It's a cheesy love story! Well not cheesy, but it is a love story. These three lovely children, Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke, experience adolescent life; trying to cope with their pasts while searching for a peace of mind in the future. It's a lot more interesting than it sounds! I mean, you all know how "interesting" high school is.

Yes, Sakura is the main character. Why? I am a girl and it's easier for me that way.

No, she is not my favorite character. I don't have one. I like all the characters equally! Except for Hinata; for some reason I like her less than the rest. However, I don't hate on her. Don't bite me.

Okay, couples: SasuSakuNaru. NO, it does not mean 'threesome'. It means

SasuSaku and NaruSaku. NaruSaku is my favorite couple, but this one is SasuSaku.

By the way, this story has NOTHING to do with them being ninjas.

"Haruno Sakura."

"Here."

The rest of the names were called out in an echo to her, as she began thinking about other things. Chemistry was the least favorite of her classes. It wasn't that she didn't do well in the subject; there just wasn't anyone she could talk to in that class familiarly. The one person who knew her name in that class sat at the opposite side from her, and so she never found the time to have a decent conversation with Hinata.

Holding that thought, she looked over Hinata, who was listening intently to the teacher lecture, and taking notes as swiftly as a reporter. Hinata is such a pretty girl, she thought to herself. She had lovely eyes, lovely curves, lovely hair, a lovely personality; she couldn't keep up with Hinata's list of loveliness.

Sakura knew that she herself was a plain girl: thin and short with a round face. Given the fact that she had rare, green eyes, they were always concealed by her bangs, whose sole purpose was to hide her unusually large forehead.

For a mind like Sakura's, that was constantly thinking, an entire day could go by and she would not remember a single person she saw or anything she might have said, all because she was so consumed in her thoughts.

So by the time it was lunch, only then did she stop thinking.

"Sakura," the voice beside her whined.

"Hmm?" Sakura turned her head to her left to find Ino frowning at her.

"Sakura," she whined again, "why are you covering your head with your bangs again?" She took the privilege of moving her bangs to the sides. "There! That looks way better on you."

Sakura smiled at the compliment, coming from the prettiest girl she knew. She giggled. "Thank you."

Ino immediately changed her train of thought. "You want to go to the movies tomorrow? It's a Friday and all, and my mom can get us in for free like last time."

The mentioning of free movie tickets caught the attention of the others at their lunch table.

Tenten, raising her eyebrows, said, "You're inviting me too right?"

"Well…"

"You better take me too, Ino. You owe me, like, 15 bucks already," Shikamaru gave his word out.

"I don't know if-"

"Huh? I want to come to! You owe me 20 bucks, damn." Naruto joined in.

"You guys-"

Choji frowned and added, "Yeah, you owe me 40 bucks and a date."

"Okay!" she exclaimed. "Okay. I'll take all of you-"

"Don't forget Hinata," said Sakura.

"Okay! Okay! Okay! Sheesh, I'm taking all of you. But no date."

Choji smiled teasingly, "You'll warm up to me eventually."

Ino stuck her tongue out in disgust. "Yeah. You're funny. Very funny."

"You didn't have to say it like that," he pouted.

"Thirty-one, thirty-six, four." Sakura listened to the click of her lock opening after entering the combination.

"Chemistry, English, Geometry…" She always said the classes she had homework in aloud, in paranoia that she might forget something. It happened on more than one occasion. While taking out the books from her top locker, her eyes circumvented the view to her right.

She was rarely alert after school. But today, she noticed how bright the sun was, and the exodus of people through the school gates, and the presence of people next to her, also trying to remember what books they need for their assignments. Oddly enough, she noticed her own feet; something she stared at constantly while walking.

Sakura slammed her locker and turned herself around to leave.

Shoes.

And not her own as a matter of fact. They were black, worn out, and big. In no less than a second, she was facing a tall boy. The look on his face made it seem like he was mad at the driver for running the truck over his puppy. He took the headphones out of his ears and looked straight at her, like he expected her to say something.

Sakura was not able to move, nor was she able to break her eyes away from his glare. She was scared, embarrassed, and confused, and nothing that could've happened in this moment that would make her feel comfortable. Slowly moving her gaze down to her feet, she hastily walked off towards the exit. Her dangerous curiosity, however, made her turn her head to look back at him, only to find him opening his locker; the bottom one under hers. Sakura turned herself away, afraid of meeting this stranger's eyes again. Then she went out through the school gates and he was gone.

Gone and out of her sight. She was safe out here, by the bus stop she waited at everyday.

However, her hasty mind hinted at her to think again. How long was his locker under hers? How long did she not notice him? How long did he wait behind her everyday, knowing that she existed, yet she did not even feel his presence? It made her feel naked. She let down a shiver and waited patiently for the next bus to come.

After 10 minutes or so of waiting, the bus finally arrived in all its rusty glory. Sakura stepped on and sat down, letting out a sigh of relief. Soon she would be home.

Her heart nearly jumped out of her chest when he entered the vehicle. Him. That scary figure. That shadow had been taking the same bus she had this past year. And I never noticed, she thought to herself.

He walked by her as if nothing had happened earlier. He showed no interest, no acknowledgment of her existence, and sat down in the farthest seat on the bus. Sakura bit at her nail and decided to give him no heed. After all, he was just another insignificant person. But she couldn't help to wonder about what had happened, all the way to the next stop and through the doors of her home, perpetually staring at her shoes.

Such a mystery as to who that stranger is huh? Well not really haha you guys know who it is!

I hope you enjoyed this first chapter! I would really love some feedback on what to work on (: Thanks for reading!