note.
Rawr. I'm brutal. No apologies this time. The last time I apologised - someone thought it fine to abuse my kindness.
track 49.
On a rare raining Monday morning, Uchiha Sasuke overhears the tracking team comforting their star runner with promises of blind dates with attractive younger cousins and neighbouring campus belles.
"I love you." Is the first thing Sakura says to him on the same Monday morning, standing across the golden lobby.
In front of all the other students. In front of their classmates, their teachers, the whole form; though none of them seem to be fazed. Unlike previous confessions to him, it isn't made into a public spectacle, even if it was the most public confession.
Another painful wake up call.
Sakura was an exception to everyone that saw her. He wasn't the only one that saw her as an exception. It wasn't that she made herself special for him.
He wasn't special.
"I know."
"Naruto told me you came to find me last night. That you were at the fireworks." She grabbed his shoulders to stop him from turning back to face the board that announced their group itinerary for their last day in Wind. Forcing him to look at her. "Isn't there anything you want to say to me?"
Sakura's expression told him everything he needed to hear.
I like you so much that I can't stop here. I can't pretend I don't like you. All I can do is not show you that I like you if you tell me to stop. All I can do is keep myself from begging you to like me back.
He can picture the desperation in her mind. The amount of pride its taking her to strip herself down in front of his unmoving state. Sakura is a girl who loves in order to be loved, and Sasuke didn't have the courage to say that he was sure he wouldn't hurt her if they were together.
They were too close, he was too afraid to lose her. And yet, he wanted her so badly. He wondered if it would all be easier if he had accepted her from the start.
"No."
Letting go, she glanced at the undone button around his collar, its loose thread dangling pitifully. Proof of how hard she had accidentally grabbed him. Glancing up the his face, and to his eyes that refused to look directly at her, Sakura stepped back, barely missing the footsteps of another student as she looked past him.
Through him. As if he weren't in front of her.
"Coward."