A/N: Sorry! Sorry! Sorry! Sorry! Sorry! Sorry! Sorry! Sorry! And we could probably go on for a few hundred lines, but that would waste so much time. Anyway, we are so sorry for taking FOREVER to update this story. Instead of giving excuses, we're just going to move on into the chapter. Here it is!
Previously on Teaching Me-
"Okay, but call next time," dad said, ruffling my hair a bit. "I made spaghetti, if you want some."
"Um...no thanks. I think I'll pass on that," I said, knowing how bad my dad's culinary skills were. "I'll just eat cereal or something."
"Okay. (yawn) Well, I'm going to bed. I've been so tired today," he said. "Goodnight."
" 'Night," I said, making my way to the kitchen. Once I got there, I let out a big sigh of relief. And when that moment passed, I smiled. Today was perfect.
Chapter Six
One month later...
"Sakura, table six needs to be cleared off," Tenten said as she placed two blueberry muffins on separate plates.
"I'm on it," I said, grabbing a blue rag from one of the hooks on the wall. I have to say that Saturday is our busiest day here at the cafe. I barely have time to talk to Tenten like I usually do.
I walked over to table six and noticed how messy the people left it. I sighed as I stacked the cups and plates and put any used napkins on top of the dirty plates. I used my rag to clean the surface of the table until it was shiny enough so I could see my beautiful (not) reflection.
"Tenten, when's our next break?" I asked as I put the plates in the dishwasher.
"Not until another twenty minutes," she replied, adding ice into a glass for an iced coffee.
"That sucks," I said. "Oh, great. Customers," I said sarcastically, walking towards them. Let me just say that those twenty minutes took forever to finally come. Tenten and I went out to the back where we hang out during our break time.
"Girl, I'm so pooped out. I hardly had any time to sleep last night," Tenten said.
"Why?" I asked.
"Well, my friends took me out to this club. It was fun, but we didn't leave until three in the morning. Then Mr. Takahiro called me at eight, reminding me to get to work in twenty minutes or I was going to get fired."
"Is that why you came so late?" I said. Tenten nodded her head. "No wonder you look so tired."
"Yeah...well, we work at a cafe so I have all the coffee I need to stay awake," she said. Then we both laughed. "Christmas is around the corner. Where are you and your dad going this time?" Tenten asked.
"Sicily. We already have the tickets and stuff," I said.
"Ooo. Are you going to meet any cute Sicilian boys?" Tenten said with a smile. No, I'm not going to meet any cute Sicilian boys. I don't even want to, Tenten. You want to know why? Well, I can't tell you.
"I hope so," I lied. The lies were becoming more easier to say now. Although the feeling of guilt was still there.
"Hey, don't they have any nude beaches there?" Tenten asked.
"Umm...I don't know. Why?" I asked, making a mental note to myself to check all the beaches online. No way am I ever going to swim at a nude beach.
"Just wondering," Tenten saud, shrugging her shoulders.
"How are you going to spend your Christmas?" I asked, changing the subject.
"With my family, as usual," Tenten said, trying to stifle a yawn. "We gather around the Christmas tree and sing Christmas carols. Totallu bogus, but, I don't know, it's a happy time. I get to see my brothers and sisters."
"That sounds cool," I said, wishing I had a big family like Tenten's.
"Tenten! Sakura! Where are you guys?" We both groaned. It was Mr. Takahiro.
"Back here!" Tenten yelled.
"Waht are you doing here? I need you up front. That coffee can't serve itself, you know," Mr. Takahiro said, pushing his glasses further up on his nose. How thick are they anyway? Three inches? Four?
"But Mr. Takahiro, we're on our break," I said.
"I don't care. I've got customers waiting to be served and Lee and Kuri can't handle the cafe by themselves," he said.
"But-."
"I'll pay you two extra, just go in there and make me happy," Mr. Takahiro said.
Tenten and I looked at each other and said in unison,"Okay."
"So, do you really think he's going to pay us extra?" Tenten asked twelve minutes later.
"He better," I replied, walking with a mug in each hand. "Here you go," I said with a smile to the lovely couple.
"Thanks," the woman said. Then I left because it was so busy. Sometimes I wonder what it is about this job that I love. A couple of minutes later, I realized what is was. Sasuke had just walked in, and he gave me a subtle wink before he sat down. I pretended not to notice him since Tenten was right beside me.
"It seems like your teacher, Mr. Uchiha, sure loves to drink his coffee. He's been here almost every day for the past two weeks," Tenten said. "Aren't you going to take his order?"
"Huh?" I said.
"Well, you usually take his order. He comes in, not even in his seat yet, and you're already at his table with a pen in hand. It's quite funny actually," she said.
"I-I don't know what you're talking about. I'm just doing my job. And if you'll excuse me, I will take Mr. Uchiha's order," I said with all the dignity I could muster. Tenten just laughed with an amused smile on her face. Shit. I've got to be more careful around Tenten; she might suspect something. Probably not. It might be paranoia. Still, I've been careless.
"Hey Mr. Uchiha," I said when I reached his table. I only call him that in particular, but when it's just the two of us alone, I call him Sasuke. "Don't look now, but I'm probably sure that Tenten is watching us."
"Do you mean spying?" he said, raising a delicate eyebrow. "Why, yes, she has her binoculars out. They're ginormous." He smirked.
"Are you making fun of me?" I said, trying not to smile.
"I would never make fun of you," Sasuke said, managing to keep a straight face.
"I think you just did," I said, clicking my pen. "Anyway, I have to look like I'm doing my job instead of talking to boring English teachers."
"Fine. I'll have a black coffee and a muffin," he said as I wrote it down. It was unneccessary though because he always ordered the same thing. It was good to know that some things never change.
"Ok. I'll be back in a sec," I said, walking back to the counter. Tenten wasn't there; she was busy serving customers. "Here you go," I said to Sasuke as I placed a mug and a muffin on his table. "Are you reading again?"
"Yes. It's a letter that Itachi sent me," he said, showing me three pages full of writing.
"Umm...that's a letter?" I said. "But it's so long." Sasuke chuckled at my astonishment.
"Itachi always writes rather long letters. This one is quite short in comparison to others. But they're interesting enough. Do you want to know what he wrote?" Sasuke asked me.
"I don't think now is the best time," I said, seeing new customers arrive. "Maybe later."
"Sure. We'll jus-."
"Sorry, but I really have to go," I said. "Hello! What can I get you?" I said to the college-aged girls who were (from what I could tell) previously jogging beforehand.
"That hottie over there," the brunette said, pointing to Sasuke. Her friend just laughed, a little too embarrassed.
"You'll have to excuse her, she's a bit boy crazy," the blonde said.
"Oh no, it's okay," I said through gritted teeth. It's definitely not okay.
"Umm...we'll just have two fat-free frapiccinos," the blonde said while her friend was trying to make eye-contact with Sasuke. She was failing miserably.
"Your order will be ready in five minutes," I said. The quicker they have their coffee, the sooner they'll leave.
"Hey Sakura," Lee said, biting into a slice of lemon pie.
"Hey Lee," I said, preparing the frapiccinos. "Busy day, huh?"
"Yeah. I've gotten lots of tips though," he said.
"Me too. Where's Tenten? I don't see her," I asked.
"She's in the bathroom. She's trying to catch a few z's," Lee said.
"On a toilet seat?" I said, thinking how uncomfortable that would be.
"I don't know, nor do I want to," he said, finishing his slice. I nodded my head in agreement.
The frapiccinos were ready and I served them to the two girls. "Enjoy," I said with extra politeness.
"Argh, what is wrong with him? He's not even looking at me," the brunette said, taking her cup. "He's just reading that stupid letter."
"Calm down, he's probably taken," her friend said. Oh, how right you are.
"Whatever. Hey, should I buy that new dress I saw..." I left, not interested anymore in what she had to say. I went to the ladies' room, where I saw Tenten splashing some water on her face.
"Tenten?" I asked.
"Huh? Oh, hi Sakura," she said, using her apron to wipe her face. "Did Lee tell you where I was?"
"Yeah. Why don't you go home if you're so tired?"
"No way. It's super busy right now and I don't want to-"
"It's okay. Just go home and get some sleep," I said, cutting her off.
"Are you kiddding me? Mr. Takahiro would flip out. Just give me a cup of coffee and I'll be wide awake," she said.
"You sure?"
"Yeah. C'mon." We left the bathroom together and got back to work. A few minutes later I went to Sasuke's table with his check.
"Sakure, when do you get off today?" he asked, fishing some money out of his wallet.
"Umm...at three," I said. That was still four hours away.
"You think you can meet me at our secret place?" Sasuke whispered. He meant the tulip field.
"Uh-huh," I said, as he handed me his money and a two-dollar tip. Then he stood up. "Bye," I said.
"Bye," he said.
--
When I got there, Sasuke was leaning back on a tree. He looked so peaceful (and really handsome as well). I just watched him for a moment, admiring him. "Can I draw you someday?" I asked suddenly, impulsively.
"Well, I don't know if I'll be a good model, but, yes, you could draw me," Sasuke said, extending his hand for me to take. I took it and allowed him to walk me towards a nice spot where we sat down cross-legged. We contemplated in silence, until I decided to break it.
"I'm going to be away for a couple of weeks," I said, plucking a few strands of grass from the ground. I looked up to meet Sasuke's gaze. His expression was unreadable. "Uh...well, I'll be in Sicily during the Christmas Break."
"Sakura," he said slowly, "do you expect me to be upset by this?"
"...um...aren't you?" I said.
"Christmas is a time to spend with family. It's completely understandable that you would have plan to go somewhere," Sasuke said.
"Oh," I said, a little disappointed. I don't know what I was expecting, but it wasn't that. I thought maybe he'd be a bit less unfeeling. No, what I wanted him to do was say that he'd wanted to spen Christmas with me, although that would have been impossible.
"But I will miss youu," Sasuke said, stroking my hand with his thumb. I smiled at that. "Eh?"
"What?"
"Aren't you going to miss me?"
"Of course," I replied. "And I promise to send postcards, although let me warn you that they have a tendency to be long."
"That reminds me," Sasuke said, taking three folded sheets of paper out of his pocket. "I wanted to show you Itachi's letter. It's quite interesting. Hopefully it doesn't bore you to death, since you get bored so easily."
"I do not," I said in defense. He handed me the letter to read aloud. "Sasuke- what, no dear in front of it?"
"Continue," he said. "Itachi doesn't like formalities."
"I was pleased to receive your letter, little brother, although there's something that troubles me. You say you're happy teaching at that school of yours, but I don't believe you that much. I've never understood why you pursued your career as a teacher when you could've chosen a career in a law firm or business management, but you have your reasons. Sora and I both worry about you. Wait, who's Sora?" I said.
"His fiance," Sasuke answered. "She's an aspiring model."
"Ok. Now, where was I?" I said. "Are you making enough money to suit your lifestyle? That house you bought is awfully small and Sora wants to know what you're going to do when you meet a nice girl and want to settle down with her. Personally, I'd worry about that later. No offense, but you're very unsociable and that frightens the girls away." I stopped reading and looked at Sasuke. "Well, you didn't frighten me away. How'd you manage to do that?"
"I don't know," he said. "I was hoping you'd tell me."
"I guess because, secretly, you had wanted me...I mean. you had wanted to be with me." I was blushing scarlet after I said this. I'm so pathetic sometimes. "And... uh...you intrigued me. It was a crazy realization, but I kinda liked it. Do I make sense to you?"
He looked at me for the longest time and I gulped down saliva. Gross, but whatever. Why wasn't he saying something? Then, he fianlly spoke. "Sakura, you're right. About me, I mean. I did want to be with you, and the scary part is that somehow you knew. I didn't have to tell you, you just knew." His gaze didn't falter as he said this. "You make perfect sense to me, okay? I don't want you to feel insecure or unconfident around me. I'm not going to judge you."
I smiled. This is what I like about him so much. He makes me feel comfortable in my own skin and I know he'll accept me as I am. How can someone make me feels so good about myself?
"Okay," I said, leaning towards him for a kiss. The letter laid on the ground, forgotten, as I crawled on top of Sasuke's body, my arms supporting my weight. We kept on kissing. Sasuke's fingers were tracing the long curve of my spine. My knee brushed against something and when I heard Sasuke groan, I blushed, knowing exactly what it was. We resurfaced for oxygen a few minutes later. I abruptly got off him, still very red in the face.
Ohmigod! I've never done anything like that before. Ever. I'm still surprised I even got the courage to get on top of him like that. But it just felt so right.
Inside, I'm still a naive, unexperienced girl who doesn't want to make a fool out of herself. Was Sasuke turned off by that? Who wouldn't. I have zero sex appeal. And I'm probably a bad kisser, but Sasuke's too polite to say something.
"Sasuke...be honest, am I a good kisser?" I asked, then instantly regretted it. I should just shut up. Someone give me a muzzle. They look uncomfortable, but at least I know I won't embarrass myself.
I felt Sasuke's hand on my chin, slowly lifting my head so I could meet his dark eyes. "You're a wonderful kisser," he said. Then he kissed me. We were still lip-locking when we were interrupted by my phone ringing.
"Oh shit, I forgot to turn it off," I said, answering it. "Hello?" Hopefully my voice didn't sound as nervous as I felt.
"Hey Sakura." It was Hinata. "I just wanted to know if you weren't busy, we could go watch a movie together."
"Umm...yeah. Sure," I said.
"Great. Lately, I feel like we haven't spent a lot of time together.You're always so busy," Hinata said.
"Yeah, well, I'm a busy, busy bee," I said with a forced laugh. Sasuke was waiting patiently for me to end my conversation. He looked sort of amused.
"So, where are you at? I'll come and pick you up," she said.
"No!" I said quickly. "I mean, no, I'll just meet you there."
"You sure?"
"Uh-huh. I'll even buy the popcorn this time," I offered.
"Alright. See you there."
"You too. Bye." I hung up.
"I guess that means you have to go," Sasuke said.
"I'm sorry, but...I promise I'll make it up to you," I said. "Maybe after the movie is over we can-"
"No, it's okay. Have fun," he said, giving me a smile. It was infectious. I smiled back.
"Okay," I said. We both stood up and before we parted ways, I gave him a kiss goodbye on the cheek.
--
The next day I woke up early for a Sunday. I sat up and stretched, a yawn escaping my mouth. I looked at my bedside table and noticed a brochure for the new art exhibit in Nagoya that's opening today. I almost forgot about it.
Will Sasuke want to come with me?
I grabbed my cellphone and dialed Sasuke's home phone number. I practically have it memorized from using it so many times. He picked up on the fourth ring.
"Hello?" Sasuke answered groggily. His voice sounded even more huskier like that.
"Did I wake you up?" I said, a little apologetic. I totally forgot that most people are still asleep at this time. Hell, my own dad is still snoring in his bedroom.
"No," he siad. Then I heard a big yawn. I laughed to myself.
"Sorry. I just wanted to hear your voice, that's all," I said. Does he sleep shirtless? He probably does. He probably also has a great body and even though he is my teacher, this thought doesn't gross me out. He's just one of those people that you know looks good naked. So how did I end up with a guy like him? I'm not much to look at.
"..." Silence on the other line. Which could only mean one thing.
"Are you asleep?" I asked.
"...hn...no," Sasuke said.
"Liar. Anyway, come with me to the new art exhibit. Please? It's in Nagoya, so no one will see us."
"Alright. Just tell me what time and I'll be there," he said, sounding more awake.
"Really? You're the best! It's at noon. Oh, and meet me by the entrance," I said excitedly. Our first official date.
"Okay. So how did it go last night?" he asked.
"The movie was awesome. I just wish you could've been there with me," I said. "There was this one scary scene in particular that made me want to bury my head in someone's shoulder and close my eyes." I sighed.
"Sakura, you know why I couldn't go with you," Sasuke said, a little sadly.
"Yeah, I know. It's just...it kinda threw me off a bit. I was watching it and I kept thinking 'Sasuke would definitely like this movie.' And you would. It had a lot of blood and violence in it. Guys like that stuff, don't they?" I said. I heard him chuckle on the other line.
"Yeah, guys like that stuff," he said. And then there was a yawn. "Sorry about that. I stayed up late reading a book."
"Oh, what's it about?" I asked.
"It's a mythical story about the three Legendary Sannin. Back when they still had ninjas," Sasuke said.
"You don't obviously believe in that, do you?" I asked.
"Who knows if they really did exist and if over time, people have fabricated the truth," he replied.
"Hm...I guess you're right, as usual," I said, smiling to myself. Honestly, I love the fact that he's smart. It kind of turns me on in a weird way. Not that I'll ever admit that to him. "Well, I'll just hang up now so you can go back to sleep," I said.
"..."
"Sasuke?"
"...zzz..."
"I can't believe you actu-"
"Relax Sakura, I was just kidding," Sasuke said, sounding amused.
"Oh. So, you don't really snore, do you?" I asked.
"Does it matter?" he asked.
"Uh...," I said, realizing what I had just implied. Who cares if he snores? It's not like we're ever going to...It'd be great, if we decided to, but...damn, how much fo I feel for him?
"If it's that important to you, then the answer is no, I don't snore," Sasuke said after a while.
"Uh-huh...well, bye. I'll see you later then," I said.
"Bye," he said.
I closed my cellphone shut and hid my face under my pillow, groaning into it. Has this whole thing between us really gotten this far? Am I really that much into him? Do I love him already? I always though these sort of things took time, but...I guess not. It just happens. You wake up one day and start thinking of him, like he's your whole life. And in a way, he is. We're both risking so much just to be with each other. And it's all worth it.
I took the pillow off my face and sat up. I wrapped my arms around my knees and looked at the intricate pattern of my bedsheets. I don't feel any different, but something has changed within me. Something big. I'm in love with Sasuke Uchiha. And I don't know what to do. Do I blurt it out and announce it to him? Or do I just let things continue as they are?
I wish my mom was here. She would know what to do. She was always good at giving advice- it could've been her profession. What would shey say to me now? Oh right- she'd be furious that I'm in a secret relationship with my teacher. I know even that is obvious. I should just get up and make breakfast. Maybe cooking (and the fresh smell of coffee) will clear my head.
Half an hour later, I had made a dozen pancakes, cooked scrambled eggs and sausages. My dad shuffled into the kitchen still wearing his robe and slippers as I squeezed fresh orange juice. He came to stand beside me and kissed my forehead.
"Need help?" dad asked, already pouring himself a cup of coffee into his favorite mug.
"Nah, I'm good," I said. Dad sat down and read the Sunday paper. Sunday is the only day he actually has time to read the newpaper, so he's usually quiet. I placed a plate in front of him and loaded it with everything. He said thanks and went back to the paper. I sat down next to him and ate my breakfast.
"So...I'm going to the new art exhibit that opened in Nagoya, okay?" I asked. Dad nodded his head, awknoledging his consent. "Cool. I'll be leaving at around eleven. The town is like 45 minutes away." He flipped a page.
"Are you giong alone?" he asked.
"Yeah. Both Naruto and Hinata are super busy today," I lied. "Is that a problem?"
"No, I was just asking since you always seem to go out with them," dad replied. Or so he thinks. All those times I left to go meet Sasuke, I said I was hanging out with Hinata and Naruto. I never noticed I've been leaving so much.
"Oh, well, it'll just be me this time. I don't mind, really. I just want to see the art and they'll be lots of people there, so I won't actually be alone," I said, chewing on my syrapy pancakes.
After breakfast ended, I went back to my room, took a shower, and decided on the perfect outfit. I chose casual jeans, a nice looking white sweater, and my uggs. I didn't even want to bother with my hair, so I left it straight down. I looked at my clock and saw that it was 10:08. Great. I have about an hour to kill.
I walked to my bookshelf and picked Pride & Prejudice, one of my favorites. I was so engrossed into the story that I forgot what time it was. I checked my clock and gasped when it said 11:21. I quickly grabbed my purse and keys and darted to the garage. I got into my car and quickly drove. Luck was on my side today because every traffic light I passed was green. So I arrived at the art museum at 12:04. Sasuke wasn't there yet.
I sat down at the steps in front of the entrance, patiently waiting. I looked up when I saw a shadow over me. Sasuke. I smiled and got up. "You made it!" I said happily, giving him a hug. His body vibrated with laughter.
"I thought you'd be mad at me for being late," Sasuke said. I shook my head.
"C'mon, let's go inside," I said excitedly, bouncing on the heels of my feet. "In the brochures it said the museum has over 200 paintings and sculptures. One of the sculptures is made out of 950 pieces of chewing gum. It's supposed to look like someone's face."
"You're really excited about this aren't you?" Sasuke said as we walked through the doors. I instantly felt the blast of cool air from the AC.
"Just a little bit," I said casually. "I'm glad you're here with me and that's what really matters." I reached for Sasuke's hand, but he hesitated. "Sasuke, it's okay. No one here knows who we are. They're not going to say anything about us," I said.
"Sorry, it's just become a form of habit. I'm still too precautious," he said.
"Will you at least hold my hand?" I asked. "Please?" I held my left hand out to him, waiting for him to take it. "Please?" I said again. He looked at me and finally held my hand, giving me a small smile. And so we strolled down the hall, looking like any other couple.
"Wow," I said, impressed by the first painting I saw. It was a brain, but there were some holes in it. Inside those holes, were little pictures of two people arguing, a dismembered puppy, and a young boy on his deathbed.
Sasuke stared at it too and slowly nodded his head. "The artist is trying to prove a point here. People try to forget the bad things that happened in their life," he said.
"Erase them from their memories," I quietly whispered, remembering how I felt when I saw my mom at the hospital so many times. I could never get those images out of my head, no matter how hard I tried. "Umm...let's move on," I said, pulling him with me. He gave me a curious look, but didn't say anything.
We continued walking, stopping every now and then to admire some of the more interesting paintings. Sasuke liked the abstract ones, trying to find hidden meaning in them. Some of his guesses were deep, others were just plain silly. I liked the portraits of unknown, unfamous people, mostly because I draw people too.
"Sasuke, look! There- the gum sculpture!" I said when we finally got to it. He smirked at me, inwardly pleased with my child-like enthusiasm. He should see me at the art supply store.
"It's bigger that what I thought it was," Sasuke said, looking at the head made out of different colored gum. "Hey, do you think people go up to it and steal a wad of gum?" he asked. I laughed, and he gently ruffled my hair.
"Sasuke, don't. Now I have to fix it," I said, smoothing down some strands of my hair. "Ugh...how do I look?" I asked.
"Beautiful," he said, looking at me. I blushed and slightly ducked my head down to hide it. Sasuke put his arm around my shoulders as we kept on walking. "You know..," he said after a short while," there's nothing to be embarrassed about being called beautiful. It's a compliment."
"I know that. It's just...I'm not used to being called beautiful. It feels awkward," I said. I wanted to steer the conversation away from me.
"You shouldn't feel that way Sakura. If you could see outside yourself, you would agree with me," Sasuke said. Easy for you to say, you're gorgeous.
I noticed Sasuke was staring at me with a strange, bemused look on his face. I didn't get it until it clicked to me. "Oh my god, did I just say that out loud?" I said, horrified. He wasn't suppose to know that. "Uh, forget about it, okay? Pretend I never said anything."
"Okay," Sasuke said, smirking at me. Dammit.
At a quarter to two, we decided to go eat at a seafood restaurant for lunch. We were both starving. It felt nice, for a change. We had never eaten together in public and I was grateful for all the unfamiliar faces surrounding us. No one was here to judge. Sasuke and I were just strangers to them, out on a date.
Sasuke took a sip of his coke and I watched him, happy and content. He held up a piece of raw shrimp towards me with his chopsticks and I leaned in to bite it. He smiled at me, a gentle look in his eyes. I could just get lost in their depthness. How cliche does that sound?
"What are you thinking about?" Sasuke asked me suddenly. You, I wanted to say. But I didn't want to sound like any other girl who's realized that they're in love with the most wonderful guy. Especially when the guy being mentioned is your teacher and the chances of this crazy (but blissful) relationship to further develop are slim. But I never said I was a realist.
"Sakura?" Sasuke said, furrowing his eyebrows. He was probably confused why I wasn't saying anything.
"I was just thinking...," I said, placing my finger on his forehead where his eyebrows met to smooth the skin there,"...that today has been extremely wonderful. And I've been selfish to have spent almost the whole afternoon with you."
"I'm the selfish one,"Sasuke said. "Here I am, eating lunch with a beautiful woman-"(Here I blushed because he called me beautiful again...and he called me a woman. Not a girl, but a woman. Wow)-"while I'm forgetting about all my duties." I blushed even more. Obviously, I'm more important than his duties. Sasuke just implied it, without meaning to. He's still holding back a bit; he doesn't want to reveal something. And I've been wondering if there's some big secret he's trying to keep away from me.
"To hell with duties. Right?" I said, trying to keep the conversation light. I drank my soda; my mouth had suddenly become dry.
"Right. But I can't completelyl forget about the most important one," he said pensively.
"And which one would that be?" I asked.
He let out a sigh that seemed to come from deep in his chest, almost like he was in pain. "Sometimes it's easy to just be careless and not think about consequences, but I have to. Constantly." It seemed like he was talking about something else, something that happened in his past. "I'm suppose to be the responsible one, the one to say no. But I can't. Not when I'm with you," Sasuke said, holding my hand from across the table. The gesture was really sweet.
"It's hard to be careful all the time," he continued one. "As the adult-"
"I'm not a kid," I cutted in.
He smiled. "I know you're not. You're very mature for your age. But as the adult, I'll be losing more than just my job. I'll be seen as a felon."
"Are you...having second thoughts about us?" I asked, focusing on keeping my voice even. Now was not the time to start crying. How immature would that look?
"No, no," Sasuke said, startled. "And I'm not trying to scare you or freak you out. I'm just...I just want you to know how hard this is for me. But it's a decision I chose and I'm willing to face the consequences." He gently squeezed my hand. It slightly reassured me. This whole talk about consequences and felonies made me remember how very forbidden this is. I've been too caught up on how wonderful Sasuke makes me feel- another thing that I love about him.
After we finished eating, we went to a park near a duck pond. I brought my sketchbook with me and sat down on the grass. "Sasuke, you can sit over there and please don't try to move a lot," I said, opening my sketchbook to a fresh page. He sat down across from me and leaned back on his elbows, his long legs stretched out in front of him.
"Is this a good pose?" he asked, uncertain.
"Perfect," I said, watching how the sun hit his glorious face and seemed to bathe him in an angelic light. I quicly drew the outline of his body before focusing on all the minute details. My pencil flew across the page, my eyes drifting to his face every now and then before going back to my page. I was deep in concentration and barely registed how silent we both were. I looked up and caught his gaze. I smiled briefly and went back to drawing. "Sorry. I know it must suck to stay still for so long. You want a minute to stretch?" I asked.
"No. I want you to finish. You really enjoy drawing, don't you?" Sasuke asked. I nodded my head, drawing his eyes. I was frustrated that I couldn't get them just right.
Minutes passed. Then I was done. I let out a sigh of relief and accomplishment. "Do you want to see it?" I asked, showing it to him. Sasuke grabbed my sketchbook and looked at the drawing. He smiled at it.
"Amazing," he said,"it looks just like me. Sakura, you're even more talented than I thought. Just looking at you draw is extraordinary. You seem to be in your own little world, but you still pay attention to your surroundings."
"Thanks," I said, feeling overwhelmingly pleased with myself. "I'm glad you like it. You want to get an ice-cream cone? I saw a guy passing by with his cart."
"Sure," he said, getting up. He pulled me up and held my hand as we walked to the small ice-cream cart. Little kids were in line, pushing each other to get their ice-cream first. I snorted. They reminded me of Naruto.
"I'll be the gentleman and pay," Sasuke said when it was our turn. Before I could protest (earlier at the restaurant we both paid for our own meals) Sasuke handed the ice-cream guy two dollars. "Two chocolate scoops and...Sakura, what would you like?" he said.
"Um...strawberry," I replied.
"Okay. And two strawberry scoops on the other one," Sasuke told the man. He handed us our cones and walked away, pushing along his cart.
"That was unneccessary. I could've pain for myself," I said.
"Sakura, don't be silly. I wanted to anyways," Sasuke said, which meant 'let's not talk about this anymore.'
We strolled around the pond's edge, watching the ducks float on the surface. A few were swimming. Everything was so peaceful and I relaxed into Sasuke's arms as he wrapped them around my shoulder. I wanted to hold him too but my hands were occupied with my cone and sketchbook.
By five, the sun was already starting to set and I realized that was our cue to leave. Just how long had we spent the day here? I shifted in Sasuke's arms and he looked down at me, a bit alarmed at my need to untangle myself from him. He understood all too soon and beat me to the kiss. I gripped his shoulders tightly and squeezed myself closer to fit into the mold of his body. I felt his hands on my back like a scorching burn that seemed to consume me. That penetrating burn reached my tongue and heightened my sense of taste. Sasuke was so sweet and alluring. His own tongue was burning mine as well. I felt too, too hot. I thought I was going to explode when suddenly he broke off.
I caught my breath as new oxygen filled my lungs. I looked at him with a longing I've never felt before, only dreamt about. But Sasuke was all too real...and untouchable at the same time. We couldn't possibly ever be more than this. The best I can hope for is more secret kisses and hugs. Nothing more.
"Wouldn't it be great if everyday could be like this?" I said, picking a strand of my pink hair off his sweater. There was no such thing as personal space between us now.
"Yes," Sasuke breathed.
I closed my eyes, then opened them. "We should go. My dad's probably wondering what took me so long. If he only knew..."I said, staring at Sasuke. God, I love him so much and it's not fair that he can't be part of my normal life. If only things were different.
"If he knew, he'd probably kill me," Sasuke said. I shuddered thinking about it. "Or he'd make sure to take me down in court. He is a lawyer after all."
"Stop. That's enough...I don't want to hear it," I said.
"I'm sorry," he said, enveloping me in his arms once more. I wished the moment would last, but it didn't. "Here. You dropped your book," Sasuke said, picking up my sketchbook from the ground.
"Right," I said, grabbing it. "I always hate having to say goodbye, especially like this. Today, I get to call you Sasuke, but tomorrow you're Mr. Uchiha."
"And what's so bad about Mr. Uchiha, eh? I heard he's a cool teacher and all his students love him," Sasuke said. Oh, how right you are.
"Shakespeare's right. Parting is such sweet sorrow," I said with a sigh. "I know we have to leave, but I don't want to. I'd rather be with you than go back home and face reality. When you and I are together, it seems like we live in our own world, where nothing bad can happen to us."
Sasuke was about to say something, but I cut him off with a kiss. We didn't need words to comfort ourselves. All we needed was each other.
--
The days dragged on pleasantly. The more and more time I spent with Sasuke, the more I fell in love with him. I began to appreciate the simplest things about him and even learned to cope with his weird habits. I was completely devoted to loving him, and he didn't even know. I hadn't said anything about my feelings; not wanting to freak him out. It was too soon. But my happiness was obvious. Even my friends were aware of a certain change in me.
"Hey Sakura, are you on a diet? You haven't touched your food at all," Hinata said during lunch. I looked down at my tray, wondering what half of the food was. I don't even remember grabbing a corndog. Weird. I don't even like corndogs that much.
"Oh, I'm not that hungry," I replied. How could I explain to Hinata that I didn't need food to sustain myself? All I needed was Sasuke and his gentle touches. He made me full in so many ways.
"Well, in that case, let me have your mac n' cheese," Naruto said. I slid my lunch tray over to him.
"Naruto! No, Sakura needs to eat. Don't take her food," Hinata said.
"It's okay. I'm not that hungry," I said.
"But Sakura, you have to eat. I won't feel better unless you do," Hinata said, concerned. I grabbed an apple from my tray and bit into it, chewing.
"Happy?" I said.
"A little," she said. I continued chewing. The apple was delicious, though.
"So, Sakura, what have you been up to? I feel like we haven't hanged out in days. Have you been busy with a guy?" Naruto said, wagging his eyebrows knowingly at me. Hinata stared at him, then slapped her hand on her forehead.
"Uh..what makes you say that?" I said, feigning confusement.
"Oh, c'mon! You've been walking on clouds and all that shit. Obviously, it's because of some guy. So, who is it? Do I know him?" Naruto said.
"It's none of our business. If she doesn't want to tell us, then she doesn't need to," Hinata said. Then she looked at me with wide, curious eyes. "So who is it?"
I couldn't help it. I blushed. Then I racked my brain for a good excuse, but I couldn't think of one. Naruto had been tlo straightforward and caught me off guard. SO I only had one option left- deny everything.
"Sorry to disappoint you, but there is no guy," I lied. I wonder how many times I've lied in rhe past month? Too many to count.
Hinata did look disappointed. "Are you sure?" she asked.
Naruto on the other hand, didn't believe me. "You're lying, and I want to know why."
Shit. Shit. A million times shit. What do I say now? "It's complicated," I said, stalling for extra time to think. Then an idea formed in my head. "You see, my dad's been working on this case and his defendant has been coming over to our house to go over legal stuff. He's really young, though, maybe in his mid-twenties. He talks to me a lot and flirts too, but he probably doesn't mean anything by it."
"Wow," Hinata and Naruto said in unison. I tried to act shocked too.
"Sakura, this is huge! How come you didn't tell me? I can't believe it. How long have you liked him?" Hinata asked.
"Um...about a week," I said, making everything up as I went along.
"So, what are you going to do? Does your dad know?" Hinata said.
"No, he doesn't know. And...I'm not sure if the guy even likes me," I said.
"Well, that's a good thing, isn't it? He's a bit too old for you anyways," Naruto said, switching on his "brother" mode.
"He's not that old," I retaliated. I wish I could've come up with a better story. This one's too close to the truth. "Right Hinata?"
"Well...yeah, but, Sakura, don't you think there's something wrong?" Hinata said.
"Like what?" I said.
"I'm happy that you like this guy. I really am, but...looking at it from his perspective...," she said," he probably only wants one thing."
I stared at her, almost mad she'd even say something like that, but then I reminded myself this was some made-up guy we were talking about. Not Sasuke.
"Why can't someone his age actually like me?" I asked, wanting to get their view on the situation.
"Because men his age want experienced girls, and you're, well, inexperienced," Hinata said, a faint flush on her cheeks.
"Is that what you really think?" I said. "How about you Naruto?"
"I'm with Hinata on that one. Sak, what if this guy wants to take advantage of you? I'm not going to let that happen. I'll tell your dad if I have to," he said.
"No!" I said. "No, don't do that. The case will be over by next week anyway. And I'll never see him again."
"Good," Naruto said. "All's well that ends well."
"Yeah," I said absent-mindedly. My own friends don't understand. And I fear they never will.
--End of Chapter Six--
A/N: REVIEW PLEASE!