A/N: I'm getting all of my stories caught up now. Yay! Well last two chapters weren't Sasuke's POV so lets get back into his clouded head. Do you like it being a NaruHina and SasuSaku story? I have some heavily emotional stuff for Sasuke's past, and I don't feel like having NaruHina being in here helps unify the story. But at the same time I want to develop their relationship, too. Let me know in a review!
Sasuke POV
(Thursday 6:30pm—end of basketball practice)
As I sling my gym bag onto my shoulders, I hear footsteps approaching me. I look over my shoulder to see the blond knucklehead coming my way. I note some worry in his eyes and try to ignore him. As I start to walk out of the gym, though, I hear him following me. "Sasuke, hey!"
"What do you want, Naruto?" I say in an indifferent tone. He catches up to me and grabs my arm. "You've seemed off all week, and you keep missing your shots. Is something up—"
"It's none of your concern." I break my arm out of his grip and continue out into the setting sunlight and towards my car. He continues to follow me at a slower pace, then finally yells,"Does it have anything to do with Saturday?" I flinch.
"Shut up, Dobe." I mutter as I open the door and throw my bag inside. I climb inside and slam the door shut as Naruto starts to run over. I pull out of the parking lot, leaving my friend alone with no idea what has happened. I try to leave my thoughts behind by driving away as fast as I can, but they start to filter in anyway. As I drive down the road my mind goes back to Tenten's words on Sunday.
"She's confused and I think you should apologize for hurting the poor girl." These words strike a chord in my heart. I feel my promises of the past get broken over and over from the last few years, and I have caused them to happen. I have been the one to hurt Sakura. Well, not me, but the situation that has pulled me away from the girl and her care. But she doesn't see it that way—or does she? Sakura is an intelligent woman, I'll give her that.
Although Sakura does has enough problems besides worrying about my well being. There's no way she can change what has happened to me, and there's no telling what she'd think if she found out. No one needs to know about it...
I'm still driving while lost in thought, until I realize I'm not driving home. Instead I have been driving to the pinkette's home across town. I've come to the realization too late, though, because I am already passing her neighbor's home and in front of her own driveway. The same home she has lived in since our shared childhood looks just like it had for many years before her family moved in.
Even in the semidarkness, her long driveway and open floral garden look as inviting as it had the last time I was here, which was probably about five years ago. We were twelve and it was shortly after I understood her feelings for me had grown into more than friendship. It was also when all my problems had started that led to pushing her specifically out of my life. Others have never been too close to me anyway, and I'm not one with a big social life for them to notice my absence either. But it was Sakura who noticed, and it was Sakura who has gotten hurt.
"Sasuke, hi, it's me. I uh, I wanted to see if you would like to hang out this weekend. It's been so long and I kind of miss having a study partner. Call me back...Bye." I hear her end of the line click and the message ends there. I stare at my phone for a moment, then set it back down.
I've already got plans to work on a project with Hinata Hyuga. I can't exactly figure out a new day considering its due next week. I'll just have to tell Sakura it won't work out. I decide to text her about it later, although I never do.
I don't see the pinkette anywhere around school the next two days. But I do see Hinata that Saturday. We work on our project until it is completely finished, with little words to spare. We work in silence, and I welcome it with open arms. Silence and solitude have been my closest friends. Once it is done we exchange some information that we each had researched on our own, and then I say goodbye.
Before I leave the large mansion, Neji stops me for a moment. We discuss some things with basketball, and he invites me over to watch the big game on the last Friday of the month. He says that normally Tenten and he watch it, but he wanted to get some friends together. I hesitantly say yes. He smiles, then lets me leave.
After this night, I stop seeing Sakura around school altogether. Somewhat curious I nonchalantly question Naruto, who has been friendzoned by her for years. He says that she doesn't hang around much with anyone lately, but has been working and studying nonstop. He said he has overheard Ino even mention my name, although he had no idea why. Then it struck me that I never answered her invite. I feel my blood run cold at the thought of hurting her yet again.
I sit in my car, pulled over on the side of the street, wondering what my next move will be. I should just leave and pretend this never happened, but for some reason I can't move my arms to steer away. Then I hear a knock on my window. I snap my head to my left and peer through the dark tinted window to see a slender figure. Knowing exactly who it is, I decide to roll down the window and see her face.
Her short hair has been placed in a bun on top of her head, and she is wearing a worker's uniform. I can see a glistening of sweat on her forehead, which indicates that she has been working hard. Although I probably don't look much better given I have recently finished basketball practice.
"Why are you here?" She's trying to sound uninterested, but her eyes show suspicion and curiosity. I pause to think on what my answer is, but instead end up rolling the window back up and getting out of the car. Her arms are crossed while waiting for an answer, but then she checks her watch. "I've got to go. I just finished work with my Dad in the yard and I've got to be at work in fifteen minutes...If you have anything to say, just say it, Sasuke."
"I...I'm sorry. That's what I wanted to say." Her eyes become softer and a small smile creeps onto her lips. "Hmm...I guess I'll forgive you this time." She teases. A pit starts to grow in my stomach as I realize everything that I've done to hurt her still doesn't change her attitude towards me. She still thinks she can heal my wounds.
"Do you have a ride? I can take you if you want." The words slip out of my mouth before I can stop them. She looks back down at her watch. "Well normally I walk. It's just right around the corner so it only takes a few minutes. But...I guess I can make an exception for you." I nod my head and beckon her to come on in. Once seated we drive off silently and take a turn to the left. A minute later we have reached the small coffee shop. With no more words exchanged she unbuckles her seatbelt and starts to climb out. I start to think of something to say, and can only think of one thing. "Wanna do something tomorrow night?"
Her look of surprise mirrors the emotions that have bubbled up inside of me this week. She thinks for a minute and then asks what we would do. I shrug my shoulders and explain that she can decide. "I'll–I'll text you then. But be ready by...let's say five o' clock?" I nod in agreement and give her a smirk. "See you tomorrow then, Sakura." She smiles and shuts the door, then walks into the shop.
As I head in the direction of my own home, I question my own actions. Without even thinking of it I have continued Tenten's stupid dare. Great.
(8 pm)
"Sasuke, is that you?" I slam the front door shut and slide off my shoes. I respond to my mother with a short yes and continue down the hall towards the staircase. I ascend until I reach the top, and then walk down the hall to my room on the far left. I uncontrollably flinch as I walk by Itachi's room, even though I know no one is in there.
I place my gym bag by my desk and start to pull out the dirty clothing, then throw them into the hamper. I walk into my own bathroom and decide to take a shower. Once I strip off my clothing and turn the water on, I stand there with the water cascading down my skin and hair. After finishing a few minutes later I dry myself off with a towel and steal a glance into the mirror.
Some of the scars left long ago have turned into light pink or even white streaks across my chest, but others are newer and keep the fresher memories in my head. I pull over my shirt as I notice myself starting to shake from the memories. I am ashamed of the person I have seen in the mirror since it started.
I try to think of something else, but all that comes up is the pain that I have caused Sakura because of my own torment. Fully dressed, I step back into my bedroom and work on my homework that is due in the morning. Someone knocks on my door, and I mumbled something to let them know I'm listening.
My mother gently opens my door and enters my bedroom. She looks over at me, sitting at the desk with books all open, and sits down onto my bed. She starts to twirl a lock of her own hair in a way that reminds me of Sakura, and I quickly turn back to my books. Finally she sighs, "Itachi has called. He said he will be back home in a few weeks. There was an emergency call a few hours away and he had to deal with it. He didn't have any time to call until now. Working as an officer sure gets you far away and busy, nowadays...I thought you would be glad to know he isn't missing, Sasuke."
She kisses my wet hair and then walks out of the room. She thinks her words have calmed my spirit, but they have only set me on fire. My stomach churns just thinking about him. I get the urge to run down and pull her close, then tell her what is really happening, but I don't. I don't because then she will try to change it, and I have realized that no words can change the past—and the inevitable future. At least I know when he will be back to break me more.
No, no one should love a broken boy like me. If only Sakura knew.
A/N: I thought I had it set in my head what was going to be the problem, but I'm still trying to decide. I might raise the rating up because of it, so be prepared. If I go with my original plan I won't have any flashbacks of the situation, though. Let me know what you guys think—please leave a review!