The Uchiha pressed his phone screen several times.

You home?

A few seconds later.

No but I should be there in a few. What's up?

Is it okay if I come over?

There was a sudden ten minute text gap. Sasuke was sure that he was left on read. Considering that it was Sakura, it didn't really faze him.

His cellphone received a notification.

Sure. I'll let you know when I'm over.

Sasuke gave himself a pat on the back for his small victory.

.

Sakura laid restless on her bed as Sasuke sat at her desk. She was laying on top of her sheets and was in a pair of black joggers and red tshirt. Her jaded orbs started up at her ceiling and never broke contact.

Sasuke sat in silence as he played with a pencil. It had been about twenty minutes since his arrival and not one soul said a word. He had tried to initiate conversation, but Sakura appeared to not be in the mood. She was most likely still stumped after what had happened several days ago.

"Hey Pinky."

"Yeah?"

"I think it's only fair if I tell you my story since you told me yours."

Sakura shifted onto her side so that she was now facing the Uchiha.

"Believe it or not, I once had a girlfriend."

"What? I thought you were gay," the Pinkette snorted sarcastically.

"Ha. Ha. Anyways," Sasuke cleared his throat. "Her name was Karin. Just like any relationship, we were going great. We did typical couple things like go on dates, kiss, hold hands, you know, things like that. I honestly don't know what happened, but she became very... possessive."

"Sounds like the type you attract."

Sasuke rolled his eyes and ignored Sakura's unnecessary comment. "From the beginning, no one in my family liked her, especially Itachi. Almost on a daily basis, he would tell me all these things he saw was wrong. At one point, he began to tell me to break it off with her. It pissed me off how everyone was dishing on me because of my girlfriend. I ignored everyone and continued to date her."

"What made you break it off with her?"

"It's a long story." The Uchiha paused. It seemed like it was yesterday when he broke up with Karin, but in reality, it had been years.

"I have time," Sakura replied confidently.

"Of course you do. A week before we broke up, my Ex made this HUGE scene at the grocery store. A girl had walked up to me and asked what aisle the bread was. She was probably hitting on me, but who knows. She probably did need the help. Karin noticed the girl talking to me and she went off on the girl. I tried to calm her down, because it was obviously a misunderstanding, but she turned it on me and started yelling at me how I was 'trying' to cheat on her. I brushed Karin off and apologized to the girl."

"Then?"

"I didn't get to buy groceries. We left the market and on the way home, we had the biggest argument of our lives. At a certain point she tried to pin the blame on me by saying how I 'trust' girls so easily. She began to question my friendship with Ino, Hinata, and a few others I knew. We argued a while longer but we 'made up'. It was always the same: argument, apology, she goes on a rant on how she's the worst girlfriend in the world, and more apologies. It was just an exhausting process for me. Things never got solved, it got pushed to the side. I dropped her off home and that's when I actually put thought into our relationship. I came to the conclusion that my older brother was right."

"So the day you broke up?"

Sasuke ran his fingers through his hair. "She came over to my house. My Mom did or said something that pissed my Ex off, without knowing, and she snapped at her."

The Pinkette's eyes widen and her jaw dropped.

"Yeah. I thought she was messing around but nope. She argued and told my own Mother off." He hung his head and clutched his thigh. "My Ex had the audacity to push my Mom. It wasn't like a huge shove though. It was more of like one of those 'Watch your Back' type of pushes.

That was the last straw.

I yelled at her, packed her things, and threw her out of my house. That's it. Since then, it's just been me. There were times where she called me nonstop so I blocked her. She also tried to come over to my house several times after but gave up after sometime."

Sakura sat up. "I'm sorry that happened to you. Your Mom is such a nice lady! Why would anyone do that to her?!"

"My Ex is psycho. That's why."

"How did you not see that side of hers?"

"The same as you. How did you not see that side of your Ex?"

She shook her head is disagreement. "Nah. I knew what my Ex's intentions were but I didn't have the guts to break up with him." She grabbed one of her pillows and brought it to her chest. "I don't know why I held off so long. Maybe it was fear because he would never let me do anything. I thought that he wouldn't let me break up with him. Or maybe it was the fear of being all alone in a world where I knew no one. If I broke up with him, I had no friends to turn to. I had pushed everyone away from my life for his sake. Now that I think about it, that was probably because of that reason."

"What about your rave buddies?"

"I didn't meet them until months after the break up." She exhaled slowly. "Dang, I feel like I wasted two whole years of my life on some pathetic loser. If I had the chance to redo my last relationship, I would do it in a heartbeat."

"Don't we all," Sasuke chuckled. He glanced up at his partner and watched her closely. Her small body frame rested against the soft pillow. Her eyes were once again lost in space.

"I'm sorry," the Pinkette confessed.

"For?"

"For being an ass. I promise you that I was never like this. Sakura Haruno use to be this shy, loud, and obnoxious girl, who was weak and useless. I was never the smart alec you know now." She squeezed the pillow. "I feel like the attitude I have now is one of the few reason why I can't make friends."

Sakura wasn't crying, but Sasuke noticed the sadness plastered on her face. He rolled his chair over to her, reached out, and held her hands. "Hey, I think your attitude suits you quite well. If you acted any different, I don't think you'd be Sakura Haruno. I like you better this way. It shows you how strong you've become without that stupid guy. Anyways, you don't realize this, but you have friends that love you very much. In fact, Ino won't shut up about you. It's getting annoying if you ask me."

"Whatever. You're just saying that to make me feel better."

"It's true! Not just Ino though, Shikamaru, Hinata, Kiba, Lee, and the others too. They always ask how you're doing and what you're up to. You're one of us now."

Sakura let out a puff of laughter. "Thanks. It really means a lot."

"You're welcome."

Sasuke wasn't lying. Ino and the rest of the gang had grown extremely fond of the Pinkette in just a short amount of time. It all felt like a big dream.

How it all happened?

All thanks to Professor Iruka. He finally did something right for once.

"Hey Sakura?" The Uchiha spoke softly.

The girl looked at him with eyes of interest. "Yeah?"

Their hands were still locked together. Sasuke lowered his head and lost himself in his thoughts. He could help but to think how amazing Sakura was. She had endured so much for so long and she dealt with it all alone. Most people would have gone insane in just a matter of weeks. Although she did have a cocky attitude, it was one of the few things he loved about her. There was no one else but her.

Sasuke intertwined his fingers with hers. "You're really beautiful." He looked up at her perfect face.

A tiny smile broke out, as well as a light blush, on her face. "Thanks. You're not so bad yourself."

Both young adults averted their eyes away but they made eye contact once again.

Sasuke reached out and ran his fingers through her pink and soft hair. The strands between his fingers sent a chilling sensation down her spine. Sakura reached over and her fingertips gently traced over his cheek and side of his face. Her touch was so electrifying that it sent Sasuke's heart beat out of control.

He cupped her face with one hand and leaned towards the Pinkette. Just before their lips locked, Sakura gasped and turned her face away. Sasuke's onyx orbs fluttered open as he pulled away. He couldn't help but to notice the girl quaking in her spot.

Sakura has trust issues.

He figured just as much. He couldn't blame her. It was going to take time to be able to earn that trust from her.

"I'm sorry," Sasuke sighed with guilt. "That was rude of me."

The Pinkette shook her head. "No! It's okay really! It's not your fault. It's just...," her voice trailed off to a whisper. Frustration too over her body and she shut her eyes and curled her fists. "I'm sorry, Sasuke. I'm trying, I really am, but, Ugh, I just can't. Sorry."

The Uchiha reached over and grasped her hand softly. "It's okay. Take your time."

"I can't. I'm going to make you wait too long." She gently shook her had away from Sasuke's grip. "I'd hate to do that to you. It's best if I don't. It's probably best if you moved on to someone more suited for you."

Sadness engulfed Sasuke's heart. It wasn't because of what Sakura was telling him, it was what she was doing that was upsetting him. The Pinkette was once again pushing him away and it was because of this lie she has engraved deep in her brain.

He wasn't going to let that happen any longer.

"Sakura." Her orbs met his face. "I'm not going anywhere. If I have to wait a day, I will. If I have to wait until next week, okay. If I have to wait for weeks, sweet! If I have to wait months or even years, then so be it! You're the only one I want. I like you Sakura. Ever since we went on that stupid trip to Kiri, I pretty much fell in love with you. So whatever you're thinking right now, stop believing it."

"Don't say I didn't warn you," Sakura laughed quietly. "Thanks for sticking close by. I'm a real butt most of the time."

"Most? You mean ALL the time," the Uchiha joked.

"Whatever."

Sasuke reached his hand out. "Come on and let's get something to eat. I don't know about you, but I'm starving."

Sakura took his hand and lifted herself off her mattress. "Same. I could use some food right now." She slipped into her shoes. "Ready!"

Before he could turn around, Sasuke felt a pair of soft lips press onto his cheek. Heat rose from his face and he stood astounded by the random action.

"Thank you," the Pinkette said with a bright crimson face. "For giving me a chance."

"No," he replied. "Thank you for giving me the chance. It means more than anything else to me right now." He held his hand out and waited to see if it was okay with the Pinkette. "May I?"

She slowly but hesitantly took his hand into her own. Sakura gave him a slight nod.

"Come. Lets go," Sasuke cooed. The two college students walked out hand in hand, not having much care in the world.