Rejection

My one day off is never really a day off. Being the head surgeon in the only hospital in the village means I’m always on call. Yet I slept in. Finally being able to have non interrupted sleep feels amazing.

I walk downstairs in my tiny apartment to make breakfast. Or since it was 2 in the afternoons I guess brunch. In a couple hours I will have to get ready for Naruto’s birthday party. He decided to do a bar party with free shots. So clearly everyone’s going. I can’t wait to finally have something to dress up for.

…

After a few hours of chores that needed to get done I decide to get ready. I revel in the process of my hair and makeup. I miss this. I ended up wearing a green dress that matched my eyes. Ino said it was slutty but classy when I bought it. I leave my hair down giving my scalp a break from the doctor bun I wear constantly. After an hour and half of getting ready I make my way to the little bar in the village.

A man eyeing my breasts opens the door for me with a dirty smile. I walk past him into the thick stench of alcohol. Naruto could not have picked a smaller place. The room is packed with so many faces, Naruto really knows too many people.

“Sakura-Chan!” Hinata runs up to me and throws her arms around me. Leaning her whole weight onto me. Naruto comes up behind her peeling her off of me. He wraps his hands around her waste holding her up. Hinata is such a light weight I giggle at her drunken state.

“Hey Sakura! this is the first time in ages I’ve seen you out of your scrubs or coat.” Naruto is smiling ear to ear.

I give him a small hug saying “Happy Birthday, Naruto.”

Naruto leads me through the crowd to the bar. He stops and speaks to just about everyone, still holding Hinata up effortlessly. When we finally make it to bar I take a seat ordering a shot of tequila and a fruity drink.
Naruto sits Hinata down next to me asking me to watch her while he goes and greets guests. I take my shot and give the drink to Hinata to sip on.

I feel awkward here around so many people I don’t know. Suddenly I’m insecure about my new outfit and hair.

“Sakura” a deep voice sits next to me. A voice I could recognize anywhere. I turn to see Sasuke in grey sweats and a T-shirt with the uchiha emblem. He looks so casual for a party. Making me in my slutty dress insecure.

“Oh Hi Sasuke” I say and then order another shot I need to have this conversation.

“I like your dress, it matches your eyes” he says taking a break from drinking a dark liquid.

“Thank you Sasuke” I say quietly but genuinely.

I turn to an empty chair. Shit. I look around for Hinata, spotting her on the dance floor with a man inching closer to her. I get up to pull her away but Naruto beats me there. Pulling her into him and dancing. Smoothly saving her and also drawing a boundary for the nameless man. I stare at them dancing. Since I’ve lost my spot at the bar I decide to dance. Two shots letting my body confidently dance to a wordless song. Someone comes up behind me hugging me close. I recognize the flower perfume that Ino wears and lives in.

“Hey slut” she says walking around to face me.

“You said it was a classy one” I say teasing.

“Well you make it classy” she says smiling. Her kindness is pity from our conversation last night. She’s never this nice.

“Whereas you’re just slutty” I say looking at her lack of fabric. She is wearing a two piece that covers almost nothing.

“Jealous much?” She says on beat. Sai pulls her away before I can say ‘never’. They start dancing together leaving me as a third wheel. I look around to see my single friends Lee and Tenten. I walk over to dance with them. We talk and dance together for a couple minutes until tenten runs to the bathroom. As if on queue a slow song plays. Lee bows respectfully with a hand out asking me to dance. I take it and giggle at his boyish antics. We dance close and slow giggling. I rest my head on his shoulder as we calmly sway. My eye catches a dark figure at the bar. Staring at me. Sasuke seems to be calm not caring but he can’t hide the jealousy in his eyes. I love this feeling. I smile devilishly.

Later on that night Lee walks Tenten home leaving me alone on the dance floor now 7 shots deep and confidence through the roof. I shake my ass feeling sexy and confident when I feel arms wrap around me. This time there is no flower scent to accompany it. I feel a heavy smelly breath in my hair. Ew. I start to wriggle out of this grip when Sasuke appears in front of me ripping the random man’s hands off me. Sasuke’s presence without even a word scares the man off. The last uchiha that went head to head with Madara can do that to weaker men.

“Thank you Sasuke” I say. Although I wish he didn’t feel the need to come help me. He’s always having to save me I guess he wouldn’t know that I could’ve saved myself from a drunk man.

“I know you could’ve beaten the shit out of that man if you had wanted to Sakura. I helped you because a beautiful girl like you shouldn’t have to dirty your hands with a man like that.” His words hit my heart. Making me feel warm all over. I smile in response not finding the words. He grabs my hands and pulls me to him. We start to slow dance. I don’t giggle and smile like I did when I danced with Lee. My hand in his feels perfect, and my body moving in such rhythm with his feels like we are inevitable. My feelings always constant with only my mind that waivers.

“Why do you say things like that. It’s impossible to make up my mind about you when you give me such whiplash.” I say frustrated. The song suddenly ends and I pull away from his warm body. Walking outside in the cold air which makes me miss his warmth even more. I try to keep myself from crying in confusion.

I hear the door open and I know it’s Sasuke following me out here.

“Sakura” he says. He stops, thinking about his next words.

“I’m sorry I didn’t mean to confuse you” he says.

“You say such beautiful words to me, but you can also say the worst things. You save my life over and over again. But treat it as a chore. You leave me when I beg you to stay but always come back. You have the power to make me the happiest. And you have the power to destroy me. And I can’t stand it. I can’t stand that I’m so in love with you when I don’t even really know you.” I say crying. My tears feel warm running down my face. I look at Sasuke’s face. His face is still but his eyes are bloodshot.

“I know I’ve made some mistakes. And it would be a lie if I told you I hadn’t meant to hurt you. And you’re completely right about everything. I will spend the rest of my miserable life begging for your forgiveness.” He says with one tear falling down his pale face.

My heart aches at his confession. But my mind is a mess overthinking every word he has just threw at me.

“Why?” I say. He looks up confused, needing more context.

“Why would you do that. Why would you spend the rest of your life begging?” I say stronger.

“Because… -because you are…” he stops. “You saved me” he finally says.

My heart falls. I wanted him to say something different. I ache for him to confess his love. My tears fall harder. I feel heartbroken, wrongly heartbroken. I can’t expect him to be in love with me. Why would I? He’s been rejecting me since we were little. I was just too naive to accept it.

“I didn’t save you Sasuke. You put a genjustu on me and ran away to fight with Naruto.” I say in a monotone voice. “He saved you. Go beg at his feet” I say harshly turning to walk away. I jump to the rooftops, running at full speed home.