Hello everyone. Here is the new chapter and thanks for the continuous support!

I do not own Naruto

"Thank you so much for dropping me off Mr. Yamanaka I can't thank you enough." I bowed my head thanking him for dropping me off at my house. Since I spent the night at Ino's house I contracted her cold and even though she begged me to stay at her house I refused. I guess I felt like if I stayed with her another day I would be bothersome.

"Are you going to be okay Sakura? Like Ino said you can still stay at my house, so you won't be alone." Mr. Yamanaka voiced his concerned. I was extremely grateful at his kindness, but I just couldn't accept it. I honestly needed time for myself after what everything that happened.

"I really do appreciate it, but I'll be fine. My aunt has a bunch of medicine that I can take, and I don't feel that sick. I let out a sweet smile trying to convince him that I'm fine.

Mr. Yamanaka was hesitant but was defeated. "Okay get some rest and don't forget to eat. Also, please text Ino if you need anything." I shook my head and watched him drive off. I went inside my house and let out a huge cough that I was holding in. The truth is that I feel terrible, but I didn't want him to worry about me.

I made my way to the bathroom where my shower awaits me. I feel so dirty and cold that a shower and bath sounds like the perfect remedy. I looked in the mirror and noticed my eyes had a tint of red in them. My nose was red from the cold and the eyeliner and mascara that Sasuke gave me was all over my face. That's why Mr. Yamanaka was so concerned about me.

I washed my hands and took my contacts off making my eyes feel ten times better. I need to get out of the habit of wearing my contacts to sleep it's only making my vision worse. I stripped my clothes off and put it in my hamper and turned the water on. I tip toed my way inside the bathtub and felt the hot water beat into my cold skin.

I realized that I slept all yesterday afternoon and night and I haven't ate anything. I appreciate Ino's attempt on trying to wake me up to feed me, but I just wanted to sleep. I should of ate and taken some medicine before taking a shower. Oh well.

I scrubbed my face and body too hard making sure all unwanted substances were gone. I started scrubbing harder letting my mind wonder off. No matter how hard I scrubbed I can't erase my past or the present. I can't erase how stupid I was getting manipulated in the past and how I screamed at Naruto's face in the present. I grabbed my shampoo and angrily scrubbed my hair yanking out some of my loose hair strands.

The past couple of days I struggled with my inner self. I felt myself changing in a good way, but being cold and heartless is the easier option. I felt the tears fall down my cheek. I silently sobbed uncontrollably while I continued washing out the soap out of my hair. I felt clean enough to close the drain and start filling the bath tub with hot water for my bath.

My tears kept falling as I sat down feeling the hot water fill up the tub. I started hitting my thighs to relieve some of the pain building up in my chest. My depression is building up to the point where I don't how to function. Isolating myself and lashing out seems like the only options available.

I turned the water off and stretched my body out. I leaned my head on the wall and closed my eyes. The scorching hot water felt good on my cold skin. I started thinking about the past again. What if I went to a different middle school? What if mother and father never went on that business trip? Life would be so different if only there was a reverse button. I took a deep breath in and out. Yes, my life would be different if my past was changed, but then I wouldn't have met my best friend Ino or should I even say this… Naruto.

I need to be stronger and try to find my own happiness and peace within myself. I'm only driving myself to a wall of self-destruction if I keep this up. Goodness I need a cigarette right now. It's been too long since I smoked. It's a bad habit that I acquired from my aunt, but it helps me calm down from stressful situations. I quit a month ago and was going strong, but I don't think I can keep it up.

Geez what am I saying right now. I'm talking about taking care of my well-being right now and I'm talking about cigarettes. I let out another huge cough that felt like there was a stone sitting on top of my chest. My eyes shot opened and my head started to spin. Not good.

I figured it was time to get out of the bath and tried standing up but immediately sat back down before I fell. Great Sakura just great. I'm on the verge of passing out and I don't think I can stand back up. I can drain the water, but I'll freeze to death and if I stay in this water I'll get dizzier and might drown. Tsunade doesn't know that I am home, and I can't reach my phone to call anyone.

Ugh what should I do? Why am I always in sticky situations like this? I faintly heard a knock on the door. Who can that be? I tried to answer but another cough came out. There was a moment of silence and I heard the front door open and close. Am I just hearing things? It couldn't be Tsunade it's her house she wouldn't knock and she's working right now. Who can it be?

My heart started racing as a random stranger walked in the house. This is what I get for telling Ino to lock her front door all the time. "Sakura are you home?" I heard a male voice say but couldn't make out who it was. I stiffen at the voice. "Who is it?" I let out soft audible voice. My vision was already blurry due to my eyesight, but the heat was making it worse.

I weakly started banging on the tub to hopefully guide the person to my direction. The footsteps started to come toward me, and I couldn't believe my eyes. I am totally imagination this. It's blurry but that is Naruto standing outside my bathroom!

He was frozen in place staring at directly into my eyes shocked eyes. If he stared any lower, I would have died of embarrassment. Naruto quickly covered his eyes with his hands trying to hide the sight in front of him. I really do appreciate that Naruto.

"Sakura, I didn't see anything I promise! Ah, but you looked like you were going to pass out. I need to help you. Um I need a towel!" I watched Naruto franticly look all over my bathroom for a towel which was hanging on the wall. He grabbed it and thrusted the towel in my direction. "Sakura are you able to stand up and put this on?" Naruto said still not looking at me.

I needed to get out of this tub now. "Naruto, I can't stand up I need you to help me sit up on the tub. Just grab my arms and bring me to the edge of the tub." I demanded. Naruto let out a huge gulp.

"Uh okay Sakura I'll try my best and I promise that I won't look at you." He had his head faced the other way as he dropped the towel on the floor. He touched my shoulders sending shivers down my spine. I tried not to think about the skin to skin contact happening right now.

He grabbed under my shoulders and lifted me off the tub and onto the ledge and quickly handed me the towel that I immediately wrapped around myself. He placed me into a sitting position and I let out another cough.

"Are you all covered Sakura?" Before I could even answer his question, the sudden movement took more energy out of me. My vision started to become black as I started to fall off the ledge of the tub. Naruto quickly caught me embracing me with his body. "Ah Sakura are you okay? Just try to stay awake okay. I need you to tell me where your room is, so I can lay you down."

I weakly pointed to the room straight across. Naruto shifted his weight and carried me out bridal style to my room. This is so embarrassing right now. The only thing that I covering my body is this skimpy towel and I pray that it doesn't fall off. Why does Naruto always see the vulnerable side of me. I'm supposed to be this tough cool girl but that's not the case anymore when I'm with him. This is the second time he has seen me without my makeup.

I can feel the heat coming from Naruto's chest as well his rapid heartbeat. I hugged his neck a little tighter out of instinct feeling his heart beat more rapidly. I hope that this doesn't make him uncomfortable. Naruto entered my room turning on the light immediately placing me on the bed. Thankfully my room is just simple and always clean.

He placed the blanket over my body gently making sure that I'm covered but still cooling off from the bath. He seems calmer now. "Okay Sakura where is your medicine cabinet?" He said not wasting any time.

I felt better laying down as my head wasn't spinning anymore. "It in the kitchen in the smallest cabinet to the left of the stove. There should be some cold medicine there." Naruto nodded his head and left my room. He came back in record time with a bottle of medicine in his hand and a bottle of water in the other. He poured the medicine in the cap and handed me it with the water bottle.

I lifted half of my body up and drank the contents of both liquids. I gave them back to Naruto and placed my head down. "Naruto, I really appreciate you, but I have to ask what are you doing here and how did you know that this was my house?" I finally asked what I wanted to say to him. Naruto sat down on the floor right next to where my head was. "Well she texted me saying that she was at your house yesterday. She texted me today saying that you contracted her cold and you would be going home. I asked her for your address, so I can check up on you and I'm glad I did." Naruto confessed.

I sighed. Well I can't be mad at Ino since I almost passed out in the bathroom. Wait when did Naruto and Ino swapped numbers? That's something that I must ask her later. I turned on my side not facing Naruto. "Again, thank you for checking up on me I have my medicine now, so I'll be fine now. You can leave now Naruto." I tried not to sound like a jerk.

"Sakura, I also came here to talk about what happened yesterday." I totally forgot for a second that happened. "Naruto I don't want to talk about it right.." Naruto startled me cutting off my words.

"Sakura just please don't say anything let me speak." There was sadness in his voice. "I'm sorry about yesterday I really am. I thought that if I showed Hinata our project maybe that would help you open to other people. I wasn't considering your feelings at all and I feel like a jerk. Even Sasuke said I was a jerk and that's coming from him." Naruto took a deep breath. "What I'm trying to say is that I didn't mean to intentionally hurt you I would never do that Sakura. So please forgive me." I felt Naruto's head collapse on my bed.

Every word he said was coming from the heart. I truly stabbed his heart and ripped it out of his chest. My jealously, traumatic past, and my stubbornness is all the reasons why I should stop talking to him. I'm only going to make things worse. I wish we weren't having this conversation right now while I'm dealing with this cold. I know I can't leave him hanging I have to say something.

"Naruto." I know I might regret this later. "I am also sorry for the way I acted. I didn't know what your true motives were, and I was triggered by your actions. I forgive you and you didn't do anything wrong I promise." I held back the tears. Here we go. "Naruto, I just need you to leave me alone for a while. We can meet up and work on the project together but that's it. I just need to make peace with myself and I need to do this alone." I felt Naruto's head lift off my bed. The temptation to turn to look at him was strong.

"Sakura." My name lingered in the air. "Sakura, I understand that you need time for yourself I really do. However, I want to be here for you throughout your whole journey. I know it's selfish of me but please don't shut me out." Naruto words were strangling me.

"Naruto I'm sorry but please do this for me." I tried telling him for the last time. Naruto was quiet for a good minute which made me nervous. He eventually spoke up. "Okay Sakura I understand I'll leave you alone, but just remember that I will be waiting for you so please don't forget about our friendship. I'll let you sleep for a little bit, but I'm going to make you eat after you wake up. I'm also going to be staying here until Tsunade comes home."

I knew that it wasn't easy for him to say that. "Thank you, Naruto." I pulled the covers closer to my body and drifted off to sleep.