L.

Distance

Chapter 11 Liar

Being in the hospital room with Sakura sitting there staring at me was fucking awkward to say the least.

She blushed for a good few seconds before she pointed awkwardly to the chair beside her bed. I took that as an invitation to sit.

So sit I did.

"He did, did he?" She stared down at her long, pale fingers in resting in her lap. "Thanks for coming though it wasn't necessary…"

I crossed one leg over the other and studied her. Her long pink hair hung limp over her shoulders, her face was sickly pale and hollow, she had dark, stressed circles under her eyes and she-as much as I hate to say it-had a smell of death around her.

That last one scared the living shit out of me.

Of all things, death?

And I know the smell of death all too well.

It's dark, depressing, and hollow.

As though all the happiness has been sucked right out and stuffed into a box; never again to see the light of day.

As I looked at Sakura, at her sickly beauty, my heart constricted.

I thought I just might collapse right there and then.

Just the thought that death was looming near was enough to send me into hyperventilation.

"Naruto?"

I blinked a few times before nodding at her, buying myself a few seconds to remember what it was exactly we were talking about. "Yeah but…you're in the hospital-and you were trying to get in touch with me…so what are you in here for? Your boyfriend didn't exactly give me any details." I leaned back in the chair and casually folded my hands on my stomach.

I wanted to appear calm and cool.

Play it like I knew absolutely nothing except for what she was going to say.

She turned so that she was profile to me and slowly pulled one knee up to her chest. "Oh…" She tucked one strand of hair behind her ear. "What did he say?"

"Not much really…not much at all except that you were here. In the hospital. And that you may need a friend right about now." I watched her closely to see how she would react.

To my amazement, she laughed.

I mean she really fucking laughed.

So hard that she started a coughing and had to lie back down.

"Here Sakura, drink this." I leaned over and poured her some water from one of the ugliest pitchers I have ever seen.

Really, the hospital couldn't afford more attractive items?

I glanced around after Sakura took the cup and frowned.

Everything in here seemed garish and distasteful.

"Thanks." She mumbled, bringing my attention back to her and off of the dull, floral and teddy bear printed wall décor.

"No problem." I looked at her. "You okay now?"

"Oh yes…yes…happens sometimes when I over-you know what? It doesn't matter. So how are you?" She played with the cup, watching as the little bit of water sloshed about. "I haven't seen you since…in days." She chanced a smile at me.

I didn't return it.

I was really disappointed that she changed the subject.

And the fact that she just laughed in my face.

She was going to keep me at an arm's length.

I understood why, really I did. But it still hurt.

Sort of like when you know for a fact that your girlfriend is no longer interested in you, you confront her about it and tell her it's okay to break up, she insists that she still loves you, and then two days later you catch her in bed fucking the living shit out of the local cashier.

Yeah. It stings like hell.

You were expecting it, but somehow deluded yourself into thinking it was alright.

"Naruto?"

I looked back up into her pale face. "Yeah?"

She bit into her lower lip for a second before looking back at me. "About Deidara…"

"Don't worry about it." I cut her off and shifted uncomfortably. "He's your boyfriend, I was presumptuous. It's fine." I really didn't want to open that door right now; knowing that I lost to some make up wearing freak-well okay I wasn't even in the game- but still, it hurts. "But I do hope you consider me a friend." I leaned forward and folded my hands. "I mean really, being in a hospital is nothing minor-I was worried when I found out."

"Really?"

I almost snorted at her.

Almost.

"Yeah, of course. I consider you one of my friends Sakura." I smiled up at her. I was going to try one more time.

Perhaps I didn't drop enough clues.

"So." I stared right into her emerald orbs. "What happened that you're in here? You don't look injured to me."

At that moment she looked away.

Well more like she whipped her head around so fast I was honestly shocked her neck didn't snap.

"Sakura?" I reached forward to touch her arm but she pulled it away; as though I had fleas.

"Sorry…" She adjusted the sheets around her nervously. "I'm a bit-it's nothing. What I'm in here for I mean." She licked her lips then looked at me, blinking as her long, limp hair fell off of her shoulder to just hang. "They over reacted is all. The stupid flu-you know how that is. Doctors and their…paranoia. They just love to let their imaginations run away with them."

I watched as she rambled on and on, nervously picking at the blankets and glancing at me.

I knew she was lying.

She knew I knew she was lying.

Yet she kept at it.

Fleshing out the story, adding unnecessary bits and pieces to it.

I almost accused her; I almost called her out on it.

But I restrained myself.

She had her reasons for lying to me.

"And Deidara is just exaggerating as well-he worries too much. It's because he can't be here with me all the time that he over reacts and thinks I need a babysitter." She finished and smiled awkwardly at me, hoping that I would buy the story she was selling.

I nodded slowly, one eyebrow raised at her.

"So when is he getting here?"

"Who?"

"Deidara." Who else could I have meant?

"Oh…I don't know…he usually comes around six…"

I frowned, something was wrong with that. "That's not a lot of time…what about visiting hours? He would need to leave-"

"He gets a special exemption." She cut in, blushing.

He gets special treatment?

Why?

What makes him so special?

I worked my jaw but said nothing more on the subject.

The least I know about that guy the better.

"Oh." I glanced at the watch on my wrist, it was almost three thirty-I had about two more hours before Kiba started charging me-but I wasn't too sure I wanted to spend more time in here. I licked my lips and stood up. "You know what, I have to go right now." I smiled down at her.

"You do?" She pouted slightly.

"Yeah." I wasn't sure how to end this.

Do I give her a hug?

Shake her hand?

Kiss her cheek?

"I left my dog at a friends and I need to pick him up." I nodded and shoved my hands into my pockets. "It was lovely to see you." What was I? British?

Hell is this some new part of me that just opened up?

Nervous Naruto equals British wannabe Naruto?

Sakura smiled and nodded then tucked a strand of hair behind one ear. I think that's a habit of hers; touching her hair I mean.

"Well thank you for coming Naruto."

"No problem…would you like me to visit you again?"

She tilted her head to one side and thought for a moment. "It was…nice…if you like I'd like it."

What the hell kind of answer is that?

Was it a yes?

Or a roundabout no?

"…Is that a yes?" I asked, because honestly, thinking about it was giving me a bit of a headache.

"Yes. It's a yes. I would like you to visit me again." She smiled nervously.

"Okay." And with that said, I left.

I left the room, walked down the hallways and into the parking lot.

Sakura didn't consider me enough to tell me herself.

It was obvious.

She lied.

Then again I lied as well.

Distance Distance

L.

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