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“You’re wearing heels?” His voice pulls Sakura’s eyes from the mirror as she finishes clasping the necklace around her neck.
Before answering she takes a deep breath, looking back into the mirror, her green eyes look empty. There wasn’t the usual shine in them and Sakura was a happy person, but lately it felt like happiness just passed over her.
“Yes. Ino got me these.” Her eyes flicker to his face, his lips downturned in annoyance. Her eyes move to his, they used to hold love now they just hold unbalanced tolerance.
He irritably sighs and turns around. “You know when you wear heels, it makes us the same height.” He turns his head over his shoulder, “I’ll be in the car.”
Sakura closes her eyes and tilts her head up.
Why?
She takes one last deep breath and grabs her purse.
“I hate this song,” he says changing from the cd to the radio. He lands on his favorite song at the moment and sings along off-key.
They're in Sakura’s car. With her favorite CD in the car.
Sakura looks out the window and takes a deep breath, ignoring that feeling in her stomach that won’t go away.
When they arrive at the restaurant, Sakura sits in the car until she realized he wasn’t going to open the door for her.
Rolling her eyes, she opens the door aggressively. The bar isn't even on the ground anymore, it's been evaporated.
Entering the restaurant, he doesn’t pull out the chair to help her in. He just sits down and opens the menu.
“Nothing looks appetizing. Look at these prices.” His eyes look over the menu and peer up at Sakura. This was where they had their first date and then later he brought her here again to ask her to be his girlfriend.
Looking around the restaurant, it was empty. On their first night here, it was full.
Sakura fiddles with her fingers. There’s a ring on her pointer finger she twists, when she’s nervous or trying to keep her mind from exploding.
The waiter comes up and asks if they’d like to start with drinks.
“I’ll take a Miller Lite. She’ll take a glass of this red wine.” He points to the cheapest wine.
“I don’t like red wine. I prefer white.” Sakura speaks up.
“What? You always drink this one?” He’s confused.
“No I don’t.” She shakes her head.
“May I get a glass of house white wine?” She asks. She internally debates if she should have just gotten her favorite regardless of the price. The waiter leaves to go get their drinks.
“Okay. Are you getting the salmon?” He raises an eyebrow, ready to see if Sakura will challenge him.
Sakura makes a face. She hates seafood.
“No. I get the pasta. You like the lobster.” She looks over to the bar, their drinks are done.
Sakura taps her foot, staring at the drinks until they’re in front of them. He orders shrimp scampi for her. After placing the order, she excuses herself to go to the restroom.
In the restroom, Sakura wets a piece of paper towel and places it on her neck. Suffocation has taken over in her relationship. There's no room for change or fixing what can't be fixed.
She saw him less and less and then she could breathe easier. When she saw him the air went away. Air drew back in any given room when she saw him or dwelled too much on him.
They are going to a birthday party and Sakura wants to jump off a building. The gnawing feeling stampedes her heart whenever he’s near her.
“I’m going to the party with Kiba. I’ll see you there.” He plainly says, standing at the doorway. He fixes his collar, giving her one last glance. His eyes lingering on her heels.
“Sure.” Sakura pauses the song on her phone, “see you there.” Smiling she waits for him to leave. After the door closes she gets up from the couch and enters the bedroom.
She turns the lock and happily smiles to herself. She kicks off her shoes and jumps on the bed, turning the volume all the way up and then she hits play. It’s her favorite song. On full volume with no one to change the song.
When she arrives to the party, Sakura makes a beeline to Ino.
“Hey,” Sakura smiles. Feeling lighter with each step and breath she takes. Finally it feels like she’s breathing for living and not just to remind herself she’s alive.
So after she packed her bags and stayed with Ino. Then occupied TenTen’s couch. And finally got her own apartment.
Maybe he was right, heels are bad. It's doing too much.
No, she shakes her head. She loves wearing them. It makes her feel confident.
She opens up Spotify and turns up the volume on her new speaker in her new living room in her new apartment. A new album dropped from her favorite artist. Out with the old, in with the new.
He never got her choice of music.
He never really got her.
It was mid-frosty February and the lovers holiday was coming up. She was freshly out of a relationship, and seeing others succeed where she failed stung.
“No fucking sympathy to those who are single.” Sakura spits out as she glares at a couple vehemently making out. She sees a hand grope a breast. Ino rolls her eyes and drags her away.
Like you’re going to last. She harshly thinks.
It’s a month later and the blues have left Sakura in bed. Also she caught a cold from someone. Probably Ino, who works with germy children.
Does love ever last? She turns to her side.
What left us in ruins? Was it me? She rolls back onto her back.
She continues to ask herself what lead her to this moment. She traces all the way back to the beginning of their relationship.
7 LONG MONTHS LATER
It’s Ino’s birthday, and Sakura shows up late.
“You made it!!!!” Sings Ino as she lets her in. Everyone’s wearing cheesy birthday hats. In the background her band favorite is singing quietly.
“Didn’t know you were a fan?” Sakura gushes, no one really shared the same musical tastes as her.
“Ha I don’t. But Sai’s new coworker does.”
“Who?”
Ino points over to a handsome guy, talking to Sai. Sakura never noticed anyone when she was with him, because in her eyes it was only ever him. Until it wasn’t.
“You’re staring Sakura.” Ino teases, poking her friend’s arm.
Blushing, she looks away. “He’s really attractive.” Sakura admits.
Ino’s face splits open into a joyous smile.
“Come on,” she drags Sakura over to them.
She grabs Sai’s hand. “Hiiii, this is Sakura.” She gestures to Sakura who’s red with embarrassment of her friend’s actions.
Without another word, Ino drags Sai off.
“Hi.” Sakura shyly says. Up close he’s even more handsome. It’s nerve-racking. Her heartbeat is pounding in her ears as her eyes meet his. His lips upturn.
Reaching out his hand, "I'm Sasuke."
Sakura enters the cafe, minutes early. She’s looking around to find an empty table, but sees Sasuke in the corner.
He stands and waves his hand. She walks over to him and gets ready to sit down, but he helps her in, and pushes the chair in.
“Thank you.” Her face warms up, he doesn’t know how nice that is.
Sakura forgot how nervous it could be to be on a first date. It’s been so long since she’s been on one.
She brushes her fingertips across her knees to distract her worrisome mind.
“Oh! You said you liked your coffee bitter right?” He asks sensing her mood.
“Haha. I actually only said that because I was in bitter mood.” Sakura jokes.
“Ohhh you’re sweet then.” Sasuke jokes back.
“Yup like a cavity.”
He laughs, and she really thinks that might be her favorite sound. Sasuke gets up and he brings back their coffees.
Remembering his laugh eggs Sakura on.
“How does espresso stay in shape?”
“How?” His dark eyes glisten as he waits for her answers.
“By doing latte squats.”
He throws his head back laughing. “You’re so funny.”
Sasuke looks like a little kid, when he does that. So happy and free.
He never did.
“Well, I’m an only child.” Sakura says taking the drink from him. “Mm!”
“I have an older brother. Oh wow, this is delicious.” He agrees.
“What’s that like? Having a sibling.”
“Fun. He’s my biggest motivator and best friend.”
“Built in best friend.” Sakura notes.
“Exactly.” He nods.
After talking about themselves and cracking more jokes, they move out of the cafe and walk down the street. They’re nearing Sakura’s parked car when she has the urge to tell Sasuke about him.
She’s about to open her mouth when Sasuke tells her about the days when he and his brother would make dinner feasts while their parents were working late.
“We’d eat and eat and then camp out in the back yard. Have you ever camped?”
He’s looking at her like her answer matters to him. He patiently waits.
“I-“ the thought of him disappears and for the first time she fully lets go. “I’ve never been camping.” She leans against her car.
“We should change that.”
“We should.” Tilting her head she studies him. A smile creeps up on his face. She can’t recall when he’s not smiling at her. Her stomach flutters and tightens.
“There’s a record store around the corner. Do you want to go?” He asks.
With no hesitation she leans off her car and simply walks beside him.