A:N/ Hello again! Thanks to all of you who have reviewed this story and my new one! Well, I've kept my promise so far. Hopefully you'll like this chapter. I bet you will! (Heheheheh)

Okay well, on with the...fanfiction!

Crushes Between Friends

Chapter 18 - Valentine's Day Dance

Sakura knew exactly what she was going to tell Sasuke. IN homeroom Sasuke and Sakura sat next to each other as per usual. Sakura kept on fidgeting with her pen deciding when she would tell him.

"Sakura?" Sakura dropped her pen and looked straight ahead. But when no one was in front of her she guessed that it had to be Sasuke talking ot her. She looked over at him.

"Is something bothering you?" he asked her.

Sakura pondered on the question. Should she tell him now? Or wait a little bit?

Now.

"Um...well yeah."

Sasuke nodded he figured what it could e, so he looked away from her.

Sakura bit her lip.

"Sasuke!" she ubruptle said.

Sasuke immediately turned toward her.

"Um...about...about..."

"Yesterday?" he put in.

"Yeah."

Sasuke looked down, then back at her.

"You can say no, it was stupid for me to ask."

"No!" Sakura said immediately. "I want to go with you!"

Sakura had been blushing for awhile now, Sasuke had just started.

"What?" he asked.

"I-I want to...go to the...dance...with you." Sakura said.

After awhile of taking in what Sakura had said Sasuke finally smiled.

"Finally!" the whole class shouted.

After Sakura had shouted"No!" the whole class had been tuned into their conversation. Of course Sasuke and Sakura had been totally clueless as to their existence there.

Both of their blushes deepened greatly.

All of their friends had found out about before they even had a chance to tell them. Of course it's completely blatant as to who told them all.

Yeah it was awkward for Sasuke and Sakura at the beginning of the day. As it went on though, they became more used to the fact. What they couldn't get used to was people calling them a couple. Which, of course, wasn't true. They were always telling people they were just going as friends. Which, in their minds, was true. In real life thought, not so much. But Sasuke also wished Sakura could have looked at it that way. Them. A couple.

AT LUNCH:

"So Sak, heard the big news!" Tenten said, nudging her friend.

Sakura smiled and shrugged. It really didn't seem as much of a big deal now. Why had she been so nervous before? It wasn't like Sasuke was asking her out on a date. They probably would've shown up together any ways, even if they hadn't descussed outright.

"Yeah. But just as friends." Tenten rolled her eyes.

"Sure. 'Just friends'." she said making air quotes with her fingers around "just friends."

Sakura gave her a 'what's-all-""-this-about-about-because-it's-crap-to-go-like-""-this-suggesting-I'm-lying-but-I'm-not look. Tenten smiled then she turned on Hinata as her next victim.

"So Hinata, has Naruto asked you to the dance yet?"

Hinata blushed, then shook her head no. Tenten patted her firend on the back.

"Don't worry, he'll ask eventually. Don't forget, this is Naruto we're talking about. Youjust have to give him some extra time."

Hinata didn't respond.

Continuing with her rounds, Tenten then targeted Temari.

"So Temari, any date for you yet?"

"Eh. Still waiting. But hey, who really cares?" Temari said breakinga small peice of bread off then eating it.

Tenten smiled again. "So Shika hasn't asked you either. Huh, whou woulda thought, him being the big genius at the table."

That was it. Tenten no longer had anyone to criticize. Then it dawned on Sakura.

"Hey Tenten, what about you? Do you have a date?" Tenten blushed.

"Um, no. No-nobody has asked me yet." Tenten hid her face in her tray.

Not literally, she just hung her head down really low so taht they couldn't see her blush. Sakura smiled.

"Well I wonder why Neji hasn't asked you yet." Sakura winked at Hinata and Temari.

They both began to smile.

"Actually Neji already has a date." Hinata said.

Everyone looked over at her, Tenten in shock.

How could she know? Wait. Think. They live in the same house.

"Yeah, her name is Masako, I think. He brings so many home it's hard to remember." Hinata said with a shurg.

Tenten's mouth dropped

"That's impossible! He asked me!" Tenten shouthed to ehr friends.

The three of them started to lasugh. Tenten looked at them blankly.

"What's so funny?" she asked.

Sakura replied, "We all already knew that."

"How?"

"Well let's see here, Hinata lives with the guy," Tenten did a shrug and a oh-yeah-that's-true face, "and I live next to one of his best friends. I wonder too." she finished.

Tenten thought for a moment.

"What about Temari though?"

"Well Hinata probably told her." sakura said.

Hinata shook her head no. the all looked at Temari.

She lifted up her hand and started examining her nails. "I've got my resources." she said.

The girls all laughed.

"Okay, so even if half of us don't have a date," Hinata and Temari glared at Tenten, "we should all go and buy our dresses tonight. How about after school?"

The three other girls all looked at each other and started nodding their heads. Then they all turned to Tenten and said, "Perfect!" "Sounds good!" "Works for me!"

Tenten smiled. She did that a lot at lunch today.

SCIENCE-HINATA:

Guess what! All hope wasn't lost for Hinata and Temari! Hinata had science with Naruto while Temari had history with Shika!

"Okay class, today we're going to be examining frog cells. I will be assigning you your partners, so no groaning if you don't like the partner you get. It's rude. You all need to make more friends. Hanging in your little cliques theses days. Bad habits. Anyway, continuing with the lesson. You will receiving a 30 paged packet that...hm, let's see...Hinata! Will you please come pass these out to the students?"

Hinata blushed. She stood up from her chair and walked to the front of the room to receive the packets. The pile was like a mile high! (Hyperbole) It was tall and heavy though. What do yo expect, there's 28 students in her science class. If each student has thirty pages, that means that Hinata is holding 840 pages. (Sorry about the math problem there, thought it would sound cool. Makes me feel smart.) It was sort of difficult to pass them out. Of course some people made it easy for her and just grabbed them themselves so she wouldn't have to balance the stack with one hand. Only the snotty people who didn't want to get a paper cut made her hand them the packet. At one point she almost dropped the pile, but she was standing next to Naruto and he grabbed hold of the stack and helped her rebalance it again.

"Thanks." she said, blushing. Naruto also started blushing, but Hinata didn't see it. She was too afraid to look at him.

"Okay, as Hinata passes those out I will start to list off the partners."

Naruto started listening to the teacher. For once.

"If Hinata and I get to be partners, then I finally can ask her."

"Masako and Michiko, Akiko and Sean, Bethany and Mike, Mai and Naru, John and Stephanie, Rae and Mallory, Bailey and Lincoln, Tyler and Dalton, Anna and Sarah, Kati and Cheyenne, Kyle and Jason..."

"He's almost done, maybe we will get to be partners!"

"Ami and Amy..."

"Yes!"

"Naruto and Hinata. Get to work."

Partners started to find partners. Then they started arguing who was going to go get the cells to study. Naruto found Hinata who was standing still at her sitting area, blushing.

"I'll go get the cells." Naruto said. Hinata nodded, coming out of her trance.

While Naruto was doing that, Hinata went and got the microscope, bringing it to a place to plug it in.

Naruto came over a little afterwards. Neither said anything. Hinata started setting up the microscope. Naruto gave her the cells and she placed them underneath the lense. She started adjusting it, trying to find something interesting to look at.

"Uh, Hinata, can I ask you something?"

Hinata started messing with it lense again before answering, keeping her eyes in the eye sockets.

"Um...s-sure, N-naruto." she answered.

Naruto sighed of relief. He was doing good so far.

"Yeah, so about next week. You don't have a date yet do you?"

Hinata's blush deepened.

"N-n-n-n-no." she said, concentrating even more on the cells.

"Okay. Well..." Naruto paused. " Would you want to...oh, I don't know, go with me?"

Hinata gasped. She stopped messing with the knobs and stood up straight, only coming up to the tip of Naruto's chin. She noticed that he also was blushing.

"S-sure N-naruto." she said, with a little half smile.

Apparently Naruto had been holding his breath and let it all out at once. It smelled of ramen. Go figure.

"Great! Now, let's start working."

Maybe he hadn't noticed Hinata was working before?

Hinata went back to her adjusting. Finally she found what she was looking for.

"Naruto, come look at this!" she said.

Naruto walked over and put his eyes into the sockets.

HISTORY- TEMARI:

"Alright class, today we're going to try a new method of studying. Here's what will happen. You're going to stay in the spots your in now. You'll read section three while also taking notes. I'll give you till 30 after. Start."

The class immediately started reading and writing. Pencils were heard all over the room scratching down notes from the reading.

"Okay, times up."

The class stopped their reading and note taking. The class then stared up at their teacher.

"Now, we're going to compare notes. First you're going to pass your notes to the person on your right. Do so now."

The students obeyed. Shika was sitting to the left of Temari, so she was getting his notes. After the noise of rustling papers was done the teacher continued.

"Now, you're going to go over this person's notes and see if they missed anything that you think should be on there. The only thing is, you can't use your book so this is also a way of studying this chapter for the up coming test. Now get started have five minutes."

The class started working.

Temari looked down at Shika's paper and saw something besides notes written down on his papers.

'Go to the dance with me?'

Temari blushed. She sat there staring at the question for the whole five minutes. Not even looking at his notes.

"Okay, times up, hand back the notes."

The owners got their notes back, and Shika looked surprised to see that Temari didn't respond back.

"Now, do the same thing only this time pass your paper to the left."

The class did so and redid what they had already done only this time on some else's paper.

Shika looked down at Temari's paper and saw a little 'yes' written in the top right hand corner.

AFTER SCHOOL- MALL:

"Okay, so we all have dates now!" Tenten shouted.

The four of them walked into the prom dresses store and started searching around.

Tenten found a baby blue dress with no straps. It reached down to her knees and had a small bow preattached to the left waist area.

Hinata found a dark purple dress with spaghetti straps reaching down to her knees. The neck was really low cut so there was white sparkly lace covering the bare part. The top part of the dress was all sparkly and the bottom was just a plain purple, making it seem like just a shirt and skirt.

Temari got a dark green spaghetti strapped dress. The top part of the dress was a lighter green, getting darker as the dress went down. The front part of the dress was at Temari's knees, but got longer as it headed toward the back of the dress. The longest part reached to just above Temari's ankles. The ends of the dress looked as though Temari had taken a pair of scissors to it and did a very bad job on cutting straight lines.

Sakura got a plain read dress. It also had spaghetti straps. The left part of the dress was shorter than the right. As you progressed across the dress would get longer. The longest part reached about a two inches past Sakura's knee.

"Great! Now we all have our dates and dresses! Hurray!" Tenten shouted out for the whole world to hear.

The four of them laughed. And started to exit the mall.

"Hey Sakura, I just thought of something. Have you heard from your secret admirer lately?"

"Yeah, I just got something from him today." Sakura said.

"What song did he choose this time?"

"Um, I think it's called Valentine. It's written by Jim Brickman. The strange thing is, he just left me this note." Sakura pulled out a piece of paper from her pocket that had been folded.

'Title: Valentine

By Jim Brickman

You'll know it when you hear it.'

"Okay, now that's weird." Temari stated.

The group went their separate ways. When Sakura got home she put her dress away then sat on her bed. Just sat.

'What does he mean by that? "I'll know it when you hear it?" He didn't leave a track for me. How will I know?'

That's all Sakura thought about that night. When will she finally get to meet her secret admirer? She wished he had asked her to the dance. A lot.

FRIDAY- THE DAY OF THE VALENTINE'S DAY DANCE:

Everyone had been talking about the dance all day long. Couples making arrangements when to pick up their dates or friends with dates making arrangements for a meeting spot. Sakura and Sasuke though didn't talk much of it. They already knew their plans. Picked up at 6:45, drive over. End of discussion. But they were both still excited. Yes, Sasuke excited. Sakura might not see it this way, but Sasuke did. This was pretty much their first date and their not even dating!

When school was over people rushed out to go home, get something quick to eat then start getting ready.

6:45

ding dong

"Sakurrrraaaa! Sasuke is here!" Sakura's mom called, running to the door.

"Just a sec!" Sakura hollered back.

Her mom opened the door for Sasuke and let him in.

"Good evening Mrs. Haruno." Sasuke said bowing.

"No formality, you're practically my son-in-law, call me mom!" she said cheerfully.

Sasuke blushed madly and stood upright like a rod.

Sakura came down the stairs all ready to go. Sasuke started to blush even more.

"Oh! Sakura you look beautiful! Here, I must get a picture with you two together!" Mom said pulling out a camera from behind her.

"I thought you only took pictures for prom?" Sakura asked.

"Doesn't matter, you'll be wearing a different dress for prom, so I need to take one with you in this one! Smile! You're not leaving till you do!"

Sakura shook her head and headed for the door, her mom was embarrassing herself too much.

"Come on Sasuke, let's go." Sakura said.

Sasuke and Sakura walked out.

"I will get a picture you two!" Mom yelled out as Sakura stepped into Sasuke's car.

Then they left.

"Oh, I'll get a picture all right. Even it's the last thing I do." Mom smiled maliciously.

Dance:

Sasuke and Sakura had gotten trapped in traffic so when they arrived all of their friends were waiting for them.

"Sakura, what took you so long? You guys have missed the first three songs." Temari asked.

Sakura shrugged.

"Traffic. Then we couldn't find a parking spot."

Her friends nodded.

Then the Chicken Dance turned on.

Everyone screamed in joy, the girls (except Hinata) pulled their dates and 'not dates' out onto the dance floor to join in the fun. After that was the Y.M.C.A. Then came on a slow song. Sakura and Sasuke looked at each other awkwardly. Should they dance together or will people get the wrong idea.

"Dance? As...friends?" Sakura asked him.

Sasuke bowed, then extended his right hand for Sakura to grab, which she did. Sakura put her right hand around Sasuke's neck, and entangled her left with his right. While Sasuke put his left hand around Sakura's waist. They swayed side to side, weirdly keeping the beat to the song.

To Where You Are

by Josh Groban

Sasuke:
Who can for certain?
Maybe you're still here.
I feel you all around me,
your memory's so clear.

Deep in the stillness,
I can hear you speak.
You're still an inspiration.
Can it be that you are my for ever love,
and you are watching over me from up above?

Chorus- Sasuke:
Fly me up to where you are
beyond the distant star
I wish upon tonight to see you smile,
if only for a while to know you're there.
A breath away's not far to where you are.

Sakura:
Are you gently sleeping here inside my dream?
And isn't faith believing all power can't be seen?
As my heart holds you just on beat away,
I cherish all you gave me eve'ry day.

'Cause you are my forever love
watching me from up above.
And I believe that angles breathe
and that love will live on and never leave.

Chorus- both:
Fly me up to where you are
beyond the distant star
I wish upon tonight to see you smile,
if only for a while to know you're there.
A breath away's not far to where you are.

I know you're there.
A breath away's
not far to where you are.

When the song ended Sakura and Sasuke separated.

A few songs had gone by and Sasuke and Sakura had gotten separated. Sakura was hanging out with her friends while Sasuke hung out with his own. Then all of a sudden the lights started to dim a lot. It was almost near pitch black when the DJ explained.

"There has been a request, the house lights will be going completely down. Don't try anything funny, otherwise you'll be stuck in high school forever."

Some students laughed, while others looked at their friends or dates confused. Couple quickly got together so as not to dance with the wrong person. The house lights went completely down, and then a small spotlight got turned on, and started searching the students.

"Pink, pink, pink." the DJ was saying to himself. "There."

The spotlight stopped on Sakura, and she froze blushing extremely.

"There you go Romeo, find your Juliet." the DJ said into the microphone.

Sakura stood still wondering what in the world was this guy talking about.

The song started.

Valentine

by Jim Brickman
If there were no words,
no way to speak,
I would still hear you.

Suddenly a black gloved hand appeared in front of her from the pool of darkness. Sakura looked up from the hand into the eyes of its beholder. The guy's upper face was completely covered by a mask. Sakura raised her hands to her face wondering what was going on. This wasn't a masquerade.

And even if the sun refused to shine,
even if romance ran out of rhyme,
you would still have my heart until the end of time.

Sakura slowly let out her right hand placing it into the gloved one. The hand brought her closer to the body and the spotlight disappeared. The hand she had grabbed onto brought her right hand to around his next, putting his around her waist. His right hand found her left and entwined the two.

You're all I need,
my love,
my Valentine.

They started swaying. Sakura found herself looking up trying to see if she could even find the face of the guy in front of her, let alone define the features as who it is.

All of my life,
I have been waiting for
all you give to me.
You've opened my eyes
and shown me how to love unselfishly.

The brought her even closer to him than they already were. Sakura's heart was beating like a birds, just not fast enough that it would kill her.

I've dreamed of this a thousand times before,
but in my dreams I couldn't love you more.
I will give you my heart until the end of time.

You're all I need,
my love,
my Valentine.

That's when it her. Valentine. This is the song that her secret admirer had been talking about. This was her secret admirer! Sakura felt the blush already there replaced with an even bigger one. Why didn't he just show himself to her? Why all the secrecy? For some mysterious reason then, Sakura laid her head on the guy's chest, both now feeling the complete warmth of the other.

And even if the sun refused to shine,
even if romance ran out of rhyme,
you would still have my heart until the end of time.

'Cause all I need is you,
my Valentine.

You're all I need,
my love,
my Valentine.

Then he pulled away. Took her hand and kissed it. Then left her standing there. When the house lights had turned back on her secret admirer had already disappeared into the crowd of couples.

Temari, Tenten, and Hinata all three ran over to Sakura who stood dazed in her spot.

"Sakura! What happened? Who was that?" Tenten asked.

Sakura didn't respond.

"Sakura?"

Her eyes were glazed over. She didn't realized what was happening around her.

"Sakura!"

She jumped.

"What?"

"Who was that?" Tenten asked again.

"I-I. That song. It was the song." Sakura said.

Tenten looked at her strangely.

"What are you talking about?"

"Tenten, remember the note her admirer had given her. "You'll know it when you hear it."

Tenten thought for a moment. Then shrugged.

"I think she just heard it." Hinata finished.

Tenten's eyes opened wide, and her mouth dropped.

They took Sakura over to where the boys were, by the punch table.

"Hey. You guys stuck out there in the dark?" Naruto asked.

The girls didn't respond.

"Hey Sakura, what's up with you?" Sasuke asked her looking concerned.

"I-I, just danced with my admirer." she said then looking up into Sasuke's eyes.

Sasuke raised his eyebrow.

A:N/ Ha! Excellent chapter if I do say so myself! 14 pages long! Hurray! Well I hope you guys enjoy this one! What did you think? Well I thought it was pretty cute what Sakura's secret admirer did. He's so romantic! (You all know who he is right? I would've sworn I revealed it in a much earlier chapter.) Well I hope you guys review and all that fun stuff, which I know you will. Well I've calculated out the rest of the story and I came up with about 31 chapters in all. That's if I don't add anything away. I most likely won't take anything away. So you guys now know that there's going to be at least that many for the minimum.

frumpyrox:That's exactly what I was going for! I hate the soap operay stories that over dramatizes everything in it. Those just get to be annoying. So congratulations! You've uncovered my writing style. Well part of it anyways, I like to mix it up sometimes.

R&R!