-12-

-12-

We hate some persons because we do not know them; and we will not know them because we hate them."

Charles Caleb Colton (1780 - 1832)

Assert your right to make a few mistakes. If people can't accept your imperfections, that's their fault."

Dr. David M. Burns

It is dangerous to be sincere unless you are also stupid."

George Bernard Shaw (1856 - 1950), Man and Superman (1903) "Maxims for Revolutionists"

The Museum of Modern art was shining with bright lights that night, attracting everyone's attention. Sure enough, many limos and expensive cars were rolling non-stop in front of the entrance, bringing rich and beautiful people to the exhibition of the year.

The inside was also busy: people walked around, observing paintings, drinking, chatting….socializing. Sasuke Uchiha, on the other hand, didn't really feel like being in a place like this, but…he was also interested: curiosity almost always wins. But no painting and human-deducing could possibly beat the main object of his interest that has showed up in front of him: glittering, smiling and absolutely hot Sakura Haruno. She walked over to him, smiling with a little, faint grin.

"Having fun?" she asked in a free, light voice.

"Feels better now" Sasuke smirked to her. Sakura bit her lower lip and walked closer to him, leaning to his year. Sasuke felt somehow suddenly drunk, although he didn't even finish his first glass of wine.

"You wouldn't believe how hot you look in tux" she whispered "and thanks for the earrings. They're lovely"

"Wouldn't have bought them, if they weren't" Sasuke said and took a sip of his red wine "how long will you stay here?"

"Till the end, I guess" Sakura sighed "what? Can't be a little more patient?" she winked to him.

"Not with you looking like that" Sasuke smirked "I thought I was paying for a dress. Turned out it's a "Do Me" commercial trigger"

"For you maybe"

"For every man and lesbian here"

"Jerk" Sakura whispered.

"Bitch" Sasuke whispered back "this pet name suits you"

"And jerk goes along with you" Sakura grinned. She wanted to say something else, but at the moment, Itachi walked on the couple and disrupted the conversation.

"Why isn't that my little brother? I thought you were socially clueless"

"Why isn't that brain-scour-out pathetic excuse of a big brother of mine? I thought your only sense of art were….comic strips" Sasuke watched Sakura lowering her eyes the moment Itachi spoke and keeping them down. His look changed: now Sasuke was really really interested.

"Your tongue is as sharp as ever, Sasuke. Is he always like that?" he asked Sakura. She looked up at Itachi and smiled nervously.

"Most of the time. When we're both home" she answered shortly. Her eyes suddenly caught something in the crowd and her face was suddenly covered with relief "I just saw a friend of mine. You two boys please try not to break down the building" she said and ran off to great Sai with a certain blonde woman by his side.

"A piece of gold, isn't she?" Itachi asked provokingly.

"You know what's interesting? That you're actually able to see that gold inside of her" Sasuke shot to his brother's face and walked away….to find a better place for observation.

15 minutes later…

"Hey, what's up?" Naruto greeted Sasuke, who was standing still, eyes fixed on Sakura and Itachi walking around, talking with people.

"Why are you here? It's not like you know anything about art" the Uchiha snapped at his friend.

"You're cheerful as ever" Naruto noted ironically "Hinata wanted to come. She likes this museum"

"And you tagged along like a puppy. Genius of you" Sasuke retorted, not moving his eyes from a certain couple.

"Look who's talking. You ran here, because Sakura is here. And……you seem to be stoned" Naruto looked at the same direction Sasuke was looking "figures" he sighed.

"They had sex and The Bitch is now embarrassed in front of me and Itachi" Sasuke said and took a good gulp of wine.

"Ok, please tell me you're having a broken heart syndrome" Naruto crossed his fingers "that would prove you're a person too"

"Why would I? I never even was in love with her" Sasuke wanted to walk away, but Naruto's words stopped him.

"Yes you were. You are! And judging from that large gulp of wine, you're about to sulk your ass off because your moron brother stole a perfect girl right from under your nose. Now whose fault is that?"

"Could be yours" Sasuke turned his head to look at his friend's eyes "if you said this earlier, maybe everything would've turned out differently"

"Nothing I say ever reaches your thick head anyway" Naruto shrugged "and it's not over. Talk to her. Say that you were and idiot to not ask her out. Apologize for everything you said to her, cause I'm sure you said plenty. And stop making me act like your conscience, cause I don't like being your conscience"

"What the hell do you know? You're just an idiot"

"Not as big as you. At least I didn't miss my chance to be happy" Naruto was already wearing angry expression "now go and do something about it. I hate to see you miserable. Might as well not make it worse" and he walked away, heading straight to Hinata to give her a light kiss on a cheek. The woman waved to Sasuke, smiling warmly. Sasuke nodded her and turned around to head straight through the exit. But this time Sakura caught up with him.

"Leaving already?" she asked with a faint voice.

"I think you have enough of a company" Sasuke retorted, looking at her with firm gaze. Sakura looked up at his eyes and the realization stroke like a tide.

There he goes again: that unreadable look, cold as ice. He hasn't looked at me this way for a while. Means something changed. Means he knows. And this means…I am what he says I am: The Bitch.

"You know, right?" she asked in a disappointed and sad voice.

"Right"

"He told you?"

"Wasn't something I couldn't deduce from your body language the moment Itachi appeared by your side and stayed there longer than ten minutes" Sasuke talked and looked at her firmly, coldly "what I don't get is what you are ashamed of"

"Isn't that obvious? I did something stupid" her eyes filled with tears "I…didn't want to…get away from you, I just-"

"Well, you just did" Sasuke finished for her "met Tsunade on my way out of the hospital. Feel free to move out tomorrow" and he turned around to leave.

"Sasuke, wait. I'm sorry"

"Yeah, me too" he shot her another cold look "who knows, maybe this would've worked out" and he left her standing there, tear rolling down one by one.

Somewhere in the crowd, Naruto sighed in a heavy manner.

"Do you think it will be alright?" Hinata asked in a silent voice.

"From the looks of it…a fair amount of bear bottles must be drank" Naruto sighed again. Oh boy! He didn't even take her to the single date, and he already acts like she's his wife who betrayed him. I'm in a one big annoying sulking whirl of Sasuke Uchiha for a long, long time.

Sai walked to Sakura, who was still standing in one place, looking at the spot where Sasuke disappeared.

"I suppose now is not a time to ask what happened" Sai whispered to her ear "anyway, clean those tears and get a hold of yourself"

"I know" Sakura whispered "but I think I've just lost him" she scoffed through tears "I'm such a…bitch"

"No, you're not. And it's not over. Talk to him. Say how you feel. Say you're sorry"

"I slept with his brother, Sai!" Sakura yelled in a whisper "how am I supposed to explain that I was hopping to…to just….find another him there. And I didn't. That's what makes me a stupid bitch"

"You just tell him the way you're telling me" Sai said silently and smiled…sincerely and softly "he'll understand"

"How do you know?"

"I don't. I just hope he will" Sai flicked strands of Sakura's hair behind her ear "but now you must smile. I'm sorry to say it, but you must"

"Alright" Sakura took a deep breath, trying to relax "alright"

"Good"

………………………………………….

Will he ever forgive me?

Sakura was smiling to the people, surrounding her.

Is it over? Just like that?

Sakura received a light kiss to the corner of her lips from Itachi.

Will we be able to start over? Will he…ever…talk to me? Insult me? Kiss me?

Sakura waved a couple of familiar people with a happy smile.

How can I look at him now? How should I talk to him? What should I say?

Sakura was introduced with Naruto and Hinata.

Can I forgive myself for what I've done? Can I live on?

Sakura was talking to Hinata for a while. Turned out both love the same form of art.

I'm sorry, Sasuke. I'm sorry I did it. I'm sorry I'm bad. I'm sorry I'm not perfect. I'm sorry.

Sakura laughed along with a bunch of people around her.

Forgive me.

…………………………………………………

-x-

"Do you know what you just did?" Shikamaru asked to Sasuke, as they both drank another large gulp of beer at a local bar. Sasuke was still with a black tux and Shikamaru was with jeans and sweater.

"Don't talk like I don't" Sasuke retorted.

"You ditched…the hottest and the most tolerant woman you ever met. And for what? Because your moron brother made a move quicker than you did? Now that's totally your fault"

"You do realize how I feel right now, don't you?"

"You feel like crap. And although it's not like you, I'd be surprised if you didn't"

"You know…for the first time in my life, I really do feel sorry for something. And guilty nonetheless" Sasuke took another gulp of beer "this sucks"

"Yeah, it is troublesome" Shikamaru too gulped his beer "what are you gonna do now?"

"I have…no idea" Sasuke said with a sigh "I suppose I'll just…go back to screwing with my patience and you guys"

"Oh man. I liked you better when you didn't have a broken heart" Shikamaru sighed "listen, get a hold of yourself. It's not the end of the world"

"Think so?"

"Yeah"

"Good. Cause I think it's the end of something I could actually have" Sasuke sighed and gulped more beer "not that I'm complaining much"

"Maybe it's not over yet" Shikamaru shrugged "you know, after a lifetime experience with women, I figured one thing: no matter how foolish their acts look, there's always a reason behind it"

"And your point is?"

"Try talking to her. Maybe there's reason behind what she did. It usually is a very reasonable reason"

"How can you reason someone, who slept with guy's brother and says I'm sorry?"

"Like I say: acts can lie"

"Everybody lies" Sasuke stated and drank more beer.

"In the end, it's all up to you" Shikamaru slapped Sasuke's shoulder with his palm and threw few dollars on the bar "see you at work"

"Yeah" Sasuke sighed and watched Shikamaru leave for a while. Then swallowed another gulp and slowly wandered off into staring to one spot.

Sakura…The Bitch…Haruno…She came into my life, turned it upside down and now…gone away with a blast. Who am I kidding! Naruto is soooo right…again…as always. I should've…done something…to keep her by my side.

Sorry.

An old tune played:

I'm sorry I'm bad,

I'm sorry I'm blue,

I'm sorry for all the things I said to you,

And I know

I can't take it back.

--

A/N: Gee, this is turning out sadder and sadder by the line. I hate myself for this but…all flames go to my retarded mind :DDDD thanks for still reading this ;)) and thanks for commenting ;))