Chapter Two: Slow Dancing in the Dark

"Listen, she didn't want you to find out, but…"

Sasuke was furious. His temper nearly caused him to dent the car beside him as he whipped his car to park, fuming over what Ino had told him over the phone earlier. He couldn't believe she didn't tell him. He couldn't believe that somebody had the nerve to do this to her. He couldn't believe that—

Sitting on a bench in front of a large fountain was the source of his frustration. Many people milled around the popular shopping center but Sasuke found her easily enough. The color of her hair shined like a target for his emotions but when his eyes landed on her, he felt his anger slowly start to dissipate.

Looking more dolled up than he had ever seen her, Sasuke watched as she swung her legs in a defeated manner. Her head was casted down as her shoes scraped against the pavement like a kid who had just been sent to time out during recess.

"—she got stood up."

Taking a breath to calm to his nerves, he willed himself to approach her. Somehow, his chest seemed to grow heavier the closer he came like a weight being pressed achingly close to his heart.

Why do I only feel these things for you?

Her bright green eyes looked glazed as she looked up at him. "What are you doing here?"

"Your best friend has a big mouth," Sasuke said softly. He moved to sit beside her so he wouldn't have to look at her teary expression.

"Don't lie," Sakura sniffed beside him. "You're as nosy as her."

"It means she cares," Sasuke pointed out. I care. "Why didn't you just call me?"

"It-It's embarrassing." Sakura buried her face in her hands. "To get all excited over nothing. How would you feel if you were in my position?"

"You barely even knew him."

"Still," Sakura protested. "He stopped answering my calls as soon as my Uber dropped me off. I thought he was just running late, but then he never texted me back. I've been waiting for him for over an hour now. I'm so naive."

Sasuke scoffed. "Bastard."

"You were supposed to be my security measure, Sasuke." She dropped her hands to fist the hem of her pretty red dress. "You didn't have to come."

Sasuke merely stuffed a hand in his pocket then stood up. She looked up at him again as he silently proffered his other hand. "Come on," he urged. "Let's go."

Her eyes grew wide at his gesture. "What are you doing?"

"Bailing you out," he said. "You said so yourself, it was a terrible date."

"If you could even call it that," Sakura sighed and shook her head. She took his hand and let him pull her up. "What a shitty night."

"I wouldn't be so sure yet."

"Why?"

Sasuke smirked. "The night is still young, Haruno."

.

.

.

After making a late night grab at Wendy's and parking in one of the most secluded yet beautiful parts of the city, Sakura got the hint. Sasuke rolled down the windows of his car before cutting off the ignition. Outside his windshield, Konoha's active nightlife illuminated their faces as the city was brought into a distant view on the bluff they were parked on.

"You're kind of a romantic, you know that," Sakura teased as she unbuckled her seatbelt and passed Sasuke his four-for-four meal. "Why Wendy's?"

"I thought McDonald's would've been too cliché."

"Ah," Sakura agreed. "I think I missed the part where you asked me out though."

Sasuke unwrapped his burger. "I'm giving you what you wanted, isn't that enough?"

"Maybe, but there's a proper sequence to all of this."

Sasuke raised a brow. "And I suppose swiping right is the first step?"

Sakura laughed. "Bold of you to assume we'd match." She paused. "Why don't you make a Tinder? I bet you'd match with a lot of girls."

"It'd be a waste of time," Sasuke said after swallowing a bite. How could she ask something like that so casually?

"How so?"

Because I only want you, you annoying girl.

"I want to focus on school," Sasuke said instead. It wasn't a complete lie. If Itachi was the heir to their father's company, Sasuke wanted to prove that he could make a life for himself. One that wasn't dictated my family or birthright.

"I see," she said in an uncharacteristically low manner. Sasuke watched her bite her lip. For a second, she seemed conflicted over saying something but before he could ask, she pushed it away with a smile. "Well, thank you for this. I can't imagine what people would say if they found out that the Sasuke Uchiha took me out on a nice date."

"Just nice?" Sasuke asked.

"Hmm," Sakura chewed on a fry. "Let's see. Nice view, comfortable setting, top-tier meal—from a broke college kid's standpoint, of course—and adequate conversation. According to Ino, the only thing missing is something to set the mood and something for us to do."

"You're rushing bases, Haruno," Sasuke said mockingly. "Unless you want to—"

"Not that, you pervert," Sakura laughed and pushed him lightly on the shoulder. He couldn't tell if her cheeks were flushed due to the low lighting, but he could feel the back of his own neck heating up.

He whipped out his phone and opened Spotify before setting it on the dashboard. "Better?"

Sakura smiled. "I made this playlist."

"You don't say."

She wiped her fingers on a napkin before cleaning up the rest of her meal and throwing it in the trash bag Sasuke had in his car. He did the same and then looked up when he heard her unlocking his door. "What are you doing?"

"Finding us something to do," she grinned innocently. Sasuke grabbed his phone then unzipped his jacket before following her out, throwing it over her head as she stopped near the railing that kept people from edging closer.

"Put that on," he ordered. "It's cold."

"Pushy."

The wind ruffled the skirt of her dress as she started to slip her arms inside the sleeves of his jacket and it was only then that Sasuke noticed just how short it was. The red material brushed mid-thigh, threatening to go higher with the slightest breeze. It's probably Ino's, he thought. Fuck, maybe I am a pervert.

Sasuke turned around and leaned against the railing to put his thoughts back in order. This girl was seriously going to be the death of him if he wasn't careful.

"Can I see your phone?"

He looked at her questionably before passing it over. Sakura was trustworthy enough to know his passcode just as he knew hers. It was a testament to how close they were now. He recognized the song she picked as soon as it started playing.

Sakura shrugged when he raised a brow at her selection. "It's sad boi hours."

I don't want a friend… I want my life in two…

"This is better when you're high." He pocketed his phone back.

"True." She smiled. "But I could think of a few other things that could make it better."

"Like?"

"Like this."

The words didn't register fast enough for Sasuke for it seemed the air left his lungs the moment she stepped in front of him and took his hands to steady them on her waist. It was stupid to think that time slowed down as she reached up to place her own hands on his shoulders, but her face was so close to his, he felt his breaths come in achingly slow as his heart played a rhythm he couldn't keep up with.

"Too weird?"

Sasuke didn't trust his voice so he was thankful that he found it in himself to shake his head. She smiled brightly then swayed against the calming music.

… When I'm around slow dancing in the dark… Don't follow me, you'll end up in my arms…

Sakura threw her head back and laughed. "This is so cliché!"

Sasuke was eerily quiet for all he could do was watch her. He didn't think it was possible to fall in love with her more.

.

.

.

Tenten and Kiba flanked both sides of the drunk blonde who was too intoxicated to walk on her own. It was two o'clock in the morning and Tenten was the only one out of the three who had classes tomorrow, but somebody had to be DD. Thankfully, Kiba was still sober enough to help their friend back to her dorm, but Tenten had the suspicion that Kiba was on the verge of knocking out any minute now.

She prayed that they would at least get to Ino's door before then.

Reaching Ino's floor, she quietly gestured for Kiba to step out of the elevator with her, carefully adjusting one of Ino's arm on her shoulder. They had to be quiet in case they woke up the RA who would no doubt cause a scene.

Unfortunately, Tenten almost did the exact opposite when she turned the corner of the hall, nearly gasping when she saw the couple standing outside of Ino's door.

"What the fu—"

Tenten quickly stepped back then clamped a hand over Kiba's mouth. She narrowed her eyes then pursed her lips as she drew a line over her mouth to wordlessly silence him. Once it was clear Kiba understood the message, they both peeked over the corner again.

Outside of Ino's dorm room was Sakura who was wearing an unusually large jacket. Sasuke stood in front of her with his hands stuffed in his pockets, saying something they were too far to hear. Sakura smiled, then to both of their surprise, she raised herself on her tippy toes and pecked him softly on the cheek.

Tenten pulled Kiba back just as Sakura's door clicked close, leaving Sasuke standing outside with a hand touching his cheek.

Oh my god, Tenten shared a look with Kiba who suddenly looked wide awake, Sasuke's dating Sakura!

.

.

.

tbc

(unedited: 03.30.20 / 1:07 am)

.

A/N: Thank you for all the favorites, follows, and reviews! You guys are amazing! Many of you were stunned by that cliffhanger in the last chapter and I have to admit I was a bit confused until I realized I already knew what Ino was going to say next - I just didn't have enough creative juice to complete it as the one-shot it was initially supposed to be at the time. But I guess it works out because this will continue to be a multi-chap fic if you guys are interested.

The song mentioned in this fic is "Slow Dancing in the Dark" by Joji btw.