"We only have a few minutes, so listen carefully," The teacher said. I tuned her out, instead focusing on the window to my left. I twirled my pen, feeling someone's eyes on me. I glance behind me, spotting Sasori. His vermillion colored hair seemed brighter today. He offered me a small smile, crumpling a piece of paper. He tossed it at me, and I deftly caught it.  I gently unfolded the paper, noticing the crisp, clean handwriting.

Sakura,

Would you like to go get ice cream later? My treat.

~Sasori

My first thought was "FREE ICE CREAM!!!!!" But, then I realized something. Was he asking me out on a date?!  A blush stings my cheeks at the thought. I hide my flushed face from his sight with my long candy-colored hair. Should I say yes? What about Gaara?....oh

"SCREW HIM! SASORI'S WAYYYY HOTTER!!!!!" Inner Sakura shrilled, punching an imaginary Gaara.

"Yeah..." I reply, sighing. It happened yesterday, nearly breaking my heart.

~Flashback~

I was walking to class, gripping my books to my chest. That's when I saw it. Gaara and Matsuri. Kissing. He had her flush against the wall and was hungrily devouring her mouth. She was kissing back, with just as much passion and urgency. They looked like two starved people eating for the first time in days.

My pace falters, and my books clatter onto the floor. I stare at them in despair, my eyes as cold as ice. Of course, he doesn't like me. He only let me live with him because he pitied me. He probably thinks I'm pathetic. I'm socially awkward, a loser, with family problems, and can't seem to get along with girls my age *cough* Karin*cough*. Do any of the things we did together even matter to him? I scramble to pick up my books, attempting to make a quick escape. 

Unfortunately, I catch his attention. He breaks away from her, panting.

"S-Sakura!" He stammers, his usual stoic facade nowhere to be seen. I feel my eyes glaze over with tears when I spot the raspberry colored lipstick smeared on his face. I turn around, ready to go have a power cry in the bathroom. He grasps my shoulder, tugging me around to face him.

The tears finally fall down my face, making me taste salt. His eyes glint with regret, and worst of all....pity.

"What?! I get it, you don't like me. I'll just leave you alone with your girlfriend," I say, angry tears trailing down my face. 

I tear my shoulder out of his grip. I try to run again, but he swiftly snatches my wrist. 

"She's not my girlfriend! Sakura, I like you! Matsuri kissed me and....I lost control. Please forgive me," He says, his eyes pleading with me to forgive him.

I wrench my wrist from his hand, and this time he lets me. I run down the hallway, nearly running over Kakashi. He tried to stop me, but I was already gone.

~End Flashback~

I scribble "yes" on a piece of paper and throw it back at Sasori. He reads it, smirking. I jump up when the bell rings, rushing to collect my books and supplies. Sasori strolls over to me, picking up my backpack.

"Hey! I can carry it!" I said tugging on the bag. He doesn't budge, holding my bag in a death grip.

"I'll meet you by your locker after school," He says, walking me to my class. 

"You don't even know where my locker is," I say, rolling my jade eyes. He smirks and pushes his bangs out of his caramel colored eyes.

"I can just ask one of the fools who has a hopeless crush on you," He says, laughing at my shocked expression.

"Oh don't act like you don't notice them."

"But I don't!" I protest weakly. He just simpers.

"Sure."

~Timeskip After school~

I lick my chocolate ice cream cone happily, grinning at Sasori. He got strawberry and was looking at me weirdly.

"Why are you skipping? Are you really that happy about ice cream?" He asks, amused.

I huff in annoyance, wagging a finger in front of his face.

"Of course I'm happy about ice cream! It's fricking ice cream! Plus I didn't have to pay for it!" I chirp out, tugging him towards the playground. He gives me a glare, probably because the great Sasori of the Akatsuki shouldn't be seen at a children's playground. I ignore the warning look and run to the swings. 

"Push me!" I say, sitting down. He stares at me.

"No."

"Please?"

"No."

"Pwetty Pwease?!~," I say, trying to act cute. He gets a tiny blush, so small I almost missed it.

"Fine," He says, eating the last of his ice cream. 

"How did you finish so fast? I'm not even half-way done!" I exclaim, giggling when he just shrugs.

I take a glance at him when he's not paying attention, and see him smiling. It was cute, and he looked so happy. Happier than I'd ever seen him before. Suddenly, I jumped off the swing, doing a flip. Sasori was alarmed and shook me in anger.

"Why did you do that? I thought you were going to die!" He says dramatically. 

"Cause it's fun. Hey, let's go sit over there." We sit down under a cherry blossom tree. 

"It's so beautiful!" I say, watching the petals fall down. He stares at me, his eyes intense.

"Yes...you are," He says, leaning towards me. I start to gravitate towards him, my eyes were drawn to him, more specifically, his lips.

Our lips meet, in a soft kiss. It was gentle and sweet, something I wouldn't have thought Sasori would be. I pulled away from him, my eyes glistening with the fear. Fear of rejection.

"What are we?" I ask, fear leaking into my voice. I look down, my face was hidden again.

He lifts my chin, staring straight into my eyes.

"We're what you want us to be. But, I'd like it if we could be...more than friends," He said, smiling softly.

"I'd like that too," I whisper, leaning in to catch his lips again.