A/N: Sorry I haven't posted for so long! I had Spanish finals and had no time to go online. I'm just so glad that school's finally over (who isn't?) and maybe I can now write more often! Anyway, here's the fourth chapter!

Chapter Four: She said WHAT?!

Yes, it was true. She, Sakura Haruno, had said yes to go on a date with none other than Rock Lee. Who'd have guessed? Even Lee himself couldn't believe it, but he was still absolutely thrilled when she told him. He was jumping up and down, doing cartwheels, running around in circles… Okay, let's put it this way: at that moment, he was practically the happiest shinobi on the planet.

On the other hand, Sakura had no idea what she'd just said. As she silently watched Lee do all his crazy stunts, she was screaming on the inside.

HELP! GET ME OUTTA HERE! WHAT'S GOTTEN INTO ME TODAY?! WHY, OH WHY DID I SAY YES?! THAT'S THE LAST THING I WANTED TO SAY, BUT FOR SOME REASON, THAT'S THE ONE THING I DID SAY! THIS CANNOT BE HAPPENING! WHAT HAVE I GOTTEN MYSELF INTO?!

Sakura took a moment to calm down. After taking in deep breaths, she thought for a moment. Sakura, relax. This isn't the end of the world. C'mon. You're a kunoichi, for crying out loud. You've been in worse situations than this one. Pull yourself together…

She drew in yet another deep breath. Maybe…maybe I said yes because…I felt like showing him some gratitude for taking the time and effort to listen to me.

Sakura glanced at Lee, all giddy and happy. She forced a weak smile, trying to see the best out of this. Besides…look at him… How could I have said no after all he's done for me today? He's given me more than I could ask of just by listening to me. And thanks to him, I honestly do feel somewhat better, right? …Anyway, it's just a date. All I have to do is treat it like a casual hang-out, and I'll be fine… Nothing to it.

And then, Lee suddenly ran up to Sakura and nearly glomped her to death. "Oh, Sakura! You have made me so very happy! I promise that you will not regret it!"

As Sakura just stood there—too paralyzed to move and practically unable to breathe—she could only think of one thing: Oh, I'm already regretting it, alright.

So it was settled. Sakura was going to meet Lee at a curry house (A/N: is that the right term?) tomorrow at noon, and she had no way of getting out of it.

I could just bail and not show up, Sakura thought hopefully, but then reeled away from the thought. No. Who am I kidding? I couldn't do that. That's way too cruel, especially after what Lee did for me…

Groaning in irritation, she buried her face in her hands. "I can't believe I'm having this stupid guilt trip! Just because he did one thing for me, I have to put up with going on a date with him?! This is so unfair! …Besides, I don't even like curry!" From where she sat on her balcony, Sakura felt like hollering at the world, even if no one would hear her…or even care to listen.

Thoughts of Sasuke instantly flooded into Sakura's mind again, and she hugged her knees, trying to find her place of comfort and security. Even with Lee's support, I still can't get over Sasuke. It seems no amount of listening can get rid of what I'm feeling right now. Only Sasuke can take back those three words… Only Sasuke can truly make me feel happy again…

"Hey, Sakura! Sakura, is it true? Is it true?" said a familiar, energetic voice. Sakura recognized the speaker immediately.

Naruto.

She tried her best to shake herself free from her previous thoughts. "Is what true?" she called from the balcony, her melancholy tone unable to hide her mood.

However, Naruto didn't even seem to notice. "Is it true that you and Lee are going out?!" Naruto wanted to know.

Sakura froze. For a brief moment, she'd forgotten all about Lee, but now that Naruto had reminded her, Sakura felt like burying herself into a five-feet-deep hole. I should have known Lee wouldn't keep his mouth shut… To him, this is all "too good to be true." Well to me…it's all too awful to be true! What if Lee tells the whole village? My life will be ruined forever! Though she already knew the answer, Sakura asked, "And who told you that?" She tried to sound dubious, but instead, she sounded more miserable.

Naruto shrugged. "Lee did," he replied, "…But he didn't really tell me directly. It was more like he was singing it in the streets and I just overheard."

Okay, make that a ten-feet-deep hole Oh my, gosh! Sakura thought incredulously. Are you kidding me?! He's made himself into a singing idiot broadcasting the news to the whole village! And what's he mean by "going out"?! We're not going out! One lousy date doesn't mean anything! The nerve of him! If I ever get through this date alive, I'll— Sakura cut herself off before she could say anymore, especially after a very stupefied Naruto just stared at her.

"What?" he asked her at last, anxiety present in his voice. "Is something wrong?"

Sakura finally realized that she must have been displaying her inner emotions through her facial expressions and body language. Trying to cover up her mistake, Sakura cleared her throat. "No…" she said firmly, "I'm just surprised that he would go that far in getting the news out to everyone." At least that last part was true.

"Okay, I get it," Naruto said quickly, "But what I don't get is why you would go out with someone like him!" He now had a grimace on his face. "Why'd you pick Bushy Brow over someone like me?!"

Look who's talking, Sakura thought. Naruto, you're no better than Lee. Both of you are utterly pitiful sometimes, but at least the two of you also know how to come through when it's important…

"I didn't pick him," Sakura clarified, trying to clear things up with Naruto before he jumped into even more crazy conclusions. "He picked me."

"But you've always rejected him before," Naruto argued, "Why'd you chose now of all times to actually agree to go out with him?"

Sakura didn't want to get into this conversation at all. "It's a long story, Naruto," she said irritably, "But let me put it this way: don't get the wrong idea. I do not like Lee, okay?"

Naruto breathed a sigh of relief. "Oh, that's good!" he exclaimed, and then glanced up at Sakura hopefully. "Does this mean you still wanna go out with me?"

Sakura narrowed her eyes. "I never wanted to go out with you in the first place," she stated, "And no, I haven't changed my mind."

Naruto hung his head in despair. "Aw, man!" he whined, and then suddenly bolted upright again, full of energy. "But, hey! Let me know how the date turns out! If it's really awful, you can dump Lee and go out with me!"

"Don't count on it," Sakura muttered under her breath.

As Naruto scampered off, Sakura thought miserably, First, Sasuke tells me off and now I've accepted to go on a date with Rock Lee. Some day this had turned out to be…

A/N: Guess what the next chapter will be about? C'mon, think! …If you guessed the date with Lee and Sakura, you're right!