Chapter 3 - Like a Slap in the Face

A/N: . A dramatic chapter ahead of you. I'm still deciding how I'm going to add my other favorite pairs like Naruhina, ShikaIno, and Nejiten. But I'll get to that in later chapters, for now... I'll focus on Sasusaku. I was planning on changing POVs with other characters later because centering on one character is getting a little bit troublesome. ;

BRIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIING!

The lunch bell blared all over the school and students rushed from their classrooms by groups, by pairs, some alone into the cafeteria. Shino and Gaara were already waiting for Hinata and Sakura to come as they already had a table. Sakura sat with them and took out her little brown lunch bag. "Saa... shall we eat?"

Hinata took out a small silver bento box and opened it. "I made these myself. Do you guys want to try some?" Gaara and Shino nodded and took some pieces of sushi. "Wow, that's so neat!" Sakura said as she eyed the riceball. "You made this yourself? It's in a perfect shape too."

"Thanks," Hinata blushed slightly. "Try some, Sakura-san."

"Kay!" Sakura took out her own chopsticks and popped one into her mouth. "O-oishi (Yummy!)" Sakura wondered why most of the students stayed away from Hinata. She was nice, although she was kinda shy and her eyes were different but all in all, she was a very nice, very normal girl.

On the other table, Yamanaka Ino was with her fellow cheerleaders and they were continuously chattering nonstop while chomping on some carrot and celery sticks. On another table, was that Uzumaki Naruto with his pals: Akimichi Chouji, Nara Shikamaru, and Inuzuka Kiba eating and talking loudly. On a table behind theirs, was Uchiha Sasuke all by his lonesome. Sakura wondered why Sasuke preferred being alone and wondered what he would say if she were to ask him to join them.

"Sakura-san?"

"Y-yes?" Sakura quickly turned to Hinata, hoping that she didn't ignore the Hyuuga girl. "W-were you saying something, Hinata?"

"No, you just looked so serious, I was wondering what you were thinking about?"

"Oh, it's nothing, really..." Sakura waved her hands about.

"Uchiha..." began Gaara and Sakura felt her hair at the back of her nape rise. "You were looking at Uchiha Sasuke." Hinata looked at her disbelievingly, "Do you like Uchiha-san?"

"Nuh-no! Why would you say that!" Sakura said almost frantically. "I don't even know him!"

"He was talking with you right before we left Chemistry." Shino interjected. His emotions were hidden by his round sunglasses.

"Oh, that. He.. he just wanted to see my answers, that's all. Nothing else," Sakura mumbled under her breath and gave both Shino and Gaara a little kick under the table. But they just looked amused.

Hinata giggled a bit. "Okay, Sakura-san, we're not accusing you of anything. Don't be defensive..."

"Well, well..! Getting along, are we?"

The four of them ceased what they were doing as Yamanaka Ino and her group of cheerleaders made their way to their table. Ino made herself comfortable as she sat on the table. "What do you want, Ino?" Sakura said coldly.

"I'm just here to give you a warning, Haruno." Ino's voice lowered threateningly. "No one steals my Sasuke-kun from me, got it? I won't even let you breathe near him! I've got my eye on you this time."

"Excuse me?" Sakura didn't know if she heard this right. "Why are you making such a big deal out of this?" Ino didn't look too happy with Sakura's uncooperative nature. "Because... my dear... it IS a big deal! You just can't talk to Sasuke so casually!"

"And who gave you the authority to tell me who I can and can't talk to?" Sakura shot back just as Ino reached out and the back of her hand smacked her in the face.

The cafeteria went quiet and Sakura was just shocked. Hinata covered her mouth with her hands while even the noisiest ones like Naruto's table fell to dead silence. Sakura's lip trembled, but she did not speak. Her mind had gone blank, only replaced by an unstoppable building up of rage.

"It's because... forehead girl..." Ino began. "Sasuke-kun... is my fiancé!"

'... Fiancé...' the word echoed in Sakura's head like a broken record. She choked on her reply, "Your fiancé?" Sakura put a hand to her red cheek. "Uchiha-san is your fiancé..?"

"I won't repeat myself," Ino got up and gave her a long hard look. "If I see you speaking to him again, you'll be sorry!" and she left the cafeteria pushing the doors as she left. The students then resumed to their eating, a little more quiet than usual and Sakura could see some of them stealing quick glances at her.

Tears were welling up in her eyes, it was twice today Ino had humiliated her in front of everyone. She really didn't know why she was like that or what grudge Ino had on her but if she was going to go through school like this day after day, she didn't know how much more she can take. Hinata touched her hand.
"S-sakura-san..."

Sakura didn't move only for a few minutes. "I-I'm okay... I.. I just..." No, she was not okay. She wanted to run out of the cafeteria and go home never to come back to this school ever again. She wanted to go back to her old school with her old classmates back to her old life. Her entire body was shaking and she felt cold all over.

"I... have to go..." Sakura said weakly as she grabbed her bag and tried her best to go outside without being noticed. She found a solitary spot at the back of the school and collapsed on her knees finally bursting into tears. "Damn that Ino...!" she managed to say as she drew her knees closer to herself. "Damn this school!"

"Hey..."

Sakura didn't have to look up to see who it was. "What do you want?" she heard his footsteps behind her and then the slight rustling of leaves. When she lifted her face, she saw that Sasuke had seated himself next to her. "What do I want? What are you doing here?"

"None of your business..." she shot back, not really in the mood to deal with him. "Go back to your fiancé before she makes my life even more of a hell than it already is." she wiped her tears abruptly but didn't make any move to go. He fell silent and didn't say any more except, "This is my spot. I come here when I don't want to be seen by anyone."

"Oh." an upset Sakura got up. "I'm sorry for being in your spot!" and she angrily strode away. When she did, she saw Hinata standing there with Gaara and Shino. She turned her face away as she didn't want them to see her cry.

"Sakura... san..." Hinata called after her but Shino put a hand on her shoulder telling her that it was better that she be left alone for a while.

A/N: Told ya it'd be a little dramatic. But I already have something for my Chapter 3 so keep checking for updates, kay?