'll have to change the votes last minute right before the judges present the final numbers."

"Well let's take this and show it to someone already," Naruto orders.

"Won't work," Neji denies. "It'll take too long to pass security and for them to do anything about it. The only ones who can do anything about it is Sakura or Sasuke since they're already back there. We've gotta get a message to them."

"Yeah how? They don't have their phones," Shikamaru scoffs. "What do we have that can sneak past security?"

Right on cue, little Akamaru inside Kiba's jacket begins to bark, sticking out his tongue in an energetic pant. Naruto, Neji, and Shikamaru all look to Kiba and his secret pet, while Kiba frowns, holding his chest. "Guys come on," Kiba tries.

x-x-x-x-x-x-x

Meanwhile back stage, I'm inside a new dressing room, wearing a simple evening gown as a stylist does my makeup and hair. Nothing drastic, so I'm happy. "I'll be right back to get your shoes okay?"

"Okay." The stage hand guy leaves me alone in my chair, and I sigh at y reflection. Twice I've been made over today. New record.

Suddenly the silence is broken as the slightly open door creaks a little, and I jump. And I notice little Akamaru poking his head in… Wait, what? "Akamaru?"

"Bark bark!" he pants, running up to me. His paws slide across the floor and the dog skids to a stop at my chair. Hearing the yell of chasing security guards, I swiftly drift the hem of my skirt over Akamaru's figure. When some staff guard look inside my room, I give a sheepish smile before they shut the door and leave.

"Phew," I sigh out, lifting my dress. Akamaru looks up at me, panting with his tongue hanging. "That was close. But what are you doing back here, boy?"

When I pick him up, I notice a piece of paper wedged between his fur and his collar. Ooh. That's not good. I open it and read the guy's note. Ryo's bribed a technician back stage, and he's going to hack the computer and change the votes last minute.

"I knew he was going to try one last stunt," I groan. "Why can't the guy just loose or win in peace?" I don't waste any time running out barefoot and with Akamaru in my arms. We do our best to hide from the security guards, and while hiding, I see a couple of staff rush Ryo and Sasuke to go get on stage.

"We're on air in thirty," one says.

Akamaru and I peek our heads out. "We don't have much time left," I whisper.

Okay, the note said the guy was wearing a backwards cap. There's not a lot of people backstage so it can't be that hard to find the guy. As I run (limp-run), shoeless, down the end of the hall I see a guy holding a mall laptop, wearing a backwards green cap. "There he is-"

"Hey!" a rather large security guard calls behind me. "You're supposed to be ready beside the stage."

Akamaru growls in my arms before jumping out, running to the man with the most intimidating barking a small puppy-like dog could possibly make. With the guard incapacitated with Akamaru, I pick up the end of my gown and run for it. "Oh no you don't," I mutter, speeding.

The bribed and nerdy technician tries to stay out of sight, looking both ways (somehow not seeing me) and opening his laptop to do the deed. "YAAAAA!" I yell angrily, jumping to tackle in my dress. The technician spikes up too late to prepare and I throw myself at him to the ground with as much unlady-like presence as possible. His laptop slides across the wooden floor and hits the wall, only a few feet away from reach.

"G-Get off!" he yells, pinned underneath me in a headlock with one arm. "AAAAGH!" My other arm has his leg up in an uncomfortable and painful bend. I can see his laptop monitor with the votes on, and a strange program on the side. With the press of a button, he can reset the entire tally number, and I can see the two numbers of Sasuke's and Ryo's votes still wavering – it's so close. And there's no way I'm letting this guy cheat in Ryo's favor.

"Only a few more seconds…." I grit through my teeth, taking my inner strength and anger towards Ryo out on this poor guy. I pull tighter on his leg as he's reaching for his keyboard, and he screams shrill and girl-like. The timer on the laptop is about to reach zero in 5, 4, 3, 2-

"We are now about to pick a winner!" the head judge announces. "THE VOTES ARE IN!"

The screen on the laptop suddenly freezes, and a message says that the tallies are closed. It's over. "YES!" I laugh, releasing my hold on the poor guy. His body flops unconscious from the stress, and I look at the screen to see who won.

"You think Sakura got the message?" Naruto asks, hugging his knees in his seat.

A card goes up to the head judges, and she opens the envelope with a content smile. "And the crown of the Leafville Male Pageant Competition goes to…" Everyone in their seats remain in utter silence, while I continue staring at the screen, waiting for his name to be called. Please let it be the name I see on the monitor…!

"... Sasuke Uchiha!"

Naruto stands up with Kiba and the two scream the loudest if not to match the rest of the screaming girls around them. Neji and Shikamaru sit in relief, high fiving each other. The laptop finally closes on Neji's lap, and the day's efforts were finally realized.

"Thank heavens," I groan, resting my head on my arms on the floor.

"Ms. Haruno!" Some back stage hands run over, having been looking for catch a glimpse of the dizzying technician but shrug him off and help me up to rush me to the front of the stage to meet Sasuke.

At the side of the curtains, someone holds me from the shoulders to wait to give me the cue to go out. But in the sea of spotlights and cheers and falling confetti I spot Sasuke. He walks away from Ryo's side, pulled up by the officials to be given some cheesy sash and the recognition. When I look to Ryo, all I can see is shock, and a secretly building, vengeful, stare a Sasuke's back.

Ignoring he the stage hand, Iwalk forward onto the stage as straight as I can, hiding my limp. Nonetheless I find my way to Ryo's side. I stand beside him, looking at Sasuke's back as well. "I think you deserve this kind of loss," I say. With all the noise around us, only Ryo can hear me, that is if he decides to listen anyway. "You should be ashamed of yourself."

"After everything I did," he starts under his breath. Through all the sabotage and dark thoughts and schemes. "That bastard still…"

"Maybe if you just let go of your stupid grudge and fought fairly like a true gentleman, maybe then you'd stand a chance in the real world," I lecture, staring straight ahead with a calm demeanor.

Ryo's eyes harden, and I feel somewhat… unfinished around him. "No matter," he frowns, glaring ahead. "I still won."

"Sakura," the judge calls, turning around herself and Sasuke. Sasuke's eyes and mine meet, and for a moment I wonder if he's still mad at me. But a small hint of a forgiving smile irks its way to the left of his mouth, and Sasuke notions his head for me to walk up. At the same time I wonder what Ryo meant by 'he still won'. Before I can say anything else, Ryo's already walking away.

I leave Ryo and take the judge's place next to Sasuke. "And may I present the winner's prize, the Haurno Heiress, whereas Sasuke shall be her escort to the Gala after party! Not to mention a kiss!"

More girls shriek as a bouquet of flowers is placed into my arms. Everything's a bit sudden and overwhelming (and super bright), but Sasuke and I, through our forced smiles and squinting under the spotlights, manage to survive. But, as promised, I give Sasuke a kiss on the cheek, and the crowd goes wild. It's the second one today.

We remain wordless for the rest of the pageant.

x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x

While I'm in my dressing room once more back stage, I'm being made up for another dress to wear for the gala, tiredly sitting in waiting. By now my foot is killing me and all I want to do is go home. I wonder if there's a way for me to get out of having to go. That way at least Sasuke and I don't have to be stuck awkwardly together all suddenly I hear voices outside in the hall.

"What?"

"You heard me Uchiha."

A loud bang vibrates through the walls and I jump. Ryo and Sasuke. Without anyone present, I push myself off of the makeup chair and feel the instant jolt of pain up my leg. Carefully I limp towards the door and while leaning against a nearby couch arm I press my ear against the door. It is them.

Outside, Sasuke is holding Ryo's shit, pinning him angrily against the wall. "I won the damn contest already so leave Sakura alone!"

"Pft," Ryo spits to the side. Sasuke had punched him earlier. "Didn't I tell you already? My dad and her mother are meeting. No matter what I did my father would end up persuading Kana anyway to hand Sakura over to me as my fiancé." What? "Sasuke after all these years, you really expect me to keep my word?"

They never notice me evesdropping, but I get every word. "So I'm… going to be engaged to Ryo…?" I whisper. Is… this why Sasuke was trying so hard in the contest?

x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x

"Yes Ino I kept the dress on," I say on the phone, putting on a hoodie over my pajamas. "Yes I washed off all the makeup."

After a tiresome extra-long day, by midnight I was finally home. After Sasuke won the contest, he and I were practically shipped to that Gala After-party, not a word spoken. Sasuke had this angry look in his eye the entire night, and I think I knew why. What Ryo said right after the competition, about our parents' meeting out of town – could Mom really give in that easily? And… was this what Sasuke was fighting so hard for all day? So that I wouldn't have to, marry Ryo? No matter anymore. Ryo just might get his way after all we've done.

By now I'm updating Ino on today's events. She say she saw the whole thing on TV and was talking constantly with the guys but she wanted to hearit from me (I don't know). I refused to tel her the last part, though. "Eeeek! I knew Sasuke liked you!"

Where does she get that? "Sasuke doesn't like me Ino. For all I know he's probably still mad at me for dancing on this leg." I wince a little as I crawl into bed.

"If he was still and at you then he wouldn't have done such an amazing speech."

"W-Well yeah but-"

"No buts! You can't deny something totally happened today and I so missed it! Watching it on TV isn't the same! Oh, and I'm going to regret it for the rest of my life."

"Don't go that far," I say flatly, slightly embarrassed of Ino over the phone. Nonetheless she was right. I can't deny that something happened today. Whatever it is I don't know but-

My inner thoughts are cut off by the sound of my door opening. And it's… Mom? "I'll call you back, Ino," I say distantly. Her words go on until I flip my phone closed, and Mom lets herself in, closing the door behind her. "Hey Mom."

"Hello sweetie oh, look at you," she coons, sitting beside my legs on the bed. Her hand brushes some of my loose stands away. "How are you? I heard Sasuke won."

"Yeah he did," I nod, trying to smile. But I can't beat around the bush. "So uh, how'd your meeting go with Ryo's dad?"

"Ugh, don't remind me," she scoffs, like a teenager. There's a sign. "So here. Our meeting is going swimmingly and perfect and we almost mark a partnership. The next thing I know we're talking about you and Ryo and how you're both set on inheriting the family fortunes of your families right? And then-"

Mom just goes on and on, ranting and pacing beside my bed. Just watching her makes me dizzy and I feel more like Ino's talking to me than my mother.

"But then this guy has the nerve to throw in that I break off yours and Sasuke's upcoming engagement and replace him with Ryo! Can you believe him he-!"

"So what did you say?" I try to rush.

"Well no of course but oh my God the man won't shut up and sign the papers and oh – Sakura honey. I'm sorry I missed the pageant. If I'd known the meeting would've gone that way, I would've skipped it all together to go support you and Sasuke. Was Kakshi there at least?"

"Yeah. To pick us up," I point out. Slacker. He said he lost track of the time. How on earth cn you not realize you're late for nine hours?

Mom sighs, fanning herself with her fans. "The nerves that Hanazawa man has awaken in me; He just wouldn't let it go! I'm surprised I listened to him for as long as I sat there."

"M-Mom? Do you mind if I go see Sasuke for a second?" Her eyebrow raises, and she looks at my leg. "Just five minutes please?"

She has a denying pout. And for once she actually looks like a mom who might say no. "Make it quick."

x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x

Across the street, Sasuke was in his room, sitting at his computer desk string at is reflection in the computer. It's almost one in the morning and Sasuke still hasn't been able to go to sleep. Ryo's words remain stapled in the Uchiha's head, and he doesn't know how to tell me, or if I already know. Or maybe-

"Knock knock," Itachi announces behind a locked door.

"Go away Itachi," Sasuke groans.

"I need to borrow your tools!"

"You have your own."

"I need to borrow your skateboard."

What the hell does he need by board for? "Listen Itachi it's late and I-" Sasuke's opened the door and finds himself face to face with me in crutches and Itachi behind. Both brothers are clad in pajamas and I'm surprised to see Sasuke awake. "Sakura-?"

"I'll leave you two alone now," Itachi says, ruffling my hair before walking away. "No unprotected sex you hear!"

"Shut up!" Sasuke glares, throwing a ball of socks or something Itachi's way. I laugh, pulling myself up a little on my crutches. "And what are you doing here. It's like, one in the morning. And you know how I hate having you in my house."

"I know but I couldn't wait. Can I come in?"

Suddenly Sasuke gets defensive. "To what?"

"To sit," I answer bluntly, staring at the guy like he's nuts. When Sasuke gets the message he nods and lets me in. I make my way to his bed and plop down on it, sitting my crutches aside. Sasuke pulls up a rolling chair for himself in front of me for himself. "Wow, so this your room."

"Enough with the small talk I'm tired. What is it."

Cranky much? "I just wanted to tell you that my Mom came home." Sasuke's ears perk up, and now I have his serious attention. "Ryo and I aren't engaged." Sasuke looks at loss for words, so my mouth continues to run. "I overheard you and Ryo arguing back at the Hall; how you fought in the competition? For me so I wouldn't have to marry him?"

Sasuke feels his face heat up a little out of nowhere, but he finds his words soon enough. "W-Whatever. I only did it for my own sake. If you were forced to be with that loser than Karin would probably end up hauling after me."

"I know," I smile, going along with a tiny laugh. Somehow Sasuke ends up laughing a little too, both of us smiling and happy again. But it quickly dies down, and suddenly we're just sitting there. "Say um," Sasuke starts. "While we're actually alone, without the others and assuming my brother isn't eavesdropping…," I laugh a little. "Can we talk?"

This is it. "Yeah."

"About that speech earlier during the contest," he says slowly.

I begin shaking my head "No don't worry about it. You had to say something and all that stuff you said managed to get you to the finals. I know you didn't really mean it so, you don't have to tell me-"

"That's, sort of why have to tell you," Sasuke cuts off, a little lost for words for once. I hold my tongue to keep from blabbing or interrupting. "Yeah the part about you being my sincere girlfriend was complete bullshit but some stuff I said was, kind of true." Is Sasuke really saying this now?

"Like… what?"

"Like, how I feel guilty for that," Sasuke says, pointing at my leg. "The old me wouldn't have felt guilty for anything. Heck, the old me wouldn't have even signed up for that stupid pageant."

"So why did you?"

"I don't know," Sasuke sighs, giving up on trying to come up with explanations. "But… things are different now. Somehow. And, I… really do find it hard to go back to… old habits."

"Like chasing short skirts and hooking up with sluts every ten seconds," I quote from his speech with a teasing smile.

"Yeah," Sasuke laughs, lightening the tension. "I… Ijust want to apologize for everything unnecessary I drag you into."

"Is Sasuke Uchiha actually apologizing to me?" I ask with a hand on my chest.

"Don't make me take it back."

I laugh, leaing back in my arms bit. "Kakashi says my ankle will heal in a few days, so it's nothing to feel bad about. I'll be up and skating circles around you in no time."

"Hey stay off your board until I say so okay?" Sasuke warns me.

Well this is backwards. Sasuke's threatening me to not skate. Mm. "While we're doing embarrassing apologizes I should probably say sorry, too."

"What do you have to say sorry for? I was the jerk."

"Maybe but, I should've told-"

"Hey, I'm not mad anymore okay?" Sasuke says, holding my shoulder. "Kiba actually talked to me earlier during the competition, got me to cool off a bit about you." So Kiba did that for me? "So I don't want to hear any apologizes from you okay?"

I try not to look to surprised or astounded, but I can't help my shock. "Kakashi's really turned you into something. I'm impressed."

"Kakashi taught me nothing," Sasuke scoffs, holding his arms over the back of his chair. "Just… thanks for caring."

"That's what friends are for right?" I say automatically, forgetting who I'm talking with. The next few seconds go by too slowly and I wish I could eat my words. We're not friends. Awkardness. Run. "I'm gonna go now."

"Haruno wait," Sasuke halts, stand and stealing my crutches before I can walk on them. He holds them behind him while keeping me at bay with his other arm. His hand's over my forehead and somehow that's all that's necessary to keep me in place.

"I know Sasuke we're not really friends I don't need the lecture so just let me-"

"Sit," he finishes, pushing me y the forehead. My butt lands back on his bed and Sasuke puts my crutches down beside his chair. Sasuke exhales first. "Look," he starts. "I know I always say how we're just, in this charades for our own reasons and that we're not really friends, but… I think after today I should probably re-evaluate."

I smile a little in admittance, thinking over today's events. "You think so."

"I don't think I've ever met anyone as meddling as you," Sasuke says sincerely, and I'm supposing it's a compliment. "Then again I'm just as worse aren't I."

"You barge into my home, steal hours of my days to skate," I list, smiling. "We're both bad people I get it. But, I think I'm okay with it. You. Being meddling." Sasuke looks up at me, smiling too. "So… are we, friends… now?"

Sasuke smiles, shaking his head in denial. "I can't believe myself but, I'd be a liar if I didn't feel something for you." With that we shake hands, and our 'partnership' is officially over, and we've crossed the line into friends. "Friends."

"Friends," I nod, still holding his hand. Shortly after they finally part. "Phew. Well, I probably should get back home."

"Need me to walk you?"

"I'm fine," I say, walking with my crutches to the door before realizing what he just asked. I look back with the weirdest face. "Did you just ask if I needed you to walk me home?"

Suddenly Sasuke looks just as weirded out as I am. Maybe he's just realizing it too. "I," he pauses.

Instead I laugh and shake my head. "Good night, Sasuke."

"Night," he waves, and with me gone, he closes the door, and looks back at his now empty room. It's 1:30 according to his clock, and suddenly everything is just… flipped. "What am I doing," Sasuke sighs, running his hand through his hair. He shuts of the lights and falls into bed. But, despite our official declaration of friendship, Sasuke can't help but wonder what it is he's exactly feeling now. Is this what it's supposed to feel like when you make friends with a girl? Sasuke's never made a relationship with a girl that was just friends before.

And Naruto's strangely unforgettable words came to mind again.

"If you don't tell her care and how you feel about her, then… guys like me may swoop in and try to steal her form you one day if you don't man up and swallow your pride."

So… was that this strange feeling inside now that he has swallowed his pride? Sasuke covers his face with his pillow and goes to sleep after the long day.

---

Tumblr: sammakesamess
DeviantArt: MemorySoul

PREIVEW:

"Honestly, I've never actually had my first kiss yet."

Somehow this answer is as startling to Sasuke as the question was to me. "What?"

Don't be that surprised. I don't see why it's such news. "I've never kissed anyone before," I repeat rather plainly

x-x-x-x

"Sakura who's this?" Naruto asks me.

"Oh, this is Matsuri," I introduce, though Ino's still smothering the poor girl. "She's our age, went to Suna High down town."

"She's in our year level?" Shikamaru asks in disbelief, doing a double take at her. I can't blame him. Matsuri looks so skinny in her hospital bed. Barely 17. "How long's she been stuck here?"

"About three years," I say sympathetically.

x-x-x-x

"And get off me before someone sees!"

"No one's here," Sasuke scoffs, turning his head to the side. But in the distance all the way at the end of the hall, something catches his eye. Another student at the last locker. He closes it and slings his bag over his shoulder. But the red hair, the strange eyes and the red tattoo on his forehead – it's the same teen Sasuke saw the day before. His appearance is, unique. Can't forget it.

x-x-x-x

"Thank you, uh…"

"Gaara," he introduces, holding already two of my books.