Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

Heartbreak is never easy to deal with.

5 Steps to Forgetting the Pain

Step One: Cry

There was something about crying that Hinata Hyuuga never liked… the wetness on her face, the puffiness of her eyes, the stuffiness of her nose, and the general feeling of self-pity. She didn't like it… So why was she doing it? Simple.

She told him how she felt…

And he didn't return her feelings.

"I… I… I love you, Naruto-kun!" She had forced herself to blurt out the words, quick and blurred… Naruto didn't understand and she had to repeat herself.

"I s-said that I… that I love you." She was dizzy, her world spinning, the floor tilting as she tried to remain conscious… just long enough to hear his response. Even if he didn't return her feelings, that would be okay… wouldn't it?

God! Why was he taking so long to answer! Hinata dazedly watched him scratch the back of his head rather awkwardly. She watched as he wiped his hands on his sides and shuffled his feet uncomfortably. His eyes looked dry and… not happy. His cheeks were pale and his mouth was set in a confused frown.

"Ah… Hinata, I," He struggled, hesitated and Hinata could almost feel it coming, "I don't…" Naruto inhaled, then exhaled and Hinata tried to do the same.

"I'm sorry." Hinata's ears heard him, but it took a while to sink into her chest. She laughed awkwardly and nervously, not really sure what else to do.

Hinata ran.

Naruto didn't chase her.

She ran all the way to her team's training ground and fell on the grass in a pathetic lump. She stayed there, breathing.

In…out…in…out…

Then the tears came. Running down her face silently as she continued to breathe.

In…out…in…out…

She began sobbing, choking on air, not being able to fill her lungs fast enough or maybe she did too fast, Hinata didn't know. She didn't care.

All there was to focus on was the water running off her face and the aching in her chest.

Author's Note: The idea for this hit me while I was delirious from lack of sleep… So, if you don't think it's spectacularly written, then I don't blame you.

Thanks for reading.