February – Week 3 (Part One)

Ino was on a tirade.

Sakura watched from the couch as her friend violently cracked their eggs for breakfast and scrambled them in fever. The blonde would probably never express what was irritating her as much as it clearly was, but it didn't take a genius to figure it out. Yet again, Shikamaru was going to do absolutely nothing for her for Valentine's Day.

While Shikamaru still had a couple of days to pull something out, Sakura's poor, blonde best friend had been let down more than enough times to count. She loved Shikamaru, she really did, but Sakura was certain Ino could do worlds better if she wanted.

"Oooh, eggs," Hinata chirped as she walked into the main room. She fished her arms through the loops of her winter coat before grabbing a piece of toast from the toaster and Nutella from the cabinet. "I wish I had time to have some. You always make them best, Ino-chan."

Ino growled her thanks.

Sakura sighed at Ino and turned an apologetic face toward Hinata, "She's not mad at you."

"I'm not mad at all!"

"Of course not!" Sakura and Hinata rushed simultaneously, eyes wide. They shared a brief, awkward glance between one another that was thankfully missed by Ino. A few moments of tense caution passed before Sakura dared to change the subject.

She asked Hinata, "Where are you headed out to so early?"

Ino poured her scrambled egg mixture onto a pan and started the stove before additionally noting, "Yeah. I thought you didn't have class until like 11?"

The Hyuuga's skin, normally creamy porcelain, reddened several shades.

"Nowhere really," she mumbled. She hid her discomfort in speedy, mouselike nibbles of toast. The truth was that she had a date–well, no, not a date. They had intentionally agreed to meet up at a neutral location to mutually get to know one another better...platonically or otherwise. Underneath her heavy coat, which was suddenly feeling much hotter under the curious stares of her friends, Hinata had on what she hoped would be an appropriate outfit for an early morning jog in the middle of February with a boy.

It was all so embarrassing.

Their ticking living room wall clock had never been so loud.

Sakura sensed Hinata's building pressure and, with the sort of knowingness that only a friend of many years could have, deduced that any further prodding would only result in a limp body laying across their kitchen floor. As much as she wanted to know more, she just wished her friend a good time and waited until she heard her skittering steps racing down the stairs to burst into laughter. Ino threw her head back as well, cackling.

"She's definitely seeing Naruto, right?" she urged Ino.

The blonde split the breakfast she'd prepared onto two ceramic plates: one for herself and one for Sakura before she snickered, "Uh, yeah, a-duh! You see how fast she split out of here?"

Sakura took the plate extended to her and made space for Ino on the couch.

"I just hope she's able to keep up with a collegiate athlete. She totally had on a whole little Nike fit; super cute, but–"

"All the tags were still on?"

The rosette forked eggs into her mouth and swallowed, "Definitely still on."

The pair laughed warmly between one another and a comfortable silence fell upon the room. Eventually, only the sounds of forks scraping the bottoms of empty plates filled the space. Cautiously, Sakura spared a glance toward Ino, who'd transitioned out of her previous cheeriness and back into irritation. While she was aggressive before, her anger was now slumping her shoulders and casting a heavy shadow over her eyes.

Sakura opened her mouth to speak, but Ino beat her to it, a too-sweet smile splitting her lips but not quite reaching her eyes. She nudged Sakura with her shoulder teasingly, "How was your meeting with Uchiha-san," her eyebrows danced suggestively, "last week? You didn't tell me!"

Sakura's heart leaped into her throat. "It was fine," she answered quickly. Clumsily, she gathered her and Ino's plates and dashed to the sink. She knew her tone was more than unbelievable when Ino's fair brows found higher residence on her forehead and her smile slipped into a smirk. Sakura huffed and repeated, more confidently, "It was fine. It actually was really great; I was able to do some pieces of problem identification and I think we've finally gotten to a place of good rapport."

"About time."

"What?"

Ino giggled and shook her head as she searched for the television remote. She sang, "Oh, nothing. So, you feel like you're making progress?"

Sakura murmured, "Hm...yeah. I'd say so. Basically, it kind of looks like he might be unaware of his triggers or numbed to them, you know? We talked about his favorite fruit and he brought up his mom out of nowhere."

"His mom?" Ino echoed.

Sakura tested the heat of the water in the sink then started on the dishes, scrubbing gently as she mused. "Yeah, it was unexpected," she answered. "And, you know, as soon as he brought it up? I tried to open a conversation about it and he totally shut down and we just talked about something else. I think something happened."

Ino hummed vaguely, "Interesting."

"Yeah," Sakura agreed emptily. She watched the suds of the dishwasher bubbles pop as her mind began to swirl around possibilities about what she'd talk to her client about tomorrow. She had already had half a hunch that it was Sasuke as soon as she'd seen his username, but adding on to that his weirdness with talking about his mom and the very well known fact that he was an orphan?

There was almost no doubt in her mind at this point that the other person on the line was Uchiha Sasuke, Uchiha Sasuke. At least she thinks it's him, and not just some unlucky bastard who happens to have the same first and last name as Uchiha MF Campus Crush Sasuke.

It's possible there's more than one Uchiha Sasuke, right?

Right.

And, even though Kurenai-sensei had made it clear that they were expected to inform her if they thought any conflicts of interest were likely to arise with their clients, this (the idea that there could be more than one Uchiha Sasuke on campus) what Sakura would continue to tell herself for as long as possible. She had decided.

It was simpler that way.

Sakura's first and only Friday class wasn't until 2:15, yet she still somehow managed to leave the apartment too late. After chasing after and missing the campus shuttle by literally seconds, the rosette practically left a trail of fire searing in the snow as she stomped back toward her unit's parking lot.

The only way she'd be on time now is if she drove.

"I hate it here," she growled to herself.

She thanked the heavens above that she had enough gas to get to and from campus as she started her decades-old beater and whipped down the road. The jalopy's radio had quit a long time ago, so Sakura usually took driving time as an opportunity to clear her mind and count her blessings.

Despite the snow, the roads were clear. The sun was out. Ino had time to do her makeup so, for once, her cat eyes and eyebrows matched. That was a definite plus. All of her momentary stress from missing the bus had nearly melted off her when she recalled that, since she drove, she would inevitably have to find and pay for parking.

Her eyes narrowed and she muttered, again, "I hate it here."

Sakura scoped campus, tooth and nail, for a spot for what felt like hours until she came across a golden egg right in front of her class' building. Hashirama Hall was one of the oldest buildings on campus and was located centrally; it was almost impossible to find space to park near it. Determination coursed her veins and deflated like a popped balloon when, out of nowhere, a black Dodge Charger cut her off and stole the spot.

Her palm slammed into her horn and blared it.

"What the hell, dude!"

She jerked her car into park right beside the car and blocked them in before stomping out and slapping her gloved hand–repeatedly–onto the car's roof. "What's your problem? You had to have seen me!" she huffed. "I have class in like...two minutes, bro."

From inside the car, Sasuke pinched his nose and let out a concentrated breath. His growing list of reasons why he hated it here extended every second. He had half a mind to just grab his backpack and climb out of his car from the back since this imbecile thought blocking him in would solve all her problems. But, then again, he couldn't be too sure about whether she'd key his car or worse if he left and gave her the chance.

Sasuke groaned and rolled down his tinted window.

"I–" his insult died on his tongue as he finally saw her in full color. The gears in his brain clicked slowly as he put each piece together, from her petite form being swallowed by a giant silver bubble jacket to her cotton candy hair and seemingly reflective, bright green eyes. They'd never met formally, but he was sure. "I know you," he said finally.

Sakura stuttered and scoffed, lost for words and morbidly embarrassed. She had to remind herself that she was still pissed, regardless of who she was pissed at. She crossed her arms, "So? Doesn't change the facts, bud."

Sasuke scrunched his nose, "Bud?"

"Are you gonna move or not? I have a lab to get to."

"Same here" Sasuke answered plainly. He turned his key out of the ignition and reached for his backpack. "What about you? Planning on moving anytime soon?" He pointed to a student a couple of spots ahead getting back into their car and preparing to leave. His dark eyes glimmered with something Sakura couldn't quite identify, a mix between challenge and mischievousness that made her heart skip.

Sakura squashed her feelings with a stomp, and stubbornly pouted, "This spot's mine and you know it. Don't be a dick."

Approximately seven minutes later, despite his every natural inclination to be the dick that he was, Sasuke found himself relenting and giving the girl what she wanted. Even further, he found himself waiting for her to finish her horrid park job past the point of the tolling bell announcing the start of class with a patient, bemused smirk tilting his lips upward at her every readjustment. She shyly looked toward him each time she barely missed bumping the cars around her and smiled goofily.

He told himself it was only to make sure she didn't damage anyone else's vehicles as she parallel parked.

It had nothing to do with anything else.

A/N: I am excitement embodied. Sorry for the late update! I've been struggling through the last chapter of The Notebook and my classes started back. Hopefully, this super cute SS meet-up makes up for it!