The Three L's

Summary: Follow the three L's: Live long, Laugh lots, and Love truly. Three short stories featuring the loveable pair: Uchiha Sasuke and Haruno Sakura.

Chapter the Third: Love Truly

Sakura stood uncomfortably next to Sasuke, her cheeks so red it was hard to tell that it wasn't just the cold.

The close proximity of their bodies was making her heart beat so hard in her chest…so hard that it hurt. It was not her fault that she and Sasuke were alone…together…in a very small room…

It was raining outside, and they both just happened to run into the nearest building and into a very small room with one window. It was not their fault that the door closed behind them with a soft click…

It was not their fault that they got locked into a closet together!

Sakura, being closest to the mini window, shivered in the cold and shut her eyes tight as the thunder tolled on outside. "I'm sorry Sasuke…"

"What for?" he replied, his back to her.

"For getting us stuck…if only I haven't closed that stupid door."

"Forget it."

Sakura nodded, mutely agreeing that dwelling on the worst is not really going to make matters better. Sakura kept her eyes shut scared of opening them.

"God its cold…" she mumbled almost hoping he didn't hear her. She felt pressure on her shoulders and sudden warmth washed over her. She tugged at the cloth that was placed on her, seeing that it was Sasuke's jacket… "Thank you," she whispered.

Sasuke remained silent.

Why isn't he talking to me? This silence is horrible! Man…I want to die…this is killing me!

Sakura sighed. She was now sitting on the floor, her back to the wall. She was still wearing Sasuke's jacket, the warmth spreading through her body. She leaned her head over to see that Sasuke was also sitting on the ground, his back to the wall – he was so close to her that she could feel his body heat…

"I'm sorry; do you want your jacket back?" she asked, offering the jacket back to him.

Sasuke looked at the girl and took it – leaving Sakura a little disappointed and cold once again.

But this cold feeling did not last long as she felt herself being lifted from her sitting position and seated once again – warm arms wrapping around her, rapid warmth coursing around her.

"Eh…?" Sakura's blushed deepened as she realized that she was sitting on his lap…

"I don't want you to be cold," he whispered huskily, tightening his embrace on her. Sasuke's lips were so very close to hers…

She buried her face into his dark top, taking in his sweet honey scent. "I love you…" she whispered, grasping his shirt tight with her own hands. "I love you…"

She felt Sasuke tense up and relax again, but she could feel his heart beat – it was slow and steady, unlike hers that was going fifty times faster than normal.

"Can you just pretend…please?" she muttered, burying her face deeper into his shirt. Can you pretend that you love me too?

"Sakura, stop it."

"Sasuke please…" Sakura looked down, the tears falling into his shirt. "I love you…"

Sasuke shifted, causing the girl to look at him, face to face. He wiped a tear away from her face and muttered, "I can't pretend…"

"Why not?" Sakura asked, almost desperately. I want you to love me too...

"It's no use, pretending isn't going to solve anything between us. It's not going to change my feelings…"

Sakura shuddered, the tears falling faster from her eyes. She leaned back into Sasuke, wishing that he would just hold her close…

…that's when she heard it…

She heard it as she was leaning against his chest…

Sakura felt Sasuke's heartbeat the second time – it was beating as fast as her own heart…

"Sasuke…"

His hold on her tightened as he lifted her face to meet him, a smile on his face. "Sakura, the only thing I was pretending to do…" he leaned forward, his lips barely touching hers. "I was pretending that I didn't love you…"

Sakura's eyes widened as he closed the distance between them, engulfing Sakura in more than just warmth…She did not hesitate to kiss him back, after all, she wanted to pretend that this realitywas an everlasting dream…

A dream within a dream.

End

Author's note: Whoa…I loaded chapter two almost seven hours ago…this is honestly the FASTEST update I have ever done in my whole entire life…whoa…anyways! I'm finished with this little three part (btw…last line of the short belongs to Edgar Allan Poe…not me…darn) I hope you guys enjoyed this as much as I did! Reviews/flames are always welcome!

(I want to greatly thank my friend Iris Leonardo for unkowingly giving me this wonderful idea! Mahal kita ate Iris! Langing mahal kita! XD)