I apologize for the short chapter... i know you guys are probably going to kill me after reading this one.

Chapter 13: 15 minutes! DRIVE!

"WHAT!" Ino screamed into her phone.

"Yep. Looks like technical difficulties, they bumped Sakura up by 3 Acts so she'll be on soon. Where are you guys! You said you would be here?" Gaara asked. He was standing outside Sakura's door.

"We will. Can't they bump her down in the listings? We kind of need more time." Shikamaru asked, as he stole the phone from Ino.

"Doesn't look like it. Where are you guys? Sakura's really nervous. I'm outside her change room right now." He said peering in and seeing her pace back and forth taking deep breaths then slumping back down in her chair infront of the mirror.

"We're on our way. 15 minutes ok!" Ino said taking her phone back from Shikamaru.

"She's on in 15 minutes!" Gaara scolded. "You guys said she would be here, you're all she has left! Come on!" Aggravated and annoyed Gaara hung up on them.

He peered into the room again and saw her crying silently. He took a deep breath and walked in.

--

"Sakura?" He approached slowly as not to startle me. I looked up and saw him come. I wondered if he saw me cry, I didn't want him too. I wiped my eyes quickly so he wouldn't see.

"You scared me." I said quietly. I turned my head slightly towards him.

"Sorry…" He paused for a moment. I wish he wouldn't, it usually meant bad news.

"They're not coming are they?" I asked turning my back to him. I surprised myself because it sounded colder than I had intended. I think Gaara was taken back by my rather blunt comment as well; he blinked several times and stared at me.

"Sakura…" He started.

Just then the door creaked open

"Sakura-san?" One of the runners poked her head through the door. "I'm sorry was I interrupting?"

"No, it's ok." I said urging her to continue. I didn't want Gaara to tell me I was right about them not coming.

"Well, they're calling for you… the band wants to make sure they have the right music, they also wanted to warm up one last time before going on. They're in the green room now Sakura-san."

"Thanks." I said trying to smile even just a little.

When she left I looked at Gaara, he was about to say something. But I didn't want to hear it. I was scared to hear it. I didn't want to know that they weren't coming.

Even though in my gut I knew they weren't.

"I better go. They're calling for me."

Then I walked out leaving him there dumbfounded. I felt horrible.

Sakura why are you such a horrible person! I scolded at myself.

I deserved it. I did my best not to cry as I approached the green room. But I even failed at that. A lone tear trickled down my left cheek, I wiped it away embarrassed.

--

"What did he say?" Sasuke asked "Is she ok?" he stared at Ino who was struggling to put her phone back in her purse. "ANSWER ME!" He yelled.

She was shocked, they all were. Shikamarucontinued driving. Ino looked down at her lap. Naruto put an assuring arm around Hinata who was fidgeting with her fingers.

"She's fine…" Ino whimpered still in a minor state of shock.

"I'm sorry…" Sasuke looked out the window. He had never really yelled at his friends like that. Except for Naruto occasionally. "I… I just…"

"I know." Ino interrupted with a smile. "I know. She's ok, don't worry. But she'll be on soon! DRIVE FASTER DAMN IT!" She smacked Shikamaru's shoulder forcefully.

"I'm trying! Damn it woman!" Saiph said. He was already speeding slightly. They were off the highway now and about 10 minutes away from the Café.

"We're almost there" Naruto said calmly trying to ease the atmosphere.

Hinata sighed relieved and looked over at Sasuke who went back to silently staring out the back seat window. He was covering half his face with the palm of his and as he perched himself up with one arm, the other was balled tightly into a fist. She looked at his eyes. They were still glazed with wet soon-to-be-tears. "He really loves her" She thought.

--

"That's about it." The man on drums said gulping down some water.

"Great everyone! Last minute touch ups! Finish setting up! Intermission ends in 5 minutes! GOT THAT? FIVE MINUTES!" The manager yelled

5 minutes… I repeated to myself. Gazing at the ground. I clenched my fists. I won't cry! I WON'T CRY!

A woman came up to me and pulled me into a chair. She started to do last minute touch ups on my make up.

I could feel my heart beating wildly, caged within my ribs. I stared into the mirror, at the girl staring back at me. I looked at her and her at me. And I wondered "Who is she?" Staring again… "Who am I?"

The woman finished her job then a man came to get me. He was talking although I didn't really hear anything he said. I was just listening, but not hearing anything. Watching his lips flapping I nodded my head anyway. Something about, "this is your mark" blah, blah "don't move" blah, blah "good luck!" then he walked away.

It was then that I realized that I was standing there with the mic in my hand. I was right on the stage! Front and center! I looked in front of me, a blanket of red. Must be the curtain. "NO DUH!" I hard myself scold. I had to get it together… I had to perform… This was my dream. I had to follow my dream. And face the fact that Sasuke could no longer be part of it. I felt tears again.

DON'T CRY!

--

"We're here!" Ino screamed pointing to the café on the corner.

"Looks packed. No parking!" Shikamaru frowned.

"Sasuke we-" Naruto turned around in time to see the door shut. It was raining and Sasuke was running through the long line of cars. He didn't care that his prized hair was getting flattened. He didn't care that his 300$USD limited edition Pumas were now drenched in mud. He didn't care that his 800$EURO Italian leather coat had gotten ripped by the wire fence as he hopped it. He only had one thing in mind…

"Sakura..."

--

I heard the emcee welcome the crowd back. I started to feel the butterflies in my tummy. I wasn't because I was scared that my voice would crack, or that I'd be off tune, or that no one would like my song.

It was because he wasn't there.

I wanted to cry, but refused to do so. I wasn't a child anymore.

I wanted to run off stage and call his cell. But I refused to!

I wasn't his anymore…

No. It was more like he wasn't mine anymore.

I felt like throwing up. But it was too late.

I heard my name.

I heard applause.

I saw the curtains open.

Everything was black.

Music began behind me.

Then it came.

The spotlight had found me.