1ST PLACE ISN'T EXACTLY THE BEST

-CHAPTER EIGHTEEN-

The Naras

Temari smiled mischievously.

"Okay,it'll be held after the school dance and will consist of two rounds,got it?"

"Got it."

Temari walked away and Sakura started brooding again.

'The school dance is about…1 or 2 weeks from now…'

-So?You'll still beat Sasuke!-

'That's right!'

-But the question is…who will you pick?-

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Before we begin…

More replies to reveiws!WAHOOO!

Little wolf blossom: I know…Sasuke's a real pain in the ass.But this story is loosely based on a real experience,so I can relate (tee hee…).

Luv hate it: First off,Sakura might just slip up and let Sasuke take it…or maybe she'll just win and she'll be able to pick either Shikamaru or Sasuke.Secondly,the pairings might just switch up a bit,so who have to keep on reading (muahahahahahaha).Lastly…

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO EVER REVIEWED…CAUSE IF YOU DIDN'T…MY STORY WOULD BE CRAP AND I WOULDN'T HAVE CONTINUED IT!

!Let's begin the story!

Sakura had wandered around town looking for her unobvious answer.She was not paying any matter to where she was going as she pondered that thought.

'Who will it be?…who will it be?'

Sakura could go absolutely crazy.She fell deep into thought every time she saw the same color of Sasuke's clothes or when she smelt his scent on someone else.

'I'm….(sigh) obsessed.'

-Really?I thought that you were just crazy!-

'I have no time to argue with you…'

Sakura sadly looked up and storm clouds began to gather in the sky.It started to pour down upon her as she focused at the dark thundering clouds in the sky.

-Eh…Sakura?-

'What?'

-Here comes Shikamaru!-

'Huh?'

The absent minded pink haired girl looked in front of her and there was Shikamaru.

"Hey Sakura-koi."

Sakura looked sadly at the ground and at least acknowledged his presence with a quick nod.

"Temari…just told me about her little plan…and that you accepted it."

"It's my last chance…"

'…To impress Sasuke-kun and prove to him that he's a big jerk.'

Shikamaru nodded.

"You're…going to pick me,right?"

Sakura tried to act cheery as she scratched the back of her head nervously.

"I guess so."

Shikamaru avoided eye contact with her and looked away.

"This…is so troublesome…"

Sakura chuckled and smiled.

"Yeah…it is."

Then they both went in opposite directions as they walked away.Then it struck her.

'I…don't need Sasuke-kun!He's just a big jerk!'

-Oh…so you notice that now?-

'Shut up!I'm done thinking now!'

Then the sky cleared up as the sun shone through.

"Wow…that was the shortest rain storm I've ever seen…"

"Yup,it was."

She turned around instantly and saw Sasuke.

'What's he doing here?'

Sakura walked away from him,but he stayed persistent.Then Sakura stopped in her tracks.

"What do you want Uchiha?"

"…"

"I thought so."

Sakura began to walk away,but suddenly stopped.She couldn't help but turn around to see Sasuke's face.He had a slight blush grazing his cheeks and he was grinning.Sakura still looked at him suspiciously and he grinned more widely.

"…Stupid jerk…"

Sakura started walking again and he threw a piece of paper at her head.

"Baka teme!Leave me alone!"

She turned around and slapped him.She was still fuming when she picked up the piece of paper and ran the rest of the way home.When she reached her condo building,she was still pissed off at Sasuke.

-Hey,Sakura.What does the piece of paper say on it?-

She stared dumbfounded at the piece of paper wedged in her clenched fist.

'Must not be something important if it's from him.'

Sakura threw the piece of paper onto the pavement and hurried into her condo before signs of Sasuke lurking about appeared.

-What if it was?-

'Who cares!Hm…'

Sakura searched in her pocket for her key,but it was nowhere to be seen.

"I…misplaced my key!"

-WHAT!-

Sakura searched worriedly threw her pockets and turned them all inside out.

-Search in your bag…it might be in there!-

She rummaged through the contents of her bag and it wasn't there either.Then she remembered that she always kept a spare with Shikamaru.

'He might just have the spare…or else I'll have to request that a new key be made.That'll take at least a day…'

Sakura made her way to Shikamaru's house.

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The pink haired girl rapped on the door of the Nara household.There was no answer.

-Maybe they're not in.-

But before Sakura had turned around to head home,a woman who Sakura assumed was Shikamaru's mother opened the door.Her face showed that she was slightly strict,which was not a trait of her son's,but she also resembled the very lazy Shikamaru.

"Is…Shika-kun home?"

The woman looked confusedly at Sakura,but her look of confusion was replaced instantly with a smile.

"Oh…you must be Sakura!Shikamaru will be down in a minute."

Mrs.Nara withdrew her head back inside the house and yelled viciously at her husband to get their son.A feeble,"Yes,dear" could be heard from where Sakura was standing.Shikamaru's mother basically pushed her son outside the door when he answered the door.

"Your mother's very…unique."

Shikamaru smiled.

"Yup,she's one of a kind."

Sakura didn't hesitate to getting to the point.

"Shika-kun,I lost my key and since you have a spare…"

"I had a spare?"

Sakura looked at him quizzically.

"I thought I gave you one…"

Then it hit her.She had given the extra key to Sasuke since he was the only one who knew where she lived at the time.

"Well…I don't remember you giving me it.So now you're locked out of your house,how troublesome."

"(asd)Yeah,I am.But I requested another one and I should be getting it tomorrow."

"But where will you stay right now?"

Sakura could have cried.

Inner Sakura: Why doesn't he just offer me to stay at his house?

"I don't know Shika-kun…"

Sakura tried to keep her voice as sugary sweet as possible,but if he didn't get the point soon,she would have to kill him.Then miraculouskly,Shikamaru's mother poked her head outside and looked at Sakura with pity.

"Oh Sakura!I couldn't help but eavesdrop.You don't have a place to stay?Why don't you stay with us tonight?"

Sakura sighed with relief.

"Thank you Mrs.Nara."

Mrs.Nara smiled.

"My baka son doesn't know how to be courteous to a lady."

At that comment,Shikamaru's mother glared at him and he just cowered under his mother's wrath.He grabbed Sakura's hand and darted inside as an attempt to escape his mother.Sakura smiled at him.

"You're mother's very nice."

He looked at her like she was supposed to be in an insane asylum.

"What are you talking about?She's the pushiest woman I've ever known!"

Sakura bopped him on the head.

"Don't about you mother like that.At least your mother's here with you!"

"Yeah…well she's just too troublesome…"

Then his father's voice called for them from down the stairs.

"Hey,Shikamaru!We're having dinner…and bring your girlfriend too."

"(asd)Does your father even know my name?"

"I highly doubt that…"

'This is going to be so much fun…'((sarcasm intended.))