So, this is the first chapter to be rewritten. Rewritten chapters will say so in the author's note in beginning of the chapter. Hopefully, this one turns out much better than the first one I had written lol. So without further ado, go on and read. All criticism is welcome! Enjoy!

Chapter 1: Let's Help a Friend!

"So, you wanna catch a movie some time?"

I turned back to look at Kankuro. His confidence was oozing out like water bursting out of a pipe. His sly grin said it all, he didn't want to see a movie at all. He just wanted to get laid. He was a good-looking guy and all, just not my type.

I smiled in a way that I knew would have an effect on him. It wasn't really hard, horny guys will take what they can get. "Oh I really wish I could but, I'm afraid I can't. With all the advanced classes I'm taking, I barely have time to breathe, lest take a break. Try Kurotsuchi though, I hear she's into you."

He just shrugged it off, not really taking it as a rejection. "That's fine. See ya later Sakura."

Closing my locker, I heaved a sigh. I didn't tell a complete lie. I had a ton of homework for the weekend, including three essays and a project. I honestly just wanted to go home already but, I still had three periods to go.

"Sakura-sempai!"

From the corner of my eye, I saw Matsuri running towards me with books in hand. Her cropped, brown hair looking completely frazzled. She looked relieved when she had finally reached me.

"Hey. What's up?" I asked.

Matsuri was a freshman I tutored back when she needed help in biology last year. Now, she just came to me for advice on schoolwork or to let me know how she was doing.

She sucked in a breath and whispered, "Do you have a minute?"

Upon noticing the her red, tear-brimmed eyes, I nodded, "Yeah, I have lunch this period. I was going to go down to the library to finish up a paper but, it can wait."

"For what class?" Matsuri asked as we walked down the hall together. Perhaps trying to distract herself from what was bothering her.

"Latin." I sighed, "Baki-sensei has been tripling the workload lately. Which irks me because that used to be the one class I didn't have to stress over."

She wordlessly led me into the deserted courtyard and we walked over to one of the benches. There wasn't much foliage in Suna. That's not to say there wasn't any, just not compared to places like Konoha since it was mostly hot and dry.

When we had situated ourselves, I looked over at Matsuri with worry. The endless possibilities of what could be wrong circled around my head. "What did you want to talk about?" I asked her.

"G-Gaara-sempai is in your class, right? You're graduating class, I mean."

I nodded, not knowing what the redhead had to do with any of this.

"He's your friend too, right?"

I only shrugged, "Not really. We're more acquaintances, if that. I'm friends with his older sister, though, Temari. So ,I see him from time to time. Why? Has he hurt you in some way?"

Matsuri shook her head as she looked down at her wringing hands. "It's not that. It's—you remember my friend Sari, right?"

How could I forget? Those two were practically joined at the hip. I've only ever heard Matsuri say good things about her best friend.

"Yeah, why?"

She hesitated. She squeezed her eyes shut and bit her lip. In a matter of seconds she opened her eyes and had a smile plastered on her face. "Her and Gaara-sempai are an item now!" Matsuri said with an overly cheerful voice.

I could only look at her. She was never a good liar and now was a perfect example. She looked like she was ready to cry her heart out. Her smile was so forced, it looked painful.

"Isn't that great, Sakura-sempai? Sari's been chasing him since forever. I'm so glad! They're going out tonight, you know? He's taking her to one of those fancy restaurants. She's so happy and I—"

I reached over and pulled her into a hug. It didn't take long before she started uncontrollably sobbing into the crook of my neck. I couldn't have felt more empathy for a friend as I did now. I knew how it felt to be in her situation, after all. That was me once, crying into my pillow at night.

Unlike Matsuri, I didn't have anyone there for me. I immersed myself in schoolwork. I asked to move to Suna with my father. I became independent and confident, all on my own. Never again will I fawn over a boy who cares nothing for me or a friend who would stab me in the back in a heartbeat.

"You're going to get through this." I told her with conviction. "I'm going to help you get through this."

After spending my entire lunch period consoling Matsuri, I texted Temari and asked her who was having a party tonight. Yeah, I know. I have a ton of work to do and instead, I choose to go to a party with loads of booze, sex and drugs.

And yes, I'm going to be exposing Matsuri to all of that but, the girl needs to forget about Gaara and Sari. She needs to let loose and flirt with a few guys. Of course, I'll be keeping an eye on her like a hawk so she won't do anything beyond that. A little bit of flirting never hurt anyone.

My cell vibrated. Temari had texted me back.

Zaku is having one but, I know your history with him. I can see if one of my friends from another school is throwing one though.

I didn't want to be a burden to her.

No, don't worry about it. Zaku's is fine.

I walked into my physics classroom. We were doing a lab today. I took a seat next to my lab partner, who just happened to be Tamaki. She wasn't a horrible lab partner, per say. She just knew more about cats than physics.

My phone buzzed. I quickly pulled it out to see what Temari had texted me.

Are you sure? I thought you hated his guts.

Yuura-sensei had yet to enter the classroom so I answered her back curtly before shutting off my phone. I couldn't afford any distractions.

Yeah, Matsuri just needs to flirt with guys from here. It's no problem, really.

It wasn't like we were going to be the only ones there. Tons of teens from various cliques will be there. Zaku always throws the craziest parties.

I saw myself in Matsuri. I, too, was once in love with the same guy as my best friend. I only was twelve at the time and I foolishly believed it was meant to be. I was bullied because of him, I cried because of him, I lost my best friend because of him, I became rivals with my sister because of him. I eventually had had enough and asked to move to Suna with my dad. I've been happy every since.

In the end, the girl with the unrealistic dreams of "love" and romance lost. She matured, she grew up.

It didn't matter how close Matsuri and Sari were. If the latter were to discover her friend's feelings, things wouldn't end well. Girls in love were and forever will be vicious creatures.

I should know and I do because now I know better than my measly, foolish, self-absorbed, boy-obsessed twelve year-old self.

"I don't want to go." Matsuri whined weakly, her voice muffled by the pillow she dug her head under.

Haku sat down on the bed next to her and rubbed soothing circles on her back. Out of all of us, he had to have been the motherly figure.

He was originally from Mist and moved here a couple years before I did. His feminine traits were the source of relentless teasing but, Temari was the one who warded them off.

"Moping in bed isn't going to do anything for you. So stop whining like a brat and get ready. Like it or not, you're coming with us. Might as well look presentable."

Temari had grown to become one of my closest friends. She has helped me grow as a person. She's brutally honest, strong-willed and wise. Ever since we became friends, I've looked up to her.

Matsuri peaked her head out from underneath the pillow. "Are you sure this will help me get over him?"

I shook my head, "It doesn't work that way. It's hard, getting over a broken heart. It'll take time to heal. This is just a baby step."

The brunette pouted but, didn't say anything.

The party was supposed to serve as a temporary distraction. Something to keep her mind off of Gaara and Sari.

Matsuri kept her gaze on the picture frame on the dresser on the other side of the room. "I'm pathetic, aren't I? Crying over some boy who only thinks of me as a child. Fawning after him like some desperate parasite!"

We all looked at her in surprise. Speechless from the words that came out of her mouth.

She got up from the bed all of a sudden and stormed right up to her dresser, glaring daggers at the picture. It was taken during the summer. Matsuri and Sari were all posing with silly faces. With her new found determination, Matsuri took the picture and threw it carelessly in the wastebasket.

She turned around with a vengeful look in her eyes and a maliciously saccharine smile. "Let's go to that party."

A woman scorned was a force to be reckoned with and for a minute, the girl in front of me was unrecognizable.

Temari let out a chuckle, "Now that's the spirit. You go and get dolled up. We'll wait for you in the car."

As she turned around to leave with Haku in tow, I told them to go ahead and that I'd help Matsuri get ready.

"Have fun," Temari carelessly called over her shoulder.

I looked over to Matsuri who pulled out a teal dress that was short enough to pass for a shirt. She draped it over herself while examining her reflection in the mirror. "What do you think? Is it sexy enough?"

"Oh, it's sexy all right." I walked over to her, "But maybe you should go for something less . . . revealing. I mean, this isn't you."

Matsuri's eyes caught mine. The pure look of determination they held caught me off guard. And in that moment, I realized just how much she resembled myself back when I had my heart broken.

"What happened to your hair, Sakura?"

I ignored my mother and continued on packing. She would never understand. I didn't even bother to look at her because then, she would know what was wrong. My eyes were all weary from crying so many tears.

She grabbed my wrist in order to try and get my attention. When she saw the look on my face, she gasped. She cupped my face with her hands and asked worriedly, "Sakura, stop this nonsense and just tell me what's wrong. Who did this to you?"

How can I tell her what really happened? That my so-called "friends" shoved me into the bathroom and chopped off my hair for the sake of some stupid boy?! How can I tell her that Karin, my sister, was involved or that even my absolute best friend, Ino, was?

"Nothing." I said, "I'm just sick of being here, that's all. Same with my hair, I guess. I called dad. He's coming to pick me up."

I removed her hands from me before shoving all of my clothes and other belongings into my suitcase as fast as I could. I wanted to leave right now.

"He already said I can move in with him."

My mother sighed, "Sakura, honey, it doesn't work like that. You still have school to worry about and what about your friends? They'll miss you. You're only thirteen, you can't just make this decision all on your own. Your father and I need to discuss this first."

"Mom."

Her red eyes met mine.

"Please let me go. I don't want to be here anymore."

Maybe she knew, right then. Or maybe she just saw how desperate I was to go. She closed her eyes and sighed.

"Alright," she conceded, "if that's what you really want."

Hard to believe I started this story so long ago lol. Now, I'm auditioning for colleges. It all seems so surreal. This is definitely better than the last first chapter I created back in the eighth grade. Hopefully chapter two won't take too long to conjure up. If your interested, check out my story The Negative Half in the meanwhile. It's going to be updated next week. Please don't forget to tell me what you think!