Summary: For Sakura Haruno wake boarding was life. Not to mention it's the only place she feels right, or close to her father these days. And after a strange couple of years, it seems like she's starting over. So a wake boarding competition (especially one with cash prizes) seems like the greatest summer of her life. Too bad partners are random and her's seems to hate her. Will they pull it together and maybe they both can learn a few things? Of will they end up hitting the water face first?
I also don't own Naruto (if I did im not gonna lie, Sasuke and Sakura would at least be making googly eyes at each other by now)
The crystal blue water was alluring. The smell of the river was intoxicating. The feel of the cool water splash against her skin was everything she ever needed. And she knew that. After all this was Sakura Haruno, what else would you expect.
"Come on girl get on down here, its time to head off to school. Its your last day!" you could hear her Ms. Haruno in the background.
"On my way!" yeah thats me... Sakura Haruno. And as excited as I may sound, its not for school. Even if it is the last day. My exclamation point is for one thing and one thing only. The competition. Yeah you read that correctly. You see, after school today my mom is driving me out to the biggest wake boarding competition in all of Konoha.
We spend a few weeks with our assigned partners working on crazy tricks, all in the hopes of killing at the final event. Now for the absolute best part...somehow only kids from my highschool managed to make the cut. (Honestly I don't really care whose daddy paid who, because that means were not just going for cash, but also serious respect and bragging rights between classmates. Not that, that really interests me, but it definitely means something to the other kids.)
The cash thing will really help. Ever since we lost dad, its been kinda tough pulling money, and I plan on going to college. You see, my father brought in most of the cash when i was younger. Without him in the picture anymore, our lives got thrown right back in our faces. Sad part about that little fact, im working part time at the camp we stay at to pay for my food, cabin, and any extra supplies needed. Then anything extra goes off to mom. Who definitely deserves it for how amazing she has been. No matter what we had to do, I always got my time on the water no questions asked. We both pulled extra shifts to pay for all my equipment, and some of our old friends from when we still lived by the river always take me out on their boat. The Uzimaki's have a son in my calc class at school, so even after I lost my dad, and with him the boat and the house on the river, I still get to glide on the water for hours on end. Mr. Uzimaki says I have to most water tolerance and stamina he's ever seen. Which is good, because im gonna need it if I wanna win my way to med school.
"Hurry it up Sakura!" I can hear the frustration in her voice
"I'll be right there just have to find my other flip flop and then im good!"
"And...the bus is gone..."
"WHAT!" I race down stairs to see the bus pulling in front of my house...I turned back to look at my mom who was conveniently holding my other navy blue flip flop smiling away. "Your cruel..."
"Love you too sweetie" she said kissing my cheek. As I was walking out the door she yelled, "And make sure you rush home, we have to make sure your all packed and get you off to camp before my shift starts!"
"You got it!" I turned my face so she could hear me better, but im still to lazy to turn all the way to fully face her...what can I say im a teenager.
As I boarded the bus, I saw my normal spot and sat down. I put my backpack next to me and pulled out my old fashioned CD player. Me and mom aren't exactly poor, but we do make as many cut backs as we can. Half way through 'leave out all the rest' and I was pulling up to the big brick building I call torture...or school for short. I pushed my bubble gum pink hair (yeah its strange but totally natural so don't start with me!) out of my emerald eyes ( I know im a freak...get over it, cause I have...) And started my trek to my locker.
As I got there a few people smiled at me, but I stopped to talk to no one. This was how it always was. I wasn't miss social anymore. After papa bear's death a few years ago, I've been kinda out of it. And the only place everything feels right is on the water with a board on my feet and a speed boat whipping me along.
Its not that im some strange loner, constantly crying over the past. The thing is, all of a sudden I just wasn't the same, i couldn't really explain what happened. These people just aren't as important anymore. I remember walking down the street after I heard the news with tears pouring from my eyes, and I could still make out the smiles on other peoples faces. I saw them giggle and laugh like nothing happened. And then I realized that to them, nothing did happen. Sure I just lost the most important person in my life (besides my mother), but these people lost nothing. The world took away another speck that was my father, while tomorrow his count will be replaced by someone else. Some woman will not only be suffering through hell, giving birth to the child that would take his place in the world. All while my world seemed to shatter. It wasn't fair, it wasn't right, but that didn't matter. Because I knew for a fact me crying would only disappoint my father. He wants us to be happy, and to live on. So I do everyday. But after seeing everything change like that, these people just don't grab my interest anymore.
Well at least that's what I tell myself. My mother was pretty close when she said I didn't talk to anyone because I was scared I might start to like them and get attached, and that if I have one more loss like the last, I could be messed up for life. And by pretty close. Well she was dead on, but I wont tell her that, because at the end of the day, its just me against the world, these people could never care enough to help me.
Every one of us is a speck just waiting to be washed away. At least that's what I thought at first. (Don't worry im not that dead inside, and I was never into that whole angst thing.)Then I took my first ride after losing my dad. I felt right. Like for once I was important and big and strong, and that was all it took to get me smiling again. Which is why I think my moms always kicked ass to keep me wake board accessible. We had to move but not too far. We had to sell the stuff but not all of it, we stopped going to fancy dinners and parties, but stayed on all the invite lists to water sport competitions.
I closed my locker and thought to tonight. We get our partners, and our cabin mates, and for the rest of the week we sorta get to know each other. Our schedules will come out after that and then we get started. We work for endless hours to make every little thing as perfect as it can get, and then battle it out on the water to see which pair is the absolute best. And because in Konoha water sports are what we're known for, some of the kids I'll face are those bread to be champion jerks who will try to put me in my place. Meaning this could get a bit interesting, and a whole lot a fun.
First period spanish was boring as always. I mean really, I can barely speak my first language correctly (a/n:which you will notice as I continue to type this) so why would they add another one. And second of all, my spanish teacher only speaks german and french...im telling you the truth. Its absolutely insane, what genius was in charge of this arrangement. That's why it was oh so pleasantly referred to as 'torture' as I came from the bus. Today however, being the last day meant all I had to do was sit there and stare at her while she played games on her cell phone...I kid you not. I mean where do they get these people. Can I start picking the teachers, it cant really get much worse. At least let me hire a comedian for Chem. I'll pay attention then...maybe not to the chemistry part but at least i'll be awake. That's an improvement. Not that ones really necessary when you have a 4.1 gpa, despite the suspicious choice in language teachers.
The rest of the day was fast, and when I walked back to get the last few items out of my locker before heading home I had to cover my ears from the screeching girls crying about 'totally hanging out like all like summer cause like they're totally bff's' and yes that is a direct quote from the lovely bleach blonde in the corner. Which brings me to the point shouldn't her absolute bff tell her when she dyes her hair strange colors she looks kinda dumb...not that I should really be talking, but at least this was natural. My genes screwed me over not my stylist. I had to walk over at least 3 different 'schools out' party fliers. The same fliers that are spread around a school full of teachers and other various adults (who have the addresses of the kids throwing these little gatherings) covered in the words 'FREE BEER'. Yeah its times like these I like to step back, take a deep breath and examine the few idiots I must endure.
When I got outside I had to start walking home, due to that whole, we drive you when its dangerous early in the mornings, as opposed to when its dangerous in the afternoons thing the school keeps pushing. Damn cheap school, im not in the mood to walk home. And then I remember that the faster I walk, the closer I am to the biggest river in Konoha. I mean sure I've rode one of the smaller ones, but the one my camp is on, is the best stage I could ask for with my performance. And with that I broke into a run.
Ok well thats the first chapter. I know its really short, but if you guys like the beginning I'll put longer chapters up. its boring so far...and slightly depressing but it gets much better I promise. Please review! Tell me what you think, constructive criticism is always welcome. THANKS!