Anyways, onwards with the last chapter. Thank you to everyone who stuck around till the end.
_______

Sasuke looked at Hinata's empty chair next to him during literature class. He looked away abruptly. He was being pathetic. Liking her did not mean he could be so...soppy.

He continued the lesson, ignoring the way his heart ached for her presence. For her acceptance. For reassurance she would not leave. That she would reciprocate his feelings. That she felt something...anything for him.

Maybe he did not deserve affection, he thought to himself, maybe he was unlovable. Maybe he deserved being unloved. Maybe he deserved being cursed never to have his feelings returned.

All he knew was, it would kill him if Hinata broke off everything with him and chose someone else. He groaned lightly before looking out the window.

Where was she anyways?
_____

Hinata and Ken walked around the rose gardens. This was the same place where Itachi had gotten married and Naruto had broken up with her. The memory of the break up did not hurt her at all anymore.

She knew it was because of a certain someone. Her heart raced just thinking about him. His dark-

"Hina? Are you listening?" Ken asked, waving his hand in front of her. She broke out of her reverie and looked at him before smiling.

"Yeah, just spaced out a bit. Aren't these flowers beautiful?" she exclaimed. Ken nodded.

"They really are."

They walked around in silence before Ken stopped and looked at her seriously. "Hinata, I want you to know even though we're not romantically involved anymore, I still like you."

"I know Ken, and the feeling is mutual."

"Cool, so we're alright despite being not dating?"

She laughed. "Of course silly. It's the memories that count. Besides, I'm sure you'll find the right person someday."

"I think you have." He teased her. She looked astonished.

What do you mean?"

"The guy who came to drop you off? Seemed pretty into you." he smiled. Hinata blushed.

"Ken, shut it. He's..."

"Oh come on, you totally like him." He rolled his eyes. She groaned.

"Okay, I do. But I have to tell him yet." She said, coloring slightly.

"Typical Hinata." He rolled his eyes yet again.

"Like you did any better when you wanted to ask me out." She told him. He colored this time.

"We were young!" he said, waving around his hands.

"Keep telling yourself that." She said as she walked off. Ken grinned before running after her. "HINA!"
___________

Sasuke was driving to school the next day, thinking of how Hinata had not texted him or given him a whisper of her whereabouts with Ken, when he got a call from Neji. Must be urgent, he thought, as he picked up the call.

"Sasuke, hey." Neji's voice rang out through the phone.

"Yeah? What's up?"

"I wanted a favor actually. Can you stop by my place before going to school?"

"Everything okay? I'll come by though."

"Yeah, see you." he said as he clicked off. Sasuke put his phone on the passenger seat and drove ahead. He pulled up in front of Neji's place.

Neji stood in the porch with Hinata and her friend, Ken. Sasuke got out of his car. He walked up to them. "Thanks for coming." Neji said.

"Hi Sasuke-kun." Hinata said brightly and Ken looked up at him with interest. Sasuke graced him with a withering look before turning to Neji.

"Why did you call me here?" he asked.

"I don't have school today as my exams have just been over. I have to take Ken to the airport. He leaves today. I was wondering if you could take Hinata to school today and drop her home?"

"Yeah I can do that." Sasuke said, looking at the three of them.

"Guess I'll catch you later then?" Ken said as Neji went inside to grab something (he wanted to avoid the emotional goodbye between Hinata and Ken).

"You will." Hinata assured him as she hugged him. Her back to Sasuke and Ken looked at Sasuke while embracing Hinata.

"I love you Hinata."

Sasuke's eyebrow twitched. The nerve of this guy. Hinata's reply made his heart stop. "I love you too Ken."

Sasuke felt sick to the core. She did not like him back after all. He wanted to sink to the ground right now. Before he could act on the impulse, she continued.

"You're my best friend. Always will be."

Ken simple nodded into her shoulder. Hinata pulled back, her eyes shining with tears. "Bye." She said as she moved to Sasuke's car without looking back.

Sasuke was about to turn away and go when Ken offered him a handshake and an actual smile. "You're really lucky. And you seem okay too."

Sasuke let out a shaky breath. He still felt like throwing up. "I don't feel too lucky." He admitted, his voice slightly choky. Ken seemed to realize something as he looked in the direction of Hinata with a slightly annoyed expression.

"Dude-you two will be fine." Ken chose his words carefully. Sasuke did not comment on it.

"Take care of her." Ken told him. Sasuke nodded, putting on a smirk despite his throat still feeling choked up.

"I'll stay in touch with her and you." Ken assured him.

Sasuke nodded and walked to his car. He slid into the driver's seat. Hinata looked out the window and Ken smiled and raised his hand as farewell.

Hinata smiled and then she looked away. At that moment, Sasuke drove away from the house. He did not speak in the way.
_____

"Sasuke-can I talk to you?"

Before Sasuke could walk away, Hinata's voice made him stop. He looked back at her with a raised brow. "We have our first class in minutes."

"It's important."

"Fine. After school." He said and left for the lockers. Hinata smiled to herself as she followed him. Things were really starting to work out. People no longer gossiped about her much after Naruto assured them no one had played with his feelings. They had just not worked out.

People actually started rooting SasuHina again and Naruto and Gaara were still her friends. She thought something was up between Ino and Naruto but she did not comment, smiling to herself at the thought of the two blondes together.

She suddenly bumped into someone. "I'm sor-..." it was Ino, looking at her with an unreadable expression.

"Hinata" she said. Hinata just looked at her; she did not seem too angry right now.

"I'm really sorry." Ino said and Hinata did not believe her ears for a second.

"Wh-what?" Hinata stuttered out. Ino looked really ashamed as she said. "I said I am sorry for the way I behaved. I really was a bitch to you."

"Ino-chan..."

"No Hinata, wait. I should have listened to your point of view as well. I did not know all the facts and I judged you typically. I am so sorry. I just thought you'd hurt Naruto and...please forgive me. I want us to be friends again. I promise never to judge you again or hurt you. I miss you."

Hinata considered this for a moment. "I can't assure you anything but...okay." She smiled.

"Hinata...you're the best!" Ino broke into a smile. A genuine smile.

"Do you like Naruto?" Hinata asked, bluntly, like she had learnt from Sasuke.

"Wha-No way!" Ino said, blushing slightly.

"Ino, you can't lie to me." Hinata said, raising her brows.

"Okay, fine I do like him. Are you okay with that?" she asked worriedly.

"I wish you the best of luck." Hinata said with a sweet smile.

"Hinata...about Sakura. She-she isn't as angry either. I'm sorry for the way she acted." Ino apologized.

"Ino-chan, it's okay. I don't know if it was right or wrong. But she did act that way and maybe I would have too. But it's true, I am Sasuke's fiancé and I do like him so..."

"Are you two dating?" Ino asked suddenly.

"Not yet." Hinata said snidely.

"I want all the details." Ino said, grinning like Cheshire cat.

"You still are the same." Hinata huffed as she walked off to her locker with a smirk and Ino in tow. Hinata walked to her locker, where she caught sight of someone familiar.

Sad, green eyes looked at her. "Hinata...can we talk?"

Hinata sighed. She could afford to miss classes today if it meant making things right. She turned her head to the exit for the school grounds and felt Sakura follow her.
______

"Hinata-I'm so sorry for everything." Sakura said as they walked to a secluded corner of the school grounds. Hinata looked at Sakura's eyes which were filled with tears currently.

"Why are you apologizing?" Hinata asked.

"Because I hurt you and our friendship. And I said some pretty hurtful things. I judged you and thought you had played with Naruto and taken away Sasuke from me. I was stupid because he was never mine and you would never hurt Naruto."

"Sakura...I'm glad you apologized. I'm sorry too. I should have told you."

"No way. It's completely understandable why you didn't tell me."

"I like Sasuke though." Hinata said, carefully watching for her reaction. Sakura smiled, unexpected for Hinata.

"I know. And I hope you two work things out."

"Sasuke!"

He turned around to see Sakura standing there. They were alone in the gym as everyone had left after practice. "Sakura?" he said.

She looked sad...and bothered. "Is this true about you and Hinata?" she asked.

He nodded. Her eyes filled with tears. She felt her chest ache dully. "Why didn't you tell me?" she asked.

"I didn't know at first." He said.

"Sasuke...I love you...you know that. Why won't you ever answer my feelings?" she asked, her heartbreak evident from her face.

"Sakura-you're my childhood friend but I don't think I will ever return your feelings and I'm sorry." He said. She noticed he was being very polite compared to usual.

"So she rubbed off on you too, huh?" she smiled fondly. Hinata had that effect on people.

He shrugged with a sad smile. "Sasuke-why her?" Sakura asked next.

"I thought you knew better than anyone Sakura, you can't choose who you love." He said. Sakura's tears streamed down her face.

"You-love her?" she managed to say.

"I do Sakura." He told her. She wiped her tears and managed a weak smile.

"Then I wish you the best of luck to win her heart." She told him. Suddenly, Sasuke didn't see the annoying girl he always did. He saw his childhood friend who had seen him at his lowest, the girl who had been his first date (because she started to cry and he hated making girls cry) and he saw the girl he had beaten up Zaku for.

He smiled. "Come here." He said as he wrapped his arms around her. She sobbed slightly and hugged him back.

"So are we cool now?" Hinata asked, cautiously.

"As long as you don't hide things anymore." Sakura said.

"As long as you don't punch craters into tables." Hinata smiled.

"Okay...the wall next time." Sakura laughed.

Hinata had to admit, it felt good laughing next to her friend like this again. And something told her this time, it would last longer.
______

Sasuke did not glance over at Hinata even once while they walked to his car. He kept his gaze determinedly on the ground. He was sure she was going to answer his attempts at affection today. That was the only thing.

He stopped in front of the door. She sat in. He followed her shortly and started the car before driving away from the school building.

"Sasuke-" she started before she was cut off by the sound of his phone blowing up. He looked at the caller id, which showed his mother.

"Mom?" he asked, picking up the call, slightly annoyed at the interruption.

"Sasuke-bring Hinata right over to the house since I know for a fact you're driving her today." Mikoto instructed. "Can't it wait?" he groaned.

"No way. Bring her over now." She said before ending the call.

Hinata looked at him questioningly. "We're going to my house." He told her. She looked slightly crestfallen before nodding. Sasuke drove to his house in complete silence.

"I really need to talk to you." she said as they got out of the car. Sasuke sighed before turning to her. "Maybe later."

The whole evening was spent with Mikoto ranting happily to Hinata and talking to Itachi and Izumi who were miraculously spending a few days here.

Sasuke went to his room almost immediately and didn't come down at all since dinner. Finally, Hinata was excused from Mikoto who smile knowingly as Hinata asked for Sasuke's whereabouts.

Hinata knocked on Sasuke's door but when she opened the door, he wasn't inside. She thought for a moment before walking up the stairs leading to the roof.

He would often sit alone on the roof of the school when he needed a break from everyone. Just as she thought, he was there, leaning against the railing.

He almost molded perfectly in the darkness, lightened only by the twinkling stars. She went to stand next to him wordlessly. Sasuke turned to look at her.

"She finally left you alone?" he attempted a smile but Hinata noticed how his eyes looked hollow and alone.

"Yeah." She smiled. There was a moment of silence before she spoke again.

"Sasuke-you told me you liked me a while ago." Hinata started "You meant that right?"

Sasuke almost slapped himself. "Of course I meant it. I don't just go around telling girls I like them for fun Hinata." He snapped.

She looked satisfied. "Then I want to answer your affections."

Here comes the no, he thought to himself. I wonder what rejection feels like? I've done this to millions of girls. I deserve what's coming.

"Sasuke, you're a jerk. You're a sadistic and egoistic person who likes to torture others. You suck at showing your emotions. Your idea of showing affection is nasty taunts and gestures. You are a man of actions. Also, you're very obsessive over your car and your game system."

Yup. This was what rejection felt like. His face was drawn into a taut expression. His fists were clenched and he forced himself not to bite his lip in disappointment and....sorrow? Fuck. It hurt.

"...but you're also a nice person sometimes as you like to refer to yourself." She smiled at this. Sasuke's mouth went agape. "You might suck at showing your emotions but your emotions are pure and whole. You are an egoistic person but you've helped me and saved me a billion times. Your taunts are annoying but also very intelligent. Although you're obsessed with your car, you've let me ride it a hundred times and you've let me play at your gaming system a billion times."

Sasuke was confused. Was this rejection? It wasn't so bad right now.

"But the main reason I'm having this discussion is....you let me sleep with you when I was scared." What the actual fuck? Sasuke had forgotten all about that. He thought about that night a little wistfully.

"I'm sold. I love you too Sasuke Uchiha, have been falling for a while, and I want to be with you."

She grinned at him as she put her hand under her sweater and brought out a fan shaped pendent. Her pendent. He looked at her, not believing what this meant. She actually returned his affections. She wanted to...

He looked at her for reassurance and she nodded, telling him this was indeed real. Sasuke broke into a real grin before kissing her.

He kissed her passionately, enjoying the taste. He moved his hands into her hair and around her neck as she put her arms around him and kissed him back passionately.

They broke apart for air, panting. Hinata looked really happy. She actually did like him back. "I'm still a jerk Hinata. I also have a reputation for being a cold hearted bastard."

"I know." she said smugly "I can live with it though."

Sasuke smirked. She would take him as he was. He would do the same. But for now, it was time to make up for the lost time.

"You made me wait weeks. Weeks in agony." He said with a smirk on his face. And she had.

"So? You gave me agony for months, being a jerk."

"You still have to pay for that." He said, leaning over her with a predatory look in his eyes.

"Dream on." She said as he kissed her again. They could argue about that later, right now...he was going to make out with his fiancé in peace. It felt really good.

He pulled her closer, ready to ravage her lips. "Do you want to make outside, seriously?" Hinata asked him, eyeing his lips.

"For now." He told her and lowered his head to hers.

"I love you more than anyone I've been with. You snuck up on me. I fell without even realizing it." She grinned as he hovered above her.

"I'm glad. I didn't expect falling for you either." He told her before he pounced.

Sasuke finally realized why Itachi made out with Izumi so much. He smirked during the kiss and at that moment. He was contented to be with her like this. In fact, he'd keep her.

Everything was amazing until someone interrupted their make-out session.

"HOLY SHIT SASUKE IS MAKING OUT WITH HINATA ON THE ROOF!"

Sasuke's eye twitched mid-kiss as he heard the voice of his sister in law. Sasuke broke away and saw his mother, brother and Izumi watching them smugly. Hinata started to laugh under him.

He sighed before smiling reluctantly as his family came into view, congratulating them both on finally making out. Life was good.
___________

Author notes:

Alright guys, that was the end of Paper Fans and Lavenders. I hope everyone loved the last chapter as i had to make some changes at the last moment.

And yes, I'm sorry for making Sasuke suffer so much. But it turned out alright, didn't it? Thanks you everyone who was with me and the story since the beginning. You guys are awesome.

Anyways, some of you have been asking for a sequel. So i might post one on frequent request. Do give your opinion.

And I will upload my other story soon because of the feedback it got. Thank you all for your support. Keep checking my profile for any updates on the other stories.

Give me your opinion on what you thought about the last chapter. Comment, vote and follow. Love you all.

Till next time, somewhere.