[high school AU]

SAKURA

Yesterday went just fine. Though, the only unexpected things that occurred were from a single boy whose name isn't Naruto.

Sasuke is pretty unpredictable, mysterious, his facial expressions and tone reveal nothing, he's hard to read, he's nothing like Naruto, who's always so cheery and excited all the time, trying to break the mold whenever he can. And he succeeds. He wears his heart and his mind on his sleeve, so I can tell what he's thinking. Sasuke, on the other hand, he seems as cold and as closed as I remember... I mean, I've heard things.

"Good morning, Sakura!"

I managed a smile and turned to my protector, "Hello, Naruto!"

"Sakura."

My name plainly in greeting. I knew who it was, "good morning to you too, Sasuke."

"So!" Naruto slung his arm over my shoulders, "remember that smoothie store we found on the second floor of the mall?"

"Uh-huh?"

"There was a guy who was checking you out, but I made sure he never looked at you like that again. Just thought you should know."

"Oh, ah..." I blinked a few times. As random as it was, it was... Yes, it was very random, "thank you?"

"Idiot. I don't think she needs to know about stuff like that..." Sasuke murmured under a snarl from behind us.

"Of course she does. She needs to know how much I'm willing to put my life on the line for her!"

"Hmph... Your life?"

I watched the two bicker for some time before I noticed Sasuke's unusual expression that, for once, I could actually read. His face went really serious as he stared at Naruto in annoyance, almost accusingly.

"Well." Naruto crossed his arms, "I don't think I really did anything wrong, so why are you looking at me like that?! Do you think I did something wrong?"

"No, no, not at all." Sasuke rolled his eyes, then looked at me, "don't listen to him. It's all a lie."

"Hey! Watch it!" Naruto gritted his teeth in his direction.

I couldn't help myself but chuckle a little as I stepped between the two, "okay, okay, just calm down, both of you..."

"Yeah, don't be such a child, Naruto." Sasuke grinned.

I rolled my eyes, "Sasuke, I mean you, too."

"Hmph."

"Ah, on a side-note..." I tried to ease the tension, "you're both very kind and... Chivalrous. Thank you!"

"No problem!" Naruto saluted.

"Alright, children." Kakashi-Sensei walked into the room, setting his books on the table in front of him, "pop quiz."

I chuckled as the people around me groaned in frustration. I closed my eyes and tapped my fingers on the desk.

"Sakura..."

I looked up at my teacher and scratched the back of my neck awkwardly, "sorry."

He handed me the quiz and my eyes scanned over the words. I remember all this, but it was very vague, taken the fact Kakashi-Sensei just handed us a book and expected us to read it. Meanwhile, he sat at his desk and read his own book like he didn't have a single care in the world. I don't think he does have a single care in the world, now that he thinks about it. What was the school board thinking in hiring this guy? They must've been desperate.

Forget the teacher, forget the quiz. My mind was elsewhere.

Edvard Grieg's piano concerto in A minor. Opus 16, the first movement. It's a piece I've been working on for about a year now, and it's still something I haven't really been able to get down pat. Then to think that thanks to Naruto and Sasuke, I might actually be able to play a real piano! I'm fairly certain my electric keyboard just isn't going to cut it if I want to win a scholarship. I tapped my fingers on the desk to the rhythm of the notes as if the keys were right in front of me. Following that, the class seemed to go by faster than I'd thought it ever would. Before I knew it, it was already the end of the day.

Yes, this is what I waste away my life with.

Piano.

_______________________

SASUKE

I recognized that... I thought I... I've heard that complicated, offbeat rhythm... Starts off slowly and gradually gets faster. No doubt about it. That's...

"I didn't understand that question, so I skipped it and told myself to come back to it later. I handed it in and remembered right when it was out of my reach. Kakashi-Sensei wouldn't take pity on me and give it back to me, so I know I got one wrong on that quiz." Naruto chuckled nervously, "oh well..."

"That's alright." Sakura patted him on the back, "I don't think I did all that well, either." She turned on her heel to face me, "hey, do you want to go out with us, tomorrow?"

"Ah, no thanks." I urged them with the motion of my hands, "you go ahead. I mean, I don't want to get in the way."

"No, no, please! Come with us." Sakura faced me completely, "I mean, I feel like it'd be a lot more fun if you tagged along. But..." She suddenly had a look in her eyes that tugged at my heartstrings, I'm not going to lie, "I understand it's already Spring break, and I'm sure someone like you has such a busy schedule. Forgive me for intruding. I suppose Naruto and I will be fine by ourselves. I was hoping..." she sent a suspicious side-glance at me, "to show you something you'll never forget."

"Fine." I huffed, "you don't have to get so poetic."

She laughed and set a hand on my shoulder, "ha! I was getting there, lucky you stopped me before then! Well, boys! I'll meet you tomorrow at noon!"

"Where..." I tilted my head, "are we meeting you, exactly?"

She grinned, "I'll send you the address first thing tomorrow morning. I want it to be a surprise."

"Ooh, I love surprises!" Naruto grinned, "here, Sakura! Let me walk you home!"

"Thanks, Naruto!" She grinned and waved at me as the two walked off, "see you tomorrow, Sasuke! I promise you won't regret tomorrow!"

Fun.

More third-wheeling. I'm sure as hell that I'm going to regret this.

________________

SASUKE

"You're kidding..." I stared at the building that stood before Sakura, Naruto and I, "this is... What are we doing here?!"

"You'll see!" Sakura winked as she grabbed both Naruto and my hands, "C'mon! Quickly!"

We walked through the large, empty, echo-ey hallways to a hidden door in the far back of the building. Over it was a sign: BACKSTAGE.

Honestly, I knew this door was here. I knew where it led to. I also knew this building like the back of my hand. How? Well, that's an even longer story. But right now, the only story I'm most interested in is the story of the girl who's dating my best friend, both of whom I third-wheel on a daily basis.

Fun.

"Get ready." Sakura glanced at the both of us as her hands gripped the door handles of the double doors. I felt her gaze specifically linger on me the longest, "let me show you something that will stay with you for the rest of your life."

She turned the handles, swung the doors open, and walked through as though she lived here. It was dark at first, but soon, only a few steps more and past a dark curtain, the three of us stood at the center of a huge concert hall. The house lights were out, the stage lights were on, and at the center of the stage was a grand piano.

"Welcome." Sakura threw her arms open, "to Yuki Hall! Only the finest concert hall in Konoha!"

"Whoa, Sasuke..." Naruto stared at me, "are you okay?"

"Yeah. Why?"

"I've..." He muttered, "I've never seen you like that before. You look..."

I shut my eyes and smirked, "maybe."

Sakura smiled, "I feel at home, here. I know someone who lets me come here and practice every once in a while."

My heart started racing as she made her way to the piano bench. When she sat down, it's as if the piano was made for her. She set her fingers on the keys, breathed slowly, and played. It was amazing. I'm sure when she brought us here, she thought just the hall itself would knock out socks off. But honestly, this is something astounding.

"It's not complete yet." She paused mid-piece, "I'm still polishing it up."

"What?!" Naruto cried as he ran to her side, "but I want to hear the rest!"

"Well." She laughed, "then you guys should come see me perform in a couple of days. I'm auditioning for a music scholarship to get into a nice fine arts college."

"Ooh!" Naruto hopped up and down as we started towards the stage exit, "that would be so cool!"

"I'm not going."

We all stopped and the two turned to look at me. I saw that one coming.

"Sasuke..." Naruto gritted his teeth, "what did you say? That you're not gonna come to support Sakura?!"

"No." I replied bluntly, "I'm not into music. If anything, I might only end up falling asleep during the concert. It'd be rude. Best avoid it altogether by just not going at all, right?" There's my logic for you.

Sakura's appearance didn't change, despite all the crap I kind of just put out against her. Meanwhile, Naruto was getting ready to tear off my head. He would've done so if Sakura hadn't stopped him, "wait, Naruto."

"Huh?"

"You can head out to the car." She crossed her arms, "I need to talk to Sasuke."

Naruto looked at the both of us, turned, and walked off just after flipping me off. That jackass.

"So." I looked at Sakura, "I'm sorry, but that's my reasoning. I just don't want to make your performance a bad one for you."

"Sasuke, don't tell lies, here." She looked at me seriously, and I knew this was real, "the other day, I suddenly remembered who you really are. Or at least, who you really were. After that concussion from the fight with the other girls, I--"

"Hang on." I cut her off, "who were those girls and why did they attack you?"

"I'm not done yet! Let me finish!"

I shut up.

"Okay." She continued, "I know that you're Sasuke Uchiha, the child piano prodigy."

I paled, but soon turned a bright red, "wh-what?! Where'd you hear a silly rumor like that?!"

"It's true. Don't lie to me." She looked me dead in the eye. Man, this girl is good at shutting me up, "so I want your support as a fellow musician. Not only that, as my friend. Please, Sasuke."

She got me.

I sighed and raked my hair back, "we'll see."

I must've done something good, because Sakura was suddenly all smiles, "thank you!" She headed towards the exit, "Naruto's probably waiting. Are you coming?"

I glanced at her, then waved, "Nah, go on ahead. I drove myself, so it's cool."

She waved back, "alright. See you soon, hopefully!"

Then it was quiet. I was all alone in the music hall. Just me and the piano. This almost felt way too familiar to be true. I walked over and sat down at the grand instrument. I touched the keys lightly to get familiar with them. I can't remember the last time I played one of these things. But somehow, my fingers still remembered what to do, and this crazy awesome thing called music was created. I laughed at how amazing this was, that I could still play after all this time.

So yes, Sakura. You gave me something that will stay with me for the rest of my life. Now I'm ready to watch you bring it at that piano competition.

But right here, right now, as I sat under the warm heat of the stage lights, both Naruto and Sakura recognized it.

I felt at home. Sakura... She brought it back to me. I thought I'd lost it, but it's been in my face all along. So I'm sure as hell that I'll be back. Just watch. So I'm sure as hell I'll be back. Just watch.  

~~~

Written by xX_Fang_Xx