Ch 1: What have I walked into?
"Hi, my name is Sakura Haruno, I'm the new student." The woman behind that desk looked at me through her glasses, tried to smile, but I noticed right away that she didn't do that very often, typed some things on her computer and looked up again.
"Yes, darling. Why don't you go on ahead in the principal's office and I'll have everything you need ready for you when you come out. Is your mum coming later?" I was surprised to find out she was British.
"No, just me. She wanted to come but work kept her busy." I tried to smile too, but it was probably clear smiling wasn't something I liked to do.
"Oh, dear. I hope it won't be a problem. Just go in then." I nodded and didn't bother with the smile. I had to stop myself in front of the office and think. I had to truly act like I belonged here. I was dressed properly enough, decent enough. My hair was done in a professional way. I repeated what I had to say last night. I was already accepted to this school, but that didn't mean they couldn't kick me out. I needed this school more than anything. I knocked. I remembered to knock and that's a good thing. I walked in after that breathing in and out. The small man at the desk looked at me smiling and told me to sit down. Unlike the secretary and I, he probably smiled more often.
"Miss Haruno, I presume. How do you do? Will your mother be joining us?" He asked me as I made myself comfortable.
"I'm sorry, no. She has some problems at work, she sends her regards though." Not changing his expression, he looks at the papers in front of him.
"That's quite lovely of her, but her presence would have been a bit more appreciated. Nonetheless, allow me to recite to you the few rules of this school." I nodded, ignoring the comment about my mother. It was quite an accomplishment since I used to be easily annoyed. "This is not a public school, do you understand? There will be no cutting class, no drinking of any alcoholic substances, no smoking. You are not allowed to have any boys in your dorm room, nor are you to be found in a boy's dorm room. This is an elite school, if you can't raise to our expectations then I advise you to choose another school. If your grades start looking worse and worse then I advise you to choose another school. If you find yourself not being able to follow the rules then I advise you to choose another school. Are we clear Miss Haruno?" At the end of his speech which I am sure he gives to every single new student I nod slightly scared. It was him that scared me. And he said all that with such a kind expression. "Very well, Miss Haruno. That would be all. Any question you have will be answered by Miss Tsunade, my assistant. You are free to go." He smiled again. I twitched.
Outside the principal's assistant was waiting for me with a small stack of papers.
"Alright darling. Here is your schedule, your room number and locker number and a map to it, a map of the campus, a book of rules and a pamphlet with a list of clubs. You have to join at least a club, remember that." This school seemed tough, but I feel like it is exactly what I need. I take the papers, thank her and walk out focusing on my breathing. I take out the map to my room and follow it exactly.
The campus seemed old. It had a yard surrounded by buildings. The main building was the school while the left building was the boys' dormitory and the right building was, obviously, the girls' dormitory. It had a British feel to it, everything was solemn.
I take out my phone, which was ringing, and answer it quickly because the sound was incredibly loud.
"Yes?" I answer.
"Hi, sweetie, did you settle in?" It was my mom, I should have known.
"Not yet, I'm on my way."
"Well, that's great! How's the main man? Is he an old fart?" For a 47 years old woman, my mother could be quite immature.
"No."
"Honey, is something wrong? You talk less than usual."
"Do I? I didn't notice." The truth was, there actually was something wrong with me. But my mother was the last person I wanted to talk to about it.
"Well then. I have to go. Don't call okay? I don't know if I can answer, just wait for my call." Like I usually do. I would've said sure but she was already gone.
I sighed. I wasn't in the mood today.
My dorm wasn't anything special. It was small and I had no roommate because I requested a single. I had a desk, a bed, a small bathroom with a shower, a sink, and a toilet, a second door that probably led to a small closet and a mirror on that door. Boxes were in the middle of the room, waiting for me. At least my things didn't get lost. I looked at the clock that I found above my new desk and noticed that I was already incredibly late to my first class. I decided to not show up at all since it would be considered disrespect. I had a few things to do anyway.
I showered and changed, let my hair out of its bun and was ready just in time for my second class. I didn't know what to prepare for so I just grabbed a pen, a notebook, the book I was reading at the moment and $10. The good thing about living in a dorm is that if you forget something you can go back to get it. I walked out of my room and went to find my class.
I didn't notice the students in this school, frankly I didn't care about them. I wasn't here to make friends, I was here to get better. Once I found the classroom, I grabbed a sit in the back and waited.
"What, are you stupid? That's my sit." I looked up and saw a girl looking at me like I just killed someone she loved. Her glasses made her glare a bit worse. At that point I didn't know how to continue. I could have started a fight or I could have just got up and walked away. I like to think I did the right thing. I got up, but I let her know I didn't like it. She was so happy I heard her imagining a happy dance. It was embarrassing, really. And the only sit I got left was one in the front row not that it mattered but when I was in the back I knew no one could have talked about me without me knowing. I was the new girl after all, there was bound to be gossip.
Suddenly I hear the same girl laughing. I turn around and I see she tripped someone else. It was a blonde girl with long hair. She sighed and kept moving without looking back. She must be getting bullied a lot by the red-head if that's her reaction.
"Hey! Aren't you gonna say something? How about sorry for hitting my foot." The blonde girl turns around looking at the floor and mutters a pathetic "Sorry"
"That was pathetic!" We agreed on that. "Louder" The blonde one tries again and the red-headed one seems pleased. I certainly don't want to get in the middle of that situation.
The class finally starts and I sink in my chair and listen. It was nice to enjoy a lesson again, I haven't done it in a long time. Unfortunately time passed by faster than I would've liked. The class was done and I had to go back outside, return to the real world. I guess it was an opportunity to find my locker.
It wasn't easy to find my locker. The number was 215 which meant it was on the second floor. I found a 215 but there was someone looking through it so I assumed it was a wrong 215, but when I found nothing I went back to the first 215.
"Excuse me, I think this is my locker." I said to the person. The guy pulled his head out of the locker and looked at me surprised for a moment then he relaxed.
"Ah, you must be my locker buddy." That's how I found out lockers were shared. That was just fantastic.
"Can you move aside then?" He looked at me then took a step back and I started putting my things on the empty shelf.
"So what's your name?" He asked. I wasn't in the mood for chitchat.
"...Sakura." I say not looking at him. I really wanted him to go away.
"That's it? Just Sakura? Fine then. I'm Sasuke Uchiha." He said that like I was supposed to know him. I didn't acknowledge his statement. "So, what's your last name?" His curiosity was getting on my nerves. I looked at him with a nasty expression which he ignored and finally answered.
"Haruno.."
"And why did you come here?" Like I was about to tell him why, I didn't even know him. My mom has no idea why I suddenly wanted to come here and he has the nerve to imply that he has the right to know.
"I just did."
"Okay, don't tell me. I'll find out eventually." Yeah...good luck with that. I grabbed what I needed from my locker which was everything I had with me, closed it and walked away. "I wasn't done, you know." I kept going. "You could at least say sorry." What bothered me most is that he sounded amused.
My next class was English lit. I loved books so everything was a breeze. This school wasn't as tough as it looked. Thankfully, after that was lunch and I was quite famished. I just had to join a club real quick and then go and eat like a bear. It was a good plan.
I saw on the pamphlet a music club and I figured since I have quite a history in playing the piano I should join. Of course, I stopped playing in the last year because of...all that happened, but it can't be that bad. Joining was easy I saw, finding the music room was harder and the map wasn't helping me. I did find it eventually, but lunch was almost over. When I reached the cafeteria, the blonde girl I saw earlier was running out with a huge stain on her shirt. Inside you could hear laughter. I rolled my eyes and sighed when I saw that Sasuke running after her. Was he her boyfriend or brother or anything? Curiosity took over me and I followed them.
They stopped in front of my locker...and his locker I guess. He pulled out a sweater which I saw before and gave it to her.
"Thanks" She says in a low voice. The guy sighed.
"You should really stop doing what she says. What are you so scared of?" I knew this happened often.
"You don't understand Sasuke...she can make it worse for me. I would rather just leave it like this."
"No, she won't. She's a bully, just show her you're not bothered and that's it." This guy clearly didn't know how to deal with bullies.
"Just forget it. I'll go wash up." That's when she got up and left. She walked right past me and didn't say a word. I looked at her as she walked away and then turned back to Sasuke. He was quite angry.
"I know you're there." I hear him say. I didn't come out, just in case he's not talking to me. "Are you deaf? Come out already." I sigh. There was no one else around so I walked around the corner and towards him. "Oh, it's you." So he didn't see me? How did he know I was there.
He didn't say anything else. Just leaned against the locker and looked at the ceiling. Surprisingly I was the one to talk again.
"What happened to her?" He looks at me at first surprised and then amused. That amusement really annoyed me.
"I'll tell you if you tell me why you enrolled in this school."
"Why is it so important to you anyways?" I asked slightly annoyed. He shrugs and puts his hands in his pockets.
"Just curious, I guess."
"Forget it..." I roll my eyes and walk away annoyed.
"Woah, hold on. Don't get all mad, I'll tell you." He stopped me. I didn't know if I should stop or just keep walking. Again, as curious as I was, I stopped. This curiosity I always had led me into a lot of trouble in the past. When I was back next to him he started talking. "That's Ino, you saw walking away. She's the daughter of my mother's best friend, we grew up together. She's like my little sister. My ex-girlfriend started bullying Ino when I broke up with her. She's such a bitch..."
"That's not what I asked." I say annoyed.
"I know, you just need this back story to understand. When Ino went to sit down at her usual table, Karin, my ex-girlfriend, tripped her and she fell on her food. This happens almost daily and I keep telling her to stop, but.." I looked at him for a moment.
"So, it's your fault this girl gets bullied everyday."
"Pretty much." At least he didn't try to deny it.
"Alright then..." I said. I didn't know what to say next so I just walked away.
"What? So that's it?" he yells after me. Just like before, I keep walking away. I don't want to be dragged in any kind of drama. I came here to get better, I came here to escape the drama. This was not something I needed to do, I wasn't asked to help this girl and I wasn't going to. This was non of my business.