Well here it is, after a year I finally had the chance to update. I'm so so so so so so sorry. I'm just too busy but I guess I can update more these days since I only have 4 subjects to take and I have lots of time. Yay me! ^^

Anyways, I hope you enjoy this chapter. Let's go SasuSaku!

Standard DISCLAIMER applied.

SURVIVING MY OWN STUPIDITY

Chapter 7

Getting to Know Each Other

Haruno Sakura tiptoed outside the quiet Uchiha mansion's hallways.

This huge mansion is like a maze. I can't find my way out and I really need to get out now or else-

"Are you trying to escape, Haruno Sakura?"

I stiffened at that voice. I put on my sweetest smile and turn to the owner of that voice.

The Uchiha Mansion's housekeeper looked at me from head to toe with scrutinizing eyes and walked around me. "You don't look like you're gonna escape with your clothes and your things aren't with you so may I ask where you are going, Sakura-sama?"

I gave my smile that can make me get away with anything.

She didn't budge and gave me a look that says 'I'm asking you something. Answer it, DAMN IT!'

I sighed, knowing I won't get away that easy from this housekeeper. "I'm going to work, ma'am."

"Work? Why are you going to work? The Uchihas aren't going to make you pay anything while you're staying here and they told me to give you whatever you need." Her scrutinizing gaze didn't alter a bit while she's talking.

"But… I don't want to be a burden to Mikoto-san and the others. They've helped me a lot by letting me live here in their mansion and I want to help myself and earn money so that when I need some money, I won't have to ask Mikoto-san for it." While talking, I suddenly found the mansion's gold carpet interesting.

An eerie silence took over after that and I was afraid to look up and face the housekeeper's wrath.

"Huh. Mikoto-sama's right. You're a nice girl and a weird one too."

My head shot up and saw a kind smile on her face. "W-What?"

" -sama bought a bicycle that you can use for delivery. It's outside. Please take good care of yourself and come back early for breakfast." She bowed in front of her.

I continue to gape at her while she pushed me outside the main door where I saw a red bicycle with a basket at the back, a perfect container for the milk cartons and the newspaper bundles.

I sniffed. "That guy…"

"Good morning, Sakura-sama!" A man cleaning the car in the garage greeted her as she passed by him to park her bicycle.

"Good morning." I smiled at him and put the bicycle stand down and remove my hair from its ponytail.

I stretched backwards and hit a hard thing and heard a quiet 'oof!' I turn my head and saw Sasuke rubbing his right cheek.

"Oh my God, Sasuke-kun!" I jumped off my bike (that he bought for me) and went beside him, inspecting his a little bit swollen cheek. "Are you okay? What the hell are you doing back there?"

He just frowned at me. "What do you think am I doing behind you? You should have looked first before stretching. Ow."

"Hey! I didn't know you were there!"

"All the more reason to look first before stretching." He continued to rub his cheek and muttered. "Where the hell does she get that strength in that tiny body of hers?"

"Tch." I chuckled at his childishness. "I'm sorry, okay?"

"Hn."

I broke into a fit of giggles. "Oh come on. You want some ice cream? I bought two before going home."

He shook his head. "I don't like sweets."

I shoved the ice cream cup on his hand before walking past him. "Sorry. I don't take no for an answer and proceeded to the Uchiha mansion's entrance door where ten maids bowed as she opened the door.

"Ohayo gozaimasu, Sakura-sama!"

She staggered backwards in shock. "O-oh…"

Two hands behind her kept her in place. "Easy now."

"Ohayo gozaimasu, Sasuke-sama!"

I looked up and saw Sasuke-kun's smirking face. I blushed and moved away from him. "I'm sorry. I'm not used to being treated like a… like that. I'm really sorry."

"Hn. Better get used to it, Sakura." His smirk widened.

"And what do you mean by that? It's not like I'm going to stay here for the rest of my life." I reasoned out.

Sasuke-kun shrugged. "Maybe you won't… maybe you will."

"What?" I looked at him suspiciously.

He just shot me an innocent look and pushed me away from the glaring maids (Geez, who doesn't obsess over this guy?) to the dining room where I saw Mikoto-san, Fugaku-san and Itachi-niisan already sitting there and waiting for us.

Mikoto-san looked up from massaging Fugaku-san's hand and smiled cheerfully at me. "Sakura-chan! Ohayo! We've been waiting for you!"

"Oh! I'm so sorry!" I bowed in front of the. "I was not used to having someone wait for me. Don't worry, this will not happen again. I'm really sorry."

Mikoto-san stood up and pats my head. "Don't be too tense, Sakura-chan. We understand that you're still not accustomed to having someone wait for you. Don't push yourself too hard. We consider you as part of the family now and we're willing to wait until you can finally accept it."

I realized I was already crying when Mikoto-san pulled out her expensive looking handkerchief and wiped my wet cheeks and hugged me real tight. "I'm sorry. It's just… it's been two years… and I…. I'm so sorry…"

"Shh… calm down, Sakura-chan. We're here. We're your new family and we love you." She cooed me like a baby.

It took me a few minutes to compose myself and Sasuke-kun assisted me in sitting beside him. "I'm so sorry for that. I was just so touched that all of you are concerned about my welfare even though you don't know much about me. Thank you. Thank you so much."

"No worries, Sakura-chan." I heard Itachi-niisan say and saw him grinning at me from across the table, Mikoto-san is smiling her heartwarming smile beside him, Fugaku-san is smirking proudly and I turned to my left and Sasuke-kun looking at me from the side and smiling his rare boyish smile.

Behold everyone, my beautiful Uchiha family.

Sakura got out of Sasuke's black 2011 McLarenMP4-12C without giving any eye contact to anyone there even though she's sure that everyone in the school's parking lot is either gaping at them or glaring at her.

"Sasuke-kun, now I'm starting to change my mind about this. They're going to kill me when you're not around." I tugged on his uniform's sleeve.

I felt him shrug and his arms wrapped around her shoulders. "Hn. Stop worrying. You're annoying."

He stopped where he knows everybody will be able to see him and hear him. He raised his chin and looked at everyone. "I want all of you to listen to me. Haruno Sakura here is living in my house. Whoever hurts her, whether you're a boy or a girl, will answer to me. I'm telling you, I'm dead serious."

I walked alongside Sasuke-kun through the Gakuen's corridor, ignoring the curious AND furious glances of the students we've passed by.

"Sigh. I think school's gonna be more interesting from now on." I muttered sarcastically and touched the hidden bandages around my waist. "But seriously, Sasuke-kun… what Itachi-niisan put on my bruises is sooooo cool. It disappeared in two hours! Now I have no problem hiding anything from anyone, just the bandages around my waist."

"You know, if you didn't care too much about your perfect attendance, I wouldn't let you attend your classes today. But since you're such a drama queen and begged my mother, I have no choice." Sasuke-kun ignored what I said and scolded me.

We stood in front of my classroom where a few classmates of mine were peeping at the window.

I sighed. "I can't afford to lose my scholarship, Sasuke-kun. I would probably rot in hell with an empty stomach."

Sasuke chuckled. "You and your witty remarks, Sakura. Keep it up and you can drop your scholarship and work at a comedy bar."

I scowled at him. "Tch. Bastard. I'm going in. Thanks for walking me here. Go, before I kick your ass."

He pat my head and lowered his head to my height. His onyx orbs penetrating as he stared seriously at me.

I gaped and felt my cheeks reddening. "W-What?"

"Study hard." He said simply while smirking before walking away.

I blinked and touched my cheeks. "B-Bastard."

I stomped toward my classroom and halted.

Suspicious stares bore onto my back as I hang my bag at the side of my desk.

It was a wrong decision to choose the seat in the middle of classroom.

I sighed.

3…

2…

1…

"Sakura-san!"

"Haruno-san!"

"Sakura-chan!"

"Sakura!"

"HARUNO SAKURA AKA FOOOREHEAD! What the hell is that rumor I heard? Did you really go to school in UchihaSasuke's oh-so-hot car?" Ino slammed the library's door.

Luckily, there's only a few people inside and they probably know Ino's capacity in asking for a story out of me.

"Ino-pi-"

Ino shook the life out of me. "WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED YESTERDAY? I NEED DETAILS!"

BLAG!

The door opened and Ino and I faced it and saw two panting figures.

"Sakura-chan! Did you hear the rumor? Are you o-"

"Sakura! What happened?! I heard from my teammates that-"

"ALL OF YOU STOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOP! BE QUIET!"

The three of them sat in front of the librarian's (That would be me) counter and looked at me patiently.

"Well… I'm living in the Uchiha Mansion..." I started and shifted uncomfortably in their serious gazes.

"And how did that happen?" Ino raised her brow.

I sighed. This is going to be a looooooooong day.

I walked quietly beside my three best friends towards the school's garden to unwind. They seemed to be bothered by my story. When I mentioned how all apartments refused to let me in, their faces turned scary.

I sighed again as I turn to Ino. She's glaring at everyone who passes us by. "Ino, nobody's going to jump me here in the hallways. "

"Sakura, you don't know what rich delusional fangirls can do to poor girls like you." She told me without looking, her tone cold.

"Yes, Sakura-chan. It's dangerous. Once, Sasuke-san's fangirls bankrupted my classmate's company just because Sasuke-san picked her book." Hinata shook her head.

Tenten nodded. "And they arsoned one of my teammates' mansion because she became his lab partner for a day! What a bunch of cheap girls."

"And those girls are rich, Forehead. What they've done to you is still mild so I suggest you stick around Sasuke-kun for awhile. They wouldn't dare defy him. He's our very own Hades." Ino smirked though fear is evident in her ocean blue eyes.

I gaped at them. "But he's so annoying! He always teases me! I've experienced his Hadesness firsthand! He's so bossy, freaky, unpredictable and flirt! I can't stand him!"

"Geez Sakura, you sound like you've fallen for him already and I didn't know that Hadesness is a word." Tenten looked at me suspiciously.

"I don't like him, okay? Sure, I find him hot and attractice at times but that's all, nothing else. It's not like I find him adorable when he smiles at me or he does something out-of-character. It's not like that! Geez." I ranted with my eyes closed, all the while having Sasuke-kun's face on my mind.

I shook my head as I felt heat rise up to my neck. 'Geez, what's with this reaction?"

Then I noticed none of my three crazy friends are talking. I opened my eyes and finally realized that I'm talking to myself the whole time. I sighed and felt three pairs of eyes boring holes at my back.

I looked behind me and saw them standing beside each other with their arms crossed. The we-didn't-believe-anything-that-you-just-said look on their faces is almost funny but I remembered that I was the one whom they didn't believe.

I put my hands and my waist as I faced them. "Come on guys. Just this once, please. Believe me. I don't like that guy."

Suddenly, I heard their laughs and they continued walking.

My brows furrowed. "What's funny?"

Hinata tried hard to contain her giggles to no avail. "Sakura-chan, you practically admitted how much you like him."

"What? NO! I hate his guts, I hate his ego, I HATE HIM!"

"Sakura, remember, there's a thin line between love and hate. That's tried and tested with me and Neji-kun's relationship before." Tenten put her arms around my shoulder while chuckling and I push it off, pissed at their teasing.

"Yes, Forehead. Even Shika-kun and I. We're like that before so I wish you good luck with your 'I'm not attracted to him but I find him hot' crap." Ino-pig walked past me as I tried to register all the things they've told me to my almost deranged mind.

'WHAT THE HELL ARE THEY TALKING ABOUT?!' I screamed in my head. I have no idea what they're talking about but still… that doesn't change the fact that I don't like even a single hair in that bastard's body. These girls are too eager for me to have a boyfriend.

"HEY FOREHEAD! Stop daydreaming! Let's go! I'm hungry!"

I sighed. "Sheesh. Okay okay. I'm coming."

I caught up to them and followed them as they talk animatedly about their boyfriends.

Geez. I don't need a boyfriend. I need money. MONEEEEEEY!

Hm, but I don't mind feeling attracted to that bastard. After all, he's all I want in a man: handsome, smart, childish and kind. Sigh.

I shake my head. I need to concentrate. I can't focus on this petty issue. One distraction and I might get demoted from the number one spot and if that happens, I have to pay the tuition and I don't have enough money to pay for that.

Come on, Sakura! We can do this! SHANNARO!

I pout about what the girls were talking about earlier. I tried concentrating to no avail. Everytime I think about which formula I should use, I always picture Sasuke-kun smiling at me and my mind goes blank. This is not a good sign. Those three really have an amazing convincing powers.

Sure, I think Sasuke-kun's pretty hot but WHO DOESN'T? Ino, Hinata-chan, Tenten are all hypocrites. Even if they have their own boyfriends, I'm sure they also imagined him kissing the life out of them.

And please… he's too high for me. We're like the prince and the pauper. He's a prince that has everything he WANTS and he didn't have to do anything. Meanwhile, yours truly is a pauper who does everything to get what I NEED but it's not enough.

Great. Now I'm putting myself down. Amazing. It's amazing how you work hard to build your self confidence and how easy it is to tear it apart just because of someone higher than you.

I roam my eyes in our classroom. Everybody's already fixing their things. I'm good to go since I don't have that much things.

"Sakura-neesan!"

I looked at the door and I smiled. "Moegi-chan! How are you? What are you doing here?"

"I just want to look at you. Naruto-niisan told me you got beaten up by ugly bitches yesterday. Are you okay?" She entered, not minding the stares of my classmates.

This girl is really something. I met her through Naruto. He's always babysitting the third principal of this school, Sarutobi-sama's grandson, Konohamaru, and Moegi-chan is one of his two bestfriends. I often help Moegi-chan in her homeworks. I'm also the only one who knows about her little crush on Konohamaru.

She often visits me and keep me updated on the news in the Junior High wing of this crazy school.

I beamed at her. "I'm totally fine. Itachi-niisan patched me up perfectly that I was able to go to school today looking perfectly fine."

"Itachi-niisan? You mean Uchiha Itachi?" I nodded. "So the runors were true! They said Sasuke-niisan burst out earlier about you living in the Uchiha Manor and he told everyone to keep their hands off you." Moegi-chan looked at me expectantly.

I forced a laugh.. "Well yeah. That's what kind of happened this morning. Geez. News spread fast."

"Nee-san, Sasuke-niisan is really famous here. You should do your best to protect his image. Okay?" Moegi- beamed at me.

"Yeah yeah." I reassured her.

"Great! I'll go now. Konohamaru-kun's waiting for me outside." She said dreamily.

"Ooh. That's an improvement, Moegi-chan! Keep it up and soon you'll be Konohamaru's girlfriend."

She scratched her head shyly with her face all red. "I forgot to tell you, I am Konohamaru-kun's girlfriend already."

"WHAT?! WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME?! WHEN DID THIS HAPPEN?!" I exclaimed angrily.

Moegi-chan put her hands together in front of her face and bowed guiltily. "I'll tell you but not today. Konohamaru-kun asked me for a date. This is a once in a lifetime chance. I'll tell you soon! Okay?"

"Alright alright. See you soon. Go! Before Konohamaru leaves you!" I pushed her away and she giggled.

"Bye Sakura-chan! Glad to see you're okay. See you! Good luck with Sasuke-niisan!" I gaped at her and she laughed heartily as she ran outside my classroom.

I just laughed as I stood up. Moegi-chan's really cheerful.

I should leave now or I'll be late. I hope the manager in the restaurant where I'm working won't mind if I was absent yesterday. I e-mailed him this morning but he didn't answer. Sigh.

"Stop right there, you gold-digging bitch." One of my bitchy classmates blocked the door and glared at me.

My eyes returned her glare. "Pardon? Were you calling yourself?"

She laughed insultingly. "You have the nerve to talk back, commoner. Just because Uchiha Sasuke's protecting you doesn't mean he also fetches you here in our classroom so you're dead."

"Sakura. I came here to fetch you." A monotone voice said outside our classroom.

My bitchy classmate couldn't say anything. Even I couldn't believe it.

She gawked at the person outside my classroom.

Everybody turn to that person and to me.

He eyed me. "Your class finished? Let's eat outside. Tousan, kaasan and Itachi are out and they told me to eat dinner outside with you. Hey, you alright? Stop looking so cute."

I snapped out of my reverie and flushed. "Stop teasing me, Sasuke-kun. I can't go. I have to work."

Gasps were heard behind me. Yes bitches, I turned down Uchiha Sasuke. Yes, I'm smug.

"You're working in a restaurant, right? Let's eat there." He said as-a-matter-of-factly.

"What? But- NO!"

With that, I got dragged by , in front of my classmates and in front of the school. Yes, it's pretty humiliating. Sigh. I hate my life.

I glared daggers at Sasuke as he ate quietly across me.

When we entered La Italia Restaurante, I was shocked when our manager greeted him casually like they've known each other for a long time.

"Sasuke-san! What a surprise! It's been a long time!" Akihito-san greeted cheerily and shook Sasuke-kun's hand.

"Akihito." Sasuke-kun nodded. "Yes. I'm afraid all of us are quite busy these days."

Our manager laughed. "That's expected from the Uchiha family. Don't worry, I'll bring you our new best dish." He turned to me. "Great timing, Sakura. I want you to be Sasuke-san's personal server, understand?"

I nodded helplessly. "Yes, sir. I understand."

"I want Sakura to dine with me. Is that alright, Akihito?" Sasuke butt in our conversation.

I expected him to be surprised but I guess what Ino has been doing made him used to me not doing my job AND they got to receive benefits from my friends. Akihito-san just smiled kindly at the both of us. "No problem, sir. But may I request that she must wear her uniform to remind her of her work?"

"Of course. Thank you." Sasuke-kun smirked at me.

And I just rolled my eyes.

"Sigh..."

"You shouldn't sigh in front of the food, Sakura. Don't you have any good table manners?" Sasuke-kun flicked my nose again using the handle of his spoon.

I continue glaring at him. "And flicking someone's nose with a spoon is a good table manner?"

He just shrugged as a reply.

I closed my eyes and tried to calm myself.

"Hn. The food here really is amazing." He muttered, not sure if he's telling the truth or just saying that because my manager's within hearing distance. No doubt spying for juicy news.

I rolled my eyes and watched him eat. He eats like any other guy but there is an air of pride surrounding him just like every wealthy person out there.

I voiced out the question that's been bugging me for a while now. "Sasuke-kun, why are you doing this? I mean, not that I'm not thankful but this is so not like you. You were this stoic, uncaring and cold guy who stayed low before but doing all this for me, it's out of character. It's not the Uchiha Sasuke that I've heard of."

The whole time I was talking, he continue eating without giving me so much of a glance.

"Sasuke-kun?"

He put his utensils down and sighed. "Aren't you eating? The food's getting cold."

I crossed my arms. "This will be the first and last time I would say no to food. So please, answer my question."

Sasuke-kun searched my face and whatever he saw made his expression turn to the stoic one she saw when she bumped into him. "I want to get to know you. Sakura, this is the first time I've taken interest in someone and I want to know the reason why."

"Y-You're interested in me?"

"Hn."

I glared at him. "What's Hn? Is that a yes? Or a no? Wait. Is that even a word? I wouldn't understand what you mean if you won't say it clearly."

He smirked at me. "Not my problem." Then stood up while wiping his lips with the table napkin.

I just gaped at his cockiness and muttered under my breath just in case my manager is still eavesdropping. "Stupid, cocky, insensitive, arrogant bastard."

"Hn." He started towards the door and stopped to look at me. "See you later."

I just stood up and bowed. "Thank you for dining in La Italia Restaurante. Please come again, Sir."

I pressed the bus' stop button and got off.

Geez. Uchiha Sasuke is so stubborn. I was just clearing up things and then what? He left.

And here I thought he's interested in me. But wait, he is! He just didn't say how much. Maybe he liked me romantically. Yeah! And he wants me to be his girlfriend! Or or or-

Or maybe he just want you for sex. A voiced inside me mused.

Oh yeah. Maybe he's interested because I'm the only one who doesn't bow down to him, who doesn't squeal when he's in sight, who doesn't kiss the ground he walks on and the only one who's not head over heels about him.

"Really?" I asked myself and rolled my eyes. "I think I'm all that."

He makes me bow down to his every word. I squeal when he's in sight (mentally, of course). I don't think I kiss the ground he walks on but I always watch him when he walks, well he's pleasant for my eyes. And seeing that I've admitted how much I'm interested in him, I believe that I'm head over heels for that arrogant bastard.

I walked through the quiet road to the Uchiha Manor and pondered how was I able to fall for that guy in such a short span of time.

And just as I was at the huge gate of the manor, I realized how is not important now, what matters is that I fell for him and that's it.

It's not that I'm going to confess to him or something. That's currently last on my list of to-dos.

I entered the main house and head to the dining area to get some water when I noticed that the chandeliers are still lit. It's late, everyone should be sleeping right now.

I peeked at the doorway and was shocked to see the person sitting in front of the huge dining table.

The person noticed her. "Sakura. What are you doing there? Come here."

"U-Uh, good evening sir." I forced a smile, still intimidated by just the mere presence of the head of the Uchiha clan. I went to his side and bowed.

"You don't have to be so formal, call me Fugaku. And it's already twelve thirty so technically it's already morning." He smirked at me.

My gosh, so that's where Itachi-niisan and Sasuke-kun got their heart-throbbing smirk from.

I flushed, whether from his comment or my thoughts, I don't know. "Sorry."

A pause.

"You should go up now. It's late and my son's been waiting for you since he arrived earlier." Fugaku-san told me and touched my shoulder. "You gave light to our home, Sakura, keep it up."

I gave him my best smile. "Yes sir."

I walked (more like floating with happiness) through the long hallway towards my room.

It's almost one but I'm still giddy with happiness.

I can't believe Fugaku-san would welcome me into his family. I'm so happy. This is the first time I get to see him smirk like that and he's a splitting image of his two sons when he did. I get to find a place where I'm accepted as I am aside from Ino, Tenten and Hinata-chan. I can't wait to tell them!

'Mom... thank you. I know you're one of the reasons why I was able to find this home. I'm so happy. Thank you so much. Rest assured, I have a feeling the Uchiha family will take good care of me." I smiled to myself. I'm sure wherever my mom is, she's glad that I'm happy.

The door to my room is slightly ajar. That Sasuke, doesn't he know how to close a door? It's for privacy. What if a maid accidentally enter his room while he's doing something inappropriate for the eyes of an innocent girl?

"Like changing clothes?" I giggled at the dirty thoughts flooding my mind. Geez. Hanging out with a member of the male species possessing a hunkable body, a hunkable voice, a hunkable face, and a hunkable eyes could make you think like a total perv.

I entered my room and looked for the hunkable hunk that made me think like this.

My eyes wandered through the humongous room and spotted a still figure on my bed.

My feet seemed to have its own mind and started towards the figure whom she's a hundred percent sure is playing a prank on her, pretending to be asleep.

When I was starting to reach towards him to strangle him (Yes, I'm seriously gonna stranhle this hunkable hunk), I stopped when I saw his face.

*Ba thump*

My heart skipped a beat.

Sasuke-kun's sprawled on top of my sea green silk duvet, one hand on his forehead while the other's on his belly, holding his phone. He had his mouth slightly open and I could hear a soft snore. A few stray bangs covered his eyes. Hm. He looked so adorable and harmless. If only he could stay like this forever.

Naw.

I chuckled at my thought. Heh. I guess I'll take Sasuke-kun awake, bad manners and all.

I knelt on the side of the bed, leaning on the space before Sasuke-kun and smiling uncontrollably.

He's such an unpredictable character, one moment he's this too cool guy you can't approach then he's gonna be a teasing guy you can't resist and then this...

Right now he's this sweet guy who'd do something you didn't expect and would definitely melt your heart that you are willing do everything for him.

My smile widened to a grin as I leaned my head on the really soft bed. "I guess I like your idea, Sasuke-kun, something's pulling me towards you and I have no idea what it is. I need to figure this out."

I felt sleep taking over me.

"Let's get to know each other, ne Sasuke-kun?" I hear myself murmur while I'm being dragged by this relaxing darkness into oblivion.

This is something to look forward to, right?

End of Chapter 7

Author's note:

Hi there. Did you like it? How is it? Please tell me about it.

Review. Favorites. Follow.

No matter which. It will certainly be my insporation to write. :)