Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any of its characters.
Chapter 3: Paranoid Android
The conversation had come up and I regretted every moment of it. How did it come up? I really don't know how I let it come to this. I mean I seriously must have been deprived from lack of sleep or some form of it. My mom was driving of course, and I let Ino sit in the front. Mainly because I didn't want her staring and smiling. But also I wanted to be able to look at Ino without her noticing. But there we were heading towards the mall, in my moms car.
I was already dredding the day, when my mom opens her big mouth. "So Ino, I hear your pretty popular with the boys you must have to beat them off with a stick." My upper lip twitched, I shot an angry look towards her. I could see her eyes quickly look back at me with a 'this is payback' look. I know mom's are suppose to be evil but this is a little to much.
Ino laughed as she touched my mom's shoulder. "Well I really don't have time for boys, with cheerleading and all my after school activites." She turned her head toward me. "And plus I'll soon be helping Sakura-chan with her studies so that will all but book me up." Houston, we have lift off. I think I really would have catupaulted from my seat right then and there. Lucky for me I had a seatbelt on and not to mention the car did have a roof.
But why was she being so nice to me? Why wasn't she being her usual cold self? I didn't really have time to think about it as she ran her hand across my forehead to brush the hair away. My eyes were wide in shock and my cheeks started to turn red. For a moment she was just staring in my eyes and I could stare back at her eyes forever.
I really don't know how long it was that we stayed like that, but my mom made a grunting noise with her mouth. "We're here" Ino quickly turned around and was getting out of the door. I mentally cursed my mom for ruining such a perfect moment. 'It's not like you would have done anything anyway' But it was still nice and even you have to admit that. My inner voice didn't speak after that, of course it usually didn't after I proved it wrong.
I sighed as I slowly undid my seatbelt and got out of the car. I quickly put a hand over my eyes, I swear the sun was to bright. But then I never was an outside person. Ino walked around to join me and my mother but she stood on her side. Obviously not wanting to be around me over what just happened. I made a pouty face as I kicked the little pebbles at my feet. At least this time mom did look sympathetic when she looked over at me.
I really think she was just testing to see if it was really love. And I guessed by her expression she realized it was. So maybe she would be a little more easy on me. We walked into the double-wide doors of the mall. And of course the first store we walk into is a dress store. Curse my bad luck, I know that mom will try to make me get a new one. Even though I wore this for her, and was hoping she would skip out on the torturing.
"Ino, Sakura always hates dress shopping but seeing how this is the first store we walked into why don't we get you one?" I was both relieved and jealous my mom was still doing all this stuff with Ino. I don't think it should really bother me, I'm sure this is her way of telling me that she's okay with it. "I would love that" Ino smiled but she still never met my eyes. I found a chair and sat down as the two of them ran the store ragged.
I seriously saw a woman almost faint from exhaustion at there demands. I tried to shake the event from the car out of my head. But it was really one of the best moments of my life. As our breathing slowed down and we looked in each others eyes. My heart slowed and sped up at the same time. We were two people, not in a car, but in a land we knew we could be happy.
I was knocked out of my daydream by mom tapping me on the shoulder. Ino wasn't with her she must have been trying on a dress. "I think you'll want to see this." I barley had time to reply before Ino came out of the changing room. She looked nervous with us staring at her, she was playing with her fingers. She was wearing a green and black dres, they even found a matching pair of shoes.
I can't really describe at that moment what I was feeling. I just knew that I had to find a way to make her mine. Though I didn't want to force it, it was all to confusing. "You look absolutley beautiful" I blurted out. I wish I hadn't, she already seemed to be aoiding me. "Of course I do forehead" She beamed with confidence.
I was a little upset but I know this her way of showing affection. Mom walked over and started talking to her about it. Saying how great she looks, and that she would love to buy it for her. Ino kept looking over at me as mom went on and on. I can't tell what she was trying to say. They weren't pleading eyes asking for help but something else. Ino tried to talk her out of it but she wouln't have it.
After she changed back, mom went and paid for the dress and shoes. We walked around for a while looking for more stores to go into. I think mom was pretty much broke after all the stuff she bought for Ino. They walked in front of me laughing, and talking about boys. I don't know why, but I feel like mom was intentionally hurting me.
"Hey" I could hear a voice calling from behind us. I turned around while looking over the bags I had to carry. It was Tenten, one of Ino's close friends at school. I didn't like her, but than again she didn't like me. She was just to stuck up, and she thought she was God's gift to the world. Throw up much. Her smile was aimed at Ino, but it started to fade as she saw me and some other lady, who was my mom of course.
Ino was wide-eyed, I don't think she expected to see any of her friends from school here. Especially on a sunday, they were usually busy. So my day with her usually fell on sunday. "I see that you finally made a good use of of this one." Tenten pointed her finger at me and laughed. Ino didn't say anything she still just stood there. I think it hurt me more that she wouldn't even try to defend me, than the actual comment itself.
Next thing I hear is a smacking noise echoed through the whole mall. I looked over at Tenten and my mom. Mom had her hand in the air and Tenten was holding her face. "Excuse me, but who do you think you are?" She stared my mother up and down, wondering who in the hell had just slapped her. "I am Sakura's mother, and if you ever talk to my daughter that way again." She paused and looked over at me. She could see the tears starting to spill over. Then she turned back to Tenten. "You will feel pain far worse than a hand across the face."
I don't think I've ever seen mom that angry. My mother glanced over at Ino, clearly she had a dissapointed look on her face. Tenten shrugged it off. "Well whatever" She still held her face. I think she was trying not to seem upset but it wasn't working. "I'll just see you at school Ino" She left without saying another word. I looked over at Ino but she didn't do anything. I almost felt sorry for her standing there. She really didnt' seem to like the life she had but, to her it seemed she had no choice.
I would always give her that choice, because I would always be here for her no matter what. I wanted her to know that, I so despretley did. How would I even begin to tell her? How could I tell that Ino-pig that I loved her? "Ino" My mother spoke to her. Finally shaken from her daze she looked over at her.
I really didn't know what she was going to do. "How could you just stand there and let her insult Sakura like that?" I really didn't want to know because I felt like I already knew the answer. 'She could surprise you' She wouldn't surprise me not when it came to her school friends. My inner voice had to agree with that. No matter what I've done Ino's never chosen me over her friends.
'One time on the way to school it started raining. So I picked up my pace and started running, I didn't mind being wet just not at school. I passed by Ino who was knealt down with her head in her knees. I could have broken something with the super amazing stop I did. I slipped a little but didn't fall, as I went to her side. "What's wrong Ino?"
She slowly looked up at me, I couldn't tell if she was crying or if it was just the rain. She did look awfully sad though. "I just went and got my hair done yesterday and now its all ruined" I almost fell back with shock, how typical. She did look so cute though with the rain as our background. I took off my jacket and put it over hear head, I leaned under. "Here, you can take this and it will be alright"
We stopped and stared at each other. It was one of the few times I saw this look on Ino's face. Of both understanding and thankfullness. We were however interuptted by the honking of a car. Ino instantly jumped up and threw the jacket back in my face. The car, no doubtley belonged to Tenten, Ino jumped in and they sped off. The puddle behind the back wheel splashed mud and water in my face. I cried, I really don't remember going to school that day. I remember sitting under a dry spot and crying for the rest of the day.'
I hadn't thought about that memory in a long time, it's one of the saddest I have. And now I don't know how she will react to my mother. "I-I..." She looked down at her feet, it seemed like she couldn't find the right words. Suddenly she just bolted and didn't look back. I fell to my knees. "INO" Tears ran down my face, but still she didn't look back.
And like that she was gone and I was stuck, in the middle of the mall while everyone else seemed to fade away. I shook violently on the ground, while tears fell. I could barley grasp what was going on. I vaguley remember a crowd forming and my mom surrounding me with a hug and carrying me off. I could hear the whisper of people trying to figure out what happened, and already starting rumors.
I didn't notice the car ride home, or the way the wind swayed through the trees. Or the way the clouds slowly drifted apart after spending a life time together. I didn't notice the rain sprinkle gently down, or the thunder that wrapped around my ears. The flashes of light illuminated the now dark skies as we pulled into my drive way.
Mom quickly got out, grabbing me out of the back seat and hurrying inside. She could tell that I was long gone. She fumbled with the keys as the rain was pouring down. I could tell she was struggling but I couldn't do a thing, I was dead. Finally having the door open she ran inside closing the door with her foot. Coming into the living room she set me on the couch, running to the bathroom to grab some towels.
As she came back she didn't worry about drying herself off just focusing on me. They say a mother's love was strong for her child, I guess that saying was true. After getting me dry for the most part she slowly patted herself down. She put a towel on the ground and sat by my side. "It will be alright dear" The words were comforting but hollow. I felt that it wouldn't be alright and I knew I would dred tomorrow.
She didn't say much after that, just sat with me in silence. I don't remember moving much I was just staring at the ground. I could see Ino's face and it made me mad, it made me want to rip her pretty little head off.
I don't know how much time passed and I never even noticed mom changing me into dry clothes. She carried me up to my room, turning on the light she set me on the bed. Wrapping the covers around me she gave me a kiss on the forehead. "Please sleep well Sakura" She gave one last look at me as she turned off the light and closed the door.
I laid, the silence killing me, I really didn't want to be alone. However I didn't want to be a burden, though I'm sure I already was. The night drifted in out with occuring nightmares, fantisies, and nothing at all. One dream I had kept repeating itself over and over everytime I closed my eyes.
'I was walking down a dark tunnel, I had nothing but the clothes on my back. Still, I could see a figure at the end of the tunnel, just a silent glowing figure. I wanted to run, run to the warmth and be embraced by it. My legs wouldn't pick up the pace. The closer I got the farther away the person in front of me seemed. I tried to shout but my voice was locked. No noise came out just a gasp. I fell down to my knees and I looked up, the figure looked like it was laughing at me. Slowly several figures appeared and they all started pointing and laughing, whispering to each other.'
I woke up crying, I was really pathetic the more I thought about it. I was so desparatley clung to this person, to this fantasy that I let it come to this. My mind was racing on what I would do without her, she was my only hope and my only saviour. When we were little she was my first friend, I had always gotten bullied alot by the other kids.
I was to different from them, even my hair was, I'm the only person I know with pink hair. Ino stepped in though, she protected me when no one else would. She gave me hope and a smile that no one else could bring. I suppose that's when it started when I knew that she was my friend. It was probably more than that but I was to young to understand it. Hell I didn't even know how to tie my shoes yet, so there's no way I could understand my own feelings.
Looking at the clock it was only four in the morning, however I sat up in my bed. I know I have to be strong, for mom, for myself, and evn for Ino. I know that she won't speak to me at school. Hell I'll be lucky if she even looks at me. 'You should just give up, just stay in bed and cry all day that's what you want to do.' My inner voice was wrong, it would be easy to do that but I couldn't live with myself if I did.
Mom had done enough and I have to show her I can take care of myself. Even if there is a few scars that go with it. I got up and went to the bathroom to take a shower, I couldn't sleep at this point and if I just sat there I would go crazy. The warm water felt so good, it drenched my cold body and gave it life. After the shower I started the bath, it would help relieve my tention. Plus what else did I have to do.
I added some bubbles because if I'm going to take a bath I should do it all the way. After it was done I slowly got in, the water was hot but theraputic. I stayed like this for a couple of hours, my troubles seemed to melt away until I heard a knock at the door. "Sakura are you okay? It's seven thirty dear you need to hurry" I didn't realize that it had gotten that late. "I'll be out in a minute"
I was surprised to hear my voice, I hadn't spoken out loud since yesterday. I thought it might be gone but good to know it was still there. I think I felt mom smile through the door. I was glad to give her a little hope that I was alright. After drying off and getting dressed, which only took me about ten minutes. Today I didn't care about looking good, I felt good and that's what was most important.
I made my way downstairs, I could smell eggs, and bacon as I entered the kitchen. Mom turned around with a smile, I gently smiled back and sat down to eat. "Better hurry or you'll be late" With the food in front of me I quickly scarffed it down. Mom looked at me with an amused face, I pushed the plate in front of me. "I guess I didn't realize how hungry I was" I let out a small burp and quickly covered my mouth. She just laughed, I went and grabbed my bag from upstairs and all my school stuff.
Coming back down mom was at the front door waiting for me. She had her arms open and I fell into them wrapping my arms around her. She held me tight and long before finally letting go. "Promise me you'll have a good day at school" She looked down and smiled a little. I tried to smile back but it wasn't working to good, but I remember I had to be strong for her. "I promise" And I meant it with the most serious face. She hugged me again and opend the door for me as I slowly walked out. Waving as I left I was determined not to be hurt by Ino. But would I really be alright?
Well it took me longer to finish this chapter than I thought anyways I think the first part kind of sucked but I like the ending, please I like to hear your thoughts. So hopefully I'll get more reviews *pretty please with sugar on top.* Anyways I said I would have this up by friday but hopefully sunday is good enough for everyone. I had fun with some of my friends this weekend we wout cd shopping got some good cds they were on sale too. And my friend is getting married I'm so excited for her and her girlfriend. That's right my first lesbian wedding woo and I get to be a bridesmaid I'm so excited. So I went and helped her plan some of the wedding it was fun. Anyways I'll try to have the next chapter up by monday or tuesday so please let this hold you over until than. And as always thanks to all who read my story and I hope you continue to like and support it.
