9/8: rant is not the word I would use
So there's probably a ninety-nine point nine percent chance that I'm completely out of my mind. Of course I would have thought this plan was foolproof last night––last night it was a prospect on the distant horizon. Plus, after four cups of coffee and two chocolate bars to keep me sufficiently energised until four in the morning, um, OF COURSE I WOULD SURRENDER MY MIND TO INSANITY!
I should just never trust myself again. It only ever leads to very bad things.
And if you're wondering––YES, I FULLY REALISE AND ACCEPT I'M A COWARD. So be quiet.
Oops. I think Naruto's coming to check up on me…
BE SUAVE AND UNYIELDING, SAKURA!
I have a whip and I'm not afraid to use it,
Sakura-chan (if people ever got a hold of this, would they think I'm serious?)
P.S––I'm praying for divine intervention. Of any kind. Hey, I'm even welcoming demon possession at this point––but, um, wait. Emily Rose and stigmata and scary guttural voices? Okay, nice holy goodness would be much better.
"Sakura-chan? Where are you?"
Unfortunately, Naruto still seems readily accepting of my plan, and probably won't understand my lack of courage. ACK!
"In here!" I reply meekly (but a confident meek), signing my own death warrant.
The door opens. Naruto furrows his brow at me.
"Uh, Sakura-chan? Why are you in the janitor's closet?"
"Because I felt like it."
"Um…why?"
"Because I'm awesome and therefore am entitled to do anything I want."
He slips through the door, and offers me one of his spectacular Uzumaki grins. That's one thing about Naruto that nobody ever forgets––he's the easiest person to befriend. He'll just waltz right in and paint rainbows and brightness into your life. I guess maybe I haven't really been in the mood to notice lately, but wow. Now why couldn't Sasuke-kun be like Naru––
Oh, gods. I must be way more nervous than I'm giving myself credit for.
Wishing Sasuke-kun would be like Naruto?
(A thousand ews. That would be like wishing your incredibly hot lover to be more like your dorky brother––which it would be so cool if that was the actual situation…)
"Sakura-chan, I know Sasuke's an ass," he shrugs. "But that doesn't mean you hafta beat yourself up over it. And, uh, hide in closets. You're too pretty to be hiding."
"Not even," I grouch. "If that was supposed to be motivational, then––"
"For serious," Naruto interjects. "Personally, I think you'd be better off going for Shino over Sasuke––at least Shino has the cool glasses. But whatever, I get that you love him and that he most probably loves you, too. So that's why I'm doing this. But hiding in the janitor's closet will … um, well, people will think you're creepy."
I blink at him. "Thanks, Naruto. I feel so much better now. At least I'll have my creepiness to console me if everything goes terribly wrong!"
He winces. "I didn't mean it like that."
"I know, but seriously."
We lapse into a contemplative silence. Well, I'm contemplative. I think Naruto might just be at a loss for what to say. Eventually I let out a sigh of long-suffering.
"Okay, let's do this thing!" I tell him, a lot more confidently than it is really conceivable for me to feel right now.
"You sure?" Naruto looks startled.
"No. But drag me forcibly if I start to back out."
To: artclassfreak
From: inobabexoxo
Subject: AGH!
I'm so nervous. And I can't even explain why I'm nervous. I mean, it's not as if it's my future riding on the outcome of this stunt! But still.
(Plus, actually doing work is totally passé. Teachers should give us allowances for HIGHSCHOOL DRAMAS! I MEAN, COME ON. How am I supposed to concentrate on spreadsheets and databases when my best friend is putting her dignity and bruised heart on the line?)
WAH, I FEAR FOR HER.
Hugs and kisses,
Ino
To: inobabexoxo
From: artclassfreak
Subject: Calm yourself
We've all been concentrating on this issue a little more than our own lives, haven't we? I suggest meditation. I have heard it's very soothing while you're under stress. Although I have the feeling everything will be fine in the end.
I've also been told whale sounds soothe you, though, so perhaps the method is unreliable. I've never found anything particularly comforting about whale sounds.
Sai.
To: artclassfreak
From: inobabexoxo
Subject: Haha…ha?
If you weren't so hot, I'd think you were really creepy.
You know that?
Hugs and kisses,
Ino
To: inobabexoxo
From: artclassfreak
Subject: Hmm
I'm unsure whether that was a misguided compliment, or not.
So I'll say: why thankyou, under the pretence that it is.
Sai.
9/8: and the minutes tick away
Well, the technicians don't come in here during breaks, which is when I intend to air my "broadcast". Naruto's also locked the door with the padlock, so I can finish up before getting assigned detention, or suspended, or expelled, or whatever the crime is for "misuse of the media room". But hey, I'm pretty sure they don't have a rule about it, so I could get off the hook with my stunning unblemished record.
…okay, so it is slightly blemished. WHATEVER.
Uhm… but I think suddenly I've forgotten whatever it is I was going to say. OH GODS, WHAT WAS I GOING TO SAY!?
Oh, Naruto has just assured me he has it written down, so I only have to read. Although I doubt I will even be able to do that properly.
UGH. MY HAND IS SHAKING.
MY HANDWRITING IS USUALLY FLAWLESS. FLAWLESS, I TELL YOU!
Wonky wand-waving wench,
Haruno Sakura
P.S––Okay, so when I played Dragon Quest, I thought the term "wand-waving wench" was hilarious. AND YES, VIDEOGAMES ARE COOL.
"Sakura-chan, are you ready?" Naruto asks, hand hovering over the 'ON' button for the microphone.
I gulp. "No. Not even in the slightest. Not even half a percent. But. Uh. We're here now, right? We're gonna most probably screw ourselves over punishment-wise even if we don't go through with this?"
The blonde checks his watch. "Pretty much, yeah. The custodian's due to check on the room as soon as break's over, and we've kind of left too much evidence of us being here…"
"Okay," I breathe. "I can do this. Yeah, I can. I don't know. Can I do this?"
"Uhm. Not if you talk like that the entire time…"
"NARUTO. NOT HELPING."
"Oh. Right. Sure! You can do this! Believe it!"
Not even his 'believe it' sounds convincing. Oh, bless his soul.
"The principal is going to have my head for this…" I mutter, shaking my head. "Okay. Turn on the microphone, Naruto."
(It's not as if I can just not go through with it now. I spent ages riling myself up and deciding that I was empowered and that I was strong enough to pull it off. I can't just give up on all that now––)
"Hey, students of GKA!" Naruto says, and I hear his voice echoing through the hallways. Oh gods I never thought I'd get this far without being caught! "This is Uzumaki Naruto here, and welcome to the very first instalment of our school's own talk show! The principal decided it would be good if we could organise our own radio show, of sorts, during break hours. Life tips, friend tips, study tips, even music from our own bands––it'll all be here!"
(…wow. I never knew Naruto could be so convincing. The principal is probably wondering when the hell she approved this, and is also probably desperately trying to remember if she's just forgotten about it. Haha! That should buy us some time. Tsunade-sama does like her sake…)
"To open our show," Naruto continues in the perfect talk show host voice. "We've decided to touch upon an issue that many teenage girls should be able to relate to––romantic confusion."
I wince here. Sasuke-kun––wherever he is currently; probably moping to himself in some dark corner of the school––is going to be seriously creeped out by now. But then again, if we didn't have all this stuff beforehand, it would sound kind of weird, right? The show must go on, after all.
"So there's that whole 'fairytale romance' and 'one true love' thing that most girls fall victim to," Naruto really is getting into this. Did he, like, prepare? "And everything's way melodramatic in high school. People do things that they might not necessarily do in any other setting. Plus, hormones on the rage equal bad decision-making. So here's Haruno Sakura with her own personal story––hopefully she can give some advice to other GKA girls who find themselves lost and confused in the romance department."
OH NO WAIT. HE JUST SAID MY NAME. THAT MEANS I HAVE TO SPEAK NOW. AGH! HIDE ME!
Naruto moves slightly back and indicates for me to take over. I'm pretty sure he's seen ice bergs with more colour––I positively felt it all drain away from my face at hearing my name.
(Go, Sakura! Just do it! Now! NOW!)
I grab the microphone. "Hi, GKA!" I say brightly, with as much confidence as I can possibly muster. Which is probably not a lot. "It's exciting for me to be able to do this, y'know. I think a school talk show is a great idea, 'specially for us girls, right?"
I'm going along with the lie. I cannot believe I am adding my own opinion to the lie. Have I lost my mind!?
"So here's the thing," I take a deep breath.
What if everyone is listening? Completely absorbed in my story? AGH!
…you know what? I really have to tackle this whole uber-panicking thing I do.
"I always considered myself as intelligent," I bite my lip. "Well, I guess I am. I pass all my tests, I hardly ever get anything below an A… I've even been recommended by various teachers to apply for like a dozen different scholarship programs. And no, this isn't just me bragging and acting all high and mighty…"
Kinda sounds like it, doesn't it? I am a straight-A student who can go to practically any college she wants to 'cause she's oh-so-smart. Great going, Haruno.
"…but I'm saying this 'cause I've done stuff that I think––or, well, that I know––no intelligent woman would do. Mostly because … I have a tendency to over-analyse things and listen to emotions over logic and rationality. In my personal life, I mean. So… I guess that makes me kinda unintelligent too, right? So hopefully you all don't think I'm some sort of geek who thinks too highly of herself…"
Haha. I think I'm too spastic for that to really apply to me.
Oh, gods. I feel like just never getting to the point. That would be fun. Naruto's giving me a Look. ("C'mon, Sakura-chan, just say what you're supposed to say already!")
"Anyway, maybe I should be getting back to the actual point now?" I hear a few laughs in a nearby corridor––oh goddess, that means people are actually listening. That is not a good sign. Or, uh, wait. That means it is a good sign, right?
"I've been in love with this guy for forever––basically since I first started school," I sigh at the memories. "But he wasn't the type to really go for girls like me, y'know? So I never thought that I'd ever have any real chance with him. For years it was sort of like that. Us being sort of friends but not really. Right? And I was cool with that. Well, I was sort of cool. But eventually you get sick of waiting around for someone that is never going to get their act together, right?"
Woe is me. I'm spilling my life story to my entire school. And what's worse, they probably have a fairly good guess at who I'm talking about.
("Oh, look, it's fangirl number eighty-two, with her latest 'Sasuke rejected me' story.")
…that makes me feel so insecure right now.
"…and then this other guy turns up. One that's sort of similar to my guy––but not. And considering I'd never made any progress with him, I decided to give this other guy a shot… and that quickly evolved into this huge jealousy scheme…"
Sasuke-kun better know I'm talking about him. Considering I told him the whole story before, I think he'll put two and two together––but seriously, if he hasn't yet realised I'm in love with him, then what else am I supposed to do!?
"…things went bad from there … basically the end result of the story? I told my guy what I'd done, but didn't manage to actually tell him why I'd done it all––so he's convinced that I hate him, or wanted him to suffer, or something. That I was manipulating him. I don't know. Maybe he has feelings for me. But that's not really important to me anymore; not in the way it was. I just… I realise how much I actually did care about him, and not just for his looks. Because he mattered. And I royally screwed up. Girls, you with me so far?"
I hear a few cheers coming from what has to be the cafeteria.
There is also a sharp and firm knock at the door. So the teachers cottoned on to the whole 'we made it up about the principal approving this' thing? 'Bout time, really.
Naruto nods, telling me to keep going.
(I CAN'T BELIEVE I'M ACTUALLY DOING THIS.)
"Maybe I'm just the maker of one of those melodramatic teen love stories," I shrug, although no one can see me, it makes me feel better. "But I really do care. It's probably not so obvious to him––but I love him, for everything he's done for me and what he's meant to me. I love Uchiha Sasuke."
I pause. For a long time.
OH HOLY CRAP I JUST SAID HIS NAME.
I wasn't mean to say his name! Not out loud! He was just meant to assume I was talking about him and then come and question me in person! The whole school wasn't meant to find out! Oh crap, I was just getting caught up in the moment––
There's a lot of noise outside. Teachers and students are gathering around the entrance to the media room now. Naruto is giving me a look which is halfway between impressed and horrified.
(I still don't think he's actually processed that I love Sasuke-kun.)
"Sakura-chan…" he whispers. "What are we gonna do now?"
"Be executed with dignity!" I reply, actually managing a straight face.
…and the microphone is still on.
To: prettyprincess77
From: inobabexoxo
Subject: OH MY GAWD
FOREHEAD-GIRL, YOU WERE AMAZING.
And when I say amazing, I mean truly! I was almost in tears and, uh, hello, how many times have I heard that story? All the fangirls went completely white. It was hilarious, plus bonus points for making some non-fangirls tear up and marvel at your confidence. You are seriously an example to us all, Forehead. And to think! You made yourself sound like a freakin' superhero, or something!
I think people were even ready to protest when you got hauled off to the principal's office. Girls were screaming about "injustice" and us having "a right to free speech"! People were even talking about getting a petition signed.
Like seriously. You make me wonder sometimes.
…unfortunately, I have yet to sight King Emo. Maybe he's in hiding? I singled him out earlier, making sure he'd be here when you made the announcement. But after it started, I lost track of him.
Hinata and Tenten came up to me and began talking my ear off about the whole plan, though. I guess they were kinda suspicious about the principal approving such a thing and not actually telling the rest of the school about it––so I caved and told them everything. Is that okay? I know you sort of threatened me with death if I did spill the beans, but I'm guessing you're flailing too much right now to really care, huh?
BUT HAY. IF THE PRINCIPAL GETS YOU IN BIG MAJOR TROUBLE, CALL ME, HUN. I will be down there in an instant to defend you! After all, I combed through the school rulebook (did you know they had one of those? I had to go and pester Shikamaru about it considering he's on the academic focus committee) and found nothing on 'misuse of the school PA system'. I guess they don't really expect people to, huh?
Plus, it was break, so it's not as if you were skipping or anything. Just make up some batshit excuse about dear Shika-kun giving you permission. I'd like to see the principal try and get him in trouble.
Oh, darling, I'm so proud! Tears are literally streaming down my face. I'm so glad I decided to invest that extra five bucks in waterproof mascara, or I'd be seriously in a rut right now. And gah, I'm so proud of you that I'm not even being witty or anything. Just total uber-spastic.
Right, billboard brow. I'm going to see if I can go and found Sasuke and force a reaction out of him. Ta-ta!
Hugs and kisses,
Ino
P.S––did you see Kakashi-sensei? (Well, I guess you didn't.) He was laughing his ass off! He probably thought nobody was paying attention, but I always wondered what he would think of his smartest student being all rebellious like that.
To: prettyprincess77
From: artclassfreak
Subject: Well done, Ugly
I was very impressed with your acting skills. I did not think that your plan would involve that kind of subterfuge. Forgive me if it sounds offensive when I say that I thought you would just blurt out some kind of confession––of course, that was basically the finale, wasn't it? Naruto also seemed to be very on the ball, didn't he? I'll have to remember to ask you if I want something like that broadcasted for the whole school to hear.
Sai.
P.S––don't worry; I believe your reputation is still intact. In fact, I think a few girls even idolise you now. Ino included. (I think you broke her.)
To: prettyprincess77
From: foxydemon
Subject: WAAAH
You abandoned me, Sakura-chan! I thought we were gonna accept our punishment together? When we finally got let out of the principal's office, you ran off so fast and left me to endure the hordes of screaming banshees (I mean women) that started clawing at me and complimenting my extreme "bravery".
I don't know about you, but I think the whole school's gone insane. Personally, I don't see what's so brave about the whole thing––sure, it was cool of you, BUT I SEEM TO HAVE PUBLIC DISPLAYS LIKE THAT OFTEN. Why does nobody ever care about my publicity stunts!? (They pretended to be interested in me, but they all just wanted to know where you'd gone.)
HOW CAN I HAVE A JESUS-COMPLEX WHEN NO ONE PAYS ME ANY ATTENTION. I FEEL UNLOVED. HOLD ME.
(Or are you and the teme making out in some closet somewhere? If so, I really don't want to be the one that finds you.)
-Naruto of Ramen
P.S––Hinata just bought me not one, but two bowls of ramen. And she said that I had been a very good actor and deserved it. No one thinks I deserve ramen! No, they're all "blah it's very unhealthy blah you should eat vegetables blah, blah, blah". Finally someone sane who appreciates my eating habits!
…that was a pointed comment, Sakura-chan. I hope you got it.
9/8: how many times must I say I am not in a bathroom!
I successfully managed to evade the entire student body of the Grand Konoha Academy. That is no mean feat, you know, so I feel proud. And no, I'm not in a bathroom. Or even a janitor's closet. Currently I'm on the roof, where nobody except our creepy gardener goes.
The principal was kinda angry, too. Fortunately, she let me off the hook. See, Tsunade-sama––our, uh, eccentric principal––actually thinks I'm 'inventive'. Well, that's one of the words she used. I think she's more afraid she'll have an uprising on her hands if she did punish me accordingly. Actually, our conversation went more like this:
Tsunade: "I understand that you did this in an attempt to salvage your relationship with another student."
Naruto: (fails to understand what Tsunade-sama is talking about and so looks at me to respond)
Me: "Yes, pretty much. Uh, we got a little carried away with the whole 'talk show' thing, though… I'm sorry that it was so, uh, provocative… I didn't mean for all the students to get so hyped up about the whole thing."
(I could be a diplomat. Diplomats using the word 'hyped'? Oh yeah.)
Tsunade: "It's an interesting development. In fact, it convinces me that maybe some students here aren't lost causes… would you be interested in starting a talk show for real?"
Naruto: "NO FREAKIN' WAY!"
Me: (to him) "Be quiet!" (to Tsunade) "Um, I guess so. If you want. Although I don't really have any other personal issues to address right now, so…"
Naruto: (mumbles) "So when Sakura is involved in stunts like this with me, instead of getting punished, I get offered a talk show…"
Tsunade: "Of course, you could invite other students to express their problems, as long as they are not explicit. You could even offer advice. I'm sure the students would take to the idea."
(Uhh… I think it was just because I mentioned Sasuke-kun, really…)
Me: "That would work, too!"
Naruto: "Adhfhfhssjsa!"
Me: "Uh, anyway… are you sure you're not angry?"
Tsunade: "Be warned that if you do this again without permission…"
Me: "I-I understand!"
SO, SEE? I DIDN'T EVEN GET IN TROUBLE.
Something Naruto seems very displeased about. I s'pose all those times in detention over pranks made him bitter that I got let off. And I don't even think Kakashi-sensei's bothered that I'm skipping class––something that has sort of become a habit.
…you all think I'm stalling, don't you? Or still too shocked to properly realise the weight of what I've just done?
OKAY. SO I'M EXCESSIVELY WORRIED ABOUT SASUKE-KUN'S REACTION, TOO.
In fact, my hands are shaking again. And my mind is berating me for so stupidly believing that he would actually appreciate a gesture such as that. Sure, maybe it guarantees that the fangirls will leave him alone for awhile out of sympathy for me and my public humiliation––but he hates me, right? I do not particularly think that people expect the people they hate to give them a love confession. In front of the whole school.
Oh, gods, what was I thinking!?
But I guess you're supposed to regret things afterwards, right? Right. That thought doesn't comfort me as much as I think it should…
And everyone thinks it was apparently very 'brave' of me. Really, there was nothing brave about it. I just wanted to divest myself of the extreme guilt and (hopefully) make Sasuke-kun feel a little better. And actually justify my actions. So it was really out of selfishness and guilt and my love for Sasuke-kun. Not all that miraculous.
Plus, when I checked my emails on my phone and found Ino's, Sai's and Naruto's? It made me feel even worse. Ino getting spastic over what I've done? That never happens. Ino's always in control. And Hinata and Tenten and probably Shikamaru all knowing the whole story? Way to make a girl feel fantabulous.
(Not to mention the fact that Tsunade-sama, Kakashi-sensei and probably Asuma-sensei all now realise that my actions in class and in the media room all have something to do with Sasuke-kun. Kakashi-sensei used to (very subtly) tease me about my huge crush on Sasuke-kun, and now I've given him an even bigger reason to do so. Must I make so many double-edged sword decisions?)
Ugh. I have the feeling I could go on and on about this.
SO I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT SHOES NOW. AND MY HAIR.
My hair is still really awesome. And my smexy shoes make me feel womanly and powerful. In fact, they are probably the reason I had the slight confidence to do this in the first place.
...sigh.
I'll stop writing now.
Essentially screwed over,
Haruno Sakura
P.S––is it just me or does it sound like someone is coming up the stairs…?
God, I really hope not.
There is, actually, someone coming up the stairs.
See, the stairs that lead up to here are really old and need oil (or whatever it is stairs need). So I can hear them creaking. Which means someone is putting weight onto them. Which means they are coming up here.
I hope it's not the creepy gardener…
After a few seconds of debating whether I should hide somewhere and save myself the confrontation and awkward explanation––"Uhm, I needed air. At a slightly higher altitude than, um, our oval. Yeah."––the door opens.
And it is not the creepy gardener.
And it is not a teacher.
And it is not a fangirl.
And it is not Ino, Sai, or Naruto.
No, it's––
It's Sasuke-kun.
I guess I should have expected that, right? I mean, it's what always happens, huh? He'd have found me eventually, whether or not he was actually looking for me.
He narrows his eyes slightly at me when he sees me.
(This, you'll be surprised to know, is not actually a sign of hostility with Sasuke-kun. No, the way he's narrowing them now actually means: "So this is where you are. I've been looking all over for you. Annoying. Hn." It's sort of a mixture of surprise and relief, which is a lot more than what I deserve, so it lifts my heart a little. Plus, it means he was looking for me and wasn't just looking to escape the masses, too.
…am I getting off-topic? Are you annoyed? Okay, I'll return my mind to the situation at hand. But remember: THIS WAS YOUR DECISION, NOT MINE.)
"Sakura," his voice is bland, as though he's not really sure whether to be angry or relieved or just mildly irritated.
"Uh. Sasuke-kun," I bite down on my lip. Hard. "What're you doing here? I mean, it's class and all…"
"What are you doing here?"
"Um. I needed air. At a slightly higher altitude than…um, our oval."
(OH MY GOD I SO DID NOT JUST VOICE THE PATHETIC EXCUSE I MADE UP. Okay, breathe, Sakura. Just pretend it was a joke. Be suave. SUAVE!)
I give one of those "I was being sarcastic" smiles, which I think he gets.
And, wait, hey! We're making small talk. Is this a good sign?
"Um, so…" as much as I like the fact he is speaking to me and not giving me a look of pure fury and/or hatred, I really need to get to the point. "…I'm guessing you heard our, uh, broadcast? Which, by the way, I really didn't actually mean to say your name so if you're getting shit from anyone, then I'm really sorry––"
"Sakura."
Okay, now he sounds sort of annoyed.
He's still, like, ten metres away from me. And not making any moves to close that distance. I've learned enough about body language to know that that means I'm still not out of the frying pan yet.
(And when did I start reciting phrases my mother uses?)
"Was that real?" his voice is teetering on the edge of something. I'm not sure what it is, but it sounds majorly odd. "Or just something else to make me suffer?" oh, but there was some definite bitterness––which I could pick up––in that last part.
"No!" I'm flabbergasted. (NO! I could never do that to you, Sasuke-kun! Well…I mean…except for the time when I did do that to you…) "No, no, no, no, no, no! Seriously. I wouldn't…I wouldn't do that unless I was completely telling the truth. Which I am. Everything I said was the truth. Well…unless you want to get technical and, no, the principal did not give me permission to air something like that…"
So humour is my shield. Bite me. Laugh, mortals!
Sasuke-kun just gives me a Look. ("You babble too much.")
"But Sasuke-kun…" I sigh. "Look, I… well, I could apologise more. Probably for a couple more years, at least. And I can tell you the truth… that I love you. Because I do, and have done for quite awhile. Maybe it doesn't seem like it… but if you never want to see me or talk to me again, then I'll totally understand. If I were you, I would hate me, too."
He is silent for a long while. Then there's a: "Hn…"
('Hn'? 'HN'!? THAT is all I get? I am confessing my LOVE, jerk!)
Then I realise that 'something' that has been in his voice. Uncertainty. But… why is he so uncertain? Doesn't he realise that this is emotionally traumatic for me and he is acting oh-so-collected?
"Sakura, I…" he looks sort of pained now. "I…"
My heart sinks slightly. I know that look, too. It's the: "What I'm going to say is probably what you don't want to hear, but I'm not even sure right now…" look. He usually uses it when the cafeteria has run out of ramen and he has to be the one to tell Naruto. It's sort of ironic that this situation is so much more important to me, and yet…
It's probably the same to him.
"Look, Sasuke-kun," I hold up a hand. I don't particularly want to be rejected face-to-face. Over an email or IM, sure. Hey, even through someone else! But not while he has that look plastered on his too-pretty features. "You don't have to say it. I can pretty much guess. I mean, what do I expect? Waltzing in with a half-baked plan and a haphazard apology? I'm… I'm an idiot! And… lots of other really bad things! I get it now. I mean, I do. I won't bother you anymore."
After that, I practically run for the door. There's no way I want him to see me crying, 'specially not when I didn't even deserve such a civil let-down in the first place.
"Sakura!" he calls after me, frustrated.
(I don't know why, though… unless he really did want to reject me in person. Maybe that would've been his revenge. Although it still seems odd…)
I almost trip down the stairs five times but I eventually make it to the bathroom.
Yes. The bathroom.
Oh, please do be quiet and stop judging!
aaa
A/N: Actually, I feel kind of evil. Because I stopped it here. But I do have good news! Next chapter is the grand finale, and then there will be an epilogue after that, and the story will actually come to some sort of conclusion! So have no fear, 'cause this is the last cliffhanger of this story! I hope that sort of makes up for the fact that this chapter is a cliffhanger. Haha. You guys all...love me, right? (Shifts uncomfortably). And if any of you have read my profile, then I s'pose you heard about my plans to make a one-shot series based in this AU-verse after this is complete. So that will be the sort-of sequel for this story. ('Cause as much as I love it, doing a full-on sequel would equal my death.) Anyway! More info on that next chapter. At this current time, I'm just really hoping you enjoyed this one.