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SHE
doesn't want to remember.
HE
never wants to forget.
it's madness out here!
.
.
.
He was waiting for her the entire night.
He came to this stiff fundraiser just to see her. Nevermind the starched shirt and pants. Nevermind the restricting tie around his neck. Nevermind the stiff shoes on his feet.
Nevermind his obvious discomfort and reluctance to dress for the occasion.
He knew she would be dolled up tonight. She'd probably pull out that gold and black dress she wore for the last three galas, not that anyone would remember that. No one saw much of her around nowadays.
He knew she was in the room when people started to whisper. Their gazes were trained in one spot, on one particular entrance. From his seat, he could hardly see what was going on around her.
The crowds cleared and he held his breath.
She wasn't alone.
.
.
.
He watched her the entire night.
Haruno Sakura hadn't looked so alive in years. As her chosen escort spun her lightly on her feet, he ground his teeth in jealousy.
Once upon a time, the man who made her smile like that was him.
.
.
.
"May I have this dance?" He walked up to her, charming smile in place.
Her gaze flickered towards him. Glancing at her partner, Sakura exchanged a look with the other man before reaching out in acceptance.
"Go," his cool voice ushered her towards him. "He's the one you told me about, right?"
Beaming, Sakura slid her hand into his. He tried to keep cool.
The dance began and they fell into a familiar waltz pattern. "So," he asked. "Who's your friend?"
Sakura's smile grew.
"Didn't your mom tell you?" She laughed. "That's my fiance."
He felt his heart stop.
"Fi...ance?"
.
.
.
His cheeks hurt from smiling too much.
"Congratulations!" He enveloped Sakura into a tight hug and shook her husband's hand. "You two will be happy forever."
"I hope so," Sakura said with a soft smile. "It's hard to believe that we're finally married..."
Faking a laugh, he rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. "Man, and I thought I was going to get hitched first. You were the last out of all of us to date but you're the first to get married! What's up with that?"
Sakura gave him a serene smile.
"I found who I was looking for. Why bother waiting if he's everything I could ever ask for?"
.
.
.
She stared at him.
"I'm married."
"You can get divorced," he pointed out.
Glare.
"I can't believe you would even suggest something like that to me."
"C'mon Sakura, you can't believe that he's the one for you! What about me? I've been there your entire life-"
"You left."
Pause.
"Only for a while..."
"You still left," Sakura argued back heatedly. "You left me when I needed you the most, when I loved you the most. How can I stay with someone who has the tendency to leave when things get too complicated?"
"We were seventeen-!"
"Seventeen is still old enough to know better."
Hurt by the truth of her words, he turned away.
"When you weren't sure if I liked you back or not, instead of asking me about it, you chose to go and flirt with the easiest target you could find. You stayed with that easy target for three years. When she got too clingy and possessive, you left her."
"Wouldn't you?"
"She was my friend, Uzumaki Naruto. How was I supposed to comfort her when I had my suspicious that you broke up with her because you were falling in love with me?"
"Sakura..."
"You taught me how to make paper wings, Naruto." Sakura said as she took leave of the coffee shop.
"But it was Sasuke who taught me how to fly."