*UNBEATED*

SAKURA AND VERSACE

12

PINKY PROMISE

"Finals are gonna kick my ass."

"This is why you're in a study group," Sakura mumbled from her spot on her bed.

While Naruto was taking up her desk poring over his textbooks, Sakura was comfortable in her bed watching television. Because she was still doing online classes, Sakura had done her finals far before anyone in school had. It was smooth sailing for her, the same couldn't be said for her boyfriend.

Naruto groaned in frustration, "I still have about a month and a half before they startup, I really need to catch up!"

"Stop pushing yourself or you'll have an aneurysm." His girlfriend suggested and Naruto had no choice but to listen. If this kept up he'd have a headache by the end of the night.

Sakura patted the empty spot next to her, "Just come relax for the night, maybe if you rest for a bit it'll be better." Sliding back from the desk, Naruto put away his school materials before dropping next to his girlfriend. "I'll text Sasuke and he'll tutor me."

"Go to the study group you signed up for!" Sakura rolled her eyes, she didn't know what was wrong with her boyfriend sometimes. He'd signed up for a study group but was actively avoiding it. Naruto needed all the help he could get, his grades were good but passing his finals would make them great. "It won't kill you!"

Naruto pouted, "The study groups can take up hours of our after-school time." He explained but Sakura only shook her head, "You need to prioritize your education. This is your last year and one of the most important, colleges are looking at those scores!"

"Fine, fine."Naruto huffed, though he knows his girlfriend is right. "I'm just nervous I guess."

Sakura could understand it, Naruto was under a lot of stress. Though championships were over and won, there was still the strain of school weighing over Naruto's head. Especially since he'd already sent out his college applications.

"You're gonna do amazing, you still have a lot of time to get a hang of what you don't know," Sakura assured him, she didn't have a doubt Naruto would do amazing on his end-of-the-year tests. He was smarter than he liked to let on, it was time for him to put that big brain to use! "I don't say it a lot, but you're so smart Naruto, you don't need to doubt that for a moment." It's stupid and mushy, but Sakura means it wholeheartedly.

"Ne Sakura-Chan, you really know how to cheer me up." Naruto cooed as he saddled up next to his girlfriend. Taking up her personal space as he lay over her.

Sakura groaned under him, "You're heavy, move!"

"But your so soft," Naruto purred as he sniffed her hair, cherries and vanilla invading his senses. "I wouldn't complain if you laid on me!" Sakura huffed, "I'm not as heavy as you!'

"You're so mean," Naruto rolled off of her and Sakura breathed out a sigh of relief as the added weight was removed. The blonde easily outweighed her by a good fifty pounds and then some, he wasn't just something she could lug around. "Don't be so heavy then."

Naruto pinched her arm, "I'm not heavy, you're just tiny." To emphasize his point, he dragged Sakura across the bed. Manhandling her even as she made sounds of protest, "You baka! Don't grab me like that!"

"You can't wrestle your way outta this, Sakura-Chan," Naruto had wrapped himself around Sakura like a python, tangling their legs and locking their arms together. Sakura bucked wildly, trying to wrestle her way from under him. "You're being a brute!"

"Don't be so tiny then," The blonde mocked smugly, "All this strength is gonna come in handy once I'm in college anyway!" Naruto had already applied for his chosen college, a private institute about an hour and a half outside of the city. Konoha Kage University, named for their city's leader. It was one of the many reasons he was so stressed over his finals.

"All your college girlfriends are going to love it," Sakura muttered as she picked at the lint of her t-shirt. It hadn't escaped her that she and Naruto's time was quickly coming to an end, at least it seemed like it. So much distance and time apart could only lead to one thing.

Naruto hadn't missed the sudden atmosphere shift. He hadn't exactly asked how Sakura felt about his decisions when it came to furthering his education but she'd made it known she was proud of him in that department. Obviously, there were other insecurities about the subject and it didn't revolve around what school he'd chosen.

"Are you jealous, Sakura-Chan?" He wiggled his eyebrows despite the evil eye Sakura was giving him. "You don't have to be, nobody can compare to you!"

Sakura scoffed, "You're supposed to say that,"

"And I mean it," Seeing that his usual playful banter wasn't going to work, he took a more delicate approach, "I'll never stray and as long as you'll have me, I won't leave. No change of scenery or a few pretty faces is gonna change that." It could've been worse, Naruto realized this. She could still be apprehensive when it came to sharing her feelings with him, so he was glad she was opening up to him. He wanted her to feel better, he wanted to be the one that made her feel better.

"I just...I don't really know why I feel this way." Sakura shrugged, "Maybe I'm being overdramatic, I guess I'm scared you'll be so far away?"

Naruto shook his head, "Don't be. I mean every word when I say I'll stay forever if you'll have me."

Sakura held her pinky up, "Promise?"

Naruto hooked his with hers, "Promise."

this chapter is kind of short because the next two are kinda long (to me at least) but they're both already written so it's just a matter of pacing. thanks you guys!