Twilight

"You should be happy."

But I wasn't. I wasn't sad either, but it was the feeling of overall numbness that scared me.

I should be happy. He annoyed me, he got in the way. He thought I hated him.

And I did, didn't I? I love Sasuke; I want to be with Sasuke, I want Sasuke to like me back.

I want to love Sasuke.

He turns the leave and I reach out my arm as if to take his shoulder. To say I hate him. To say I'm happy.

To say I'm sorry.

He pauses, like he's taking a breath.

This is my last chance. If I let him go now, there's no way I can you ever go back to him. No way he'll come back to you.

It almost seemed to hurt. Maybe it should. He is my teammate. I trust him with my life. And he trusts me with his.

But he never did need me, did he?

I thought I was being the kind one, being a friend to the outcast.

But he was the nice one being friends with me.

Maybe I'm the one that needed him.

I'm sorry.

Two words. Maybe he would smile. Laugh. Not hate me.

I touched his shoulder lightly.

I didn't think he'd notice.

But he turns to me, a scowl across face.

"What?"

I want to say something. I want to do something. Slap him. Kiss him.

Cry in front of him.

Even the air between us is tense. This night seems like it's gone on too long. It must be almost morning.

He didn't turn away.

Neither did I.

We just stood there, staring into each other's eyes. Trying to read them. Trying to understand them.

Trying to understand ourselves.

What did he see in my vivid green eyes? The pain, the longing? My confusion? My tears?

He was also trying not to cry. His misty, mysterious blue eyes gave too much away. The tiny teardrop forming on his right eye.

It grew. It swelled. Then dropped.

We both looked down.

Two wet patches, mirroring each other, on the ground.

What did he mean when he said it anyway?

'I don't love you anymore.'

Every syllable dug into my skin like barbed wire. Twisting into my skin. They would not come out.

Suddenly, a tiny pinprick of light dazzled us.

We both looked east.

Twilight.

We both stood deadly still as that ball of gas started to rise over the hills. We were both bathed in sun, letting the light wash over us like a river tearing it's way downstream. The heat dried our tears off the ground, and no one could help but smile. Suddenly, everything seemed better. Easier.

I turned back to Naruto, looking at his bright, upturned face. He noticed me looking and tried to scowl. But it was impossible for him. We both giggled and I held out my hand.

"I'm sorry." The words seemed to flow effortlessly out of my mouth now.

"Friends?" He asked, holding out his hand.

I clenched it and brought it up.

"Forever."

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The cheesiness of it all! Writing those last few lines really made me laugh. So, my first Naruto fanfic? Come on people, you know you want to R&R!