Bite The Bullet

8

The courtyard was never scarce during the lunch hour, as the weather was perfect for outdoor eating and most students felt overly crowded indoors to begin with. It stretched on for miles, comfortably occupying several benches, a fountain by the assembly point, a small playground for the pre-schoolers that came in the afternoon, and almost the whole freshmen population. Only the upperclassmen were allowed to sit in the cafeteria, which was pretty whack in itself as I see no reason why we couldn't.

I dodged a ball expertly, barely slowing down from my usual pace.

Maybe that's why.

I reached a more quiet area, where anyone who wasn't playing around was, and quietly acknowledged the few I was acquainted with.

Shikamaru and Chouji sat under a tree, both eating chips in tranquil quiet, Sakura and Ino were with some other girls a little far off, making what I assumed was bunches of flowers, and then I spotted Hinata, Shino and Kiba seated by some benches, and by the looks of it they were discussing a last minute presentation for (I was straining to see as I kept my pace) English I think. The rest of the students I didn't know where scattered all over, eating or talking, and I found it a little difficult to search for an empty, secluded spot, until I came upon a small patch of freshly cut grass with no occupants and plopped down with my lunch.

"You do know there's a prohibition sign right there?"

I looked up from my cookies and blinked once I found Sasuke towering over me, a bento at his side. I looked left and indeed there was such a sign prohibiting the students from the grass, and after I regarded it for a second, I shrugged and continued to munch on the cookies.

"Not getting up? Didn't think you were that type of person," he smirked as he sat across me, not necessarily on the grass yet not far enough to consider. I barely looked at him.

"You don't say," I replied wryly, saving some cookies for the end and picking up half a grilled cheese sandwich.

He kept quiet and pulled open his bento, and somehow I already knew where this was going, as this has been happening for weeks. Sasuke would approach me, comment about something or the other, and according to my reply, he'd either keep up a feeble conversation or keep quiet entirely. But one thing is for sure- he always approaches me first.

"I got a note a while back," I started, and sure enough, he shot up and regarded me with interest. "From some girl threatening me who is beside the point, uh, your uncle read it and...he-he laughed."

He sucked in a breath and his onyx eyes widened considerably, and I knew from then that his guardedness would be gone.

"You're screwed."

I smiled at him.

Mine was gone as well.

There was barely anytime left until the bell would ring and we'd have to go back inside, and though I usually spend it with whomever I find, I wound up staying with Sasuke and genuinely liking his company. He was a pretty decent person as far as it seemed. Not like I'd ever tell him.

"Have you ever thought about becoming a freelance writer?"

I blinked as I opened my eyes, adjusting to the sunlight as I shifted on the grass to face him. We lay by the prohibition sign, surrounded by the empty plastic containers we both carried and a thick earthly smell. Although I knew what he meant as my and Naruto's guardian Jiraiya was a freelance writer himself, I asked him what he was talking about to gauge why he had said it. He responded with a perfectly crafted definition of the word, much like in the intelligent manner Sakura spoke in whenever put forth a topic of interest, but by the sudden disappearance of the gleam in his eye and the lack of passion, I caught on to the fact that he must have memorized it beforehand.

I smiled, and the gleam was back in his onyx eyes, along with a satisfied look.

"Why are you trying to impress me Uchiha?" I asked, my smile stretching when he momentarily stiffened. I didn't need him to answer, as I didn't want to know myself, I only told him so he could know I catch on to these types of things. "I wouldn't like to surround myself with in-genuine people, so tell me if I'm too intimidating to talk to or whatever."

Sasuke openly gaped for a moment, before composing himself, although there was a faint cotton candy tint on his cheeks. "I just wanted to know..." he mumbled.

I sighed. "Not really. I see myself bored of doing it later on, maybe six months from now."

He shifted until he sat upright with his legs folded underneath him, and I couldn't help but think the angle he sat on enabled the Sun to cast a breathtaking glow along his silhouette. He was indeed a very beautiful person.

"Your writing style is interesting."

"I don't have a style as you call it."

"It's a tad too morbid to gain views but it's unique."

"Says you."

"Says me."

"You're basically backing up my claim."

"Of me being right, yes."

The sound of the bell cut off my snide comeback, and by the looks of the smirk stretching on his face, he'd assumed he'd won. I released a puff as I got up with my container and dumped in the nearest trash can before heading in the direction of the door. I felt cool fingers on my scalp and turned around with a scathing look, only for Sasuke to blink solemnly.

"There's grass on your hair," he mused, before continuing his swiping like I had consented. When I realized my glaring wouldn't stop him anytime soon and parted my lips to deliver my outrage, he petted me like a kitten before walking away. He turned around once with a raised eyebrow when he saw I wasn't following along, and when he registered my shocked form he simply smirked and said, "You asked me to be genuine."

I felt the blood rush to my cheeks for the first time in my entire life.

First published: Oct 2017