Dedicated to @sommergymnastica !

Things had returned to normal for Itachi – his new normal. Eating lunch with Shisui, spending time with him after school and sometimes Shisui even spent the night – choosing to sleep on the couch in the living room.

Itachi couldn't remember the last time he smiled as much as he had the past couple of weeks. His parents had returned from their business trip a few weeks back.

Itachi had discovered a new passion – reading romance novels. He kept this to himself, enjoying the feeling in his stomach (he read that it was called butterflies) the books gave him. In his infinite quest for the meaning of love, he watched countless videos explaining the concept in a very clinical manner. For some reason, he felt it didn't completely do the concept justice.

He stepped into the hallway of Konoha High School, and stopped in his tracks. The hallway was decorated with red hearts and a massive banner that read "VALENTINE BALL TONIGHT". Some boys stood with girls at their lockers, smiling sheepishly while handing them presents.

Itachi tilted his head to the side as he casually watched the exchange, trying to observe the various exchanges around him.

"You shouldn't have!"

"Thank you, babe!"

"I love you..."

A hand waved in front of his face – a tan hand that he could easily place.

"Hi, Shisui", Itachi smiled slightly.

"Why are you just standing in the hallway?"

Itachi ignored his question, "Did you know it was Valentine's day today?" He asked quizzically as they walked down the hall to their class.

"I did, didn't you?" Shisui asked, distracted by the amount of red in the hallway.

Itachi hummed a response as they entered their class.

"Hey!" Konan squealed, throwing her arms around Shisui's neck – catching him off guard.

Itachi and Konan spoke more now than they did in the past. She was a nice person – very sweet – but she still made Itachi slightly uncomfortable with the amount of attention she paid Shisui.

"Hi, Konan", Shisui laughed slightly.

"Big day, huh?" She gave Shisui a meaningful look. Itachi tried to decipher it, but couldn't. He shrugged and sat down at his desk – Konan and Shisui continued speaking across the room until class started.

*****

The day's classes were very unproductive – Itachi noted – as students couldn't contain their excitement for the ball tonight. Shisui and Itachi walked to their last class of the day, passing heavily excited groups of students – all of them planning for the ball that night.

"So are you going to go the dance tonight?" Shisui teased.

Itachi scoffed, "Nope."

Shisui threw his arm around Itachi, "Oh come on! It'll be fun!"

Itachi thought about Shisui's words.

Did he want me to go with him?

They entered their classroom, and Itachi stopped in the doorway.

There was yet another rose on their table, slightly irritating Itachi. Shisui had received countless roses from countless girls.

They sat down and Shisui grinned at the rose on the table, "For me? Oh Itachi you shouldn't have", Shisui teased again.

There was a small note under the rose and Shisui read it – his smile dropping as he read. Itachi furrowed his eyebrows, "What's wrong?"

Shisui looked angry, "It's for you..."

Itachi's eyes widened slightly, Shisui handed him the red card.

"For you, Itachi,

Will you go to the dance with me tonight?

- Kakashi."

Itachi eyes grew even wider as he read the note again, just to be sure.

His head spun around and his eyes met Kakashi's – who sat at the very back. There was that feeling he got when he read romance novels – the butterflies. Excitement filled Itachi up, very quickly. A small smile found its way to his lips.

"I think the dance is pretty lame...let's watch a movie tonight", Shisui spoke quickly – in a hurry.

"What happened to the dance being 'fun'?" Itachi teased him, failing to hide his smile.

"You aren't seriously considering going with him, are you?" Shisui asked incredulously – hiding his clenched fists under the table.

"I've never been to a dance...this is the first time someone has asked me – I think I will go", Itachi felt his cheeks slightly heat up.

"What are you even saying? I asked you, like, five seconds ago", Shisui said angrily.

"You didn't ask me, you told me", Itachi clarified.

Shisui kept quiet, and Itachi noted the sheer anger on his face.

"Oh come on, I know for a fact that Konan asked you! We can go as a group, you and Konan. Me and...Kakashi..."

"Don't say that", Shisui snapped, "There is no you and Kakashi."

Itachi flinched at Shisui's tone – Shisui had never snapped at him before now.

"I'm sorry", Itachi mumbled, reaching into his bag and taking out his notebook.

Shisui sighed and ran his hand through his hair, "No, I'm sorry...This is your first time going to a dance and I...We'll go as a group. But on the condition that we stay as a group."

A smile broke out on Itachi's face, "Thank you!"

Class started soon after, Itachi smiling the whole time – oblivious to Shisui's clenched hands under the table.

*****

Itachi ran a brush through his hair for the fifteenth time – finally feeling his nervousness. He had on an all black suit – he didn't have time to get more appropriately coloured clothes. There was a knock on his bedroom door and his mother peeked her head through the door and gasped.

"You look so beautiful..." Tears welled in her eyes.

Itachi smiled lightly and hugged his mother, "I'll be fine. I promise."

"Shisui is at the door", his father said scanning Itachi with his eyes – with what looked like pride.

They all made it to the living room and Itachi opened the front door. Shisui stood, looking out at the lawn when the door opened. He spun around and his throat went dry.

"Wow...Itachi...you look..."

Itachi looked down, blushing slightly, "Thank you – you look really nice." Shisui had on a red collared shirt with a black blazer, formal pants and furiously polished shoes.

His mother all but shoved him out of the doorway, crying slightly, "Oh, Shisui! You look so handsome!" She sobbed.

He smiled shyly, "Thank you."

Itachi's father chuckled from the living room, "Come on in here guys, let's take a picture!"

Itachi and Shisui entered the living room. Itachi not noticing Shisui's eyes slyly scan over him.

They stood next to each other, Shisui's arm went to its default place, around Itachi's waist.

"Now smile", Fugaku said cheerfully.

Shisui grinned easily and Itachi smiled slightly.

"Oh, Itachi! Your first date! And with your best friend!" His mother wailed happily from the couch.

Itachi frowned slightly, "Shisui isn't my date."

Shisui dropped his arm and the entire living room was filled with silence. His mother's tear stained eyes met his father's confused ones.

"Who are you going with then?" His father asked eventually.

"Well, we're going as a group but my actual date is Kakashi."

His mother and father nodded slowly, "Anyway, have fun! And be home by eleven, not a moment later." His father said sternly.

Itachi smiled as he and Shisui left his house.

*****

The walk to school was quiet. Itachi's nerves prevented him from speaking. He didn't notice Shisui's eyes flicker to him every time they past under a streetlight.

"Would it have been that bad?" Shisui asked Itachi intensely.

Itachi turned to look at Shisui, "Would what have been bad?"

Shisui shrugged, kicking a stray pebble casually, "If I were your date instead of him."

Itachi thought about it, "I think I would've been really glad if you were my date. But, I know Konan likes you – and I don't really want to step on anyone's toes."

Shisui stopped and lightly grabbed Itachi's wrist, "How many times do I have to tell you that Konan and I are just friends..."

A small smile crept onto Itachi's face, "And, for the sake of tonight, Kakashi and I are just friends."

Shisui shook his head under the orange light of the streetlight, "I know you think that, but that's not what he'll think if he sees you dressed like that."

Itachi frowned, "Dressed like what?"

Shisui huffed, "Sexy, Itachi. He won't want to be just friends if he sees you looking this sexy."

Itachi blinked, "I look sexy?"

Shisui placed his hand on the small of Itachi's back and pulled Itachi to his chest, "Incredibly sexy", he said breathlessly.

Itachi felt the butterflies again – stronger than he felt earlier that day.

A/N: Lmao, I just had to pop in and bathe in the spiciness. Love ya!