Well, the party was a disaster. And now, here I am, all alone in my room, with a face that looks like it was trampled on and a heart that feels the same.

How you ask, did this happen? Well, it went like this…

Naruto and I arrived early, by which I mean we arrived on time. We weren't the first there of course, because Temari was already there, along with an army of servers, and some other important Suna officials who just can't be late for anything. I think it's been physically ingrained into them by now: do not be late.

In any case, the hall was still pretty empty, so we pretty much just talked to each other and looked around hoping for a server with a tray full of food to come by. But I was feeling good, better than the last time I was at a party anyway. I felt much better knowing Naruto would be there with me, and it sure didn't hurt that I thought I looked pretty good.

People started arriving soon enough, and the hall filled with people. Nothing much happened in the first little while, just a lot of standing around and talking and hoping for food. Nothing exciting.

When the call came for dinner we were both really hungry so we skipped right on in to the banquet hall and sat quickly, as if that would somehow make the food come faster. I was sitting at the table next to the table full of important people, with Naruto to one side of me, and Watanabe and Ito to the other side. All I had to do was lean over a little bit and I could stare at Gaara all I liked. I didn't. And I know now that he wasn't staring at me, but then, I was still hoping.

Apparently I'm more of an idiot than I thought.

Anyway, supper passed by just fine, with nary a snag. The food was just as good as Temari promised, and Naruto and I both stuffed ourselves as much as properly possible. Or at least, I did; Naruto doesn't really care about being proper.

After dinner came the speeches. Some of the speeches were too long, some too short (Gaara's for example) and some just weren't. I ended up being excused from speaking; I guess Temari has a kinder heart than she lets on at first, and Watanabe spoke for the three of us from Konoha. Seri gave a great speech, which somehow went from hospital bills to boxed lunches and killer whales, and all the way back to me. I couldn't sop smiling the whole time she spoke. I'm going to miss Seri so much.

And then after that everyone moved back into the hall for dancing. I danced with Naruto, and then Watanabe came and asked me for a dance, and Ito did too. I danced with men I don't even know.

But not Gaara. He never came to ask me to dance. And I can't say that he wasn't there to ask me, or even that it was just because he just doesn't dance; I saw him there, dancing with other young ladies of quality. But never me.

This I found very strange, especially after the touching moment we shared in the hospital this afternoon. I found it very troubling actually, and after seeing him dance with three other women I couldn't stomach it anymore and I left the dance floor. I left the ballroom entirely.

I went to stand on a balcony. They were still mostly free, since even lovers would be inside dancing at that time. So I didn't have to put up with much of other's being in love at the moment.

I wanted it to be cold. I wanted to feel cool wind on my face, because it was too hot. But the air in Suna never gets cold, and I couldn't even have the satisfaction of getting goose bumps.

Mostly I just wanted him to show up, but he never did. I was hoping he would follow me out onto the balcony, hoping that maybe he was just to shy to ask me for a dance in public. I was still telling myself he only danced with those girls because he had to. They were the daughters of important government officials, and so he had to dance with them for political reasons, while all along he was yearning to be with me, to ask me to dance.

He never even came to talk to me once.

Nothing happened. Nothing went wrong especially, because nothing happened. And that's what was so wrong.

I waited out on the balcony for what felt like forever, until couples started swarming to them. I couldn't stand being near them anymore than I could stand watching Gaara with other women, and so I left. I snuck out of the ballroom and up into my room, all the while hoping that I would hear a familiar voice behind me, asking me where I was going…

Well no such luck. I made it up here just fine. No one has even noticed me missing from the party probably. It's probably better that way, so they don't come up here looking for me and find me in such a mess.

I don't understand; what happened? What did I miss? Where did I go wrong?