Just Call Me Cinderella

Chapter Eight

"Wait, this is wrong." Sakura pushed Sasuke back with her right hand and looked down.

"What?" Sasuke tried to grab her hand but she pulled hers down quickly.

"This whole thing. Why did you kiss me? You have a girlfriend and you and I are not even really friends. This is all just wrong."

"Sakura, listen to me. I just saw you out there and I couldn't help myself." Sasuke reached for Sakura's hand.

"You couldn't help yourself? Because I what, looked good?" Sakura took a step back and smoothed out her dress. Sasuke's hand was still out stretched from where he had tried to grab her. He didn't try to say anything.

"Well then, I have to get back to work." Sakura turned on her heel and headed for the door.

"Sakura wait."

Sakura froze with the door opened an inch. She sighed and turned to look at Sasuke. "Sasuke, let's just pretend that this never happened, okay? I just want to work and get through the year."

He was silent and Sakura didn't know what that meant so she just walked out the door. But she didn't return to her post at the top of the stairs just yet. She hightailed it down the hallway. She needed to calm down her nerves.

Sakura hid in the doorway of one of the guest bedrooms that she knew was not occupied and watched as Sasuke slammed his door and stomped down the stairs. At least no one would know that something was up with him. He was always surly.

Her heart beat uncontrollably fast as she tried to grasp what just happened and let out a breath. Did she really just kiss Sasuke Uchiha? The guy who had ignored her for years and who called her annoying and broke her heart? The guy who she worked for?

No, he had kissed her. That was something she never thought would ever happen in her lifetime. Sasuke had never even looked her direction since the incident at the end of middle school. Why was this happening now? She did not need this now.

What if Mei or the other maids found out? Would she get fired or worse? It seemed that Daisy and Kimiko were particularly nasty the last few days to her and planning something against her. But that could also be her imagination.

Maybe she what just overreacting about this whole thing. Sasuke kissed lots of girls and he was never bothered by it. Why should she be?

Sakura pulled at her hair and tried to calm her racing pulse. It was no use. She was absolutely freaking out. She had kissed her employer and she had been sure her stupid little crush on Sasuke was over years ago. But the way she was reacting now made her think maybe that was not the case. Sakura groaned and smacked the wall. She needed to get a grip.

"Are you all right?" Sakura stopped pacing and met the glare of Daisy. She gulped and tried to seem unbothered. Did Daisy know what just happened?

"Yes I am."

"Then stop acting like an idiot and get to work. Sasuke just ended his party early and has gone to his room with Karin. We need to clean up."

"Of course. I'll be down in a minute." Sakura smiled the best she could through her inner turmoil. Especially after the slight twist in her stomach at the mention of Karin. Sakura pushed the thought out of her mind. Daisy eyed her suspiciously as Sakura made her way to the maid's closet.

Sakura closed her eyes and took a few deep breaths. Why is breathing so difficult all of the sudden? She leaned against the closest wall for support. That's it Sakura, just clean him out of your system. She kept chanting, hoping it would work but it wasn't and she was going to lose it. The wall behind her suddenly shifted and she was sprawled on her back looking up at Itachi. He smirked at her position. Apparently she had chosen his door not a wall to freak out against.

"Sakura, why are you here? Aren't you supposed to be somewhere else at the moment or did you miss me at the party?"

Itachi chuckled but Sakura didn't even crack a smile she sighed again and sat up. Itachi's brows furrowed and he crouched down to her level.

"What happened?"

Sakura looked at him out of the corner of her eye as she debated telling him what had transpired a few moments ago. How would he react? Itachi silently watched her as she went through her various options. He was always the rational, calm one in the house so she knew he would be as understanding as possible.

"Sasuke kissed me."

"What was that?" Itachi moved to sit comfortably against the wall next to her.

"Sasuke kissed me. Just now. I was helping him pick a new shirt since his was messed up and I don't know. He just kissed me."

There was silence for a few minutes. Sakura didn't dare look at Itachi. She had decided to tell him but now her anxiety was getting the better of her.

"Did you enjoy the kiss?"

"What?" Sakura's head shot up. Had he actually asked that?

"I meant did you enjoy kissing Sasuke or did you hate it?"

"I. . . don't know! Ugh!" Sakura shoved her face into her hands. "I just don't understand anything. He told me he only kissed me because I'm hot. That's not enough for me but my heart won't stop racing."

Itachi placed his hand comfortingly on her shoulder. "Well I am glad that you are stubborn enough to not fall for him."

Sakura awkwardly scratched at her elbow. "Yeah. . ."

Itachi ignored her noncommittal answer. "Sakura, if it helps I am sure that this happens all the time with him. My little brother can be a jerk sometimes.

"Thanks Itachi, that helped me put it into perspective." Sakura stood up and tied her hair into a ponytail. "I need to get downstairs to clean before Mei fires me."

She smiled and playfully winked at Itachi before heading down the stairs. He was right she meant nothing to Sasuke and she didn't need to contemplate her own feelings when there was no hope of them being reciprocated. She had learned years ago that feeling anything for him would only lead to heartbreak so she would fight any sort of feeling as long as she still worked here.

Sasuke's hand finally dropped to his side as his bedroom door slammed shut. He clenched his fist and immediately exited the room. He needed something, anything to make him forget what had just happened. He had acted in a moment of weakness and Sakura threw it in his face.

Sasuke was still breathing harder than he ever had. Every nerve in his body was buzzing. He had never felt this way before. There was something different about Sakura and that scared him more than anything. He would rather stay with someone like Karin than actually have to feel something real. Sure, he had thought the other day that he wanted something more real than he had with Karin but now he knew it was stupid. The kiss with Sakura had cemented that.

The bass thumped loudly as Sasuke finally made it to the bottom of the stairs. There were more people now than when he went upstairs. He scanned the crowd for Naruto. He needed everyone out now and there was now better way than his loud best friend. There were random people bumping into him as he made his way through the crowd, his mood darkening with every step.

Stupid Sakura. Why did she have to be so fiery and sweet at the same time? And why was he still thinking about the way kissed him? She had left and told him to forget it but he couldn't help himself. He was being stupid again.

Sasuke shook his head as he finally made it to the throne of couches he had set up near the front of the room. Naruto was laughing loudly at Kiba break dancing. Soon he was trying a few moves of his own while Kiba laughed. Hinata watched from the couch with a drink in her hand and a blush on her face. The look of love she was shooting to Naruto made Sasuke's stomach churn. He needed everyone out.

"Hey, where have you been? You been gone for freaking ever!" Naruto shouted over the crowd and made his way over to Sasuke. Sasuke crossed his arms and rolled his eyes.

"It wasn't that long."

"Whatever. You missed Temari and Ino having some sort of fight because they were wearing the same dress and then when Shikamaru tried to intervene they almost beat the crap out of him. It was hilarious."

"Great. Naruto, it's time. I need everyone out."

Naruto pulled out his phone and checked the time. "Dude, it's only midnight and you already want to send everyone home? Did something happen?"

"Does it matter idiot? Just get them out."

"That's a yes then." Naruto pocketed his phone and moved to stand on the tallest couch. He took a deep breath. "ALL RIGHT LOSERS PARTY'S OVER. EVERYONE OUT OR I'M TELLING KAKASHI THAT YOU STOLE HIS FAVORITE BOOKS."

The crowd immediately began to leave through any door they could find. Apparently Naruto's threat was working. Kakashi was a chill teacher at their school but everyone knew that if you messed with what he loved he would end you. Naruto hopped down from the couch and Sasuke placed his hand on his shoulder.

"Thanks man. I'll see you later."

Naruto reached out his hand for Hinata and she bashfully accepted. The two of them made their way with the crowd out the door. Karin grabbed Sasuke's arm and squished it between her chest. He looked down at her pouting face and decided that that was where he was supposed to be right now.

"Come on babe, let's have some fun."

Sasuke smirked and wrapped his hand around Karin's waist.

"That's what I'm talking about." Karin turned them around and they headed for the stairs.

Sasuke grabbed Karin and kissed her passionately as soon as the door was shut but a different girl flooded his mind. A girl with pink hair. Suddenly he didn't feel so sure about wanting Karin more than Sakura. He wanted nothing more than to get to know Sakura better and kiss her lips every day. But he was a realist he knew he never would.

"Ugh, why did winter have to come early?" Ino grumbled as she shuffled her way into the school building. Hinata giggled behind her as she removed her beanie and placed it in her backpack.

"I like the snow."

"You would when you come out looking like an angel." Tenten grumbled this time as she tried to shake the snow out of her two buns and fix her tangled bangs.

Tenten, Hinata, and Ino had decided that they were picking up Sakura this morning. It was all part of the plan to hang out more. Ino's father had agreed to let Ino drive his car since the sky decided to open up early that morning and pour down buckets of snow.

Sakura didn't really mind the cold that much. She thought it was beautiful and she loved being able to snuggle into a comfy blanket and just enjoy the coziness of inside. But after last weekend she was not in the mood to be walking around getting wet.

"I do not look like an angel." Hinata made a face as they made their way farther into the building.

"You so do. Your cheeks are like perfectly pink. Mine look like I've been running for hours. Sakura's nose could compete with Rudolph's. And look at Tenten. I think she transformed into a yeti on the way here."

Tenten immediately began grunting and stomping around like she had made it off the top of her secret mountain. Hinata giggled as Ino burst into a fit of laughter. Even Sakura cracked a smile despite her foul mood.

"Okay, you made your point. We'll see you later!" Hinata grabbed a still growling Tenten and headed off towards their first period class. Ino looped her arm with Sakura and turned in the direction of Kakashi's classroom.

They were silent as they made their way through the halls and Sakura was grateful. Ino could tell that she needed some space and wasn't ready to divulge information. Honestly, Sakura wasn't even sure what to tell her. She kissed Sasuke then freaked out. She was growing closer to the Uchihas and her coworkers were starting to misunderstand. Would Ino misunderstand too? No, there was no way. Ino knew her better than she knew herself.

Ino turned into the classroom and the two of them took seats near the front. Since the first day debacle of Sasuke ruining their seats they had decided to just sit near the front. Naruto sometimes was able to steal a spot next to them but usually he just ended up in the back next to Sasuke.

Sai entered the room and easily took the seat on Ino's other side. Sakura smiled at him but then turned her attention to her homework. She had a paper coming up in one of her classes and she needed to get a good head start or she would be behind.

Ino flirted heavily as Sai occasionally commented. He was sketching something and Sakura tried tuning them out but she couldn't help but smile at how happy her best friend seemed. It was rare to see her being so open and okay with herself especially in front of a guy. Even though Sai was a little weird and did not understand social cues he was perfect for her. He had ignited something in her.

Sakura was honestly more than a little jealous.

When would she meet someone that ignited something in her? Yes she had time. She was only a senior in high school but sometimes it felt like she was just going to keep doing what she was doing forever. Especially if she actually became a doctor like she always dreamed about. When would she have time to date?

Sasuke kissing her on the head gently popped into her mind and she mentally scoffed. Yeah right. She needed to remember what Itachi had told her. Sasuke was just being his normal self. He had found a new girl to play with. She just needed to remember that she was not going to fall back into Sasuke's trap. She had learned her lesson.

"Wow, that's pretty good." Sakura glanced up without moving her head from where it was resting on her hand and saw Sasuke leaning slightly over Sai with Naruto just behind him.

"Pretty good? That's fantastic! She looks so beautiful."

Sakura looked back down to her notes and tried to ignore the fluttering of her heart at Sasuke's presence. What was wrong with her? Hadn't she just had an entire conversation with herself about him?

"Let me see!" Ino squealed as she wrestled the sketchbook out of Sai's hands. "Wow." Her voice was almost a whisper as she gazed at the picture before her. "Sakura, look at this."

Sakura looked up to see herself studying staring back at her. Sai had obviously drawn her that morning. She was hunched over her papers with her pencil in her hand and her head resting gently on her hand. Her eyes were determined and tired but the way he had drawn her. She was beautiful.

"Wow Sai, that's the way you see me? Don't you call me Ugly?"

"That's how everyone sees you."

Sakura's eyes snapped up to meet Sasuke's. He had spoken immediately and the look on his face made her realize that he understood just how weird that was coming from him. He shuffled to a seat nearby and focused on the board.

"Uh. . . yeah. . . even if that was weird he's right." Naruto patted Sasuke awkwardly on the back and tried to laugh it off. Sakura was grateful for that but she was still staring at him and her heart had started beating in her ears. Stop it.

"And as far as Ugly goes, it's just a friendly nickname. Like how you call Ino Pig."

Sakura laughed. "Well then I'm glad you call me that."

The bell rang and most students moved around to find seats. They apparently were not yet used to Kakashi being ridiculously late. Or maybe they were nervous that they were too slow at the party and Naruto would make good on his threat.

"Can I have this?" Sakura asked Sai but he didn't respond right away. She looked up to see him shaking his head no. "Why not? It's of me right?"

"There's a better home for it than your house. Sorry."

Sakura raised her brow but decided not to pursue the issue. Sai was a weird dude. "Okay, whatever."

Sai smiled weirdly fake and Sakura turned back to her paper just in time for Kakashi to come in and ask everyone to sit down. Naruto found an empty seat and Sakura ignored how close Sasuke and Naruto were to her. She needed to stay as far away from Sasuke and Itachi as possible. Not only did her job depend on it but her mental health was starting to as well.