Chapter Eleven

• • • • • • • • •

Parties, Exes and Drama

Oh, my!

• • • • • • • • •

Sakura's P.O.V.:

•

"Are you sure he won't mind me coming to the party?" Hikaru watched her from the corner of his eye while she continued driving to the Uchiha Manor.

Sakura nodded. "Itachi won't mind," she reassured. "He's only having this party because I suggested it, so I'm sure he won't mind if I bring a friend."

She saw him grin at the way she said friend and visibly relaxed before tensing again.

"What about that Sasuke guy?"

'Hm, I hadn't thought about that…' She thought about it for a second. Technically, it was Sasuke's house, too. But it would be on Itachi's wing of the Manor, so the decision was Itachi's.

"Nah, his opinion doesn't matter." She stated matter-of-factly. "It's Itachi's party, so he'll just have to go sulk in a corner about you being there, too."

Hikaru's blue-gray eyes were settled sharply on her as his brows furrowed momentarily. "Why is he so jealous in the first place?" he questioned. "Does he have a thing for you, or something?"

The pinkette's mouth opened then closed, and repeated the motion once again.

'Why is he so jealous?' She thought. 'I was just joking about him liking me, but what if he really does?'

She shook her head and glanced at her passenger. "I don't know."

•

Sasuke's P.O.V.:

•

The Uchiha Manor was decorated to perfection. The lobby remained untouched, so it kept its postmodern-contemporary style; chandeliers and expensive Italian and French furniture gave the room an alluringly expensive appeal. The walls held expensive paintings, one of which was a Picasso, and the floors had sofas and leather couches resting on them. From the two front doors, you could see the glass wall that allowed the viewing of their enormous pool with its own man-made waterfall.

Each person that entered stood dazzled and continued to stare. That's why Sasuke had made sure that the hired help were present to help guide the students and friends to Itachi's wing, where the refreshments, snacks and music had already ensued.

Sasuke himself was in his room, getting dressed, when Naruto came bursting in with two girls.

"Teme, you've got to get out there!" he shouted and held the girls around their waists. "The food is great, the music's awesome, and the girls are hot!" To emphasize his point, he turned to receive a kiss from each girl in his arms before they kissed each other.

The Uchiha's eyebrows shot up in amusement as his blond friend practically drooled over the two girls, who were still making-out.

"Okay, get out." He said after they stayed lip-locked for a few more moments. "Take that back to the party."

Naruto ushered the girls out and turned back to his raven haired friend before shutting the door. "I better see you out there soon, or I'm coming back with more girls." He winked and left.

Sighing, Sasuke finished getting dressed in a navy blue button-up and some black jeans with a pair of black, custom-made Jordan Retro 6s. Sure, they weren't the newest version, but they still looked great.

Now all that was left to do was going to party with his friends, and hopefully, all of them would be present…

•

Normal P.O.V.:

•

The party was in full swing by midnight. Most of the guests had arrived and were drinking and dancing, or sitting around in the various leather club chairs, talking with their friends.

One particular group was having the most fun, playing I've Never.

Naruto was in the middle of saying what he'd never done when Sasuke came descending into the Den, where the party was set up. Of course, the loud blond announced his arrival and gestured him towards their group.

"Teme," he said. "You took longer to get ready than the girls did!"

Their group laughed. Sasuke's brow twitched as he shot everyone a halfhearted glare–then he spotted a certain pink haired girl sitting beside a familiar stranger.

'What the fuck is he doing here?' he narrowed his eyes at the pair before plopping onto the leather sofa across from them.

Sakura simply returned his disdainful look and gave Hikaru an assuring pat on his thigh. Thankfully, there was a coffee table blocking Sasuke's view, but he was focusing so intensely on them that he noticed the movement.

'Great,' she thought when he glared at her hand. 'He probably thinks I'm giving him a hand job under the table.'

"So, are we gonna finish playing, or what?" Ino's voice broke through the tense silence that had followed his appearance.

Naruto brightened instantly and grinned. "Oh yeah," he said. "The game's called 'I've Never'. Someone names something that they've never done, and if you have, you can either take a drink or take something off."

Everyone nodded and those sharp onyx eyes left the pinkette's for a moment.

"Okay, so I've never robbed a bank."

Everyone glanced at Naruto and shook their heads. What were the odds that anyone had robbed a bank?

"Dobe,"

Next was Neji.

"I've never lost a fight." He stated smugly.

Naruto, Ino and Hikaru took a sip of their drinks and Sakura took off her jacket. That's when Sasuke noticed what she was wearing.

She had one of those black off-shoulder fitted shirts that went just below the curve of butt, and some skinny black denim shorts that ended at mid-thigh. She had on a shiny pink lip gloss and red and black earrings that dangled a few centimeters away from her shoulder. On her feet was a pair of black, red and white Jordan Heels. As she put her red half-jacket down onto the coffee table, I saw the slight bulge of her blackberry in its pocket.

She met my gaze across the table and straightened her red and black fitted Jordan cap.

He found himself wondering if she knew that red and black looked the best on her, and if that was why she'd chosen that pattern.

'Hn, knowing Sakura, she probably does.' He smirked at the thought and saw her tilt her head at him.

"Your turn, Tenten," Ino called to the girl across from her.

Chocolate-brown eyes looked around the circle. "Okay… I've never done drugs."

Sasuke took a drink along with Naruto and Kiba.

"Of course," Sakura muttered.

Next was Kiba, who grinned as he exchanged a meaningful glance with Naruto. "I've never gone skinny-dipping with someone of the same sex."

The brunette chuckled loudly as each of the girls took a drink or removed an article of clothing, even Hinata. The other guys watched with slightly wide eyes in surprise.

•

Sasuke's P.O.V.:

•

They hadn't all gone skinny-dipping together… had they?

Ino had removed her earrings, Sakura took off her Bite Me wristband, and the others had simply taken a drink. The blond girl was wearing a tight, strapless navy blue cocktail dress with rhinestones decorating the stomach. He had to admit; she looked good; the dress showed off her curves and stopped a little below mid-thigh.

The shy Hyuuga girl looked… interesting tonight. She was wearing a deep purple halter dress with a gold trimming under her breasts, which were look rather juicy from the cleavage she was showing. Naruto sure seemed to appreciate it. He was practically ogling her.

That Tenten chick was wearing blue skinny jeans and a white tube top with some white sneakers. I really don't know what Hyuuga sees in her; she's too much of a tomboy for my tastes.

And then there's… What's-her-face, the chick that Shikamaru's into.

Speaking of that lazy bastard, where was he? I hadn't seen him when I came in, so he's either in a corner or… a bedroom.

Sasuke shuddered and turned back to his friends, who were listening intently on Sakura as she and Ino told a short version of the story.

She laughed. "So Ino notices that the guys are watching us, and she's like, 'Let's put on a show'!" the blond girl nodded with a huge smile. 'So we all go behind the building and take off out bikinis then come back out with nothing but towels on."

"They looked like they were gonna catch nosebleeds!" Ino squealed excitedly. "It was hilarious!"

"I bet you looked really hot."

Suddenly, we all quieted. Who the fuck did this newbie think he was? Who gave him permission to speak?

The others, however, didn't seem to care. He was the only one who was upset, and remained silent while they all chuckled at the comment and continued the game. When it was his turn, he had an idea.

'If I can't kick him out, I'll scare him away.' He smirked inwardly as he thought carefully. Then he got it:

"I've never killed someone."

At first, everyone laughed at his statement, assuming it was just playful banter. Then, when Sakura paled and took a drink, the grins faded and smiles dropped to open shock. Hikaru looked alarmed, even more so than the others, since he didn't know that she was in a gang.

As everyone continued to stare, the pinkette excused herself and left the Den, followed by her date and Sasuke. She had gotten ahead of them, so the Uchiha used it to his advantage and grabbed the other boy by the back of his shirt.

"Hey– What the hell, man?" he glanced back in the direction that Sakura had gone before settling his gaze his captor. "I need to go talk to her." He added in an urgent tone.

"You don't even know her." He growled. "What makes you think you'd even know what to say?"

Hikaru hesitated and looked as if he were really considering it. This alone had Sasuke chuckling inwardly.

"Go home," he said, turning his back to her date. "And if you ever set foot on my property again, you'll wish you hadn't."

With that, he left to find Sakura, and secretly hoped she wasn't angry with him. He found her at the bar of the East Wing–his wing.

"What are you doing?" he called from the doorway. She didn't acknowledge him; she just sat there and stared across the room. He moved closer and sat on the stool beside her.

She finally said something. "Where's Hikaru?" she asked, still not looking at him.

"Gone," he said a little more bitterly than he'd meant to. She noticed.

"What did you do?" she growled, her emerald eyes flashing in that sexy way.

'Hmm,' he watched her with an amused smirk. 'She still looks as fierce as ever.'

"Nothing," he said emotionlessly. "The pansy just left."

He was hoping that she'd grow angrier– at Hikaru, not him. But she didn't; she seemed to almost deflate and her eyes gained a sad twinkle in their green depths. Sasuke found himself feeling guilty as her lower lip trembled.

"He must think I'm a monster." She whispered in disappointment and self-disgust.

'Shit,' his eyes grew a little frantic. 'What do I do?'

'Idiot, take her to the girls!' his inner suggested. 'She could use a drink, too.'

"Come on." He walked to the doorway and glanced back. "We don't have all damn day, Haruno." He said, annoyed that she wasn't following.

She slowly rose as well. "I'm coming."

•

Ino's P.O.V.:

•

"Chug, chug, chug, chug, chug!" A group of guys and girls were gathered around Naruto as he lay on his back with a clear tube in his mouth and beer being poured into the funnel at the top of the tube.

Ino stood in to crowd and cheered loudly as he downed it all and raised his arms in a victory stance. She and Hinata sat a little off to the side, at the mini-lounge section that had leather sofas on a platform with a few steps.

"N-Naruto sure can hold his alcohol." The Hyuuga mused with a small smile.

The blond shook her head. "Oh, no you don't!" she said. "Don't start with that nervous stuttering again, Hinata."

"Sorry, Ino," she muttered with another shy smile. "I'm just so used to it…"

"Ino."

The two girls turned to see Sasuke standing behind them with Sakura a little bit behind him. Those gorgeous blue eyes hardened slightly.

"Yes, Sasuke?" she asked defiantly, earning her a twitch from his brow.

He ran a hand through his dark hair and shot her a slightly pleading look before gesturing to the pinkette. "Her date bailed," he said simply. "So I thought she could use a drink; and since you are the Drink Specialist, I thought…"

He let the rest hang in the air, but it was clear to both girls that he was asking for a favor and thought that Ino would be the perfect person to help.

She thought about it for a moment before glancing at Sakura and agreeing. "Fine," she rose from the sofa and put on a smile as she led her two friends to the bar. "C'mon Sakura, you need a Screaming Orgasm."

•

Sasuke's P.O.V.:

•

Sasuke spent the next hour talking to a drunken Naruto and watching Sakura out of the corner of his eye. At this point, his blond best friend was making absolutely no sense, and the pinkette was on her fifth drink.

'She can hold her liquor.' He thought in amusement as she stood and only staggered slightly.

Suddenly, the idiot beside him tried to envelope him in a one-arm hug, but only succeeded in throwing his weight onto the raven haired boy.

"Dobe," he growled in irritation. "Get the fuck off of me!"

The only response he received was a broken slur and gurgle. He was so absorbed on trying to get free of Naruto's intoxicated grasp that he didn't notice that Sakura had sidled into the seat across from him.

A light giggle caught his attention. He turned and saw all three of the girls watching him and the loudmouth in amusement.

"Here, Sasuke," Hinata said slowly. "I'll take Naruto to one of your guest bedrooms."

The Uchiha assumed that a drink or two were responsible for her slight slur, but nodded anyway and allowed her and Ino to drag Naruto's body out of the Den.

Now it was just him and her.

Or, at least, they were sitting alone. There was a man that had been watching her for quite some time now, despite the glares that Sasuke sent his way.

He had unusual, short orange hair and his nose had multiple piercings, as did his ears. He was dressed in black and red, and Sasuke wondered if he knew Sakura, since they both were wearing the same color pattern.

"Sasuke, what are you staring at?"

He snapped out of his reverie and found that she was gazing quizzically at him. He shook his head and said that it was nothing, but there was definitely a sort of familiarity in that guy's eyes when he looked at her…

Sakura rose and sat beside him on the sofa, rather closely, too.

He raised an eyebrow at her, which she grinned at.

"Have you ever had a Screaming Orgasm?" she asked with a seductive sort of innocence, as if she knew that what she'd said had a double meaning, but she was pretending that it was pure curiosity.

So he decided to play along, making his voice deep and husky, he said, "I've had tons."

She blushed and he smirked in satisfaction. Now it was her move.

"Well I just had one, but" she threw one leg across his lap and leaned into his ear with her left hand on his right pectoral muscle and her other on his left bicep.

"I really want something that isn't on the menu."

•

Sakura's P.O.V.:

•

'Where the hell did that come from?'

Sakura honestly didn't know what was going on tonight. First her date ditched her, and then Sasuke was actually nice to her. And, of course, Ino noticed and said that he was "totally gonna hit on her", which they wagered on. And now, she was flirting with him–and he was flirting back!

Maybe he wasn't such a jerk after all…

"And what is it that you want, Sa-ku-ra?" he asked, still smirking with a perfectly dark brow raised.

Grinning at his cooperation, she fully semi-straddled him and placed an open-mouthed kiss below his ear. She felt his heartbeat speedup slightly and trailed a hand down his chest.

"I want…" she stayed at his ear and whispered, "I want you."

She paused there for a moment before pulling back to meet his clouded gaze. Their eyes stayed locked onto the other's until he broke their held gazes to stare at her lips. She did the same, and before she knew it, they were both leaning forward, with their lips only a breath apart–

– Just as their lips brushed, someone tapped her shoulder and loudly cleared their throat.

Sakura laid her forehead against his as she let out an irritated sigh and he just closed his eyes in annoyance.

"Motherfucker." He muttered almost inaudibly, but she'd heard it.

She turned to tell off whoever had interrupted them, but froze as she met a pair of familiar, blue-ish eyes. Her veins felt as if they'd frozen as they continued to gaze at each other, her eyes showing how confused she was while his were blank and held only the smallest tinge of regret.

'Pain…' her mouth moved, but no sound came out. She couldn't breathe, and it didn't help that her neck was twisted to peer behind her.

Sakura climbed off of Sasuke's lap and stood beside him instead. She glanced at him as his onyx eyes rose to see who had surprised her so much and she saw them narrow as he saw Pain.

•

Normal P.O.V.:

•

Everything was silent for a moment before Sasuke broke the silence with a noise of exasperation.

"Who are you?" he asked impatiently, glancing between him and a panicked-looking Sakura.

However, he just ignored the question and looked to the slightly pale girl before him. The one he hadn't seen for quite some time now. The one he used to love…

"Long time no see, Sakura." He said smoothly

'So she does know this guy.' The Uchiha glared at the other male as he continued to try to talk to her.

"You seem… different." He mused with a faint smile. "Hopefully Sasori and Hidan have been treating you well?"

She didn't jump into the conversation, though. She just stood there, hands clenched at her sides.

"What do you want, Pain?" she asked quietly, as if it pained her to speak at all.

'Jeez, what happened between these two?' Sasuke stood and was about to excuse himself and Sakura, but Pain had other plans.

As if he had just remembered that there was another person with them, his features hardened and all amusement left his voice; Sasuke found it kind of insulting.

"We need to talk, Sakura," he urged dully. "It's of the utmost importance."

At first, she shook her head, but then she reconsidered.

'I don't want to leave Sasuke,' she glanced at him and saw that he, too, was watching her. 'But… Pain is here. Who knows when I'll ever see him again?'

She nodded. "I think that you at least owe me an explanation for why you abandoned us, your family, for a pack of strangers."

Sasuke raised both brows and stared at the orange haired man. He was clearly older than both of them; then again, so were most of the people she hung out with outside of school.

Before he led her from the room, she turned to Sasuke and gave an apologetic half smile.

"Sorry Sasuke," she murmured. "This is important." And with that, she hurried after Pain, and left him to wallow in self-pity.

'What did he have that I didn't?' he found himself asking rhetorically. Apparently, he and Sakura had history that hadn't ended well, but it wasn't like they were best friends either.

After 30 minutes of pointless waiting, he gave up and trudged over to the bar, where he indulged himself in two Mind Erasers, a Red Death #2, a Red Headed Slut, then he did Jello Shots off of that red headed slut, Karin (who practically clung to him all night) and, surprisingly, Ino.

The girl he really wanted to party with had disappeared, and he didn't know where to. Sasuke just hoped that he would forget everything that had happened that night, especially the part where Sakura just walked off with another guy.

It definitely hurt more than he had anticipated.