Thank you for all the lovely reviews. I know this wasn't a very speedy update, I hope you don't hate me too much. The poll is now closed and I have been hard at work on both my stories so I do hope to have some faster updates for you. I'm trying to write the chapters in advance and working through some different ideas.

And I know that should be chapter 25 but I made some mistakes when I did two part chapters so I hope I didn't confuse you guys. Anyway on with the chapter and all it's goodness!

Chapter 20: Totally Confused

Sakura stormed into school looking around for her target. She had been thinking all weekend of what to do to Tobi when she got her hands on him.

"Sakura," Itachi smirked walking up to her. "May I say you look extra lovely to-"

Itachi didn't finish his sentence since he was pushed up against the lockers by Sakura.

"Where is he?" Sakura glared at him.

"Well you sure are rough, just the way I like it," Itachi said looking at Sakura's fist, which were filled with his shirt she had grabbed.

Sakura pushed his against the lockers with more force. "I'm not going to ask you again."

"I don't know where he is honestly," Itachi held his hands up. "I asked him if he wanted a ride and he said he would get his own."

Sakura could tell he was telling the truth and let go of him. "I'm sorry," Sakura said.

"It's all right cherry blossom," Itachi smiled at her.

Sakura fixed his shirt over his chest. "I didn't mean to mess up your shirt," Sakura informed him.

Itachi grabbed her hand before she could pull away and placed it back on his chest. What he didn't know was that he had put it over his heart. Sakura could feel his heart beat faster and faster. Itachi just smiled at her coolly on the outside but his insides were telling a different story.

"I'm doing that?" Sakura asked herself.

She just started to pay attention to his actions when her friend Haku believed that he liked her along with others.

The school bell ringed three times.

"Well we should be getting to homeroom," Itachi said stilling holding Sakura's hand.

"Yeah you should," Deidara answered removing Sakura's hand from Itachi's.

"You aren't even in our homeroom," Itachi said icily, mad that he was interrupted.

"I know," Deidara smirked. He winked at Sakura. "Take care of yourself; you have to watch out for these perverts here."

Itachi chased Deidara down the hall making threats to cut off his hair.

Sakura shrugged and walked to homeroom by herself. As usual Kakashi wasn't there yet.

Neji attacked her as soon as she walked inside. "I am soooo sorry you had to kiss that horrible Tobi." He put his finger under her chin and lifted her face towards him. "Let papa make it all better."

"Whoa papa, you aren't a pimp anymore," Naruto pointed out and removed him from Sakura. "It's not too late for you to make charges against the creepy freak."

"Sakura would never," Neji snapped.

"You do make a very convincing argument Naruto," Sakura nodded her head.

"I do, I should be on the debate team," Naruto smiled brightly.

"Let's not push it," Sakura told him.

"Yeah and besides that is for geeks like Rock Lee," Naruto pointed to Rock Lee in the corner studying note cards. "He tried to get me to join."

"And how sadly mistaken he would if you did," Neji laughed.

"Can it Wedgie," Naruto warned him.

"You don't tell me what to do, stupid," Neji flipped his hair.

Naruto eyes burned with fire and he tried to run and beat up Neji. Sakura jumped in front of him.

"Whoa Naruto, calm down," Sakura told him.

"Let me at him, let me at him," Naruto said bouncing around.

Neji faked gasped. "I'm sooo scared."

Naruto glared at him. "You better be happy Sakura is holding me back because you would be a bald sad boy."

Neji grabbed his hair. "Noooo, not my precious locks!"

Sakura slapped them both on the head. "Take your seats."

"Yes ma'am," they said in union and sat down quickly.

"What's up party people?" Kiba cheered coming into the room.

"Nothing really, dog boxers," Itachi smirked.

Kiba blushed. "I didn't have a belt, gosh."

"It's okay Kiba, don't listen to the vampire over there," Sakura patted his back.

Itachi brighten up. "So if I'm a vampire, I can lick your neck right now."

Sakura smiled sweetly. "You even think of trying to do that and I'll stab this pencil right into your eye."

"Whoa that's a bit dramatic," Itachi said.

"Not really," Sakura smirked.

"Go ahead and stab him, nobody will miss him," Sasuke said from his desk.

Itachi turned to glare at him. "If I go down, I'm taking you with me."

Sasuke and Itachi then had a death glare match.

"Soooo Sakura, since you're not dating Haku and it was just a big misunderstanding, how about you give me a chance?" Neji asked.

Sakura chuckled. "I will when Naruto gets an A on a test."

"Ooooh your chances are slim to none," Kiba laughed.

"Yeah I can tell you that," Naruto said. "Believe it!"

"Believe it!" Kiba copied.

Kiba and Naruto then broke out into song. "Don't stop, believing, hold onto that feeling, streetlights, peoppleeeeee, ohhhh-OHHHHHH!" they held the last note.

"Will you two sit down and be quiet?" Kakashi poofed into the room.

"Maybe if you come to class on time we wouldn't have to resort to singing," Naruto suggested.

Kakashi chuckled. "Like that will happen.

Shikamaru, Shino and Gaara walked in late. Kakashi marked them down in the attendance book. "Not good if the teacher beats you."

"Sorry it won't happen again," Shino spoke for them.

Sakura smiled as they sat down. "I was getting worried; you're always on time Gaara."

Gaara smiled weakly. "Not feeling so hot today."

"You still look hot Gaara but not as hot as me," Naruto claimed.

Everyone slowly looked at Naruto.

"If I was a girl I would totally date myself," Naruto told them.

"Yeah that's not weird at all," Kiba snorted.

Sakura patted Naruto's shoulder. "Naruto did you take your medication this morning?"

"I told you guys I don't take meds, it was a joke," Naruto whined.

"I don't know maybe you need to be put on some meds," Itachi chuckled.

"Nobody is talking to you, loser," Naruto scoffed at him.

Itachi's eyes darkened as he stepped towards Naruto. "You wanna go?"

"Bring it," Naruto pushed him on rolling up his sleeves.

"Whoa," Sakura jumped in between the two. "You are not going to fight."

"Move cherry blossom, I don't want you to get hurt when I beat up this little boy."

"I'll show you who's a little boy," Naruto said bouncing back and forth.

Sakura grabbed both their arms and twisted them behind their backs. They both feel to the floor on their knees.

"Uh Sakura that kind of hurts," Naruto whined.

"There will be no fighting, are we clear?"

"Crystal," Itachi said blowing his hair out of his face.

"Now apologize to each other," Sakura ordered them.

"I'm not apologizing to that-"

Sakura twisted their arms even more.

"Sorry Itachi," Naruto squeaked.

"Yeah I'm sorry too Naruto," Itachi said quickly.

Sakura let them go and took her seat.

"Dang woman, you are strong," Itachi rubbed his shoulder.

"I know I thought you were going to rip my arm out of my socket," Naruto said.

The bell ringed and everyone got up and shuffled out of the room quickly.

"Well I can't say homeroom isn't interesting," Itachi smirked kissing Sakura on the cheek as they walked out.

"Itachi," Sakura growled. "That reminds me, I still have to find Tobi so thank you for that."

"Itachi how could you?" Tobi whined from the end of the hall.

Sakura's eyes turned into slits as she ran after Tobi.

Itachi nodded. "No problem."

"Still haven't found the criminal?" Naruto asked as he added two eggs to the batter.

Sakura adjusted her apron. "No but after this class is lunch and he can't hide forever and when I get my hands on his neck I am-"

Two arms wrapped around Sakura's waist. "I just can't keep my hands off you," Neji muttered his face deep in Sakura's hair.

Sakura dropped her spoon and took a deep breath. "I'm going to be nice today, get your hands off of me Neji," Sakura said slowly.

Neji let go and walked in front of their cooking station. "I'm sorry; it's just sooo hard not to touch you."

"Yeah you have reached a new level of creepy," Naruto laughed.

Neji rolled his eyes. "Says the dummy that can't figure out that my cousin likes him."

Naruto stopped stirring. "Hinata...likes me?" he said surprised.

Sakura shot a look at Neji.

"Uh no I meant Hinata likes another Naruto, lives in a different city," Neji quickly saved.

"Oh," Naruto said a little disappointed. "That's cool." He went back to stirring the batter as Sakura pulled Neji to the side.

"What are you doing?" Sakura whispered harshly.

"I was trying to play matchmaker," Neji whispered back.

"No, it's best that Naruto finds out himself that Hinata likes him or for him to at least ask her out," Sakura told him.

Neji sighed. "Then we will be waiting forever."

"You can't rush these things," Sakura grinned as she looked at Hinata steal glances at Naruto across the room.

"I guess you can't," Neji admitted looking at Sakura.

"Well okay, now get back to work," Sakura ordered.

"Yes ma'am," Neji saluted her.

"I'll trade you," Naruto said for the fifth time.

"No," Shino said again.

"Come on, your lunch looks really good," Naruto pressed on.

"And it's not my fault that you got in the wrong line and why would I want to trade my Teriyaki Chicken for your mystery meat?" Shino adjusted his sunglasses.

"There's no ramen today so just trade with me pleeeeeessesseee," Naruto begged.

Shino stared at Naruto. "No."

"You big fat meanie," Naruto pouted.

"I can live with that," Shino said. "Shikamaru wake up."

"I'm awake," Shika responded lifting his head.

"I don't understand how you are so tired when you sleep all the time," Kiba wondered sitting down at the table.

"Leave me alone," Shikamaru yawned.

Sakura quickly sat down and started to stuff her sandwich in her mouth.

"What's the rush?" Kiba asked.

"Mmmmm, mmm, mmmmm," Sakura muttered through her closed mouth.

"Huh?" Naruto said confused.

"I said...," Sakura said talking with her mouth full.

"Ewwwww close your mouth," Naruto laughed.

Sakura quickly swallowed. "I was saying that I need to hurry and eat and hunt down Tobi."

"You still haven't found him?" Shino asked.

"Nope."

"He is good."

"Well he knows if she finds him that he will be ripped to shreds," Shikamaru said.

"That is very true," Kiba nodded his head.

"Poor fellow, he dug his own grave," Naruto shrugged his shoulders.

Sakura stopped eating for a second. "Where's Gaara?"

"I don't know but he has been acting weird today," Naruto told her.

"Weird how?"

"I was totally waving my armpits in front of Gaara's face asking him to smell them and he totally ignored me," Naruto announced.

"I would too," Shika said.

"But he usually yells at me and beats me up," Naruto told them.

"Maybe he's just not feeling well," Shino said. "He was very quiet this morning when we were coming to school."

"There is a virus going around, maybe he has it."

"That could be it," Sakura gathered her trash. "Well later gentlemen, I have a person to catch."

"Good luck," Naruto smiled.

"No worries, Sakura always catches her man," Sakura winked at them.

Sakura looked around the corner. "Nothing," she said to herself. "Where is he hiding?"

After making sure the hallway was clear she went up the stairs to the next level. While walking by a classroom she spotted a red spot. Sakura backed up and looked into a classroom room. Gaara was sitting on top of a desk staring at the board.

Sakura opened the door and walked in.

"Have you seen Tobi?" Sakura asked Gaara looking around the empty classroom.

"No," Gaara replied.

Sakura paused in her search of Tobi and looked at Gaara.

"Are you okay today?"

"I don't know," Gaara admitted.

"What's the matter?"

"I just have been thinking about something."

"What?"

Gaara was quiet for a moment before he looked up and stared at Sakura.

"Sakura...will you go out with me?"

"WHAT?" Tobi yelled coming out of the supply closet in the classroom where he was hiding.

Sakura was paying little attention to him but was instead looking at Gaara speechless.

"W-what?" She stuttered.

"Will, you go, out with me?" Gaara repeated, this time more timid than the first, worried about her reaction.

Sakura's brain went into overload, as she tried to process this information. Gaara had been her best friend since the second grade. And now he wanted to go out with her. She knew what Haku said was true but she didn't think it applied to one of her best friends.

Sakura's head started to swim and started to hurt. Suddenly she didn't feel good.

"Sakura?" Gaara said concern in his voice.

Sakura's body started to sway and then she toppled over but not before Gaara caught her in his arms.

"Sakura!" Gaara repeated the panic in his voice unmistakable.

Tobi had rushed over looking at Sakura over Gaara's shoulder, panic is his eyes too.

Then she blacked out.

"Sakura," she heard somebody call her name. "Sakura."

"What did you do?" she heard Naruto ask loudly.

"I didn't do anything," Tobi said defensively. "It was Gaara."

"What did you do then?" Sasuke asked.

"I...uh," Gaara started scratching his head.

"You what?" Itachi said confused.

"He asked Sakura out," Tobi finished for him.

"YOU WHAT?" Everyone shouted at Gaara.

Sakura opened her eyes and rubbed her head as she slowly rose off the bed the she was laying on. She looked around and saw she was in the nurse's office and the guys were all in a corner arguing.

"Some people are trying to rest over here," Sakura told them.

"SAKURA!" Tobi rushed over and attacked her with a big hug. "You're okay."

She smiled as she wrapped her arms around Tobi and squeezed him. "And I finally got you."

"Sakura...i...i can't breath," Tobi struggled to get out of her grip.

"Where do you think you're going?" Sakura smiled letting him go and getting off the bed.

"Am I the only one that is scared by Sakura right now?" Naruto asked everyone.

"She is a little scary," Kiba admitted feeling slightly sorry for Tobi.

"I think it's sexy," Itachi smirked as he watched Sakura corner Tobi.

"Well you're a freak who likes bizarre stuff," Deidara pointed out.

"Nothing wrong with being a little freaky once and while," Itachi said.

"Yeah but your freaky all the time so don't try to act all innocent," Naruto said.

Itachi chuckled. "I am far from innocent."

"That's the truth," Sasori muttered in the corner.

"Okay Sakura I know you're mad," Tobi said trying to buy himself some time, "and I'm really sorry, I shouldn't have done that."

Sakura cracked her knuckles slowly as she advanced towards him.

"I invaded your personal space, I didn't respect your feelings as a woman and taking precious kisses from you," Tobi continued on.

Sakura paused as Tobi stared at the floor.

"I was only thinking about myself and I understand what I did was wrong so do your worse to me because I deserve it," Tobi finished closing his eyes tightly waiting for the pain to come.

What he didn't expect was to be wrapped in a warm embrace by Sakura.

"WHAT? He gets a hug?" Deidara said.

"What happened to the pain?" Itachi asked.

"Hn."

"In a time like this, that's all you can say?" Itachi glared at his brother.

"Leave me alone," Sasuke scoffed turning his hand.

"Why I-"

"I expect your apology Tobi," Sakura smiled at him.

"It will never happen again," Tobi informed her.

"That's good but next time you kiss a girl try not to be so forceful, be gentle like this," Sakura said and planted a soft kiss on Tobi's lips.

Everyone's jaws fell to the floor. Tobi fainted to the floor.

"Do you see now?" Sakura asked him.

"I do," Tobi said mesmerized looking up at the ceiling.

"Tell me that I have gone crazy and that I did not just see Sakura kiss Tobi," Neji came into the nurse's office with a bouquet of flowers.

"Well unless my eyes are deceiving me, then yes you did," Gaara said.

"I...I...don't know what to say," Itachi said shocked.

Sakura went over to the bed and picked up her book bag. "Well I'm feeling better now."

"Yeah after kissing Tobi," Sasuke said jealous.

"It was for educational purposes only," Sakura told them.

"Well I need to be educated then," Itachi grinned ear to ear.

"I think you already know what you're doing," Sakura told him.

"Oh so you think I'm a good kisser," Itachi smirked.

Sakura blushed. "..."

"Judging by your silence, I guess so," Itachi moved towards her.

"I never said that," Sakura said quickly.

The bell ringed letting them know lunch was over.

"Well we better get to class," Neji said. He handed the flowers to Sakura. "Good to see you're okay sugar lump."

Sakura accepted them. "Uh thanks and don't call me that."

"Come on Sakura, let's go to class," Itachi motioned for her as Tobi and Sasori waited in the hallway.

"I'll catch up with you later, I need to talk to Gaara for a second," Sakura replied.

They exchanged glances as they all knew what they were going to be talking about.

"Well okay, don't be too long," Itachi said walked over and kissed Sakura on the cheek.

Sakura blushed. "Okay get out," she snapped kicking Itachi in the butt.

"Whoa I see how you like it," Itachi chuckled.

"Ugh you are disgusting," Sakura glared at him and closed the door.

It was silent now that everyone was gone. Gaara stood next to the sink examining the bandages and q-tips.

"So," they both said together and then laughed nervously.

"You first," they said together again.

"No you go first," Gaara insisted.

"Okay ummm well obviously it's about what you asked me earlier," Sakura twirled her hair around her finger.

Gaara blushed a light pink. "Oh yeah that."

An awkward silence soon took over as the two stole glances at one another.

Gaara cleared his throat. "Look I don't know what I was thinking, like you would go out with me-"

"Don't say that," Sakura said. "Any girl would be lucky to go out with you."

Gaara scratched the back of his neck. "Thanks," he muttered looking at his tattered shoes.

Sakura took a deep breath. "Why don't I give you an answer at the end of the day?" Sakura suggested.

Gaara looked up surprised that Sakura was even going to consider it.

"Uh sure that would be cool."

"Okay," Sakura smiled shyly at him.

The warning bell rang and they quickly grabbed their things and ran out of the nurse's room. They started heading their separated ways.

Gaara turned around to look at Sakura walk away only to see her looking at him. He watched as her cheeks turned a lovely pink that made her look so cute.

Gaara grinned. "So I'll see you after school?" he made sure again.

"After school, yes," Sakura nodded turning around and heading for class.

Sakura walked in late to history. She didn't have a pass but Asuma let her slide by this time. She could feel Itachi, Tobi and Sasori burning their glances into the back of her neck as she turned in her homework and got today's assignment from Asuma.

She turned around and made her way to their group and saw them all looking down at their work pretending they were busy.

"Oh Sakura, didn't see you there," Itachi looked up with a curious look on his face. "How are you?"

"You saw me eight minutes ago," Sakura reminded him.

"And a long eight minutes it was, you get more beautiful with every second," Itachi winked.

"Yeah you do, it's like looking at a goddess," Tobi smiled looking at Sakura.

"They seem to be loonier today," Sakura said to Sasori.

"When are they not?" Sasori answered.

"That's very true," Sakura snickered.

"They have been crazy since the first day I met them," Sasori added.

"Okay we are sitting right here," Tobi announced.

"And I don't like the term loony I prefer eccentric," Itachi corrected them.

"No I would use that more to describe Sasuke since he is so weird and unusual," Sakura said.

"Who cares about Sasuke, did you say yes to Gaara?" Tobi blurted out.

The three gazed at her waiting for her to talk.

"Well..." Sakura started.

"Well what?" Sasori pushed on.

"I haven't given him an answer yet, I told him I would after school," Sakura said not looking at them as she zipped up her book bag.

"Whoa you're actually thinking about it," Itachi said a little angry.

"Yes I am, is that a problem?" Sakura snapped at him.

Itachi looked into Sakura's emerald eyes. "No it's not; it's none of my business."

"Do you want to go out with him?" Sasori asked.

Sakura was surprised by Sasori asking that question. "Uh maybe, that's why I thought I should think it over."

"That's good," Sasori nodded doodling on the corner of his paper.

Tobi sat quietly. "Well you guys would make a nice couple."

Itachi mumbled something under his breath. They were then quiet for the whole period, something they had never done before.

When they were changing classes, Sakura watched as people whispered as she walked by.

The guys were moping around walking slowly through the hallways.

Sakura headed to her English class. As she was turning the corner someone grabbed her and pulled her into a closet.

It was dark and she could hear the quiet breathing of the person inches away from her. She felt for the light and pulled the string. The light bulb swigged back and forth and she watched the shadows dance on Sasuke's face.

"Not again," Sakura muttered being in a closet with Sasuke for a second time. "And a janitor closet, really?"

Sasuke stood silently studying her face. "Are you really going to go out with Gaara?" he asked coldly.

Sakura crossed her arms. "Maybe, why do you care?"

"I don't," Sasuke scoffed.

"So you pulled me into the closet just to say hi," Sakura implied.

"Hn."

"And now you have nothing to say as usual," Sakura said.

"Hn."

"Well if we are done here, I'll be leaving," Sakura told him and opened the door.

Sasuke watched her walk away, several seconds later he followed her to their English class. Gaara glanced over quickly at Sakura and then turned his head away.

Sakura sat down at her table, Sasuke was glaring at her, Neji was giving her weird looks and Rock Lee was shocked with his mouth wide open.

"Say it ain't so," Rock Lee whined.

She rolled her eyes. "So it's gonna be one of those days."

They were silent for a moment before Neji asked the question they had all been wondering.

"Are you gonna go out with him?"

Sakura rolled her eyes, for what seemed like the millionth time that day. "Will you people lay off my case? I already got enough from Itachi and Tobi last period."

"But you're supposed to go out with me! That was the plan, right?"

Sakura stared blankly at him. "That was never the plan."

Neji leaned in closer. "Come on baby," he purred in a seductive voice, "who do you want? Him?" he glared at Gaara, then turned back to Sakura with that seductive look in his eye again, "or me?"

"I am not answering that."

"But we would be the perfect cou-"

"I don't think it would work out between us," Sakura interrupted him.

"Why not?"

"Well I would be in jail for murdering you," Sakura told him.

"You're so funny when you joke like that Sakura," Neji chuckled.

Sasuke glared at Neji. "She wasn't joking."

Neji panicked. "Sakura, you would try to kill me?"

Sakura looked at the sad look on his face.

"No well maybe if you drive me to it, you're kind of annoying-"

Neji sniffed and turned away from the table.

"Wait I didn't mean annoying, it's just-"

"It's okay Sakura I understand, you think I'm hideous."

"I never said that," Sakura said.

Neji brightened up. "So you think I'm hot?"

Sakura blinked. "Huh?"

"Do you think I'm hot?"

Sakura looked around the table, all of them waiting for her to answer.

"I...guess in a way," Sakura responded.

Neji jumped on top of the table. "Wooooo! Sakura thinks I'm hot!"

"WHAT?"

"Sakura what about me?" a guy in the back named Yaki. "I'm pretty hot, right?

His friend, Sayto leaped up as well and ran a hand through his shaggy black hair. "Please, I'm the best looking guy in this class."

Soon everyone was shouting and Neji continued to jump and dance on the table.

Sakura rubbed her temples. "It's only one more class Sakura and then you can leave this place."

Deidara sat quietly in his seat splashing paint up and down the canvas. Sakura looked over at his across the table for what felt like the millionth time.

Sakura cleared her throat and whispered. "Deidara...are you okay?

"Peachy," he responded back ignoring her.

Sakura put her paintbrush down on the table and looked at Deidara's painting. Dark greens and blues covered the sky and a blond blob seems to be doing something to something red in the corner.

"Deidara I-"

"Look okay, I said I'm fine, I don't care if you go out with Gaara," Deidara hissed.

Sakura scratched the back of her neck. "Umm actually I need more blue paint, could I borrow yours?"

"Oh," Deidara said surprised and handed over the paint.

"Thank you," Sakura smiled at him.

Deidara watched as Sakura lighting brushed blue paint over her canvas. The sunlight coming through the window her pink hair in a lighter shade.

"So gorgeous," Deidara whispered to himself.

Deidara rolled his paintbrush in his fingers feeling guilty. "I'm sorry about snapping at you Sakura...I'm just not feeling well."

Sakura rubbed her finger over her nose. "It's okay Deidara," she smiled at him.

Deidara grinned and started to laugh.

"What's so funny?" Sai asked looking up from his canvas. "I'm trying to considerate on my masterpiece.

"You got something on your nose Sakura," Deidara choked back a laugh.

"Oh," Sakura ran her finger over her nose again spreading more blue paint over it.

"You just made it worse," Sai sighed and threw a paper towel at her.

"Thanks," Sakura said bitterly.

"You're not welcome," Sai answered back icily.

Sakura started wiping at her nose smudging the paint over her cheek now. Deidara got up. "Let me help you."

He wet the paper towel and titled Sakura's chin up as he wiping it off gently. Sakura stared up into Deidara's ocean blue eyes.

Deidara finished and stared back at her their eyes locked for what seemed like years.

The bell ring bringing them out of their daze. Sakura looked away first and grabbed her paint and started cleaning her work area. Deidara stood watching as she put her canvas up on the drying rake and scooped up her book bag.

"See you on tomorrow," Sakura called to him as she walked out the door.

"Yeah," Deidara whispered going to his things and gathering them together.

"Okay that was too weird," Sakura said to herself. "Ugh that means Deidara likes me as well."

"What was too weird?" Rock Lee rolled over. "Is my cherry blossom in trouble? I will avenge you!"

"Whoa no need for that, I'm fine," Sakura assured him. "So how much longer?" Sakura nodded to his wheelchair.

"Another two weeks and Gai-sensei will be out of the hospital too so it will be a great reunion," Rock Lee's eyes sparkled.

"That's nice," she said.

"Well I have to get going, I'm giving a speech on youth downtown, you should come," Rock Lee said. "We will be giving away lovely green jumpsuits to the first twenty people!"

"I think I'll pass," Sakura said mortified thinking of more people dressed like Rock Lee.

"Well if you change your mind, you know where to find me," Rock Lee winked before he rolled away.

Sakura walked outside and breathed in the fresh air. "Ahhh away from all the crazies."

"I hope you weren't referring to me," Neji kissed her cheek.

Sakura jumped away. "What are you doing?"

"Just hunting my prey," Neji purred. "I'll be the lion and you can be the sweet little lamb," Neji licked his lips.

"Oh look," Sakura pointed. "Free hair products."

"Ooooooo where?" Neji turned around. Neji saw nothing but the busses pulling into the parking lot.

He laughed to himself and turned around. "Nice try Sakura." Neji looked at the empty spot. "Sakura? Sakura?"

Sakura back inside the building headed up the stairs and slipped inside the restroom. She took a deep breath and looked in the mirror and her eyes widened.

"I'm supposed to give Gaara an answer."

She quickly fixed her hair and ran out the bathroom looking for the red head.

She spotted him at the water fountain and ran over. "Gaara, I'm sorry I almost for-"

Sasori turned around looked down at her. "Sorry to say but I'm not him."

Sakura blushed. "Oh Sasori, I'm so sorry."

"It's okay, if you're looking for him; I believe he is out in the courtyard."

"Oh thanks Sasori," Sakura hugged him. She then realized what she was doing.

"Oh sorry about that," Sakura blushed again.

Sasori's cheeks were starting to turn pink as he stared at the floor. "It's fine, I have to go."

She watched as he went flying down the hallway. She remembered what she had to do. True to his word, Gaara was sitting on a rock watching as Naruto and Kiba were talking and waving their hands all over the place.

Gaara out of the corner of his eye saw something pink heading his way. He quickly got up and watched as Sakura slowly approach him.

"Hi," Sakura said softly.

"Hi," Gaara repeated.

"Do you mind if we go over there?" Sakura pointed to the benches.

"Sure," Gaara said only able to say one-worded responses.

Naruto and Kiba watched as the two slowly walked over to shaded area.

"Go Gaara, you the man," Naruto cheered.

"Don't get too freaky over there," Kiba laughed.

"We will be watching," Naruto said.

"Don't say that, it sounds creepy," Kiba frowned at him.

"No it doesn't it's not like they are-"

Sakura tuned out Naruto and looked up at the trees. They were starting to change colors with spring coming soon. "Well...I thought about what you asked earlier."

"Oh," Gaara said now nervous.

"I gave it a lot of thought," Sakura continued.

It was silent for a while; the two looked at everything but each other. Gaara assumed the worst.

"Well it's okay if you don't want to go out, we-"

"Yes," Sakura interrupted him.

"Yes you don't want to go out?" Gaara asked confused.

"No," Sakura blushed. "Yes that I will."

Gaara jumped up from the bench.

"You mean yes," Gaara said stunned.

"Yes," Sakura smiled at him.

Gaara turned back to Naruto and Kiba. "She said yes," Gaara yelled.

"Woooooo!"

Gaara picked Sakura up and pulled her into a hug and spinned her around. Sakura laughed when he put her down quickly and composed himself.

He shoved his hands in his pockets and had a blank look on his face. "Well that's cool."

Sakura giggled. "I think it's cute when you try to act cool."

Gaara couldn't help but break out into a grin. "I'm just happy."

Sakura smiled. "I want you to be happy."

Gaara looked into her eyes. "I'll make you happy."

Sakura speechless blushed red as a tomato and looked down at the grass.

"So what should we do first?" Gaara asked.

"Race you to the arcade," Sakura said already running off.

"Cheater," Gaara said trying to catch her with her.

"Catch me if you can slowpoke," Sakura stuck out her tongue.

"Oh it's on," Gaara grinned.

"Wait for us," Naruto and Kiba said together.

"Last person there has to buy all of us ramen," Sakura called back.

Naruto in last place started to speed up. "What, I don't have any money."

"That's too bad," Kiba said neck and neck with Gaara.

"Slow down guys," Naruto patted as they turned the corner. "Wait for MEEEEEE!"

That's a wrap. Hope you guys liked it okay. I sadly don't have a preview for the next chapter since I don't want to ruin the surprise for the next one. I hope you guys will be ready because it's going to be a ride. I'll catch you later in Chapter 21: Kissing, Ladders, and Whip Cream