Beta-reader: SymphoniaFreak

Chapter: Two – The Store

Type: Mini-Story – Incomplete

Summary: She'd gotten ice cream all over him. "So which shirt do you want?" And now she had to buy him any shirt of his choosing.

Theme: 25 Place LJ challenge (#6 – Ice Cream Parlor)

Word Count: 2,865

Disclaimer: If you've heard of it before, then it's obviously not mine.

Edited on: December 20, 2011


The clock on the wall couldn't tick slow enough, and it most certainly couldn't tock fast enough. Sakura waited in irritation and festering sulkiness for the Uchiha that would be the death of her. Going shopping – she still didn't know where – with any guy as gorgeous and popular as him was like social suicide. But it wasn't like she could say no; she'd offered to do anything and even agreed to buy him a new shirt no matter how much it would cost. Still, because she was going to be walking next to him in public for at least an hour, she knew one of her classmates would see her and the domino effect would get her into a lot of problems. So no matter which way she looked at it, today would simply be, figuratively of course, the death of her.

She huffed to herself. This sucked and once again she reprimanded herself for not figuring out how to keep her big mouth shut. Maybe she should just start duck taping it; in fact she should go do that right now so she didn't get herself into deeper water with this guy. The only reason she threw the idea out was because she didn't have any on her at the moment and she couldn't go grab any because she was in the parlor she'd met him at.

They'd agreed to meet here at a given time because it was an easy place to meet at without the need to give directions to unknown places. In other words; it was safe. She'd flat out refused to give away either her phone number or house address and didn't even bother asking for his; that would only make her problem worse – she so didn't need anybody knowing that she had gone to the Uchiha house and then gone somewhere with one of them. And the idea of one of them going to her house so that said guy and herself could go somewhere? Even worse. And thus the parlor.

She was seated in her usual spot; it was halfway between the door and the counter and was right next to the window, allowing her a view of the parking lot. She hadn't even bothered getting something to eat even though school had ended almost fifteen minutes ago; she simply didn't have the appetite for ice cream today. This had earned her continuous concerned looks from both Kakashi and Anko, but she didn't pay them much mind, passing it off with the excuse that she was feeling nervous today. And not that she wasn't, she hadn't been able to make the nauseous feeling in the pit of her stomach go away since last night. Thankfully today there were no meets whatsoever, not on the student council, not in volleyball, not with teachers, nothing. And so with a quick excuse to Ino – that was going to come back to haunt, she just knew it – she had headed straight for her favorite parlor shop.

And now here she waited. He hadn't told her if he was coming from school or something and she hadn't asked. It wasn't really her business anyhow; she simply wished he'd hurry the hell up. But in his defense, he still had another ten minutes to get here. She hated when she showed up early; it was a tendency she had that usually got her into almost-trouble. Not actual trouble because most of the teachers and staff didn't think she could do any wrong. Not true, but that didn't mean she wouldn't use it to her advantage. For those who did know better – a few select teachers and the principal herself – she was usually let off with a warning and lecture and sometimes a form of punishment. And the punishment should have been a give away, but most thought her such a goody-two-shoes that she would do it of her own accord anyway. Again, she used that in her favor.

She didn't know if she felt relieved or disappointed when he finally walked in the small shop and immediately started for her. "You didn't have to wait too long, I hope."

Well whether he was worse than his little brother or not, at least he had manners. Something Sasuke didn't seem to even know the meaning of.

She'd been there for roughly a half hour, but she still shook her head and stood. "Er, are we taking your car or mine or separate?" So much for figuring out how to keep her mouth shut.

He paused, tilting his head as he considered the question. "Whichever you feel most comfortable with."

She had to refrain gaping and settled for looking away, at the door instead of him. Was he trying to be nice? Or was he naturally that way? She immediately pushed the latter question aside because there was simply no way an Uchiha could be naturally nice. Or nice in general unless they had an ulterior motive. So, now the question was, if he was indeed trying to be nice, what was his motive? She opened the door and held it for him, waving to both adults behind the counter.

"Have a good day, Sakura!" Anko called and Kakashi smiled warmly at her. She nodded to them with a smile of her own.

And then she was following the Uchiha who was already the bane of her existence. Though admittedly, he didn't seem even remotely as bad as Sasuke. Maybe the rumors were wrong, she wouldn't get her hopes up, but it would be nice if that were the case. "Do you mind if I ride with you?" She was already doomed anyway.

He glanced back at her, and she could have sworn she caught him smile. But then again, that could just be her overactive imagination. But he nodded and led her to his car. She was only half surprised to find it was one of the less expensive brands and though the car looked nice, if she remembered the commercials correctly, this was definitely not expensive.

That almost made her hopeful. After all, it meant he didn't spend as much money as his spoiled little brother. And then she remembered that she was the one paying for it so he would probably be more flippant with prices. It just figured she'd have this kind of luck.

She tugged open the door after hearing the handle click. Then, just as easily, she slid into the passenger seat of the car – it was nice with a cobalt blue interior with not leather seats, but nice soft fur seats. She had to admit, he had good taste, and the car smelt like rainwater. She liked it; she'd never really paid it much mind since she didn't go out in or right after the rain very much anymore, but she still liked the smell.

Huh.

Good taste, lovely scent and trying to be nice.

But a horrible reputation.

She honestly didn't know what to make of him. Especially with the rumor that he'd been twice as bad as Sasuke on the personality front. But, as she glanced at him for the corner of her eye – she would not openly ogle him no matter how incredibly handsome he was – he honestly didn't seem that bad. He had slipped into his seat as well and then shut the door and started the car all in one fluid motion. All she could see were the good points about him and she didn't know if that was a good thing or bad thing. Did it mean he was covering up the horrible personality and if so, why? And why even bother with her? it was just a shirt after all; a snap of his fingers and he'd have a new one just like it. He wouldn't have to go to the store to buy it or anything.

She couldn't figure him out. And to be honest, that was just more points in his favor because she liked a good challenge.

After he pulled out of the parking lot she caught him glancing at her – but only because she'd glanced at him at the same time – and quickly looked out the tinted window. "So where are we going?"

"I honestly didn't have a specific store planned, do you have any ideas?"

That threw her off as well. Was he trying to make it seem like he wasn't out to humiliate, or was he really just not conscious of the fact of what being seen with him would do to her reputation?

Too confused by the whole 'was this or that true' game she kept playing with herself over him, she finally decided to take him at face value. Decided to forget what she'd heard about him and just go off of what she learned. And what she learned was that he was a guy she'd gotten ice cream all over and she'd offered to buy him a new shirt so that's what they were doing. And that said guy was nice and handsome and accommodating. All great qualities that she would like in a boyfriend.

She froze at that thought. Uchiha Itachi. As her boyfriend. She couldn't believe she'd even gone there. Quickly she shook her head free of such complete and utter nonsense and chose then to remember that he'd asked her a question.

She shrugged, keeping her gaze steadily on the window. "I don't care. We could go to…" She couldn't think of a place that an Uchiha would shop at; they were in different economic circles by like…a lot. So she didn't even know what to suggest. And besides, what kind of store would he like? "I guess where you got the shirt I ruined."

He chuckled and slid over into the far right lane. "Sounds good."

Her throat had locked up to the point where all she could do was nod. Now she had just done it again, 'where you got the shirt?' If she had any chance of buying something below twenty dollars, then it was gone now. Damn her and her big mouth, but it was the only thing she could think of. It was a Catch-22 really, so she guessed it hadn't mattered what she said. But what had really gotten her wasn't her mouth, it was his laugh – chuckle technically, but still – so rich and deep and quiet and, well, musical. Before she could help it, she'd already admitted to herself that she loved it.

This really was going to be the day from hell, wasn't it?


He knew his steps were a bit hurried when he got out of his car and headed into the parlor, but he'd been running later than intended and he wanted to see her. Today was the day they'd decided on to go shopping for a new shirt for him. It wasn't the best excuse, but because of it he got to spend at least an hour with her and her undivided attention. And that's all he wanted.

He tugged the door open and let his eyes swiftly graze over the restaurant and its occupants until he spotted the pink-haired young woman he was looking for. She was seated in a window seat, her gaze glued to it as she was clearly thinking about something, though he didn't know what. He made a mental note to figure out what it was later. There was the chance that it could be nothing more than what she was planning to get done that day or the like as well.

His strides were long and swift, carrying effortless grace. "You didn't have to wait too long, I hope."

She shook her head; her pretty, pink locks swayed with the motion and then she stood. "Er, are we taking your car or mine or separate?"

The question honestly caught him off guard; he hadn't even considered the thought because he didn't figure it would be even worth mentioning. But she had a point. It would be easier if they simply took the same car, though he wasn't sure if that's what she would be comfortable doing so considering he still hadn't made it clear that he was not like his bratty little brother. That's what this trip was for after all. Well, that and getting to know her better. So he settled with, "Whichever you feel most comfortable with."

She opened the door for him, and then waved at the man and woman behind the counter with a smile when the purple-haired woman shouted her farewell, calling Sakura by name. So she knew them at least on some level – well enough to be on a first name basis – he filed that bit of knowledge away for usage later. She proceeded to follow him out of the door and, when they were a little ways away, she opened her mouth, "Do you mind if I ride with you?"

The question took him by surprise because he hadn't expected her to lean for that option. But it meant that she probably didn't see him as she did his little brother, whom he knew she had problems with – and vice versa. He couldn't count how many times Sasuke had complained about her; it was why he took notice of her. And it also meant he had a better chance at getting her to like him. The thought made him smile as he nodded and continued on for his car, her right on his heels.

She easy slid in the passenger side and he caught her glancing around with an appreciative look. She approved.

The car had been a gift from his mother. He had told her expressly that he would buy his car on his own, and so she'd decided to buy one for him, one that he would have bought anyway. It was what Mikoto did; she went out of her way to make her family happy and did so like a teenager with a devious mind rather than the matriarch of a very prestigious corporation that she was. He may have gotten his stern and cool-headed nature from his father – as well as his eyes – but he got everything else from his mother. Not that he minded since, as Sasuke loved to say, he was a mama's boy.

He put the car in reverse as he backed out of the parking space before shifting to drive and glided out of the parking lot. He hadn't really realized that he was continuously glancing at her until they caught each other's eye for a brief moment. It amused him how she quickly looked away with a blush rising to her cheeks. "So where are we going?"

He didn't even pause. "I honestly didn't have a specific store planned, do you have any ideas?" After all, it didn't matter to him where they went because that's not why he agreed to this.

He kept an eye on her as he focused on the road and its occupants. She was quiet for a long moment as different emotions passed her countenance. It was endearing to watch and he was curious why a look of startled disgruntlement was followed by an imperceptible shake of her head. Clearly her mind had wandered into a domain she hadn't wanted it to. Eventually she shrugged, keeping her gaze steadily on the window and in turn amusing him. "I don't care. We could go to…" she paused, trying to think of a place, "I guess where you got the shirt I ruined."

He couldn't help but chuckle at her choice. She didn't want to offend or seem cheep and so had played a safe choice. He wondered if she knew that it was a simple thrift store and then decided at the look on her face that no, she didn't. She'd probably assumed it was some expensive store and the plain cotton shirt was upwards of thirty bucks. It would be entertaining to see her expression when he took her to that little thrift store his mother loved to drag him to. "Sounds good."

He watched as she seemed to go still and wondered if he had said or done something wrong, but then he realized it was more like one of those looks his fan girls got all the time. Not nearly as bad as them, but, if he had to guess, it meant she'd heard something she liked. Which gave him even more of an upper hand.

Perhaps achieving his goal wasn't going to be as hard as he'd originally thought it would be. But then again, if he'd learned one thing about her, it was that she didn't do what others expected her to.