A/N - For the massive ego stroke graciously given to me by Pickles.

I sure do appreciate when people tell me in different ways how I am amazing.

I mean, sure I am pretty epic.

But like not that epic, don't gas me up too much.

But, here's my love and appreciation for your obvious loyality to my crappy ass stories lol.

Hope ya enjoy it man.

DISCLAIMER - I do not own Naruto

Song used for this chapter - Mothica - Golden Hand (Subsets Remix)

Do this more often?

Hang out and act like we were best friends?

Funny how I fell for the simplest shit every time. How I almost believed everything will just fall into place as I continued to step forward. But after that night, we didn't really hang out much. I guess her solution to the whole Kiba being around thing was to hang out with us separately, but of course I got the short end of the stick.

Wonder what was worse.

Going to a party only to glance over my shoulder to see her glaring.

Or going to the party and glancing at the constant empty space where I knew she would be if she were actually around.

But I didn't let it drag me down, I couldn't or I'd come to a standstill. I went to my parties with my team and attempted to have fun. Girls kept my mind off of most of it, and the alcohol stopped me from drifting too far into my thoughts. It was the best solution I could come up with, I figured it'd take me pretty far.

And it did.

Couple of weeks passed with me messaging Ino here and there. Maybe popping a visit to her place to say what's up before I left to some other random party. I guess it was my fault too, trying to find some sort of happy medium. Too much time with her proved too much for me to handle, as I found out at that party nights ago. Too little time with her suffocated me while I was alone.

What was I supposed to do?

I felt like if I let this get to me enough, crack me down until I broke and finally spoke my mind, I'd be exposed. She'd realize my feelings and I would be left standing there raw and open with no way of knowing what would happen next. And as shitty as it was not to have her around as much as I wanted, it seemed better than the latter.

Because pathetic as it was, I was starting to think rejection was my worst fear.

Rejection not by just anyone, but her.

It would be easier to swallow if I thought I had a shot, but deep down I knew I didn't. After years of being with her, I knew her. Very well. I knew her preference, her type, what she looked for in a guy. I guess that's what shook me the most about Kiba, because I knew.

I just fucking knew.

The guy wasn't going any fucking where.

Maybe down the line I had a shot, and I missed it. Maybe, when I just wasn't paying any attention. When I was too busy basking in my glory of being fucking wanted by every other random female, I had a chance but it floated away. But in every scenario I thought of, every situation of a possibility in the past, I never saw one in the future.

So I stayed away.

Because what the fuck else was I supposed to do?

If I didn't keep walking I'd come to a standstill.

If I came to a standstill I would crack.

If I cracked, I'd be left raw and open.

And what could happen after that left me sick to my stomach.

"Dude, if you could pay attention for two seconds," Temari complained with a hard frown.

I looked up from my beer with a blink. Her annoyed look left me adverting my eyes. I couldn't let her, of all people, start picking up what I was feeling. I knew she'd only lecture me about how I needed to let all the complicated shit go. She was a firm believer in staying loyal to the friend code. Hooking up with them wasn't exactly in the description.

"Hellooo?"

"What's up man?" I huffed out, giving her a look, "Can't you see I'm just trying to drink my beer over here?"

She scoffed, "Don't give me that shit, I've watched you babysit that thing for about thirty minutes now. So fucking focus, I need your help."

"Alright alright," I caved, placing my beer on the nearby messy coffee table. It was covered with crumbs and empty red solo cups. Wasn't exactly the cleanest party I went to, but you couldn't expect much from frats.

"There is this girl over there that I've been talking to, and she's digging me but she has to keep her friend entertained," Temari explained with a small shift of her eyes. I glanced over my shoulder with a frown, seeing two brunettes giggling by the wall with drinks in their hands.

I turned back to Temari, "I'm not feeling it tonight, Temi."

"You owe me, Sakura," she argued with a small glare, "As many times I've played wing man for you? Don't be a dick, plus you're just standing here. You need something to focus on before you end up wasting away."

"I'm telling you man, I'm going to be ass for company if you stick me in this situation," I warned with a frown, "I'm tired and not even buzzed. Tonight's game drained the fuck out of me."

"Tonight's game was worked by me, if you don't remember," she countered, watching me carefully, "You were so out of it, coach had to take you out for the last quarter. What the hell are you so tired from?"

This joke of a fucking life, that's what.

Heaving a huge sigh, I caved yet again, "Alright, but this is on you. I don't want to hear any complaints if the girl just runs back to cock block you again."

"Give me a solid hour, that's all I'm asking for," she replied with a grin, hooking her arm around my shoulder as she dragged me to the two girls she was speaking of.

I dreaded the company, which was a red alert that the remedy I had come up with was slowly starting to lose it's magic. But, all the same, I smiled when Temari introduced me and did my best to pretend to show interest in the girl that seemed to be my mission. She gave me a curious little smile, telling me her name in almost a teasing whisper.

But I forgot it the moment it left her lips.

All the same, I took her hand and asked if she wanted another drink hoping beyond all hope she'd shut me down. Instead she agreed.

So I tugged her off to keep her entertained.

Because one way or the other, I feel like I asked for this shit.

X

"You were just baby sitting your drinks, Sakura. How the hell did you end up trashed?" Temari complained as she heaved me into her jeep. I slumped in my seat with an unintelligible mumble, which she only grumbled at as she shut the door.

I dozed off in the few seconds it took for her to hop in herself, but the slam of her door jolted me awake.

"Honestly man, what the fuck is up with you?" She went on as she placed the gear in drive before pulling off. "I only needed an hour man, you gave me less than that. The girl said you left her alone at the keg and never came back. In the span of the hour it took me to find you, you're slumped in some random room."

"Told you I was tired," I slurred out.

"Don't give me that shit," she snapped back only to huff as she attempted to calm down, "Alright alright, granted you told me that. But I'm starting to think there is something else wrong with you."

"Just want to go home," I groaned, shutting my eyes as the street lights blurred them into a sickening churn.

"No way I can drop you off at home," she informed with a glance at me, "You're parents will flip, it's way too early for them to be completely sleep. I texted them from your phone, told them you're staying the night."

"Good..."

She snorted, "Yeah buddy, bullet dodged. But you can't stay with me tonight."

"What?" I asked with confusion, struggling to hold my head up as I looked at her.

"You can't stay with me, my parents are still awake too," she repeated with a hard frown.

"Where am I going to go?" I mumbled, leaning against the glass as I used the last of my strength.

"Question of the night, isn't it?"

I swallowed back the urge to throw up.

"Don't you fucking do it man, you're straining this friendship enough tonight as it is," she warned dangerously from the drivers seat, suddenly picking up speed, "Don't worry, I texted Ino. She said her parents are out right now. We can get you in her room before they get back, we just need you to not act up when we get there. She said they should be back soon. Which means we have to work fast."

The urge to throw up came back at full force as I quickly refused.

"That would be acting up, Sakura," she informed with a glare.

"Don't want to go there," I forced out with a shiver, overcoming the second dry heave.

Temari's face twisted, "Why the hell not?"

I didn't answer.

"Christ, give me patience," she mumbled angrily from her side, "Listen, you either give me a good enough reason to stick my fucking neck out for you and haul you to my place or you're staying with her."

"Please?"

She shook her head, staring ahead, "Not a good enough answer. I don't care if you guys are fighting. Tonight you both are going to have to deal. Sorry man, but I just can't hold you down tonight. You're going to have to suck it up."

I wanted to argue, but my eyes drooped on their own, probably shutting down before I could actually throw up in her jeep.

X

"Sakura, come on, they will be here any second," Ino whined quietly in front of me.

I blinked, dazed. I had no recollection of getting into her room, but what bothered me the most was how unnaturally cold it was. Shivering, I felt sick to my stomach.

"No no no, you can't go to bed yet. You have to put the shirt on," Ino said with exasperation, and I felt a tug on my arm, "God, I'm not big enough for this. You're too heavy."

"I'm fat?"

She laughed, "No you aren't fat, I'm just small. Are you feeling a little better? That's the first thing you said since you been here."

"Sick..." I barely managed to mumble out.

"Mhmm, I know," she hummed with a sigh, sitting next to me in the bed I somehow managed to collapse in. Her fingers ran through my hair, "But you're going to get more sick if you sleep without a shirt. You don't want that do you?"

I shook my head.

"Then put on your shirt for me. Then we can sleep. I promise."

I continued to lay in her bed, feeling as if I moved I'd throw up simply from the constant spinning of the room. The only thing stopping me was the running of her fingers against my scalp. Focusing on that dulled the sensation of everything hurling to the left constantly.

"Please Sakura?"

Her soft plea struck something within me. I was sitting up from pure reaction.

Somehow, I managed to drag the shirt she handed me towards me. With all my strength, I forced it over my head.

"Okay, almost done. But here, put this hoodie on so you can stay warm. My sheets are really thin."

Dazed, I dragged my eyes to what she was handing out to me. Taking it slowly, I mumbled, "This is big enough to fit me... Who's is it?"

"Kiba's." Shoving it away from me instantly, I watched it land in the middle of the floor. Ino frowned as she held her eyes to me, "What was that for?"

"I'm not wearing his shit, Ino," I managed out, moving to stand up as I continued, "Gonna sleep downstairs."

"Wait! No you can't," she shot up instantly, grabbing my arm as I attempted to walk towards the door. I pulled my arm away, "Sakura, my parents are coming home! If they see you, they'll tell your parents how drunk you are. Your mom would flip."

"Don't care."

"Sakura stop," she called out desperately, moving in front of me as I reached for the handle. She grabbed my waist, trying to carefully push me away, "Just. Sleep here alright? You can have the bed, I can go downstairs and sleep on the couch. They won't even think anything of it, I watch TV down there all the time."

I stood still with her there, not knowing what I wanted anymore.

I wanted to get away because I was pissed that his shit was in her room.

Which meant they had to be in here. Alone. Which was the type of shit I tried very hard to not think about.

But despite that, I wanted her with me. I didn't want to sleep by myself.

I was just acting up. I felt like a complete fucking brat.

My eyes fell between us.

"Okay?" She asked while watching me carefully, "Is that alright?"

"No."

"Then what do you want to do? You can't sleep downstairs, I don't want them causing trouble."

Without answering, I turned and climbed back into Ino's bed. Sleep. I needed sleep. If I didn't go to sleep soon, I'd regret it. Drunk or not, I knew I was making a fool of myself. I just needed to survive until tomorrow. Anything after that would be settled then.

After a moment, Ino climbed into bed with me. She stayed on her end against the wall, hands running through her hair as she sighed without a clue on what to do now. But her being so far away made me feel even more cold underneath her thin sheets, so pathetically enough I shifted to her and laid my head on her lap. Face nuzzling at her stomach with my eyes drifting shut on their own, I pulled myself closer while murmuring out, "I missed you."

A soft noise came from her as her fingers ran through my hair, "I missed you too, huge child best friend of mine."

"Yours..."

"Yes, mine," she repeated, scratching at my scalp.

"Always?"

"Forever." Her answer had my eyes wandering up to hers. She was watching me with a soft smile. "Hm? Forever not enough for you?"

"No," I answered truthfully.

"Well, how long then?"

Her question was meant to entertain me, but I ended up feeling a tug in my chest as I muttered, "Not how long. How much."

She brushed a strand of hair away from my face, "How much of what, Sakura?"

"How much of you I want..."

Her fingers paused their brushing as her eyes held mine steadily for a moment. Seconds later, her tongue was nervously slipping across her lips, and the movement caused my eyes to dart towards it. Setting my jaw, I tried to catch myself from unraveling. Sleep. I needed sleep. I was slipping way more often, way more obviously, than I should have been.

I shut my eyes, hoping tomorrow she would spare me enough to pretend I never said that.

"How much of me do you want, Sakura?"

My stomach tossed at her soft voice.

Swallowing, I muttered before I could catch myself, "All of you. Forever."

I needed to sleep. I was begging for it. But her silence kept me from drifting off. My eyes slipped open to see her still watching me, this time with a tug of her lip as she gently bit down on it. I couldn't help my hand reaching up to her, fingers dragging across her cheek before running to the back of her neck.

She followed my tugs willingly as I sat up slightly, watching her carefully for any signs that I should stop.

But the closer I came to her, shortening the distance just to feel her warm breath mixing with mine as her lips parted slightly, the quieter the reasoning thoughts became as they pleaded for me to stop. But I found my eyes drifting to a close as I pulled her down to the maddening trench I placed myself in.

And managed to find a bit of hope in escaping as brushed my lips across hers.

Alright a few things.

First, it's pretty freaking hard to write in a pov of a drunk person. It's because I'm attempting to be realistic. Like not only am I trying to get intuned with Sakura and her personality, I have to imagine how she would be while she's drunk.

That is my excuse for why it just kinda seems disconnected and choppy. Usually there is a lot more thoughts and emotions going on in scenes like this when I write.

But I feel like that's how she'd be. She's fed up, angry, tired, and always thinking on a daily. When drunk, and I don't mean buzzed I mean straight up borderline trashed, I feel like the thoughts start to shut down and emotions kinda dull to a throb. Almost disconnecting. Hence why, when sober, she beats in her head that she doesn't have a chance. Yet, while drunk, she couldn't give a single fuck about any of it.

But I guess that kinda goes for everyone?

So if you felt like it was a bit lacking, that's why.

Second. Sorry it's short. But meh, it's a short story. I see maybe 15 chapters at most? Just a nice lil side story to read.

Anyway, Pickles. There you go bro. Hope ya enjoyed it.

Shycadet works for Ego Strokes. Loves everyone equally but gives favorite points to Pickles. Don't tell Kat.

Out.