-Chapter Thirteen-

-Just One Hunger-

I glare at Sasuke. How dare he! Well, I'll just have to get him back. Oh, yes. Just you wait and see, Uchiha.

Kia and I step through the doors into our decorated school hall. Nearly every male eye is drawn to us.

My hair has been brushed, straightened and combed into place so that it resembles a short pixie cut. Think black eyeliner circles my blue orbs, spiralling out from the right hand corner of my left eye in a weird pattern that Kia did. A short, black, strapless dress (with a wide orange belt around my waist) covers my figure with black high-heels with black ties that wind their way up my legs. A necklace made of alternately black and orange chunky beads is around my neck with a matching bracelet on my wrist. I admit, I did take ages getting ready; I wanted to show Sasuke what he was missing.

Kia looks great too in midnight blue, then again, she always does. I flirt, talk and (most importantly) dance. I know he can't resist my dancing. I see him watch me, take in every twist and turn that I make. There's something in his eyes. Something I can't quite identify. But then I see it again as Kankuro's eyes follow Ino in her tight, short and low-cut pink number. Hunger. I smirk.

As I weave my way towards Kia, and large hand grabs my wrist and pulls me out of the hall and into a deserted corridor. I'm slammed roughly against the wall and my assailant attacks my mouth with his own. At least...I hope it's a he...

I realise who it is a second later. I know his (yes, it is a guy) kiss, his touch, him. I pull away.

"My, my, I never knew I had this affect on you." I tease.

"You know perfectly well." He moves in again but I stop him.

"Am I just your whore?" I ask, unconsciously tilting my head to give him better access to my neck. He instantly places kisses on the skin newly exposed to him.

"Never. I...I..." We pause, still with limbs wrapped around each other and still oh, so close but staring deep into each other's eyes. I see something flicker in his. Not hunger, or passion, but something else. He opens his mouth to say something but a small noise from the end of the corridor sends our gazes to there instead.

Sakura. My heart wrenches at the sight of her pale, drawn face. Then she turns and runs. Sasuke turns back to me but I wrestle my way out of his embrace.

"Sorry, but I need to talk to her." He looks at me incredulously. "Please?" He nods and kisses my hand before I run off in the direction Sakura took.

I find her in the girl's bathroom. I force every other occupant out before knocking on the door of her stall.

"Sakura?"

"Go," Sniff, "Away." Sob.

"I'm so sorry, Sakura, you shouldn't have found out that way."

"You think?"

"No, I know you shouldn't have. Sasuke shouldn't have asked you to the dance either, he only did it to get me back."

"Back?" Shit.

"Yeah, we dated for a couple of weeks, then Gaara told me that Sasuke told Neji I was just a good shag."

"That must have hurt."

"It did." She unlocks the door and presents me with her tearstained face. "Come on, let's get you cleaned up." I try to lead her towards the door.

"I can't go out there looking like this!"

"I'll sneak you to our room, then we can find you a more suitable outfit." I say, eyeing her dress which is not dissimilar to Ino's, except the colour looks ok on Ino, not so much on Sakura. Which reminds me. "Sakura, where's Temari?"

"She's been thrown out of the group."

"Why?!"

"She refused to wear the dress Ino wanted her to."

"I bet that didn't go down well."

"You're right there." Sakura laughs. Not the petty, demure, well-rehearsed laugh she shares with the other Barbies, but a full and natural laugh. It's beautiful.

"You should laugh like that more often." I say. She instantly covers her mouth.

"Oh, I'm sorry! It's hideous, isn't it?"

"Not at all, and don't let Ino tell you so, now come on, let's dry those tears."

"Naruta?"

"Yeah?"

"Thank you. You and Sasuke are perfect for each other." I blush.

"It's alright, Sakura, a friend helping a friend."

I am immensely proud of myself. Sakura looks normal. Well, as normal as an extremely pretty girl who's finally let that show can look. I toned down her makeup and put her in a simple mint-green dress that matches her eyes. Boys swamp her, but I force them back with a glare. Oh, the power I have.

"Sakura, you can dance with whoever you want if you promise to dance with one of my friends first."

"Of course, Naruta."

"Don't be put off by what you've heard about him either; he's a really nice guy."

"Naruta...who is i-"

"Gaara, Sakura. Sakura, Gaara. Enjoy the dance!" I am amazing.

"I know you are." A pair of arms encircle my waist, the owner resting their chin of the top of my head. I break out of his hold.

"A) Did I just say that aloud? B) Don't do that because it just reminds me how short I am. And c) Don't do that 'cause it musses up my hair! Oh, and I'll dance with you later, I've got a lot of matchmaking to do!" I whirl off, leaving Sasuke shaking his head.

A/N: Omg, only one more chapter left !! Please review !!

Becki

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