Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, or any of the characters in it. I only own Aya.

It was nearing the end of Summer, school had started back up again for me and like usual, nothing had really changed. I'd mostly grown taller, and that's about it. Luckily for me, I was in the same class with Rei and Ivy. They were brother and sister, almost twins. They didn't act like it, but they looked like it. They were the only people I could call friends, to say the least. There were too many people I didn't necessarily like, so I would normally hang around with them.
During classes, we would sit in the same seats, at lunch, we'd eat at the same table and after school, we took the same route home. Then on weekends, sometimes we would all hang out if none of us were busy with homework, or anything else.

It only took a single day.

On the way to school, it only being 7:34am, since I decided to get up earlier, I didn't bother to have breakfast so I just showered, brushed my teeth, packed up my bag and left for school. The sun was already burning bright this morning, and I could easily tell it was going to be a hot day.
They should be up, right? I'll just go anyway.
Rei and Ivy's house was just a street away from my house, so it didn't take me long to get there. As I reached the front porch, the front door swung open before I could knock.
"Good morning Aya." Ivy greeted me with a warm smile; following right behind her was Rei.

"Hey guys, ready to go?" They each nodded and followed me back down the pathway. I knew they both had club activities today after school, which only recently started.

"So, tell me Aya, why is it you won't join any clubs with us?" Rei questioned, breaking the silence that had been held since we started walking. Rei was always very formal, much more so than Ivy; who, in contrast, had a lighter and more bubbly manner to her.

"There's none I'm really interested in, and I don't think I can commit to a club I'm not enthusiastic about."I shrugged, and so did they.

"Ah, I suppose that can't really be helped, then." Rei let out a small chuckle, his sister smiling.

During lunch, I noticed a new group sitting at a table that was usually empty. My brow narrowed.
"Hey, Ivy, have you seen any of them before?" I asked, my mouth full of food. Ivy shook her head as I pointed in the direction of them.
"They must be new, because I haven't seen them around the neighbourhood either." Rei said, biting into his lunch once more. I pondered this. It was strange; it was usual for maybe one or two new students to show up every once in a while, but a whole group?

There sat an orange haired guy who seemed to have multiple piercings on his face, with a blue haired girl sitting next to him with a white flower in her hair. Down the line, was someone who looked the same age as the first, though his skin was… black and white? He seemed to have green hair, I'm guessing it was a costume, or makeup.

Next to him, was some masked guy who I couldn't totally make out, his hair was thin and a deep brown, and then the furthest to the left was a guy with slicked back, silver hair- quite well built with a shit-eating grin on his face.

On the opposite side, was a guy, or girl(?) with blonde hair and a bang covering their left eye. A red-head with fair skin sat next to the blonde, followed by two dark haired guys; one with an orange mask covering his mouth and neck, and the other had his hair tied in a ponytail, and next to him was a more built, blue haired one. The group seemed kind of gothic, or grunge-like, what with the coloured hair and dark attire they all wore.

My eyes darted back to the guy with the face full of piercings. Who knew the school would let him get away with so many.

The rest of the days classes were considerably normal. One or two of the new students I saw at lunch were in a few of my classes- the thin haired, masked one sat in the back of calculus class, and the blue haired and red haired ones were in my studio arts class. I learned the blue haired one to be Konan, and the red haired to be Sasori. Apparently the blonde was supposed to be there as well, but it seems he skipped.

Walking home from school, I was on my own for the first day back, since Rei and Ivy had club activities to attend. It was the hottest part of the day, and I didn't know whether to hurry and get home, which could work up a sweat, or dawdle and potentially get sunburn. I chose the latter, deciding I'd rather burn than sweat and feel gross. In the midst of overthinking something so stupid, I didn't notice a car turning the corner. Screeches of rubber erupted meters away from me in an attempt to stop.

The car still hit me. Barely. I was knocked down, and in my defense, they didn't signal their turn. The car doors slammed and I heard the shuffling of some feet.

"Nice going, idiot." There was a 'tsk' sound coming from one of them.

"Jesus, I'm so s-"

"Shut up. It was an accident." The other retorted.

Oh. They were just bickering. Assuming I left a dint in their car, I attempted to apologise anyway.

"Sorry. My fault." My throat was more dry than I anticipated. I used the bumper of the car to prop myself up, yet the two of them rushed to my side to help me anyway.

"Hey, no. Are you okay?" To my left- the same blonde guy from the cafeteria. His eyes were a vibrant blue, outlined by black eyeliner. Jeez, these guys were kinda goth. When I didn't respond, the concern in his expression grew. "Shit, did I bust up your vocal cords or something?"

"This is why nobody lends you their car, Deidara." And to my right- the red headed one from art class, Sasori. Deep, umber brown eyes and pale, yet almost perfect skin. Like a doll, I thought.

"Just- shut up and help me stand her up."

I was a little dumbfounded, almost in a daze as the two helped me stand straight again.

"Jeez. I-I'm not that heavy, am I?" I joked, trying to lighten the mood. I could tell the one called Sasori was trying not to look amused.

"Hm, no. We're just trying to be gentlemen about it."

"I don't think gentlemen hit women with their car." That one cracked a smile from Sasori.

"Do you need medical attention? We can take you back to our place, where somebody can patch you up."

I shook my head briefly, knees a little weak. "I'm not really hurt. Maybe a little, but more over the fact that my pants are torn." I sighed, frowning down at the tear in my new, comfortable pants I bought over the break. "So don't worry about it-"

"Please. We can't let a pretty girl like yourself go home with such an injury like that on her own." The blonde haired, Deidara, gestured to the blood trickling from the wound on my knee, where my pants had been torn. I didn't have time to react to his attempt to win me over, because, I didn't know if it was from too much sun, or maybe I'd hit my head when I fell, but I was suddenly on the ground again- out like a light.