Chapter 3 – If Not Now, When?

It was awkward and uncomfortable.

And usually, Uchiha Sasuke was not one to feel such a way.

However, sitting opposite Naruto and Sakura was making his skin crawl with discomfort. That was how obvious and potent their discomfort was. It annoyed Sasuke, too. Why the hell couldn't they just get over it and let the fact they'd had sex go? Every time their eyes met–

No, their eyes didn't even meet. Sakura made sure of that. It was ridiculous! She looked everyone except Naruto in the eye.

It was early January and after the depressing holidays, which were spent with his brother and cousin at the latter's place, Sasuke had been hoping to come back to some normalcy. Even school was better than how morbid Christmas had become since his parents' deaths. But what did he get? His two best friends still squirming over their quickie.

Oh, Naruto had gone into very fine detail about that night he spent with Sakura. No amount of threatening would shut the blond up.

"It had started slowly at first," he'd told him, "gently. But then it was like… Like this feeling in my stomach took over. I've never felt anything like it! She's amazing, Sasuke."

That was when Sasuke snarled at him to shut up, had growled out that he didn't care. Naruto either couldn't hear him due to being lost in his own little world, or cared little about the way he was unknowingly making his best friend uncomfortable. And then, after going into a disgusting amount of detail, after almost causing Sasuke to snap with that burning rage within himself, Naruto had murmured quietly, "And that's what I don't get. She seemed so into it, so there. I just… I thought she felt it too, you know? Thought she loved me back."

So, long story short, Naruto still wasn't over Sakura.

Which was the reasoning behind Sasuke's ever–foul mood.

He couldn't help it. It seriously couldn't be helped. Every lingering look Naruto sent Sakura, even the shortest of glances, had him burning with anger. And don't even get Sasuke started on the other guys who lusted after her.

Before she slept with Naruto, Sakura hadn't been popular in the least. Her best friend Yamanaka Ino was, but not Sakura. She preferred keeping to herself, didn't want anybody knowing what was going on with her or what she was doing. Now? Now it was like she took a huge leap to the other side.

Now everybody knew exactly what she was doing, when she was doing it and how. Instead of wearing her uniform the way she usually did, respectfully did, Sakura had unbuttoned the top three buttons, revealing a large amount of cleavage and had her tie so low down that there was no point in even wearing it. Then came the skirt. He was surprised she didn't flash everybody with every move she made. He just hoped she wouldn't bend over any time soon.

"Sakura–chan?"

She didn't look up at him, instead tapping away at her phone. "Yeah?"

Naruto tried not to let it show how much her lack of acknowledgement bothered him, but Sasuke could tell a mile away that it did. "What are you doing tonight?"

"Tonight?" She sighed like it was a huge bother. "I'm going out with Ino."

Out? Sasuke's eyes narrowed, trying his hardest to ignore the way Naruto looked down at the ground, looking so very much like a kicked puppy. "Where?"

There was a pause and his eyes only narrowed further when Sasuke saw a small smirk pulling at Sakura's lips. "There's a new club opening tonight–"

"You're not even sixteen." He cut her off easily. "There's no way you'll get in."

"Are you saying I don't look like a woman?"

No, not at all. "Yeah. You look like a kid."

She flinched. Actually flinched. And at the pain that flashed in her eyes, Sasuke instantly regretted his words.

"Well," Sakura forced out, grabbing her bag and standing, "we'll just see tonight, won't we?" While walking away, she snapped at him over her shoulder, "I'll bet other guys won't think I'm just a kid."

The anger returned tenfold.

It took everything to stay seated.

"What the hell, Sasuke?" Naruto spat, visibly trembling with anger. "Why did you say that, huh? Can't you see she's upset?"

Sasuke couldn't say a word. His anger silenced him. Made him immobile.

Other guys won't think I'm just a kid.

What the fuck did she mean by that?

"I've done it."

How long had he been sat there brooding for? Scowling to himself for getting lost in his angry thoughts, Sasuke looked up at the blond who sat down beside him. When had Naruto left him? How long was he gone for?

"Done what?" he grunted.

"Called her." When Sasuke merely stared at him, Naruto sighed. "Mebuki."

What–

No.

He didn't.

Sasuke's eyes widened a fraction when all Naruto did was stare back at him with a tired expression, his brows furrowed.

He did.

"Sakura is going to beat the shit out of you."

The smile on his lips was painful. "Maybe she'll finally look at me."

"Naruto–"

"I screwed up. I know." He rolled his eyes and fell back onto the grass, glaring up at the grey sky. "But even though I screwed up, I'm not letting Sakura–chan screw up, too. What if something happened to her while she's out with Ino at some strange club?" Naruto rubbed his face, hiding his grimace. "If she's going out to clubs, we should go with her. To protect her. You always hear stuff about girls getting that drug that makes them blackout or whatever… I just… I don't want to hear that something happened, you know?"

This time, it was Sasuke who rolled his eyes. He always knew that Naruto was the dramatic type, whether it was his loud, attention demanding attitude, or his ability to make things appear worse than they actually were. "You're thinking too much into it."

"Am I?" Naruto fired back and sat up, eyes narrowing on the Uchiha. "Because to me, it looked like you were just as worried about Sakura–chan going out than I was." When nothing was said in reply, when all Sasuke did was look at him, blue eyes narrowed further. "Just admit that you care about her, you bastard! It doesn't make you some sentimental, emotional idiot."

Sasuke bit the inside of his cheek, barely holding back the urge to slam his fist into Naruto's face.

The blond shook his head angrily. "I've never understood you when it comes to her, you know. Sakura–chan's always loved you and always does things to show you her love yet you…" He shook his head again. "You treat her like shit most of the time!"

Clenched fists tightened.

"Sakura–chan deserves so much better–"

"Like who, huh?" Sasuke finally snapped, unable to stay silent any longer. "She deserves so much better as in you?"

Naruto gritted his teeth. "That's not what I–"

"You already had your chance." he spat, standing up and swiftly picking up his backpack, swinging it over his shoulder. "And clearly you failed, dobe."

He left with those final words, his unyielding hold on the strap of his backpack causing his knuckles to turn white and his hand to tremble.

He knew exactly when Mebuki confronted Sakura. How?

Because Sakura immediately stormed over to his place, barging her way into the home (vaguely muttering a greeting to a bemused Itachi sitting in the living room) and slamming open Sasuke's bedroom door, leaving him to stare at her with an unimpressed expression.

"Don't you know how to knock?"

"Don't you know how to keep your damned mouth shut?"

Sasuke raised a single, dark eyebrow. This was new. Sakura had never raised her voice to him before. Well, no, she'd raised her voice, but had never sounded so angry with him before. Slowly, he sat up, watching her every move with a new sort of fascination. He liked this. That warm feeling in his stomach he'd been having the past year was now a burning sensation. This new Sakura excited him. No, not the 'new Sakura', but her anger. He liked it. Previously, she followed him like a lost puppy.

There was no denying that this sudden change intrigued him.

Right at that moment in time, Sasuke was resting after a rigorous and painful workout session. His entire body felt like it was on fire! However, he'd had so much anger building up within him that he had to find a way to let it out, because it literally felt like he had been about to explode. In a way, the anger he'd felt reminded Sasuke of a kettle that was placed on a stove, and how that kettle would whistle unbearably loud when the water was boiled.

And while he was sweaty and aching, Sakura stood in his doorway in a surprising outfit. He didn't know that she owned such clothes. They almost reminded him of Yamanaka Ino, Sakura's best friend.

The high waisted shorts barely covered anything, showing at least an inch of her ass and the crop top that went with them was just… In his opinion, way too much. It looked more like stripper's clothing. Again, the outfit reminded him of Yamanaka Ino and he didn't like it at all. While he enjoyed Sakura's anger being directed at him, he didn't like the way she was dressing (although wouldn't admit that he enjoyed seeing so much of her skin on show).

"My mom just came home early." Sakura snarled, fists clenched and trembling. "She told me that one of my 'friends' called her not too long ago, telling her that I was planning to go out clubbing tonight. I–"

"Immediately thought I was the one who ratted you out."

"Weren't you?" she demanded, though didn't even give Sasuke the chance to defend himself. "You seemed quite pissed off when I mentioned other guys, so maybe you got jealous."

Jealous? Was that what that burning anger he always felt was?

Instead of asking such things, Sasuke instead barked out a laugh, surprising Sakura long enough for him to speak. "You're delusional, Sakura. Go home." He paused, looking her up and down. "And put some clothes on while you're at it."

It amused him greatly when she flushed red with anger.

But what she said next ripped the smirk right off his face.

"Why? Having a hard time keeping your mind off inappropriate things?" It was Sakura's turn to smirk when she saw the effect her words had on Sasuke, saw his expression empty and his eyes become guarded. "Sasuke–kun," It annoyed him when her smirk widened, when she sauntered over to his bed in such a way that it made him feel like her prey, "have you been having dirty thoughts about me?"

The back of his neck burned. As did the tips of his ears.

"It'll happen eventually." she told him with a shrug, her predator act slipping away.

Sasuke's eyes narrowed. "What makes you so sure?"

Once more, Sakura walked forward with an obvious sway in her hips, her heels clicking loudly against the wooden flooring. Unlike before, however, there was no smirk on her lips. Not until she leaned over until her face was a mere inch from his. Having her so close to him was intoxicating, he decided after a moment, eyes wandering down the length of her throat and immediately snapping back to her eyes when Sasuke saw he had a very generous view of her cleavage. This time, his cheeks burned and he swallowed hard.

"What makes me so sure," she purred, "is the fact you have an erection."

Wide, horrified eyes quickly shot to his crotch and not even a second later, Sasuke grabbed the pillow he had been reclined on, covering himself with a growl. "Get out, Sakura."

She laughed freely, cheerily as she stood up straight once more, hands falling to her hips as she strutted away. "It's only a matter of time, Sasuke–kun." There was a pause as she grabbed the robe on the back of his door. "I'll be staying here for a few hours until my mom's calmed down. Hope you don't mind if I borrow this."

Without waiting for his reply, Sakura left his room, wrapping the thick, black robe around herself as she did so.

That was humiliating! Sasuke growled to himself, throwing his pillow down onto the bed and glaring at his crotch once more. A fucking erection. Perfect. And now, after an entire year of somewhat successfully avoiding that place with Sakura, she now knew he found her attractive. Or at least, a part of him did.

Damn it!

Walking into the living room and seeing Sakura curled up against Itachi's side had him rolling his eyes. She always seemed so innocent in his older brother's eyes, always seemed so sweet and loving. If only her dear Itachi saw what she'd been getting up to lately, then she wouldn't be treated like she was royalty.

Well, since she had humiliated him…

"Are you not going out tonight, then, Sakura?" Sasuke muttered, sitting down on the opposite sofa and only sparing the television a glance to see what was on. It was just some boring documentary about that band she and Itachi liked. "You said it was a new club, right?" Her eyes snapped to his, narrowing dangerously and Sasuke bit back his smirk. She knew what he was up to, it seemed. Good. "It would be a waste to not go out now, especially after getting all dressed up."

Itachi raised an eyebrow, looking down at the young girl curled up against him. "A club?"

It amused Sasuke greatly when her cheeks turned pink with her blush. "Oh, it's nothing important. I decided at the last minute that it's not really my scene." Her eyes then moved back to Sasuke and he unnoticeably swallowed hard at the fiery look in them. "Fix your problem, Sasuke–kun? Or would you like me to lend a hand later on?"

Oh that was low.

He shook his head, leaning back. "It's fine, now. Thinking of you helped. Made it go away."

The last sentence had been added swiftly, yet quickly, though not quickly enough to seem defensive. Still, Sasuke noticed the narrowing of Itachi's eyes, noticed how his brother was looking between the two of them. That wasn't surprising. Itachi disliked secrecy and he absolutely loathed being treated like an idiot.

When Sakura bit her lip, suddenly looking anywhere but at the two men, Itachi's eyes narrowed further.

"What problem, Sasuke?"

Sasuke's expression emptied. Damn it. He'd done it again, hadn't he? Gone too far with their banter. Again. And now Sakura was upset. And when Sakura was upset, Itachi got protective because even though he wasn't biologically her older brother, he still grew up with her. He had been there every day of her life, just like he had Sasuke's. However, because she was Sakura, because she was like his younger sister, Itachi could be so very protective of her.

He'd have to tread carefully now.

"Nothing important."

"It doesn't seem that way."

"Nii–san, it's–"

"No, it's not 'nothing'." Sakura murmured, meeting Sasuke's eyes and narrowing her eyes dangerously. "His problem was that he had–"

Sasuke's eyes widened. Surely she wouldn't? Just in case, he found himself cutting her off. "Sakura. Enough."

It took him a few moments, but when Sasuke finally noticed something, he felt a part of himself aching in response.

There were tears in Sakura's eyes.

Had she really been that upset by what he'd said? It had been a bit of teasing!

The phone ringing cut through the awkward pause, had Itachi's attention drifting away from them momentarily. Sasuke watched as his brother sighed and gently pulled away from Sakura, standing and leaving the living room to go out into the hall. And once he had, once Sasuke heard the phone being picked up and heard his brother's quiet voice, he felt torn about what to do.

"Why?"

His eyes reluctantly met Sakura's.

It seemed she wasn't wearing that waterproof makeup she'd once been talking about, because when a single tear slipped down her cheek, it was black.

"Why am I never good enough for you?"

Sasuke had no idea what to say. What was there to say in response to that? For the past year, he'd been pushing her away, had been ignoring it. It had been confusing as hell having his anger building and building – and it only continued to build whenever he saw her talking to some other guy. The anger towards her had started when he heard of her sleeping with Naruto.

"Sakura–"

"I slept with Naruto…" she whispered. "I… I was lonely. Just turned fifteen and already, I was lonely. It freaked me out. Made me act without thinking. I was planning…" A painful smile was directed at him. "I was saving myself for you. And I'm… I'm sorry for not–"

Like earlier, Sasuke cut her off, not wanting to hear any more. Sakura sounded like she was in agony on the inside and it made him hurt. He didn't like it. He didn't like how not only his stomach, but also his chest, was reacting to her pain. So, Sasuke did something that surprised the both of them. He got up (effectively cutting her off) and made his way over to her, silently reaching out for her hand just like she had for him only a month ago.

It seemed to cheer her up, if only slightly, because Sakura leaned against him with a small smile. "I'm sorry–"

"Stop saying you're sorry." Sasuke paused for a moment, trying to soften his tone. "You have nothing to be sorry for. I… overreacted."

"Overreacted?"

"…Yeah."

She pulled away, making him frown. What had he said this time?

"Stop sending me mixed signals, Sasuke–kun. You either want me, or you don't." He watched her as she watched him, her eyes narrowing before they softened. "Do you want me?"

Sasuke couldn't help but avert his eyes. It wasn't every day that he backed down, or that somebody else seemed too intense for him (unless it was Itachi or sometimes Shisui) but at that moment in time, Sakura's eyes were so focused, so intense, that it made him feel like he was on the edge of a cliff. If he said the wrong thing, she would push him off. If he said the right thing, she would pull him to safety.

Boldly, Sakura cupped his cheek and turned his head in her direction, making their eyes meet again.

"Sasuke?"

Fortunately for him, that was the moment Itachi decided to return to them and Sakura quickly let go of him as soon as the door opened.

"That was your mother, Sakura." Itachi told her, either not noticing or not commenting on the fact Sasuke had moved places and her face was now tear stained. It was probably the latter. "She wanted to know where you were, and to make sure you hadn't gone out clubbing with older men."

Sakura deadpanned at the disapproving look Itachi was giving her.

"Explain." was all the older Uchiha said a moment later, his eyes narrowing dangerously.

She gulped and paled.

Sasuke smirked, trying to ignore the question she had asked him.