Book Two: The Engagement Date Chapter 2: 2: The Everyone Needs A Friend Date, a naruto fanfic

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

AN Note||: All I ask for is helpful or kind reviews...if you have a hurtful one than please do not send it. I don't need to know that you are no longer reading my story simple for the fact of a few error mistakes - that really hurts. Please also understand, I am not the only writer. And every writer is HUMAN. Meaning we are all bound to make mistakes. If you see I have mistakes then [be like NaruSaku. Cha] and tell me so I can fix them. Don't tell me you are no longer going to read my stories, like I said..that hurts.

Sorry guys, I had to make reference to that... Now on to the fun part!

Questions and Reviews.

| Garra'sTsuki |
-I won't...I write for the ones who love it!

| kimakolovestar |
-Haha...don't worry. I love feeding the fan-girl in everyone! lolz

| hyuugahinata247 |
-Haha...I couldn't help it.

| VeeandreaHart |
-Keke...*hands over kleenex*I will let you in on a secret. I love happy endings. *.~

| Aspen of the Fae |
-You're trying to butter me up, aren't you? lolz. I'll let you know when I publish the first chapter!

| NaruSaku. Cha |
-Thank you for your help! And Thanks for reading!

| SakuraLover80548 |
-Aw~ Thank you so much

| sakura mcgarden |
-Next Chapter is about Gaara

| Becky | EnlightenedNinja |
-Haha...I'm super glad that you love my stories and my writing style. It means a lot to me. Thank you.

Previously: Chapter 1 - The Dream Date

Sakura rolled over onto her side. She shoved lucid thoughts and the real world out. Sakura tried to force herself into a dreamless sleep. Thought she knew it was impossible... She just wasn't ready to face another day of harsh, cold reality yet. No, not just yet.

...

The Engagement Date
Chapter Two
The Everyone Needs A Friend Date

The Ambience of True Never Ending Love. It's Cold, Difficult, and Rare. If True Love was Kind, Easy, and Everywhere. It Wouldn't Be Worth Much.
True Love is Worth Oxygen Itself, Simply For The Fact That It's Cruel, Difficult and Rare. - L.K.P. [me]

Present

Ring. Ring.

Sakura's brows furrowed. The doors to sleep opened and shoved her out.

Ring. Ring.

Sakura groaned and shot her hand out from under the covers in search of her phone.

Ring. Ring.

"What?" Sakura snapped.

"I'm just calling to see if you're alive."

Naruto.

"Well I am..."

"Are you really?" Naruto questioned softly. "Alive? Or just robotically going about life?"

Sakura heaved a sigh. This wasn't the first time she had gotten this question. "I'm fine Naru."

Naruto frowned from his end of the line.

She wasn't. It was easy to read in her voice. She was lying.

"Saku..."

Sakura's heart tightened as her blood ran cold. A frigid air loomed over her, chilling her through the bone. "Don't call me that!" She hissed.

Naruto flinched at the lash - almost as if a physical blow. "Gomen..." He whispered.

Sakura heaved an audible sigh. "No, I'm sorry...It's not y-..."

"I know, Skittles. I know."

Sakura glanced at the clock on the wall. "I've got to get ready for work.."

"Okay...stay safe... Call me later?" Naruto questioned.

"Sure..." You know I won't.

"Okay." I know you won't.

Sakura ended the call and flung the covers back.

Today was going to be long.

Sakura stood in her bathroom. The dull dark green eyes that stared at her through the mirror, they were not her own. The person she saw in the mirror, was not her own. They were two different people all together.

Sakura Haruno. She was a bright, lively, bubbly person. Her hair was a cute bubble gum pink. Her bright green eyes were of turbulent proportions. Her skin was a creamy, silky, peach color and feel to it. Her body was taut and athletic. She was skinny, but not too skinny. Sakura was smart - point the past of above average. She was healthy. Sakura was bold, proud, and gentle. She spoke her mind, but never intentionally hurt someone. She was the picture of healthy and happiness.

But this person. The person who could be seen in the mirror. This was someone else. This was not Sakura Haruno.

This Person. She was dull, exhausted, unhappy. Her hair was lifeless - it just hung there - the color dull. Her eyes were dead, emotionless pools of void. Dark circular rings were plainly visible under her eyes. Her skin was tight, white - sick-ish. Her body was slow and lethargic. She was skinny, too skinny. She was smart, but not top-notch. She didn't jump-start when things need solving or doing. She was quiet and cold. She rarely spoke. She was the picture of hollowness and heartbreak.

Sakura shook her head. Now was not the time to delve into Sakura Haruno the person.

She looked more closely at the rings under her eyes as she leaned towards the mirror. They had been there since that time. The last time they had seen each other. That was over a month and a half ago. Sakura had tried concealers, cucumbers, cool tea bags, vitamin C cream, certain foods, such as cranberries, blueberries, tea (green and black), black currant, onions, legumes, and parsley. Nothing worked. They were still there. And after about a week and a half; Sakura had come to the realization: they were staying. They might not have been that noticeable to those around her; but to Sakura it was like wearing a white tank-top with a huge grease stain on it.

Sakura glanced at the small circular clock with a flat bottom.

5:10.

She heaved another sigh and shook her head; as if she could remove the jumble of thoughts running through it.

Sakura stepped out of the shower 2o minutes later. She dressed in regular comfy jeans - that had little stars on the bottom right corner and the back pockets. She pulled on a light pink sweater. Sakura pulled her hair back into a messy bun. She applied a small amount of make-up. Sakura grabbed her the little pink necklace.

Her eyes squeezed shut as she walked towards the nightstand by her table. She was about to do the same thing she had done since the first night without Gaara.

Sakura picked up the ring and slid it onto the necklace with the light pink rose necklace. She slid it in place around her neck and hooked it.

Stopping at the door, she slipped on her silver flats. Sakura then grabbed her car keys and headed out the door.

Her silver little Chrysler Crossfire purred as she traveled down the road and towards Starbucks. She needed coffee. That was a life-line at 6:09 in the morning.

A smile graced her lips as she sipped at the skinny caramel macchiato half/caf triple shot of espresso tall latte. It was a drug. A good addicting drug. One she refused to live without. She hummed softly to the music while taking another sip. Sakura sat the cup down in the holder and slowly she turned into the hospital back entrance. She shut the car off and groaned as the sound of her beeper went off. She picked it up and turned it off. She didn't need to glance at it - she would be entering momentarily.

~X~

Sakura heaved a long sigh as she changed out of her mandatory doctor black and red scrubs. She ran a hand through her long pink tresses. She had been doing that all day. Sakura had been alternating between a messy bun and running her hands through her hair all day.

It had been a very long day.

"So what are you going to do with a free night?"

Sakura glanced over at her long time friend and smiled. "I'm going to veg out and sleep, what else would I do Tenny?"

Tenten smiled softly. "You want to come over?"

Sakura's eyes narrowed. This wasn't the first time Tenten had asked her to come over. She had narrowly escaped the first time. "Who's coming?"

Tenten bit her lip.

A tale-tall sign.

Tenten was about to lie.

"As long as I've known you, don't you think by now I would know all the quirks. Especially the one you do right before you lie?" Sakura questioned. Her voice hard, eyes calculating.

Tenten laughed nervously. She studied her long time pink haired friend. "The same for you."

Sakura's back stiffened. Her jaw tightened as she glared at her open locker - refusing to admit the other was right. Her hand unconsciously rose up to tug at the silver chained necklace

"Don't you think I would know...?" Tenten question incredulously. "His ring is on that necklace."

It wasn't a question.

Sakura blatantly ignored her friend.

"You don't have to answer. I know." Tenten confirmed. "You still love him."

Sakura heaved a sigh and closed the door. She fixed the bottom of her sweater. "See you tomorrow Tenten." Her eyes were void, her voice blank.

Tenten heaved a sigh as she watched the pink haired girl leave.

~!~

Sakura slid into the leather seat and pulled the door closed. She slid the key into place. The engine turned, igniting a slow rumble the reverberated through the car. Once again she sighed and began her long drive home. She groaned. A pout marred Sakura's lips. I forgot about the groceries.

Her lips were pursed as she went through her mental check list. Bread, mayo, turkey, lettuce, sweet tea, sugar...OH! Chips...

Sakura picked up a bag of crunchy Cheetos and a bag of kettle crunch BBQ chips. She steered her buggy towards the check-out and smiled at the woman. After paying, Sakura grabbed her bags and headed towards the Crossfire sports car.

"Ruff."

Pink hair flew as she twisted her head back and forth. Her brows furrowed. "What?" She muttered.

"Ruff."

Sakura stopped mid stride and waited.

"Ruff."

She turned. A smile graced her lips at the scene by the market doors. Sakura walked to her car briskly and popped the truck. She dropped the bags in to the back of the car and shut the trunk. A smile graced her lips as she walked towards the elderly woman.

"Hello." The elderly woman greeted.

"Ruff."

Sakura giggled. Her turbulent green eyes vibrated with happiness. A puppy.

"Would you like to have him?"Her raspy voice asked from beneath the hood that held locks of silver curls around her face.

Sakura's eyes widened as she looked at the elderly woman. "Really?"

The elderly woman's eyes crinkled around the edges. "My little Lyla had a litter. I don't have enough energy to take care of them all. He's the only one left?" SHe smiled kindly. "He needs a good home."

Sakura leaned closer. Her head bowed as she stared down into deep icy blue eyes surrounded by completely white fur. "He's so cute~" she cooed.

The elderly woman laughed. "Would you like to hold him?"

Sakura nodded and reached out. Her heart melted.

"He's a Siberian Husky... He was born here. They heat won't affect him - no heart conditions either. He's a healthy little boy."

Sakura nodded. She smiled down at the little puppy cuddled up against her. With her free hand, Sakura pulled out her wallet. "Here...350$."

The woman shook her head. "I just want him to have a good home."

Sakura smiled. "I want to make sure his mommy stays healthy too."

The elderly woman smiled kindly. "Thank you." She whispered, her voice thickly laced with emotion.

Sakura bowed slightly and turned back towards the car. She stared down at the puppy."What do I name you?" She wondered as she scratched the dogs tiny belly.

Home.

Sakura set the puppy down. Sakura pointed to the corner with her free hand. "Set them over their Takashi."

The bell-hop set the bags down on the ground. "He's cute."

Sakura smiled. "Thank you for helping me get everything up here."

He laughed. "I'm still trying to figure out how you fit everything into that little car."

Turning, Sakura watched as the fur ball ran around the living room. She giggled and called to him. He came. "What do I call you?" He barked. "Hmm...how about Fabuki?(snow storm, got it from someone, can't remember who)." He barked again. "Fabuki it is, then."

Slipping between the silk sheets, Sakura sigh. Her skin and hair color contrasted greatly against the stark black sheets. Fabuki jumped up curling up against her side. She smiled. Leaning to the leftt she grabbed her favorite book. Pride and Predjudice...here i come Mr. Darcy. Settling in she began to read.

Her eyes slid close for the last time. Her book fell backwards landing on Fabuki. Her mind began to slip into oblivion...

So what did you think? Review? Comment? Alert?