The One That Got Away, Chapter 4: Just Dance

I fished through my closet for something suitable to wear to a very popular nightclub without success. All I owned were shitty t-shirts and jeans, probably the least sexy clothes on the face of the planet. I pulled out my wallet and stared down at the massive tip Naruto gave me at the bar today. This could be just enough for a decent club dress…

"Damn," Naruto whistled as I approached our designated meeting spot.

I smiled, smoothing out the skirt of my new dress. Its indigo pigment brought out the deep red in my hair and the bejeweled one-shoulder strap called attention straight to my face - mostly. "You really like it?"

"You look great," he nodded in approval. He held his arm out theatrically like we were in some sort of period film. "Shall we, m'lady?"

I giggled and linked my arm with his as he led me into the club. The darkness of the club caught me by surprise and took some adjusting, the twirling colored lights disorienting me even more. Catchy techno beats throbbed from under our feet, the intense bass making the floor bump with it while a hoard of people danced wildly in the center of the club, most of them wearing glow jewelry.

"Guys, this is Sayuri," Naruto introduced me to a group of guys sitting at the bar. "Sayuri, this is Sai, Kiba, Shino, and Sora."

"Hi," I smiled confidently, noticing the huge grins on their faces. It's amazing what a short dress and some high heels can do.

"Damn, Naruto, where'd you find her and where can I get one?" Kiba nudged Naruto, his amber eyes seeming almost wolf-like.

"Shut up," Naruto chuckled. "Do you want a drink, Sayuri?"

"A bloody Mary would be nice," I fluttered my eyelashes at him enticingly, taking a seat at the bar.

"Bloody Mary and a rum and coke," he called to the bartender, sliding a twenty across the ebony surface. "So, tell me about yourself,"

"What do you want to know?" I asked innocently, stirring my bloody Mary.

"Whatever you want to tell me,"

I thought for a minute and sipped at the slushy red mixture, a mini life story bubbling from my lips. I told him about my parents' divorce and about my misadventures at college and about how I lost my scholarship and had to drop out. My life sounded madly depressing but I didn't care and he didn't seem to, either. I suddenly felt so comfortable around Naruto, like we were old friends instead of acquaintances.

"Sorry," I apologized, shyly sipping at the alcohol-saturated slush. "I'm going on forever."

"Don't be sorry," he shook his head adamantly. He seemed so entranced by my horrendously depressing life that it was like he had to be pulled back down to earth. "Want to dance?"

I placed my glass on the bar and nodded, following him out to the packed dance floor. He shouldered his way to the middle of the raging crowd, our hands clasped tightly together so we wouldn't lose each other in the endless sea of bodies. From the heart of the drunken mob, the music throbbed even louder than when we walked it, I was almost unsteady at its beat. Multi-colored lights flashed over us in intervals - blue, pink, green, yellow, blue - strobe lights mixing in with the various colors. Naruto smirked at me, a sexy curve of the lips that attracted my full attention, as he gingerly put his hands on my hips and started to move to the music.

"I haven't danced in a long time," I admitted, snaking my arms around his neck.

The smile was even more obvious in his voice. "Don't think, just dance."

I silently complied and allowed my eyelids to sag, my mind feeling as if it were floating somewhere above our heads. My body went limp as my mind abandoned me, the hypnotizing beat taking control. I tossed my head back and raised my arms above me, swiveling my hips against Naruto's as I turned so my back was to him. I threw my head to the side, my hair sticking to the sweat that was beginning to form on my face while I pushed my hips as close as I possibly could against Naruto. His hands tensed on my sides, my skirt riding up as his hands glided up my body. I relished the surge of power that washed over me; he was following my lead just as I wanted him to and the stiff poke in my lower back was a confirmation of the power I wielded.

"You're too good at this," he breathed against my ear. His hot breath trailed down my neck and made me shiver, sending goose bumps sprouting up all over my body. Every nerve ending tingled like someone sent static electricity straight through them. I haven't felt this alive in so long.

I smiled to myself at his remark, shoving myself back into his body until a growl-like groan escaped his lips. We danced until our bodies ached, begging us to stop.

The six of us exited the club, laughing and wobbly from nonstop dancing and drinking.

"You looked awesome out there," Sora elbowed me playfully. "Such a naughty girl,"

"Shut up," I laughed, shoving him. "I'm not naughty!"

"Sure," he held out the word. "See you around, Sayuri!"

I waved my goodbyes to the boys, turning to Naruto once they were out of earshot. "I had an amazing time tonight, thank you,"

"So did I," he replied with a smile.

We were silent for a minute or two, the crash of trash cans making us jump out of our comfortable lull. A man a few years older than me staggered out from an alley behind us, his nose bleeding profusely as he collapsed on the sidewalk.

"Oh my God," I gasped, running toward him as fast as I could manage in the platform heels I was wearing.

Before I could get two feet away, Naruto grabbed my arm. "Let him go, he's just another New York bum,"

I gaped back at him. Although there were plenty of homeless people around New York, I'd never seen one collapse right in front of me. "We can't just leave him here, he's hurt!" I protested, knowing that if we didn't help him, no one would.

I tugged free from Naruto's grip and made my way to the bleeding man on the sidewalk. I kneeled down next to him and carefully turned him over to get a better look at his injury. My eyes instantly widened. His translucent skin contrasted his thick blue-black hair in a shockingly familiar way that coaxed a gasp from my throat.

"Sasuke?" I said, shaking him gently. "Hey, wake up,"

A strangled groan was his response. I looked behind me and motioned for Naruto to help me get him to his feet.

"Do you even know this guy?" Naruto grunted as we struggled to put his arms around us so we could walk him to my car.

"Sort of," I shrugged. Sasuke reeked of alcohol and smoke and the blood that oozed from his nose and mouth wasn't anywhere near attractive. What the hell did you get yourself into now? "But we can't just leave him here. Help me get him in my car,"

Naruto's eyes widened momentarily at the fact that I was actually going to take a drunk, injured man that I barely knew home, but he complied nonetheless.

"What are you going to do when he comes to?" he wondered, hauling Sasuke's unconscious body into the backseat of my car and slamming the door.

I shrugged, digging my car keys out of my purse. "Don't know,"

"Well, if you need anything, call me, okay?"

I nodded and laid a soft peck on his cheek. "Thanks again for tonight, I really needed it."

"My pleasure," he nodded before turning on his heel and heading off to his car up the road.

I watched after him until the tail lights of his car faded from sight, finally climbing into the driver's seat. I glanced back at the unconscious man sprawled out in my backseat, his nose still dripping with blood and the entire car beginning to smell like a cheap dive bar. I rolled down the window and jammed the key into the ignition. I just can't get rid of you…