A:N/ You'll be happy to know that I've decided to try to update this story at least once every other week. Key word there is try. I'm also going to be trying to make longer chapters. So here you go!

Crushes Between Friends

Chapter 17 - New Friends

LUNCH:

"Guys, I'd like you all to meet Choji." Sasuke said with Choji standing beside him.

People greeted him in a sort of friendly way. Sasuke sat down next to Ino, while Choji took refuse next to Sasuke. Sasuke thinks that Ino will like him, he's a pretty funny guy. Today is the most he's smirked ever. Well, excluding the days he's with Sakura.

"So Choji, where are you from?" Ino asked him.

"Sound."

People nodded their heads.

"Hey Sasuke, do you have an extra quarter? I don't seem to have enough for a twinkie." Ino asked with a puppy dog look.

–giggle–giggle–giggle–giggle–

People looked over at Choji.

"What's so funny?" Ino asked him.

Choji just kind of waved it off. Then people started urging him on to tell. So he did.

"Back in Sound one day I was fighting with my friend Tyran about my one dollar bill. He wanted to look at it, something about finding a spider. I told him no then said 'you'll rip it into quarters."

Ino started to giggle a little bit too and Choji's face seemed to brighten up.

" It took me a while to figure it out, but when I got it we had this really big laughing fit."

Ino started to pound the table, and other people around the table started smirking or giggling too. Even Sasuke. It took Ino the whole lunch to stop laughing, and even then she wasn't done.

After lunch Sasuke, Choji and Ino walked to class together. They had the last few the same.

Sasuke could tell that Choji was growing on Ino fast. I mean how couldn't she? Sure he wasn't the best looking guy around, but he had the greatest personality. He made you laugh. Even if you didn't feel like. Sasuke like where this was going, and what it's going to.

Sakura would occasionally see Ino and Choji in the hall ways together on the next couple of days. Sasuke was sometimes lingering behind them. When they got ahead far enough Sasuke would sneak over to Sakura and talk with her a bit. Tell her how it's going, pretty good actually, and they'd do a little catching up. When the bell wrung for the next period they'd quickly rush to their classes. The thing for Sasuke was that Ino wouldn't even ask him why he was late. She actually doesn't really talk to him much any more after he introduced Choji to her.

Personally Sasuke thought they made a good couple. If you can make Ino Yamanka smile without buying her cloths, then you know it's meant to be. So, Choji was in the ball park.

Monday-A week before Valentines Day:

Sasuke was over at Sakura's house. Her mom was out shopping and well, her dad was still on a business trip. They decided to work together on their chemistry home work. Kind of ironic that some 'chemistry' did happen.

"So Sasuke, how's the whole Ino Choji thing going?" Sakura asked.

"Great. I haven't talked with her for two weeks now." Sasuke said.

He'd already finished his homework, so was just kind of walking around Sakura's room to see how's changed. Nothing much though.

"Well that's good." Sakura said. Although her voice seemed kind of bland.

Sasuke wondered why.

"You don't seem very happy about it."

"No, it's not that. It's this freaking question. I don't get it. I've been starting at it for the past 30 minutes."

Sasuke walked over to Sakura and knelt down next to her, but sort of behind her. He look over her shoulder first at the book, then at her. He cleared his throat. Then he looked down at her paper. He noticed that she was comparing the wrong ingredients. He put his finger on the two ingredients that she was supposed to be comparing.

"You're comparing the wrong ingredients." he said.

"Ohhh!! That could make a difference."

Sakura figured out her last problem. It was one of the easier ones too.

"Thanks Sasuke." she said, then lifting up her head towards his.

They noticed how close they were, but didn't move. Their eyes seemed to drag them both in closer to each other and soon they felt the other's forehead against their own. They finished off the space by locking their lips together.

–click–

Sakura dropped her pencil from her hand and brought it up to the back of Sasuke's head. Sasuke wrapped his arms around her waist. Pretty soon he brought one up to her hair and started messing with it. They soon fell down on the ground both on their sides. They took occasional breaks to get air. Whenever their eyes met, they started kissing again like it was their first time. Sasuke would move his hand up and down Sakura's back, messaging her in a kind of a way. Sakura would twist her finger around Sasuke's hair, then untwist it, but then twist it again. They stopped before it got to far. Then just laid there staring into each other's eyes again. Both were blushing. Sakura still had her hands tangled in Sasuke's hair, and Sasuke still held Sakura close to him. Realization hit them. They quickly sat up and broke their gaze.

"I've...um...got to go finish up some homework." Sasuke said standing up.

"I have to go...um...you know...milk the cows." Sakura said, staring out the window, then looking down at her feet.

Sasuke walking quickly out of her room.

The fact that Sasuke had already told Sakura about his finished homework, and that Sakura lived in town so couldn't own any cows, made this moment even more awkward for them. Maybe it won't be by tomorrow?

Tuesday- A Week before Valentines Day:

"Sakura?"

"Hm?" Sakura returned getting her chemistry book out of her locker. She took a good long look at the cover then shook her head and closed her locker to look at Tenten.

"Is there something wrong between you Sasuke. I mean just last week you guys were talking again. Is Ino not hanging out with Choji anymore?"

"What? Oh, no, Ino is still hanging out with Choji." Sakura said in a kind of dazed voice.

"Then, what? You guys didn't get into another fight did you?"

"Um, no." she responded in 'why would we get into another fight' voice.

"Okay." Tenten said unsurely. "Ready for chemistry class?"

"Yeah!" Sakura said, blushing at the thought of chemistry.

"Why are you blushing?"

"Um...I haven't you ever noticed...how...um...hot it gets in school?" Sakura said putting her free hand on the side of her head.

"No."

Sakura nervously giggled like an 'oh God, how do I get out of this one?'

"Whelp, better get to chemistry! Don't want to be late, now do we!?" Sakura walked quickly past Tenten and towards the chemistry room.

Tenten shook her head at her friends insanity. She turned around quickly and started walking towards class. Of course her head was in the clouds so she didn't see anybody coming towards her and ran right into him. Tenten stubbled back a few steps, but didn't fall.

"Sorry." she mumbled.

No one replied. Tenten looked up to see who she had run into. Hyuuga, Neji.

"Oh, Neji." she said abruptly, feeling a blush emerging onto her face.

"Hey...Tenten."

They stood in awkward silence, neither moving to their assigned classes.

–bring–bring–bring–bring– 1st signal bell

"Well, I'd, I'd better get going now. Don't want to be late for chemistry." Tenten said in a strained voice starting to walk off.

"Wait...um...Tenten."

Tenten stopped walking and slowly turned around.

"Yeah?"

"There's...um...that one...dance you know. Next week." Neji said avoiding her gaze.

"Oh, yeah. I, a, almost forgot."

"Do, you..."

"No."

"Oh, so, you're going...right?"

"Yeah. Planning on it." Tenten quickly answered.

"What if..we were...to, you know, um, go...to-together?"

Tenten's perked up a little bit and she knew that her blush just spread to all over her face. Not one pale spot left.

"Yeah. I'd, like that." Tenten smiled a bit and so did Neji.

"All right."

–bring–bring–bring–bring– 2nd bell for class.

Tenten and Neji ran away without another word to each other.

Tuesday- A Week before Valentines Day

"Sasuke, can I talk to you?"

This must be it. He hasn't had any contact with Ino for the past three weeks. She seems to spend every waking hour with him. Of course Choji felt kind of guilty. I mean, Ino was his friend's girl friend. Sasuke had to keep telling him that it was okay.

"Yeah, what about?" Sasuke asked closing his locker from getting his chemistry book out. He got nervous every time he saw this book now.

"About us."

"Oh?"

"Well, I've been spending so much time with Choji."

"Yeah, so I've noticed." Sasuke said trying to egg her on to get to the point.

"I think we should break up." Ino said.

"Yeah. That would be a good thing. Since he's already asked you to the dance."

Ino looked surprised.

"How did you know!?"

Sasuke smiled.

"He asked me first. I knew you were probably going to end it soon, with all the time you spend with him. It is pretty obvious that you like him."

Ino blushed.

"Well, I guess everything turned out for the best. Now you and Sakura can go together."

Sasuke smiled faded.

"What...do you mean?"

"You said it was obvious that I like Choji. It's even more obvious that you and Sakura can't live without each other. You've been a wreck ever since I said that you couldn't talk to her anymore. But then when I started hanging out with Choji, you and Sakura started talking again. Your mood really changed."

"Wait, you knew I was talking to Sakura again."

"Well, yeah. I'm not that dense Sasuke."

"You didn't say anything about it."

"I like Choji now Sasuke. Get over it." Ino said giving him the hand and turning away from him.

Sasuke smiled. Ino turned back to him and started laughing.

–bring–bring–bring–bring–

"Ope, time for English! See you later Sasuke, good luck!" Ino said giving Sasuke a little wink.

Sasuke did a little sigh of relief.

'Now, how to ask her.'

After School-

"See you later Hinata!" Sakura yelled.

Sasuke and her had resumed their daily routine of Sasuke taking her home. Awkward today? Probably. It was this morning. Probably the quietest car ride they've ever had together.

Sasuke was waiting for Sakura when she arrived, the car already started.

"You ready?" he asked as soon as she had buckled her seat belt.

"Yep." She said, then turned her head towards the window to watch the scenery go by.

After awhile Sasuke finally broke the silence.

"So,"

Sakura turned to look at him.

"Ino dumped me today."

Sakura's eyes widened. A smile spread across her face and she practically screamed with joy.

"Really!!??"

"Mmhm" he said nodding.

"Yes! It worked!" Sakura through her hands up in the air, almost hitting her hands on the roof of the car.

"Yeah, so I was thinking, if you already don't..." Sasuke said slowly.

Sakura's smile slowly disappeared from her face, and her hands descended from the air. Red took over her face, and her stomach started hurting.

"you...we...could, um. Yeah, um...never mind." Sasuke stumbled taking his right hand and running it through his hair.

Sasuke pulled up to Sakura's driveway. He walked her to the door, both in silence, and both blushing. And Sasuke keeping his eyes at his feet.

"I'll think about it." Sakura said to him. His head shot up.

His face was completely red. He had never blushed like this in his whole entire life.

They stood in awkward silence.

"Well...I'll...um, see you tomorrow then?" Sakura asked.

Sasuke cleared his voice. " Yeah." his eyes went back to his feet.

–click–

"Okay, I'll see you tomorrow. Bye Sasuke." Sakura said, opening the door and walking in.

Both did a sigh of relief. Sasuke walked slowly back to his car, and Sakura walked to her room.

Sakura's stomach hurt so much that night. She didn't even eat dinner, afraid that she would puke up what ever she put into her stomach. Her mother was worried of course, but didn't say much to her. Sakura wasn't very talkative this night either. While she was doing her homework she wasn't even concentrating on it. She only had one thing on her mind. What was she going to tell Sasuke?

'I've got plenty of time. The dance isn't until next Friday. But I don't know how much more of this stomach business I can take! What is going on this year!?'

Sakura barely got any sleep last night. She kept waking up. Every time she went back to sleep she had the same dream.

Sakura is at her locker. She opens it and a note falls out.

Meet me outside in the courtyard.

Love,

your Secret Admirer

"It's raining out there though."

Sakura thought about it for awhile.

"Go, or not."

Sakura looked out a nearby window. Not raining ALL too hard.

"Go."

Sakura walked out to the courtyard and underneath a Cherry Blossom tree. When she arrived there she saw someone leaning against it.

'Who's that?'

The figure stood up and started walking toward her. He grasped her into his arms. Sakura was taken back by this action, but felt comfortable there still. The figure backed away. Now Sakura saw. He had onyx eyes.

Sakura awoke for the seventh time. This time though she stayed awake due to the fact that she had to get ready for school. Her stomach was still bothering her. Not because she was nervous though.

She's figured out her answer.

A:N/ Ha! Did you enjoy the chapter? Did you get the whole chemistry thing? I didn't mean for that to happen, I just typed the word and I was like: "Heh. Chemistry." You know because their doing chemistry homework and some chemistry happens between them?! You get it? You don't have to. I just found that ironic in a funny sort of way. Well, you know the routine. R&R!

By the way, if you enjoy this story, I've started another one. This one is based on a true story that is, or shall I say was, happening to me. The guy is moving away now. You'll understand if you read the story. Or if you read the AN at the bottom. But I'm just posting the first chapter. I'll continue it when I finish this one. So far only one person has reviewed it. A couple people have put on their alert list, but it helps me more if people leave messages on my stories. If no one else reviews it, I might not continue. So, if want to go check that out; go ahead! Here's the title: Messages Through A Bottle. If want to take a look at it, be my guest!

For now: R&R!