Sakura was being more than just hopeful when she recruited Hinata Hyuuga to replace Ino Yamanaka on the cheerleading quad. She was desperate.
Hinata was ungainly and irresolute in her movement, but the cheerleading captain hoped that the recruit's small build would nullify that fact.
Hinata had an important job. She was light enough that Sakura was sure that the squad could hold her securely in place at the top of the human pyramid. Hinata looked mortified as the captain told her what she needed to do.
"…And just stand up straight and smile! Okay? Okay. Lift her," Sakura motioned to the rest of the team. When the meager replacement was successfully part of the pyramid, she clapped and congratulated her team. She heard someone hooting from the lacrosse field and turned. It was Kiba Inuzuka, hooting and pumping his lacrosse stick in the air. Of course, he wouldhowl like a dog at pretty cheerleaders. She barely had time to think this and hope that he didn't distract Hinata before she heard a scream behind her.
She rushed forward to help her team that was sprawled in a tangled mass on the ground. As she started to assess what had just happened and help her team, Ino crutched her way over from the bleachers.
She was all reiterated "oh my god's" and "how could you have let this happen, Sakura's" before she reached her actual point. "Clearly Hinata is unfit to be at the top, that was a big mistake on your part," she smirked. "Captain."
Sakura rolled her eyes and ignored Ino, more focused on helping her best lifter, TenTen, to her feet. The girl was favoring her right ankle and Sakura was praying that it wasn't sprained. Ino noticed Tenten's limp.
"On no, Tenten! She's hurt, it's broken, I just know it. Way to go Sakura, you now have injured two of your best teammates. You know if I was captain-"
The blonde was unable to finish her sentence before Sakura's agitated, manicured hand slapped her across the face.
Sakura stepped back in shock after she realized what she had just done. She promised herself she would not snap when it came to Ino again, not after a previous quarrel the year before. She prayed no one had seen that, but to no avail.
The lacrosse coach was venturing toward them, whistle to his mouth.
"Detention, little lady!"
x
x
x
x
It was 3:15. By now we would have been finished running sprints and stretching, and would be having a pass with a partner, getting ready to practice some drills. I was going to be late for detention.
"Ah, long time no see, Inuzuka," I was greeted as I walked through the door. "You're late."
"My bad, Sir," I apologized softly.
"You did pretty good in last week's game," the teacher in charge continued. "Really fast. Didn't expect you to have such lung capacity."
"Kicked some bad habits, improved my times," I shrugged vaguely.
"I've noticed."
Professor Kakashi and I have gotten to know each other pretty well. We have an almost daily routine. I come in late to detention, he acts like he cares, then goes back to reading his dirty novel.
I noticed that I wasn't alone in detention today. Pretty little Sakura Haruno was sitting in the first seat, examining her nails. She looked up when I sat down next to her. I smirked. She scowled.
We sat in silence for the first half hour. She, just picking at her manicure, and I, scratching my initials into my desk with a pen.
Fifteen minutes later, Kakashi stood up and announced that he was going to the bathroom, adding, "And stop vandalizing that desk, Kiba. These desks have been through enough abuse as it is."
When the door closed behind him I turned to Sakura.
"Sharpening your nails for your next catfight?" The whole school, including me, heard what happened on the lacrosse field by 8:00 last night. Small school- word travels fast.
"No," She snapped. "Writing your last will and testament on that desk? You're bound to spend the rest of your life here in detention."
"Maybe."
"You know, I'm still mad that you for not having your work for the Government project today."
"It's due next week."
"Yes, but you need to do your work now so we can put everything together in class so we won't have to all meet up after school."
"I think I'd like to meet up after school."
"That would be the worst idea ever."
"It would be fun."
"It would not. I hate all you boys."
"Then we could meet up, just us."
"That would be even worse."
"Can you help me with my part of the project please?"
Like I said, it's fun to mess with her.
"You're so annoying, Kiba."
"More annoying than Naruto?"
"Yes."
"I'm hurt. No one's more annoying than Naruto. Except maybe Sasuke."
We both looked up when Kakashi reentered the room. Sakura excused herself to the bathroom, leaving me to return to my desk-etching. Five minutes went by and I decide I had to pee too, but Kakshi told me wait until Sakura got back. Ten minutes went by.
"Maybe she flew the coop. I can go check on her if you want, sir."
"That won't be necessary, but you can run to the bathroom if you need to. Be quick."
I did so, and quickly like Kakashi said to, but decided on the way back that perhaps I had gone too quickly, and he wouldn't notice if I took a few detours. So I hung a left at the end of the hallway and headed towards the water fountain.
I stopped when I saw Sakura standing in front of it. She was just standing there, her hip pressed against the button, making the water arch out of the spout in a smooth, flowing stream, spiraling around the drain. I walked up to her slowly.
"Hey," I said.
My greeting startled her, causing her to jump when she saw me.
"Oh, hey." Her voice was all breathy and she quickly stooped down to drink from the fountain, her pink hair shielding her face from me. She wiped her face when she was finished and wouldn't look at me.
"Uh, so, should we walk back?"
"Okay," was her reply.
I started to walk back the way I came, but turned back when I didn't hear her footsteps behind me.
She was just standing there with her face in her hands.
"Ah… Um… Sakura?" It took me a second to realize what was happening. "Oh God no, please don't cry… It's okay… Just, just stop. Now… Please."
I have absolutely no idea what to do with crying girls, but I felt pretty dumb just standing there so I stepped forward and put my hands on her shoulders. "Listen, I'm so sorry. I'm sorry for whatever I did, just please don't cry."
But then she started sobbing harder, so I pulled her closer hoping it would comfort her, but mostly just to muffle the sounds of her sobs. This would happen to me.
"Hey, it's okay, don't cry." I kept murmuring stuff into her hair, rubbing her back all in hopes that it would shut her up. It was working, and as she started to quiet down I realized it felt kinda nice holding her like that. When she regained her composure she looked up at me.
She was pink everywhere. Pink manicured fists tangled in pink wispy hair, soggy pink eyes, runny pink nose, flushed pink cheeks and pouty pink lips.
"Hey, there you are. What's wrong?" I mumbled, thinking that she had collected herself enough to tell me why she was upset.
I was not at all prepared for what happened next.
She took a deep breath and in a shaky exhale she exclaimed: "I turn all guys gay! I'm fucked up! No one will ever want me! I'm like that girl that everyone dates before they find the one, the person they marry. 'Cept I'm the girl they date before they realize they're gay! I should have known; we dated for almost two years and never did it!"
"Uh, it's okay. Wait, what? You never had sex? You dated for two years and never had sex?"
Uh-oh. Wrong thing to say. Wrong, wrong, wrong, Kiba. Shit.
She collapsed into my chest and started wailing now. Wailing, I tell you.
"I mean- no, that's, like, perfectly normal. You're not fucked up."
The wailing continued.
"I am! And it's not normal! I should have known! I should have known all along. We never went past first base, I'm sure he's gone farther with the wrestling team than me."
What?! I was on the wrestling team.
"What! That's not true, he never did anything with the wrestling team. I don't think any of them are gay. Except for him."
She shook a sob again. "That's not what I meant! I meant on the mat, during matches! We never did anything alone together. Ever. We went on group dates and to parties together but that was it. So I even offered to give him head. Worst mistake of my life."
Oh my God, what do I do now. I heard the rumors, but I didn't expect them to be true.
"I just wanted to be a good girlfriend," she continued through sobs. "It was the farthest we'd ever gone, and you know what came out of his mouth while I did it? 'Naruto.' It was his name he said, not mine."
Awkward. Awkward awkward awkward. So I just pulled her face into my chest again and kept caressing her back.
"Hey, don't worry. He didn't deserve you anyway. You know there are hundreds of guys that think your beautiful and smart and attractive, including me."
She looked up at me again.
"R-really?"
"Of course." Maybe not the smart part, but I didn't say that. "You're beautiful."
She smiled a little.
"Thanks, kiba."
"Ready to go back inside now?"
She nodded so I grabbed her hand to lead her back towards detention. I turned towards her again when a tug on my hand meant she wasn't following behind me. Before I could ask her what was wrong now, though, she took a large, quick step forward, using her motion to force her up onto her tiptoes and press her mouth into mine. The sudden movement made me step back into the lockers along the wall as she continued to press her body against mine. Needless to say, I was shocked at what was happening. I pried her wet, tear-stained face from mine to ask her what she was doing. Not that I minded, of course, but damn, this chick was just too confusing.
"I- sorry- I just… needed to see something. I mean if I really do turn guys gay but I see that-"
"What?"
"Not that I'm saying you are, but if-"
"Listen, sugar, I'm not gay, you're just so damn confusing-"
"…you don't want to kiss me how do you know-"
I didn't let her finish whatever she was saying, interrupting her to kiss her properly this time.
I put my hands on her waist, turning her around so she was against the wall, guiding her body up against mine.
I don't know how she could turn any guy gay with the way she ran her hands up my chest to caress the back of my neck as we continued to kiss. After another moment I broke away from her lips and leaned my forehead against hers, so that our noses where still touching.
"So... Do you still want to meet up later to work on the project?" She asked, looking up at me from behind thick lashes. "Just you and-"
I didn't mean to keep interrupting her, but I felt compelled to kiss her again.
Yep. Definitely not turning me gay.