A/N - Go on. Make the mistake. Keep reading.

DISCLAIMER - I do not own Naruto

Song used for this chapter - Calvin Cook x Qasus - Leaving Us Behind

Summer was about parties back then. Top athlete, head cheerleader, of course we had gotten it in our heads that we couldn't just look the part. We had to play the part.

So every party we heard about, we went to together. I couldn't let the team down whenever they called out to get fucked up, and she was always willing to tag along for her own personal amusement.

But that day was a little different. That day it was a cheerleading invitation that I happened to tag along to with Ino.

And it was at the beach.

That being said, mid glance I was caught.

I usually kept a clean record. Always managed to cover up my over enthused interest of running my eyes up and down my best friends body whenever she was wearing something particularly eye appealing. But today, she was pressing against my constant struggle of keeping my eyes to myself or complete out right staring.

Just because the party was at the beach, didn't excuse her choice of attire. A bikini that hardly covered her chest with a towel loosely thrown over her hips practically screamed for attention as her hair tickled down to her lower back.

I mean, every guy that passed was sneaking glances in appreciation.

So my eyes darted to her- because fuck I was only human- and mid transaction I was caught. Instantly locking my gaze with hers. And as I'm just staring at her crystal blue eyes, only one thought came to mind: Out of all the times I managed to get away with sneaking a glance, being caught while she was half naked had to the worst timing in the world. Like. There was no excuse or salvation. I was screwed to look like an idiot.

But she only blinked once before smiling slightly. As if it amused her I crumbled enough to take a glance like everyone else. Leaning in she whispered, "What are you doing?"

I cleared my throat before grumbling out the truth, "Thinking maybe you should have worn something a little less teasing."

"Less teasing? Is that how you get girls?" She joked, giving me a nudge as if she knew every one of my secrets. Granted, she knew most. "I don't think so. Plus the party is meant for me to meet this new guy. Tenten said I might like him."

I frowned, my mouth sour as I thought out loud, "The idea is to have him curious enough to meet up again, not leaving so little to imagination that he doesn't bother to pick up the phone."

Her amused smile dropped instantly before she rolled her eyes and began to walk away, "Nice Sakura. Real nice."

Rolling my own eyes, I without hesitation wrapped my fingers around her wrist, pulling her back as she attempted to jerk away. She eventually faced me with a glare, but I only glared back. She started this. I had no doubt in my mind she knew what she was doing when she walked out of her house with something as skimpy as her bikini on.

She could have covered up a little, knowing it was me who was picking her up for the beach house party, but instead she just swayed her hips until she was in my car and smiled like everything was normal.

"Don't start Ino," I sighed, giving her a look, "It's too early. The party hasn't even started. If you go in pissy, who the hell am I going to talk to?"

"Don't be modest Sakura, you always have a girl right next to you at a party to talk to," she reminded with a scowl.

I shrugged, "Okay, you aren't wrong. But I hate going to your little cheerleading get togethers. I never know anyone. I usually stick with you. Who am I going to follow around now that you're ditching early? Some random girl?"

The question narrowed her eyes slightly, I could tell the possibility irritated her. She never hid her reactions, but never said out right that my adventures when going out to a social event annoyed her to no end.

She was still that selfish little kid. She wanted me to herself.

And she was still unfair, because I wasn't allowed to want the same thing.

"You're a dick and I don't care what you say, I'm pissy until you give me an apology."

I snorted, giving her a small smile. I had won, she just didn't want to tell me out right. Sighing, I shrugged, "My bad dude."

Oh God that pissed her off. I could feel the heat radiating off of her. Laughing, I wrapped my arm around her as I forced her to continue walking down the beach coast with me, "I'm serious, don't give me that look. My bad. I didn't mean anything by it."

She only glared as we walked together. Anyone else would have kicked me to the curb easy, but Ino dealt with my bull shit. And that's why she was my best friend. Couldn't shake her off even if I tried. Which I have, on more than one occasion when she was being annoying.

But I don't know. Maybe knowing each other for that long kept us together. I always said elementary school was when we knew each other, but my mom always made it seem like it was before then. Since we were born. Or even before that, mom had told me once that her and Yamanaka had been friends for a very long time.

Who knew, but Ino seemed like she had always been there. I couldn't think of a memory where she hadn't been following me around. Always hanging off my shirt. Whining when her ice cream cone fell. Smiling when I gave her mine. Complaining when she didn't get her way. Giving me this huge smile whenever I gave in.

But it's funny. Because I also couldn't remember when everything twisted around.

When I started to follow her. Wherever she went.

Sighing , Ino grumbled, "Now I feel self conscious. Maybe I am definitely not wearing enough."

Well for someone like me, who was wearing a pair of trunks and a water type sports bra, I could only agree. But I had fucked up enough for the day and wanted to make up for it. Tipping my sunglasses to fall from my forehead, I grinned and told her, "You look like any other girl out here."

She scowled, "Thanks. Dick."

I laughed, because I seriously couldn't catch a break, "I mean you pretty much nailed the dress code. And every guy that has passed may argue that you surpassed the dress code and outshine all these girls out here. They are drolling."

She perked at the revelation, "You're right. To not have come out looking my best would have been a crime."

I rolled my eyes, "Yeah, sure."

"I mean, I do love being droll worthy. Especially if I can make certain people droll too," she went on conversationally while glancing at me.

She was teasing me, I knew that, but something about it brushed me the wrong way. Maybe the fact that I was caught in the first place.

I narrowed my gaze at her, though I'm sure my sunglasses managed to hide my annoyance, before glancing away and responding casually with a shrug, "I'm sure the girls I were drooling over since we got here thought the same thing."

Ah I had struck a nerve. I could tell by how she was now walking away.

I followed, as I always did. Because like she was stuck to my hip .

I was cursed to watch her back.

It wasn't something I had just brought up to her one day, the fact that I was into other girls. Over time, as we hung out and grew up, I don't know. It's like we kind of just found out together. Not her, of course, but about me. She'd talk to me about these guys she found cute, and I could never pretend to be interested. Then again, it annoyed the fuck out of me every time, but it wasn't just that.

I simply couldn't find the appeal to guys.

And one day, out of no where, she kind of mentioned a girl that we passed in the mall was pretty.

And, while any other time I would just shrug and keep quiet, I said without even thinking, "Yeah, I was looking at her too."

Funny part was, it wasn't even awkward after that. We just laughed and kept going like nothing ever happened.

I don't know. Ino had been a constant in my life, knowing each other in and out seemed completely natural. Like I said, she knew most secrets about me.

Most because I tried very hard to keep just one to myself.

One that seemed like it couldn't be shared.

One that I felt neither of us were ready for.

And I guess, if I held out something, she could have been to.

The more the thought started to register, the more it drove me insane.

I wanted to know her in and out, I didn't want a single secret between us despite the fact that I was being hypocritical. But I couldn't help it. It felt like the more secrets that were kept from me by her, the more distance it would create.

And I still wanted her hanging off my shirt, just like the day she decided to follow me around.

But, as I talked to this random girl at the beach party, all I could do was look over at Ino occasionally with the new guy she was supposed to meet.

And how she was instead hanging off of him and his every word.

Alright look, they are so low commitment, you don't even have to read that much.

It's nice right?

So give it a shot. Keep going.

I mean, shit it might be a mistake, but like shh, it's okay. Just keep going.