A/N - You did it man. You decided to keep going.

Good fucking shit.

Now. You just have to survive this and one more.

Then you can rave or rant about it.

Let's do it...

Together.

:D

DISCLAIMER - I do not own Naruto

Song used for this chapter - Taptone & Magnifico - Fakes (feat. K.B. Starr)

That summer, Kiba stuck around longer than I would have liked. The guy was damn near perfect and Ino was hanging off every fuck boy word. And I was stuck in my lane, yet having to watch it all.

So we hung out a lot. All three of us. Because while it was total horse shit to bring a girl around Ino and hope they got along, her dragging Kiba into every one of our events was just completely normal.

Fucking twisted. As always.

But I bit my tongue. I didn't say shit about them, hardly talked to them, just chilled like I always did and found a distraction if one happened to pop up. There were never a shortage of girls around and my methods were for my own sanity. Because being around Ino and Kiba was completely straining.

Yet again though, at a party that I had invited her to that she figured Kiba would simply love tagging along to as well, she had me in a corner. Frowning, being a brat over the girl I just danced with for 'entirely too long' while she was left wandering alone in a party she didn't know many people in. And there I was entertaining the idea for her.

Because she'd continue to be a brat unless I gave her some attention.

But it was bugging me to know that I wouldn't have to deal with this if Kiba didn't bail her for so long. Why she had been walking alone to begin with was the real question.

I'd have to talk to him about it later.

For now, Ino was still pouting.

Sighing, I mumbled, "Okay, you're right. I should have realized you were all alone. It won't happen again. Alright?"

She sniffed and shrugged, "For tonight?"

"As opposed to what?" I countered, watching her eyes drift away with a bite of her lip. Curious, I leaned forward and mumbled, "Maybe you were talking about something else? Like you being my only focus in any and every party from here on out?"

She refused to answer, but I wouldn't let her wiggle away with it, "Tell me Ino, I'm genuinely curious. Why don't you like me talking to girls while your around?"

Her eyes dragged to mine, and I made the mistake of catching them. The second our eyes locked, she had won and she knew it.

Her puppy dog eyes never failed before.

"Why do I have to have a reason?" She asked while holding me hostage, "I'm begging already. Why can't you give me what I want?"

"A brat," I mumbled, watching her with a shake of my head, "You are a brat."

"Maybe" she shrugged, grinning with victory, "But I'm your brat. Right Sakura?"

I narrowed my eyes at her as she beamed sweetly before slipping to my ear and asking, "So can I please, just for the night, have you?" Pausing, she added, "Your attention. Not you."

Oh please, make it more clear that I had no chance in hell. I loved having a reality check every so fucking often.

I set my jaw before muttering, "Fine. Only because you don't know anyone here."

She quirked an eyebrow, "Only reason?"

"Yes." I bit out.

"You're so sweet," she taunted with a snort.

But I couldn't focus on anything, already I was zeroed on her. There was a reason I looked for distractions so often, paying Ino too much attention couldn't possibly end up well, but I didn't give a shit anymore. If she was going to get what she wanted tonight, so was I.

So as the rest of the night went, I was by her side. She chattered away to a few of my friends that she forced me to introduce her to, and I pretended not to be annoyed as they kept talking. The entire time my eyes were always on her. And when she eventually realized, she'd lock her gaze with mine for a split second before looking away through out light conversation around us.

I was pressuring her, forcing myself to be seen. Because she wasn't going to ask for my attention while giving everybody else hers. She kept going though, ignoring me for as long as possible, before drifting into silence with each glance.

Eventually giving some lame excuse, she took my hand and dragged me upstairs. It was dark, and I remembered she locked the door. I just stood there, watching her, aggravated to all hell. And maybe that's why she stopped the conversation with them. Maybe she knew I was getting annoyed.

She walked towards me slowly, biting her lip like she always did when she thought she was in trouble. Quietly, she asked, "What did I do wrong, Sakura?"

I adjusted my jaw as I watched her, "What the hell is the point of all this? Following you around and listening to you talk to everyone else is a hell of way to waste my time."

"You could have joined in on the conversation," she pointed out.

"The entire reason I was talking to girls and not hanging out with the team was because maybe I didn't feel like fucking with them tonight. Or, here's a theory, maybe tonight is about pulling girls and not kicking it with everyone else," I replied while slipping my hands in my pockets, "If you noticed, Ino. They really weren't into talking that much either. We come here as a group, but we disperse afterwards unless the party is a complete dud. They only stuck around because they were being nice."

Her eyebrows rose, "Wow, you're pretty harsh when you're drunk."

"Buzzed, and hardly enough to deal with this bull shit," I corrected.

"Why invite me to a party if you don't want to hang out with me, Sakura?" She asked, starting to get annoyed as well, "Why are you acting up?"

"I invited you to have a bit of fun, but you invited Kiba so I figured you'd be off with him. So the question is pretty much directed towards you. Why aren't you on his heels?" I countered with a frown, "Why the fuck are you dragging me around when clearly you wanted to be entertained by him."

She parted her lips, but no response came. Instead she turned away and aimed for the door.

But like always.

Without hesitation.

I grabbed her wrist and pulled her back to me. She wouldn't look in my eyes, she was irritated that she was being called out tonight, but I only wanted to make it clear.

"I'm not him Ino. I'm not going to coddle you, and you're going to be honest with me," I mumbled while looking down at her, "So answer the question. What is this about?"

"Why is it always some sort of cheap trick to you whenever I simply want to hang out," she asked, giving me a glare.

"It's not, and if you want me to be completely honest, I'm just pissed off." I answered while watching her, frown slowly pulling at my lips, "I don't really give a fuck whatever this is really about. It's the fact that you get to have my attention, but I can never have yours. Not even tonight when I fucking agreed."

She blinked, surprised. I knew I sounded just as bad as her, but I was being honest. I didn't give a fuck whatever reason she had for wandering to me and pulling me away from my dance with some random girl. If she wanted my attention, I at least wanted hers in return. But it couldn't work both ways. Never fucking did. And that's what irritated me.

Slowly, a smile pulled her lips, "So that's what this is about."

I set my jaw, not liking the almost teasing tone she was taking with me. Like it was funny. It fucking wasn't. I just wanted to either find something to fucking do to get through the night, or at least have the small advantage of being able to hang out with Ino all night without her talking to everyone under the god damn sun when she had just told me she was 'bored' and 'knew no one here'.

"Stop, I'm not making fun of you," she said quietly when she noticed my frown. Smiling a little more, she mumbled, "I just didn't expect you to say that... I'm happy."

Great, now I was the one surprised. I simply watched her.

Rolling her eyes, she took the side of my hoodie and began backing me toward the bed that was behind me. The back of my knees it the corner, forcing me to sit down. She gave me this amused look as she stood in front of me, "What are you looking so confused about?"

"Don't know," I mumbled honestly, eyes drifting down as I frowned. Out of everything I constantly tossed and turned about her in my head, I never thought of this.

"If I were being completely honest, Sakura," she began, gently gripping my shoulders before carefully climbing onto my lap, "It really does feel like whenever we hang out, you don't want anything to do with me."

I kept my hands at my side as she straddled me, clenching and relaxing my fists as I tried to keep my comments to myself. Maybe she hadn't figured out the reason I acted that way was because it was never just us that hung out, but Kiba included.

"That isn't the case," I eventually replied, shaking my head.

She slipped her hands across mine, tugging them to her waist while muttering, "Then why do you act like it?"

She was acting like my attitude towards Kiba wasn't obvious enough. And there was no way in hell I was going to outright say it. That I couldn't fucking stomach being around them together. How they were all over each other all the time. Giving each other kisses. Whispering and laughing like something was fucking funny, something that I wasn't allowed to know. Third wheeling was hell enough as it is with anyone, but to watch her like that with him...

I found my hands balling up at her sides again, my jaw tight as I felt the instant flare of irritation in my chest.

Ino frowned, watching me as her nails began to run up my neck. My entire body was tense as I sat beneath her, thinking about all the times that Kiba had slipped how great she was in bed. How he was totally into her. How in every little way possible he made it known that he wasn't going any fucking where.

Fuck I was losing it.

This is why I needed distractions whenever I got them. It was that or be angry every second of the god damn day.

Ino's nails ran to the back of my scalp, scratching soothingly as she mumbled, "Hey. Calm down, what's wrong."

Everything was fucking wrong, but I always brushed it off.

Life was a god damn joke, why take it so seriously?

Nothing was that important, nothing was worth stressing over.

But if Kiba mentioned one more fucking time-

"Sakura."

I blinked, eyes flickering up to hers as she watched me worriedly. Swallowing, I licked my lips and mumbled, "Let's go back to the party."

"What?"

I didn't bother repeating myself, only shifted to stand, but Ino stayed on my lap. Gripping my shoulder, she eased me back to my position, but my heart was beating too furiously in my chest to sit here with her like this. I said I was going to get what I wanted tonight, that I would focus on her like I always wanted to in the first place, but fuck this.

I couldn't do it.

I couldn't do it while pretending he didn't exist.

"Sakura," she called out to me as I shifted again.

"Let's go Ino, we've been up here long enough," I bit out, getting agitated that she wouldn't move.

The room felt too fucking small.

My fists were starting to shake.

I was honestly losing it.

"Sakura, seriously tell me what's wrong?" She asked with genuine concern.

But I was taking it as pity.

Because I was being pathetic.

"I need a drink," I mumbled, eyes away from hers, "A lot more."

"If that's the case, I'll get it for you. But I want you to stay in here," she replied, attempting to catch my eyes, "Okay?"

"No," I answered in a flat tone.

"Please," she begged softly, palm slipping up my cheek before gently guiding me to look at her, "Just for a little bit longer. Then we can leave."

My jaw tightened as I took in her crystal blue eyes.

Without a word I simply nodded.

"Okay, I won't be long. Just stay right here, alright?" She said, quickly moving from my lap and aiming for the door, "Did you want anything in particular?"

"Vodka," I mumbled as I sat on the bed, "A lot if you can."

"Alright, I'll be right back," she replied before rushing out the door.

The second she did I took a breath, leaning forward with my elbows digging into my legs as I held my head.

God man.

I was so fucking pathetic.

Especially for the cheap shot I was about to make.

Standing from the bed, I took another breath and ran my hair back straight.

"Welp, definitely not doing that again," I mumbled to myself with a snort, sighing before aiming for the door.

And doing my absolute best to disappear for the rest of the night.

X

"I should have known better."

I know it's dramatic, but the blood literally rushed from my face.

After finding my own shots to take when Ino left, I had been sure to stay out of sight. I would have drove home then, but I wanted the drinks too badly to leave and I was entirely too drunk to drive afterwards. So I had came outside and sat against some random tree near the house party.

I didn't have a plan, I just knew once I was ready I would stumble back to my car and pass out there until the morning. But Ino had found me.

I guess it was only fair for my luck to run out. I managed to dodge her for hours.

Smiling slightly, I mumbled, "Sorry Ino. I just needed a second."

"A second or a few hours?" She asked with a quirk of her eyebrow, coming to sit next to me, "But honestly, it isn't your fault. It's mine. I should have fucking knew better..."

I felt bad, but I stayed silent. Sighing, she asked, "Are you okay?"

I nodded, "Feeling a lot better."

"Now that you're drunk," she continued on for me, which I only laughed and shrugged in response.

It was quiet for a moment.

But the question that had been on my mind since I left her was starting to bubble back to life. Hand tightening at my side to ground myself, I asked carefully, "Where's Kiba?"

"I told him to go home," she replied.

I blinked.

Surprised for a second time tonight.

Eyes pulling to her, I mumbled, "Why?"

She gave me a glance before looking away, "Because. When he finally did decide to pop back up and try to dance with me, I didn't care. I was worried about you and I wasn't in the mood for him to be around."

I looked away as well. If I wasn't such a dick head, I'd feel guilty. But I didn't. I couldn't care less what was up with him, and I was happy to hear he had been forced to go away.

Too bad it couldn't have happened earlier though.

Now I was out of my mind drunk and couldn't even focus on anything. Not even Ino.

Sighing, I leaned back against the tree and murmured, "How unfortunate."

There was a pause before I heard a soft snort that slowly turned into an honest laugh. I glanced at Ino in curiosity, but she only gave me an amused look, "God... you're just really cute when you're drunk."

I blinked, "What did I do?"

"Nothing," she replied with smile while standing up, "Come on, I'll drive you home."

"You're not drunk?" I asked as I struggled to stand with her. She took my hand and helped me, answering, "No dork. I figured you'd get like this so I stopped drinking hours ago."

"Ruined your night, huh," I muttered as I followed her, not having a clue where my car was.

"No. Plus the night isn't over," she said as she led the way, hand still tugging mine along, "I'm staying the night."

"Oh... alright."

"If I didn't know you better, I would swear you were fine enough to drive," she mused out loud as we walked, "No slurring. Stumbling. You look completely normal. But I guess I've been acting like I don't know you at all."

If only she could see what was happening in my mind. The swaying of the flat ground was starting to make me sick. I was too concentrated on walking to question what she meant, and when we got to the car I didn't even remember passing out on the drive home. What I remember was being carefully led to my room when we finally got there.

I didn't argue when she told me to strip. Took off my shirt and tossed my jeans, but she did help me with my shorts and tank top when she saw that I was having trouble.

Eventually I was laying down and I shut my eyes immediately.

But I refused to sleep until she was done changing and laying down with me as well.

I grabbed her waist and dragged her flush into me, her back pressing against my chest with my nose running across her shoulder. Taking in a deep breath, I mumbled, "I missed you tonight."

"After you ditched me?" She asked with amusement, but laced her fingers with mine that were running across her soft skin at her stomach.

"Yeah..."

"Then next time, don't," she said with a sigh, shifting to press more into me, "Because I missed you too."

"I won't... unless Kiba is there," I murmured, tightening my grip on her hand.

"Mm, don't worry Sakura. Took me awhile, but I figured you out tonight," she said gently, running her thumb across my skin, "Now go to sleep."

"Mmk... love you."

Just before I drifted off, I heard her in the depths of my approaching drunken dreams.

"I love you too dork."

One more. Just one more.

Nike bby