Hi there readers! Here's a new chappie, hehe! Now, thanks a lot to everyone who alerted, reviewed and favored! Just know, that this teen girl is VERY happy!
Sorry for my late update! My internet was cut off for the weekend!
Now, in this chappie there is Hidan and Sakura's date, some (a lot of) drama, a bit of humor and a whole bunch of stuff! Sasuke also gets depressed! Now, as I promised I will update two chappies in one day, so in about an hour or , I'll update the next chappie!
Many more people are present, including one of my favorite Akatsuki members, Kakuzu... Well, he's only here for about a while!
Now, disclaimers: Like I say, I do NOT own the plot of Perfect Chemistry, I only own the thought of doing so, edits and add-ons! Simone Elkeles owns the plot and Kishimoto-sempai owns the characters except for a few people!
Written By: Kumi-Chan/Tobi-Is-Fluffy-Chan
Chapter 5: The Tilt-A-Whirl!
Sakura
One thing in life is certain... I am not making out with Sasuke Uchiha.
Thankfully Mrs. Tsunade had us busy doing experiments all week, giving us no time to talk except about who's going to light the Bunsen burner. Although every time I looked at Sasuke's bandaged arm it reminded me of when I whacked him.
I'm not trying to think about him while I gloss my lips for my date with Hidan. It's Friday night and we're going to dinner and a movie. I look in the mirror, admiring the dark blue single strap dress that I wore that stopped just above my knees and looked down at the black high heels.
After double-checking and triple-checking myself in the mirror, and attaching the Tiffany's bracelet he gave me for our anniversary last year, I head to the backyard, where my sister is in our pool with her physical therapist. My mom, wearing her pink velour cover-up, is lounging on a chaise reading some home-design magazine.
It's pretty quiet, except for the physical therapist's voice instructing Yoshiko.
Mom puts down her magazine, her face tight and stern. "Sakurako, don't be out past ten thirty."
"We're seeing an eight-o' clock movie, Mom. We'll be home after that." I explain, rolling my eyes a bit.
"You heard what I said. No later than ten thirty. If you have to leave the movie early to get home on time, so be it. Hidan's parents won't respect a girl without a curfew."
Our doorbell rings. "That's probably him," I say.
"You better hurry up and get it. A boy like that won't wait forever you know."
I rush to the front door before my mom does it for me and makes a fool out of the both of us. Hidan is standing on our front stoop with a dozen red roses in his hand.
"For you," he says surprising me.
Wow! I'm feeling stupid for thinking about Alex so much this past week. I hug Hidan and give him a kiss, a real one on the lips.
"Let me put these in water," I chime, stepping back.
I hum happily as I walk to the kitchen, smelling their sweet fragrance. Putting water in a vase, I wonder if Sasuke ever brought his girlfriend flowers. Sasuke probably brings his dates sharp knifes as gifts, in case she'll need one when she's out on a date with him... Or when she wants to feel adrenaline and bleed a little. Being with Hidan is so...
Boring?
No. We're not boring. We're safe. Comfortable. Cute. (A/N: No. You're boring.)
After cutting the bottoms off the roses and placing them in the vase, I find Hidan chatting with my mom on the patio, something I really don't want him doing.
"Ready?" I ask, winking at him.
Hidan flashes me a toothy grin. "Yep."
"Have her back by ten thirty," my mom calls out. As if a girl with a curfew equals high morals. It's ridiculous, but I look at Yoshiko and swallow my arguement.
"Sure thing, Mrs. Ellis," Hidan responds as we walk out the door. As we enter his Mercedes car, he unloosens his neck-tie. "Finally!" He exclaims. "I hate that fucking neck tie..." He trails off, focusing on the road now.
I roll my eyes, once again. It's so like him. I however, smile at that. I plant a small kiss on his cheek.
"What movie are we seeing?" I question.
"Change in plans." He says, slicking back his silver colored hair. "My dad's firm got tickets to the Cubs game. In a suite right behind home plate. Babe, we're fucking goin' to watch them play." He finishes.
"How cool. Will we be back by ten thirty?" Because I know without a doubt my mom will be waiting at the door for me.
"If they don't go into extra innings. Does you mom think you'll turn into a fucking pumpkin or something?" I take hold of his hand. "No. It's just that, well... I don't want to upset her."
"No offense, but your mom is strange as fuck. She's a sexy, hot MILF, but totally off the fucking wall."
I take my hand back, grimacing, "Eww! Hidan, you just called my mom a MILF! I'm completely grossed out."
"Please, Saku." He glances in my direction. "Your mom looks more like your twin sister than you're sister. She's as hot as a babe like you."
She works out so much... I admit her body looks like a thirty-year old than a fourty-five-year old's. But to think my boyfriend is hot for my mom is just a big ass plain yuck!
At the game, Hidan leads me to his dad's corporate suite at Wringly Field. The box is crowaded with people from a bunch of downtown law firms. Hidan's parents greet us. He's so at home here; he's in his element. He shakes hands, smiles wide, and laughs at everyone's jokes whether they're funny or not.
"Let's watch the game in the seats over there," he says, leading me to the suite's seat after we get hot dogs and drinks from the food bar. "I'm hoping to get an internship next summer," he says quietly. "So I gotta get face time with these guys."
When a very tan and tall man named, "Kakuzu" appears next to us, Hidan goes into full-on business mode. I watch in admiration as he talks with Mr. Kakuzu as if they're old friends... Although at some point, they were bickering about something but quickly patched things up. My boyfriend definitely has a knack for schmoozing people.
"I hear you want to follow in your father's footsteps," Mr. Kakuzu blurts out. His voice is pretty deep and solemn... Kind of scary. (A/N: I love Kakuzu's voice...)
"Yes, sir," Hidan responds, then they start talking about football and stocks and whatever Hidan brings up to keep Mr. Kakuzu talking.
Moriko calls on my cell and I give her highlights of the game and we talk while I'm waiting for Hidan to finish talking to Mr. Kakuzu. She tells me she had the best time at this dance club called Club Mystique that will let in teens. She insists Ten-Ten and I will love it there.
At the seventh-inning stretch, Hidan and I stand and sing "Take Me Out to the Ball Game." We're totally out of tune, but it doesn't matter because right now it sounds as if the thousands of people singing are as out of tune as we are. He grabs me from behind and pulls me closer to him. It feels good to be with Hidan like this, having fun together. It makes me think I've been overcritical of our relationship.
At nine forty-five, I turn to Hidan and tell him we need to start heading home even though the game isn't over.
He takes my hand in his. I think he's going to excuse himself from conversation with Mr. Kakuzu. Instead, Mr. Kakuzu calls over some other business owner.
As the minutes tick by, I'm getting nervous. There has been enough tension in my house. I don't want to cause more. "Hidan..." I whisper, squeezing his hand.
He puts his arm around me in response.
At he top of the ninth inning, when it's past ten, I say, "I'm sorry, but Hidan has to drive me home now."
Mr. Kakuzu and the other guy shake Hidan's hand, then I pull him out of the park.
"Saku, do you know how fucking hard it is to get an internship under that old fart?"
I let out an irritated sigh.
"At this point, I don't care. Hidan, I needed to be home by ten thirty." I sigh.
He shrugs his shoulders. "So you'll be home by eleven. Tell your mom we got stuck in traffic." Hidan doesn't know what my mom is like when she's in one of her moods. Thankfully I've been able to avoid bringing him around the house often and if he comes over, it's just for a few minutes or less. He has no clue what it's like when my mom goes off on me.
We pull into my driveway not at eleven, but closer to eleven thirty. Hidan is still pumped about the possible internship with Mr. Kakuzu while listening to the after-game recap on WGN radio.
"I gotta go," I tell him, leaning over for a quick kiss.
"Stay here for a few minutes," he says against my lips. He kisses me even harder. "We haven't fooled around in, like, forever. I fucking miss it." He runs his fingers through my hair and his hands roam down my back.
I let out another sigh. "Me, too. But it's late." I give him a look of apology. "We'll have more nights together."
He rolls his eyes. "Hopefully sooner than later."
I walk into my house, prepared to be yelled at. Sure enough, my mom is standing in the foyer with her arms crossed and a sinister look engraved in her face. "You're late."
"I know. I'm sorry." I tell her.
"What do you think, that I make up arbitrary rules?" She asks, her voice ice-cold and full of attitude.
"No." That's my only answer.
She sighs.
"Mom, I really am sorry. We went to a game instead of a movie, and the traffic was terrible."
"A game? All the way in the city?! You could have been mugged!" She seeths.
"We were fine, Mom."
"You think you know it all, Sakura, but you don't. For all I know you could've been lying dead in a city alley and all along I thought you were at a movie. Check your purse to see if any money or your ID is missing." I open my purse and check the contents of your wallet, only to appease her. I hold up my ID and cash. "It's all here."
"Consider yourself lucky. This time."
"I'm always careful when I go to the city, Mom. Besides, Hidan was with me."
"I don't need excuses, Sakura. Did you not think it would be nice to call and tell me ahead of time about the change in plans and that you were going to be late?" She asks. And what? To have her yell at me over the phone, and then again when I got home? No way. But I can't tell her that. "I didn't think about it," is all I say.
"Do you ever think about this family? It's not all about you, Sakura."
"I know that, Mom. I promise next time I'll call. I'm tired. Can I just go to bed now?" I question, slumping over. I was pretty exhausted after this fiasco. She dismisses me with a wave of her hand.
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. . .
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On Saturday morning I wake up to my mom's screaming. Throwing the covers back, I rush out of bed and run down the stairs to see what the commotion is all about. Yoshiko is in her wheelchair, which is pushed up to the kitchen table. Food is all over her mouth and splattered on her shirt and pants. She looks like a little kid instead of a twenty-year-old.
"Yoshiko, if you do it again you're going to your room!" My mom yells, then places a bowl of her blended food on the table in front of her. Yoshiko swipes it on the ground. My mom gasps, then narrows her eyes at Yoshiko.
"I'll deal with it," I say, rushing to my sister. My mom has never hit my sister. But my mom's frustration is in overdrive, which stings just the same. "Don't baby her, Sakura," Mom says. "If she doesn't eat, she'll be tube fed. Would you like that?"
I hate when she does this. She'll talk about the worst possible scenario and not work on fixing what's wrong. When my sister looks at me, I see the same frustration in her eyes. My mom points a finger at Yoshiko, then at the food on the floor. "That's why I haven't taken you to a restaurant in months," she says. I roll my eyes in annoyance. "Mom, stop," I hiss in a stern voice. "You don't need to escalate the situation. She's already upset. Why make it worse?"
"And what about me?" She asks, acting as if what I said gave her total offense.
Tension starts building, beginning inside my veins and spreading to my fingertips and toes. It bubbles up and bursts with such force I can't keep it inside any longer. "This isn't about you! Why does it always go back to how everything affects you?" I scream. "Mom, can't you see she's hurting?! Instead of yelling at her, why don't you spend the time figuring out what's wrong?"
Without thinking, I take a washcloth and kneel beside Yoshiko. I start wiping her pants clean.
"Sakura, don't!" My mom yells out. I don't listen. I should have, though, because before I can move away, Yoshiko's hands got in my hair and she starts pulling. Hard. With all the commotion, I forgot my sister's new thing is pulling hair.
"Ow!" I say. "Yoshiko, please stop!" I'm trying to reach around and push down on her knuckles like her doctor told us to do to make her release her grasp, but it's no use. I'm in the wrong position, crouched at her feet with my body twisted. My mom is cussing and swearing, droplets of food are flying, and my scalp already feels raw. Yosiko isn't loosening her hold, even though my mom is trying to pull her hands away from my hair.
"Knuckles, mom!" I yell, reminding her what the doctor suggested. Holy shit, how much hair has she pulled out? It feels like an entire section of my hair is bald. Hopefully, I'm overexaggerating. After my reminder, my mom must have pressed hard enough on her knuckles because my hair is released. Either that, or Yoshiko pulled out whatever chunks she'd grabbed.
Falling onto the floor, I immediately put a hand to the back of my head.
Yoshiko is smiling.
My mom is frowning.
And tears come to my eyes.
"I'm taking her to the doctor, right now." My mom says, shaking her head at me so I'm aware she's blaming me for the situation spiraling out of control. "This has gone on long enough. Sakura take your father's car and go to the airport to pick him up. It's the least you can do to help."
Sasuke
I've been waiting at the library for an hour. Okay, so it's been an hour and a half. I sat outside on the cement benches. At ten I came inside and stood looking at the display case, pretending to be interested in upcoming lirary events. I didn't want to look overly eager to see Sakura. (But I was...) At ten forty-five I sat on the couches in the teen section, reading my chem book. Okay, so my eyes skimmed the pages even if no words registered.
Now it's eleven. Where is she?
I could just go hang with my friends. Hell, I should go hang with my friends. But I have a stupid urge to know why Sakura blew me off. I tell myself it's an ego thing, but in the back of my mind I'm worried about her. She'd hinted, during her freakout in front of the nurse's office, that her mom isn't candidate for a Mother of the Year award. Doesn't Sakura realize that she's eighteen now and can leave home if she wanted? If it's that bad, why stay?
...
Because her parents are rich.
If I left home, my new life wouldn't be so different from my old one. With a girl who lives in the north side, a life lacking designer towels and a maid to pick up after you is probably worse than death. (A/N: ... (~.~) there he goes JUDGING again... So sorry for these random A/Ns!)
I've had enough of standing here waiting for Sakura. I'm going to her house, to confront her on why she ditched me. Without thinking it through, I get on my motorcycle and head to the north side. I know where she lives... In the big looking white house with pillars flanking the front. I park my bike in her driveway and ring her doorbell. I clear my throat so I don't choke on my words. Damn, what am I going to say to her?
And why am I feeling all insecure, like I need to impress her because she'll judge me?
Nobody answers. I ring again.
...
Where's a servant or butler to answer the door when you need one? Just as I'm about to give up and slap myself with a big does of what-the-fuck-do-I-think-I'm-doing, the door opens. Standing before me is an older version of Sakura. Obviously her mom. When she takes one look at me, her disappointing sneer is obvious.
"Can I help you?" She asks with an attitude. I sense either she expects me to be apart of the gardening crew or someone going door-to-door harassing people. "What have a 'no soliciting policy' in this neighborhood." She seeths, looking down on me with older, darker green eyes that are much more sinister than Sakura's bright emarald-palish-green eyes. Hell... Sakura's eyes are NOT sinister. At all.
"I'm, uh, not here to solicit anything. My name's Sasuke. I just wanted to know if Sakura... Was, uh, at home?" Oh great. Now I'm mumbling uh's every two seconds.
"No." Her steely answer matches her steely glare.
"Do you know where she went?" I question, hoping to get an answer from this woman. Now I think my Number 1 fear is... Sakura's mom.
Mrs. Haruno closes the door halfway, probably hoping I won't peek inside and see her valuables and be tempted to steal the. "I don't give out information on the whereabouts of my daughter. Now if you'll excuse me," she says, then closes the door in my face.
I'm left standing in front of the door like a complete dick. For all I know, Sakura was behind the door instructing her mom to get rid of me. I wouldn't put it past her to play games with me. I hate games I can' win. I walk back to my bike with my tail between my legs, wondering if I should feel like a kicked dog or an angry pit-bull.
Sakura
"Who's Sasuke?"
Those are the first words my mom asks me after I arrive back home from the airport with my dad.
"He's a guy from school I'm partnered with for chemistry," I answer slowly. Wait one minute. "How do you know about Sasuke!"
"He was here after you left for the airport. I sent him away."
As if my brain is synapsing, reality hits me.
Oh, no!
I forgot to meet Sasuke this morning.
Guilt sets in as I think about him waiting for me at the libraray. I was the one who didn't trust him to show, but I'm the one who flaked. He must be furious. Ugh, I'm feeling sick. I roam my fingers through my hair. I frown at the small patch in the back of my head that I feel. Thankfully, it's not visible to anyone.
"I don't want him near the house," she says. "The neighbors will start talking about you." Just like they talk about your sister, I know she's thinking.
One day I hope to live in a place where I don't have to worry about neighbors gossiping. "Fine," I tell her.
"Can't you change partners?" She asks, crossing her arms.
I roll my green eyes.
"No."
"Did you try?"
Of course she would ask that.
"Yes, mom. I did. Mrs. Tsunade refuses to reassign partners."
"Maybe you didn't try hard enough. I'll call the school on Monday and make them-"
I whip my attention to her, ignoring the stinging, throbbing pain in the back of her head from where my sister ripped out the chunk of hair. "Mom, I'll handle it. I don't need you calling the school and making me feel like a two-year-old."
"Did that boy Sasuke teach you how to talk to your mother without respect? All of a sudden you can open your mouth to me because you're partnered with that boy?"
"Mom-"
I wish dad was here to intervene. But he went directly to his study to check his e-mails right after coming home. I wish he'd act as a referee instead of sitting on the sidelines. "Because if you start hanging out with trash like that, people will consider you trash. That's not how your father and I have brought you up." She goes on. Damn, here comes the lecture. I'd rather eat live fish, scales and all, that hear this right now. I know the meaning behind her words.
Yoshiko's not perfect. So I have to be. And Sasuke's not trash... He's not.
I take a deep breath, trying to calm myself. "Mom, I get it. I'm sorry."
"I'm only trying to protect you," she says. "And you throw it back in my face."
"I know. I'm sorry. What did the doctor say about Yoshiko?" I ask, hoping damn well that the question changes the subject. Plus, I really want to know what's got my sister acting like this.
"He wants her to come twice a week for some evaluations. I'm going to need your help taking her."
I don't talk to her about Ms. Kurenai's policy about missing pom practice, because there's no use in having both of us stressed. Thankfully, the phone rings and my mom turns to answer it. I hurry into my sister's room before my mom can all me back for more discussions. Yoshiko is sitting by her personalized computer in her room, tapping the keyboard.
"Hi," I whisper loud enough for her to hear.
She looks up and she's not smiling.
I want her to know I'm not upset with her, because I know she didn't mean to hurt me. Yoshiko might not even understand her own motivation for doing things. "Want to play checkers?"
She shakes her head.
"Watch television?"
Another shake.
"I want you to know I'm not mad at you," I go closer, careful not to get my hair within reach, and rub her back. "I love you, you know."
No answer, no head nodding, no verbal approximation. Nothing. I sit on the edge of her bed and watch as she plays with her computer. Every once in a while, I make comments so she knows I'm here. She might not need me now, but I wish she did. Because I know a time will come when she does need me and I won't be there for her. That scares me. A little while later I leave my sister and head for my room.
I search my Konoha High student directory for Sasuke's phone number.
I dial his number on my cell.
"Hello?" A boy's voice answers.
I take a deep breath. "Hi," I say. "Is Sasuke there?"
"He's out."
"Who is that?" I hear his mom asking in the background.
"Who is this?" The boy asks me.
I realize I'm chipping my nail polish off as I'm talking. I'm super nervous for some reason. "Sakura Haruno. I'm uh, a friend of Sasuke's from school."
"It's Sakura Haruno, a friend of Sasuke's from school," the boy relates to his mom.
"What does she want with him?" I hear her say.
"Are you his new girlfriend?" The boy asks.
I hear a thump and an "Ow!" And then he says, "Can I take a message?"
I sigh.
"Tell him Sakura called. Here's my number..."
Sasuke
Right now I'm standing inside the warehouse where the Uchiha clan hang every night. I just finished my second or third cigarette... I've stopped counting.
"Drink some beer and stop looking depressed," Naruto says, throwing me a bottle of sake. He gives me a goofy smile and shakes his head full of blonde spikes because he knows I laugh sometimes at him when he does that. It looks stupid, so it's funny. But it's not funny now... At the moment. I told him about Sakura blowing me off this morning and all he's done is shake his head, EXACTLY like that as and tsks, as if I should have known better.
I catch the bottle in one hand, and toss it right back. "No, thanks." I say quietly.
"What's wrong, guy? This stuff not good enough for you?" It's Haruko, probably the stupidest Uchiha member. This guy can control his liquor about as well as he controls his drug use, which isn't much.
I challenge him without saying a word.
"Just kiddin', man..." A drunken Haruko slurs.
"You are living up the the stereotype of being an emo..." Naruto whispers to me, giving me a look. I shrug my shoulders. Let people think what they want to think. Doean't bother me much... Okay, I lied. It does bother me... Sometimes... Okay, that was a lie, too. Most of the time.
But nobody wants to get into is with me. During my first year as a member, in a clash with a rival gang, I proved my worth.
As a little kid, I thought I could save the world... Or at least save my family. Naruto had same dreams... And surprisingly, after all that he's been through and all that he goes through, he still has those dreams. I'll never be in a gang, I told myself when I was old enough to join one. I'll protect my family with my two hands. On the south side of Konoha, you're either in a gang or against them. I had dreams of a future then; deluded dreams that I could stay away from the clan's ganga and protect my family. But those dreams died along with my future the night my father was killed twenty feet from my six-year-old face.
When I stood over his body, all I could see was these red spots and the soaking of red on the front of his shirt. It reminded me of a bull's-eye, except the target kept getting larger and larger. The next thing I knew, he gasped and that was it.
My dad was dead.
I never held him or touched him. I was too afraid. In the days that followed, I didn't say a word. I glared all the time. Even when the police questioned me, I couldn't speak. They said I'd been in shock and my brain didn't know how to process what happened. They were right. I don't even remember what the guy looked like who killed him. I've never been able to seek revenge for my father's murder, even though every night I replay the shooting in my head trying to put pieces together. If I could only remember, the fucker would pay.
Now if all of my clan was murdered, I would truly go crazy seeking revenge.
My memory of today is clear, though. Being stood up by Sakura, her mother scowling at me... Things I want to forget are stuck in my brain like glue.
Naruto downs half of his beer in one gulp, not even caring when it drips down the sides of his mouth and onto his shirt. When Haruko is talking to other guys, Naruto says to me, "Ino really screwed you up, you know."
"And how's that?"
"You don't trust chicks. Take Sakura Haruno-"
I curse under my breath. "Naruto, on second thought toss that sake over here." After I catch it, I down the liquior and crush the bottle against the wall after it's empty. "You may not want to listen, Sasuke. But you're gonna hear me out no matter if you're drunk or not. Your loose-talking, blonde, hickey-making, sexy Yamanaka ex-girlfriend Ino stabbed you in the back. So you're making a complete U-turn by stabbing Sakura in the back."
I am reluctantly listening to Naruto as I grab another sake. "You calling my chem partner a U-turn?" I ask, rolling my eyes.
"Yeah. But it's gonna backfire big-time, man, 'cause you actually like the girl. Admit it."
I don't want to admit it. "I only want her for the bet."
Naruto laughs so hard he stumbles and ends up sitting on the warehouse floor. He points to me with the sake still in his hand. "You, my friend, are so good at lying to yourself, that you're actually starting to believe the bullshit coming out of your mouth. Those two girls are total opposites, man."
I grab another bottle of the strong liquor. As I flip the top open, I think about the differences between Ino and Sakura. Ino's got sexy, light blue, mysterious eyes. Sakura's got seemingly innocent, emerald-kind of pale green ones that you can practically see through. Will they be that way when I make love to her?
Shit. Make love? What the hell possessed me to think about Sakura and love in the same sentence? I am seriously losing it. I spend the next half hour ingesting as much beer and liquor as possible. I'm feeling good enough to not think... About anything.
A familiar voice cuts through the numbness. "Wanna party at the beach?" She asks.
I am staring into light blue eyes. Although my brain is clouded and I'm dizzy, I know enough to register that light blue is the opposite of green. I don't want green. Green confuses me too much. Light blue is straight forward, eaiser to deal with. There's something not right here, but I can't pinpoint it. And when Light Blue's lips are on mine, I don't care about anything except wiping Green from my mind. Even if I remember Light Blue as being bitter.
"Yes..." I say when my lips separate from hers.
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. .
. . .
. .
.
An hour later, I'm standing in water up to my waist. It makes me want to be a pirate and sail the lonely seas. Of course in the back of my hazy mind, I know I'm gazing across a lake and not an ocean. But right now I'm not thinking clearly, and being a pirate seems like a damn good option. No family, no worries, nobody with pink hair and green glaring eyes.
Arms like tentacles wrap around my stomach. "What're you thinking about, boyfriend?"
"Becoming a pirate..." I murmur to the octopus who just called me her boyfriend.
The octopus's suction cups are kissing my back and moving their way to my face. Instead of scaring me, it feels good. I know this octopus, these tentacles.
"You be a pirate, and I'll be a mermaid. You can rescue me."
Somehow I think I'm the one who needs rescuing because I feel like she's drowning me with her kisses. "Ino," I say to the light blue eyed octopus-turned-sexy mermaind, suddenly aware that I'm drunk, naked and standing in water up to my waist in a lake/beach.
"Shh, let go and enjoy." She purrs... But it sounds more like a command.
Ino knows me well enough to make me forget about real life and help me focus on my fantasy. Her hands and body wrap around me. She feels weightless in the water. My hands go to places I've been before and my body presses against familiar territory, but the fanatasy hasn't come. I want it to be that pinkette. And when I look back at the shore, the sounds of my friends remind me that I have an audience. My octopus/mermain loves an audience.
I don't.
Grabbing her hand, I start walking back to shore.
Ignoring the comments from my friends, I tell my mermaid to get dressed as I pull on my jeans. When we're dressed, I take her hand once again and we weave through the crowd until we find a vacant space to sit amoung our friends.
I lean against a big rock and stretch out my legs. My ex-girlfriend straddles me, as if we'd never borken up and she'd never cheated on me. I feel trapped, caught. She takes a drag of something stronger than a cigarette and passes it to me. I look at the small, wrapped joint. Oh, boy.
"This isn't amped, is it?" I ask. I'm drunk, but the last thing I want and need is narcs in my system on top of marijuana, beer and liquor. My goal is to be numb, not dead.
She puts it to my lips. "It's just Takigakura gold, boyfriend."
Joints imported from Takigakure?... Maybe it'll work to wipe my memory for good and make me forget shootings and ex-girlfriends and bets of having nice and hot sex with a girl who thinks I'm scum of the earth.
I take the joint from her and inhale.
My mermaid's hands move up my chest. "I can make you happy, Sasuke," she whispers, so close I can smell that alcohol and stuff on her breath. Or it might be mine, 'm not sure. "Give me another chance."
Being high and drunk makes me confused. And when the image of Sakura and Hidan with their arms around each other at school yesterday forms in my head, I pull Ino's body closer.
I don't need a girl like Sakura.
I need hot and blonde Ino, my lying little mermaid.
... Not sexy and pinkette, rich, emerald-pale green eyed Sakura... Not her...
Sakura
I convince Ten-Ten, Neiji, Hidan, Kiba and Temari to go to Club Mystique tonight, the club I heard about. It was in Konoha Grove, on the beach. Hidan doesn't like to dance, so I ended up dancing with the rest of the gang and even this one guy named who was an amazing dancer. I think I picked up some moves I can introduce to our pom squad.
Now we're at Ten-Ten's, headed for the private beach behind her house. My mom knows I'm sleeping at Ten-Ten's tonight, so I don't have to worry about checking in. While Ten-Ten and I are setting up blankets on the sand, Temari is lagging behind with the guys, who are unloading stashed beer and bottles of wine from the back of Hidan's car.
"Neiji and I had sex last weekend," Ten-Ten blurts out.
I am in total shock.
"Seriously?"
Then again, it could be a joke... But who jokes about that?!
"Yeah. I know I wanted to wait until we were in college, but it just happened. His parents were out of town, and I went over to his place and one thing led to another and we just did it."
"Wow. So... How was it?" I ask out of pure curiosity.
"I don't know." She admits. "To be honest it was kinda weird. But he was real sweet afterward, asking me over and over if I was okay. And at night, he came to my house and brought me three dozen red roses. I had to lie to my parents and say that they were for our anniversary. I couldn't very weel say the flowers were in celebration of his taking my virginity. What about you and Hidan?" She questions after her long explanation.
I let out a sigh.
"Hidan wants to have sex," I tell her.
She gives me a look before lecturing, "Every guy over the age of fourteen wants to have sex. It's just their job to want to do it."
I shake my head in disbelief, causing my pink hair to follow suit and go all over the place but settle back neatly on my head. "I just... Don't want to. At least, not now." I admit, looking down at the sand below my feet.
"Then it's your job to say no," she says, as if it's that easy. Ten-Ten isn't a virgin anymore, she'd said yes. Why is it so hard for me to say yes, too?
"How will I know when it's the right time?"
"You sure as hell won't be asking me about it. I guess when you're totally ready you'll want to do it with no reservations or questions. We know they want to have sex. It's up to you to make it happen. Or not. Listen, the first time was fun or easy. It was kind of sloppy and most of the time I felt stupid. Opening yourself up to making mistakes and being vulnerable is what makes it beauiful and specual with the person you love." She chimes to me.
Is that why I haven't wanted to do it with Hidan? Maybe deep down I don't love him as much as I thought. Am I even capable of loving someone so much that I open myself up to being vulnerable? I really don't know.
"Shikamaru broke up with Temari today," she whispers to me. "He decided their relationship was strained..."
If I didn't feel sorry for Temari before, now I do. Especially because she thrives on attention from guys. It fuels her self-esteem. It's no wonder she was totally all over Kiba tonight. I watch as the rest of the guys and Temari come into view and set blankets down on the beach. Temari grabs Kiba's shirt and pulls him aside. "Let's go make out," she tells him. Kiba is all to ready to honor her request.
Pulling her away from him, I lean close and say so only she can hear, "Don't fool around with Kiba..."
She gives me an are-you-serious look. "Why not?"
"Because you don't like him like that. Don't use him. Or let him use you."
Temari pushes me away. "You seriously have a demented view of reality, Saku. Or maybe you want to point out everyone else's imperfections so you stay the Queen of Perfect."
That's not fair. I don't want to point out her flaws, but if I say I see her going on a self-destructive path, isn't it up to me as her friend to stop her?
Maybe not. We're friends, but not super-close friends. The only one I let close enough is Ten-Ten. How dare I give Temari advice when she can reciprocate.
Ten-Ten, Neiji, Hidan and I sit on blankets and talk about the last football game in front of a bonfire we make with sticks and old pieces of wood.
We laugh, remembering the missed plays and imitating the football coach who yelled at players from the sidelines. Guy was his name... If I can remember. Coach Guy... Heheh, his name is Guy. And I really think this beer is kicking in. His face gets all red and when he's really pumped up or upset, spit flies out of his mouth as he yells. Players get out of the way so they don't get sprayed. Hidan does a pretty hilarious imitation of him.
It feels pretty good sitting here with my friends and Hidan, and for a while I forget about my chemistry partner, who's been occupying my thoughts lately.
After a while, Ten-Ten and Neiji go for a walk and I'm leaning against Hidan in front of the fire, the light giving the sand around us a bright glow. Temari and Kiba have hooked up from the night despite my advise against it and aren't back yet.
I grab the bottle of Chardonnay the guys brought. The boys have been drinking beer and the girls have been drinking wine because Ten-Ten hates the taste of beer. However, I've been drinking both... I bring the bottle to my lips and finish it off. I'm feeling buzzed, but I probably need to drink an entire bottle myself in order to feel completely carefree.
"Did you miss me this summer?" I ask, leaning into Hidan as he smoothes down my hair. It's probably a mess. I wish I was drunk enough not to care.
Hidan takes my hand in his and leads it to his crotch. He let's out a slow, moaning breath.
"Fuck yeah," he says into my neck before kissing it. "Lots."
When I take my hand back, his arms snake around to my front. He squeezes my boobs like their water balloons. I've never minded Hidan's touch before, but now I am annoyed and creeped out by his roving hands. I shrug out of his grasp.
"What's wrong, Saku?"
"I don't know." I really don't know. Things with Hidan seem strained since school started. And thoughts of Sasuke keep invading my head, which is annoying me more than anything. I reach over and grab a beer. "It feels forced," I tell my boyfriend as I open the can and take a sip. "Can't we sit here without fooling around?" I ask, scratching my pink hair in nervousness.
Hidan let's out a long, dramatic deep breath. "Saku, I want to fucking do it."
I try and down an the entire can is one gulp, but end up spewing out some of it. I reach for a small bottle of sake, popping it open and I start drinking that. "You mean now?" Where our friends can see us if they turn around?
"Why not? We've waited long enough." He says, raising his hands in the air and letting them fall right back to his side. Hidan's purple-pinkish eyes are glowing with pure lust. "I don't know, Hidan," I say, really scared to be having this conversation although I knew it was coming. "I guess... I guess I thought it would happen naturally."
"What can be more fucking natural than doing it outside, in the shitty sand?" He asks rolling his eyes. He's clearly annoyed with me. I take a gulp from the sake bottle.
"What about condoms?" I ask.
"I'll pull out."
My eyebrows furrow. That doesn't sound romantic at all. I'll be freaking out the entire time and worry about getting pregnant. Not how I want my first time to be. "Making love means a lot to me..." I blurt out.
"To me, too. So let's do it already." He sighs. I down some more of the liquor.
"I feel like this summer changed you."
"Maybe it did," he says defensively. "Maybe I realized our relationship has to be more. Geez, Saku. Whoever heard of a fucking senior being a damn virgin? Everyone thinks we've fucking done it, why don't we just fucking do it? Shit, you even let that shitty guy Uchiha think he can get into your pants."
Am I just realizing how much Hidan can cuss in a few sentences...? It's really annoying. What the hell has gotten into him?
My heart slams into my chest. "You think I'd rather sleep with Sasuke than you?" I question, my eyes getting all watery. I don't know if it's the alcohol making me emotional or if it's because his words hit the target, which is my heart. My thoughts are on my chem partner. I hate myself for having these thoughts, and hate Hidan right now for pointing it out.
"What about Temari?" I throw back. I look around, making sure Temari is out of hearing range. "You two are like one cozy couple in chemistry class."
He rolls his eyes in annoyance and snatches the new can of beer that I try to grab. "Get off it, Saku. So some girls pay attention to me in chemistry. Obviously you don't because you're too busy fucking arguing with Uchiha. Everyone knows it's all foreplay."
"That's not fair, Hidan." I whine, reaching for the wine and pouring me a glass. I just want to be numb and not hear this. He doesn't understand shit.
"What's going on?" Ten-Ten says, walking up with Neiji from behind a large boulder.
"Nothing," I tell her. I stand up, my sandals in my hand. "I'm going home."
Ten-Ten grabs her purse. "I'll go with you."
"No." I'm finally light-headed. I chug down the rest of the wine and I throw the bottle on the ground next to my other empty cans and bottles. It's like I'm having an out-of-body experience and I want to go through it all by myself. "I don't want or need anyone. I'll walk."
"She's drunk," Neiji says, eyeing the empty bottles and beer cans beside me.
"Am not," I tell them. I snatch another beer and bottle of sake as I walk down the beach. Alone. By myself. Which is how it should be.
"Ten-Ten says, "I don't want you going alone."
"I just want to be by myself right now. I need to sort things out."
"Saku, come back here," Hidan says, but doesn't get up.
I ignore him.
"Don't go past the fourth pier," Ten-Ten warns. "It's not safe."
Safe shmafe. So what if something happens to me, anyway? Hidan does care. Or my parents, for that matter.
Closing my eyes as the sand sinks between my toes. I breathe in the scent of fresh, cool lake of Konoha breeze washing over my face and drink more beer. When half of the beer is gone, I pop open the sake and drink most of it. I then take the can of beer and mix it with the sake. Hopefully mixing the two together will have double effects.
Forgetting everything except the sand and my beer, I continue walking, pausing only to look over the dark water with moonlight shining across it like a line splitting the water in two.
I've passed two piers. Or maybe three. Anyway, it's not a long walk home. Less than a mile. When I get to the next beach entrance, I'll walk up the street and head home. It's not like I haven't done it before. But the sand feels so good beneath my feet, like one of those squishy bean bag pillow you sink into. And I hear music up ahead. I love music. Closing my eyes, my body moves to the unfamiliar song.
I haven't realized how far I've walked and danced until the sound of laughing and some other language makes me freeze. People wearing red and navy blue hetai-ates and bandannas in front of me are a clue that I've gone past the fourth pier.
"Look everybody, it's Sakura Haruno, Konoha High's sexiest pom girl," a guy says. In my opinion, he's not that cute. "Come here, sexy. Dance with me."
I scan the crowd desperately for a familiar or friendly face. Sasuke. He's here. Sitting in his lap facing him is Ino Yamanaka.
A sobering picture.
I reluctantly step closer, whispering, "I... I want to see Sasuke."
They exchange looks and one of the glances at the empty beer can and the half-full sake bottle mixed in with beer. "Don't you know this side of the beach is for Uchihas and people who are close to the clan only?" He says, moving closer. "Or maybe you've come sniffin for some darker meat... We got pale meat, too. You know what they say, baby; dark meat's the juiciest." He purrs in my ears. But it's loud enough for everyone to hear.
"Leave me alone." My words are slurred.
"You think you're too good for me?" The not-so-cute one moves toward me, his eyes are full of anger. The music stops.
I stagger backward. I'm not too drunk to know I'm in danger.
"Where's Sasuke?" I ask, but I don't get an answer; just a lot of stares and a glare from Ino.
"Haruko, lay off." Sasuke's voice is low. It's clearly an order.
Sasuke is caressing Ino's shoulder, his lips mere inches from it. I sway. This is a nightmare and I need to get away, fast.
I start running, the gang members' laughing ringing in my ears. Most of them are calling for me to come back and party with them. I can't run fast enough and feel like I'm in a dream where my feet are moving but I'm not going anywhere.
"Sakura, wait!" A voice calls from behind me.
I turn around and am face-to-face with the guy who's haunting my dreams... Daydreams and night dreams.
Sasuke.
The guy who I hate.
The guy who I can't get out of my mind, no matter how drunk I am.
"Ignore Haruko," Sasuke says. "Sometimes he gets carried away trying to be a badass." I'm stunned when he steps closer and wipes away a tear from my cheek. "Don't cry. I wouldn't let him hurt you." He says softly.
Should I tell him I'm not afraid of being hurt? I'm afraid of not being in control.
Though I haven't run far, it's far enough from Sasuke's friends. They can't see me. I don't know so much about hearing.
"Why do you like Ino?" I ask as the world tilts and I stumble in the sand. "She's mean."
He holds hands to help me but I flinch, so he stuffs his hands in his pockets. "What the fuck do you care, anyway? You stood me up."
"I had stuff going on." I retort to his harshness.
"Like washin' your hair or gettin' a manicure?"
Or having your hair ripped out by my sister and getting reamed out by my mom? I jab my finger into his chest. "You're an asshole, be-be-because, you judge me like ever-a-body(everybody) else, Uchiha. You don-don't know shit about what goes on... You're an asshole." I slur. I must be that drunk because of what I said. And... I mumbled the whole entire thing. I chug down the rest of the sake and beer, tossing the empty bottle somewhere on the beach.
"And you're a bitch," he says. "A bitch with a kick-ass smile and eyes that can seriously screw with a guy's head." He winces, as if the words slipped out and he wants to take them back. I was expecting him to say a lot of things, but not that. "It's a crime to litter..." He blurts out, changing the subject and my attention.
I roll my eyes and burp out loud. "Since... When di-did you care about the law, Mr. Gang Member?" I slur.
"Whatever..." He says back.
I notice his bloodshot eyes. "You're high, Sasuke."
"Yeah, well you don't look too sober yourself. Maybe now's a good time to give me that kiss you owe me."
"No way."
"Why not, pinkie? Afraid you'll like it so much you'll forget your boyfriend?"
I let out a heavy sigh. "I can't half process shit right now, Mr. Uchiha," I point out.
Kiss Sasuke? Never. Although I've been thinking about it. A lot. More than I should. His lips are full and inviting. Oh, boy, he's right. I am drunk. And I'm definitely not feeling right. I'm past numbness and going on delirium, because I'm thinking things I have no business thinking. Like how I want to know what his lips feel like against mine. Or how long that thing of his is... Or why Hidan is such a bitch and why I'm liking Sasuke better than him right now. Fuck it, all.
"Fine. Kiss me, Sasuke," I say, stepping forward and leaning into him. "Then we'll be even."
His hands are braced on my arms. This is it. I'm going to kiss Sasuke and find out what it's like. He's dangerous and he mocks me. But he's sexy and dark and beautiful. Being this close to him makes my body shiver with excitement and my head spin. I loop my finger through his belt loop to steady myself. It's like we're standing on a Tilt-a-Whirl ride at the carnival.
"Would you still kiss me if I vomitted?" I ask, puckering out my lips.
"You're gonna be sick," he says to me.
"Am not. I'm... Enjoying the ride."
"We're not on a ride."
"Oh," I murmur, all confused. I let go of his belt loop and focus on my feet. They look like they're moving off the ground, floating over the sand. "I'm dizzy, that's all. I'm fine."
"The hell you are."
"If you'd stop moving, I'd feel a lot better."
"I'm not moving. And I hate to bring the bad news, pinkie, but you're about to puke."
He's right. My stomach won't stop churning. He's holding me up with one hand while his other hand is wound in my hair, keeping it away from my ace as I bend over and throw up.
I can't stop my stomach from roiling. I throw up and heavy again. Disgusting gurgling and gaggng sounds come from my mouth, but I'm too drink to care.
"Sorry, Sasuke..." I sigh.
I throw up again.
"Look at that," I say between puking fits. "My dinner is all over your shoe."
Ta-da! This chappie is done and ova'!
Haha, now I really hate to have things go like this, so forgive mehh!
Things get so much better though, I promise! The next chappie makes up for everything!
So tell me, did ja like it? Love it? Hate it? Any thing you'd like to say? Reviews would be lovely! And I am happy for all of the alerts and favors and reviews! Thank you so much! Two LONG chapters in one day is enough to satisfy you all, right?
One is drama filled, the other, romance-filled!
And trust me, Ino and Sasuke is a big FAT NO.
Sakura and Sasuke is a big FAT YES.
What can chu say or do about it? He was drunk and high. He needed to blow steam. He was depressed.
And about Sakura's new bald spot... Imagine it, way in the back of her head, where no one can see, and imagine a couple locks of hair being ripped out. That's all. Nothing too huge!
Hehe, now, the next chappie is coming right after this!
Stay tooned!
Oh and they really get to know each other! The two of them have a bonding moment! I promise that! It may even be longer than this chappie.
Thanks for Reading!
Kumi-Chan/Tobi-Is-Fluffy-Chan
