Sakura
I undid my seatbelt as Sasuke pulled up to Ichiraku's. Naruto hopped out and quickly opened my door for me. I smiled. "Thanks."
I stepped out and wrapped my sweater tighter around my waist, the cold challenging me.
Sasuke pulled out his car keys and shut the door. He followed Naruto and me into the restaurant a few steps behind. We gave someone our orders—Naruto telling them mine for me—and picked a booth to settle down in. Naruto incoherently mumbled something about having to pee and rushed to the bathrooms.
Sasuke and I aren't as close but I'm able to talk to him without getting nervous or worried about saying something too stupid anymore.
I've known him for almost 13 years now. He's very reserved and doesn't talk to anyone, but unlike me, his reason is that he simply doesn't care about other people or what they have to do or say. He thinks everyone is in the way, but, towards Naruto, he's surprisingly chill considering how unbearable he can be at times.
It's unfortunate because he's quite good-looking and could get any girl he wanted but keeps to himself, showing no interest. I sometimes catch myself in awe at his looks and cool persona but shove those thoughts away: if Naruto ever found out I thought Sasuke was attractive he'd be heartbroken. I still have to recollect myself when Sasuke gets a little close to me or uses my name a lot while talking to me. Or when he smiles or looks me in the eye, or when— 'oh you should stop. What would Naruto say if he knew that his best friend was able to get little reactions out of you and not him?'
"You there?" He suddenly asked, raising an eyebrow and turning my chin up with his index finger, startling me and making me jump.
"Sorry, I was thinking about the game," I said, my face heating up.
"You scored, what, 9 of 16 points for your team?" He said while taking a swig of water.
I swallowed a lump in my throat and bit my lip. "I—er, well we're only Sophomores and it's not that big of a deal. And, my team helped." I reassured him.
"You don't have to fake being humble, you know Sakura?" He said with a frown.
"I'm not faking anything- I love my team."
"Undeserved." He said and his eyes squinted. Sasuke looked at me and I swear his face turned pale. I don't think he meant to tell me that.
He was about to say something else when Naruto slid into the booth with me and wrapped an arm around my shoulder. "Did I interrupt something?" He asked after seeing Sasuke's contorted face.
"No. Why'd you take forever?" Asked Sasuke.
"Dude when duty calls, it calls." He said with a serious face.
I rolled my eyes and elbowed Naruto in the side. "What do you guys wanna do for the weekend? We have an extra day."
Naruto perked up. "Sasuke! Remember that race that Hidan and Itachi were talking about the other day? We should join in on that!" Naruto said, reaching across the table to shake Sasuke's arm.
"I'm sure he wouldn't care but we would have to leave Sakura behind. We can't bring her to a race in the back of a school's parking lot at night. Itachi and his dumb-ass friends are gonna be drunk and high and who knows what else." Said Sasuke who then pushed Naruto's hand off him.
"I'll be fine! I don't want you guys to feel guilty for leaving me at home. I have a book to catch up on." I placed my hands in front of me and smiled.
"What? No- Of course Sakura's coming. It's your brother Sasuke. She'll be fine. She can race with us!" Naruto said.
"Naruto I'm not sure id be comfortable—,"
"Nonsense! You're coming!" He said and tugged on my arm.
Sasuke looked at me with a face I couldn't quite read and I gave him a shrug. "Alright.. just don't get out of it again Naruto," I said and Sasuke rolled his eyes, seemingly ticked off.
An hour passed and we finally got home. I showered and climbed into bed.
I heard a knock on the door, threw on a crewneck, and plopped back onto my bed. "Come in," I mumbled.
Sasuke walked in, closed the door, and sat at the end of my bed. "Naruto's forcing you to come to the race. Are you good with that?" He asked not-so-suddenly.
I nodded my head. "It's fine. I just pray he doesn't drink much because he's usually my go-to if I'm in trouble."
"I won't drink. Look for me. Itachi's group sucks."
Sasuke then got up and before he closed the door he stopped and turned around. "Seriously."
"M-kay." I continued, "thank you for checking up." He nodded tiredly and shut the door.
Later that night in the room next to mine—Naruto's—I heard some arguing and then a door slam followed by what seemed to be Naruto's voice yelling. "She'll be fine!"