The night of the bachelorette party had Sakura wishing she was at work. Ino made her put on a smoking hot dress which revealed her figure in too many places, as she tugged and pulled on her hair. This was about the blond celebrating her freedom one more time before she got married, but Sakura felt like it was about her.

Was there something Ino was planning? She grew suspicious of her best friend, even though she tried not to show these suspicions on her face. It didn't help her case though. Ino finished placing her hair into a perfect high bun, and allowing some strands to cradle her cheeks. "See you look beautiful. You'll probably have guys hitting on you all night!"

Sakura sighed softly, "It's the middle of October, I don't want to freeze before we even get into the club Ino."

Ino giggled softly and placed the veil on her head to signify who she was, "It won't be that bad. It's just you, me, Tenten, and Hinata. I'll make sure they won't be creepy guys okay?"

Sakura wanted to believe her, but no matter what she thought, Ino always ended up too drunk to protect her best friend from jerks. She usually had to carry her home when the night was over. Sakura hoped Ino would be better this time, because she wasn't going to do it. After they were done at the club, they were supposed to go to Tenten's house and watch chick flicks. She hoped they kept up with that plan.

Hearing a knock on her door, Sakura rushed down the stairs as fast as she could, and opened it to reveal Tenten on the other side. She nearly missed Hinata, but she saw her hair come into view. "Are you guys ready to go?" Tenten asked, giving her a smile.

"Yes, come on Ino-pig, it's time to go!" She yelled up the stairs, "So you're the designated driver?" Sakura asked her, a little surprised.

Tenten gave her a look and shook her head, "Hell no. Hinata is the DD, I'm just letting her use my car instead of her own. I'm getting drunk."

Hinata giggled softly, "It's okay Sakura, I don't want to drink too much."

Sakura would have replied if Ino hadn't scurried down the stairs and ran into her as she came to the door. She glared at the blond for a moment, but didn't start an argument, as they needed to hurry before the club got too crowded. Once they piled into Tenten's car, Hinata pulled away and started down the road; enjoying the sounds of the other girls singing along to the radio.

The pinkette didn't understand why Hinata didn't want to drink, but she figured it was because she was nervous around them despite the friendship they had for so long. Considering they all went to the same academy together, Sakura didn't understand why Hinata still seemed shy. Sakura considered asking her that, but Ino interrupted her before she could do so.

Maybe Sakura should be careful on what she drank too, just to help Hinata out in case a guy wanted to intrude on them. Hinata may have seemed shy and weak, but that wasn't the case at all. She and Sakura took karate lessons together when they went off to college. So they knew how to defend themselves.

But now she was distracting herself when in truth, she should be having fun. Deciding there was no reason to worry with the night, she started singing with Ino, though she had no business to do so. Her voice was awful. Who cares though right?

Once they parked, they started walking towards the club; arms linked through one another as they stood in line to get inside. There weren't many people in front of them, but Sakura didn't like the idea of being so far back. She was absolutely freezing… this is what she gets for letting Ino choose her outfit. Shaking out of her thoughts, she glanced at Tenten's phone when she pulled it out. Realizing it was half past eleven, she sighed. Hopefully they got inside soon.

As they waited, Sakura felt herself begin to tremble. "Man, I really hope that bouncer hurries up." She muttered in annoyance, glaring at Ino when the blond began to laugh at her softly.

"Be patient Forehead girl. I know the bouncer, he'll let us inside as soon as we get to the entrance."

For some reason Sakura doubted that. She glanced at the man moving people to the side and moving the rope out of the way so others could go into the club. Now that she thought about it, he did look familiar… but his name was escaping her. Her thoughts disbanded when they approached the entrance and Ino greeted him easily.

"Choji!" Grabbing their ID's, she gave them to him and he checked them before allowing them inside. Sakura sighed with relief and watched as Tenten stuffed them into her pockets. She was the only one who was smart enough to wear pants while the other three wore dresses. Sakura regretted that decision wholeheartedly, but there wasn't much she could do about it now.

They found a booth in the back and sat down while Ino went to the bar so order their drinks. Tenten and Hinata chatted away as Sakura stayed distracted by the phone in her hands. She wasn't sure what she wanted to do, but she was kind of bored now. Hopefully they could get drunk fast enough to where Sakura forgot all her thoughts.

When Ino returned, she placed the shots on the table, "Drink up ladies!"

Sakura placed her phone away before sniffing at the drink in the shot glasses. 'Dammit… she got tequila shots. She knows those don't go well with me.' She took notice Ino was giving her a grin, which meant the blond knew exactly what she was doing. 'Bitch.' Sakura mouthed, before taking the shot and eating the lime afterwards.

"Come on Sakura!" She shook her head, and moved out of the booth when Ino started pulling on her arm, "It's time to go dance."

She looked at Hinata who gave her a shy smile before she went back to playing on her phone as well. Why couldn't Sakura have been deemed the DD instead? Sighing softly, she moved towards the dancefloor with them and began to shake her hips.

Tenten had ran back to the bar to order them drinks before she returned to her friends, giving them what they wanted. Sakura had a redbull with vodka in her hands while Ino drank her mojito, and Tenten had her whiskey. She was glad that these women knew her so well that they could decipher which drink she wanted without even having to ask.

Shaking herself from her thoughts, she stopped being distracted long enough so she could enjoy herself. She was there with her best friends, there was no need to get lost in her mind right now.

Gaara sighed for the umpteenth time that night, his jade hues narrowing in on the bar he leaned against. He nursed a scotch in his hand while his other friends danced in the crowd and acted like fools. Gaara wasn't sure why Naruto wanted to host his birthday party in this bar, but he supposed there was no reason for him to question it.

Shaking his head, he looked towards Naruto who was dancing with some female he probably just met. He couldn't tell who she was, and he hoped to Kami that Naruto wouldn't try to go home with her. That's not what the blond needed right now… some one-night stand that could end up pregnant or something.

He noticed Kiba was grinding with another woman while Lee struck up conversations with women at the bar. Gaara realized the difference between his group of friends, and figured he was probably the sane one. A light chuckle escaped his lips as he finished the rest of his drink before Naruto wrapped an arm around his shoulder.

Gaara could smell the alcohol radiating off his form. He was already fucked up beyond repair. Gaara growled in annoyance and shrugged him off. "Gaara! Do shots with us!" Naruto nudged him and placed a tequila shot in front of him, which caused the red head to glare at him.

"You forget that tequila and I do not get along."

Naruto snickered, "I didn't forget." He nudged him again, "Do it for the birthday boy please?"

He wanted to smack Naruto in the face for using that against him, but he guessed there was nothing he could do about it. They clinked their glasses together, and after shaking his head, he did the shot before sucking on the lime afterwards. He grimaced as memories flooded through his mind. Tequila was his downfall, especially when it started to taste like water instead of alcohol. He really hated Naruto sometimes.

Naruto and the other boys walked away from him, giving him a moment of peace; which gave him relief as well. Sighing, he ordered another scotch for himself and nursed it while he kept his focus on the bar in front of him. Looking around the club, his eyes stopped on someone he didn't realize would be there. Moving forward, Gaara snatched the plant out of his hands.

"What are you doing Kankuro?"

Kankuro had this look on his face like he was caught red-handed. "Uh… enjoying a little music?"

Gaara stared at him before looking towards the scene he had been watching before the red head intruded on him. He noticed Kankuro's fiancé dancing with a group of girls, their smiles and laughter easily shown while they did so. Looking at his brother again, he glared at him; "So you're spying on Ino?"

"Yes. But don't give me away dammit!" Kankuro hid behind one of the shelves and peeked over it. Gaara wanted to smack him for being so stupid.

"I thought you trusted her to have a party without you intruding on her fun."

Sighing, the brunette shook his head solemnly. "I do trust her. I just wanted to make sure she wasn't doing anything she'd regret…"

Gaara knew it was a lie, but he figured he'd allow his brother the comfort of knowing he probably tricked him in this regard. "Go home Kankuro. I'm here, so I'll let you know if she does anything."

It seemed like nothing would convince his older brother to leave until he finally admitted he was doing something wrong and left. Gaara finished his drink and rolled his eyes at his stupidity, heading back towards the bar so he could order himself another scotch. He paused his movements when he heard yelling in the crowd.

With the music so loud, he almost missed it. Starting in that direction, he noticed Sakura trying to get away from some creep who had latched onto her. The second time she smacked his hand away, Gaara noticed the male reach up as if he was going to hit her in return. Annoyed and disgusted with his gender, he headed in that direction; grabbing his wrist painfully before he could land a strike.

He looked at the red head in surprise, just as Sakura had. "I believe she wants to be left alone." When he squeezed the perpetrators wrist, he yelped, and rushed off once Gaara released him. He looked at Sakura afterwards and saw the smile on her face. She seemed drunk, but not drunk enough to where he thought she was a lost cause.

Though before he could say anything, the same male who tried to dance with her came at them again, and slashed at his hand with a broken beer bottle. Gaara hissed and didn't have any time to react when the bouncer suddenly had the man on the floor, tackled and in a firm grip.

Sakura was in nurse mode in a matter of seconds, grabbing a napkin and placing it on the wound as she led him from the club to the outside. This time he could get a better look of her. Her hair had fallen out of the bun she was placed in, and her usual porcelain skin was flushed from the alcohol. He felt his heart stop in his chest.

Hailing a taxi was easy and she could keep pressure on his wound until they made it to her place. He didn't even ask her why. He simply followed her as she led him inside her house, ignoring her kitten which meowed in greeting. She took him to her bathroom and grabbed the First Aid Kit she had beneath the sink.

"Sakura—"

"Shh."

Sakura hushed him firmly and began to clean up the wound on his hand, even though he had winced when she poured the alcohol on it. He studied her face while she did this, and took notice that she was concentrating. Her emerald hues remained narrowed as she finished and wrapped it in gauze, giving him a soft smile once she was done.

"There... Luckily you didn't need stitches."

Gaara didn't answer her right away. Looking at his hand before glancing back at her again, he gave her a confused expression. "Why?"

She seemed startled and moved away from the bathroom as he followed her. "You were defending me. It was only right to clean you up."

He pursed his lips into a fine line and sighed. "Sorry for taking you away from—whatever it was you were in the club for."

Giving him another smile, she started to pour them some tea. "I was there for a bachelorette party."

Gaara halted his movements and stared at her for a moment. Wait… was she there with Ino? "For whom if I might ask?"

"My best friend Ino, she's getting married next weekend. I'm the maid of honor. I'll just have to text her and tell her why I left."

When she handed him the glass, he stared at her stupidly and remained silent for a moment. So she knew the fiancé of Kankuro. How ironic was that? He wasn't sure what he should say, but he figured there wasn't much he could say other than— "Thank you for patching up my hand."

"It was no problem, thanks for protecting me from that weirdo."

Gaara placed the cup down and headed for the door, causing the pinkette to be startled again for a moment. She followed him, which caused him to stop as he grabbed the doorknob. "You don't need to rush off… you can stay here for a bit."

He didn't understand why she would want him to remain with her. Technically they were strangers, right? Before he could speak, she took his hand and looked at his palm again; then she gave him another smile. As he gazed into her eyes, he realized there was no reason for him to leave. At least not yet…

Her smile caused him to return the affection, and they returned to her living room. That's when she decided to tell him a little more about herself instead of being silent as they usually were. Looking at this girl caused him to let down his guard.

Even if it was only for a little bit.