As the day progressed Sakura's new found determination began to slip away.
"huh this day was not at all what I woke up hoping for..." Sakura muttered to herself, while she started at her reflection in her cup of green tea sitting on the outside patio area of the Konoha tea-shop alone. Her eyes were glazed with tears she held back, her glossy lips (Now mostly rubbed off and pale again) where in a solid frown. Not only had her day started out on bad terms, with bumping into Sasuke, but it seems nothing got better.
For example she was busy as hell today, patient after patient who were sick an very moody. Tsunade seemed to be in the same moodiness as them with her hangover right atop of her shoulders. During a simple surgery Sakura just suturing up the surgical site when she hit a vessel and blood literally just projectile squirted into her grump mentors chin, an with an impatient Tsunade ready for a nap she practically screamed at Sakura in front of several other nurses and just seemed not let it go throughout the rest of the surgery embarrassing her more an more by the second. Later Sakura ran into, Kohaku, a medical assistant who was somewhat cute and single, maybe a possible date? He had dark brown hair with matching brown eyes, he was slightly taller than her and at times reminded her of a certain someone his off putting personality.
"Kohaku wait up!" Sakura called, running up to Kohaku in the white hospital hallway, which he obliged.
"What can I do for you Dr. Haruno?" Kohaku asked, looking threw a file in his hand with the least bit of excitement in his voice.
"Um- I- how are you?" Sakura questioned.
"Fine." he replied bluntly.
"Great, well I mean I hoped you were doing well, especially on such a beautiful today. "
Kohaku finally looked up with disinterest in his facial expression and then looked back down to his file.
"You've cut your hair." He stated.
Blushing hard, realizing that he was indeed the first person to notice her fresh trim. Why even Tsuande and Shizune had not mentioned a word about hew new wispy hair.
"Ah yes I cut it this morning! I began to miss my shorter hair the more and more it grew out...do you like it ?"
After a minute of no reply, Sakura began to feel awkward and didn't know if maybe he did hear her? She spoke rather loudly than her usual tone though? Maybe he...
"I liked it better longer, should have kept it." he suddenly replied, still not passing her a glance.
Sakura's face then fell. What a jerk! If she wasn't in shock and hurt she would of punched him right threw the hospital walls all the way out to the west side of the building. Instead, she looked down with that feeling of failure in her core. It brought her mind back to when she was only a twelve year old child, even before her genin days, hearing that silly rumor of how Sasuke fancied girls when long hair where hers was short at the time. She remembers growing it out in hopes his attention would turn to her, even now did Sasuke still prefer women with long hair? What it indeed just a rumor?
"If that's all Dr. Haruno ?"
"Oh yes ill talk with you some other time..." and just like that Kohaku stepped away from her like what he said was not an insult in the slightest. Sakura shook her head , "don't let this beat you up Sakura, you've know he's always been blunt and grumpy, that's probably why he's single as well." she spoke to herself and turned down the hospital hallway to see if her next patient had arrived. Unfortunate the day never seemed to get better if not only worse. Around 9am Kakashi sensi appeared in one of her operatories for a quick check up of his ankle after he had a nasty sprain.
"Kakashi so great to see you! How are things!" Sakura bellowed. Like many of her other friends she had not seen Kakasi in almost two weeks, him being the hokage she understood he had a busy schedule, but did she miss having a spar secession with him. It seems like he spent most of his time with either Naruto or Sasuke when his hokage duties weren't in the way. Yes Naruto was understandable as he was in training to be the next hokage but why was it that he always seemed to have a soft spot for Sasuke? Even in her genin days Kakashi always seemed to make room for training sessions with him...even Naruto...but not her.
"Ah great Sakura, being hokage has it's moments but all is well. Hanare is doing well too, I'm even thinking of proposing." Kakashi spoke.
Ah there was that jealousy feeling again...Kakaski getting married? Wonderful but...
"Ah fantastic! I am so happy for you!" Sakura somewhat lied.
"Indeed thanks for you condolences Sakura, how are you by the way ?"
Sakura thought "honestly not good at all, I feel depressed and alone all the time. No one wants to hangout anymore and I am single while everyone (Including yourself) is getting married." But of course Sakura could not simply tell that truth, oh no she'd look weak.
"Oh I am fine, just busy at the hospital is all." Which wasn't really a lie at all but she still was not opening up to more of the truth.
"You look quite tired, Sakura. Have you been getting enough sleep ?"
Ugh there it was. Why didn't anyone notice her new look? (Besides Kohaku which was not lovely) she cuts her hair, wears make- up for once, and is wearing a newer outfit and no one seems to notice in the slight!
"Oh ! I've just have been working late shifts is all, but I have a few days off next week I promise ill catch up on my sleep." Sakura quickly answered.
"Ah yes you better, it looks though as you have not slept in a week !"
After Kakaksi FINALLY was done going on an on about his worries for Sakura's appearance, and his ankle appeared healthy rather well, he then took his leave back to the hokage tower. Sakura than dragged herself for the rest of her shift with no compliments on her hair cut, dealing with more moody patients and sick children. What really finally made her decide to call it a day early was when she was about to walk into the nurses station and over heard a couples of the girls saying rude things about her forehead. For god sakes she felt like she was back in the academy all over again! Punching out shortly she then headed out to the tea shop down the road to hopefully relax. Mostly playing with her tea bag with a hand propped up on her cheek she decided it was time to take her leave and pay her bill, no use staying if she was just gonna sulk. While walking down the streets of Konoha Sakura couldn't help the scowl on her face after such an irritating day. So much for the new profound attitude of being positive and completing her goals. After Kohaku she chose to perhaps leave that goal of "Finding a date to the wedding " for another day since the start was just not what she expected. But why should she forget about her other goals? Yes she needed to be with friends and catch up, so taking a right she headed to see who was at Ichiraku for dinner tonight, perhaps Naruto and Hinata wouldn't mind her being a third wheel?
Coming to the entrance of the Ichiraku shop Sakura could clearly see Naruto threw the glass window sitting up at the bar stool talking to whom ever was sitting next to him, with one of the round beams in the way she could not see who it was but was positive it was most likely good ol Hinata enjoying a date night with some noodles. As Sakura opened the entry way door and headed towards Naruto she raised her hand ready to wave and her mouth was slightly open ready to call her teammate's name when she realized that was not Hinata sitting side by side with Naruto but was actually Sasuke instead...
Sakura knew she had to get out of there. Sasuke already disliked having lunch at Ichiraku with his loud mouth friend and only knew her appearance would just be another cherry on top of the annoying cake for him. Beginning to turn around back to the exit she was stopped in her tracks when Naruto happened to also slightly turn in his bar stool and noticing her and yelling out a welcoming "Hello".
"Sakura-chan ! Over here! What are you doing here? Figured you be working away still?" Naruto questioned, with that big grin on his face making his whisker-like marking almost touch those sky blue eyes of his. Sasuke also turned slightly giving her a glance with his usually scowl on his face.
"Oh Naruto! I didn't see you there, I got out early today due to a slow shift, decided to just come here for dinner however it looks quite busy so I think ill just cook something at home!" Sakura lied threw her teeth. She hated lying and most of all hated liars but she just needed to get out of there ASAP.
Naruto looked to his right and then his left noticing that in fact the restaurant really was not that busy and did not gain it's regular dinner rush yet, so instead he returned "Nonsense! Barely anyone here please sit down," Naruto then stood and offered his seat to Sakura taking the other seat to his left so that Sakura would be plopped right in the middle of Sasuke and himself. With a sigh Sakura knew she was not going to get out of this and took her seat.
"The bastard and I just got done with a spar at the field, you should have seen it! I totally whooped his ass!" Naruto bellowed slightly hitting his ramen bowl with his arm causing the broth to slip over the rim and drip on Sakura's new dress. The act made her want to slap that silly old fox but she held her tongue and clenched her teeth.
"Hmph you act as if that one good shot made you win the spar? I recall I landed a nice blow to your face where you then whined how I almost broke your nose." Sasuke snorted back.
Naruto than placed his hand over his nose, that did look swollen as a matter of fact. "Yeah but that was a cheap shot!
Sakura listened to the boys bicker on and on for several more minutes while she placed her order. Lost in the awkwardness of sitting so close to Sasuke, and the previous evens from this morning, she surely thought she would have a panic attack! Cold sweat reached her brown as the more Naruto threw accusing words at Sasuke, point his figure right in his face, the more Sakura felt she was getting squished up against the stoic Uchiha. She could feel his shoulder blade and right arm touch her back making her hot all over. Sasuke getting fed up with Naruto's loud mouth began to sit forward, mimicking his actions, reaching his hand out grabbing Naruto's collar. "Oh Kami." Sakura though has she felt Sasuke's muscular chest pushed into her back making those beads of sweat now drip down her porcelain cheeks. This is the closest Sakura had EVER been to Sasuke , even with just that touch his body pushing into her back her made her body feel tingly, she could only fantasize what it would be like if there was not clothes between the two , oh that would probably lead her straight into an orgasm !
Sakura was so lost in her mind that when the boys began to settle down she barely heard Naruto comment...
"Something looks different about you today Sakura-chan."
This hit Sakura's brain like a brick bringing her back to planet Earth, ah yes ! Naruto must surely notice my hair! Or perhaps my make-up, outfit? And not to mention right in front of Sasuke for him to also realize what I have done to myself this morning!
"Ah yes I know what it is! You aren't wearing your earrings !" Naruto yelled in triumph.
Ugh that moron Sakura never WORE earrings that was Hinata!
"Um no, I don't ever wear my earrings Naruto." Sakura replied slightly irritable.
"No? Hmmm oh I know! You are wearing the blush stuff! No wonder your cheeks are so red, you look like a strawberry! "
"ugh no I don't even own blush." Sakura quickly added being caught having been all hot an bothered with Sasuke practically on her back a few minutes prior.
"Well it's gotta be something...have you gained weight?"
"Oh my god you baka no! No I have not gained weight!" Sakura yelled slapping him hard across the face. Naruto retreated his hand to his now bruised cheek that would soon swell and match his nose.
"Well sorry! Jeez! Lets see It's gotta be-"
"Dobe, she cut her hair and did her face up, and can't your small brain comprehend the fact she's is wearing a different outfit?" Sasuke innterrupted.
Sakura couldn't believe it, did Sasuke really just solve this apparent mystery? Sakura's eyes were wide as she turned towards Sasuke. All day not a single soul had anything to say about her straightened up appearance (Other than douche Kohaku).
"Bastard of COURSE I noticed, I-I was getting there believe it!" Naruto threw out.
"Really? Cause it only took you ten tries to figure it out." Sasuke muttered.
Beginning another argument with one another, Sakura didn't know what to say. Her mind was black and her hearing was like if her head was under water, audible but seemed so far away. She could barely understand Naruto try to reach out to her.
"Sakura-chan don't you agree? Sakura ? HEY!" Naruto raised his voice slightly shaking Sakura's arm causing her to wake up from her day dreaming and accidentally swing her right arm back knocking over Sasuke's hot beef ramen onto him.
"Goddammit Sakura!" Sasuke screeched rushing to grab his napkin to dry his shirt now covered in beef broth, noodles, and whatever vegetables that were soaking in his ramen with steam still rising off it.
"Oh Sasuke-Kun! I am so sorry , please let me hel-" Sakura said apologetically, however when she reached for her napkin to help with the clean up Sasuke looked up at her with his shargian activated with the most scowled look on his face making his nose scrunch like a pig. She could even see his rinnegan swirling in calculating circles.
"No thanks, it's always something with you." he spit with his clenched teeth, drying his new stain.
Sakura, at first with the looked of someone startled, now looked sadden turning her chin down to the floor and eye lids almost closed. Naruto put a reassuring hand on her left shoulder blade with small smirk letting her know just from his facial expression that it was alright.
"Come on bastard it was only an accident, beside now you don't smell like sweat from that hard time I gave you on the training grounds eh?" Naruto joked lighting up the mood.
"Don't even fucking start again." Sasuke growled, and the fight began again between the two. Sakura just could not wait to get out of here and hide away in her apartment, she is so stupid! No wonder Sasuke didn't enjoy her being around she was so clumsy...always something with her...