Edited the chapters I had previously posted! About to start writing more frequently now that I actually have free time. xoxo

For those just starting the story: this is a re-vamped version of one of my 2014 SasuSaku Month oneshots

It was 6am when he first saw her, standing in line at the local cafe, waiting for her coffee while simultaneously looking like an angel from his dreams. He couldn't help but stare from his table in the corner of the small building, pausing his frantic typing to take in her appearance.

She was pale, with rose-petal lips and bright viridian eyes that were framed by thick, long lashes. The tips of her soft strawberry-blonde hair just barely brushed her shoulders, and she was wearing a thick black coat that was open enough that he could see a hint of a crimson shirt with just enough buttons unbuttoned to be playful yet decently professional.

Although she naturally had an innocent look about her, her expression gave away her weariness, as if the only thing keeping her going was the thought of the coffee she was about to consume.

Instantly, he was intrigued. (And not just by her looks)

She also held a copy of one of his books underneath her arm.

It wasn't his latest novel (the one that had gotten on the best-seller list), but one of his older works that he remembered working endless nights to finish. Truthfully, it was his favorite, and he was rather proud that she picked it out. But just as he was about to reach out and ask her about it, the barista interrupted, stealing his angel away from him.

"Triple espresso?"

"Yes, thank you," the woman said simply, and though her words were few, he couldn't help but admire how sweet and confident they sounded.

It was almost embarrassing how quickly she unconsciously drew him in. Perhaps they had met in a past life? No, that sounded ridiculous.

God, I sound like Deidara or Sasori. Next I'll be babbling about how she is the perfect piece of art or some bullshit.

After she grabbed her hot beverage, (he noted that she took her coffee strong) she walked briskly through the large crowd, eventually passing Sasuke.

He tensed in anticipation, waiting for her to turn her head, lock eyes with him, smile, slide him her number...

...she didn't even look his way.

All she left was a soft vanilla scent that wouldn't leave his senses for the next few minutes.

Once Sakura got to work, her friend Ino immediately came up to her. They had been friends since middle school, an unlikely pair of the most popular girl in school and the nerdy girl that spent all of her free time studying and building her resume. However, they complimented each other perfectly, each encouraging the other, with Sakura learning how to be social and Ino being encouraged to chase her dream career.

Nowadays they both worked at Konoha Hospital. Sakura was a doctor specializing in diagnoses and general surgeries; Ino was one of the resident psychologists in the building, sometimes seeming like she could practically read her patients' minds.

"Don't tell me you stayed up late last night again," Ino sighed, taking in the dark blotches underneath her friend's eyes.

"I got caught up in a book," Sakura said with a soft smile. They made their way to the staff lounge, checking their schedules for the day while drinking their respective coffees.

"Don't tell me….those Sasuke Uchiha ones?" Ino rolled her eyes. "Why can't you be like other women your age and stay up watching sitcoms while sipping on red wine? That's so much more relaxing than reading those mystery novels. Helps you decompress."

Sakura shrugged. "We all have our preferences." Her eyes then widened. "Oh my god I almost forgot to ask! How did the date go last night?"

"Not so great," Ino frowned before aggressively downing the rest of her drink. "It seemed so bored the entire time! Even though I was wearing that skintight purple dress of mine! I thought that outfit was foolproof!"

"Weird," Sakura replied. Ino was not the type of girl to get turned down by the opposite gender. "Maybe you should just focus your energy on someone else."

Ino blushed. "I do have someone in mind-"

Sakura raised her eyebrows expectantly.

"- but I haven't even talked to him yet."

"Go for it," Sakura encouraged, pumping her fist enthusiastically. "Worst case scenario, you can just forget about it all! Konoha's a big city, so you'd probably never see him again if you didn't want to."

"Great. Very positive of you," she bit back. "But maybe I can make it more lowkey by making it a double date."

"Go for it! Who else would you take, though? Maybe Hinata?"

Ino smirked. "We'll just need to find you someone first."

Sakura's mouth dropped slightly. "Ino! Find someone else! Remember how my last relationship ended?"

"Yeah, well Kiba was too much of a player anyways. I doubt he'll ever settle down with anyone, to be honest."

"I have an appointment with a patient in a few minutes," Sakura said hurriedly, changing the subject. "See you later."

Her coffee long finished, she tossed it into the trashcan, leaving Ino to scheme on her own. She hadn't been on a date in months, and at this point it was looking hopeless. She partially blamed herself-she had dedicated so much of her younger years to focusing on her career-but then again, it also may be that she just hadn't met the right person yet.

Truthfully, the only man in her life was the author of the books she loved so much, and for all she knew, Sasuke Uchiha was some married sixty-year-old man.

That night, Sasuke went straight to his closest friend to discuss the morning's events.

"She was just so….weirdly perfect," he grumbled, sitting on Naruto's saggy couch and ignoring the beer his friend had set on the ground in front of him. "I should have said something to her."

"What did she look like?" his blonde friend asked, still not recovering from the shock of Sasuke Uchiha actually seeking out female company. For years everyone had just assumed he was asexual….at least until he came barging in to Naruto's apartment, demanding to talk about a girl he saw for barely two minutes.

"Attractive" Sasuke frowned. "And Konoha is such a big city…I'll never see her again."

"Don't be such a little kid about it!" Naruto scolded, hands crossed. "You're making this sound like one of those cheesy love-at-first-sight novels"

Sasuke paused.

"Don't be ridiculous," he scoffed, hiding the inspiration that Naruto had unknowingly sparked within him.

Naruto laughed. "Of course I'm joking. Hell would freeze over before Sasuke wrote a romance novel."

"Most 'romance' novels are shit," Sasuke said distantly. "It's a challenge to write one that's even half-decent."

And if there was anything Sasuke loved, it was a challenge.

"If you want, I can ask around," Naruto offered. "One of the perks of being an entertainer in Konoha is that I have connections all over. Someone's sure to have heard of her. Though you really haven't given me a lot to go off of...You just want me to ask about cute girls that read your old books?"

The dark-haired man nodded, silently musing over what his mystery woman was like. What if she was one of those clingy, desperate girls that he always seemed to attract? What if she was already was dating someone, or worse, married?

That thought left a sour taste in his mouth, and he found himself needing to return to his own apartment as soon as possible. Writing was the only thing that helped relieve his stress, and he still had a lot to do before he met his next deadline.

"Fine," Sasuke huffed out, picking up his coat to leave. "You ask around; I have a book to write."

"Authors.." Naruto cursed lightly, ignoring how Sasuke slammed the door shut as he left.