Chapter 4: Old Habits Die Hard
Sasuke decided to take a walk late Saturday morning around the town. He hadn’t really looked at Konoha and decided it was high time. He’d been here almost two weeks, and he hadn’t ventured very far away from the school. Granted, he went partying last night and had a lot of fun, but it was dark on his way to the warehouse, and when he had left to go to some girl’s apartment, something other than the city lights had his attention.
Wanting the fresh air to clear his head and help the major hangover, he headed out with his jacket tight around him. It was nearly noon; the town was bustling with activity. Cars zoomed by on the streets, all seemed to be in a hurry to get somewhere; people bumped by him eager to get on their merry way.
Turning a corner, Sasuke was drawn to the outskirts of the town. He wanted to see the houses, the urban environment. Sasuke was drawn to the poorer side of the town. As he meandered through the run down streets, he caught a glimpse of pink. Pink? It couldn’t be. She couldn’t live down this way. Her father was loaded, meaning she was loaded.
Walking to the house, he saw Sakura with her long, pink hair pulled back and up. She wore cargo pants, a tight tank top, and leather gloves. She was nailing siding on a house. Sweat dripped down her temple and neck. Sasuke watched as she pounded the nail. Most of the house was done. She had about two more sheets of siding to do. Had she really done all this by herself? Why did he think it was hot that a woman could do hard labor? Where was her father to help her? At the school?
“You live here?” Sasuke finally asked, startling her. She almost nailed her finger when she jumped.
She glanced at him briefly, but she didn’t smile. “What’s it to you?” She continued with her work.
Sasuke shrugged. “Just passing through. I’ve got to admit I didn’t picture you living in this part of town. Your father‘s got a lot of money, why would he want to live here out of all places?”
“I get the feeling you can’t read people very well,” she answered. “Least of all, me.“
She had him there. This was twice that he had been wrong about her. And, he had thought of himself as a good reader.
“Can I help you with something? Because I would rather not talk to you right now if you don‘t need anything,” she told him. The anger was evident in her body language and her voice. He had really angered her.
“Like I said, I was just passing by,” Sasuke replied.
“You haven’t passed by yet.”
Suddenly, the guy Sasuke had seen Sakura with yesterday before school appeared from the back of the house with a bucket of paint in his hand. Gaara. He gave Sasuke a glare that could kill. He glanced at Sakura, reading her.
“Don’t worry, Gaara,“ she said without even looking up. It surprised him how close the two were. But, he couldn’t have cared less. “Sasuke was just leaving.“ Sasuke could take a hint. She didn’t want anything to do with him.
“Right. See you later.”
“Maybe at school. I’m just some spoiled, clueless brat, remember? What would you want with me?”
Right, Sasuke should have known better. Like someone would forgive him as easily after how he had treated her. She had deserved to be angry, but to carry a grudge for this long? Come on. She needed to get over it. Shaking his head, he headed back down the street, eager to get away. Maybe he’d go home, see if any of his old buddies wanted to do something.
When he reached the dorm, he grabbed his helmet and his bike and headed back home.
.~.
Sakura was fuming inside. How could he just show up like that and act like nothing happened the day before? He had said a lot of hurtful things to her and she was just supposed to forget them and move on? Not this girl. No, she was going to make him suffer. She saw a hint of remorse in his eyes; that had to be a plus.
“Is it safe to come out now?” Ino asked from the doorway. Worry clear on her face. “I would have come out to help you, but I think Gaara had it covered.” Ino was saying as she closed the sliding door behind her.
“Thanks, Gaara,” Sakura leaned in and kissed him on the lips. Sakura momentarily forgot Gaara wasn’t into public displays of affection, and he had to push her away. “Sorry,” Sakura mouthed. Gaara’s expression never changed.
“So, can you guys finish this? I’ll go get let Mrs. Dewberry know we’re done. Thanks again for tagging along and helping me,” Sakura replied.
The two nodded and set to work while Sakura went into the house and talk to Mrs. Dewberry.
Sakura didn’t know whether or not to take offense to the fact that Sasuke didn’t think she would live on this side of town. Sakura did live in the upper district of Konoha, but just because that was where her family was. Sakura spent more time in the poor section than she did in her own home at soup houses, shelters, and she helped clean the place up whenever she could.
Ino and Gaara understood how Sakura felt and tagged along on occasion to help her out. Sakura was trying to set up an organization to help her cause. She already was setting up fundraisers to help pay for the costs to clean up the neighborhoods. Sakura was putting her money to good use, and if Sasuke didn’t think that was worthy enough, than too bad.
Gaara walked the girls to Ino’s place for a little girls’ night out. “I’ll see you tomorrow,” Sakura told Gaara before he disappeared down the lane from the Yamanaka house.
Ino shut the door and led Sakura up to her room where Tenten and Hinata were waiting for them. It was supposed to be a movie night, but Ino had made it clear she wasn’t in the mood to just sit around and watch Johnny Depp and Orlando Bloom. That was fine with Sakura. She wanted something to do.
“So, what do you have in mind?” asked Tenten. “You told us to dress up. How’s this?” Tenten was wearing black leather pants and a tight purple tank top that showed off her belly button. She wore big silver hoops in her ears, and she had straightened her hair.
“That’s perfect. I like your outfit too, Hinata,” Ino replied. Hinata wore a pink skirt that flared out at her thighs and went to her knees. She wore a bright red short sleeved halter shirt. “I told you that shirt would come in handy.”
Sakura laughed. She remembered that shopping trip two months ago when they had gone to Suna before school started. Ino had seen the shirt and insisted Hinata buy it. Hinata, who was too shy to say no, knew she’d never wear it, but she had gotten it anyway.
Ino grabbed Sakura and headed into Ino’s giant walk in closet. Ino’s closet was twice the size of her room. Sakura didn’t have anything enough for Ino’s tastes because Sakura’s father would not allow it. Ino threw some clothes at Sakura and told her to put them on. Sakura did so as Ino dressed as well.
Ino wore her hair done and straight. Her outfit consisted of a tight black dress that flared at the hips, which went to her mid thighs. She wore a white jacket over it. White pumps finished the look.
Sakura stepped out of the closet self conscious. She had never before worn anything like it. She wore a backless blue tank that tied around her neck and showed off a little cleavage. She wore tight black shorts and black high heels. Ino insisted on curling her hair.
Once everyone was ready, they piled into Ino’s Volvo. “Okay, now will you tell us where we are going?” Hinata asked.
Ino grinned. “Well, my cousin is throwing a party and invited us. Gaara could have came, but since none of the rest of us have anyone, I didn’t think it would be fair. You don’t have to dance with anyone, since I know you aren’t into that anyway.”
Sakura groaned inwardly. She hated going to parties. She felt she was betraying Gaara, though she knew it was silly. She could go and have a good time. No one was forcing her to dance with a guy. She could just go and hang with the girls.
Ino parked three blocks away so if the party was busted the cops wouldn’t get her license plate. Sakura’s heart pounded. Her dad would kill her if she was caught. But, she needed some down time. She felt she deserved it after all she had been through the past few days.
.~.
Sasuke was in an old bar, his arms around two girls on either side of him. He was sitting where he could see out the window. He liked to see people walk by, and he’d be able to see if the cops were coming. The two girls were cooing over him, playing with his hair, massaging his shoulders. They were talking to him sweetly too, but he wasn’t really listening.
Glancing up through the window, his eyes caught a pink haired woman walk by. What was she doing here? Getting up, he walked to the door. Sakura and her friends walked right on by. Where were they headed in this part of town? Sakura was a goodie-goodie, no way was she here to drink and dance. Did Gaara know she was here? Something told him that he didn’t. Sasuke was just looking out for her. He grabbed his cell and flipped it open. Dialing for the operator, he got Gaara’s number.
Sasuke hesitated. To call or not to call. That was the question. Sasuke ending the call before anyone could answer. Shoving the phone in his pockets, he went back to the two girls who wanted to “play” with him.
.~.
Sakura was just enjoying some water when someone grabbed her shoulder and drug her onto the dance floor. It was a grubby looking thirty something year old. He had yellow teeth and greasy hair. He grabbed Sakura’s butt and started grinding against her.
Sakura pulled back. “Excuse me sir, I have a boyfriend.” Sakura told him politely as she headed back to her chair. The guy grabbed her wrist and pulled Sakura back into him. Sakura squirmed. Glancing around, she saw Ino was too involved with a hot American kid, and Tenten was having a dance off with some other girl. Hinata was sitting at a table watching Tenten. No one knew that some guy was being a little too rough with her.
“Please sir, you’re hurting me. My boyfriend is on his way here, and if he sees you touching me, he’ll be upset,” Sakura warned.
“You know something?” the guy leaned in, and Sakura could smell the alcohol on his breath, he whispered into her ear. “You’re a horrible liar. No one’s coming. Now,” he brought his voice back to normal, “Why don’t we go upstairs?” he suggested huskily.
“No thank you. I’d rather just stay out here where my friends can see me,” Sakura insisted, straining to get out of his grip.
He swung back and smacked her across the face. “No!” he yelled. “You are coming with me!” Even with his voice as loud as it was, it was drowned out by the boom of the music. Sakura’s cheek stung and she wanted to cry. Pulling and kicking, Sakura was thrown over his shoulder and carried away.
Sakura cried out, but no one heard her over the roar of the beat. Was she going to be raped? Would she survive it? Would he kill her in the process? Would it hurt? Would these strangers be the last people she saw?
She whimpered as he threw her into a room. Crates and storage lined the walls. He slammed the door shut and was on top of her all in the same motion. He was pulling her shirt up an tugging her shorts down, kissing her as he did so. She was pushing him, but it only seemed to make matters worse. He was grabbing her so hard, she knew there would be bruises.
Suddenly, the door was flown open and the guy was thrown off of her. Peeking up, she saw Sasuke swinging fists, pounding the guy in the face. Sakura was too stunned and scared to move, so she just sat there, crying in the corner. After Sasuke was through with the guy, he came over to Sakura.
“You want me to call someone?” he asked, helping Sakura to her feet. Sakura just grabbed her head and cried. He pulled her shirt back down over her chest and stomach. Sakura grabbed her shorts and pulled them up when she realized how she must of looked.
“I’m so embarrassed. I owe you so bad. Thank you doesn’t even cover it,” Sakura sobbed.
Sasuke grabbed her shoulders and looked her in the eyes. “Sakura, you did nothing wrong. He came on to you. You fought back. There is nothing to be ashamed of. Come on, I’ll take you home.”
“I came with Ino. I’m staying at her place,” Sakura shook her head, gazing down at the battered body of the creep who had almost scarred her for life. She would be okay, after she settled down. “I don’t want anyone to know about this. Sasuke, promise me you won’t say anything to anyone. And I mean anyone!”
Sasuke frowned; that wasn’t the right thing to do, but he relented. “Sure. I won’t say anything. But, I still think you should go home.”
Sakura nodded. “How did you know where I was? I didn’t see you in here.”
“I just came inside when I saw you disappearing into that room with him. I saw on your face you didn’t want to be there,” Sasuke shrugged as if it wasn’t that big a deal.
“Thank you so much, Sasuke. I guess I owe you an apology for how I’ve been acting, too. Friends?” Sakura replied.
“Whatever,” Sasuke looked away. Why did she have to get so mushy? He left Sakura to be with her friends, once he was sure she was okay, and went back to the two girls who were waiting for him outside. Wrapping his arms around their waists, he let them lead him.
