Well, this is chapter two. Now I gotta warn you, there is something called school out there, and it takes up a lot of time. Especially all of the damn homework they give you. And having honors makes it NO easier.
And yeah, I'll try to make the chapters sorta long. It may be a rather short fic…under twenty chapters. Pft, your guess is as good as mine on how long this is really gonna be.
It was becoming routine. Sakura closed her text book, now done with the weekend's homework, and pulled out her journal. This journal held everything; her innermost thoughts, dreams, life, and what she felt almost every waking moment. If something good happened, she'd to write it in as soon as she got home. Something bad would be delayed until the Haruno went to bed. An average day would wait until her homework was done.
It was Saturday; a day in which the rosette didn't have much going on, and laid around listening to music on her favorite radio station. She wasn't one for I-pods; she had an MP3 player, but still preferred the old disks in her radio or the tunes from stations.
Grabbing a pen, she wrote the date, and then started. The page before was Friday; she'd gotten home and written immediately about Sasuke after talking with her Biology teacher online. I'm supposed to go with Naruto, Hinata, Neji, and Kiba to the movies in a few hours here. I guess Hinata's dad is giving us a lift there. Temari had plans and couldn't come; it should be fun as long as Kiba doesn't pull anything. We're gonna go to the good theaters; the ones at the mall. Maybe eat afterwards?
She dabbled with her pen, hesitating to write. So badly she wanted to put his name in the journal again; was there really a reason too? Sakura smiled; there was. She always found a way to fit Sasuke in there somewhere. We're supposed to see that new horror movie, Asylum (1). These collage kids, freshman, discover their room or dorm used to be an asylum. This evil doctor used to torture the people there, and I'm pretty sure he's gonna pick off the collage people one by one. It looked so freaky, but I love those movies. I heard Sasuke does too; Suigetsu claims Sasuke just sits there and starts at the screen, enjoying what's going on, but never jumping or being surprised. God, that's so cool. It just came out today too; so, maybe he'll be around…somewhere. But if I call Suigetsu and ask if he's going with Sasuke, he'll know something's wrong with me and that I like Sasuke, and then use it as blackmail against me. I wanna be able to tell him on my own, eventually, that I'm in love with him. I'm still a chicken with that; I might always be. I gotta learn to take a chance.
Sakura didn't want to get into this much further; this may be the fifth time she's written something as such in the journal. Well, I better get ready. Movie is at eight, and its almost six now. Rather have extra time than be out of it. The Haruno clicked her pen's end to recede it back into its holder, and closed her journal, setting it on her nightstand.
"Alright, just call me when you're done, and I'll come get you as soon as I can."
Sakura said thanks, as did the others, and got out of the car at the entrance before the elder Hyuuga drove away. She pulled at her shirt a bit; the Haruno was extremely finicky right now, hoping he'd show up to see this. But she knew as well as everyone else the sooner they got in, the better the seats they could nab.
"Come on guys! Movie time!" Naruto charged forward into the automatic doors, thankfully opening before he could really run into them. Hinata went a bit red, embarrassed that her date would do this.
Neji glared at the back of the blondes head as they all tried to catch up. "Hinata, why him? He's a smart and witty kid, but for Christ's sake, where's his manners!?"
"I-it's okay, he just wants us to get good seats. Don't worry about it Neji." He only calmed down and let it go, seeing Naruto at the top of the stairs waiting.
Sakura sighed, glancing around on the balcony they were on, about to enter the theater. Where is he?
"Looking for someone?" The rosette could feel the hairs on the back of her neck stand up; already she'd spaced out about going to the movies, just thinking about Sasuke. She shook her head and went inside the main theater, into the rather short line. Kiba was right by her side, wanting an answer.
"No, just spacing out."
"So, spacing out includes scanning the balcony?"
Sakura was pretty bad at covering up things like this. "Er…well, I was taking in the nice scenery. They added a couch up here!"
He shook his head as they finished purchasing their tickets; they threw a ten each to the person behind the counter. "Whatever Sakura."
At least he wasn't asking who she was looking for; maybe he did know when to back off. Rather that, or he didn't want to hear the obviously bullshited excuses Sakura was making up.
The five of them purchased some sort of food or drink; Sakura stuck with a medium coke, all the while, she was looking around the lobby for him. Kiba didn't say anything, but he knew she was still obviously looking for someone. She made it evident; anyone could pick it up. She was paying way more attention to the people around than getting into the theater to see the new movie. Sakura actually stood aside from the lobby, being the only one to not give her ticket to the ticket guy.
Neji called her name as Naruto and Hinata walked in to get the seats. He just shook his head and gave up after she didn't respond. The Inuzuka sighed, taking the few steps to her and yanking her back from the shoulder. "Come on Sakura; maybe they're already in here and sitting down."
The rosette didn't have much of a choice; she gave her ticked to the man, and went into the theater with Kiba. Yeah, maybe he's in here already. They'd want good seats, after all.
Both started ascending the stairs, seeing the place already half full, though they were a good half hour early. The music and previews would be playing for a good while more. Then the movie credits and other previews as well. The brunette led the way to the top row, taking a seat next to Neji in the middle. Sakura glanced at the seats; she sat next to Hinata, since there were few empty seats by her. Next to the female Hyuuga was Naruto, Neji, then Kiba. Someone was already next to the dog lover; just some random person. The rosette settled down and got comfortable, but scanned the crowd below for a raven haired male. Kiba just HAD to mention he could be here already…
It didn't even faze her that Kiba was hot on her trail so soon over some person she was obviously looking for. It wouldn't take much more before he knew it was fondness, and head over heels love. But after five minutes of careful searching, she leaned back in her chair, and let out a breath. She was a bit disappointed that he wasn't here; there was a good month to see this movie, and tons of other screening later on today, and tomorrow.
And she suddenly caught herself becoming so worked up about not seeing the person she's madly in love with at this theater when she is. Sakura! Pull yourself together! It's a single movie! Enjoy this with your pals from school and let go of him for a few hours. Don't become so obsessed…
The Haruno couldn't have thought of something so contradicting as she heard the blonde yell at someone and point her way. She snapped to, and glanced at the people approaching; two males.
But not just any two males; Gaara and Sasuke. Her heart nearly ripped from her chest and hit the floor. "Sasuke! Gaara! Go sit over there next to Sakura! She's got open seats!"
This was the best combination of males, and day of her life yet. Yes, she was way over thrilled that the Uchiha himself made his way to take the seat away, but Gaara had been the one to sit down right next to her. She'd had her eye on the red head over the years, talking now and then, joking around, going back and forth with helping homework, and even talked to him once and a while after school. They were pretty good friends over the years, and still managed. It helped even more that he was so cute, yet serious.
He was almost as rough, maybe even more so, than Sasuke. But around Sakura, Gaara was a great person full of so much in his mind. He cared about so many people. Friends with him was an amazing feat, acquaintances was alright, but no one would want to get on his bad side. Of what she knew, the last guy to defy Gaara and get in his face was kicked out of school. The teachers looked the other way when Gaara threw the punch; the Sabaku called it defense, so they acknowledged that. Gaara had amazingly high marks, and was a very well know student. True most people knew Sakura's, Naruto's, even Sasuke's name, but Gaara was the next level up. More than just another face in a few clubs that did extra work. He was also Temari's younger brother by two years, in the Haruno's grade she had a few classes with him.
Her eyes remained on Sasuke as he seated himself; as soon as he settled in, Sakura still looking in disbelief, his head turned, and his eyes met hers. She couldn't help but glance away into the blue eyes next to her and pretend that didn't happen. "Haven't gotten a chance to really talk to you lately."
He smiled back at her; a small grin was more like it. For Gaara, it was a smile. "Yeah, they're loading on the projects in some classes. Sorry I've been so busy."
"Oh, it's fine. We all have school weeks like that. This week's been just a bit out of the ordinary for me."
The red head seemed rather interested; he always was so polite and attentive to almost anything Sakura said. She wished all men would be like him in some ways. "Really?"
She nodded, "Unusual, but it could mean something good. Depends what'll come out of it, I guess. Time will tell."
"Beating around the bush, or avoiding the main subject?"
Sakura paled. She didn't want to specify more since she was referring to Sasuke, who was leaning forward and probably taking in the conversation. She tried to cover it up the best she could. "Ah, well…-"
"What, somebody's been asking you to homecoming?"
She frowned, "Two, actually; Kiba and Suigetsu. I said no for the time being."
Thank god, I still have time to ask her… Gaara inwardly sighed in relief. He'd been meaning to ask her to least year's spring event, but she had a date. Now that she didn't have one and stalled, he could ask relatively soon.
"Why the sudden interest in Sakura having a date?" For the first time in a great while, Sakura heard the Uchiha's voice. It'd been sometime since she'd heard that honey smooth voice, however stern too. She looked over and into his eyes, as did Gaara. The onyx eyes were within her green ones. For some reason, she didn't feel so worked up; rather subtle and unsure what to think, do, or say.
"Why would you care?"
The raven stalled for a moment before his eyes pulled away from Sakura's to meet the other males. "I don't care. I just find it amusing how you suddenly wanted-"
Gaara backed his left elbow into the Uchiha's stomach, though lightly. Her green eyes went wide, seeing his smirk.
"Chill out, you know I wouldn't really do that to you."
The other male kidded back, shaking his head, "I don't know about you sometimes, Sasuke." Sakura understood that Sasuke was teasing the red head in his own way, which freaked Gaara some. Though Sakura was still immobile; her eyes were still stuck on him; glued. It was a bit embarrassing how zoned out she was.
The blue eyed male sighed, yet again, for the female next to him didn't understand or was even asking about the topic that was just up for grabs. About he wanted to take her to Homecoming. Though, he didn't know she was stuck looking at Sasuke. All she was doing was daydreaming at what just happened. Sasuke…that look in his eyes. He butted in on my conversation. Maybe he was embarrassed…and didn't want to admit he was interested...in going with me. Never could she think of more than a few sentences at this point.
"Hey, guys! Movie's starting!" Gaara shifted in his seat; anything that was said besides Naruto's loud voice was blocked out. Now realizing she was about to start drooling, and that the others got comfy without another word, or glance, she focused her attention on the screen. Just incase, the rosette swiped a finger casually under her lip; incase. It'd be more than embarrassing to have drool falling from your mouth; her life would be over at that point.
Nevertheless, she wanted just one more glance at him. In an attempted excused, the rosette shifted her head down and to the armrest, taking a sip of her pop. While doing so, she glanced out of the corner of her eye at the Uchiha. He, too, was looking at her from the corner of his eye. Yes, her heart was more than throbbing in shock; Sakura leaned back up and broke eye contact, trying her best to concentrate on the film.
Gaara couldn't help but notice who Sakura had looked at in that moment; it was obvious since Sasuke was right next to him, and the divider person between the two. The red head, as was Kiba, started wondering about this whole situation with Sakura.
Quite frankly, Sakura couldn't wait till school tomorrow. Not only had yesterday's movie gone so well, but she was supposed to meet Kakashi today for some coffee to discuss this matter. It was a café in a strip mall down the street; she planned on walking down there in a bit. The Haruno knew all too well her sensei loved to sleep in on the weekends. They were meeting at twelve-thirty for that reason.
Sakura herself was a bit too anxious to sleep, not only that, but it'd only been a day and the experience at the movies which made her believe there really was something going on inside Sasuke. Perhaps it'd be enough for Kakashi to go off of? How badly she whished so.
But for now, the rosette would quaintly watch the clouds shift around in the November sky. They were dark, took much of the skies area, and left no real light; still it wasn't raining. Sakura loved to snuggle into her coat on cold days like these, sitting in her backyard hammock, and staring at the sky. It helped her to calm down and concentrate, to be at peace somewhere. Anyone who knew this probably though she was one of those hippies; she kept the solitude of the sky to herself; no one needed to know, and she didn't need to be judged. Hippies were in almost fifty years ago, and she wasn't one.
She almost told Sasuke once what she loved to do, including what she was doing now. Before high school, things between them were much different; no one would have ever guessed two people like them used to talk and be around the other so much. The rosette wasn't sure how that ended, either. She was still asking herself the same question. Was it that summer before high school? Or was I not there for him? What did I do to cause such a huge loss?
Sakura frowned, watching the clouds turn as the subject came up again. Before she got the chance to get into it much further, her cell phone started to ring and vibrate in her jeans pocket. And that should be Kakashi…
She pulled her phone out, not even bothering to look at the caller ID. "Hello?"
"And I thought I was always late." This was Kakashi alright, but what on earth was he talking about?
"I'm not late, it's not even noon-"
"Actually, it's almost one; your head been in the clouds or something?"
In a way, yeah, they had been. How the HELL was I out here that long!? Sakura shook her head, getting up from the hammock, "Actually, they were. Sorry, I'll be right there." Both hung up; she really didn't understand where time went these days.
He heard the door open, followed by a few frantic footsteps. No doubt this flustered person was his student he'd talked to not ten minutes ago. "Sorry I'm so late."
Kakashi glanced up at the pink-nosed female, grinning; he never had a book in his face in public. "Its fine, I've been later before too." He motioned to the chair across from him, "Please."
She took the seat, removing her coat and draping it over the back. The café was nice and warm today, unlike the strong wind that picked up outside. "So, Sakura, what happened that could have you instant messaging me like you'd been shot?" She'd been used to his overly-sarcastic remarks; some were quite funny, but right now it didn't seem like the best time to be cracking at her. He now saw that by the look in her green eyes.
"Get this. I went to the movies with Naruto, Hinata, her cousin, and Kiba. That new horror move, Asylum. So we all sit down, and not five minutes later, Naruto's calling over some people to sit next to me." She paused when the waiter came over to take their order. She got a sweetened mocha-espresso, while her Biology teacher got the caramel frappuccino. He liked sweet coffee drinks, though it varied. He could drink coffee black on certain days, usually if nothing particularly good was going on. Today must have been a good and interesting day since he got one of the sweetest drinks offered.
Sakura picked back up, "Well, it was Sasuke and Gaara. Apparently his older brother Itachi gave him a lift over here. I think he and his girlfriend went to some other showing."
Itachi Uchiha, unlike his brother, was a complete player. He was a hot shot second year in collage, who got a new date or girlfriend every week. Sakura remembered him quite well from years before when she and Sasuke were still acquainted well. God there was so much there before, gut she couldn't drift off into that now. Itachi was always saying how Sasuke could be getting so many girls if he just let lose, partied frequently, and told girls how hot and beautiful they were. But he really wasn't into that sort of thing, at all. He didn't want girls chasing him around high school and for the rest of his life; he didn't like one night or one week flings either. If Sasuke had a relationship, he wanted to find the perfect girl and make it last. That's what he told Sakura back then, and that outlook probably never changed.
"Which sat next to you?"
"Gaara; I hadn't talked to him in a while. I wasn't bummed or anything that I wasn't right next to Sasuke; he sat next to Gaara." The waiter came back with the drinks; both took a sip.
"So, what happened?"
She swallowed, almost choking because she was so worked up about it. "Gaara was asking if there was someone taking me to homecoming, right? I said no, but I'm stalling on Suigetsu and Kiba. Well, Sasuke actually asks why he's so interested in whether I have a date. And, Sasuke and I locked eyes after he said that. My god it seemed like forever. His eyes seemed sort of different, that look…" Sakura sipped at her drink, recalling that look.
Kakashi was rather interested, drinking down more of his coffee. "What did it look like? Normal?"
She shook her head, "There was just a bit of positivism or curiosity…almost trouble making in his eyes when I saw them. Gaara asked why he cared, and he looked at him, saying he didn't care. And…something about…finding it amusing. But Gaara made him shut up, and Sasuke actually smiled; well, grinned; he was teasing Gaara. The movie started, but I gave Sasuke once last glance and he was looking at me." Sakura took another drink of the hot and sweet coffee, letting Kakashi know that was pretty much it.
He picked up with his analysis, which she was all ears for. "I really wish you could see these things on your own, but I don't want you screwing up a chance with the only guy you'll ever come to love…" He sipped on his drink, continuing. "What it sounds like, from Sasuke's part, is curiosity or experimenting. He is a different one, thinks and acts more hidden and reserved than most people, so I may not be completely right. Maybe he just wants to see your reaction and keeps an eye on you."
Well I wasn't expecting to hear that... The rosette let out a breath; she knew he wouldn't lie to her. She took a sip of her coffee, not speaking for a moment.
In actuality, Kakashi hadn't told her it all. There was something about Gaara she missed; she did ask about the Uchiha though. It was obvious to the grey haired male that Gaara had an attraction towards the Haruno. He also refrained from the fact Sasuke could possible already know what Sakura feels, and is just messing with her, which was cruel. He was hoping, if that was the case, he'd let Sakura know in time before the damage is done. Then he'd secretly fail Sasuke for being a bastard to such a kind person who loved him so much.
"What about the homecoming thing?"
His dark eyes strayed among her green ones. "He was just messing with Gaara is all. Please, Sakura, don't get your hopes too high. I don't want you to do the wrong thing and end up hurt. I don't think, at this point, there is no attraction from him to you."
"…It's hard to believe how one summer can change so much between two people. I don't understand him now; he's changed greatly somehow. And in some way I've managed to still love him…"
Both finished off their drinks, sitting to ponder for a brief moment. "In any case, don't give up entirely. Sasuke isn't an easy one to read. Just give it some time and try to get back into part of his life; find the place in his heart where you can mean something and belong." The waiter came along, and Kakashi paid for both drinks. He didn't mind; it was just two coffees. He'd dumped the bill on Sakura on more than one occasion anyways; it's the least he could do.
She started walking home after saying thanks and bye; Sakura's mind would be filled with so many thoughts now, just of how to do as Kakashi said. Be somewhere in his life.
(1): Yeah, that movie isn't out yet and won't be for a long time. They started filming last year, but it sounded pretty interesting. No doubt the movie's rated R and has sex, but I left that part out of this fic, cause this is rated Teen, not Mature.
Well, I made this one a bit longer. I had a bit of fun with this too; though hopefull it was easy to take and uncerstnad things from this chapter. And the fact Sasuke and Sakura had a strong past before something went wrong. XD Something like that. Anyways, reviews are always appriciated.