Trial and Error – Chapter Seven
Standard disclaimer applies
From: Sasuke
Morning, sunshine. Have I ever told you that you're amazing?
It's moments like this that make me remember why I fell in love with Sasuke in the first place. He really isn't the type, but occasionally he pops something like this out of nowhere and, bam. My stupid heart goes racing and I smile like an idiot.
Even though I'm crying about him more often than not, it's these things that I hold onto. Maybe it's really just screwing with my emotions, but it feels like maybe he means it more often than he says. Like he tries to keep his emotions in check. And even if it goes against every logic part of me, I'll stay with him because I'm so used to just waiting for these rare moments that I don't want to know what it's like without them.
Going to the beach in the middle of November sounds pretty crazy. Konoha gets windy in the autumn, and the breeze off the ocean makes it down-right freezing. But Naruto has his ways and convinced a bunch of people that it'd be fine. He got lucky. It's an unusually warm day, making it pretty nice. A little bit too cool to strip down to nothing, but still manageable.
"Teme!" Naruto slings his arm around my shoulder. We're sitting on the hood of his minivan, waiting for everyone else to show up for the carpool. "Ino and I have got the perfect way to set you and Sakura-chan up today."
"Hm?"
"Well," Ino checks her hair and makeup in the reflection of the car pointless to spend so much time on things that will just get ruined in the wind. "Obviously, it's going to be tight squeeze getting everyone into the cars. So, we can just make sure that you and Sakura get stuck together in a row together and rekindle your love. Simple!"
It's still early and right now, I can't really see how this plan could go disastrously wrong. "Sounds good."
Naruto grins. "See, teme? We're pretty much geniuses!"
Naruto's planned seating arrangement didn't work out. Everyone piled into the van as quickly as possible. I end up sitting shotgun while Sakura is pressed in between Kiba and Tenten in the back. So maybe fitting ten kids into a seven-seater car wasn't a brilliant idea. Tenten is zoned out, listening to her iPod. Which leaves Sakura and Kiba together.
Kiba's sort of like another version of Naruto – outgoing, confident, and friendly. He's not quite as stupid, though, and a total ladies' man. They had a "thing" back during the time in the Academy. It wasn't anything serious, seeing as we were thirteen, but they've always been really good friends. Seeing them sitting together so closely and looking so happy makes me doubt that it'll be a good day.
Sakura has always been an attractive girl. During our years in the Academy, she would get teased, but really, even though her features aren't exactly ordinary, she manages to come off as effortlessly pretty. I've always thought so at least.
And especially today, I want to bash my head into a wall for ever screwing up enough to lose her. The moment the van reached the beach, all the girls throw off their clothes to reveal various swimsuits. While other girls might have more defined curves, Sakura's body captures me attention instantly.
She has on a red bikini. The top is in a halter fashion and the bottom is accompanied by a little ruffled skirt. It's the kind of outfit that gets guys fantasizing in an instant. When we were together, I ignored her on days when she looked especially good. Even when it was tempting to hit the guys that complimented her shamelessly, I stayed away. Being the jealous, over-controlling boyfriend wasn't cool.
But today is different. It's not that I want to rip off her clothes right now. The stupid tingeing in my chest just makes me want to hold her and not let go.
"Oi, Sakura! Up for some volleyball?" Kiba throws his shirt in the general direction of his towel as he picks up a ball. "Me and you against Ino and Nara – what do you say? We're the dream team after all!"
It sort of hurts that she doesn't even glance my way before agreeing.
I'm beginning to realize that today is probably a colossal waste of time.
It wasn't like I expected that we'd be snuggling up under a towel or anything, but I thought we'd at least have some kind of interaction. It's getting close to sunset, and the only thing I've done, according to the dobe is "sulk like a five-year-old that just got a time-out." Coming from him, it's a pretty low blow.
"This was a waste of time."
"Hey! Don't blame me for your lack of doing, well, anything! Jeez, take up some initiative, teme. Isn't that what you've told yourself you'd do?"
"Dobe, I… can't."
"Pity parties don't suit your fat ego. Come on, you're even making me feel awkward with all your emo-ness. Perk up! I mean, I'm sure you'll eventually grow up and have the guts to – oh! Head's up!" I turn to see what Naruto's looking at.
"There you are!" Sand kicks up behind Sakura as she runs across the beach. She's wearing shorts and a sweatshirt over her bikini from before. "I've been looking for you."
"Yeah?" Even though I should be happy that she's here now, I can't shake the image of her and Kiba being so happy together. Maybe it's a pansy thing to do, but I can't help and wonder if I ever made her that happy when we were a couple.
"I've got something that I think you'll like. Want to check it out?"
It's something that I've never told her. But when she looks at me with her eyes sparkling and a smile on her face, I can't say no. It doesn't matter if I think something's stupid or whatever, I'll do it. Just so I'm not the reason her smile fades. "Ah, sure…"
"Great! Come on!" Before I know what happened, she pulls me up towards the boardwalk. Her small hand wraps around my wrist. Naruto gives a thumbs up and a trademark grin before scuttling away to be closer to Hinata.
She drags me out towards the end of the boardwalk. I can't help but notice the abundance of couples walking from shop to shop – guys with their arms around a girl's shoulders, or intertwined fingers, or just touching in some way. Sakura doesn't notice, apparently, because she hasn't let go of my hand.
"We're almost there. Quick!" She unexpectedly spins to stand in front of me, and we bump into each other. She quickly steps back, a light blush on her cheeks. "Uh… Close your eye, okay?"
Some part of me doesn't want to do it. Not that I'm expecting she'll mug me or anything, but some part of me doesn't believe anything good with come of it. When we dated, I was the one that had the control. I would tell her to close her eyes and then pull her under the mistletoe or bring out her birthday present, not the other way around.
"I…"
"Oh, come on!"
"Sakura…"
"Just trust me for once, okay?" She doesn't break eye contact.
Her grip on my wrists tightens when my eyes shut. It feels awkward not being able to see where we're going, but the warmth of her hand is slightly comforting. The smell of the sea is caught up in the breeze. The air is noticeable cooler, but the weak warmth of the sun still lingers a bit. We walk along for another five minutes before she signals for a stop.
"Alright – open your eyes."
We're standing at the edge of a pier. The horizon has splotches of blood orange with the setting sun. The water reflects the colors and the light dances off its surface. Sakura sighs as she leans against the railing. The smile is back on her face as she examines the sky.
"I always love coming to the beach near sunset. My dad would take me to this exact spot when I was a kid. He used to say that you could see the future in the horizon. It's so pretty, don't you think?" She glances at me, and then quickly opens her mouth again. "I mean, not that you think it's pretty. It's sort of a rhetorical question, I guess. You don't really like coming outside all too much. And you probably hate all the sand and the crowds and…"
"It's not too bad." Her head whips around to look at me. Her eyes are full of shock and her mouth is practically gaping open.
"What did you just say?"
"Hn. It's okay out here." And it's not just the view. Her hand is still loosely wrapped around mine. I squeeze it, even though it's the kind of thing that only happens in cheesy romantic comedies.
Sakura blushes and turns her head toward the ocean, but doesn't let go. "I told you it'd be fine, you know."
"Ah." And even though it's unexpected, I guess I have another accomplishment to check off the list.
Step six – trust her: check. And maybe it's something I should have done a long time ago.
Last update of 2011! Guys... we're coming to an end here. Sasuke-babycakes is growing up!
If you love me you should all go check out Moments. (shameless self-promoter, I remind you)
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(And I'm off to bring in the new year with the Big Bang Theory, fanfics, and tumblr)