This is probably my favorite chapter. Just to give you the heads up, you'll be given a song later in the chapter to listen to while reading. It will totally make a difference. Also, the author's note at the end of the chapter is really important. Please don't skip it.

Recap

He felt as if he was seperated from time and the world. It was all going in slow motion as he shuffled through the congested halls to his next class. No, he wasn't going there. He already forgot to do his homework and was in no position to be scolded. Not today. Today, he needed to breathe on the roof.

Quickly, he slipped around the corner and into the back stairs leading to the roof. His footsteps echoed ahead of him in the darkness.

'Sakura and Naruto are my best friends. Now, Sakura is my girlfriend. It just doesn't feel right. Love can't in truth actually be like this. Sure, I love her, but not like that. Just as a sister or something. Dammit, I'm horrible.. Here I am, using her in my stage of denial while she's out there, oblivious to it all. Poor Sakura.. Tomorrow I promise to fix this.' He huffed a little, then looked around at the peaceful site around him. "But now, I sleep."

Chapter 5-- This Is Us

The next day in school, there was an assembly. Their principal Tsunade stood on the stage in the auditorium facing all the sophomores and juniors of Westridge. "Today," her stern voice boomed through the room. "we are recruiting students to help out with the performance the dance classes are going to be putting on for us."

Everyone sighed with relief. They all assumed they had been caught or found out about. You know, the druggies, sex scandals, vandalism.. All that stuff.

"We are still looking for a host, a few stage hands, and a couple of girls to help with makeup."

Everyone was completely quiet. Seeing this, the golden-eyed principal glared at the crowd and added, "Those who volunteer will be thrown a pizza party the following day with the rest of the dancers."

Almost immediately, dozens of hands were shot up eagerly.

Sasuke was sitting behind Sakura with his class. Unfortunately, they couldn't just sit where ever they wanted. He reached into his bag and pulled out a black sharpie. Then he opened his folder, but didn't have any paper! He'd simply just tell her, but with everyone so tightly packed together, privacy was a serious issue here.

And he was so close, too! His patience had just run out, so he yanked off the cap to the black marker and began to write in his hand: I'm sorry, I'm gay.

He tapped her shoulder and before she could turn around, he put his hand in front of her. After a few seconds, he saw her visibly tense up.

Slowly, she turned around to face him. Her face was covered in hurt and confusion. He mouthed, 'I'm sorry' to her. Almost instantly, her eyes became mixed with thick tears and she knew.

She knew what they had was gone. She knew what they had- no, what she thought they had was never there. She knew it had all been a lie, a waste of time..

"Dismissed!" All the students got up and shuffled out of the auditorium. Sasuke and Sakura did not move. They remained in their seats locked in a deep stare. Finally she blinked, pushing the tears down her cheeks as she looked away and shoved through the crowd.

His next class was spent staring at an ant struggling to walk straight without two of his legs. Yes, quite depressing.

Lunch came and he scanned the cafeteria for Sakura. Not Naruto, because he was "absent with the sniffles". Gaara had coincidentally been absent, too. I guess a few hours before dawn got old and they wanted to have more energy for their fun.

No pink-haired girl anywhere. He walked back out and ran up and down the stares. He even checked the roof. But she was nowhere. He was seriously getting worried now. Hopelessly, he leaned on the railing and looked out at the courtyard.

From the corner of his eye, he picked up a small bit of pink. Sure enough, Sakura was crouched against the back wall of the school. Without a second thought, he flew down the stairs and whipped around the corners until he was outside, hidden close.

(Playing Guardian Angel by The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus is totally recommended now.)

She was crying quietly, picking at her sandwich. He watched as she suddenly stopped and began bawling into her arms helplessly. He felt his heart squeeze painfully in his chest and his eyes prickled with tears.

He couldn't take it anymore. He ran over to her balled up form and hugged her tightly. Her shaking only increased as she wrapped her arms desperately around his neck and soaked the collar of his deep green shirt. His hands rubbed her back until she released him and sat back down and wiped her nose on her arm.

"W-why..?" She barely whispered.

"I..I think..I was in denial. I was confused. And I still am, but much less.." He wiped away a stray tear from her moist cheek.

He continued again. "Sakura, I still love you. I'll always be here for you." He leaned against the wall next to her. " No matter what. I'd never give you up. Ever.. You are my love, Sakura. As a sister, but no one else can replace you."

She leaned her head on his shoulder and inhaled through her stuffy nostrils. "Then I guess I love you like a brother." Sasuke still felt her sadness soaking through her skin.

"But from now on, little sister, before you decide to go out with a guy, I'm checking him out first to make sure he's okay."

"You could do that whether you're gay or not."

"Nooo.. I mean check him out, if you know what I mean." Her head shot up and she yelled with a smile, "SASUKE!!" They both began to laugh hysterically all over each other with watery eyes. But with tears of happiness.

"So are you gonna tell Naruto?"

"Not yet. I'm still trying to get used to the idea myself. When I'm ready, he'll know."

She snapped open a can of Mountain Dew. "Sooo... We broke up?"

He chuckled lightly. "Yeah, I guess all the gossip girls are gonna be disappointed that we're still friends."

"Sasuke-kun, can I be honest with you?"

"Sure."

"You aren't that great of a kisser."

He stole half of her sandwich.

"HEY!!"

(Yeah, now would be the time to make sure you stop listening to Guardian Angel. It definitely won't fit with the next scene..At all.. OH OH OH!!! Listen to Wolf Like Me by TV On The Radio. Awesome song. The rhythm and stuff fits. Forget the words, lol.)

Sasuke pushed open the gymnasium doors and walked in to join the rest of the guys in matching basketball outfits on the court for a game of basketball.

They were acting suspicious and kept their distance from him. Plenty kept snickering and smirking at each other. Finally, someone threw the ball towards him. A brave dude from the group ran at him, and instead of grabbing the ball, he grabbed his wrist.

He flipped the Uchiha's hand over and his eyes widened at the smudged but still clear words in his palm. "Holy shit, man! You're right!" He yelled across the court as he released his wrist. "He is a fag!!"

All the guys began to crack up. Once it died down a little, Kabuto spoke up. "Geez, Sasuke. That was quite a show you put on behind the school during lunch. Very heartwarming."

Yes, interesting, no? Heehee.. Sasu's in some deep shit now, huh? OH WAIT!!! PLEASE VIEW MY PROFILE AFTER YOU REVIEW!!! I HAVE A QUESTION I'D LIKE YOU GUYS TO ANSWER! It's in the 3rd paragraph or something. But I'm almost positive you'll be more than happy to answer, lol.

happy unbirthday

--frumpyrox