Beta-reader: Terror-Of-The-Crimson-Night

Chapter: Three – The School

Type: Mini-Story – Incomplete

Summary: She'd repaid him with the shirt, and in turn had gotten to know him a bit more. But he wasn't done with her it seemed.

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

Word Count: 3,685

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

Note: This chapter is going to be slightly different, it will still be Sakura and then Itachi's perspective, but I won't be overlapping them like the last two chapters. Sakura's will be at the store and Itachi's will be at the school. Also, normally I don't degrade Sasuke, despite how he's turned out in the manga, Sasuke still is one of my favorite characters. I'm merely doing this for the plot, not because I don't like him.

..:Xx0o0xX:..

The car had been quiet the rest of the drive and finally they stopped. She paused and glanced at the store he'd parked in front of. Itachi was already out of the car in her field of vision through the window shield. After a moment of her still staring at the store, completely baffled, he paused and turned to her, his head tilted questioning.

And just like that she was skittering out of the car, pushing the door shut as she went, and hurrying to his side. Once she was within a few feet he turned and started walking again but she got in front of him. "Woah, woah. This is where you got your shirt?"

He nodded and she didn't believe him. She'd been so sure and…Damn it. Couldn't he go five minutes without proving all of the rumors wrong? Well, it's not exactly his fault she supposed, people gossiped and when a group of words went from one mouth to the next enough times then it could completely change. And besides, wasn't it a good thing that he was a decent person?

With that admittance to herself she backed off and waited for him to start walking again so she could fall in step beside him. When he did she did so as well, keeping her eyes on the ground as she found herself playing that peeking at him game again. This time when she got caught she smiled sheepishly and looked ahead, feeling his eyes on her as he watched her with pure amusement out of the corner of his eye. She blushed slightly and decided that she really should just forget the rumors, because he seemed the kind of guy she'd like to get to know.

The electronic door opened and he let her go first before following a half step behind. Sakura honestly expect this to take long, he was clearly the type of person who walked into something knowing what he wanted and if the situation was sprung on him he found a way to bend it to fit his ending. Confident, intelligent, but clearly not arrogant. Smiling at the prospect, she found she had to admit that she wouldn't quite mind spending more time with him. If only she could think of an excuse as to why.

They headed straight for the men's clothing department of the store, "Looking for something in particular?" She asked lightly, just so that they wouldn't be trapped in complete silence.

He paused and seemed to consider it before shaking his head slightly, "Whatever catches my eye, I suppose."

She nodded, remembering that she'd been meaning to get a new hoody and she'd always liked the guy ones better than the girls. So while he looked for a t-shirt, she'd browse the sweatshirts.

"And you?"

His question surprised her so much, she jumped a little, jerking her head in his direction, "What?"

Amusement seemed to flare to life in his eyes, "I said, and you?"

"Oh." She blushed lightly with embarrassment but quickly shook it off, "I was planning on finding a new jacket, my current one is getting kinda old. Doesn't hold up the way it used to."

Itachi nodded understandingly. "Then I will meet you between the men's and women's clothing?" Was it her imagination, or did he seem reluctant to go with that plan?

Figuring that it was the former she shook her head, "No, I actually like the guy's selection better."

Again he nodded, but this time there was a slight smile on his features that almost rethink her assessment of that question. Almost. She definitely did not get her hopes up over him because she knew that even if he wasn't an ass like his little brother, that didn't mean her heart would be safe crushing on him. Besides, she was in her last year of high school, now was not the time to be thinking about hot older college guys like that.

Realizing the turn her thoughts had taken, she decided Itachi was horrible for her hormones and that distance would be much appreciated if it helped her cause. So she took a step back and nodded towards the portion of the section that she needed, "I'll, uh, be over there."

He tilted his head slightly, looking almost like he wanted to object but acquiesced anyway. "Very well, I'll see you in a few."

But the fact of the matter was, she could see him from the jackets and sweatshirts, and to be honest, she couldn't help but admire. He was tall, his skin not quite pale but definitely not tan or peach, his pretty black hair looked silky even though it was pulled back into a low pony tail. His plan grey shirt fit his form more than was fair and she could tell that he had a nice ass through his pants.

Oh, dear god, he really was horrible for her hormones. The stupid things would not shut up, and they really ought to. Especially since she was pretty sure she was just the girl who got ice cream all over him and was buy him a shirt to make up for it. Besides, even if he was the most awesome person on the plant, did she really want to be lawfully related to Sasuke? No, most certainly not, nor did she want to have deal with him any more than she absolutely had to. He was the reason she got picked on in school, the prick.

Either way, the best idea now, it seemed was to get the hell out of this store and to get him to take her back to her car so that she never ever had to see him again. Yeah, that sounded like a grand idea. So pulling the green sweatshirt that had original caught her eye but hadn't kept her attention, she started back for Itachi. With any luck the guy had already picked out a shirt and was simply waiting on her to get going.

But did she ever have any luck with him? Considering the fact that she was currently buying him a t-shirt because she ruined the last one, no. No she did not have any luck with this guy.

He seemed to be taking his sweet time. And was it her did he start moving a little slower after she appeared on the other side of the rack. "Find what you wanted?"

She nodded, not trusting her vocals to respond correctly. She tried to find somewhere else to look, hoping against hope that there would be something more interesting than watching his nice body move, see the muscles in his arms become just slightly apparent ever now and again. She wondered idly if they were stronger than they looked.

"You're staring."

She jumped at the sound of his voice and realized that while she'd let her eyes wonder, because of her idle mind they'd gone back to her current shopping mate and stayed there. When it fully sunk in she stared blushing, feeling her whole face warm and only get warmer as she also realized that he was watching her with half lidded eyes. There was a shirt over his arm and he stood right in front of her, smirking slightly with amusement. In other words, he looked positively jumpable and was well within her reach.

Trying to get a hold on her impossibly hyperactive hormones, she murmured and apology.

His head tilted in that way, she was beginning to notice he did it when he was considering someone else's words and wanted the best reply possible. "Sakura," He paused. She blinked up at him in askance. She felt her stomach flip nervously. Was he going to tell her off? Was he going to start being harsh? Oh she hoped not. The pinkette rather liked this guy's demeanor just the way it was. But then he shook his head. "Never mind. That's a topic best left for later. Do you want to get going?"

Did she ever. "Yeah, that would probably be a good idea."

She'd started walking almost at the same time he had. But when he abruptly stopped she ran right into his back. Oh, ow, she thought absently, robbing her nose. "Is something wrong?"

"'that would probably be a good idea'?"

Startled, she jerked her head up to see him looking back over his shoulder and she froze like that. Her mind unable to find the words that would fix whatever mess she'd just created. The words came out haltingly and without her consent, "N-no. I didn't mean it like that. I just meant…" What? What had she meant? "I meant that…" Crap, why couldn't she think of anything? Why had she even said that?

But even as her silence took over – pretty much condemning her as well, she figured – he stood, unmoving. Sharp eyes zeroed in on her and refused to leave her person.

She felt the urge to fidget but found her body was still completely unresponsive. She scowled inwardly, traitor, she thought wishing it would listen to her brain once more. That it would at least move back a step, they were so close, barely a hair length between them. And that look of his, those pretty dark eyes, were most certainly not helping right then. And she had to remind herself that she hadn't finished her sentence, had finished explaining herself. Though, in part, that was because she could hardly think, let alone find a reason that she really had no reason for.

Still, she'd gotten most of her way through awkward and 'oops, did I just say that?' situations by doing what got her into them, opening her mouth and let it say whatever the hell it wanted so long as the situation ended and she didn't feel like a complete and utter fool. And since that had gotten her into this mess, she didn't see any reason not to use it to somehow get out of it. "I meant that, well, it's not per se awkward around you, especially since it seems whoever spread those rumors about you being worse than your little brother are soooo wrong. And I don't know, I guess I'm just suffering sensory overload, you know?" She paused, wondering if she'd babbled or explained herself. Both she decided, when she reviewed the words in her head and was happy to note she hadn't said anything to embarrassing. At least she hadn't called him hot to his face, maybe she was getting better at speaking without thinking.

But when he turned to face her, she felt heat rush to her cheeks, warming them at they way those intelligent black eyes seemed to analyze her. She couldn't for the life of her figure out what he thought of her now, or why he was subjecting her to such intense scrutiny but that had to take a backseat as she devoted her mind to making sure she didn't fidget or give off the wrong impression again.

Her breath stilled, catching in her throat as finally he moved, but not away, closer. Sable eyes found hers as he seemed to lazily step forward. She wondered idly if he was getting to close, she couldn't seem to tell for herself or even judge how far away he was. Rather, how close he was. Hell, she couldn't even figure out what she was feeling. Dark hair spilled over his shoulder as his head tipped to the side, "Sensory overload?"

It took her a moment to realize he wasn't asking if that was what she was feeling, he was inquiring for further explanation on her rambling. Which meant she had said something that threw her back in high water, though something told her this was of a different kind. Was she ever going to not be in some kind of situation with him that left her backpedaling and wishing she'd just figure out how to shut up? No, she decided.

And now she knew why those rumors were there. Itachi was most certainly much more of a handful than his little brother, and she knew that meant if he wanted he could be even more of an ass than him too. But no, the eldest preferred not to push people around, but still let them feel like they were, let them try and figure their way out of a very confusing maze that came with all that was Uchiha, Itachi. Again her mind idled, this time to contemplate if he realized he was doing it, but that one she didn't have a solid assumption for. And there was simply no way she was asking him about it either, not while he was still looking at her like that.

She took a deep breath, determined to get out of this entire mess as unscathed as possible and never ever go anywhere near the guy again. He just could not be good for her health, or her perfectly sane mental state of mind. "Yeah, sensory overload."

He raised an eyebrow at her in a way that told her that he expected more and he wait for it if he had to. Great.

"Like…hm." How the hell was she supposed to explain sensory overload? It was termed that way because it wasn't explainable, and she didn't know how to even begin voicing it without digging herself a deeper grave in that high water. "Like, I said, you're nothing like the rumors. Which really shouldn't be a surprise since rumors should be taken with a pinch of salt anyway. And I guess, well, you just keep throwing me for a loop because even when I try to guess what you'll do, I end up blindsided. And it doesn't help that you're seriously handsome." Did she just go there? Well, can't take it back now. "And you're a total gentleman, from what I've experienced so far and…" Now she was scrambling for straws, because she really didn't know how to explain what she was feeling, just why she was feeling it.

To her complete and utter surprise, he chuckled that nice sounding chuckle of his and she, of course, melted inside. "I see, then I suppose I should uphold my impression of being a gentleman and escort you home, should I not?"

Before the pinkette could stop herself, she giggled lightly. Okay, so the day from hell isn't what this was. Especially since she'd finally gotten out of the high water and all. Maybe she should try to find a way to hang out with him again?

..:Xx0o0xX:..

Lazily, he shut the door behind him, hearing it auto-lock as he did so. He didn't mind being here, but at the same time he would rather be somewhere else, doing something productive. Even if it was only a half an hour of his time and even it had been as amusing as hell when Sasuke got his driving privileges revoked for something he had done. The high schooler still had yet to learn how to not to get caught and how to get out of the worst possible punishments, it was a technique Itachi himself had perfected nicely for the rare occasions that he might need it.

So, because his parents had business to attend to and he was free right then, he was stuck picking up his little brother from school. Normally he would have stayed in the car, waiting for his sibling to find him rather than bothering to get out. But the final bell had rang nearly ten minutes before and the older of the two had only so much patience. Thus, him getting out and heading into the school to figure out just what was taking Sasuke so long.

He shoved his hands in his pockets and started for the school entrance, this walk all too familiar, when he got there he tugged open the glass door and headed inside. The question was, should he check the upstairs first or the downstairs? There was also the possibility of the office to figure out where his last class was. Deciding he liked that last option best, he started for the main office that was down the hall and the first left branching off the main one.

Imagine his surprise when he found who he was looking for a ways down the right branching hallway just as he was turning left. The boy was with his friends in an almost circle, smirking as the rest laughed. Not unusual for teenage boys, sure, but sable eyes narrowed when he saw a girl and the floor in the middle, clearly wanting a way out as fast as possible but they wouldn't let her. A frown found its way to his face as he changed direction, heading with swift strides to get there faster. He didn't stop until he was right behind one of the boys circling her and directly across from his brother.

Said boy hadn't even bothered to glance away from his 'victim' so he didn't know of Itachi's presence, and that was fine with the older male because he was too focused on the girl. Her long pink her was a mess about her and her books all over the floor. She was trying to get back up, but because of the boys and girls of the popular kids who clearly just having too much fun. The frown deepened as he easily pushed his way through, earning a loud 'hey' coupled with an 'oh-uh' but paid only the girl any mind, not even caring to see his brother's expression. Kneeling down, he picked up the books and binders that had been out of her reach and shuffled them into one arm so that he could reach out with his other to grasp her upper arm and bring her to her feet as he climbed to his own.

Still he didn't look at his sibling or the faces of any of his friends as he pulled her out of the circle with ease, the younger teens parted like the sea as they all gawked at him. Once he was out of the branch hall and in the main one, he found one of the many side benches and sat her down. He bent down to his knees so he could be eye level with the obviously shaken girl, feeling his anger spike as he did so.

She laughed, though it just further proved how shaky she was, "Definitely not an asshole like you're brother."

As sable eyes checked her over, her statement making him scowl and shake his head with amusement at the same time. "If that wasn't a sign that I'm not brother, then I don't know what is."

She smiled slightly, letting her eyes close and her head thud back against the wall behind her. They stayed like that for a moment, before she sat up again and turned her attention to her things, "Thanks, Itachi."

He nodded, shifting forward to help her. It wasn't hard, the girl was so organized it was clear to him what went where and she didn't object when he ended up putting most of everything back where it belonged. "If he gives you trouble, just call me, alright?"

Her pink head jerked up from the position she'd put it in so startled, green eyes could find his, and again she simply stared. "Um, thanks, but…"

He held up his hand before she could think of some excuse, apparently she was more self dependant than she'd originally let on. It irritated him to know end to see her so abused, but he took comfort in knowing that it was her last year and college would probably be better for her. He knew it had been like a breath of fresh air for him. Letting his hand fall, he pulled out one of her folders and a pencil that was on the bench, proceeding to write down his cell phone number as he did so.

When he had it written down, he tugged out his phone and easily navigated his way to the 'add contact' screen. Pressing on it, he input her name and then forked it over so she could enter her number. She reached for it numbly, still not able to look away from him as she did so. She glanced down just long enough to do as he asked before pressing the 'finished' button and handing it back.

Satisfied, he got to his feet, waiting for her to do the same. Once she was standing, he nodded to her and stepped back so that she could head for the exit.

Sakura took one step forward and then paused, hesitating only the slightest of moments, "Can I call you for other reasons too?"

He tilted his head, then smiled nodding his consent because it meant a chance to get even closer to her. It got an almost grin out of the small girl before him and he watched as happiness coated her movements as she headed out the door. He couldn't deny that he was looking forward to hearing what those other reasons were.

But first, he was going to have a long talk with that little brother of his.