Practice Makes Perfect

Summary: AU, high school fic. Sakura Haruno, one of the most popular girls in school, sets her sights on Sasuke Uchiha to be her first boyfriend. Clueless of how relationships work, she seeks advice from Naruto Uzumaki, Konoha High School's infamous delinquent and known womanizer, to help her win Sasuke's heart. But does Naruto have an ulterior motive?

Author's Note: This is just a random idea that popped into my head. I hope you enjoy!

Warnings: This fic is rated a strong M for language and sexual scenes. You have been warned!

Disclaimer: *sigh*...I don't own Naruto.

Chapter 1: Experience

Sakura Haruno never skipped class. She was a model student, with high marks and a perfect attendance record. Considered one of the most beautiful female students at Konoha High School, Sakura was indeed quite the popular student. Most of the male student population lusted after her, while many female students looked upon her with jealousy. She had everything: good looks and a brain. So why was she currently skipping biology class and standing nervously atop the school roof? It was...complicated, for lack of a better word.

The gentle breeze on the rooftop caused her perfectly kempt hair to flow annoyingly in front of her face. She irritatingly brushed her pink locks aside, her emerald-colored eyes darting toward the rooftop entrance anxiously. She glanced at her watch, noting her meet-up was already five minutes delayed by the tardiness of her contact. Folding her arms underneath her impressive chest, she let out a huff of exasperation. Honestly, she sets this unprecedented meeting up and the person has the gall to be late? After she risked ruining her perfect classroom attendance for this impromptu gathering? The pale beauty was ready to storm away from the rooftop, forgetting the silliness of the supposedly doomed meeting, before stopping in her tracks as the door to the rooftop opened suddenly. So suddenly, in fact, Sakura nearly screamed from fright, her heart beating rapidly from the brief scare. She half expected a teacher, having caught onto her rather creative plan of skipping class, but let out a relieved sigh as the grinning visage of her late conspirator cleared the dark recesses of the stairwell. Her relief, however, was quickly replaced by angering, and she threw an accusatory finger toward him just as the door closed behind him with an audible creak.

"You're late!" She remarked angrily. "Why should I be surprised? I should have expected this from a delinquent such a yourself."

"Ouch. That hurts me right here, Sakura-chan." The delinquent in question gestured to his chest with a closed fist. She did not believe his feelings were hurt for a second. The grin still plastered across his face told her the truth. "Right here. And gimme a break. It took a while for me to sneak out of history class. Iruka-sensei has eyes like a hawk, you know."

"Hmmph. As if you care if you're caught."

"True, true...but one less detention is still to be celebrated." Naruto Uzumaki was the de facto king of delinquency at Konoha High School. Taller than most of his fellow students and with a muscular built, Naruto's physique already afforded him an image of intimidation. Mixed with his wild, spiky blond hair and handsome face, it was clear from appearance alone that he was a rebel, someone who scoffed at rules and those who enforced them. His behavior and actions only solidified many people's suspicions. He frequently skipped class, pulled insufferable and childish pranks, and was a known womanizer, constantly having a different girl on his arm every week. He had been temporarily suspended numerous times, but supposed connections between his family and the headmaster kept him enrolled in Konoha High School, despite his actions obviously warranting his dismissal. It disgusted Sakura that favoritism alone prevented this awful excuse for a student from being kicked out. He was everything she was not, the night to her day. The only reason she even allowed him in her presence was desperation. "And how about you, Miss. Prim and Proper? How did you manage to get out of class?"

Sakura turned her nose up in superiority.

"Unlike you, I am respected among the school faculty. One sneeze here and a cough there, and I was sent to the nurse's office."

"And they won't ask you for a clearance note?"

"They trust me enough not to ask for one." Sakura mentally patted herself on the back. Her plan was flawless.

"While not terribly clever," the Uzumaki said, drawing ire from Sakura. "What works...works, I guess. Enjoy the rush of being a rebel for once, Sakura-chan?" He asked, his trademark grin ever-present.

"Don't call me that," she said sternly. "And I don't quite find the thrill of skipping class as you do, baka."

She wished that damnable grin of his disappeared as he walked to the fenced edge of the rooftop. He casually leaned against the fence, seemingly unbothered by the fact he was at the edge of four stories worth of falling. "You're sexy when you get feisty, you know that?" He laughed when she glared at him. "Oh, those green eyes throwing daggers at me! I think I'm in love."

Sakura rolled her eyes.

"Enough with this nonsense, baka. Let's get down to business."

He raised an eyebrow.

"Oh? Do tell, Sakura-chan. I am curious as to why you arranged a meeting with me. Ino-chan seemed as clueless as I am when she relayed your message. Normally she comes to me for a different reason."

"That's my friend you're talking about."

The delinquent smirked.

"Yes, but it is the truth, and I have nothing but positive things to say about Ino-chan!" He closed his eyes. "Man, what I wouldn't give for one of her-"

"Enough, Uzumaki," Sakura said firmly, stopping that line of conversation. She already received enough details from Ino. "Let's get back on track."

"Alright, alright!" He put his hands in front of him. "Down to business. Why did you want to see me, Sakura-chan?"

Sakura took a deep breath, suddenly feeling nervous, but aggressively fought down her doubts and uncertainty. "I like Sasuke-kun."

Now it was Naruto's turn to roll his eyes.

"Yes, as do a lot of girls, Sakura-chan. What does you liking the pretty boy have to do with me?"

"I want him to be my boyfriend, but I don't know how to get him to notice me," she replied, self-consciously brushing away a stray bang. "I'm not exactly the best at this sort of thing."

"Yeah, pretty boy doesn't give much attention to the fairer sex," the blonde admitted. He scratched his chin thoughtfully. "My buddies and I have a bet going when he'll come out of the closet."

"Sasuke-kun is not gay!" She literally screamed. Her eyes widened and she quickly covered her mouth, mindful that other students below could possibly hear her. She settled a glare the delinquent's way. "Sasuke-kun is not gay," she reaffirmed.

Naruto chuckled.

"Yeah, because it's totally normal for a straight guy to ignore hordes of pretty girls begging for his attention. Totally. It's exactly what I do."

"Just because Sasuke-kun isn't a whore like you doesn't mean he's gay." She cleared her throat. "He's just waiting for the right girl, and I am determined to make sure that girl is me."

"So you want my help?" He asked, amused. "Want me to put in a good word for you? I've known Sasuke for a long time, but we don't exactly have the most...cordial relationship."

"No, you baka. I want...advice."

Naruto tilted his head, genuine confusion written on his face. For once, Sakura noted, his grin had morphed into a contemplative frown. She had to hand it to him. She didn't knew he possessed the ability to think. "Advice?"

The pink-haired beauty nodded slowly, hesitation still bubbling inside her.

"Despite your ruffian and perverted ways, you are still a guy. You know what guys like, what they expect of women, etc…" She trailed off. The lost look in his eyes caused her to sigh. "Listen. I haven't been in a relationship before. I'll be honest...I'm sort of clueless. I know most guys can be won over by a few flirty looks and short skirts, but Sasuke-kun is a tough nut to crack."

"Gay," he chimed in.

She shot him a glare, both for interrupting her and daring to insinuate her crush was homosexual. "Anyway, your vast experience with my fellow female students is well known. I doubt there is a male student on these grounds who have dated even ten percent as many girls as you, if Ino is telling the truth."

"Ah, Ino-chan bragging about me?" He asked with a fond smile.

Sakura shuddered.

"More than you know. To get to the point, you have been with many women. I'm sure in that perverted brain of yours you've calculated some misogynistic list of 'dos and don'ts.' So...what would work with Sasuke-kun? What can I do that will garner his attention? And, if I do, how can I make sure he will never want to leave me?"

"You're asking me how to get pretty boy's attention?" She nodded. "Why not ask one of your friends? Ino-chan, for example, is very good at getting my attention," he finished with a grin.

She ignored his implied innuendo.

"If they haven't gotten his attention, how can they give me advice?" She pointed out.

Naruto nodded thoughtfully.

"Hmmm, good point. The blind leading the blind, so to speak." He regarded her with his blue eyes. "And if I were to oblige? What do I get out of this?"

"So you can help me?" She asked hopefully.

The blonde shrugged.

"Maybe? It may take some time...but I should be able to. And you didn't answer my question."

Sakura huffed, crossing her arms.

"Is helping true love not enough?" Seeing his deadpan expression, the beautiful young woman sighed. "Is 50,000 ryo enough?"

"50,000 ryo? That's some serious pocket change. Sure you can afford it?"

"Please, my family has plenty," she dismissed his concerns. "I can pay you half now, half later. The other half only upon successful results. Deal?" She stuck out her hand.

He eyed her hand for a brief moment.

"Are you sure? This may take awhile, Sakura-chan, and my advice is to be respected and followed. Everything I tell you will be critical to your goal. Ignore it and I'll consider this deal null and void. Are you prepared for that? Are you prepared to endure possibly months of listening to every word I say to hook up with Sasuke?"

Sakura pondered his words. She had toyed with this idea for weeks, trying to find an alternate solution. She sought out the advice of her female friends, to no avail. Even her mother seemed out of touch with how boys and girls currently courted each other. Asking some random boy would produce only poor results, she deduced. It didn't help most boys could barely talk to her for longer than ten seconds before stuttering and blushing. Only Sasuke, and the blonde baka in front of her, seemed immune to her stunning looks. She most certainly could not come out and ask Sasuke what he wanted in a girl...so it left only one other option. "Yes," she replied with certainty, determination burning in her eyes.

Naruto smiled widely and gently shook her hand.

"Don't worry, Sakura-chan. Naruto-sensei will not let you down!"

Later in the Day

"Mind telling me why you dragged us halfway across the city?" Sakura asked, feeling the immediate relief on her tired ankles as she sat down on the bench. She rubbed her sore ankles, glaring at the small pumps she decided to wear that day. The blonde baka was already enjoying himself, lounging across the park bench with stretched out limbs, his limp hand on the verge of touching her shoulder.. His eyes lazily took in the myriad of people walking pass the bench, his interest only peaking marginally when a decent-looking girl happened to enter his sight. He had sat there for several minutes in silence. She had waited for an explanation, but it never came. Eventually, her tired feet and impatience got the better of her, and she found herself sitting next to the delinquent, probing him for answers. "Baka, can you hear me? Why are we at this park?"

"It's a nice park," he replied simply. His line of sight seemed focused on a twenty-something woman in low-cut blouse.

Sakura shook her head in disgust and fought the urge to hit the back of his head. She conceded the park was indeed beautiful, with trees bearing her namesake and an abundance of colorful flowers, but there were dozens of parks just the same scattered across the grand city of Konoha. Many of them, in fact, far closer to the school than this one. "But why here? There's at least four parks within a kilometer of the high school, one of them just a block away from the school grounds. Why are we on the outskirts of the city? Granted, it's a beautiful park, but-Will you stop looking at every pair of legs that walks by and pay attention to what I'm saying!?" She yelled.

Naruto groaned, covering his ears.

"Damn. So loud, Sakura-chan. I was just enjoying the scenery. That's why people come to parks, right?"

"No. Normal people come to a park to look at the flowers and trees, not to ogle every woman that comes within fifty meters of them."

He gave her a wink, which only further served to annoy her.

"Guess that makes me weird then, huh?" He chuckled to himself. "Actually, we are here to start your training."

"And we couldn't do this closer to the school? My feet are killing me."

"This far away, I highly doubt we'll run into anyone from the school. You do want this to be kept secret, don't you?" He asked. "Hanging around me will raise questions. It's not everyday the most popular girl in school decides to hang out with the God Among Men. Word will spread fast."

Sakura nodded in understanding, suddenly piecing everything together. The gossip mill at the school was legendary for spreading like wildfire. Her being seen with the baka would certainly raise questions, questions she would preferably never have to answer. It was good thinking on his part, but she would never admit it. "I see your point. Why a park, though? How does this help me?"

"You said earlier you've never had a boyfriend, right?" He asked, startling her with his bluntness.

"Yes...I did." An embarrassed blush dusted the bridge of her nose and she looked down at her shoes. "There hasn't really been a guy I've liked enough. Plus, I spend a lot of time studying." Her popularity and looks led much of the student population assuming she was experienced with men. She did not blame them for their assumptions, but it did lead to some embarrassment. She was far from humble; she knew she had a killer body. She had a pretty face, complete with startling green eyes and full pink lips. Her pink hair was exotic and attention-grabbing, flowing all the way down to the middle of her back, with delicate bangs that framed her heart-shaped face. Her breasts, while certainly not the largest in the school, were still impressive, easily filling a D-cup, enticing and perky while being tightly constrained by the white button-up school uniform. Her waist was slimmed and toned, flaring out into hips that morphed into her greatest feature: her butt. The short black skirt, part of the school uniform, was the perfect medium to showcase her luscious derriere. While she was rather self-conscious about her butt, considering it too big in her opinion, men seemed to fall over themselves staring at her behind. It baffled her how something as simple as a butt drove men crazy.

Despite her well-developed body and intelligence, the eighteen-year-old senior never had a boyfriend. Hell, she hadn't even kissed a guy! She was clueless of the inner workings of a relationship. She turned to the blonde baka for a reason. She knew she could easily attract most guys, but Sasuke wasn't most guys. He didn't fall for looks or superficial charm. She needed to be leagues ahead of the other girls to set herself apart from the pack. Naruto Uzumaki, with his vast experience, would definitely know how to increase her appeal. It was her last option. She wouldn't have turned to him otherwise.

"You lack experience with men, Sakura-chan," Naruto said, snapping her out of her thoughts. "If you want to win over Sasuke, you need experience."

Sakura looked at him skeptically.

"Lots of girls with…'experience' have approached Sasuke-kun. None of them have been successful."

"Yes, and why weren't they successful?"

"Um…" She honestly had no idea. Maybe they weren't his type?

He gave her a knowing smile.

"They had the looks and the sweet words, but they lacked...refinement. The smarts, so to speak, for a man like Sasuke. You have smarts in spades, Sakura-chan, and most certainly the looks, but your self-confidence is way too low. You can't expect to approach Sasuke while mentally putting yourself down every step of the way."

Sakura frowned, digesting the information he was giving her. She was surprised how well he could see through her. Her popularity at school did not help her self-confidence, even with guys constantly stuttering whenever she walked within twenty feet of them. It stemmed from her childhood, when she was picked on constantly for her pink hair and forehead, and she had never grown out of it. "I need confidence?"

Naruto nodded.

"Yes. It's the only thing holding you back. Combine confidence with everything you already have? Pretty boy won't be able to resist you." He straightened out one of his pant legs, bringing Sakura's attention to the fact he was not wearing the dress code approved trousers for male students. His pants were blue instead of black, with holes dotting the front and sides of varying sizes. It mattered little, however; the black jacket he wore over the white dress shirt already warranted detention. The pants were just icing on the cake. She wondered if he even went to detention anymore, or if teachers even tried to make him. "Which brings us back to experience. With anything in life, experience breeds confidence. You may be nervous when you first learn to drive a car, but experience on the road eventually gives you confidence and skill."

"That's...a surprisingly good analogy," Sakura admitted, staring at him with wide eyes. He actually sounded somewhat intelligent.

He shot her a grin.

"I have my moments. This is where your experience training begins. Imagine this: you and Sasuke are having a walk in the park together and decide to rest on a nearby park bench, much like this one." He gestured to the bench they were sitting on. "What do you do?"

"Uh, sit down?"

"Yes, and…?"

Sakura looked at him confusedly.

"And…?"

Naruto sighed.

"Where do you sit?"

"On the bench?"

"Yes, the bench, but where on the bench?" He awaited her answer, but she only gave him a confused stare. "Right next to him, Sakura-chan," he elaborated. "You sit right next to him. Legs touching, shoulders brushing. You turn both of your comfort zones into one comfort zone...shared by both of you. This is the ultimate sign of affection and trust; sharing your personal space with someone else."

"I didn't know so much went into sitting on a bench…"

He shook his head.

"No, Sakura-chan. Only when you really like the person sitting next to you does it actually matter, and you really like Sasuke, right?"

Sakura nodded fervently.

"Of course!"

"Then you need to get used to sharing your personal space. This is the first step in teaching you experience. So…" He patted the small space between them. "Scoot closer."

She eyed the space warily.

"Uhhh…"

"Trust me, if you can sit next to me without feeling uncomfortable, sitting next to Sasuke will be a walk in the park. Practice, Sakura-chan. It's all about practice."

Sakura steeled herself. 'He's right. If I can't even sit next to him, how can I sit next to Sasuke-kun without freaking out? I'm a mess just thinking about him!' "Okay. Like...this?" Tentatively, she scooted closer to him, stopping when she was barely an inch from touching him.

"Closer, Sakura-chan. Even an inch of space is still personal space."

"You won't do anything perverted, right?" She sent him a suspicious look.

"This is part of our agreement, Sakura-chan. I'm being strictly professional," he responded with a serious expression.

Sakura searched his face for even a hint of perversion or trickery, but she found none. Sighing, she nodded and moved closer. Their legs touched first, her knee connecting with his, followed by their shoulders colliding gently. She had never been this close to a boy before. Even if it was Naruto, the last guy on the planet she would ever carry feelings for, her heartbeat couldn't help but quicken at their close proximity. "Is...is this good?" She asked, wanting to kick herself for how nervous she sounded. She looked at him expectantly, hints of doubt and anxiety shining in her emerald orbs.

He sent her a comforting smile. It was a different smile, Sakura concluded. It wasn't his usual cocky grin or smirk. Those sort of smiles irked her to no end. This was a gentle smile, backed up by his sparkling blue eyes that had never seemed so caring or understanding. She didn't know why she was reading so much into something as simple as a smile, but it served to comfort her in a moment of self-doubt. "Yes. Now, lean your head against my shoulder."

Sakura bit her bottom lip uncertainly.

"But I'm just getting used to this…" She glanced at their touching thighs. She didn't quite like the amount of bare leg her skirt currently exposed, but she didn't want to insult him by trying to cover it up. So far, he had been nothing but professional.

"Seize the moment, Sakura-chan. You're already doing great, but don't stop at an inch if you can go a foot," he said wisely.

'He may be less of a brute than I thought.' His way with words put things into perspective for her, helping her overcome her doubts. "Alright." She tilted her head slightly, resting her head on top of his shoulder. She felt a warming of her cheeks.

"Yeah, just like that. Now, let me put my arm…" She felt his right arm place itself over her shoulders. As his hand came to rest on her arm, her nervousness rose by several notches and her heartbeat rapidly increased. She stiffened against him, unsure of this foreign touch. "Is this alright, Sakura-chan? If it's too much let me know," Naruto said, feeling her anxiety when she tensed against his side.

"N-no!" She squeaked, her voice momentarily cracking. She cleared her throat. "I mean, it's fine. Just...just give me a minute, okay?"

"Whatever you want, Sakura-chan. You're doing great. Take all the time you need."

It took her longer than a minute to relax. She didn't know why she felt this nervous being close to a guy. Granted, she was sitting close to Naruto Uzumaki, Konoha High School's troublemaker, and had his arm casually slung over her shoulders, but there was no reason she should be this nervous. It only added credence to Naruto's explanation earlier. How would she react sitting this close to Sasuke? She doubted she would fair better than now, only she wouldn't have the luxury of showing weakness.

After a couple of minutes, she felt herself calm down considerably. Her body had gradually relaxed alongside his. The arm around her shoulder was not nearly as noticeable. To her surprise, Sakura found herself settling quite well into his side. 'This is actually working!' A small smile graced her pretty face. She gazed at her surroundings. The park looked even more beautiful than earlier as the sun started to set, with vibrant colors behind a fading group of low-hanging clouds. The wind gently blew across the trees and flowers, creating a wave of motion hypnotic to the eyes. She took a deep breath, letting the sweet aroma of the local plant life impress her nostrils.

Slowly, she noticed another smell among the park's natural scent. It was a nice, masculine smell, tickling her nose with its subtle odor. It took her a second to realize it was the blonde baka's cologne. It wasn't the overwhelming kind that most guys wore, the sort you could smell even when the guy was at the opposite side of the classroom. It didn't demand attention. It was just...there. A pleasant smell that didn't attempt to exert dominance. Without thinking, she turned her nose into his jacket, attempting to get more of the nice smell, unknowingly nuzzling into his side. 'Smells wonderful...and feels so warm.'

"You're a natural, Sakura-chan," she heard him whisper. "Everyone walking by thinks we're a couple." Sakura glanced around. Indeed, many people passing by regarded the pair with smiles and knowing looks. It didn't take a genius to figure out the passerby's thoughts. "How are you holding up?"

"Fine…" She resisted the urge to bury herself further into his side. His smell was becoming intoxicating. "Is there more?"

"Only one more thing for today. I don't want to push you too hard."

"Oh?" She shifted against him. Honestly, his side was rather comfortable, but she would die before admitting such a thing to the blonde baka. "What is it?"

"Wrap your arms around my chest. Sorta like a hug."

"Okay…" She wrapped her arms around his broad chest. It felt solid against her arms. She knew he was muscular, but his upper torso was rock-hard, even through the layers of clothing. On instinct, she snuggled further into his side, attempting to get as much of her arms around his chest as possible. With one small shift of her body, she could easily end up sitting in his lap. "How's this?" She muttered into his jacket, unknowingly pushing her breasts against his chest.

She felt his hand gently pat her back.

"Perfect, Sakura-chan. Absolutely perfect."

"You know, you didn't need to walk me home," Sakura said, approaching her front porch. "I could understand to the bus stop, but this is a good neighborhood. Nothing ever happens here."

Naruto scratched the back of his head sheepishly.

"Yeah, I could tell by the fancy houses. By the way, sweet place. Looks cool from the outside," he remarked. "And just call me old fashioned. It's the gentleman thing to do."

She shot him a deadpan expression.

"You? A gentleman?" Her mind was suddenly flooded with images of countless different women on his arm.

"Hey, I treat every girl with the utmost respect, I'll have you know."

"Sure…" To be fair, Ino always had nothing but good things to say about the king of delinquents. "Anyway, thanks...for agreeing to this. I know this is rather unorthodox." A vast understatement. "I assume we can keep this a secret, right? I don't want the whole school getting the wrong idea."

"Ah, don't worry." He waved off her concerns. "I never kiss and tell, especially when it comes to business. Besides, it would ruin my reputation. Me hanging out with Miss Prim and Proper? My indisputable rank as Konoha High School's number one troublemaker would be tarnished!" He said passionately, eliciting a small giggle from the pink-haired beauty. "And unorthodox? Sakura-chan, my whole life is unorthodox. This is right up my alley."

'For some reason, I believe him,' Sakura thought, remembering some of the more outlandish rumors she heard about the blonde. "Well, good night. I'll meet you tomorrow, after school."

He grinned, giving her a salute.

"Sounds like a plan, Sakura-chan! Good night!" With an energetic wave, he departed from her front porch. She watched him stuff his hands into the pockets of his jacket, strolling down the dimly-lit streets like a figure straight out of one of those movies about high school rebels. He certainly dressed the part. Her eyes drifted upward to the darkened sky. 'Good night indeed.' It amazed her how late it had gotten. The trip back into the city had been much quicker since they had actually took a bus ride. When she asked Naruto why they did not take a bus earlier, he had merely come up with some nonsense about enjoying the scenery. 'Probably just wanted to watch me suffer in these shoes. Bastard.' Most of their time gone had been spent in that park on the outskirts of Konoha...sitting on the bench...with her and him…

She felt a blush creep across her face. She couldn't believe she had literally been snuggling against him just a short while ago. If it wasn't for this arrangement, she would never even think of doing such a thing with him. 'It could be worse,' she thought, grabbing her keys. 'At least he smells nice.' She shook her head, entering the house. "I'm home!" She announced, closing the door behind her and slipping off those godforsaken, uncomfortable shoes.

"Oh, you're finally home!" Came a quick response from the kitchen. Soon after, her mother, Mebuki Haruno, stepped into the living room with a smile, although Sakura could see some concern in her green eyes. "I was beginning to wonder if you were ever coming home!"

Sakura slid off her backpack, dropping down onto the couch with the weight of strange and tiring day. "Sorry, kaa-san. You got my text, right? About hanging out at Ino's place?" It was a lie, but she had to come up with something to explain her late arrival. She wanted to avoid having to explain anything even remotely related to her arrangement with Naruto.

She watched her kaa-san run a hand through her shoulder-length blonde hair.

"Oh, I saw the text, but…" She shot her daughter a sly look. "Why were you escorted to our front porch by a handsome young man? And one I've never met before?"

Sakura stiffened, eyes widening.

"Uh…" 'Shit, shit shit, shit, shit, SHIT!' "How...did you…?"

Her mother smiled sweetly, pointing to the kitchen.

"Window in the kitchen looking right out to the porch. When you're out late, I have a habit of looking through it, keeping an eye for you. Imagine my surprise when I see you outside talking and laughing with a young man. I was half-expecting him to give you a good night kiss."

"A kiss!?" Sakura shouted, mortified at the very notion. "With that baka?! No way!"

"Oh, you're blushing!" Her mother exclaimed, pointing at her face. "Who is this young man, Sakura-chan? You have to tell me!"

"He's…" She was rendered speechless. "Just…"

"Did you two just come from a date? You have to give me the details!"

Sakura buried her face in her hands.

"I hate my life," she muttered depressingly, listening to her mother's barrage of questions.

Author's Note: Hope you enjoyed the first chapter of Practice Makes Perfect. For this fic, 10 ryo equals 1 US Dollar, so Sakura's promise of 50,000 ryo is $5000. By no means pocket change, but Sakura is able to afford it because of her family's wealth, which will be explained later. If you have any other questions, let me know in a review and I'll try my best to answer them. I'll try to post the next chapter as soon as I can. See ya!