sticks and stones
iv. they didn't get along—
Sakura complained.
Sasuke grunted.
Naruto cheered.
Ino persisted.
"Come on, Sasuke and I have this super long reading due on Monday," Sakura complained as the group of four made their way slowly out of campus. "You guys go; I'm going to stay."
"Agreed," Sasuke said automatically.
"You guys are such sore asses," Naruto told them, rolling his eyes. "It's just one night. You have Saturday and Sunday to do it!"
"Soccer practice Saturday afternoons."
"It's only two hours."
"Whatever, dobe."
"Anyway," Ino cleared her throat, "we're going out for pizza, and heading over to the club. Alright?" She proceeded to latch herself onto Sakura's arm, and Naruto onto Sasuke's.
And much to both of their displeasure, they were dragged away.
"Say, where's Kiba?" Sakura asked, taking a bite out of her slice of Hawaiian pizza.
Sitting across the table from her, Ino let out a huff. "Don't know. Don't care."
She cocked an eyebrow. "What's wrong? Did you guys get into a fight?" She was always like this when it came to boys. There was nothing else, really, that could bring her down this way.
"I'm pretty sure we're about to."
"Why?"
"I bet you he's cheating on me."
Naruto, who was sitting beside her and babbling loudly about something to Sasuke, fell silent.
Sakura was the first to speak again. "What makes you think that?" She glanced at the pizza in her hand, suddenly losing her appetite. Those pineapples just didn't look as sweet anymore…
Ino rolled her eyes. "That night we went to the party, and we got separated. Both of us were drunk as hell—he probably went and fucked some other chick." She paused. "And liked it."
"But that's just a possibility," Naruto reasoned. "You don't really have any proof."
"This is Kiba we're talking about. It's kind of obvious. He was going out with someone else when he met me. I think he decided that I was prettier than her, so he dumped her for me."
Sakura sipped at her water. "That's…kind of really bad. Why'd you go out with him when you knew?"
The blonde took a particularly large bite of pizza, and said through the mouthful, "Because I liked him."
People would think that Ino dated guys for looks and popularity. But that wasn't always the case, if ever, and only Sakura and Naruto—and soon, Sasuke—really knew that. She had some crazy logic about liking mean guys, because then, when she finally got them to care, it would mean so much more.
Or something like that. Sakura didn't really understand it.
"So, what are you going to do?" she asked, swatting Naruto's hand when it reached across the table to take her slice of pizza.
"What? You haven't touched it for two minutes!"
Ino sighed. "I don't know. He's probably going to break it off with me, but I don't want to be the one getting dumped."
"But there's the small chance that he might not be cheating," the pink-haired girl said, voicing out her best friend's thoughts.
Suddenly, Naruto's hand shot up in the air. "I suggest we stalk him and find out what he's up to!"
They all stared at him.
Sasuke was the first to recover. "Propose that idea again when we know we won't get sued."
Ino chewed on her food thoughtfully. "For once, that's actually not too bad of an idea. You guys can all report back to me, because I sure as hell am not going."
Naruto frowned. "Why not?"
"If there really isn't anything going on, then he'll accuse me of not trusting him." It didn't need to be said that, in truth, she didn't trust him at all.
Sakura rolled her eyes. "I'm not going to stalk your boyfriend for you just to figure out if he's cheating on you or not." She could think of many other—and better—things to do. Like that World Literature reading that she should be doing right now, if not for her two blonde friends.
"I'd do it for you."
"But I wouldn't need, or want you to do it for me."
"It's decided!" Naruto looked way too enthusiastic about this, she noted. "We'll go over the details once we get back."
Pause.
"Dobe," she heard Sasuke mutter under his breath.
"I thought we're minors?" Sakura asked when they approached the bar. She was already devising a plan to just get the hell out of there when the opportunity arose. There was no way she was hanging around a place with alcohol, drunkards, and dirty dancing.
"I've got connections." Ino winked at them. Getting closer, she watched at a person standing at the front door.
Was that person male or female? Because, from this distance, she really couldn't tell.
"Hey, Neji!"
The person nodded, opening the door for them. As they passed, she glanced at him out of the corner of her eye.
Okay, male.
It was probably one of the most high-class clubs that Ino had ever dragged her to. It looked relatively clean, it didn't reek completely of smoke and drugs, and maybe it would be kind of bearable, if she wasn't able to run away.
Sakura sidled up to Sasuke. "Want to make an escape route?"
"Not worth the effort. I'll just sit through it."
And so it began. Ino and Naruto drank, and Sasuke and Sakura sat. They watched the people dance, and felt as it noticeably became warmer and warmer. Their two blonde friends, beginning to get tipsy, bought two more drinks and shoved them at them.
"Drink," the both of them demanded, voices somewhat slurred.
Sasuke rejected immediately, but Sakura pulled her glass towards herself in speculation. It was orange, and had an umbrella and cherry on top…It looked kind of good, actually. Not the least bit harmfully alcoholic.
So she took a sip.
And Sasuke stared, giving her his impassive betrayed look.
"Actually…" She took another sip out of the straw, the taste of mango resting on her tongue. "This isn't too bad. I can barely taste alcohol. Why don't you try yours, Sasuke?" His was exactly the same.
He continued to stare at her. And he blinked once.
"Just a little," she urged.
So he took the straw between his lips, and drank a little.
She smiled lightly, watching Ino and Naruto's face beam with pride and bounding off to the dance floor. "See, now you don't have to please them anymore."
"It's too sweet."
She rolled her eyes. "Only you would say that." Continuing to sit there, slowly consuming her fruity drink. She had never really drunk before, but if it was like this and barely affected her, she supposed it would be alright once in a while.
Half an hour passed. One hour. One and a half.
The colorful lights blared, and the music blasted. Checking her watch, Sakura found that it was nearing midnight. She was ready to sleep.
Pushing her now empty glass away from her, she crossed her arms on the table and laid her forehead on them, facing Sasuke. In the semi-darkness, the colors splayed across his pale skin wasn't too bad of a sight—especially the way it enhanced his dark hair…
Feeling her watching him, he shifted his gaze so it locked with hers. Smiling, she hiccupped once.
He rolled his eyes. "Obviously you can't handle alcohol well."
She shook her head. "Not really that. I can still think clearly, I swear. I'm sober. Not even tipsy. Yeah." She reached out across the table and took his almost untouched drink, taking a sip before lying down again. "I want to sleep…"
"Don't. I'm not going to carry three unconscious bodies back to campus."
She giggled. "I wonder what kind of sight that would make…"
"My reputation would plummet downwards."
"I don't even know how you maintain that reputation of yours. You don't talk unless spoken to, and you're only kind of open around us. You emit this completely cold aura. The only good thing I could notice about you the first time I met you was how hot you were."
He raised an eyebrow at her. "You said you weren't the typical girl, though."
"I'm not. But I suppose why someone would like you after they get to know you. But at first sight…" She wrinkled her nose. "You always act as if there's a stick shoved up your ass."
"Are you implying something?" He looked away, now, the bottom half of his face hidden behind his intertwined fingers.
"Mm, not really. I think Ino might go after you after Kiba dumps her, though." She closed her eyes, sighing wistfully when the music in the background began to quiet down.
"That's kind of disturbing."
At this, she giggled and hiccupped again. "Do you think she has fun? With dating and boys, I mean." She could still see the flashing lights through her eyelids.
"Who knows."
"It kind of makes me wonder what it'd be like to be with someone I really like…not just with someone like Lee." Despite her best efforts, a yawn escaped her lips. "I'm never going to be kissed, and I'm going to die a virgin, probably…"
He chuckled. "I thought you didn't mind."
"I suppose I don't, really. But…I don't know. It makes me wonder." She paused. "Shit, Sasuke. Keep on talking to me, or I'm going to fall asleep."
"Just face it, you're tipsy."
"I'm not! I don't know how well I can hold alcohol, but one drink isn't going to sway me."
She heard a faint snort. Or maybe she just imagined it. "Right."
There was a pause, but it was brief. "Sakura, wake up. I'm not towing both Naruto and Ino." Groggily, she raised her head to find their two blonde friends stumbling over, looking particularly buzzed and tired.
She rubbed the sleep from her eyes. "You guys ready to leave?"
Ino giggled. "Naruto just got turned down by some random chick. It was really funny."
"That's expected. I wouldn't say yes to someone wearing a bright orange t-shirt with jeans, either." She snuck at glance at Sasuke's drink and stole another swallow before pushing her chair back and making her way to Ino. She pulled her friend's arm around her shoulders and wrapped her other arm securely around her waist. "Come on, let's go."
Sasuke did the same to Naruto, and they left, bidding that Neji boy (boy, not girl, she reminded herself groggily) goodnight before making their way slowly back to campus.
"I want…strawberries," Ino subconsciously mumbled from beside Sakura. And, honestly, she thought that was one of the most random things she had heard her friend say.
"I want whipped cream!" Naruto spontaneously shouted in response to her, causing Sasuke to start slightly in surprise.
"Strawberries and whipped cream together is good…"
"With pickles on top."
"Yeah…"
Sakura made eye contact with her sober friend, and exchanged incredulous expressions.
"Mm…" Ino took a particularly large drink of her coffee as she sat across from Naruto. The cafeteria was near empty, due to the fact that it was ten in the morning on Saturday, and people were most likely sleeping in. "D'you think Sasuke and Sakura were really tired from carrying us back last night?"
Naruto shrugged. "Probably." He had a large cup of coffee in front of him as well. "I don't remember a thing."
She giggled. "Me neither."
"Teme was out like a light when I woke up this morning. Don't even know what happened to him."
"Well, Forehead finished her drink, and I'm pretty sure Sasuke's was empty, too…Maybe that finally taught those two to loosen up." Ino sighed, feeling her hangover ebb away little by little—but not fast enough, by any means. "I was thinking we could spike their drinks tonight. After they're finished that reading, or whatever."
"What about stalking Kiba?" At her friend's innocent question, she felt a pang in her chest. Did she really want to know what was up with him? She wasn't sure.
She waved a hand. "We'll deal with him later. Our friends come first."
Naruto's grin was bright, and she couldn't help but smile as well. His cheerful attitude was ridiculously contagious. "Alright. So, let's do our homework after Sasuke's soccer practice. That'll give us time to watch them party it up tonight, right?"
"Plenty."
Sakura's eyes opened very slowly, and she found herself staring at the ceiling of her dorm.
She laid there for a long while. Her body felt extra sluggish today. It was probably the drinks from last night. Finally, she heaved a heavy sigh before hauling herself out of bed.
"Ino, time to wake up." But when she looked over to the other side of the room, she found it empty. In fact, the room was much brighter than it should be at this time of day. The sun was extra strong today, or something.
She glanced at the clock, and her eyes nearly bugged out of her head.
11:30?
"Shit!" She had totally missed breakfast with her friends. If Ino woke up before her, she could at least do the favor of waking her up as well. Some friend she was.
She snapped out of her reverie when a knock sounded at the door. Shuffling dejectedly in her slippers, she opened it a slither to meet with the dark gaze of Sasuke's. "Oh, it's you." She pulled the door open wider. "Morning." He was dressed in casual wear; jeans and a navy t-shirt.
She blinked when his eyes ran over her. A blush immediately spread to her cheeks when she realized an incredibly hot boy was checking her out while she was still in her pajamas, hair mussed, and most likely bags under her eyes. It always happened when she slept in—she never really knew why.
"Morning."
Pause. She swallowed, and attempted to comb through some locks of her hair. "Er…I suppose Naruto ditched you, too?"
"Yeah. Would you like me to wait outside?"
A faint smile reached her lips. "That'd be great. Thanks. I'll be out in around ten." And without further ado, she shut the door in his face.
Her heart beat a little harder than it should as she messily ran a brush through her hair and randomly chose a shirt and sweater to go with her jeans. She wasn't like Ino; it didn't take long for her to find something to wear.
After placing a hair band on her head, rushing to the communal bathroom to brush her teeth and wash her face, she was ready.
"Sorry I took so long," she mumbled.
He shrugged and began walking in the direction of the cafeteria. "Breakfast or lunch?"
"I don't know. Brunch?"
"Sure."
It was somewhat chilly as they stepped out of the dorm building and headed to the main building. Sakura brought up her hands and blew on them, in attempt to keep them warm.
Is was then that Sasuke nudged her with his elbow and stopped walking. She raised her eyebrow in question. Nodding in a certain direction with a hint of humor laced into his tone, he said, "Look."
She turned her head and saw a park bench.
Okay, a park bench. Not that big of a deal.
And then she saw Kiba sitting on the park bench.
Alright. Kiba sitting on a park bench wasn't that big of a deal, either. He wasn't with Ino, though—that was something to note.
And then she saw the girl he was…doing things to.
Okay, now that was a big deal.
Her best friend's boyfriend was whispering things into the unidentified girl's name, one of his large hands on her thigh. Way up her thigh. The unidentified girl—tentatively named UG—giggled as she raised a hand to her lips, looking dainty.
It looked like they didn't even need to spy on him anymore.
"Hey, Sasuke, snap a picture." She nudged her friend's ribcage. "So we can show Ino-pig later."
He grunted. "You take it."
"C'mon, it's just one picture. And my phone can't zoom in, anyway. Now hurry up, before ne notices us!" Panic began to grow in her stomach, and she grabbed his arm, shaking it roughly. Kiba brought UG into a kiss, closing his eyes. Okay, so they were safe for the moment.
"Waste of time," she heard Sasuke mutter before pulling out his phone.
Someone's got a stick shoved up his ass.
When all was said and done, she impatiently tugged at his arm down the walkway into the building before they were seen. He pocketed his phone before shoving his hands in his pockets as well and walking along in a relaxed manner.
"Walk faster!" she hissed, pulling harshly and drawing another grunt from him.
"Maybe we wouldn't have to if your hair wasn't so blindingly bright," he said calmly, speeding up his pace a little. A little.
"Just…hurry up," she finished lamely. "Or does that stick up your ass bother you too much?"
She could've sworn he glared at her without the use of his eyes.
"Pig!" Ino looked up, head clear from her sixth cup of coffee. She and Naruto were just outlining how to spike Sakura and Sasuke's drinks, since they were both so damn clever. Naruto quickly swiped the paper from under her pen, causing a long line of ink to be drawn on it before he stuffed it into his bag.
"What's up, Forehead?" For one drink, she sure slept in late. She obviously couldn't hold her alcohol very well.
Her friend looked flustered, grabbing hold of Sasuke's arm, who had his hands shoved in his pockets. Sakura's cheeks were slightly flushed, and she was even somewhat out of breath.
Rudely, she reached into Sasuke's pocket and pulled out his phone, to which he furrowed his brows a little at. Sakura rushed over to Ino and pressed a couple of buttons, before shoving the thing in her face.
Ino pulled back a little so she was able to see the entire screen.
She thought her heart stopped at that moment.
A/N: I know, I fail at updating. I'm sorry.
I lost almost all of my FFN stuff. Just thought I'd let you guys know. I have most of my ongoing stuff, though, and my requests. So it should be good. And this all happened because I got a MacBook! WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO CELEBRATE WITH ME?
(It's so expensive, though. I'm afraid of breaking it.)