Chapter 2

Years passed by. I've grown so much in that time, too. Well, I'm definitely taller. My relatives say I've become very womanly. I don't know about that. I'm now 17 and in high school.

I don't know about womanly, but I have filled out somewhat in terms of curves. My breasts have grown to a confident low C cup, and my hips are a decent size now. I'm not too skinny or too fat. It may be a little vain, but I do like the way I look now.

As for keeping up with Sakura, well… We used to write letters every week, just like we promised, but she stopped that around the time we were thirteen. I kept sending her letters for awhile, but I never got any replies and eventually I gave up. That made me quite depressed for a couple weeks, but I had moved on.

My social life is somewhat normal. I have a core group of friends now. These girls Hinata and Tenten are my best girlfriends. I'm also good friends with a couple guys. Chouji, Shikamaru, Kiba, and Naruto are good friends. These guys Neji and Shino hang out with us on weekends most of the time, too, but they're so reserved I don't spend much time speaking to them.

As far as boyfriends go, I haven't had many. I went out with a few cute guys from my classes, but nothing ever stuck. I guess I'm not great with boys or I just haven't found the right one yet. I'm not really sure what I should be looking for, anyway.

On weekends, I mostly hang out with Hinata and Tenten. The guys follows us almost everywhere we go so I'm with them a lot too. We'll walk around the village and go to food shops, although Naruto is always insisting we go to Ichiraku Ramen. There's barely even enough room for all of us in that tiny shop but he always wants to go. It's borderline disgusting.

Tonight is Friday night. We're all walking around the village and just talking and having fun. I have some leftover money from my part-time job at my mom's flower shop, and I'm kinda hungry.

"Hey, guys! Let's get some dumplings!" I yell out above Naruto's loud, obnoxious voice.

"No, let's get ramen!" responds the blonde idiot.

"Ugh! I'm SO sick of you and your perverse ramen obsession! We're getting dumplings. Everyone agree?" I argue back.

A resounding "agreed!" shoots up from our friends.

At the dumpling shop, I order 3 orders of the special. I try to ignore Naruto sulking at the other end of the table. Just as my food is arriving, I notice something out of the corner of my eye. Something pink.

I'm seeing Sakura. She's just leaving the shop. I have to catch up with her! I have to talk to her! I practically jump out of my chair and dash outside. I turn the same corner I was so sure I saw Sakura turn just a moment ago.

Disappointment. Utter disappointment. Was she really even there, or was I just seeing things…? Or maybe there was another pink haired girl in Konoha. Not very likely. Whatever the case, I sulk back to the dumpling shop.

"What was that about?" Kiba demanded.

I don't respond. I don't eat my dumplings. For the rest of the night, I just think.

Later that night, I lie awake for hours, staring at my dark ceiling.

Why was I suddenly seeing Sakura… we haven't written each other for years. I haven't thought about her in a long time, either. I can't fathom it. But when I did see her, or at least the Sakura my mind created… she was so… womanly.

She was a woman. Filled out nicely, normal height, long legs. I mean, she was walking, but she had curves. Maybe little Sakura had finally come out of her shell.

It doesn't matter. She wasn't really there. I was just missing an old friend.

But still…

The next few days go pretty normal. I go to school, work in the flower shop after school, and do my homework and chat with Hinata and Tenten online. It seems that Neji guy has developed quite the little crush on Tenten, although he seems to be too proud to admit it.

On Wednesdays, I go right to the flower shop afterschool. That's the day we get the roses fresh, and I always love the smell of the rose petals on the cart. After I unload them all to their respective pots and shelves, I tend the cash register. It's a slow day, so I just stare out at the passers-by. Wait.

Is that?

Once again, I raced outside. And once again, she was gone.

Is she there, or am I crazy? Or maybe I'm just missing her. Or maybe a little of both.

A/N: As you can see, it's starting to take form. Also, I'm a pretty quick writer and once I start something I finish as fast as possible. So there shouldn't be too long a delay between chapters.