The Tales of a Flower

Summary: Meet Haruno Sakura and her two best friends, Uzumaki Naruto and Uchiha Sasuke (pick only one Saku!). As a teenager in the real world, she will have to face school detentions, girl fights, and love, love, love! This is the life of Haruno Sakura.

Chapter One: Introducing…!

The sun rose silently above the rooftops of the quiet street as a young girl slept soundlessly. She buried her head deeper in her sheets curled into a little ball. Her chest heaved slowly as the birds chirped outside. The curtains of her room swayed with the morning breeze and the crisp, fresh air filled her room. She smiled contently as she slowly opened her eyes, her content smiling countenance turning into a scowl. "Oh, crap…"

Beep…Beep…BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP!

The girl sprang up from her bed and grabbed her Care Bear alarm clock. Her eyes grew big and before the neighbors knew it, a blood curdling scream rang throughout the street.

"HEEEEEELLLLL NOOOOOO!"

This is Haruno Sakura. She is late for school…again.

Sakura rushed to the bathroom and took a quick shower and then ran back to her room after drying her pink locks for a few seconds. She slammed the door and grabbed the uniform she laid out last night – her midnight blue skirt that reached to the middle of her thigh, the usual white blouse, and the dark blue sweater used in the fall with the gold letters "KJH" imprinted on the left chest corner. She combed out her partially dry hair and pulled on her white headband. She ran out of her room and grabbed her backpack.

"Sakura, honey, the bus left ten minutes ago," her mother followed down the stairs, her new clean business suit moving with her.

Sakura laced up her tennis shoes. "I know!"

"Did you over sleep again?"

Sakura quickly walked into the kitchen. "Yeah!"

"Breakfast?"

Sakura ran out the back door. "I'm late!"

Her mom looked out the window as her daughter ran the seven blocks to school. "My, that girl will never change," she said, grabbing her car keys. "I would have given her a ride."

Sakura stopped and sighed, "I made it!" She panted heavily and waited for the stoplight to turn green. Students stood next to her as they waited to be able to cross the street. Sakura pushed the button again and waited. Sakura sighed again. Here she was, Haruno Sakura, one of the two top students in her soon to be graduating eighth grade class. She was almost always late for school, but she almost never was marked tardy.

"Sakura!"

The girl turned her head and smiled. There was a male figure running up to her, waving his arms. "Sakura!" he said again, running a hand through his blonde hair, "darn, I thought I would be earlier than you today…" He grinned at her, his electric blue eyes gleaming.

This is Uzumaki Naruto. He was almost late for school…again.

"Good morning to you too, Naruto!" Sakura beamed. Uzumaki Naruto, the greatest friend ever to Sakura ever. They both knew each other since they first started kindergarten at Konoha Elementary School – or KES as they called it back then – and still remained best friends at Konoha Junior High. Naruto was Sakura's very first best friend and she knew that she could count on him, regardless of the situation. No matter what it was, Naruto would always be an open ear. "Hey, do you think Mr. Kakashi will be coming to class today?"

"I bet you five bucks he'll come in two minutes before 1st period is over," Naruto betted, crossing the street.

Sakura flipped back her pink hair, the waves reaching only a few short inches below her shoulder. "No, I bet you ten bucks he won't come at all and that Ms. Anko will be subbing in and we'll actually learn something," she said, her emerald eyes shining with delight.

"Aw, why are you always so damn accurate?" Naruto whined as he and Sakura walked towards the school.

She shrugged her shoulders, the small waves of her hair falling onto her back. "I don't know."

"Still, I will win."

"In your dreams! Prepare to be ten dollars poorer, Naruto!" Sakura said, extending her hand. "Double bet?"

The blonde nodded. "Double bet."

"Deal," they said in unison, and shaking hands to finalize it.

The two entered the grounds of the huge campus of Konoha School and entered into the secondary gate which led to the Junior High. "Stupid seventh graders…" Naruto mumbled, dropping his bag on the ground. The two stopped at the vending machines as they waited for the third member of their trio.

"Naruto, we used to be them you know," Sakura said, inserting two quarters and a dime for a can of iced tea. "We shouldn't hate them."

Naruto sighed, "I know that! But for some reason it's been tradition to hate the seventh graders. Remember last years' class? They hated us like hell!"

Sakura giggled, "No, they hated you probably, but some of them were nice to us."

"They don't count!"

Sakura sighed and opened her beverage. "Whatever you say…you'll never change. But hey! That's what I love about you."

Naruto grinned at her and looked down, hiding his blush. Ever since he first laid eyes in her, Naruto has developed a soft spot for the young girl. From her laughing emerald eyes, to her glossy pink locks, the smile that seemed to stop all tears, all the way to her caring and independent attitude…she was pretty; at least, he thought she was. There was that freshman over at Konoha High that liked her…but whatever, who cares about him? It was NARUTO that liked Sakura so much, and no one else…too bad she had her heart set on someone other than him…Uzumaki Naruto really loved Haruno Sakura…and Haruno Sakura really loves him as a friend.

"Hey, Sakura."

Sakura turned her head and squealed, "Good morning! Did you get here before us again or were we earlier this time?"

The young boy smirked, "I got here almost a half an hour ago…" He tilted his head at her and added, "You guys will never get here before me."

This is Uchiha Sasuke. He was early for school…again.

Sakura pouted. "Sasuke! That's not fair…you always get here before me…"

Naruto stood up, "Yeah, me too! Why are you always here early?"

"That's because you're an idiot, Naruto," Sasuke said, leaning against the wall next to Sakura. "And Sakura," he said, grabbing her drink, "is a dork."

"Sasuke! That's mine!" she tried getting her drink back but the young man held it above his head. She pouted again and whined, "No fair! You're taller than me!" She crossed her arms in front of her and stuck her tongue out at him.

"All's fair, Sakura, I got here first." He smiled and finished the beverage. His dark eyes glinted in the sunlight as he humored himself with her. Sasuke loved to tease Sakura. "Ah, refreshing. Thanks."

Sakura brought her small hands to his head and ruffled his raven hair. "You're welcome!" she said playfully.

"Haha, that's a great look for you Sasuke!" Naruto said, only to receive a glare of pure evil from his other best friend. "I'm kidding! Jeez, dude, don't stress."

Sakura chuckled. She was used to the pointless fighting of the two boys; after all, they were her best friends ever. They both met Sasuke in the fourth grade and didn't befriend him right away. Truth be told, he was more of those quiet types that had a closed circle around him. Sasuke wasn't a loner; he just didn't like it when people wanted to be near him. But, Sakura being Sakura didn't like that. She slowly broke that social barrier and became friends with him…more like best friends.

"Still, your groupies would just love to be the one messing up your hair…why won't you let them?" Naruto smirked and put a hand on Sasuke's shoulder as Sakura continued to play with his raven locks. "Lucky ass, only about four – or was it five? – years here and already you have a group of screaming girls! Reminds me of Hyuga Neji…"

"SASUUUUUKE!" a girlish voice rang out to the three friends. They turned to look at the source and saw three girls rushing up to them.

"Speak of the devil…" Naruto said, holding down his laughter. Naruto walked away from them and sat on the bench. "Good luck."

Sakura dropped her hands in a defeated sigh as she too sat on the bench. "Aw…I was having fun to!"

The shortest of the girls – aqua colored hair and wide teal eyes – said quickly, "Hello! My name is Yostsuba and I'm a seventh grader! I think you're HOT!"

The two other girls, twins with matching French braids and calm green eyes both said, "SASUKE! Remember us? We're the vice-presidents of you fan club! And we…"

They stopped talking and turned to look at the pink-haired girl talking calmly with Naruto.

"HARUNO SAKURA!"

Sakura turned to them and smiled. "Yes?"

The three of them went up to her and before they could say anything…

RIIIIIING!

"That's the bell! Come on Naruto!" she exclaimed, she turned to Sasuke and smiled at his fan girls, "You too lover boy!"

Sakura grabbed both their hands and dragged them into the building.

Anko paced across the front of the classroom, calling out the names of the various eighth grade students of homeroom class 1-B and 1st period students of Kakashi in the wonderful world of Science. Apparently, the moment the students walked into the classroom that chilly Thursday morning, Ms. Anko, the eighth grade sports director, was leaning casually into the usual teacher's chair, smiling.

"You owe me ten dollars, pal," Sakura whispered in front of her to Naruto. The boy slumped into his seat and groaned quietly.

"Haruno Sakura!"

Sakura stood up and said, "Present!"

"Okay," Ms. Anko said, checking her name off the roster. "Haruno Takashi!" (No relation!)

Naruto leaned back and whispered back, "Hey Sakura, can you put the ten bucks under I.O.U? I swear I'll pay you back."

"Uzumaki! Please keep it down!" Ms. Anko said.

"Yes ma'am! Sorry ma'am." Naruto sighed.

"Good, now where was I? Oh yes, Kudo Aya!"

A girl with creamy skin and violet hair that cascaded down her back stood up and said, "Present!" Before she sat down, she cast a glance at Sasuke with her golden eyes and blushed. Sasuke smiled at this.

Meet Kudo Aya. She is the current object of Sasuke's affection.

"Ooh, Sasuke! Have a thing for the Kudo girl, eh? Not bad, Aya sure is a looker!" Naruto whispered.

"Naruto! Don't change the subject!" Sakura, pinching him, "You're stupid I.O.U is over fifty dollars now! When are you going to pay me back all that money?"

"Ow ow ow!" Naruto whimpered, pulling away. "So violent, woman!"

Sakura giggled softly and leaned back into her chair. And smiled next to her at Sasuke who was shook his head and acted as if she wasn't there. "Aw," she whispered, "don't be that way!"

"Nakamura Ryo!"

A boy stood up and said politely, "Present, ma'am." Before he sat down, he looked at Sakura briefly and smiled.

Sakura leaned back and blushed. Nakamura Ryo…ah…what a name! The sheen of his brilliantly soft chestnut colored hair, the glaze of his enticing ruby eyes, and the sound of his honey voice…oh! Ryo was the man Sakura dreamed of…and this school year, Sakura isn't going to miss a beat! For two long years, from the moment he walked into the classroom to this very day, Sakura was in love!

"Sakura, you're drooling," Sasuke said.

"Uchiha Sasuke!"

"Here," he said, standing up.

Sakura blushed deepened and turned to Sasuke as he sat back down, "Shut up!"

"Uzumaki Naruto!"

"Here."

Naruto turned around to say something to Sakura, but her eyes were starry and she was looking at the other side of the room. Damn, him again …he thought.

Sakura looked across the classroom and caught a glimpse of the wonderful Ryo. "Now that," Sakura whispered to herself, "is perfection…"

Unbeknownst to her, Naruto heard what she had said, and once he sat down, lowered himself into his defeated position.

Meet Nakamura Ryo. He stole Sakura's heart…

Sakura bit into her sandwich calmly and chewed. The moment she swallowed she said, "Oh, and did you see his eyes? Beautiful! Ryo's never looked so lovely!"

Sasuke sighed. "Sakura, stop talking about him. Nakamura's an idiot."

"He is not! Stop saying bad stuff about him!"

Naruto laughed and ran his hand though his hair, "Stop standing up for him! You know that he's a major playboy!"

"So?"

Sasuke sighed. "He knows you like him doesn't he?"

Sakura forced a smile, "Of c-course not! Why would he know a stupid thing like t-that?"

"Oh, hell Sakura, he knows," Naruto muttered, "in fact, the whole class knows!"

"What the – ? How did it leak?"

"Damn it Sakura, it's so obvious. I bet event the high schoolers know; Nakamura is the big head." Sasuke said, staring at a certain violet haired girl.

Sakura stood there, shocked.

"I don't think he would think twice about looking at someone like you anyways!"

Sakura turned beet red and hit him on the head. "And what's wrong with me?"

"Uh…well…um…what I meant was…"

"Never mind, forget about it," Sakura said, tossing the wrapper in the trash. "You aren't wrong though…Ryo is too popular…more popular than our Sasuke!"

"Heh, at least I'm not pompous about it like your Nakamura," Sasuke said, his eyes watching the movements of the students.

Sakura smiled. Sasuke…always there to make some remark that in the end, will find a way to cheer her up. Ryo was a bit conceited, she admitted that much. But when she first saw him, back in the sixth grade, Sakura was too shy to even talk to him. Last year, Sakura gathered her courage to talk to him, and before she knew it, they became…well not exactly friends, more like acquaintances.

Naruto nudged Sakura, "Hey look, it's your boyfriend."

Sakura blushed and looked ahead. Sure enough there he was, the man of her dreams, walking silently towards them.

"Hey Saku," he said, turning his head to the boys, acknowledging they are there, "I was wondering whether you would like to help me or not with my algebra homework. I'm totally stumped! Oh, and I need to talk to you too!"

"Sure, no problem!" Sakura said, blushing slightly at her nickname given by her love. Maybe he's going to confess how much he secretly loves me! Oh I so hope so! That would just be so perfect! She thought to herself, smiling mentally.

Sasuke smirked. Maybe he's going to confess how much he secretly loves her…! Who am I kidding? Nakamura's such an ass…he probably just wants to copy her homework or something like that.

Naruto, on the other hand scowled. Maybe he's going to confess how much he secretly loves her! Damn that stupid Nakamura! I won't let him! I'll kill him first!

"Ryoooooooo!" a voice sang out seductively. A pair of feminine arms wrapped around his neck as a girl placed her head next to his. "I was looking all over for you, darling!"

Sakura forced a smile. DARLING?

Ryo smiled and said to her, "I'm sorry, heart, but I was just talking to my friends. The two guys over there are Naruto – the blonde kid – and Sasuke – the emo looking one. Sakura, this is Lisa Honda from class 1-A. Lisa, this is Haruno Sakura, the girl I've been telling you about."

Sakura relaxed. He talks about me to his friends!

Lisa unlatched herself from him and dazzlingly smiled at Sakura. Her azure hair bounced as she moved, the locks barely touching her well postured shoulders. Her eyes also sparkled a lighter shade of blue and shone with confidence. Sakura felt unattractive compared to her. "Hello Sakura! Nice to meet you!"

Meet Lisa Honda. She seems perfect.

"Nice to meet you too!" she replied happily, tucking a few strands of her hair behind her ear.

Sasuke shook his head and realized the situation they were in. Stupid Nakamura, he did this on purpose.

NAKAMURA RYO YOU ARE SO DEAD! Naruto growled in his mind, glaring daggers at the young man.

"Oh, Sakura, did I forget to mention that Lisa's my girlfriend?" Ryo said, scratching the back of his head as Lisa stood next to him.

Sasuke and Naruto both thought the same thing: NAKAMURA IS DEAD.

"Oh," she said almost inaudibly. Sakura's smile slowly disappeared. Her girlfriend since when? Something inside Sakura snapped, and she felt as if a thousand needles were picking at her heart. She suddenly felt empty, and lost…Sakura felt as if a big, dark, black hole was eating her insides. "Excuse me," she said, and walked pass the two confused lovebirds.

"Did I do something wrong?" Lisa asked innocently.

"No you didn't sweetheart, I think I did," he replied, wrapping a comforting arm around her.

Naruto followed her, giving Ryo an evil death glare.

Sasuke stood up and walked up to him. "You better watch yourself Nakamura, if what the damage you've done to her is permanent, I'll make sure you live to regret it," he hissed, his icy stare sending chills down Ryo's spine. He followed after Naruto, muttering, "Bastard."

Sakura locked the door to the single bathroom. She leaned against the wooden surface as the tears she struggled to hide fell from her emerald eyes. Ryo had a girlfriend all along? After all this time she spent trying to win him, he had someone already…it hurt…it really did hurt…

"How could I have been so stupid?" she cried, the tears coming in faster.

Knock Knock!

"Sakura? It's me, Naruto, please come out?"

Sakura clenched her fists. "No! I'm not coming out Naruto!"

"Sakura, he's an idiot, remember that. You deserve better than that playboy. I'll kick his ass okay? That I swear to you." Naruto muttered from behind the door. "So please don't cry; I hate it when you cry, you know that!"

She smiled through her tears, Oh, Naruto!

Sakura opened the door and lunged at Naruto, wrapping her arms around him as they both fell to the ground. Naruto sat up and patted the girl on the head as she tightened her embrace. His shirt became moist with Sakura's hot tears as they continued to fall from her eyes. "Oh Naruto! Why? Why me?"

"It's alright…just for now, let it all out…everyone needs a good cry every now and then…" Naruto said, compressing his blush.

Sasuke stood next to them, his hands in his pockets, watching as Naruto comforted Sakura. There was nothing for either of them to do for their best friend that he was sure of.

Neither of them knew how to mend a broken heart, especially the fragile heart of that sobbing girl.

This is Haruno Sakura. Her heart was broken into a million pieces.

To Be Continued…

Author's note: Me again? haha… hello! Wow…this is pretty long for a first chapter…haha…oh well! I hope you guys enjoy this story…I know the actual pairings are uncertain as of now to you…but I am an honest to goodness true SASUSAKU fan so in the end…it's going to be SASUSAKU! Haha…I just wanted to put a little twists and turns here and there…haha this is going to be fun…there is a reason behind why I am doing this particular kind of fic…but I'm not going to explain it all now! It'll take awhile…but hey! I promise I will spill! XD (Hey hey, you know the name "LISA HONDA…? If you read it carefully it'll read "LEASE A HONDA" haha get it? Corny I know…haha ignore that then…)Reviews/comments/suggestions/flames/anything else is welcome!

(This wonderful piece of fiction or this chapter at least… is dedicated to the two idiots in my life: Angelo Kairuz and Anthony San Jose! Miss you and Love you!)

Next time….How can Sakura cope with the loss of the one man she "truly" loves? With a little comforting from her best female friend will she be able to forget about playboy Ryo? And what's this? Sasuke giving out roses? Naruto giving out love advice? Whoa…talk about awkward!