Hello everyone! I know it's been a hot minute since I updated but here I am. I hope you all enjoy this chapter and thank you for the continuous support!

I do not own Naruto

"Alright here is your ice tea." I took the drink from the cashier and thanked her walking out of the small cafe. I found a seat at a small table seated for two outside.

I took a sip of my tea and pulled my hair in a high pony tail. Today is the day I try to move on from my past and it's going to happen in a couple of minutes. I took another sip from my tea and pulled out a single cigarette and lighter from my pocket. I haven't smoked in a month and only stole one from my aunt just for today.

I put the cigarette in my mouth and lit it with my lighter. I slowly inhaled and exhale the smoke from my mouth. Surprisingly, the cigarette didn't calm my nerves for once. I let my hand drape over the table with the cigarette between my fingers. "What am I going to do." I sighed out loud resting my head on my hand closing my eyes for a second to calm down.

I flinched in fear as I heard footsteps getting closer to my table. Is he here already? I took a deep breath and slowly opened my eyes waiting to see him but to my surprise Naruto and Sasuke appeared before my eyes.

"Sakura is that you?" Naruto said shocked to see me as I was too. I haven't talked to him or anyone including Ino for a week. I needed to isolate myself from everyone and even though it was hard It did help clear my mind.

"Oh hello.. yeah it's me." I said flustered not knowing how I should respond. Over the past week I finally realized that I love Naruto and not taking to him for a week was one of the hardest things to do. I miss his smile and his attempt of trying to help me. We made eye contact and we both quickly looked away not knowing what to say to each other. I felt my face getting hotter by the minute.

"Um Hinata asked me out during lunch 3 days ago!" Naruto yelled out surprising Sasuke and I. The cigarette almost slipped out of my fingers while Sasuke just gave Naruto a dumb look. I shouldn't be this surprised as I knew that this was going to happen. Hinata probably saw me isolating myself and took her opportunity.

Naruto rocked back and forth as silence filled the air. "Um yeah.. I just wanted you to know Sakura." It must have been hard on Naruto to not talk to me too. I regain stability in holding my cigarette and took in a deep drag letting the smoke out not toward their faces. Just stay calm Sakura you even said so yourself that Hinata and Naruto looks like a happy couple. It just hurts so much that I can't have him.

I flick the cigarette to dispose of the left-over ashes. "Thank you for letting me know Naruto it really means a lot. Um congratulations on being a couple you guys look great together." The words that I just produce tasted more toxic than the cigarette. Sasuke raised his eyebrow and Naruto tilted his head in confusion.

"Sakura what are you talking about? Naruto never told you his reply back to Hinata." Sasuke laughed as if he heard the funniest joke. Naruto elbowed him on the arm to signal him to control himself. "Yeah so I politely turned her down because I don't have any romantic feelings toward her."

Sasuke sneakily pointed at Naruto and at me and started making kissing motions with both of his hands. I swear it's Sasuke's goal to make me feel embarrassed or to make fun of me. Either way It's embarrassing that Sasuke basically ships Naruto and me. I looked back at Naruto and felt relieved that he said no.

"Sorry for assuming Naruto I just thought that you would say yes to her. She's pretty and quiet and… I'm just going to stop talking." My cheeks burn from my rambling. "Yeah she is but I already have someone that I like." Naruto eyes were serious as if he was trying to tell me something.

I looked away embarrassed wanting to ask him who it was, but I didn't have the courage. "So, are you meeting someone?" Sasuke said trying to break the tension. I paused and remembered why I am here. I guess seeing Naruto and Sasuke helped calmed my nerves I better tell them why I'm here. "So, I haven't told anyone yet, but I found Rock Lee's number on the internet and texted a couple days ago to see if we could meet with me today."

I watched their faces turn pale white. I'm glad I'm not the only one who finds this situation terrifying. "Trust me bold move I know. During my solitude I tried to think of what I could do that would help me move on from my past. After days alone sitting in the cafeteria it finally hit me. Before moving on from my past why don't I try to understand it first. I thought talking to him would help me move on and just have some clarity on why he did it."

"He was reluctant at first but in the end, he said yes. So here I am." Naruto and Sasuke didn't say anything but exchanged glances with each other. "I do agree with you that meeting him is a good idea, but I wish you would have told someone that you were going to meet with him. What if he tries to hurt you again? Luckily Sasuke and I happen to be stopping by here." Naruto took the ciggeratte from my finger and threw it in the ashtray. I didn't question it. "So Sasuke and I will be inside watching out the windows to see if he tries anything again, right Sasuke?" Naruto assumed that Sasuke was game for his plan. "Yeah don't worry Sakura everything is going to be okay we will make sure he doesn't hurt you." Sasuke's kind words touched my heart.

I felt happiness in the pit of my stomach. These people really do care about me. "I appreciate it I really do." In the corner of my eye I saw someone approaching our table from a distance. "You guys actually have to leave now because I think that's him walking this way." I tilted my head to show them. "Just remember we are inside the building just give us a look and we will be outside." Naruto said following behind Sasuke into the building.

They left. This is it the moment that I been waiting for. This can either shape me or break me. "Sakura." A deep voice said in front of me. I turned my head and saw the teenage boy I no longer knew. Rock Lee's hair was a little longer, he grew in height, and his body is more toned. I stared at him and timed seemed to stop. He's here what do I do now? My body froze as I didn't know what I should do. Rock Lee pulled the empty chair out which brought me back from my thoughts.

"I'm going to sit down now if that's okay with you." I just shook my head not wanting to talk yet. I prepared for this day and it's finally happening right now, but it's harder than I thought it would be. Damn Naruto for taking my last cigarette I really need it right now.

Rock Lee decided to break the ice thankfully. "Sakura whenever you texted me I was just surprised that you wanted to talk to me. You look so different Sakura from the last time that I saw you. You're no longer wearing your usual braids, and did you get contacts?" Rock Lee said making pointless conversation. "Why." I said trying to control my shaking. How in the hell is he able to talk like we were friends that didn't see each other in years?

Rock Lee let out a sorrowful chuckle. "I'm sorry for making pointless conversation let's just get to the point, right? Why, because I was a coward. Honestly more like I was selfish only thinking about myself." He looked at me to see if I wanted to speak. I looked at him to proceed with his confession.

"Well the truth is that I needed money fast. You probably knew this, but I was the fastest track star on the team and wanted to travel to this soccer camp where a lot of people who are famous now went to. However, the camp cost a lot of money and I couldn't get a job because of running and school already took too much of my time. I was talking about this with a friend one day, but I guess Ten Ten and Temari overheard my conversation because they went up to me the next day asking if I could do them a favor."

Rock Lee looked at me again and proceeded. "They said if I pretended to like you and get you to go to the school after hours they would pay for everything and a little extra. The thing is though that they didn't know that I already loved you. I watched you when no one else was. I thought you were beautiful and very intelligent. I agreed to do it, but I didn't know what they were really planning that night.

I couldn't believe the words Rock Lee just said. He loved me back then. This must be a joke there is no way. I held back my tears and my mouth, so he could continue with his story.

"Asking you out that day wasn't part of their plan but my own selfish wishes. If I had to pretend to like you might as well, ask you out while I had the chance. I was shocked that you said yes and forgot for a second that I had to convince you to meet me at the school that same night."

Rock Lee shook his head in regret. "When I met with them that night at the school they told me that they wanted you gone. They wanted to break your humble spirit and the key in doing that was me. Sakura they were jealous of you. They didn't like your perfect attendance or your perfect grades. They hated you. All I had to do was break your spirit. To tell you that I never liked you and yeah you know the rest." I'm glad that he didn't go further into that because I remembered everything he said to me.

"I had to pretend that I was happy when I was telling you those words. However, those words were killing me on the inside. They just didn't know that I loved you, but I guess that wasn't true because If I did I wouldn't have pushed you. I tried keeping my composure, but my hands could not stop shaking. I was a naïve middle schooler who only thought about being a future soccer star. If I could take it all back I would Sakura I didn't mean to take it this far."

I felt my heart beat out of my chest. Everything around me was blurred out and Rock Lee was the only one I could see. It was too much to process all at once. Rock Lee did love me, but I wasn't important enough for him to stop the bullying. I didn't know what to think. Rock Lee was an immature middle school just looking out for his future. Should I hate him for trying to achieve his dream job?

Tears spilled out of my eyes as I couldn't hold them any longer. "The thing is that the cops never pushed further into the investigation and I know that's because of you. Temari and Ten Ten got out of jail a year ago for robbing a bank a year after the incident with you, but for me I got to continue living my life like nothing happened. The guilt is killing me everyday and I always think about turning myself in. As you already know since you found my number on the internet I'm the star player back at home for a famous team. Everyday I am reminded how I got in this position and I wonder if it's worth it."

The tears wouldn't stop as I was angry, sad, and just confused. I needed time to think, but I need Rock Lee not to be here. "Rock Lee." This was the first time I said his name to him in years. "Do not turn your self in you came to far to give up your dream. I can't forgive you right and what you did was wrong, but I just can't bring myself to hate you. You just need to leave now and not contact me again."

Rock Lee stood up and stared at me. "Sakura I'm so sor…" His hand was reaching out toward me and I screamed at the top of my lungs. All this pent-up hatred, sadness, and confusion came out all at once. "Just leave me alone!" I stood up and picked up my chair and slammed it on the ground.

I ran away from him not caring where I was going. I wanted to know the truth, but I wasn't prepared for this. We loved each other, but our worlds were too different. Maybe in an alternative world where I stuck up for myself I would have lived a happier life. I felt my body slowing down as I felt lightheaded. I felt a pair of strong hands pulling me toward their direction. I tried to see who it was over my cloudy vison and saw a panting Naruto pulling me into a giant hug. My knees gave out as he lowered me to the ground not letting go of the hug. I let out another big cry realizing that the worst is over.