REMEMBER: All parts in 'italic' are 'thoughts.
DISCLAIMER: The characters of this story are based on the manga 'Naruto' by Masashi Kishimoto
Hi everyone, in case you wonder why the writing style is different to the prologue it's because I decided to write this story in 3rd person rather than the 1st. I want to focus on a lot more characters rather than just one. Also I'm not gonna re-write the prologue just so you can kinda get an idea of Sasuke's personality. Anywhoo…hope you enjoy ;)
~Friends are nothing more than the people who you spend the fun yet meaningless times with. When those times get rough, they aren't there to support you~ (Higurashi)
2: Feelings
It was a cold night, and after a date with Naruto, Sakura left the Ichiraku Ramen Bar. All week she couldn't help but notice a 'cold' change in Sasuke's attitude. He's been more harsh than usual and avoiding all his friends and now...he was nowhere to be found.
Ultimately Sakura had ended up by CherryTree Park, the place where she first met Sasuke at the age of 10, it was also the place Ino stood up for her when she got bullied by a bunch of girls - a place that held pleasant memories. She sat on the bench "Everything is changing too fast" life was changing and she didn't like that at all...
She heard a rumble, "Again? That's the 6th call." Sakura had avoided her Mum's calls for the past hour but after that sixth one, she decided heading home was the best thing to do.
Mebuki Haruno sat on the sofa with crossed arms "Where have you been, young lady?!" she got up slowly and click the 'on/off' button from the remote.
"Sorry"
"Do you want a curfew!" Mebuki hugged her daughter tightly.
Shit! I thought I was in trouble. As her Mum let the embrace go she questioned her daughter's expression "What's the matter Sakura?"
Sakura took her mobile out "He still hasn't messaged me back...what if something's wrong Mum?" She placed her mobile back in her bag as her Mum blinked in confusion.
"Hmm...Who are you talking about? What have you done now?"
Glaring at the floor, Sakura realize she made a big mistake. The thought of her Mum figuring out what she did would make her feel horrible, disgusted with herself and most of all, if Naruto found out...she wouldn't be able to live with herself. The guilt surged through her mind and in an instant Sakura came up with an excuse, a common one known by many.
"Nothing...Bye!" and with that she power walked the stairs.
"Err...Sakura?" her Mum thought about the situation. Ah whatever it is, she will sort it out. After all she is my daughter. You see Mrs Mebuki Haruno was feared across Konoha, she was known as the feistiest woman you would ever meet. Therefore earned the title: 'The Wild One' because showing sympathy towards others, including her own daughter was beneath her - though she would probably just call it 'tough love'.
Whilst getting ready for school the next morning, the cherry blossom tied a red ribbon onto her ponytail and brushed her luminous pink hair in the mirror "Its summer vacation in just three days, I can't wait!" Summer vacation was like heaven for Sakura, it was the only time in the year she could relax and not worry about homework and school. The only thought she had on her mind was Hanakotoba-ko, a big lake by a garden of flowers. Sakura took another look into the mirror "I wonder how Naruto is."
"He hee, nice to know you're thinking 'bout me." The blond headed boy peeped out of the window and when Sakura heard the voice of a young man she flinch losing her balance. In embarrassment a sudden pink colour took over her face and when she walked towards the window; she held her hair brush ready to smack some sense into Naruto.
The brush flew to Naruto's head "You perv!" Naruto dodged the sudden attack and Sakura turned crossing her arms.
"Argh, come on Sakura!"
"Naruto-kun sometimes you've just got to learn-" she calmly expressed.
ONE TWO ONE TWO, Sakura could hear the footsteps; her Mum was coming up the stairs, "Sakura darling? Hurry up. You will be late for school" her feet dragged one by one; step by step. The knob shook in her Mum's attempt to open the door.
"Hey Mrs Haruno! It's Nar-" Sakura pushed Naruto out the window.
"Shut it Naruto! Let's go"
"Huh? Wah-wait Sakura!"
"Saku-huh? I could have sworn I heard her voice." Mebuki picked up her daughter's hair products and tidy up a little, but before leaving, she took a look at her reflection "Wow! Maybe I should go on a diet." She felt the wind across her dress and shut the window.
Naruto and Sakura walked hand in hand as they roved past a corner. It had been six months since they got together and before that Sakura only had eyes for Sasuke but that all change when she confessed. For a girl to let her guard down and tell a boy she was in love with him meant everything to her but to be rejected was even worse. And why did Sasuke reject her? In his own words:
"I don't want to hurt anyone." Sakura never fully understood what he meant by that.
On the other hand, Naruto had still remembered how he got with Sakura; it was really simple 'gesture' actually. In fact Naruto's Godfather, Jiraya, suggested it to him. All he had to do was repeatedly ask her out until she caved in and eventually - well Sakura didn't have a choice since he asked her out in front of the whole class.
He rubbed the back of his hair with his left hand "Hey Sakura, wanna go for Ramen today?"
Whereas, the girl in their relationship felt it was enforced upon her. When Naruto asked her out; Sakura felt she was obliged to for his sake; in an attempt to make Naruto to 'see the light'. Surely one date would help Naruto see that they were not compatible right? But when that date closed in, something changed in that plan. Before that night, Sakura had never been on a date. Before that night, she had never known Naruto the way he did about her. Before that night, she had never laughed soo hard since her father's death and after that night; Sakura Haruno felt like herself again.
"It's always Ramen with you, but...sure, I don't see why not?" her hands drifted to the back "but let's focus on getting to school first before were late". Exhaling she looked to the ground revealing a sad emotion, Naruto took hold of her palm and lifted her chin slightly.
"C'mon Sakura, school won't be that bad."
"It's not that, it's just...well it's been three weeks and…and Sasuke-"
At the mention of his best friend, he looked down to the pavement "I know" but actually Naruto didn't know, he didn't know what was going through Sasuke's mind when he disappeared but that wasn't the point. In truth, it was the mention of his name that brought him down. Sasuke had only been gone for three weeks and Sakura's tone made him worry because every time he thought Sasuke was out of the picture, he pops up again Naruto just wasn't sure of Sakura's feelings.
Then again, he also knew that trying to get rid of your feelings for someone was impossible.
Sakura stopped walking and pointed opposite their sidewalk.
"Sasuke?"
"What now Sakura?"
Wanting to make sure she wasn't imagining things, she shook her head in confusion but when this didn't work Sakura tried rubbing her eyes. Then reality took forth.
"No that's not what I mean Naruto, it's really...Sasuke! Right there, wearing the school uniform".
"What! No way - Ow! Why did you do that?"
"Err...Sorry; I wanted to make sure you weren't imagining things either."
"Well you didn't have to pinch me."
She grabbed Naruto's arm and with a smile said "Could you wait for me, right here? I have a message for Sasuke, it's important."
He was puzzled by Sakura's sudden request and with a lowered voice he murmured "Your face just lit up."
"What?"
"Nothing, go."
To say 'thanks' Sakura gave Naruto a small kiss on the cheek and whispered 'I'll be back in no time'. Nervously, Sakura walked towards and within her mind, she processed her behaviour. Should she say 'Hey?', 'Hi?' or 'Long time no see'? Which one sounded like she didn't miss Sasuke but did miss him a bit. Damn it! Choose Sakura, choo- "Whatzzup Sasuke?"
The teen was blown by the sudden voice; yet felt like he knew who it was. Sasuke turned round to face his approacher and in a little smirk said "Whatzzup? Really?" He stood in his usual stance. Wearing the usual school attire of a white shirt - which he wore opened with a dark blue t-shirt underneath and with both hands in his pockets sighed.
"Yeah, that wasn't like me, was it?" Sakura had always thought about what she'll say to Sasuke (if she ever saw him again) but in this very moment the words couldn't come out.
He looked up to see Naruto leaning against a wall "What's the 'idiot' doing way over there?"
"Sasuke, nevermind him. Can I ask you something-" The sound of a mobile was heard, it rumbled in Sasuke's pocket. Sakura knew the ring tone well; it was called 'HOWLING' by A.B.S'. Sasuke took out his mobile and read the I.D: 'Aiya Mizaki', he pressed 'ignore' looking back at Sakura. "These past few weeks...where have you been?"
He looked up to the sky. She must have been worried - as usual. "Don't worry about it, I'm here aren't I?"
Sakura screwed her face knowing that Sasuke would keep quiet - in the end she gave up and sighed, relieved. "Well it's nice to see you! I was worried y'know."
"Yeah"
In their awkward moment of silence, Sasuke stroked his dark hair and wondered if that was what she really meant to ask. He took the shoulders of the girl in-front of him "Are we done here Sakura?"
"Uh..." Just say it, or you never will! "Umm...Sasuke?"
"What?"
"The night you left...did?"
Sasuke glared through Sakura's eyes. It was as if he wanted to control her in some way, but - "It was nothing" his expression was as if he was trying to ensure her, make her agree with what he was saying but Sakura wasn't buying it. In fact she felt rather frustrated.
"Was it?"
He glared directly into her eyes again "Of course it was"; he caught a glimpse of Naruto keeping a close eye on them. "You're Naruto's boyfriend" he cringed at saying that 'word' "and I'm-"
"Not interested"
This time he looked down to avoid eye contact "Not what I was going to say"
Sakura tried to hold in her tears and before she knew it, she found herself wandering. What if this was meant to be? What was I thinking? Sasuke is right, I'm with Naruto and I'm happy with him, aren't I? She let a short chuckle replace her tears and when relieved at the situation, she tried to change the topic "I'm being stupid. Anyway, we got to get back to Naruto, we have English, you coming?"
"Well I'm in the same class."
They walked halfway through a distance to catch up to their friend. Naruto reluctantly greeted Sasuke but for some reason he didn't ask questions and carried on as if everything was back to normal. It must have been a good 5 minutes when Sakura stood between them, annoyed and bored because the two boys talked about video games, especially the Dragonball game. *Ring, Ring* well until Sasuke's mobile rang again, this time Sasuke answered without looking at the I.D "Yeah? Hi...I can't, I've got English...calm down. Where are you?" he turned to face his friends "Guess I'm skipping morning class. I got to go".
Sakura had a feeling who his caller might be and without any thought she said "Tell her I said 'hello'"
He nodded to her request "See ya."
Off in an alleyway, Sasuke walked unknowingly by the walls and when he couldn't find his caller by their usual spot, he decided to ring again; this time following the sound. "Aiya?"
The teen ran towards him and jumped at boy pressing her lips against his. Their tongues were at it with each other, turning and touching and whilst the sun heat overflowed them, Sasuke pulled away to grasped some air "Why are you in such a cheery mood?"
Her straight auburn hair flowed as she landed on the ground from Sasuke's hold; her eyes as dark as his, lit up in happiness "Can't a girl be happy to see her boyfriend?" and kissed him again.
A/N: Please, please review guys I would like to know what you think. I better get my timing right for the next chapter.
:) XOXO