Trial and Error – Chapter Eight

Disclaimed. Kindly read my author's note (rant) at the bottom?


From: Sasuke-kun
We haven't been talking recently.

To: Sasuke-kun
I know.

From: Sasuke-kun
Any particular reason?

To: Sasuke-kun
Because I'm falling apart from the inside out. Because every time I see your name come up on my screen, I want to cry and smash my head against the wall, but I also get these stupid butterflies in my stomach. Because you can be so cold, and I'm just dying for romance. Because it feels like you're ashamed to be seen around me. Because maybe I don't want you anymore.

Like every other time, I stop and erase the things I really want to say. Every day, it's getting harder to pretend like everything's perfect, though. Maybe I'm just too dramatic. Or maybe this really is falling apart. Whatever it might be, I still don't know how to let go or let him into my heart completely.

To: Sasuke-kun
No, I'm sorry. I've just been really busy lately.


News about the beach incident traveled like wildfire. By Monday, the whole school is buzzing about that possibility of "Uchiha getting back together with Haruno." While Konoha gossip is usually a waste of time, I can't help but be satisfied with this particular rumor. It feels nice to have our names put together.


"Uchiha, listen to me, and listen to me well. This is it. The fun and games are over. You've got her hooked around your little finger again. It's time to shine!" Ino corners me in the hallway after school. Her eyes flash with determination and her face displays a "no nonsense" attitude.

"I wouldn't call it fun and games…" That is apparently enough to warrant a smack to the head. Women are too fucking complicated.

"I'm not kidding, you ass! It's make it or break it time."

"I know."

"Wha-. So you already have… a plan?"

"Ah."

She looks so taken aback, I think I should be offended. Her face breaks into a devious smile a moment later, though. I'll repeat: women are too complicated. "Aw! It's like watching my baby grow up! Go make your mommy proud!"


To: Sakura
Busy today?

From: Sakura
Nope.

To: Sakura
Meet me at the playground in half an hour then.

Maybe I shouldn't have texted, but I've never been the type for patience. You're not supposed to ask an ex out on a date, anyway. That goes against every rule of break ups. But I guess Sakura and I never did follow the patterns of a normal relationship, so maybe it doesn't matter.


"Sasuke-kun?" Little wisps of smoke come out of Sakura's mouth as she breathes. The red scarf wrapped around her face slips, exposing her neck to the chill of the quickly cooling air.

Her eyes faze me out as she focuses on the things behind me. It took me a freaking long time to decide to set up a picnic for us. Everything just seems so… delicate right now. I've never been great at thinking about things to do on a date. But now seems to be the time to pull out all stops.

"What… is all this?"

"A picnic. You used to say that you wanted to do something like this."

"I… what?" Her eyebrows furrow together. The confused expression on her face is almost cute, though it's not like I'm going to admit that out loud. I grab her hand and tug her towards the blanket before she comes back to her senses.

"Come on. The hot chocolate's going to get cold."

She doesn't struggle as I gently guide her towards the picnic area. She doesn't so much as blink when I pull her into a seated position and hand her a canteen of cocoa, but her face breaks out into a smile at its warmth. Maybe things might actually go better than planned tonight.


The sun slowly set beyond the tree line. I pulled out a blanket from the trunk of my car and Sakura wrapped it around her shoulders when the air changed from chilly to cold. The afternoon hadn't been as awkward as I initially thought it would have been.

Sitting down with nothing to look at but each other had never happened before. We used to only be together in a dark movie theater or a place with a TV or space to make out. But in the cool night, we sat and just… talked. Being the sole reason for her laughter and smiles filled me with the stupid kind of happiness that gets described in chick flicks.

The stars start to come out around seven. Sakura leans her head onto my shoulder and examines the sky. The last time we looked at the sky together was when we were twelve. It had been a class camping trip, and we were allowed to stay up late to look at constellations. The idiot, Sakura, and I had lay in a field and just watched the stars for hours.

This wasn't exactly the same situation though. The smell of Sakura's vanilla sugar lotion has slowly become the only thing I can pay attention to besides the warmth that her body gives off where it presses against me.

Uchihas are supposed to stay composed, but right now, my stomach's doing the ridiculous butterfly thing.

"It's pretty tonight, eh, Sasuke-kun?" Her face turns towards mine. She has on a genuine smile, and my eyes are suddenly only on her lips.

"Ah…" Something in me thinks it's a good idea to lean in even closer to her. "You are pretty tonight."

"Sasuke-kun…?" Her eyes are dazed. Her mouth hangs open a fraction in surprise.

I lean in even closer so that our lips are maybe ten centimeters away from each other. I can feel her breath on my face.

"I missed you, Sakura."

She blinks quickly, "I..." Realization of what I just said sinks into her and she pulls away quickly. "I can't do this." And the world just seemed to have stopped.

"What?"

She pulls her knees to her chest and scrunches her eyes shut. "I…" Her breath catches in a moment of hesitation before the words start to spill out. "I still have feelings for you, Sasuke-kun. But… it hurt so much before." I can't say anything, but she just continues to speak. "And lately you've been just, well, everything a girl could hope for. And I don't know which version to believe! I don't want this romance if it'll just mean we go back to being the same. I just... can't. We can't."

Her eyes begin to tear up and my arms scream that I should be holding her right now. But I'm scared that the moment I reach out, she'll flinch away. "Sakura…"

A bitter smile crawls onto her face. "There have been too many mixed signals, Sasuke-kun – too many missed chances. I don't know how I'm supposed to deal with it." (1)

"I… I'm sorry, Sakura…"

"W-What?"

I swallow hard before opening my mouth again. "I'm sorry for fucking this – us – up."

Her eyes betray her shock as she looks at me. This is probably the first time I've ever apologized for something. Usually, she'd be the one to say sorry if we ever got into a fight. Even when it was my fault. But the shock is replaced with a cold, dead look in a second. She turns her head away and wraps her arms around herself, as if they're a shield.

"Sasuke-kun… I can't."

And that's it. Everything on my list has been accomplished. I tried every single fucking thing I could think of… and despite all of it, I stand and just watch Sakura's retreating back.

Step seven – apologize: check. But Operation: Win Sakura Back: failure.


Let me start by saying: holy ramen. This update came out in less than a month since the last. It's a new record or something, yeah?

(1) is a very famous line. Anyone who can figure out who says it can have my soul. ;)

On a different note, I'm a little disappointed. The latest chapter got a TON of alerts/favorites, yet not many reviews. I know it might seem like I'm just bitching for attention, but honestly, I'm not trying to. I would really appreciate some feedback, even if you're just saying what you like about it, or a simple "nice job." While it is nice to see that people favorite, I get sort of bummed out when there's only one or two reviews. (Leave "Don't touch my girl" in your review if you read this whole thing) So as a favor to me, just drop in a short note, okay?

Seven+ reviews, and the next chapter will be out in less than a month again, I swear!