Practice
In the bustling hallways of Konoha Middle School, anticipation hums through the air. The school year is almost coming to a close and the middle school is teeming with excitement. The eighth graders do not have enough patience to handle their transition to full-fledged high schoolers, while Sakura is just there. All of her friends are heading to the big tri-city high school next year and leaving the little seventh grader to fend for herself for a whole year. She can't even find an ounce of fun getting ready for the formal.
'The Formal. Ugh.'
The Annual Eighth-Grade Formal was the social event of the entire school year for the middle schoolers. Ino and Temari have been caught up in the whirlwind of choosing outfits, dates, and matching corsages since the beginning of the school year. Sasuke has been trying to get Itachi to drive them around to take pictures in front of the local water fountain by taking care of his older brother's share of chores for the past two months. Naruto and Kankuro insist that they all pool their pocket money for a single 30-minute limousine ride to the dance. While her friends prepare for this milestone, for the seventh graders, an invite is akin to a golden ticket.
In the midst of all this, Sakura's invite becomes the focal point of many hushed discussions. Much to everyone's surprise, Naruto asks her out. She can't really say no, even if she was expecting to be invited by Sasuke. Being the only seventh grader in their tight-knit friend group, Sakura feels compelled to say yes. After all, declining means she'd miss her only chance to attend the formal with her friends.
Sakura, with her rosy hair and relentless questions, always confides in Sasuke in times of despair like this. He's her Sasuke, her best friend. They've shared countless adventures, from sprinkler splashes to scraped knees to secret handshakes. Sasuke and Sakura have been inseparable since the first time his dark gray eyes landed on her little pink head in their daycare days. At three and four years old, Sasuke's hand curled into her tiny baby fist and the two never let go. Now, at thirteen and fourteen, Sasuke's eyes train on her anger, listening intently as Sakura paces about his room during their weekly study session.
The two had been working side by side at his desk. At some point over the past hour, she stood up and started grumbling, walking hurriedly from one corner of his room to the other. Biting the edge of her thumbnail, one of her nervous tendencies that he's learned over the years.
"What are you mumbling about? You're doing that thing with your nail again."
"Ugh…" Sakura throws her hands up and curses under her breath. She startles him when she states in no uncertain terms. "You should have asked me to the dance!"
Sasuke sighs, a hint of sadness hiding from her in his eyes. "You know I'm not allowed to. My dad says I can't date until I'm married."
"Sasuke," she starts, trying to connect her green eyes with his, "did you even think about asking me to the formal?"
He raises his head, a sprinkling of pink trying to bloom at his cheek. "Why would I? You're already coming with us."
She fidgets with the hem of her uniform skirt. "But like, as a date! I've never even been on a date. What if Naruto tries to kiss me?"
That got his attention. Sasuke looks up, an indignant look in his face. "Well… What if he does want to kiss you?"
"I don't know!" she exclaims, letting herself fall onto Sasuke's office chair. "I've never kissed anyone. Ino even said I should practice on my stuffie, but I can't do that to Mr. Ninneko!"
Sasuke hesitates for a moment, worrying his lower lip between his teeth. Sakura was right; her plush cat was too pure for such an activity. But Sasuke... He wrangles all the confidence he can muster in all his awkward teenage body, considering. "Do you need to practice kissing before you have your first kiss?"
Sakura blushes, nodding her head too quickly for it to be natural. "Of course! I don't want to look like an idiot baby in front of everyone."
It's Sasuke's turn to blush, but he manages to keep his voice from cracking at this pivotal moment. "Would you want to practice with me?"
They sit in silence, letting Sasuke's question blur out everything in the periphery but the person in front of them. Sasuke doesn't want Naruto to have Sakura's first kiss - he doesn't want anyone else but him to have Sakura's first kiss.
Sakura feels the crash of waves of emotion across every nerve in her body. All Sasuke can see is her brilliant green eyes and shiny rose tresses. He can't hear Sakura's breathing, as if she's holding back the answer to his question.
"Sure."
Sasuke recognizes the scent of her Clinique Happy perfume as Sakura pulls herself from her chair onto his lap. Sasuke can feel the weight of her soft, soft hands on his.
"I don't know where to put my hands," he hears her hushed whisper against his ear.
"Let me help you."
Sasuke laces his fingers with hers, pretending at a level of confidence far beyond his years. He's never done this. Sasuke's never done this with anyone. He's seen Itachi kiss his girlfriend whenever Sasuke is a chaperone on their dates, but that's always been cheek kisses. He's never even thought about kissing anyone else, but Sasuke knows he wants this with Sakura.
After a shared moment, two sets of pupils blown wide with desperation, Sasuke leans into Sakura's face, taking her first kiss. And he's pulling her shaking hands to the back of his neck. And Sakura is so warm under his touch. And she is making such pleasant sounds as Sakura pulls her chest onto his.
The contact is too much, the swell of Sakura's breast taking the last bit of oxygen from Sasuke's lungs. He pulls away. She looks at a loss for a moment and connects their lips together again. Their second kiss comes easier, like learning to wade through water before swimming. Sasuke lets Sakura take the lead, holding her hips securely to his lap. He can feel his palms becoming sweaty; they may as well be singed with fire from the feel of touching her so… intimately.
She can feel Sasuke's heart thrumming under her touch, a sigh escaping his mouth as Sakura tries to kiss him with tongue. Sakura whines as he pulls away slightly, taking away that lovely new feeling she has no name for.
Sasuke looks at Sakura's face as he pulls away from her piercing kiss, scanning for any sign of regret, finding none. "Are you actually going to kiss Naruto at the dance?"
Sakura's cheeks flush a deep red as she answers, "No. But I am going to dance with him if you won't dance with me."
Sasuke laughs, a quick and rough melody to Sakura's ears as he pulls her in for more 'practice'.
THE END.