"Hey, it's Sakura! Sorry I can't get to the phone right now, I either lost it or... I lost it! I'll get back to you asap! Bye!"

"Wow, Forehead. Wow. You mean lost your freakin' mind! You went AWOL! And Oh My God! I did something SO stupid last night and I am hiding in my closet with my turtle and gummy bears until further notice. Call me back ASAP."

"Hey, it's Sakura! Sorry I can't get to the phone right now, I either lost it or... I lost it! I'll get back to you asap! Bye!"

"SAKURA-CHAN. ARE YOU LOST?! ME AND INO CANNOT FIND YOU, IF YOU DO NOT REPORT BACK IN AN HOUR, WE'RE GOING TO THE POLICE. By the way, this is Naruto. 10-4."

"Hey, it's Sakura! Sorry I can't get to the phone right now, I either lost it or... I lost it! I'll get back to you asap! Bye!"

"HAHA. You were beast last night, Sakura! You totally whooped that girl's ass! In a skirt! You looked so fine... this is Kiba btw! Call me back!"

"Hey, it's Sakura! Sorry I can't get to the phone right now, I either lost it or... I lost it! I'll get back to you ASAP! Bye!"

"This is Karin, dollface. I am so freakin' proud of you! That stupid whore got what she deserved! I have the video, too! Text me so we can get lunch and make fun of everybody. Mwah!"

"Hey, it's Sakura! Sorry I can't get to the phone right now, I either lost it or... I lost it! I'll get back to you asap! Bye!"

"Sakura, it's Shikamaru. Yeah, you bitch. Thanks for the vomit inside my car. You owe me."

"Hey, it's Sakura! Sorry I can't get to the phone right now, I either lost it or... I lost it! I'll get back to you asap! Bye!"

"Hey, it's Sasori. Tell Itachi he left his phone in my car...whenever you do wake up."

…

..

.

brighter than the sun
visionary dreams

…

..

.

I could feel the light before I could see it. I squeezed my eyes tightly shut. I didn't want to see that damn light. I could feel a migraine coming on already, a dull throb behind my eyes, and my body felt insanely sore. I felt like I had gotten into a fight and had been run over, backed up on, and ran over again by a train.

Oh.

Right.

I did get into a fight.

Not ran over by a train, because that would suck.

Groaning and slowly opening my eyes, I felt the full effect of last night. My body temperature felt cold and I got goosebumps as soon as I sat up and the covers fell off of me. My head was still spinning; my back and neck were stiff, and God, my mouth tasted horrible.

"You're up."

I jumped, whirling around to see Uchiha Itachi fully dressed, sitting on a black leather couch opposite of the king-sized, red satin sheet (CUZ OMG. It felt like heaven.) bed I was on.

How.

In.

The.

Hell.

I'm never, ever, ever drinking tequila again.

"I found you wondering the streets," Itachi stated simply, staring at me and I felt so nausea. "And you were intoxicated."

He gave me a look.

Pfft!

As if.

"It was late," he continued, picking nonexistent lent off his shirt, "You passed out in the car before I could get your address, so I brought you here."

"Oh. Thanks then."

If it was anybody else, I would have laugh. But this was Uchiha Itachi. I only knew him because we went to the same highschool, and I took senior classes in my sophomore year.

Touching my face, I could feel some swelling around my finger tips from my fight last night and winced. God, I don't even remember.

I just remember hair and the front yard and people cheering.

"I would love to stay and chat," Itachi said mildly amused.

"But my nice card is out of date now, and I really do have to go. I called a cab for you," he said politely, standing up to leave his room, "I'm sure you can find your way out." He nodded and then left the room.

I blinked, and started looking for my phone.

"Oh my god! Where is it!" I threw the covers off of me and started looking around the bed like a frantic crazed women. Almost having a mini heart attack and man, was my head spinning, but I stopped freaking out as soon as I spotted it on the night stand.

"My baby!" I grabbed for it and then admittedly threw it back down on the bed as it was completely dead.

Well fuck, I thought, glancing over at the clock: 12:51PM.

Looking down at what I was wearing, which was my black skirt from last night—wrinkly and covered with dirt and grass stains—and my new red halter top that was slightly torn and dirty also. Pouting, I ran my fingers through my short, layered bubblegum pink haired and only got half way through it because it was so tangled and knotted. Grabbing my pink phone, I looked around for my black sandals, which were by the door and I quickly headed out the room.

Only to crash into a figure who was about to open the door.

"Sorry!" I exclaimed, taking my hands off of the stranger's chest, and looking up.

Oh, it was Him.

I should've fucking known.

Ugh.

Fuuuuuck me.

I also knew Itachi because I was completely and utterly in love with his younger brother, Uchiha Sasuke.

Except I tried to forget that part, really.

(BECAUSE WHEN STUPID UCHIHA'S BREAK YOUR HEART AFTER WASTING THREE YEARS OF YOUR PRECIOUS LIFE ON THEM, YOU WISH THEY WOULD JUST DISAPPEAR OFF THE FACE OF THE DAMN EARTH.

Shut up, Sakura! That was almost a year ago and WE. DO. NOT. CARE.

Yeah right)

"What are you doing here?" Sasuke asked defensively.

I huffed and crossed my arms, my black sandals still dangling from my hands. "None of your business."

In my defense, I reallyreallyreally thought Sasuke was staying in Suna over Summer break, not coming back home to Konoha.

Sasuke rolled his onyx eyes, "Sleeping with my brother now?" He cocked his head towards Itachi's door.

My face fumed.

That. DICK.

I would never.

I mean, I know the situation looks completely wrong with me stumbling out of his older brother's room with disheveled clothes and messy hair, but still! I was just hungover!

"No!" I yelled, narrowing my apple green eyes, daring him to challenge me. I was so not in the mood. I wasn't a morning person on good days, let alone on my hangover days. My head was still pounding and my stomach was doing slight churns.

"Tch," Sasuke smirked, looking down at me with smoldering eyes through long dark lashes.

(And again,

I fall)

"I'm kidding," he deadpanned, "Naruto's stupid and has been harassing the whole town about you. I ran into Itachi and he told me where you were."

OKAY. FIRST OFF.

A) UCHIHA SASUKE JUST SAID HE WAS KIDDING. WHUT.

B) I'm going to kill Naruto and feed his body to the seagulls and make it look like an accident.

C) THIS IS THE MOST SASUKE'S HAS SPOKEN TO ME IN A YEAR AND HE'S ACTING LIKE EVERYTHING'S JUST COMPLETELY FINE AND DANDY. Well no, mister, it's not.

Is it possible to love and hate somebody at the same time?

"Oh," I said, biting my lip and looking anywhere but him.

Because really, I didn't want too. I've gone a whole year without any contact from Sasuke whatsoever except for what Naruto would tell me. Even after all these days, weeks, and months, looking at him and knowing he broke my heart without so much as a care in the world still hurts.

And knowing that, makes me feel weak. I don't like being weak. I refuse to go back to the crying, broken hearted girl he left me as.

I could see Sasuke stuff his hands deep into his pockets out of the corner of my eye though. He used to always do that when he felt uncomfortable.

"I'm leaving," I say, brushing past him briskly and continuing down the hall without a backwards glance.

I was barefoot, walking across the perfectly polished hardwood floors in my crumbled outfit, tangled hair, hungover, and my sandals dangling from my fingertips.

All of sudden, the thoughts and fun of last night vanished, and I felt incredibly low slipping out of the front door to wait at the end of the driveway.

I've always believed when you really love someone as in—they're your whole world, bestfriend, everything, soulmate, other half, the person in the morning who you can wake up too and know that out of everyone in the world, you were luckily enough to meet that person—you give them your whole heart. Not portions or bits of pieces of it; so when you do decide to give it away, make sure that person gives you their heart too. That way you're not left with a gaping, broken hole.

Because I'm still waiting for mine back.

After waiting for my cab and rushing home as fast as that cab driver would go—he read porn books while driving and he's name was Kakashi. I almost died today—to get to my two bedroom apartment I shared with Naruto, I had hopped out of the car quickly. I was in desperate need of headache medicine and a hot shower.

Climbing up the stairs and making my way up to our apartment, I reached for my keys and unlock the door, stumbling in. Looking around, I saw no trace of human life in our cozy apartment. Me and Naruto had got this bad boy last Summer, right before our first semester of college. It really was my safe haven on my worst days. Two twin red leather couches adored the living room along with a glass coffee table, beige colored carpet, a flat screen TV, and two book cases filled with books and pictures. A large dream catcher hung over one couch while a waterfall painting hung over the other one. Our kitchen was small with a round kitchen table; a ramen covered table cloth that Naruto insisted we buy covered it. Our hallway wasn't long and our two rooms were straight across from each other with the bathroom at the end of the short hallway. Shaking my head as to rid my thoughts, I quickly looked around for pen and paper to scribble a note to Naruto.

You little blonde bitch,
I'm alive.
- Sakura
PS: We need milk, and get the 2% this time baka!

And then I quickly put it on the beef ramen package in the cabinet because I knew he wouldn't find it otherwise.

Deciding to shower and dress quickly in black tights, flats, and an oversized dress shirt, I grabbed my purse and keys and headed out the door.

After reaching the end of the stairs, I was glad to know my red mustang was still safe and sound in the parking lot. I knew I had ridden with Ino, but still, you never know what can happen.

Unlocking my car and buckling myself in, I started up the engine and finally plugged my dead phone into the car charger.

My eyes bugged out at all the texts, missed calls, and voicemails.

My friends are so stupid.

Can't live with 'em, can't live without 'em.

Arriving to Ino's apartment that she shared with Shikamaru and Chouji in less than twenty five minutes, I parked my car and got out, unplugging my phone, and shutting the door with a slam.

Still slightly groggy from the night before and so many mixed emotions from seeing Sasuke, all I wanted to do was see My Pig.

Yamanaka Ino.

This was my partner in crime, my Keenan to my Kel, my twin from another mother, my blood sister, my teddy bear to cry on, and most importantly, my bestfriend.

Gladly thanking Ino and Shikamaru for picking an apartment on the bottom floor

(Yeah, because Shikamaru was a lazy bitch.

And Ino... Ino was just a fat pig. End of story. With a smiley face.)

I pulled out my own set of keys for the apartment

(bestfriends get rights to EVERYTHING.

What's mine is Ino, and what's her is mine.

EXCEPT FOR SASUKE!

But.

That was a period of our friendship that we have moved on from.

... Dammnit, there I go again thinking about Him.

Ugh.

ANYWAY.)

And was greeted with the sight of Ino bunched up in covers on the couch. Her blonde white haired was piled up on the top of her head in a messy bun and she was wearing sweats and one of Shikamaru's too big t-shirts.

"You whoreface!" she screeched, pointing a finger at me, and jumping up.

I rolled my eyes, "Look it's not my problem, Pig, that you want me all to yourself. You really need to work on your issues."

Ino then tackled me to the floor, "I NEEDED YOU LAST NIGHT AND YOU WEREN'T THERE, FOREHEAD!"

I pushed her off of me, and then tackled her back to the ground. "As I said: work on your issues!"

Ino ignored my comment, sitting up, "NO. You don't understand! I looked everywhere for you!" She grabbed me by the shoulders, shaking me, "EVERYWHERE, FOREHEAD, EVERYWHERE."

"Then," she started, letting go of me and sitting back down on the carpet, "WELL I DON'T REALLY REMEMBER BUT I ENDED UP SLEEPING WITH NARUTO!"

She squealed, clasping both her hands over her mouth as if she couldn't believe what she was saying.

Which, of course, is possible. Ino always speaks before thinking.

BUT WHAT DID SHE JUST SAY!

"You slept with who?!" I sputtered, my arms flailing.

Ino shook her head rapidly. "I am NOT saying it again!"

I blink.

Blink again.

Once more.

And then blink again.

"OH MY GOD!" I jumped up, slapping her upside the head, "YOU SLEPT WITH MY BROTHER!"

Okay, well not technically, but he was in every way that counted except for blood.

And ugh, ew!

"Ow forehead! You and your man strength," Ino muttered, rubbing her head, glaring in my direction.

I huffed. "That's what you get! You dumb broad."

Ino rolled her eyes, looking down at her manicured hands, "Oh whatever, Sakura. You're a dumb broad too! Maybe that forehead of yours is getting too big and you're losing your memory, but I certainly do recall my Christmas party and you and Shikamaru?" She gave me a look and I sweatdropped. "Totally making out on MY bed. So shut it."

I was never going to live that one down.

Too much Crown and not enough time were mine and Shikamaru's problem that night.

"Ino!" I suddenly cried, remembering the real reason I even came over.

"Sasuke is back."

disclaimer: i do not own naruto.

note(s): ahhh, i know i probably shouldn't take on another chapter fic, but this one was SO much fun to write and i'm going to stick to it. but i just wanna make a few things clear, sasuke and sakura are not about to be all lovey-dovey in like, the fifth chapter. this story is also centered around Sakura; it's about growing up, falling in and out of love, and all of the in-betweens.

also, some of you might think it's weird that i had ino/sakura called each other "dumb broads" lol well, that's just something me, my sister, and my bestfriend have always called each other.

& yes, this will be a SasuSaku & NaruIno fic.

without much further ado,

please review! (: