A/N: Oh my gosh, I just realized how long its been since I actually updated this thing! Sorry to all the people who really wanted an update, it just….took me a while! The hardest part of an author's job is the fear that they will completely deform a beautiful piece of writing by adding a poorly written chapter. So, I really need reviews on this one coz I'm not sure I like how it turned out. Give me your feedback and I might consider replacing it. -.-;;. Anyway, here's chapter 3! Read and review please!

Chapter 3: The Plan

It had been almost a week since the new boy had entered that very first and fateful math class. Sakura kept a close eye on him and inevitably, Sasuke, who always seemed to be at the blonde boy's side. Everyday they were growing closer and closer together. She could have sworn she had even seen Sasuke SMILE a couple of times (and she sighed those couple of times 'cause his smile was gorgeous!). With everyday that passed, everyday the bond between the two boys became tighter, her eyes just seemed a little bit greener. If she didn't do anything soon, she was sure that she would lose Sasuke's heart to that wretched and annoying boy.

She found that murdering the interfering boy might be a little bit too hard to carry out and get away with so she planned to use the next best thing: manipulation and deceit.

She had always been a bright student. Anything lower than an 'A-' would be a disgrace for her. She definitely knew, by the blunt glances and the strange blushes, that the new boy actually had a thing for her. She had watched enough sappy romance movies, watched enough dramatic soap operas and read enough tragic romance novels to know how to use the feelings he had for her for her advantage. She would use the tight bond that Naruto shared with Sasuke to get closer to him and crushing Naruto's dreams was just a bonus.

A plan had already begun to form in her head, and all she needed was to put it into action.

Sometimes, jealousy could be a beautiful thing.

"Sasuke!" exclaimed an excited Naruto as he pounced on one of the only friends he had so far made during his one week in the school, "We won! We won!"

Naruto had caused him to fall onto the ground and now, Naruto lay on top of him in a very suggestive position. But of course, our little and oh-so-innocent Naruto could only grin and yell 'we won!' so that his voice sounded throughout the whole gymnasium.

Sasuke had never liked P.E. Though he was an excellent athlete, he would much rather stick to the books. Though he was determined to fit enough to get back at his older brother Itachi for stealing his favourite CD and then breaking it. Naruto being on top of him didn't help his favor for the physical education class. He felt the heat in face and a blush coming up…

"Get off!" he yelled and Naruto tumbled off of him, laughing, with many other people in the gymnasium, all the while.

"Oops," he said unconvincingly apologetic as he continued to snicker, "Sometimes I don't know my own strength! Anyway, Sasuke, we won! Hey, are you okay? You seem to be red in the face." He put a hand to Sasuke's forehead, "It doesn't seem like you have a fever…"

Sasuke grunted and began to walk away to the boys' change room, book in his hand and leaving Naruto close behind.

Before he ran to catch up, he asked himself a question that constantly appeared in his head: 'Where in the world does he get those books? His shirt? Does he keep them in his shirt? Or in his pants?

Yes, yes, this was a series of questions and they seemed very strange, but the fact was, Naruto was very strange indeed.

He ran to catch up to Sasuke, still wondering, but not realizing the one other person that was left in the gymnasium. The person whose eyes watched Naruto as he was running along. The person who felt envy for both Naruto and Sasuke but for completely different reasons. The person with an emotion he never thought he would feel tattooed onto his forehead.

The plan was ready to put into action. It was fourth period, right before lunch, and she was watching the two boys as Naruto continued to tease Sasuke about something concerning books, shirts and pants. She smiled to herself as she realized that she would soon be the one in that situation. The situation where she could tease her love and not have an angry glare shot back at her. It just might take a few, or just one, broken heart to get there. She shrugged to herself (which made her look completely insane to anybody who was watching) thinking that the sacrifices were worth it. But the sacrifice wasn't hers to make.

Sometimes, manipulation could be a wonderful weapon.

It was lunch period and as always, Sasuke had made it to their table first. Naruto was always slow at his locker and Sasuke always got bored of waiting. It was an unspoken agreement that Sasuke would get to the table first and Naruto would meet him a few minutes later. But today, things were taking longer than usual. Soon, Sasuke found himself glancing at the cafeteria clock every couple of seconds, hungry and eager to eat his lunch but not without Naruto to share it with. He had even begun supplying the boy with a pair of chopsticks! Finally, he stared glanced down from the book he was reading to look at his magnificently prepared bento box and decided that he would go fetch Naruto himself. But before he could get up, something said the conversation happening between the group of gossipy girls at the table behind him caught his attention.

"Yeah, I know," he heard one of the girls whisper just a bit too loudly, "I can't believe Sakura decided to ask out that new boy."

As soon as he heard that, his heart began to race and he waited, his ears twitching, to hear if they knew if Naruto said yes.

But he didn't have to wait for them to say it because Naruto came running through the cafeteria to him and said between gasps, "Sasuke, Sasuke! Guess what! Guess who I have a date with! Guess, guess!" But the pink haired girl was already blushing and standing behind him.

And at that moment, all his worries had been confirmed. It was true that he felt envy (and he could finally admit it to himself), but of a totally different person than what Sakura had planned. She had been so caught up in her devious plans, she had watched this manipulative plan succeed so many times in the movies, that she didn't even consider the fact that Sasuke might actually turn out to be jealous of her.

Other times envy was a repulsive thing

And manipulation a weapon that blew up in your hand

As soon as you pulled the trigger

Sakura had definitely pulled the trigger.

A/N: Yay! It's done! I'll try to get it updated faster from now on. Sorry if you find any mistakes, I don't edit my work -.-;;