The next five days dragged on painfully slow. With sign of my neighbor either. He never returned home that night from the bookstore. I could only guess he was staying at his parents. But why?

Finally it was Monday morning. College in less than an hour. I made sure to curl my hair again. I put on dark jeans, a black camisole, and a dark red cardigan like sweater. It was long and slightly loose, I buttoned the bottom up, so my part of my shirt could still be seen but I was still warm. Weather had turned in Konoha towards the end of the break. I paid extra attention to my makeup using thin black eyeliner that was winged out slightly. I brushed over it with faint sparkling pink eye shadow. Adding mascara to my long lashes for a finishing touch. On my way out I slipped on plain black ballet flats. I swung my laptop bag over my shoulder and carried my zipped up binder in one hand. Locking up my apartment I left. I looked at his door as I walked past it but no signs of life could be heard. I shook my head and continued towards my car.

The sky was clouded over a dark grey and there was a small wind. I hurried into the building. When I entered the classroom I looked to the left only to see no one was there yet.

I really have to stop doing this 'early' thing. It's unhealthy.

I settled down in a seat a few rows up. Sliding the binder and bag beneath my feet I set the laptop inform of me. Just as I went to open it I looked up to see Itachi leaning against the wall by the chalkboard, looking at me. The glasses he wore gave him a sharper gaze than usual. I stood up and bowed.

"G-Good morning Mr. Uchiha."

He raised a hand and waved. "Morning." I looked around for a clock but couldn't find one. I saw him check his watch. "You sure do like to show up early," he chuckled, advancing the steps towards me.

I laughed hesitantly. "How bad is it this time?"

"An hour."

I slammed my palm to my forehead. "Oh great."

He chuckled again. "Well since it seems like we have some time to talk, how was your vacation?"

"Fine I guess. Kind of boring. Everybody was busy with dates or work."

"Oh? You didn't have anything to do?"

"Nope," I sighed. "That's what happens when you're the only one of your friends with no job and no boyfriend."

"Oh?"

"So what about you?"

"What?" He was leaning against a table across from me now.

"How was your vacation?"

"Ah, I just lazed about mostly and graded papers."

"Oh…" I had to muster up all my courage to continue. "Were you at your parents' or something…?"

He smiled at me. "Yeah. The Uchiha Residence is always quiet…it's a good place to be free from, distractions, especially when I need to buckle down and work."

Distractions? What could possibly be distracting him?

"So, um, you were awful…dressy…at the bookstore last week," he almost looked flustered.

I cocked my head to the side and raised an eyebrow. Then it hit me. I could feel the heat in my face, which only caused more of a blush to spread across my cheeks to my ears. "I-I-I was having dinner with some f-f-friends."

I can't possibly tell him I dressed like that because I thought I would see him. What the hell is wrong with me? Inner me help!

Sorry hun, you're on your own this time. Even I don't know how to respond to that. Itachi's got a sharp eye.

Useless!

"Oh? Was it ramen with Mr. Hatake?" His voice pitch dropped dangerously low.

"Yeah? Oh, you heard him tell me as I left. Yeah, we met up with some friends and-"

He pushed off the desk and walked towards me. Leaning down he placed one hand on the table and the other on the back of my chair, pinning me there. With my feet off the side, I backed up slightly. My left hand gripping the back of the chair and the other gripping the base kept me from slipping. He leaned down a little farther, just inches from my face. I gulped and stared back at him helplessly. He leaned even closer and I shut my eyes tightly. I felt pressure on my shoulder. Opening my eyes back up I saw he had laid his head down in the crook of my neck. I mentally swatted away stupid thoughts. What was I expecting anyways?

"Itachi…? A-Are you okay?" I whispered. My voice cracking slightly.

"Oh Sakura, I-" he went to say more but stopped when we heard footsteps approaching the door. I saw his grip tighten. How long had we stayed that way? He removed himself quickly and swiftly, walking back down the stairs. He stopped mid-step. "Miss Haruno?"

I gulped again. "Yes, Mr. Uchiha?"

"Your hair looks nice curled," he smiled.

With eyes widening a blush crept over my face again. It was then that I noticed I was slightly out of breath.

The class room slowly started filling up. Hinata was able to scoot down the booth seat and sit next to me.

"Good morning." She smiled cheerfully. A week with Naruto did wonders to her mood.

"Morning," I said, feeling slightly defeated.

She eyed me. "What happened?" She whispered as class started.

I looked at Itachi's straight form as he taught. With his glasses over his eyes and a book in one hand his low voice echoed throughout the almost quiet room. I rested my chin on my palm and stared at him.

"Oh my," Hinata softly giggled.

I still continued to stare at him. A thought struck my head and I felt myself blushing. Again. I've been that a lot lately.

I wonder what his hair feels like.

It has to be soft.

Yeah, he keeps it in a rubber band almost every day though.

Yeah, I wonder what his lips feel like.

Me too.

My eyes widened. I shook my head slightly. Resting both elbows on the table I covered my mouth and nose with my hands.

"Oh no," I whispered.

"What?" Hinata whispered back.

My eyes didn't leave him. "I'm in big trouble."

"What are you talking about Sakura?"

Itachi looked up from his book. His eyes coming in contact with mine, I took in a sharp breath. Quickly picking up my pencil I started scribbling down nonsense notes. I needed a distraction, slightly embarrassed that I was caught staring. I heard what sounded like a laugh that was swiftly turned into a clearing of the throat. I looked up from my notebook to see him turning around. Just as he turned I could get a small glimpse of his face. His ears seemed a little pink. I turned my head to the side. Was he? No, impossible.

Looking around the rest of the room I saw everybody was either burrowed into writing notes or were playing some block like game with each other. I deemed it safe to look back at him. He ended his lecture shortly and excused us to work on either classwork or something else. This was our "social hour."

"So, you were focusing awfully hard on class today."

Turning to my right I saw Hinata smiling at me.

"Hinata, I think I get what you've been playing at, but this is a dangerous game and I'm not going to participate."

She only sighed at me for a moment. "Spoiled sport." I shook my head at her. "So, are you coming to the festival Friday?"

"Festival?"

She looked at me incredulously. "The festival! You know! Where we dress up in kimonos and get to be all traditional and they hold a little party, fair like thing. At the end of the night they set off fireworks! They set up little booths and such."

"Oh," I looked out the window. Clearly not interested. Being around that many people was not something that sounded enjoyable.

"Sakura! You have to go!" she tugged on my arm. "Doesn't she Mr. Uchiha!"

My head snapped up and I saw he was standing right there, he was helping another student, sitting directly in front of me. He looked at us and smiled.

"Doesn't she what?"

"Doesn't she have to go to the festival this Friday!"

His expression suddenly became very serious. "Well of course! You must go Ms. Haruno!" He said pointing a finger harshly at me. "Think of your youth! You'll get old like me and wish you had gone to all these events!"

Hinata and I laughed. "Mr. Uchiha you're not old! And teachers are supposed to go too!" Hinata exclaimed.

I gulped and swallowed some of my pride. "Will…Will you be going?"

"Yes, I'll be going," he smiled.

"Mr. Uchiha! Can you help me?" A student called.

"Yes! One moment!" he turned back and smiled once more. "Anyways you have to go Sa-" he coughed. "Ms. Haruno."

He left our row to go talk to the student.

"So will you go now?"

"Yes."

She cheered and started talking about how we'd go pick out our kimonos later today. I mostly tuned her out and thought of my professor. And why he wanted me there so badly.