Sorry that it's been so long! I'll really try and buckle down with this! Enjoy this new installment! Please leave reviews and tell me where you think this story should go!

xoxo

-Abigail

3 Years Ago/ Yamanaka, Ino POV/

I shuffled my feet awkwardly, making my way through the crowded cafeteria, tray in hand. I scanned the room, eyes darting frantically for a familiar face, Sakura's face. I quickly looked down at my phone, rereading the last seven messages I'd sent to her that had gone un-replied. It was Monday and I hadn't heard from her since Friday afternoon. The last thing she had said to me was that she was going to her very first party that night with those people. I rolled my eyes, cringing at the thought of all those stuck up girls and douchebag guys.

You know, the kind of people Sakura and I have been avoiding since the dawn of adolescence. In middle school, we had just barely escaped their scrutiny and bullying, sliding under their radar and going completely unnoticed. Being invisible had been a talent of ours, and we loved it. Without all the excess drama that went with standing out, we could just be ourselves. Together. Like it always has been, like it should be now. But of course, Sakura had to go and get noticed by the King of all douche lords: Sasuke Uchiha.

The guy was bad news. I just knew it, I knew the second she introduced me to him. Sasuke Uchiha. Ugh. He makes my skin crawl.

But Sakura's just so infatuated with him, just absolutely blinded by his good looks and smooth talk. And there's no use trying to talk her about it, it's like she's on a completely different planet.

But being the ultra-cool and super supportive best friend that I am, I guess I'll just have to put up with his annoying ass. Realizing that I'm still awkwardly standing in the cafeteria like the loser freshman I am, I decide to shoot Sakura another text.

To: Haruno, Sakura

From: Me

'hey, where are you?'

I shove my phone back into my pocket, shifting on my feet. Its times like this I really wish Shika and ChoCho hadn't gone to that All-Boys private High School. Especially Shikamaru. My cheeks redden and my face begins to grow hot. I press a cold palm against my cheek, trying to calm my hormones down when I see it. Those unmistakable strawberry blonde locks.

"Sakura!" I call out a little more enthusiastically than I intended, my heart leaps into my throat at the sight of my best friend. I wave my hand wildly above my head in hopes to get her attention from across the busy cafeteria.

Her head turns and her pools of emerald green eyes lock onto mine, I smile like an idiot, waving for her to come over. Despite my earlier comments, I am a bit excited to hear about the party.

But she doesn't come over. She doesn't even smile back. I lower my hand, cocking my head to the side like some dumb dog.

And then I get it. Karin, Ami, and the rest of those popular girls flank Sakura's side, followed by all those douchebags boys. Everyone is laughing and having a good time. Sasuke calls Sakura's name and her head snaps back to him like an obedient dog, he coolly slings an arm around her waist and the entourage moves through the cafeteria to a table, everyone else moving like the red sea for them.

Sakura never glances back.

I stand there dumbfounded for a moment. Hand still hovering in the air. I can barely process what just happened. A few people around me snicker, having witnessed my total rejection. I walk over to the trashcan, tipping my tray in.

Feeling like I'm walking in a dream, I exit the cafeteria and make my way to the girls bathroom. I lock myself in a stall and patiently wait for lunch to end.

Later that night while I'm curled up in bed, Sakura finally replies.

To: Me

From: Haruno, Sakura

'Hey! Sorry I haven't replied. I've got so much to tell you! Also, I'm gonna start sitting with Sasuke at lunch. Is that OK with you?'

My stomach churns, but like the ultra-cool and super supportive best friend that I've always been, I reply with a simple 'Sure'.

Sakura never replies after that.

I close my eyes, feeling as if the bed and ground beneath me have broken off from the rest of the world; Sakura's world. I can almost feel myself floating away from her, I squeeze my eyes tighter and tighter as the image of my perfect and untouched Sakura drifts away.

"Sasuke Uchiha." I say quietly through clenched teeth, a tear squeezing through the edges of my eyes. Ugh. He makes my skin crawl.

Present Day

I groan as I emerge from my car, wishing desperately to be anywhere but school right now. Ugh, why did I drink so much last night? A fifth of Grey Goose was maybe a little excessive, Ino.

"Rough night?"

Behind my sunglasses, my eyes roll to new depths. I don't need to turn around to see who's hot on my heels.

"Maybe." I reply shortly to Sasuke, I try to brush of his presence and ignore him but the persistent bastard catches up to my pace. I loudly scoff at him, trying my hardest to show him that I'm in no mood to deal with him right now.

"Missed you at Kiba's last night." He says coolly.

"I'm sure you did." I reply just as coolly, staring straight ahead, still refusing to look at him.

"Why didn't you come?"

"Why? Because it was a fucking school night."

Sasuke scoffs, "Well by the looks of it, that didn't stop you from getting hammered." He laughs, "What'd you do, polish off another bottle of vodka in your bedroom alone."

My cheeks burn at his rebuttal and this time I turn to him and reply as nastily as I can muster, "Still better company than you and all your shitty friends." Hate to say it, but this guy really brings out the worst in me, "Besides, none of them like me anyway. Why would I ever go to one of your lame-o parties?"

"To see me." Sasuke side steps in front of me. Suddenly I'm face to face with the attractive devil and my loins just melt into a puddle of gush. Damn it, I hate the affect he has over me. I quickly pull myself together and through clenched teeth I snarl, "In your dreams."

I step away from him and keep making my way across the parking lot towards the school. Of course the bastard falls right back into pace with me.

"So how's she holding up?"

I literally stop in my tracks. I look at him with the most baffled look. "You really have the audacity to ask me how she's doing?" I say unbelievingly, seriously the nerve of this guy. Sasuke does a very un-Sasuke like shuffle of his feet.

"Yeah."

I shake my head at him, "She's devastated. Absolutely crushed, and it's all your fault. This never would have happened if you had just left her alone. She was perfect before you came along and ruin-"

I'm cut short my Sasuke's powerful grip around my arm, "Don't act so innocent, Ino. I'm not the only one who fucked over Sakura here."

Tears begin to sting at my eyes, whether from the pain or the bite of his last comment, "You're hurting me." I snarl.

Sasuke looks at me like I'm something disgusting or grotesque, he finally releases me and turns to continue walking towards the school when he stops dead in his tracks. I scowl at him ready to retort when I follow his eye line to see what has gotten his attention.

And I can't help but let out the most mirthful laugh, I turn to the stunned and horrified look on Sasuke's face with a look of glee upon mine. Sasuke's face is distorted in rage, his color has completely drained except for the fire burning in his eyes. His fist are clenched to the point of shaking.

Because low and behold, across the parking lot, Sakura Haruno walks side by side with none other than Sasuke Uchiha's best friend: Naruto Uzumaki. The two are giggling and talking very enthusiastically together, just like they used to- before Sasuke came along.

As they're walking into the building, Naruto gently glides her in, guiding her by a slight touch of his hand on the small of her back. The gesture is so gentle, so sweet, and so nurturing; I'm sure Sakura's never experienced anything like that from Sasuke.

With the widest grin my face can handle, I slap Sasuke on the back, "You know what, I take it back. Sakura's gonna be just fine."

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