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Sakura breaks the popsicle in two. There’s nothing, except for the low humming of the light pole, and the sound of two people breathing, and the few insects that are singing tonight. It’s so hot that even in the middle of the night the popsicle is melting too quickly. The stickiness of it on her hand reminds her of Ino’s lip gloss, the one she used to lend to Sakura in senior year.
“This trip sort of feels like it was for no reason now, doesn’t it?” She says with a smile, always filling the silence.
Sasuke hums. That’s most of his replies to her, but she understands. It’s not bad faith, not impatience. It’s actually sort of fond. “It was fun,” he continues. “That must be worth something.”
She laughs. “That’s true!”
The light pole flickers. Sakura bites her popsicle and pretends not to notice her— boyfriend? Or maybe an ex, maybe just a friend— studying her profile. She knows. They’ve both been in denial for so long, been dating for, oh, God, two years. It’s a bit like losing a part of yourself and finding it somewhere else.
“When,” he starts, “did you realize?”
…
Girls’ night is… Fun, Sakura thinks. They’re fifteen, and it’s so different from when they used to stay at each other’s house as little kids. Ino is in her long-sleeved pajamas with a floral print on her pants, pressed to Sakura from arm to thigh, and Sakura is struggling to concentrate on what she’s saying with the warmth coming through. It’s just— too hot. Damn it if it’s the middle of Autumn, chilly breeze coming in through the window and goosebumps on her arms. She keeps her eyes trained on her fidgeting hands.
“Alright, what do you think of…” Ino hums, a cute sound like her voice. “Sai?”
“Sai is…” Sakura thinks, thinks, thinks. She side-eyes Ino, just to make sure she’s not taking too long, and— Ino is looking at her so expectantly. “I mean, he’s cute. I just,” she looks away, “Sasuke is cuter, you know?”
“You sound taken.” Ino replies, laughing. “Well, Sai is cute, if you ask me. Which you should— it’s your turn. Which boy from our class?”
Sakura closes her eyes to pretend she’s thinking. She doesn’t want to talk about boys, she realizes, never did. She hums anyway. “Maybe… Kiba?”
Ino smiles so kind, knowingly. “You don’t sound like you’re having fun.” She rests her head on Sakura’s, taller even sitting down.
“I am,” she lies, leans into Ino. It’s insane, how they can just go back to doing this after three years of fighting. It left Sakura feeling starved for something— friendship, maybe. She didn’t have friends for a while there, then only Naruto and Sasuke, so…
“It’s fine, girl. We can just, I don’t know… Tell each other’s secrets or something.”
They just sit, for a moment. She can’t let this be awkward, Sakura thinks a little desperately. “I’ve never really kissed anyone.” She almost spits out, heart beating so fast.
Sakura rushes to cover Ino’s mouth with her hand when she almost screams, “What!” and Ino quickly hurries to get it off, then grips it tightly. Sakura’s hand tingles in her hold. “Everyone always thinks that you, for sure, because of Sasuke—”
“But we’re not even dating!”
“Well, you know, every boy in our class thinks you’re cute, so even then!”
But does every girl, she thinks and shuts herself down, looks back at her lap. “Me and him are just meant to be, I think.” She forces a smile that Ino won’t see, and thinks of moments in silence with Sasuke after class.
“That’s dumb talk, but I guess I had no shot when we fought back then, did I?” She chuckles. “We were silly, weren’t we? Though I miss all the flowers…”
Sakura does, too. She remembers the way her face felt a little warmer when Ino brought her a big bouquet before class, or how Ino kissed her cheek when she brought her own smaller one for her. It felt like playing Mom and Dad, or Boyfriend and Girlfriend. She turns her head to fully look at Ino, and is surprised at her already staring, how close they are, noses almost touching and the strawberry smell from Ino’s mostly dry hair.
“Wanna try it?”
“Huh?” Sakura tries, focused on the way Ino’s mouth moves. “Try— what?”
“Kissing, dum-dum.” Ino laughs. “I mean, you’ll want Sasuke to think you’re a good kisser, won’t you?”
“Um,” she feels warm all over, surely red, “yeah.”
“Alright!” Ino holds Sakura’s arm to kneel on the bed, giving some tips that barely reach Sakura’s ears. She’s a little too focused on the soft hand on her skin, then the other reaching for her jaw. Ino gets so close, so close— “Wait,” she says, and Sakura can barely contain an upset sigh. Ino reaches for her chapstick on the bedside table, the one she takes with her everywhere. Sakura watches as it slides over her lips, blushing at the sight. She always does. “There. You remember what I told you, right?”
“Yes,” Sakura answers. She didn’t even hear it.
“Cool.” Ino says, inches closer. “Just relax, okay?”
Sakura’s nod is broken by soft lips on hers, and the taste of chocolate filling her mouth.
…
srry i got mad at u :(
i know he’s your bf but i thought we’d be the ones to travel together first
for some reason haha
that sucked. i’m supposed to be your best friend
hope i didn’t ruin ur trip
Sakura holds her phone in one hand, popsicle sticks in the other. They’re almost at the hotel now, broken up and only friends. Sometime pretty close in the future they’ll laugh about being a gay guy and a lesbian dating, she thinks.
“Is it Ino?”
She smiles, soft, and turns the phone screen towards him. “Yeah.”
“She likes you too.”
Sakura laughs, something big and loud, and feels her face reddening. “You think so?” Sasuke nods with his own quiet smile. “Should I call her, do you think?”
“You should.”
“Okay!” She screams, confident and unafraid. “I’ll call her. I’m calling her right now. You can go, alright? Let’s meet back at the hotel.”
Sasuke nods, taking the sticks away from her hand. “Good luck.”
“Thank you,” she says, phone already to her ear, each ring matching a beat of her heart. It’s going to come out of her chest anytime now, she’s so sure.
“Hey.” Ino picks up so quickly, voice apologetic. Sakura thinks she loves her as much as anyone can love someone else. “I didn’t ruin your trip, did I?”
Sakura takes a deep breath. When she breathes out, she feels a little lighter. “You’re going to hate me for doing this over the phone,” she says instead, “but…”