June 2012 ANs
Since this site is doing a purge on M rated stories, I decided to edit Torn just a bit so it will not be taken down. Keep in mind I am going to follow the same plot I have in my mind but it will be slightly different since I can't keep the sexy, sexy scenes I had before (cough chapter 3 anyone?). This story has been recently edited for reposting, but nothing else has changed. I hope you will enjoy it, whether reading it for the first time or the fiftieth!

Feedback is always appreciated. Thank you.

"Yes, Sasuke-kun I'll marry you."

"Ino, will you be my maid of honor."

"Sasuke, you have to meet my best friend Ino."

"Naruto, where's Sasuke?"

"He's not coming is he?"

"Ino, how could you?"

"It's over."

Torn: Redux

Chapter 1:

You oughta know

As she sat next to the large window on the outskirts of the event, she felt like a practical stranger. Given that she knew most of the people in the room, she still felt like a stranger.

If it hadn't been for the large centerpiece of flowers before her eyes, then she may have thrown a tantrum by now.

It was funny as she watched them swirl around the dance floor. It was a blow to the heart every single time she saw him smile at her. It was practically a blow to the soul once she saw them kiss with love lining their blue and grey eyes respectively.

The ceremony had been something similar to a dream she once had but she never thought of the ending.

What had she done to deserve something like this?

As the fine details of the room mocked her, she glanced around the room once again to catch the eyes of the other two women she once called her friends.

They stared back; reminding her of the fact that she was now the social outcast in the room. She delicately raised her glass to her enemies and tilted her head back and downed her seventh glass of champagne.

It went down smooth and with a satisfying gulp.

Ah. Wedded bliss.

The women continued to eye her with distaste as they moved to the other side of the room where they was designated to sit.

Sakura tapped her glass in anticipation of another.

Ah drunken bliss.

She liked this feeling. She welcomed it.

It took her mind off things or rather it took her mind off everything.

She looked back at the ladies once again but they had already turned their backs on her.

No surprise.

It was funny how things changed once you were ditched at the altar.

The twinkling of the lights bought her out of her stupor. It was almost time for the toast of the evening. Oh happy joy.

It had never occurred to her that what she was doing was probably the most unhealitest thing she had ever done mentally to herself. Her shishou, Tsunade, had called her a masochist. But, she venomously denied the fact.

Oh no.

She was a woman scorned. Mistreated. Hurt. Confused. The list of adjectives ran on until the line of incredulity was painfully blurred.

She wanted to hurt them in the form of a twelve gauge shotgun but she knew she could not. She loved them but hated them all the same.

The closed her eyes and she took a sip of her eighth glass of wine.

Sasuke.

That one word or rather person brought so much pain to her life over the last year. No matter what she did, she couldn't shake the fact that she still loved him. Even after all the pain he had put her through, she still cared for him. Of course, she still wanted to knee him in the nuts as a thank you but she knew she could not.

'Selfish bastard.'

A tinkle of laughter reached her ears as she looked up. The blond woman, her former best friend. Ino was caught up in the words she was exchanging with the one she loved. It was funny how Sakura thought Ino was not the marrying kind. As a matter of fact, Ino had once said herself that she was not the marrying kind. That she would forever be a blond party girl.

It was funny how things changed once you have stolen your best friends' fiancé.

"What is she doing here?" someone whispered.

As she looked up into the eyes of one of the nondescript bridesmaids, Sakura came to the conclusion that maybe this hadn't been one the greatest plans she ever had.

She rushed to her feet, moving blindly, toward the waiting exit to the balcony.

The rush of clear undiluted air welcomed her as she brushed her soft pink locks from her eyes. Her bright green eyes tingled as she looked out at the ocean surrounding the beautiful Uchiha Manor.

She took a glance down and wondered if…what would have happened if she lost her grip and plunged to the jagged rocks bel….

No. She couldn't.

She wouldn't think that way.

She took a deep breath and tried to clear her head but that same twinkle of laughter echoed in her thoughts.

She closed her eyes and allowed her grief to take over.

She could still seem them.

Together.

Their hands bound together in a tight grip as they approached her as she cried her eyes out. She had been clad in the white Sarah Burton gown she had specially made by the designer herself.

But, of course that wasn't significant at the moment.

She would never forget the sadness and worry that lined the blonde's face as they silently approached.

Why she was worried about her she could never figure out.

She hated him.

She hated her.

She hated them.

But, most of all, she hated herself the most.

As she stared out at the sea once again, the unchecked tears continued flowing down her face, paling her blemish free complexion.

She could still remember the day he proposed.

They had just awakened from a delicious night of candlelit dinners and lovemaking. It hadn't been romantic but she still loved it all the same.

She knew Sasuke wasn't the most emotional person in the world but she still loved the way he looked into her eyes when he pulled the diamond 6 ½ carot Tiffany ring and slipped it upon her finger.

She had been the happiest woman in the world.

She had a wonderful fiancée.

A wonderful ring.

And most of all, she had a wonderful life.

As they continued to get closer to the wedding date, things began to change.

He would argue with her over the smallest things to the point where she ended up in tears and giving in once again.

He would be cold, almost unbearably distant.

If she didn't have the symbol of his love on her finger then she would have wondered if he ever truly loved her at all.

She looked down at the cliffs once again. The surf pounded the jagged rocks in accordance with the chaos in her mind. Tears rose to the surface once again.

Now she knew, he never loved her at all. It was one thing to marry her best friend but to do it on this day was the most antagonistic thing he had ever done.

She absolutely hated him.

Love be damned.

In her mind, today was supposed to be the sacred day of all.

That one day every little girl dreamed about.

The day every woman looked forward to.

The day a person was no longer and individual but a member of a solid cohesive unit.

Yes, today was supposed to be a very special day.

One year ago. On this day...

Was supposed to be her very own wedding day.

a/n: Better than the original? hmm?