I'm sorry this is so late!!!! My new list of excuses is….
1. I was on vacation.
2. I had to work on my other story (not doing so well, I wouldn't recommend reading it. Why, then, am I still working on it? Because I'm stubborn that's why!)
3. I had a brilliant idea for this chapter that would play into other chapters and didn't want to wreck it.
4. I love torturing all the people who say "Update soon!" or "Add more chapters ASAP!" Mwahaha! I'm evil!!!!
The next few weeks were a blur to Sakura.
It seemed that her relationsip with Sasuke had not only caused a considerable amount of gossip, but it also boosted her status in the school. More and more people greeted her with smiles in the hall, and although some of them just wanted a bit of her glory, others were sincere. Sakura began to make some of the best friends of her life.
Of course, she never forgot Hinata, Ino, and TenTen; they were the first to befriend her and not because she was Sasuke's girldfriend.
Sasuke's life had changed as well.
His fangirls never chased him anymore, for one. It was as if Sakura acted like a shield, protecting him from their constant presence. It was a huge relief not to see them every where he went.
He was also happier. Sakura and him were so alike: they liked the same music, movies, and activities. It seemed like they were made for each other.
But something else changed as well.
Sasuke, the boy always in control, was feeling a shift in power. It was subtle, and he doubted it was anything except him imagination, but it still bothered him. He would do anything for Sakura because he always wanted her to be happy. It was silly things, really. The two would be outside, or going for a walk, and Sakura would comment on how the roses were so beautiful. The next day, Sasuke would buy a large bouquet of roses and surprise Sakura with them. Sakura wasn't aware she had this invisible power over Sasuke, so he pushed it to the back of his mind.
Today was a day like all the others.
Sasuke picked Sakura up in front of her hose, and they would greet each other with a kiss. Sasuke always liked this first kiss of the day. It was a great way to cheer him up if his morning hadn't been that good, and it put him in a bright mood.
The two would then get in his car, or walk, if it was nice out, and talk. Just talk. This was Sakura's favorite part of the day. She learned so much about Sasuke, and she could feel the bond between them growing stronger.
At school, the pair would separate. Sakura went to talk and gossip wit her friends, and Sasuke to hang out with his. They would meet up in homeroom and walk to class together. They would separate at lunch, meet up and go home again.
……………………………..
It happened during one of the rare occasions when Sakura was alone.
Her friends were in different classes.
Sasuke had forgotten something and told her to go on ahead.
The corridor was deserted.
She was completely alone.
This occurrence, which might have unnerved her before, was just an unusual event now. Sakura's confidence had grown, too, and she no longer became nervous when anything strange happened. She was alone, and that was okay.
She walked slowly down the hall. As much as she liked her friends and Sasuke, she needed to clear her head every once and a while and savored the silence. She closed her eyes, sharpening her other senses but clearing her head. Something was wrong, though. Her hearing increased, she heard the footsteps that were trying to match hers, yet were half a second behind.
She stopped.
The footsteps stopped.
Opening her eyes, she turned around. She had had a feeling this was coming, and she was ready.
"What do you want?" she said.
Zaku, his head bandaged and eyes narrowed, stood ten feet away.
"What do you think?" he answered, smirking.
"I'm not afraid of you, Zaku. You know I'm going out with Sasuke, so leave me alone." Sakura retorted. Zaku's smirk faded.
"Watch yourself, Sakura. You going out with Sasuke doesn't mean anything to me. If you haven't noticed, he isn't here right now."
Sakura glared at him.
"What are you waiting for, then?" she asked. Zaku shrugged.
"I actually just wanted to talk." he said.
Sakura looked at him skeptically. She figured she could make a run for it if she had too, and there were plenty of classrooms she could go into if she needed to. She figured she could hear him out.
"Okay then, what?" she questioned.
"I want to warn you." replied Zaku. This disarmed Sakura.
"About…?" she encouraged.
"Sasuke."
Zaku did not seem in any rush to answer Sakura. She knew she would have to keep pressing to get her information.
"What about him?" she asked.
"His type isn't reliable." Zaku said simply. Sakura was getting mad.
"Is that it, then?" she asked, her tone icy.
"No."
"Then what!??!"
Zaku gave a short laugh, smirking again.
"He can't stand to be tied down to one person for long." he said. Sakura was still confused.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
Zaku shrugged again. "It means exactly what it sounds like. He won't be able to last long in a single relationship. He'll dump you as soon as he feels threatened."
"Threatened?" asked Sakura.
"Yep. As soon as he feels like you're getting too close. Too bonded." Zaku held up his hand when Sakura looked ready to protest.
"I'm just warning you. It's a classic ploy. He'll either keeps you around until he knows he can get something better, or he'll leave you so he can play the field."
"Sasuke would never do that!" cried Sakura. Zaku raised his eyebrows.
"You think so? Well I've known him longer than you, and I know his type. I can see past all his lies. Underneath everything, he's afraid of commitment. You're best bet would be to get him before he get's you." He grinned. "I could help with that."
Sakura glared at him with all her might.
"You think you know Sasuke, but you don't! I know him better than you, I'm his girlfriend after all! But you, you just want to ruin our relationship. You think you can make me mistrust Sasuke? You, the perverted creep who can't even get a friend? I wouldn't ever trust you! Sasuke is better than what you make him out to be, so just leave us alone!" Sakura turned on he heel and started to walk away. But Zaku wanted the last word.
"You keep thinking that, Sakura! But just wait: Sasuke will dump you before the year is up!" he shouted after her. Sakura didn't speak. She just shook her head and walked into her classroom.
……………………….
Zaku watched the door of the classroom close before he walked away. He grinned to himself.
"Step one, complete." he said to himself.
……………………….
"Sakura, is everything okay?" Sasuke asked her. They were in his car, in front of Sakura's house. Sakura had been unnaturally quiet all day, and he wondered what was wrong.
"No, Sasuke, I'm not okay." she admitted. Sasuke put his arm around her.
"Tell me."
Sakura paused. Should she tell him? What if he dumped her just for considering believing it? Or what if Zaku was right, and Sasuke admitted it. She looked into his onyx eyes, which were full of concern, and launched into her story.
Sasuke listened to her story, his face never changing. When she finished, Sakura looked into his eyes again, her own emerald ones begging him to tell her it was all a lie.
"Sakura, none of that is true." Sasuke said quietly. He saw the relief flood her eyes, and he hugged her tighter.
"I didn't believe it…. It just scared me is all." Sakura told him.
"Why would it scare you?" asked Sasuke, surprised.
"Because I thought that if it was true….then you would dump me right now for telling you….and I would know that you were that kind of guy." Sakura explained.
Sasuke put his hands on her shoulders and looked her right in the eye.
"I'm not like that Sakura, I swear. I would never do that to you." he told her.
"I know Sasuke, I know." Sakura answered.
She wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her lips to his. Sasuke responded and drew her in closer. He stroked her long hair with one hand while keeping her close with another. When they broke apart, both were smiling.
"I'll see you tomorrow, Sakura." said Sasuke as Sakura got out of the car.
She nodded and waved at him as he drove off.
As Sasuke drove, he thought about what had just happened. He was a bit unnerved that he had been thinking about Sakura's influence over him the same day Zaku had warned Sakura that he would dump her. He would never do that!
Would he?
Okay, this is a VERY IMPORTANT CHAPTER!!!! It won't come up again for a while, but trust me, it will come up.
No, Zaku is not dead. I know a lot of you probably wanted him to be….but alas! He lives.
It is so hard, thinking of new chapters! I have the overall story planned out, but not the individual chapters. Oh well!
If anyone has any questions (I don't know why you would, but it's just a precaution), be sure to ask.
And, that's about it.
Until next time!