The Trick is to Keep Breathing

Chapter 2

When It Isn't Like It Should Be

July 29th - Love is.

A/N: Know that Sakura and Ino are roommates.

"Sakura, let me in."

Sakura sighed and turned to the blond sitting on the bed across from her. "What are you talking about, Ino?" she asked tiredly, not even bothering to keep the disinterest out of her voice.

Ino frowned at her, "I'm talking about the fact that you're obviously keeping something from me. Now spill - you know we're not supposed to keep secrets from each other." She paused then to give Sakura time to reply. When she remained silent, Ino ventured a guess, "Are you worrying about that damn Sasuke again? Because if you are - "

"Ino, please!" Sakura responded, quickly and effectively shutting her friend up. She still couldn't handle hearing people talk about him. "That's not it, okay?"

"Well then what is 'it'?" Ino replied loudly, barely containing the hurt she felt at not being privy to a part of Sakura's life. For years now, they had been telling each other everything. Now what could be so bad that Sakura couldn't confide in her?

"It's nothing, Ino," Sakura responded, stretching out and turning away from her. "So just leave me alone, okay?" Her last words were muffled by the blanket she had just pulled over her head.

Sakura suddenly wished that she'd decided to go home for Christmas vacation - but then it would just have been her mother pestering her. She sighed softly - was there nowhere that she could get some peace and quiet?

Sakura let out another sigh as she heard the soft squeak of Ino's bed springs, then her quiet footsteps. Oh boy - she was coming over. She was right - in just a few minutes, the blanket slid off of her face and Ino came into view.

Ino stared unblinkingly into Sakura's eyes, her expression concerned and a little bit sad. "I'm just worried about you, Forehead," she murmurred, shaking her head slightly. "You're not acting like yourself - you don't go out, you spend all of your time in bed, you don't talk to anyone besides me and Naruto and you barely tell us anything. Can you blame me for being concerned?"

Sakura looked away, trying to fight the guilt that suddenly threatened to overwhelm her - she had been so upset lately that she hadn't really given any thought to the way this looked to her friends. "I'm sorry, Ino," she replied finally, moving aside to make room for her on the bed, "I'm just not ready to talk right now."

Ino climbed onto the little bed and settled in beside her, turning her brilliant blue eyes upon the ceiling above them. She desperately wanted to ask "why" but she figured that that probably wouldn't get her anywhere - except kicked out of bed. "It's okay, Forehead," she replied, then promptly added, "just promise you'll tell me as soon as you can."

Sakura smiled faintly and nodded, not even bothered by the fact that it caused her head to bump into Ino's elbow, "I promise."

They remained silent for a long while, contemplating the checkered pattern on the ceiling before Ino, unable to leave things as they were, inclined her head slightly in Sakura's direction and whispered, "But is it something big?"

"Yes, Ino," Sakura replied, not venturing any more information.

"Life-changing?"

There was a pause, then Sakura nodded almost imperceptibly. It was a good thing Ino was lying next to her otherwise she might have missed it.

"Wow," Ino muttered, "now I really want to know."

Sakura rolled her eyes, then moved closer and rested her head on her friend's shoulder before closing her eyes and pulling the blanket up around them. "Don't worry, Ino," she replied, a faint smile touching her cheeks, "you'll know soon enough."

Ino stared wistfully at the pink head on her shoulder before finally letting out a small sigh and closing her eyes as well. "Whatever you say, Sakura," she responded as she turned off the light.

A/N: Love is having someone to count on. I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Thanks for reading! Feel free to drop me a line.