Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, not am I claiming that I do. Actually, I'm disclaiming it with this here disclaimer.

June 3rd, a Saturday. Of course, Sasuke had no idea of the date. He didn't really pay attention to that sort of thing, someone else could just tell him when he asked. No need to know when someone, namely Sakura, would always know.

Opening his eyes slowly, he flinched as the sun penetrated his now exposed eyes. Ugh, morning. I feel so wacked out, what did I do last night? Slowly his gaze fell down to the sleeping figure at his side. A girl.

Oh yeah… Hana…

The girl was nuzzled into his bare chest, her long red hair cascading on his sheets. He had been out last night, and obviously picked up a girl. Matsumoto Hana was a sophomore in the local college who was at the bar he went to with Naruto last night. She had been sending him drinks and notes and he finally just went over to her.

What happened was just 'whatever' to him. He really didn't care about her and the only reason he actually took her to his house was because he was a little on the drunk side. That's what he did, what he excelled at: one-night stands.

Hell, after this morning he would never see her again.

His head was pounding slightly, a dull pain that was getting sharper and sharper as time went on. I should get some aspirin… He thought slowly, stretching out the arm that was not under Hana. Casting a glance over at his digital alarm clock, he saw it was 1 in the afternoon.

Slowly and deliberately he took his arm out from under her, stopping when she repositioned herself. Finally he got free of her and his bed and stumbled his way into the bathroom. In his mirror he saw his own pale face looking back with tired eyes. Hangover alert. I need some coffee.

After grabbing 3 aspirin and washing them down with water from the faucet, he slipped on a pair of dark jeans over his boxers. He got to his kitchen without sparing Hana a second glance and started rummaging in the cupboards for some coffee mix. Why do I never buy any coffee?

He was faced with two options, well three. One was to wake Hana and go get coffee with her, which he didn't really want to do. Another was to just go down to get coffee, leaving her there with a note, which he felt like doing. The third was to not get coffee at all, which he absolutely would not do.

"Sasuke-kun?"

He grimaced without turning around. Hana was waking up. "Hn,"

"What're you doing?" she asked groggily, yawning as she spoke.

"Getting coffee, you want some? I'm just going to the place nearby…"

She started to get up, holding the sheets around her naked form. "I'll go with you!"

She perked up fast… "No, that's ok; I'll pick something up for you. Coffee sound nice?"

"Hai, a half-caf triple grande non-fat no foam Caramel Macchiato please." She said, falling back onto his bed to stretch more.

He mimed shooting himself in the head when he knew she wasn't looking. She would get the most complicated thing… He thought murderously, looking back at her. Taking a tight black shirt from the floor where it was thrown off last night, he slipped it over his head, smoothing out the wrinkles. "Right,"

Sasuke yawned as he descended the front steps outside of his apartment, running a hand through his dark locks. I wonder when she'll leave. He honestly wanted her gone as soon as possible so he could once again have his apartment to himself.

Why did he do it? Why did he pick up mostly older women for one night? Because, despite his dashing, princely looks and mysterious appeal, he was lacking something, the one thing that he could never get

So, to make up for the fact that he was romantically distressed, he slept around. Often.

The sun was murderously bright in his eyes, making him wish he had enough foresight to grab a pair of sunglasses. The coffee shop was only 2 blocks away, so he just took to the sidewalks, passing the open bistros and shops. As he strolled by, a group of college girls turned their heads, lifting up their designer sunglasses to get a better look.

Yeah, he was that good.

"Oi! Teme!"

Sasuke turned, hearing his nickname. Well, it was one person's nickname for him, and it wasn't even a nickname, more of a diss-name. Naruto was waving him down from the other side of the street, causing people walking to stare at the pair of them.

Not wanting to make a scene, Sasuke motioned for him to come over to his side of the street, the one with the coffee shop. Naruto dodged around a car completely unnecessarily, and was grinning as he made his way up to him.

"What, Naruto?"

Naruto cleared his throat. "Ahem, you are cordially invited to a get-together of epic proportions. To be held at the house of Yamanaka Ino, this party is initiating at 8 and going into the next century!"

Sasuke just stared. He was such an idiot. A good friend, but an idiot. "Okay… why?"

"Psh, because the last one wasn't good enough!"

"Are you serious?" Sasuke asked, raising one eyebrow in the way that only he could. "If I recall correctly, we all got completely smashed and couldn't even remember who did what with whom. Except Hinata, she didn't drink anything."

"Which is precisely why we need another one!" He said, throwing his heads in the air. "Wait, waitwaitwaitwait. Where's that chick you picked up last night?"

"Not with me." Sasuke muttered, starting to walk into the shop with Naruto following him.

"Just dropping her? Is there no end to the sleeping around?!" He questioned dramatically. "You need a real girl, one who you couldn't even think of leaving!"

Sasuke just made his way up to the front desk, taking out his wallet in the process.

"Like, someone who is so perfect and nice and everything! Kind of like Sakura, only you can't take her 'cause she's mine and if you try, I will smack you."

He only had enough money for one. Well, one and a half.

"Sasuke, are you getting something for her?" Naruto asked, stopping his rant about finding a girl for him.

"A half-caf triple grande non-fat no foam Caramel Macchiato actually…"

Naruto's jaw fell open. "You remembered that? How?"

"I don't even know… I was barely listening." He mumbled, debating whether or not to get it for her. If he got himself a small maybe…

"Oh yeah, Mr. I'm-an-A-student-and-I-can-remember-anything-even-when-I-wasn't-paying-attention. But seriously though," He took out his own frog wallet. "Party, Ino's house, Tuesday, 8 o'clock, no parents and no picky college girls! How about it?"

"Maybe. One half-caf triple grande non-fat no foam Caramel Macchiato please." Sasuke said, finally deciding what he was going to do. He was honestly curious about that drink, what if it was good?

"And one small, normal coffee." Naruto piped up, slamming his bills on the counter.

When the drinks were done they went upstairs to the half open-air 2nd floor and sat down at one of the metal tables. Naruto ran his hand through his blond hair completely staring out at the clear sky. It really was a perfect day.

"I've got it!" He said suddenly, turning to face his companion. Sasuke was poking at his drink with a stirring straw, waiting for it to do something out of the ordinary. It was like a creature from another planet.

"I know your girl!"

"No, I don't think you do." Sasuke muttered, trying to head him off early before he went on another rant.

"Hear me out on this one. Tenten!!!" Naruto whisper-yelled. Tenten had been the captain and MPV of varsity softball, basketball and soccer last year and had brilliant collegial prospects.

Sasuke snorted. "No way. She's like an Amazon. And plus, I wouldn't want to get murdered by Neji…"

"You are so stubborn! Jeez, it's like I'm talking to a girl! Oh no…"

"Hn?"

"You're gay!" Naruto called, wide-eyed.

Sasuke paused in the middle of attempting to drink the frilly drink. That damn girl-drink wasn't exactly helping his case. "Dumbass."

"Then what is it?" He questioned, massaging the bridge of his nose. He was losing steam, giving up. "Teme, I'm your friend. I want to help you to stop breaking every girl's heart just on a fancy. Please help me help you."

"You really want to know?" Sasuke muttered his voice low. He suddenly took a deep drink of the half-caf triple grande non-fat no foam Caramel Macchiato, and was surprised at how good it was.

"I'm in love with you."

That shut him up. Naruto failed to move except blinking. He was not expecting that. It was only until Sasuke started laughing into his drink, blowing whipped cream everywhere did Naruto loosen up.

"Dude, I'm joking. You were just asking for it."

Naruto narrowed his eyes before relaxing them. "That was scary. Maybe you should pick up acting. WAIT, please don't find another thing you're incredible at, forget that I said that."

"I'll come to your party, don't worry." Sasuke said, licking cream off the top of his lip. Suddenly an annoying jingle sounded from somewhere below the table.

It was Naruto's phone, but he was just sipping at his non-girly drink. It took 3 rings before he jumped. "Oh shit, that's mine!"

He stood up and began to fumble with the pocket of his jeans, reaching for his phone. "Hello? Sakura-chan, hey!"

Sasuke smirked at Naruto blushing as his love called.

"Naruto, I'm done calling people. I talked to Hinata and she said that she was going to call Neji and them." Sakura said through the phone. There was an odd sound in the background, like she was near an open window of a car.

"Thanks. Are you in a car Sakura-chan?"

"Uh huh. Kiba's. We're going to the beach 'cause Hinata's working on lifeguard duty.

He heard through the phone someone, undoubtedly Kiba saying something.

"Oh, and we're going because it's fucking hot out says Kiba. He just doesn't want anyone to know he's going just for Hinata."

Naruto smiled as he heard them start arguing. He was now leaning against the balcony, the wind catching his hair. Everyone knew that Kiba liked Hinata, except her. It was really the same as the fact that everyone knew HInata liked him except himself. Sasuke was back at the table but he now had his legs up on the table and was finishing off his drink.

Hinata. That's it!

He froze, holding the phone in his hand limply. Sakura and Kiba continued to bicker on the other line, not even noticing that Naruto was, for once, completely silent.

"Sakura-chan, SAKURA!" He finally spoke into the phone, getting excited at the plan formulating in his head.

"Eh, Naruto?"

"I'm with Sasuke and we're coming with you. Pick us up At Sasuke's place okay?"

"Uh, okay… You better be there when we get there though. We'll be there in a few minutes." Sakura said. "See you guys there."

She cancelled the call from her side, leaving Naruto with nothing.

This was so going to work. Naruto could feel it.

"Oi, teme, we're going swimming!!!" Naruto called at Sasuke, flipping his phone closed and slipping it in his pocket.

"What?"

"Swimming, you know, at a beach!"

Sasuke frowned, removing his feet from the top of the table. "Why?"

"Because it's hot out!!'

"I don't like swimming…" He muttered, standing up and stretching.

Naruto groaned, walking quickly around to the table to face him. "I know you don't. But just please come with us!"

"Us?"

"Sakura and Kiba are going right now and they're picking us up at your place so you kind of have to go…"

"I don't have a suit for you Naruto…" Sasuke muttered tossing the cup in the trash. He knew he was going, but he wanted to string his gullible friend along.

"Shit, okokok, I'm going to run to my house quick and then I'll meet you at yours ok? See you in a few!" Naruto muttered before vaulting over the table and running for the stairs.

He stood there, slightly perplexed. Peering over the balcony he saw Naruto run into the street in his haste to get to his house first.

Five minutes later he got back to his apartment and found that Hana was gone. Good, I'm glad I didn't have to talk to her. He thought bitterly, changing into his blue swimming trunks and slapping on some sun block. He was pale for a reason other than family genes. Skin cancer was something he did not want to get, and since he was a little bit of a health nut, sun block was a must.

Glancing at a book on his bedside table, he thought for a moment about bringing it. It was a library book, so he was a little antsy risking it at a beach. It was Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare. A playwright he had read before, but wanted to do another look through because it was essentially a masterpiece. Naruto might think that Sasuke aiming to major in English and minor in Literature was lame and "sissy", but he couldn't help who he was.

"Sasuke, if you bring that book I'm going to kill you."

He turned and saw Naruto in his doorway having opened it using the 'hidden' key under his floor mat. An uncreative spot, but a good one nonetheless.

"You go to the beach to swim." He continued, walking towards him and taking a seat on his kitchen counter.

"Nobody swims the whole time," Sasuke muttered, leaning over to grab it. "And why do you care?"

"Sasuke-hime," Naruto said authoritatively, putting a hand over his face as if ashamed. Sasuke glared at him for the mention of his other pet name. "Sit down."

Sasuke sat, still mad about the princess name.

"Hyuga Hinata." He said, towering over him. "What about her?"

That did something. It was like a beam was inside of him and it just broke. His breath caught in his chest and his eyes widened. Hinata…

Hyuga Hinata, the girl that intrigued him beyond compare, the only girl who didn't like him. And because life had always been kind to Uchiha's, the only girl he truly liked was the only one who didn't like him.

"S-she's okay…" He mumbled, looking down. It was odd; the only thing standing in his way of getting her was the one person trying to help him get her. Cruel indeed.

A honk sounded from outside, causing Naruto to jump. "They're here! Trust me, Hinata's a good one, you'll love her."

Don't I already?

He reached for the towel that he put on his bed and the pair of them started out. Once down on the street they both hopped into the back of Kiba's open Jeep and he sped off, cranking up the radio as he and Sakura sang, terribly, to a song they liked. After a while Naruto joined in until he saw that Kiba had his shirt off and Sakura was paying attention tohim. Maybe he would try that. So off the shirt went.

The beach was packed by the time they got there. Pulling off to park under a willow tree, Kiba jumped out, followed by Sakura, Naruto and Sasuke. Akamaru, Kiba's big white dog, had been in the back with them and jumped out, landing on the grass on the boulevard.

"HINATA!!!" Sakura called, waving her sunglasses in the air from the street. As she did, Naruto, smiling his fox-like grin, undid the bow that held her top on, causing her to catch it before it revealed anything.

Sasuke smirked at his friend's antics but his smile was dampened when he saw Hinata on the lifeguard chair. She was twisting to wave at them, her sunglasses on the top of her head. Like always, her gaze was on Naruto who hadn't even acknowledged her yet. He is so thick. Sasuke thought, shaking his head. She probably didn't even notice me.

But to his gleeful surprise, he looked up again to see her looking at him. It was more of a passing glance, but it was still a glance!

Until she realized that Naruto would never be with her, she wouldn't be able to see past her infatuation. As soon as she opened her eyes further, she'd realize what a good catch he himself was. Right?

As he distinctly saw Hinata blush at a little thing like Naruto without a shirt, he mentally hit himself for coming here. Naruto would be all that she saw, meanwhile Sakura would be all that Naruto saw and Sasuke would be all that Sakura saw. And just to put another layer of impossible to the whole thing, Hinata would be all that both himself and Kiba saw.

This was going to be a fun afternoon.