A mostly Sakura centric chapter, but it switches at the end.
xxxxx - denotes the switch
I hope you guys don't mind the Sakura heavy content of this chapter, but it's all for a reason, I promise.
The new year is a time to pause and reflect upon the year behind. Re-evaluate one's aspirations and outlook on life.
As the clock struck midnight, and Sakura kissed her parents a happy new year, she promised herself that she wouldn't be in the same pitiful position next year.
Her phone buzzes an hour after midnight. She glares at the photo of her best friend and Sai at some club in the city. A party she wasn't invited to because it was a couples' event. As much as she is happy for Ino, she too wants a happy ending. It isn't fair.
Sakura quickly types out, 'gorgeous. but who is the freak next to you?' Ino doesn't reply that night, but a few other messages come in from family members. After replying to those messages, she scrolls down her contact list and hovers over Sasuke's number. It's only a couple years ago when they were on good terms and would reach out to each other on special occasions. Since Sasuke dated Karin, the only serious girlfriend he had since Sakura, the nature of their relationship changed drastically. She hates the idea of not being a part of his life anymore. Mustering up the nerve, she quickly types out 'Happy New Year, Sasuke!'
Sakura falls asleep waiting for a response.
On the crowded train ride back to the city, Sakura reflects on her adult life. Without boasting or exaggerating, she could easily claim that she is ahead of most of her peers. She is sailing through her pre-med degree and might be able to graduate the program a year early. Her intellect and conventional attractiveness opens doors that are closed to many.
The world seems to be at her fingertips. Yet, love is so far out of reach.
Nearing the city, her phone buzzes causing her heart to skip a beat. Fumbling in her purse and nearly dropping the hand-sized gadget, she frowns when she reads Ino's name. Not exactly the person she was hoping to hear from.
Deep down she knows that it is time to let go and move on. Find someone else who actually wants to be with her; someone who will text back and pick up her phone calls. She doesn't think she is asking for much.
But how does she give up on someone she dedicated nearly her entire life to?
With all the love she bestows, in return Sasuke treats her like a nuisance. How could they be so disjointed in their expression of care?
On miserable, lonely days she allows herself to hate him and to blame him for the obsessive fool that she has become.
Peeling off her jacket and hanging it in the closet, Sakura flops down on her futon. Unlocking her phone, she scrolls to the last message sent to Sasuke. Fuming, she decides it is time to unleash her anger.
Get rid of him and start fresh.
All anger subsides when she sees that he is online .
Sakura presses the green call button.
On the fifth ring he picks up.
'Sakura,' he intones, irritation bleeding through the phone. An unfair and undeserved reaction.
"Happy New Year, Sasuke," Sakura says with as much joy as her dejected heart can sprout.
'Happy New Year,' he parrots.
"I texted you," Sakura waits for an apology. When she realizes one isn't coming, she adds, "you didn't text back."
She hears him sigh, before he replies, "I was asleep."
"You didn't go out?"
"No," As her time begins to run out, her desire to slam the phone against the nearest wall grows tremendously.
"How come?" She shouldn't prod but she can't suppress her curiosity. It is so unlike him to have been at home on new years eve. She wonders if he was alone.
"Just didn't want to go out." He pauses for a moment, then adds, "Listen, Sakura. I have to go. I'll talk to you later."
"Wait, Sas-" the phone goes dead before she can finish her sentence.
Pulling a blanket over her body, Sakura curls up into a ball and cries herself to sleep in the middle of the evening.
The next day, she applies cucumber slides on her red, swollen eyes and promises herself that this year will be different.
The second day of January and the rest of the month is spent with her head buried in her books and working out at the gym.
Nearing Valentine's day, she applies a thick coat of cement to keep the panic down at being alone again on another holiday.
The third floor is usually the quietest spot in the library. There are no vending machines for students to rattle. The stern librarian on shift is quick to put a stop to even the faintest audible conversation. It is Sakura's perfect hideout to study.
Taking a break from reading, Sakura pulls her chair closer to the bannister overlooking the second floor of the library. From here she has a bird's eye view of the students below. Absent-mindedly, she searches through the pensive faces in search of a familiar face.
If asked, she would swear her conscious mind doesn't do it on purpose. A floor away and in a crowded room, she can't understand why it is easy to spot him.
He is there with his good for nothing friends. The ones she is certain deal drugs and aren't enrolled in their school.
The skinny one nudges Sasuke and juts his head forward, laughing raucously at Sasuke's attempt to ignore him.
Over twenty-feet above, Sakura cringes at the second hand embarrassment. When the skinny friend repeats the action, Sakura follows his gaze and finds none other than Hinata, seated alone with her ugly, worn-out sweater bundled around her average looking body.
Sakura's eyes dart back and forth between Sasuke and Hinata. Trying her best to decipher the joke or the nature of the teasing between friends.
Her freshly manicured fingers dig into the concrete bannister when Sasuke pushes his friend off, grabs his belongings and approaches the timid young woman.
Dread building in her stomach, all she can do is watch as Sasuke drags a seat over to Hinata's small table.
Sakura doesn't wait to see more, she tucks her laptop into her bag and exits the library.
The following day, she returns a classmate's call and accepts his invitation for dinner.
She likes his chestnut hair and light brown eyes.
Yui is taller and stronger than Sasuke. She tries but can't convince herself that he's better looking as well. With time her perception will change. She hopes.
When he kisses her goodnight at her door and greedily palms her behind, she doesn't punch him but allows him into her room.
It doesn't matter that he comes quickly or doesn't return the favour. He spends the night and in the morning he fucks her again in the same lackluster manner as the night before.
At her front door, she agrees to another date with a forced smile on her face, convincing herself that she is making better life choices.
Sakura sees Sasuke and Hinata together again at the library. Sasuke's friends are a part of their study group. It is evident that their meeting is innocent and platonic. Yet it cuts deeper than if he were trying to fuck her. He's actually putting in the work to get to know her and spend time with her. When was the last time he was the one to initiate interaction or friendship with a woman?
She meets with her green-eyed lover later that evening. Her attempts at subtly motivating him to seek her pleasure is futile. Instead of sitting on his face as she intends to, she is taken from behind; she counts down the minutes until she can be alone again.
When he is gone, she closes her eyes and buries her fingers in her pajama tries to conjure up an image of Sasuke on his knees, instead blonde hair and bright blue eyes stare back at her eagerly. In her mind, Naruto laps at her until she shudders to completion.
The next morning, she texts Naruto to meet up for lunch. He texts back saying he's busy and low on funds. She says she will pay, but he doesn't reply.
"Cheer up, forehead" Ino hands Sakura a cup of tea, "you should be happy they are just friends."
Sakura sits upright against her headboard. She brings the hot beverage to her lips and lightly blows her warm breath across the rim.
"And you're dating Yui, so you're finally getting some," Ino sits on the end of the bed.
"Yeah," Sakura replies with as much enthusiasm as a deflated balloon.
"This is progress and it's about time."
"Mmhm," Sakura cautiously takes a sip of the green tea.
Seemingly unperturbed by Sakura's effort to join the conversation, Ino continues, "Soon we can double-date."
"Sure," Sakura doesn't think a double-date will go as well as Ino envisions. While Ino doesn't question Sai's eccentricness, Yui doesn't exactly appear to be open-minded to non-conventional expressions of masculinity.
"Now you're messing with my positive vibes,"Ino frowns and takes the cup from Sakura, "we are going out. Get dressed."
"Not tonight, Ino."
"Come on, Forehead. It's Saturday evening, stop moping over a guy who doesn't give a shit about you."
Sakura sighs, slumping down on the bed, "thanks for the reminder."
"I'm just being real."
"That's why you're dating the goth version of him," Sakura really didn't want to listen to another one of Ino's judgemental lectures.
Ino rolls her eyes and examines under her chipped nail, "at least he can fuck better than your pretty fuckboi."
"You two fucked in highschool. A lifetime ago," Sakura throws a pillow at her friend, "and behind my back."
"But you know I'm right," Ino chuckles and grabs the covers off Saukra, "am I not?"
"He improved, nosey bitch."
"So not your best?" Ino asked as she inspected Sakura's clothing. "Wear this," Ino handed her a black sweater dress.
"I'm not going anywhere, Ino. And I'm not answering that question."
"Don't be such a sour puss. We are going out or getting drunk off that bottle of sake in your kitchen."
Not wanting to have to clean up her friend's puke tomorrow, Sakura relents and accepts the dress, "fine but I'm not drinking."
Five drinks later, Sakura stands outside the college bar with a phone pressed to her ear. That was the second call that went directly to voicemail. She had enough. Not bothering to retrieve her jacket, she crosses the park towards the dormitories.
Naruto answers on the second loud knock. He's dressed in orange shorts and a black t-shirt. The ugly, loud orange washed out shirt clings to his chiseled torso.
"So, you're awake," Sakura doesn't wait for an invitation to enter the small room.
"Sakura-chan. What are you doing here?" Naruto trails Sakura as she walks directly into his bedroom.
"Why didn't you answer my phone call," Even inebriated Sakura is aware of her current neediness. She doesn't want to be this indigent with men anymore.
"My phone was on silent."
Sakura sees Naruto's phone face-up on his desk, next to his textbook and his lamp. He was studying alone on a Saturday night, and he refused her call.
"You're avoiding me," Sakura grumbles. She shoves aside Naruto's rumpled blanket, then lays on the thin threadbare polyester sheets.
"I've been busy."
"Mmhm," Sakura begins peeling off her black stockings.
Naruto moves closer to the bed, "what are you doing?"
When Naruto is in arm's reach, she tugs him next to her, straddles him and brings her mouth to his.
Naruto turns his face to the side, "you taste like vodka. Are you drunk?"
"Not nearly enough," Clutching his face in her hands, she draws him closer to her lips again. She senses his hesitation, so she grinds enticingly onto him. She's proud of the reaction she evokes. Humility and kindness disappears, and she haughtily revels in the fact that she can shape and mold Naruto into whatever her mind desires. She doubts shy Hinata will ever have this power over the one man she cares so deeply for.
"Wait, Sakura," Naruto stops her hand from wandering under the waistband of his shorts, "we shouldn't, you're drunk."
She wouldn't permit Naruto to reject her. Not when he has been following her around like a lost puppy since they first met. Too much had changed, and this was something she had control over. She runs her lips over his neck and slides her hands under his shirt. His muscles clench in return.
Sakura smiles when he reverses their position, however, it's not long before he's pulling away and walking towards the door, "I'll sleep on the couch." She wants to throw something at him. When she tries to get up, the room begins to spin so she stays still and eventually falls asleep.
"What time is it?" Bleary eyes and head pounding, Sakura accepts the water bottle and painkiller from Naruto.
"Just before noon. I have to run or else I'll be late for my shift," Naruto slips on a shirt with the name of a sushi restaurant printed on one of the pockets.
"You're not going to walk me back to my room?" Again her neediness announces itself.
"You sure your new friend is going to be okay with that?"
It takes Sakura a second before she realizes just who Naruto is referring to, "how do you know about him?"
"The whole campus knows he fucked you on your first date," Naruto doesn't hide his disappointment. However, he doesn't mention the bullshit excuse she typically threw at him about waiting till marriage. She should be more offended that Yui has a big mouth, but she couldn't care less. He was an avenue that led to a dead-end and now she just has to reverse and stay in the lane she is familiar with.
"And you believe him?" Sakura began dressing, knowing Naruto wouldn't push the topic of her sex life further.
"Anyways, I thought we could talk. I missed you," This wasn't exactly a lie, Naruto was her weighted blanket that provided comfort during trying times. Trying times that were frequently tied to Sasuke. She wasn't an absolute monster as she recognized that she was taking advantage of his feelings for her.
"I'm sorry about last night. I was drunk and wasn't thinking right," Sakura says with sincerity. Maybe she could mend things.
"I know," Naruto shoots back, "Sober Sakura wants different things, different people."
"It's not like that Naruto," It wasn't that she wasn't attracted or wanted more from him. But under his adult masculine physical appeal, she knew too much about him. Enough that she knew it couldn't work. He was still immature, overly optimistic about his future, yet no clear path was planned out. She didn't want to be with a child, and while it was nice to bask in his devotion from time to time. It wasn't something she wanted long term.
But if she couldn't give him what he wanted, she knew someone who could. Someone who wanted to since they were wasn't part of her original plan, but one thing Sakura was good at was adapting to challenges.
It was time to pivot.
"Right," Naruto shimmied his feet into his boots, "you can leave my key under the mat."
"You're just leaving, when I said I want to talk."
"I can't be late for work."
"Well offer an alternative. You work Tuesdays?"
"Yeah-"
"How about Friday evening?"
"Sakura, I don't think-"
"I'll text you," Sakura stated firmly, hoping it left no room for objection. And it didn't, Naruto nodded his head then rushed out the door.
'I'm on the second floor. Next to the Life Sciences section.'
'K. See you soon.' Naruto texts back.
Sakura will be the only audience member on the third floor to observe her romantic plot come to fruition.
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Naruto doesn't know why he caves in so easily to Sakura's demands. He sighs at the cash he hands over to the barista. He could have bought at least ten cups of ramen for the price of one cup of overpriced coffee and a cinnamon roll.
He tugs his jacket tighter around his body to shield himself from the cold wind. The warmth of the library is welcomed.
He takes the elevator to the second floor.
The library at this late hour on a Friday evening is relatively empty. He hears his wet boots squeak as he walks across the clean, tiled floor.
A female together with a skinny, somewhat familiar looking man are seated next to the Life Sciences section. The woman turns around at the minor disturbance.
The woman who has been avoiding him for months stares at him with wide doe eyes.
Awkwardly he waves hello, and he's pretty certain she only returns the greeting because she feels cornered.
"Hey, Hinata," Naruto is tempted to chuck the coffee and pastry in the garbage bin a few yards away. A second later the cogs in his mind click into place. He figures out who planned this impromptu meeting. But out of courtesy to Hinata he soldiers on.
"Hello, Naruto-kun." Hinata returns her gaze to the text book.
The man next to her is Sasuke's friend.
"That for me?" Suigetsu snickers, reaching out for the coffee and dessert.
Naruto moves it out of Suigetsu's reach. Naruto feels disoriented and doesn't know what to say or where to begin. Especially not with the parasite next to him.
"Um," Naruto places the beverage and treat on the table.
Suigestu slides it over to Hinata, "think it's for you, Elfie."
Naruto clears his throat, "can we talk?" He rubs his head nervously. The feeling of someone watching him makes him look upwards toward the third floor. He's not easily angered, but he feels a rush of negativity coursing through his system. He will deal with those green eyes later.
"Maybe another time, Naruto-kun. I was just leaving." Hinata grabs the jacket draped over her chair.
Naruto wants to apologize for unknowingly intruding, but he can't bring himself to do so in front of Suigetsu. He turns on his heels, embarrassed and still unsettled. He nearly walks right into Sasuke.
Sasuke walks past him, brushing his shoulder roughly, causing his already precarious knapsack to shift from his shoulder to his forearm. A notebook and pencil case falls out of an unzipped compartment.
Instead of retaliating in some juvenile manner, Naruto collects his belongings and heads towards the staircase.
He mounts them quickly. Fast enough that he corners Sakura before she enters the elevator.
"Was this your plan all along?" Naruto tries to keep his voice and anger down. He's exhausted. Tired of being Sakura's puppet.
"What are you talking about? I forgot to text to say I moved up to the third floor," Sakura says with little conviction, avoiding direct eye contact.
Naruto just stares at her. The sound of the elevator bell dings but it's all barely registered background noise.
"At least own up to your scheming, Sakura."
Naruto points toward the banister, "If you want to spend your life pining over a man who doesn't want you or could care less for you. Do that. Do you. But leave me out of it."
"Keep your voice down," Sakura hushes him. "It's not like that. I know you like her and she likes you. I just wanted to help"
"Did I ask for your help? Were you trying to help when you came over Saturday?"
Sakura has the audacity to seem appalled. "I was drunk," she defends.
"Just like Halloween, right? What did Sasuke reject you again? So you came running to me?" Naruto is never this callous with Sakura, but he's reached his breaking point. He should have gone to his bed and called it a day. The one thing he wasn't prepared to witness was the girl he liked, the one who actually liked him back, meeting with the fucker who had everything Naruto wishes he had.
"No, Naruto. I just want you to be happy," Naruto calls bullshit on that. Sakura only serves herself.
"You mean you just want to pawn me off. Use me to distract her so you can get what you want. I'm so tired of being a toy in your collection. The one you take down to play when you have nothing else to do." Naruto fumes. He notices the Librarian approaching them from the other side of the floor.
Naruto hears a soft, melodious voice behind him, "Naruto-kun."
He wants to drop to his knees to beg for her forgiveness. To apologize for toying with her feelings, using her for his own sexual satisfaction and giving nothing in return. She deserves so much more. But it's too late. He's made his bed and she's moved on.
"Hinata," Naruto hides the discomfort at having to face the woman he wronged. "Sorry, it's not what you-"
Atypical to her shy demeanor, Hinata interrupts, "you dropped Gama-chan." Hinata offers him the green frog-shaped wallet. Too distracted and out of sorts, he hadn't realized that he placed it on the table together with the coffee.
Naruto accepts it wordless. Watches in silence as Hinata enters the elevator.
Sakura rushes past Naruto and wedges her foot to stop the closing door, "Hinata. Wait. I was just trying to fix things. He really cares about you, he just doesn't know how to express his feelings."
Without an ounce of malice, Hinata rejects Sakura's claim, "You don't need to fix anything. It's clear to me who Naruto truly has feelings for. It's always been clear." Hinata presses the button to open the elevator, "it's all yours. I can take the stairs."
That may or may not be the end of Sakura's role in this story. I'm not sure as yet. But I didn't want to continue with her petty juvenile behaviour. It was fun, but I feel like it's a trope at this point and other writers have done a better job at it than me.
Anyways, l know I haven't updated in forever, but if anyone is still reading this fic, I would love to know your thoughts? Good or bad
I may have asked this already, but are you guys here for the love triangle, NaruHina or SasuHina?
Take care.