Up All Night

Summary: AU. Characters are OOC. Sure, Neji's cute, but he's also obnoxious! So try telling that to Tenten's mom. She thinks that Neji is the perfect guy for Tenten. So when Neji surprised Tenten by asking her to the prom, she had to say yes for her sick mom whom she didn't want to let down, even if it meant spending the most romantic night of her life with him. Neji. The guy she can't stand. On the other hand, Sakura isn't interested in love. Her parents are divorced and Sakura is pretty down on couplehood. The last thing on her mind is jumping into a relationship, that is, until Sasuke comes along. Will these 2 girls have thier perfect prom night? Pairings: Neji/Tenten, Sasuke/Sakura & minor Shika/Ino.

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto!

Rated: PG

Chapter 7

"Hey freak, can I talk to you for a moment?" Ino asked on a Wednesday afternoon.

Sakura frowned. "I know what you're going to say. But my feelings towards Sasuke wouldn't change, just because of you."

To her surprise, Ino laughed. "You're so funny. Even if your feelings towards Sasuke changed, it's still the same. Didn't I tell you before? You're just a toy to him. He'll never like a girl like you."

"W…why are you saying this?"

"Don't you know? Sasuke has always been on my side. He will eventually choose me," Ino replied haughtily.

What is she talking about? He doesn't even look at her in the first place, Sakura thought.

"Hey, that girl with the long blonde hair, come over here." A girl interrupted.

Sakura turned to the direction of the voice and saw a group of third years staring menacingly at Ino. What's going on, she thought.

To her horror, the girls started to walk towards them, pushed Sakura to the side, and started slapping and hitting Ino.

"Hey! Stop! What's going on?" yelled Sakura.

"Its none of your business. You're not the girl we want, so stay out of this!" said one of the girls as she shoved Sakura roughly.

"It hurts! Let me go!" screamed Ino.

Sakura was stunned. What was she going to do? She didn't have the strength to overpower those girls. They were strong! She had to find someone! Sakura hurriedly took off to the guy's locker rooms and shouted for help.

"Sakura, what's wrong?" Sasuke asked when he saw her dashing into the locker room.

"Ino…Ino…" Sakura puffed as she tried to catch her breadth.

"What's wrong with Ino?" Shikamaru and Sasuke asked anxiously.

"She…she's being beaten up by some third years…at the 3rd level foyer…she…"

Before she finished her sentence, the guys dashed past her and hurried to the scene with Sakura trailing behind.

"What are you guys doing?" shouted Sasuke as he approached the girls. "Stop it!"

"Ino!" cried Shikamaru.

However the girls didn't stop. Enraged, Sasuke stormed towards them and pulled them off Ino roughly.

"If you guys try this again, I'll kill you. Get it?" yelled Sasuke angrily.

"Ok…ok," said the girls and they hurried off in fear.

"Ino, are you ok?" Sasuke asked gently as he helped her up.

As Sakura stood watching this scene, she couldn't help but think about what Ino had told her before. Sasuke had always been by her side and he will eventually choose Ino…

"Sasuke, you came to save me!" Ino cried happily as she lunged herself at him.

"Are you stupid? That's what you get for always offending people with your attitude." Said Sasuke.

"I was so scared…" cried Ino.

"If you understand, then don't do it again."

Sasuke…this was the first time Sakura had seen him so angry. His expression when he scolded the girls, it was so scary.

"I'll bring her to the infirmary, she twisted her ankle." Sasuke told Shikamaru and Sakura.

"Sasuke," started Sakura.

Sasuke turned back and looked at her. "She's going to be okay. You guys go back first."

As they walked away from Sakura, Ino turned and gave Sakura a smirk.

Because of Ino, Sasuke changed into a different person…why? Sakura thought miserably.

At the infirmary…

"Thank God it's not that bad. Just put an ice pack and you're ready to go. You can bandage it yourself." Said Sasuke.

"You always become more gentle when you're facing an injured person, " said Ino.

"…"

"This takes me back to our middle school days. I always make you worry, didn't I? You kept helping me…"

Back at the foyer…

"Ino was always bullied back then," Shikamaru told Sakura.

"You're kidding!"

"Yeah, during middle school, she was always bullied by the girls in her class. Because she was never good at socializing, and with that high esteem attitude of hers, she offended a lot of people around her."

"That's bad…" whispered Sakura.

"Yeah, it is…But Sasuke always risks her life to save her. That's why Ino likes him so much. He is like her prince charming. Who wouldn't like him…Even me myself, as a guy, I like Sasuke very much. He's always so strong. Sometimes I wish I could be more like him…"

"Shikamaru…don't tell me that you…your feelings towards Ino are…"

Shikamaru laughed. "Erm…hehe…I mean if Ino is happy, then I am too."

"Shikamaru…"

"I gotta go, I'll catch you later. Bye Sakura!" said Shikamaru cheerily.

Later that night in Sakura's house…

Hmm, mom's not back yet…Wonder if she's working late again tonight, Sakura thought as she tasted the soup she just cooked.

Her thoughts finally wandered to Sasuke and Ino. What happened later on? Did he take Ino home?

"Are you cooking Udon noodle soup? Just don't put any onions in there, I hate it." interrupted a voice too familiar to Saukra.

She choked on the soup and turned around.

"What are you doing here?" she exclaimed.

"Dad's at work again, so I'm here for dinner."

"Please ring the doorbell the next time you come in! You could have frightened me to death!" said Sakura in annoyance.

"Whatever. I'm going to watch tv first. You can make me a cup of coffee first." Said Sasuke.

"What! This is not your home!"

But Sasuke ignored her.

Why does he act like nothing happened? Does he think I'm a maid…Does he know how I'm feeling! Sakura thought. Isnt he getting a little too comfortable too! Sakura fumed as she saw him relaxing on the couch.

"Here's your coffee." She slammed the coffee on the table. "Um…how's Ino?"

"She's fine. Just a few scratches and a twisted ankle. Nothing much."

"Is…is it true that Ino was always bullied during middle school? Shikamaru told me that you always risk everything to protect her…"

"Every time I look at Ino, I would get frustrated. Because she would always boast and keep her distance from everyone else, never thinking of accepting anyone. I've always felt that looking at her, I can see myself from a long time ago. It annoys me." Said Sasuke.

I didn't know Sasuke was like that too before…I really don't know anything about Sasuke, Sakura thought sadly and she lowered her head.

"Why Sakura? Are you jealous?"

Sakura jerked her head up. "What!" she exclaimed in surprise. "Jealous? You wish!"

"Really?" Sasuke teased as he leaned close towards her until his face was just right in front of her.

Sakura could feel herself redden and without thinking, she just used whatever she was holding to hit Sasuke's head away.

"Ouch! That was a friggin' iron tray! That hurts!" yelled Sasuke.

"Idiot!" shouted Sakura and she ran out of the living room.

"Hey wait! Where are you going? How dare you hit me on my head and then call me idiot!"

"I'm back! Hey Sakura, what are you yelling about? Is that Sasuke? Is he here for dinner?" asked her mom.

"I'm not taking dinner tonight!" said Sakura and she locked herself in her room.

"Argghh!" Sakura threw herself onto her bed and screamed into her pillow.

Why am I so agitated? It's always me with that unsettling heart every time he plays around with me…my unsettled feelings… thought Sakura.

Next morning in school…

"Tenten, What should I do?" Sakura asked. However Tenten herself had her own problems and was in her own world.

"So did you accept her money?" a girl on the other side of Sakura's locker asked.

"How much did Ino give you?" another girl asked.

"$50. Isn't that easy money?" Giggled another girl.

"Don't you think Ino is a little weird? She actually asked us to bully her."

"How pathetic. But who cares? As long as I can get money, I'll do anything,"

Sakura froze when she heard their conversation. As the girls started to walk out of the locker room, Sakura grabbed one of them by their arms.

"What are you guys talking about?"

"Its whatever you heard, now let go of me, you freak!"

"Sakura, are you okay?" Tenten asked.

"Yeah, I got something to do, I'll see you later okay?" said Sakura.

………………………………………………………………………………………………

"What do you want by calling me here?" asked Ino. "My ankle still hurts you know?"

"This is part of you scheme right?"

Ino smirked. "Oh well, you found out?"

"Why did you do it? Why are you doing things that hurt yourself? Sasuke and Shikamaru were really worried about you!"

Ino laughed again. "I would do anything. I don't care what happens to my body. I would do anything to get Sasuke to pay attention to me."

"That's awful! You're just taking advantage of Sasuke's kindness." Yelled Sakura.

"Why are you angry? You have no right to tell me what to do." Said Ino calmly. "Or are you just jealous of me because you know the one Sasuke likes isn't you, that's why you're scared."

"What are you talking about…"

"How amusing. That expression on your face when Sasuke brought me to the infirmary. You didn't know that was all planned and you rushed to get Sasuke's help, then being cast aside in the end with the expression of a rejected puppy. How humiliating! It makes me want to lau…"

Before Ino could finish, Sakura's hands went down on her, giving her a big slap.

"What are you guys doing?" someone else interrupted.

"Sasuke…" muttered Sakura.

"Ino! What happened to you? Are you okay?" yelled Shikamaru as he rushed towards her.

"I don't know…Sakura suddenly slapped me…" Ino cried.

"Sakura! What were you thinking? What you did was unforgivable! Ino didn't do anything to you!" shouted Shikamaru.

"Sakura, is that true? Ino is still injured you know?" Sasuke asked.

Sakura just stood there staring at the ground.

"Sasuke…Please don't be mad at me" whined Ino as she threw herself into his chest.

"Sasuke, why are you helping her? The things that she did…If you keep helping her, she'll only get worse!" shouted Sakura with tears in her eyes.

"Are you finished Sakura? What's wrong with you Sakura? If you wanna say something, just say it. I don't even know what you're thinking." Said Sasuke.

Sakura raised her hands to support her forehead. What…I cant take it anymore,I had enough, she thought angrily.

"You're always so composed, always teasing other people, seeing me so flustered must be and entertainment for you right? I am not your toy! I have decided I will not let you affect me any longer!" screamed Sakura.

Sasuke just looked at her with no expression. "Fine. Then you wont have anything to worry about. I wont bother you anymore."

"Fine!" said Sakura and she ran out of the room in tears.

"Sasuke, I'll always be by your side," Ino spoke up.

To her surprise, Sasuke balled his hands into a fist and thrust it onto one of the lockers, making Ino jump.

"Sasuke, I'll do anything for you. I don't want anything else except you!" said Ino ask she went forward and hugged him from behind.

However, Sasuke turned and brushed her aside.

"Ino, Stop it. If you continue like this, you're not going to get anywhere. If you want anything more than friendship from me, then I cant help you."

"But I like you so much! I can do anything for you!" pleaded Ino.

"But I don't want anything from you."

"Why? Why her? What do you want from her? What do you think Sakura can do for you?" shouted Ino in frustration. "Sasuke…"

"Shut up…So what did you achieve by making me angry?" Sasuke asked.

Ino just whimpered like a helpless puppy.

"Sasuke, you're too harsh, Ino…"

"Stop it Shikamaru, I don't want hear anything anymore." Said Sasuke and he left Ino crumpled onto the ground, weeping softly.

"Ino…are you okay?"

"Its her fault! Its her fault that he doesn't care about me anymore!" sobbed Ino.

Shikamaru took Ino's hands into his own. "Ino, I'll think of something. I wont forgive anyone who is causing you misery. Please don't cry Ino. I…I will do anything to make you smile…tell me, who's standing in your way of happiness?"

"It's her! Haruno Sakura! She said I was cruel! She said I was wrong! I didn't do anything wrong! I just like Sasuke!"

"Will you be happy if Sakura was gone?" Shikamaru asked seriously.

………………………………………………………………………………………..

Next day in school…

I wont forgive anyone who is causing you misery…I'll do anything to make you smile… Ino couldn't stop thinking about Shikamaru's words yesterday. What was he going to do? All of a sudden, a sick thought struck her. No way…he doesn't have that much courage to do that does he, she thought anxiously

Meanwhile, on the other hand…

"Sakura, I need to speak to you."

"Shikamaru? Cant we talk inside? It's pouring out here and I'm cold."

"No…We'll settle it once and for all here."

"What are you talking about? Asked a confused Sakura. Shikamaru was usually cheery but today he was different. He looked so serious that it freaked Sakura out.

"Shikamaru, what's wrong? You're going to catch a cold…"

Shikamaru just stood there shivering in the cold.

"What's wrong?" Sakura asked again in concern.

"I have to make you disappear, Sakura. If this continues, it'll be too cruel for Ino. I have to do something. She likes Sasuke very much. She's unable to deliver her feelings to Sasuke because of you. If you were to disappear, there would not be any more problems!"

Back to Ino's side…

Ino was still hesitating what to do. She watched Sasuke playing his basketball and finally decided she had to do something. She ran up towards him when he was about to shoot the ball.

"Ino! What the hell are you doing? That's dangerous!" Sasuke yelled as they both crashed onto the floor.

"Sasuke, hurry, you have to go to Sakura. Because Shikamaru might…Its all because of me!" Ino cried.

Back to Sakura and Shikamaru…

"Shikamaru, you wouldn't do that. I know you wont…" said Sakura calmly as he approached her cautiously with a rod.

"Shut up Sakura! I have to do it! I wont let Ino suffer anymore!"

Author's Notes: Happy Easter you guys! Hope you like this chapter! Please remember to leave me a review! Thanks! In the next chapter, love would be confessed and we get to see a couple emerge! Till then!