So, I have a new story! This one is going to be (hopefully) better than the other one since I already have decided on the ending, though I just don't know how to get there just yet :D

I assure you that this one is less dragging, or long and depressing as Mannequin.

Sakura is actually more fun in this one because she starts off being a bitchy party girl. Haha well hope you enjoy.

"There is a point in everybody's life when you are consumed in bitterness. This is not an assumption, this is the truth."

Play Along

Chapter One

"Thank you for the ride, Daichi, you know how much I adore your new car," she said looking up to the flustered male sitting on the driver's seat of the Honda. It wasn't much of a luxury vehicle, however it looked decent enough to say that the owner had spent a good amount of money to purchase the newest model. Sakura batted her lashes for the last time before gracefully hopping out of Daichi's car. He rolled the window down from the passenger side just so he can get a last glance of the pink-haired girl and waved at her. She flashed him the fakest smile, her emerald eyes did not even bother meeting his dark orbs before turning away and walking up the steps to her apartment.

She shrugged as she leaned her front door shut. Another day was done, she was finally alone. No more need to wear that mask that he has been wearing for almost a year. Her eyes landed on the piece of paper laid on the coffee table at the center of her living room.

Probably another note saying my parents won't be coming home again tonight, she thought. After letting out another heavy breath, she pushed herself away from the wooden door and made her way to her bedroom.

It was a Friday and there was no homework. Not for her, at least. It's not that she really kept track since there was a dozen of guys that would kill just to be the one to help her with her assignments. She dropped her pink Louis Vuitton school bag on the ground and let body fall on her bed and fished her phone out of her jean pocket.

"Ino," her voice was slightly turbulent, from being alone she has almost forgotten about sugar coating herself, even for her best friend. "What's happening tonight?"

"Billboard brow," Sakura could tell that the speaker grinned at this, "There's going to be one at eight somewhere by Tanzaku, you down?"

"Of course I am," she tried as much as she could to sound excited. "Pick me up? Or do I need to get a ride?"

There was a short pause before her best friend responded. "Shika offered me a ride, I'll see if I can get you as well."

"I'm sure he'll do whatever you say, anyways," Sakura grinned and hung up. She shot a glance at her wall clock. Five thirty five. Sighing, she stripped down to her under garments and headed to her walk-in closet.

Her wardrobe was organized according to color but she noticed that the number of her black clothes were increasing. A slight smirk formed against her lips before she pranced to the darkest corner of her closet.

Black is the most mysterious color of all. It represents fear and negativity. It also denotes strength and authority. It's considered very formal, elegant and prestigious.

But in heraldry, this shade is the symbol of grief.

Sakura hopped into the shower after pulling out what she was going to wear to the party tonight. She decided on a strappy black dress that hugged her body at the right places. It showed off her slender back and legs quite well. Alongside the dress, she prepared a small Chanel purse of the same shade. Crimson velvet heels accompanied the whole outfit.

Sakura wasn't really excited to go to the party in reality. She just preferred not to be left in her own thoughts, alone in her little room, so she'd rather go out with people she would call her friends and carry on with her fake smiles and empty promises.

Ino ended up picking her up anyways, an hour later than the agreed time, as usual. The clicking of Ino's heels increased when she saw Sakura come out of her apartment. The blonde was wearing a tight, purple blouse that showed her navel, then a low-cut black mini skirt and pumps a similar shade. Her pearly whites were almost glowing as she smiled towards the pink head. Sakura felt proud to have Ino as a best friend for a lot of reasons. But right now, it was mainly because she was sure that when they entered the building, all eyes would be on them.

And she was right. It was as if the music in the room had stopped just to verify their arrival. Shikamaru stood behind them but eventually found his friends Chouji and Kiba and made his way to them. Sakura and Ino were approached by guys from every corner of the room and were offered drinks right away. Sakura could recognize some of the guests were from school, but noticed that there were folks from other towns too.

"Would you ladies want to drink with us at our table?," an older looking man with shoulder length blonde hair offered, the stench of strong alcohol emanating from his breath. Ino immediately shook her head, mouthing a "no" but Sakura tilted her head to the side and nodded.

"Sakura are you crazy?! He looks like he's thrity!," Ino let out in a squeak.

"It's fine. Don't worry. I definitely know what a pedophile is when I see one." Flipping her petal colored hair, she turned and walked over to the table consisting of grungy older men.

"Alright, whatever," Ino shrugged and headed to Shikamaru's group and asked for shots.

She took another shot of the transparent liquid that was laid in front of her on the crystal table. Her new acquaintances cheered her on, knowing that they might have a chance to take advantage of this young girl if she overdid it. Unbeknownst to their knowledge, this young girl was planning something as well. And they were falling right into her trap.

"So what do you do exactly, Prince Blondie?," she said teasingly with a smile. Giving men nicknames always worked when she wanted them around her finger. The said man chuckled, obviously amused by the teenage girl's eccentricity. His eyes even widened a little more when she took a stick of a cigarette from the table, lit it expertly and puffed smoke directly to his face.

She's a bad one, he thought. Oh, he has no idea.

"I'm a manager of a cigarette company. I would have punished you for taking one of mine, but I get them for free, so I guess I can let you slip this time, darling." The last word gave her goosebumps but she masked her disgust with a smile.

"Cigarettes, eh?," she sighed.

"I heard that Asuma-sensei was a chain smoker," she said, her grip on her P.E. Uniform tightened while catching up to a certain guy.

"Hn," was all he said before pushing the heavy double doors of the school gym.

She chuckled nervously. "It's kind of funny that he's into smoking since he's a varsity coach, neh, Sasuke-kun?"

"It's an addicting habit," he simply said with shut eyes. "Some people start doing it, thinking that they can stop it by command. But it's harder than they think."

A smile escaped her lips as she thought orally. "I have an addicting habit."

The boy with spiky onyx hair raised a brow, slightly curious now of what his companion was speaking about. The said girl neared him and blushed.

"Liking Sasuke-kun!," she squealed, and with that she ran away.

"Interesting," she pouted cutely, then leaned over to Blondie. "Can I have a whole pack?"

The man examined her and looked a little too excited. Sakura crossed her legs and waited, as if she was getting bored from him taking too long. Since he didn't want her to leave he had to give in, he thought.

"Alright, follow me to my car, I have a ream for ya," he stood and Sakura followed him to the door.

I'm not that stupid, old geezer.

Sakura called Ino and motioned to come with her and bring Shikamaru, Neji and Chouji as well. They went towards the blonde man's car.

"Here you go, babe," the blonde huffed and got closer to her. Sakura first took the box of expensive cigars then held up her hand in front of her, stopping him from his advancements. Just before he attempted to do anything more, he heard footsteps approaching. Sakura let out a smirk and turned to her friends.

"Look what I got for us guys!," she jumped and skipped to the crowd, they took her in and left the old man utterly disappointed.

"Ino, wake up," Sakura growled, and so did her stomach. "I'm fucking starving."

The night went on without her getting too drunk. She knows- very well - what stupidity in her behalf might occur if she lost control. No way she was going to let herself drunk dial her ex again, though his number is deleted, she hated herself for knowing it by heart. No way she was going to break down in front of strangers, cursing the same person in the most unimaginable ways possible. There was no way she could lose her cool anymore.

She gave away her number to some potential "toys" that she met in the party. Later on, Ino said that she was too tired from all the dancing and wanted to go home. Right when they arrived at Ino's house she passed out in the couch and Sakura had to carry Ino-pig all the way to her bed.

And now, there she was, staring down at her best friend who was still snoring on her queen sized bed. The blonde slept soundly with makeup smudged all over her face. Ino was in her underwear, they both were. Looking at how grungy Ino looked made her think about how horrible she probably her own appearance was as well. She gave up on waking her unreliable best friend and trudged to the bathroom.

Sakura straightened her posture and put her "game face" on before going through the contact list on her phone.

"Hello Atshushi... yeah, it's Sakura... Mhmm... What are you doing? … Oh yeah?"

Almost losing her patience on the overjoyed man that she was speaking with on the phone, she cut him off politely and popped the question.

"Listen, I'm at Ino's right now and I'm starving, wanna go get something to eat?"

The man sounded ecstatic about the fact that she technically asked him out. He let out a laugh and said he will be there in five minutes.

Pretty darn fast, she smirked. Stupid guys.

Ino was still asleep when he came, so Sakura decided to just go. She slipped back into her party outfit and hopped into the guy's car. Atsushi was a college student she met a couple months ago. He seemed to like her a lot and she took advantage of that fact, just like she did with every other guy.

To Sakura, all guys were just the same. They were horny, pathetic creatures that will pay for everything, make you like them, then love them and then fuck you, screw your life over and when they get bored, abandon you and leave you broken. That is why she has decided not to let anybody in her life anymore, she has built a wall, a facade, a pretense that would get her by through the day.

She sat and watched the talkative man speak in front of her. She would nod randomly just to pretend that she was listening to his interesting story. He took her to a fancy sushi restaurant, and she already knew what she wanted.

The most expensive one.

The friendly waitress handed them the menus. She flipped the pages boredly, skipping the appetizers then skimmed through the prices of the entree's. Her eyes landed on thehighest number and she pointed at it, stating "I want that" to the waitress and asked for a tea.

She didn't even know what kind of food she ordered was. "That's alright," she said to herself. "It must taste good.

It should," she sneered.

It was Monday again, another dreadful day she had to endure. Her empty eyes gazed at the window and noticed the droplets of rain then shot a glance at her clock. She had about an hour to prepare for school.

Next on the list of her morning routine was to check her cellphone. Twelve messages. She replied to some, and ignored most, then asked if she could get a ride from a couple.

More than one guy offered to give her a ride. She didn't really care who she'd pick, just as long as she didn't have to walk a mile to Konoha High. She replied "yes" to one and jumped off the small but comfortable bed.

"Good thing I got you in advance," she sung as she hugged her black Louis Vuitton rain boots affectionately. "I mean, I got Aki to get them, but whatever..." she trailed off.

The sound of rain was calming, but something inside her felt depressed.

The two freshmen stood under the safety of their school building's roof, neither of them expecting that a storm was coming and worse during their dismissal time. Onyx gazed down at her apple green eyes before the beholder sighed. He stripped off his school jacket and handed it to her.

"Use this Sakura, I'll be going now."

Sakura blinked, barely taking in what he just had said. He offered her his jacket so that she can use it as a shield against the pouring rain.

The moment she tried to run after him, he was gone.

Snap the fuck out of it! Forcing her now aching head up, she continued to look for a "decent" outfit. Or the opposite. Doesn't matter.

Roku Lee's already bulgy eyes seemed like they were at the verge of popping out when Sakura slid herself into his truck. She clicked on the seat belt and flashed him one of those smiles. "Morning, Lee."

"Ohayo, Sakura! You look," he gulped, out of words to describe how seductive she looked. His eyes traveled down from her lined eyes, her smooth skin, and the white shirt she had on, slightly wet, showing off her black bra underneath. Her jeans had tiny rips but were all at the spots where one would be left with something to imagine. "Youthful," he continued, picked up his jaw and started driving.

When she entered the school hallways she was immediately greeted with hugs, and how-do-you-do's which she returned casually. Her eyes roamed around to look for Ino, which wasn't so hard to do since her best friend stood out just as well as she did. There she was, standing in the middle of a crowd of students of her class- Seniors.

This was Sakura's everyday life in school, the same thing, over and over. Once in a while something interesting would happen, but not interesting enough to sweep her off her feet. It was a day-long masquerade where she had to laugh, smile, flirt and do anything in her ability to look okay. Empty? Sure she was, but she didn't really care. She stopped caring about a lot of things. Especially men. If she had to choose between loving a man or being fed to cannibals, she would choose the latter.

Men were merely just toys to her. They were tools to give her what she wanted. Nothing more, nothing less.

"What's up, Sakura-chan!," a blonde hair, blue-eyed teen approached her and locked her into a hug. She waited a couple of seconds and shifted away from his grasp. She shot him a last look and returned his greeting before standing next to Ino.

"So did you guys hear the news?!," Ino stomped her feet erratically. "There's a bunch of transfer students coming today!"

"Yeah, I heard some were still seniors and some were already in college," Tenten, a girl with long brown hair stated. "That means some will be coming here, and some will be going to the college building."

"That's alright, we'll see all of them during break time," Ino snickered and glanced at Sakura's outfit. "I love your boots!"

Sakura gave a small smile, knowing that everybody's attention were on the said shoes. "Thanks, they're new."

"Maybe we can finally find us some handsome boyfriends," Ino teased, her eyes at Tenten then at Sakura.

Sakura just shrugged. It didn't matter to her. "Sure," was all she said.

However, she meant the total opposite. There was no way in hell that she would be in a relationship ever again. Ever. After what a man–boy– named Sasuke did to her, she has definitely verified her hate for men in general. Though she hasn't told anybody yet, because she didn't want them to worry. She thought that having them fix her would be quite annoying when she was doing just fine this way. She was anything but broken.

:3333 soo?

Sasori is not even here. – _ – but he will be on the next chapter!

Yeah I know it's not that interesting yet. You guys probably think it's just like any other getting over Sasuke bastard and meeting a nice guy Sasori kind of fic.. but NOOOO I PROMISE YOU NOOOOO xD

And I promise you it will be good. Please review.