Love Me, Already! Rated M for intense adult situations in later chapters. It may sound girly and simplistic now, but the plot thickens. Nothing should be too simple when chaos is more fun!

Disclaimer: I do not own any characters or their likeness in any part of this story.

Chapter 1: Sakura wakes up in a typical fashion. It's a wonderful day in the Spring, which is a beautiful time for Konoha. She doesn't have a shift at the hospital and has a special evening planned with a certain someone. . .

*BUZZ*

Sakura looked at the clock. "Ugh," she groaned. It was only 5:30 a.m. She knew she would be the first one at the training grounds. Why bother? Sakura rolled onto her back and stared at the ceiling, rubbing the smooth skin of her cheek. She knew she wouldn't be able to go back to sleep now. Even if she could drift off, she wouldn't get much rest this close to dawn.

Sakura sighed and rolled onto her side again to manage sitting up. Sakura lifted her arms in the air while allowing the soft ivory sheets to pool around her waist. She stretched her arms wide over her head and back behind her as far as she could reach. 'Ooh, stiff muscles. I'll need to stretch well when I get there,' she thought. Then Sakura twisted her legs out from under her to dangle over the edge of the mattress. Sakura straightened the spaghetti straps of her simple cotton white and red pajama outfit, complete with matching boyshorts. When her toes touched the floor, she admired the wonderful job they did at the salon yesterday. It's a good thing she didn't have a shift at the hospital tonight, or else this would be ruined from all the fancy footwork she does while running around. She was thankful Ino-pig decided to treat her to the salon as a present for finally going on a date with Kiba tonight. 'Oh gosh, I totally forgot!' She jerked herself out of bed at that thought.

"Ooph!" Sakura quickly hit the chilly hardwood floor with a thud. "Owie." Since the cool floor felt nice, she leaned back and decided to lie there for a moment, her silky pink shoulder-length hair spilling out over the cherry red bedside rug. She then felt a shiver. 'Must be the cold floor.' Why couldn't she have fallen on the fluffy red rug?

While on the floor, Sakura noticed her cell phone was trying to tell her something. She sat up and looked. She had a text message. She pulled herself up to her knees and grabbed her cell phone from the nightstand. She didn't have a missed call. 'Strange,' she thought. 'But maybe someone was courteous enough to just opt for a text insteead of waking my butt up in the middle of the night. But what was so important at. . .1:53 in the morning?'

"Hey, Sakura? It's me. I need a huge favor. Call me in the morning, before practice. I don't want the others to overhear." It was Naruto.

"Huh? Do I even want to know? What could I possibly help that dumb blonde with?" Sakura shrugged it off and dialed his number. He sounded distracted, and it didn't even sound like he was eating while talking. But what could Naruto need her help with? Of course she'll help one of her closest friends. She and Naruto were like siblings. They love each other - platonically - and always have each others' backs. And they fight like siblings. And, believe it or not, he was usually more dependable than even Ino-pig.

Sakura was going over to Ino's house after practice to help prepare for her romantic evening, so she walked over to her dresser to take out her workout gear and extra clothes for Ino's.

*ring*

". . . ."

*ring*

". . . ."

*ring*

"Grr. . ." *sweat drop*

*ring*

"Damnit, Naruto!" Sakura threw down the bag in which she was placing a pair of shorts. Unfortunately for Naruto, he decided to pick up at that moment. He was greeted with Sakura's booming voice.

"Ahh! Sakura! What the hell! It's almost 6:00 in the morning! Why are you yelling at me!"

A frustrated Sakura picked up the abused bag and set it on top of her black wooden vanity, sitting next to her dresser. "You told me to call you, Dobe."

"Oh, right! He." Naruto let out a nervous chuckle. "Sorry. Listen, I need your help with something."

"Why me? Can't you ask Sasuke or Sai for help?"

"Um, not with this. It's. . a little embarrassing. Teme may help, but not before making fun of me. Sai wouldn't understand, anyway. He'd just ask a bunch of questions or something."

This was getting a little interesting. Embarrassing, huh? "What about Kaka-sensei?"

"No! I mean. . .I don't think so. He wouldn't be very helpful. That pervert won't do."

Sakura groaned. "Well, what is it? Is it even something serious?"

"Heck yeah!" Sakura could imagine his fist pumped into the air. She didn't even have to see it to know. It's a bit childish now, not to mention it's ridiculous. Even when we're talking about Naruto.

"What? Tell me. You're getting very annoying." Sakura folded a tank top into the bag and zipped it up. She put sandals in another compartment. Then she walked over to her closet to take out a very special dress with a price tag still attached. It was no small number on that tag, believe me. The dry cleaning bag rustled when Sakura brushed it against a chair.

"Well, there's a little problem I've been having." She could easily tell his voice was getting softer. He must be very embarrassed to even be asking her for help with this.

"Uh huh. . .spit it out, Naruto. This had better not be perverted or anything involving your body."

"No! Gross! Well, you see. . . there's this girl that I like, and I'm not sure how to ask her out. Can you help me?"

Sakura stopped dead in her tracks. "Naruto, are you serious?"

Silence. Then a meek response. "Yeah. Please?"

"Who is it?"

"Umm. . .Hinata." Naruto thought he heard crickets chirping. Then Sakura let out a gasp and reacted.

"Whoo! Finally! In all my nineteen years, I can't believe you'd finally get it! Naruto, you wouldn't believe how long we've been waiting to hear you say that!" Sakura did a little victory dance for one of her best friends.

"We? Have you noticed that easily? Everybody knew?"

"Uh, duh! She's been, like, in love with you for a long time, Dobe! Wake up and smell the coffee! Ooh, coffee sounds fantastic right now!" Sakura placed a little travel bag of her pre-selected jewelry in the gym bag and ran down her hallway to the kitchen. She tripped on the hallway rug and slid on the sand-colored tile in the kitchen, sending her into the kitchen island. "Another owie."

"You've got to be kidding me, Sakura."

"No! I fell out of bed this morning and busted my a. . ."

"Not that! I know you're a klutz! I was talking about Hinata! She's in love with me?"

"Uh. . .yeah. Pretty obvious." Sakura sweat-dropped. She propped her elbows up on the smoky granite countertop and leaned over it for support.

"Man, I can't believe it! This is totally awesome! I thought I was obvious! Yesterday I ran into her at the mall and stopped to talk to her. She must've been surprised to see me, because she stuttered. I hope I didn't scare her. I was being a total spaz. Anyway, she was shopping with TenTen. The hair bun-girl looked at me like I was stupid, for some reason. So I couldn't ask her out right in front of TenTen. I just said bye and watched her walk away. I turned around and stumbled over a bench because I was still mesmerized! I flew throught he air and right onto the floor! She heard the commotion and saw it was me! She ran over to help me up, but a guy helped me up already. She saw everything. Complete disaster. It was totally embarrassing."

"Oh, Naruto. It's such a stretch to think you're ever embarrassing." *chuckle*

"Hey! Shut up! Are you going to help me or not?"

"Sure, why not? Come over to Ino's with me after practice. We'll help. I think you need it."

"Okay, thanks. I owe you big time for this."

"I know you do! See you in an hour. Bye." Sakura smiled. 'This is so sweet! Finally. Naruto and Hinata, together at last. I have to call TenTen when I get to Ino's!'

"Bye." Naruto hung up the phone.

Sakura placed her cell phone on the counter and strolled over to the refrigerator to fetch some eggs and turkey bacon. 'I think I need a healthy meal before practice,' she thought. 'And I'm starving.' She began cooking something delicious, ate her breakfast on a bar stool, and placed her dishes in the sink. Then she made it back to her bedroom to dress in her workout gear and made ready to head out. She pulled her hair back in a messy ponytail and didn't bother with much makeup, save for some powder foundation with a little bit of UV protection. 'Ino will have all the makeup I can handle,' she surmised. She gathered all her stuff, happy to have chosen a rolling duffel bag, and walked out of her apartment. Not once this morning did she notice a pair of eyes following her every movement.