Summary: She was such an annoying girl. His hints were more than clear– he brushed his hand against hers whenever he got the chance, he often paid for her late night dinners at Ichiraku... so why the hell hadn't she figured it out?

Inspired by my newly rediscovered love for my N*Sync CD and particularly their song, "I Thought She Knew". Check it out!

I Thought She Knew

By Ardent Ly

The sound of her ringing laughter left his skin prickling and the ends of his ever-present grimace fall farther down his face. Sasuke glared from his shaded corner of the banquet hall, using his eyes to send daggers at the happy couple making their way through a clumsy waltz out on the dance floor.

"For a Hyuuga, he's not very graceful," he snorted to himself. Almost as if the gods were on his side, the said monarch stumbled slightly, having stepped on his bride's train. Sasuke chuckled darkly beneath his breath.

"Talking to yourself again, teme?" Naruto chastened lightly, the ice in his glass clicking lightly. They swam in a fluid that looked like liquid fire and Sasuke made a mental note to pluck a few from the trays penguin-suited servers were carrying around. "That's not healthy you know. Maybe you get it checked out by Tsunade-baba."

Luckily, he managed to trap the words Idiot, you know only Sakura is the only doctor I ever go to in his throat before they unwillingly escaped. Swallowing them, he turned away from his blond friend, turning back towards the bride and groom. "Hn."

Naruto followed his gaze, his amused eyes softening. "She looks so happy, doesn't she? It's been a long time since I've seen her smile like that." He sighed deeply and took a mouth of the drink in his grasp. "Who would've guessed that Neji would've been the one to do it, eh, teme?"

The Uchiha heir directed his glower at the demon-container, which went unnoticed as Naruto was still gazing contently at the newlyweds. Now they even got his best friend on their side! This was ridiculous. Everyone knew that this wasn't how the story was supposed to end. He was supposed to come back after having killed his brother, she was supposed to cry and run into his arms, then they were supposed to get married after three months (he would've been nineteen by then, the same as his father when he married). All was going according to plan until that stupid long-haired, pale-eyed bastard came along.

But now it was too late. He may have won the battle, but he lost the war – and most importantly, the girl.

Without preamble, Sasuke took a large swig at the drink in his hand, delighted at the burning sensation the alcohol left as it travelled down his throat. Cheers to the happy couple, he said sardonically in his mind. Cheers, also, to those moments where the door to opportunity closes right in your face, almost catching your nose. Gods, he was so tired of those moments.

"Why didn't you stop her? We both know that if you had just done something, we probably wouldn't be here right now, celebrating Sakura and Neji's wedding." Naruto said solemnly as he reach for two more drinks.

Shrugging, Sasuke made his way to the exit, trying hard to keep the defeated tone out of his voice. "I thought she knew."

Just a short drabble for you guys since I've been neglecting to update any of my other stories. I hope you liked it!
~Ardie