Haruno Sakura; 7 Years Later

Age 19

Never Meant To-

I hadn't been able to treat myself to a 'girls night out' in a while. I used to revel in the days where I could gather all my closest friends together and go out for a night on the town.

Usually I went with Ino but the two of us haven't been particularly close lately. Not only that but I haven't even seen her around for a while.

Come to think of it, I hadn't seen Sasuke around either.

I didn't want to think about the things they could possibly be doing.

Tenten was too involved in her fling with Lee that everyone knew about except Lee's girlfriend to have time for anyone else.

So that only left Hinata.

She wasn't the most interesting of my girl friends but it was better than going alone, I suppose.

I met her downtown in front of some store. There were plenty of stores downtown and we could easily find many things to do.

Maybe we could go out and get some clothes or some shoes.

Or a makeover.

After all, we were both the single women of the group so we needed to look good for any potential guys we might hook up with.

Yes…I have officially given up on Sasuke.

I have finally come to realize and accept that Ino loves Sasuke and Sasuke loves Ino.

While I will never fully forget Sasuke, I just will stop perusing him.

At least until he and Ino break up.

Then he's free game for me again.

Hinata didn't talk much as we walked along the sidewalk. All she did was look around and sigh. I looked over at her but then I noticed something out of the corner of my eye.

Were those the shoes I was going to buy the other day but they were too expensive but now they were on SALE!

"Hinata!" I yelled, pointing at the window so that she could get a glimpse of their wonder. "Look!"

We both were only able to marvel at the sheer beauty of the shoes for a second before I heard my name being called.

"Sakura!" came the voice. I looked up only to see Naruto with two strange men behind him.

One of them was huge and one of them was sexy.

Very sexy.

Who was he?

But Naruto was back?

"Naruto?" I asked, just to make sure it was him.

I smiled.

I had to admit, I was happy to see the idiot.

"So you're finally back?" I said.

"Welcome back…" I heard Hinata's voice say next to me quietly. I doubt they even heard her.

I looked over at the two people with Naruto. The large one…he looked familiar…

Oh! He was Chouji! He's gotten bigger!

I looked over at the other person. He also looked familiar. Then I recognized the red triangle thingys on his cheeks.

That COULDN'T be Kiba!

"Kiba?" I had to ask. "Is that you?"

He nodded.

"Who else would it be?" he answered. Even his voice was sexy.

He was better looking than Sasuke!

I couldn't even contain myself! I bet I was outwardly showing signs of being attracted to him. I didn't care. I didn't even care if I was staring, he didn't even seem to notice!

"I was so worried about you Kiba…" Hinata told him. Of course she was worried about him. She was on his team.

Bet she didn't realize how hot he was going to be.

Well, I definitely didn't know. If I had, I would have been chasing after HIM the whole time!

"Hinata…" Kiba said back. Just hearing his voice made me melt.

"Yeah Kiba?" Hinata said again. I think it was time to make my moves before Hinata did.

Not like she would…but now that Kiba looks the way he does, things might be different.

I leaned over to Hinata.

"Oh my god, Hinata…" I whispered to her. "Could he get anymore good looking?"

"Who, Kiba?" Hinata asked.

"No, Chouji." I joked with her. "Of course Kiba!"

"Oh…" said Hinata, a slight blush in her face. She didn't want to admit that she found him hot too.

"I think I'm going to ask him out." I told her. I'd look pretty good linked arms with him, I'll tell you that.

"What?" Hinata asked, looking upset.

I knew it. She wanted to ask him out too. Well, I claimed him first.

"Sorry Hinata." I told her with a shrug.

He was fair game.

We all turned back around in unison.

"Kiba, what…" Hinata started. Excuse me, but I called him first.

"Kiba, are you doing anything later today?" I interjected before Hinata could ruin my chances.

He thought for a minute. He was thinking about it, that was a good sign. A lot better than Sasuke's usual immediate refusal.

"I might be." He said.

Good. Good.

"Well what would you say to a date?" I continued.

"…All right!" he said. And he actually sounded excited! Score!

I thought it would be harder but I'm not complaining. I gave Hinata a slight shove.

"That wasn't so hard!" I laughed to her.

"Ha ha…" Hinata laughed. She was upset because I got to him first. "Yeah…"

"Hinata, are you unhappy about it?" Kiba asked her.

…

I really wish he hadn't asked her that. But why should her happiness about my happiness matter?

"No." she said. What a good friend she is! I'd have to set her up with Naruto or something later. "Have a good time. I have to go."

She turned and ran off. She was upset. But she was supporting me.

"Have a good time?" Kiba said. I turned my attention back to him.

SO good looking.

"A good time?" I told him with a smirk. "I'll make sure we have a GREAT time."

Heh heh…that sounded good.

"WE?" Kiba suddenly said.

Oh no…

"You're not the only one!" Kiba said.

Did he think that we were going on a triple date or something? Maybe I should have said that I'll have a great time or something…

"Kiba!" Naruto yelled, crying tears. "How could you!"

He still wanted me. Poor fool.

Suddenly, I looked back over at Kiba to see that he was running off. Running away?

I KNEW it was too good to be true.

I looked over at Naruto and Chouji.

Chouji hadn't said a single word that I had heard. He might have said something but who listens to Chouji?

Naruto's tears were gone.

"Ha!" he yelled, pointing at Kiba's disappearing figure. "He DOES still love her!"

"Naruto, I don't know if that's very nice to just ANNOUNCE that to everyone." Said Chouji.

"So what?" said Naruto.

Still? Love? He didn't love me! Wait, what had we just been talking about! Didn't he just accept a date with ME!

Kiba, I mean! Not Naruto and definitely not Chouji!

I don't think I was the ONLY one who saw that!

"Hey, didn't Kiba said he'd go on a date with me!" I demanded.

"Who cares about Kiba?" said Naruto. "Come on, Sakura! Come on a date with me! Or… not a date! Just a welcome home dinner!"

The last thing I wanted to do was go to a welcome home dinner with Naruto, especially after I had just been rejected for the ten millionth time in my life!

He was hardly taller than me!

He didn't look different at all!

He probably wasn't any stronger either!

He wasn't sexy like Kiba!

I felt so duped.

Why did these things always happen to me?

I felt the urge to crawl under a rock.

Maybe I was just never meant to find love.