She's back! Engineering is hell, and I'm not even gonna try to act like I feel bad for not getting to this any sooner. grappling with possible suspension from college. Figuring it out as I go. But I gotta say, I miss having fun with this story. May not be everyone's taste or point of interest, but it definitely serves as a fun outlet to get my crazy out in writing, and I really wish I could've started writing waaaaaaay earlier than this. Enough of my rambling though. Things to note, it may have seemed that I wrote the last chapter and then had a month & a half long disappearance because I was in a bad place. While I did have a rough time, those two are pretty much unrelated, and that last chapter had been planned since like February, in the midst of a lot of spur-of the-moment chapters I put out. I do feel a little guilty not getting this out just a little sooner, admittedly I struggled between a few options on how to approach this and the next few chapters.
Having said that, We'll get back to some fun here shortly. Ya'll really aren't ready for the chaotic ass evil I'm gonna bring for chapters 21-30 lol
Come on up and... review me sometime.
March 29th, 2021
"..."
"Hey... yoOoOu!"
"..."
"Yeah, I'm talkin to ya! Why are you always in MY WAY!"
"..."
"WHAT!"
*glares* "..."
"OoOoOoOh so now you're gonna leave ME ALONE?! You're gonna choose now not to haunt me, Sakura?"
"..."
"..."
"..."
"You have NO IDEA what you've done to me! Now you're gonna up and ignore me?"
"..."
"WHY WON'T YOU SAY SOMETHING?"
"..."
"WHY!"
"..."
"...Please?"
"..."
March 30th, 2021
Naruto had woken up from his drunken stupor the next morning. Dazed and shocked he hadn't thrown up on his way down, he slowly makes the realization that he never made it inside and is lying on the floor of the hallway in between the two doors he's always stuck between. And must've been there. Why did no one wake him? Did Tsunade see him? Would she even say anything? What the hell is even going on? But as he recalled why he was drinking, why he lied on the floor, and his final moments before unconsciousness flooded his mind in chopped up pieces, he looked to see Sakura, almost in the exact position as he'd left her. Her skirting by his passed-out form must've been why he woke up.
But no acknowledgement? No attempt to see if I was all right? Was me still breathing enough of an excuse to leave me here?
It looked as if she were frozen in time, waiting for something. Halfway inside her own space while leaving one leg out as if possibly finding a reason to stick around. Naruto just lifts himself off, and as soon as he starts to get up, Sakura starts moving forward, almost like she regretted waiting.
"Sakura... I'm sorry..."
"..."
She stays quiet, her silent treatment gruesome. She slowly turned her head to Naruto, however, with face devoid of emotion. Naruto knows what this is really about though, not necessarily as complex as a game, but more of a mutual understanding. And it finally clicks in his head what's really going on.
"I know it was your birthday... I know that it must've been very challenging to your patience to have me not acknowledge you then."
It definitely strikes her, but she's not in shock. He's got her full attention now. And yet there's still a foot in the doorway. Still undecided?
"I'd be surprised to hear that you don't already know what happened or why I reacted like that, but my head was elsewhere... not in a good place."
"..."
"Let me put it this way, I thought that you were just going to attempt to bring my spirits up, I assumed you already to some degree had heard or known. And honestly, it's an extremely painful day for me. Can't think of one day that brings me such anxiety and horrible memories."
"..."
In this moment, Naruto could tell that the silence moved transitioned from punishment to her having a lack of a way to respond. She seemed to half expect this conversation. And it's difficult to distinguish, even now, if she's aware of what he's talking about.
"Regardless, I'm upset at myself that you had to see any of it, and that I took my frustration out on you like that. I honestly forgot that it was your birthday, I'm even slowly forgetting the significance of the day altogether. I just always get an overwhelming sense of dread, and I get locked in it. If you don't want to talk that's alright..."
"..."
It looks like she has nothing to say, which honestly relieves Naruto in a way. He doesn't have to argue or feel guilty for anything that would come as her response.
"...I'll make it up to you."
"...?"
Sakura throws up one eyebrow, obviously questioning the validity of the claim that he can change her mind. Not knowing how that would end, she looks like she's about to ask how. But in defeat, she closes her mouth knowing good and well she doesn't even want to know the answer.
"Oh, don't make faces! You know we got at least 50 chapters of this damn mess to go and you staying mad isn't gonna make this train wreck any less hilarious!"
Sakura softly chuckled. Amused and appeased, she finally goes on to her apartment and lightly closes the door. She's gone, but not gone for good. And while, it'll take more of a push than this to reap forgiveness, all is not lost. Luckily, she was there for him to apologize, because he really did a number on himself yesterday. And standing up straight he finally feels that urge to vomit.
He very quickly manages to run into his apartment without thinking twice. But it didn't take his mind off the conversation.
He knew exactly how to make it up to her.
Short, yet fairly difficult for me to manage tactfully. I want to say there will be another short chapter tomorrow, and another chapter next week. But ya'll know who I am, and how delusional I can be when it comes to updating. And as always, (I'm gonna nag every chapter)... REVIEW!
