"Silence is a text easy to misread"-A.A. Attanasio
Silence had never sincerely bothered Emiko before but as she sat, attempting to play with her fingers in hopes it would all disappear, she couldn't help but feel the air grow heavier, pressing uncomfortably into her back. Pushing her to speak, or do anything that would throw away the tense silence.
'Start talking about the weather,' Emiko thought sarcastically, laughing quietly as she thought of how that conversation would flow.
"What are you laughing at?" She abruptly stopped, her eyes shooting up to see Sasuke watching her blankly. A sharp jolt coursed her heart as she stared into his eyes, blank and hardened, she'd never seen him look at her that way and it hurt to see it now when they seemed so close.
"N-nothing." She replied, her eyes breaking away and staring at her hands again, her fingers intertwining together almost in the same way he'd held her hand a day ago. Despite the mimic, the camouflage that it was the same she didn't feel the familiar comfort or warmth.
'Well you are holding your own hand,' she pointed out, berating herself for being so stupid. 'It's all changed now,' the very idea made her heart sink. 'If I'd know, what going there would lead to,' she glanced at Sasuke, instantly adverting her gaze as she saw emotionless eyes staring into her, hammering into her mind.
'If I knew what was going to happen…' she began to think it over, staring heatedly at her hands as she fought the desire to look up and meet his stare. 'Would I still do it?' Answers never came as she waited, her mind focused on the simple question prompting millions of more confusing ones, none with a resolute or logical answer.
"Do you hate me?" The words slipped from Emiko's mouth and her eyes widened as she grasped what she'd said. Her head shot up, her eyes searching for Sasuke's but finding that he'd turned away to stare at a wall.
'He'd rather stare at a wall…' Emiko's head bowed, wondering why she'd even bothered entertaining the idea that he could feel anything for her.
'I guess now Sakura can go for him. He'd be better with her anyway,' the statement made sense. Sakura was pretty, intelligent, sweet and clearly in love with him. Her heart lightened a little, the confusion and pain she'd felt shedding off as she smiled faintly, her eyes glazed as she stared at the floor.
'I'd rather him be happy with someone,' she thought to herself, the idea of him finding someone perfect for him gently prying away the self pity. 'I'm not going to wallow,' she declared, her head rising as she regarded Sasuke lightly. Confidence fermented in her resolute and she felt her familiar self slowly being taped back into place.
'I'm not going to wallow.' She repeated a small, genuine smile on her face.
"I don't hate you." Emiko stated calmly, her eyes shining slightly as she memorized each feature. Hearing the words Sasuke paused, his eyes widening for a mere second, his hardened gaze cracking before he turned to her.
With the simple stare it changed, the former resolve weakening as she felt the memorable connection as they watched each other. 'I don't want him to be with someone else…' Emiko thought, instantly furious that a simple stare could change how she felt.
'No, I'm not going to do anything.' She declared her hand curling into a fist as her own frustration. 'No, but you should-' Clutters of thoughts continued as she tried frantically to sort out what was going on.
'I was so decided! I knew what I was supposed to do!' she thought desperately. 'How can that all disappear when he looks at me! He hates me!'
"Ihate you." Everything stopped, suspended at Sasuke's words.
A/n: mwahahaha this is fun! -shyshi
