note.

For those who - as always - are absolute stars and leave behind constructive criticisms, words of encouragement, and flames for genuine reasons that you can't stand...

I seriously love all of you.

Please keep the reviews coming for more updates =]

track 31.

Someone knocking on his window like he was some feudal princess was not what Uchiha Sasuke considered a normal occurrence at ten to midnight.

Seeing that it was his classmate behind the window was another story.

"What are you doing!" He said in hushed tones. Sakura had never attempted to enter his room through the window before.

Not that any other person has.

She only continued knocking, motions hurried as she couldn't hear what he said. Pointing at the lock in between knocks to make him open the damn piece of glass. Unlocking the window in haste, Sasuke caught Sakura right before she was about to fall; the two of them toppling into his room. Resulting in a loud thump that resounded through the house from the top floor.

"Sasuke?" Fugaku said from below, his voice traveling up the stairs. An enquiry as to what had caused the ruckus.

Glancing at the mist layered floor outside the bathroom opposite his room, Sasuke answered. "I slid." That seemed to be believable, as his father didn't question further, and only told him to be careful. The sound of the television took over as the primary source of sound in the house once again.

It wasn't until he said so that she realized Sasuke's still damp hair likely meant he had just emerged from the bath. Wearing loose trousers and a navy shirt that dipped into a v-neck; he did look as if he was getting ready for bed.

He also looked very handsome with his normally wild raven spikes gently tamed, a thin layer of mist settled over his skin; not that it was something she needed to be reminded of.

Helping her up, Sasuke led her to his chair. Settling her down before closing the door and taking a seat on his bed.

"Tell me what's wrong." He ordered. The tears have already receded, but the redness of her eyes and nose give her away. He didn't guarantee that he would be able to help, but Sasuke knew that by bottling up her emotions, Sakura would hurt even more.

"I fought with otou-san." Again.

"About what?"

Thousands of words ran through her head as she tried to pick out the single one that best described the source of her problem.

You. Naruto. Ino. School. Everything.

She looked down at her hands, stretching them, testing to see if they really were her's. Sakura never had the bravery to do this before. Always accepting whatever her father said and locking herself in her room. It felt almost like someone had taken over her body.

I've changed. She felt the heat of Sasuke's concerned gaze on her and smelt the familiar lavender-jasmine, fresh on his nightclothes. I've become stronger. Because of my friends.

"Me." She sat closer to him, wheeling herself over. "Will you listen to me whine and complain?"

"Yeah." He would listen to anything as long as it wasn't her crying. She knew that there was little he could say 'no' to as long as it concerned her.

Their knees touched as she perched her feet on the legs of the seat and Sakura lowered her head onto his chest.

"Can I stay the night?"

"Stay."

It's a Friday night.