"You're the new girl right?" A tall blonde stood over Roze's table as the bell rang for Art. Roze peered up at her from her drawing, her hair was in four separate ponytails. Scribbling on her notebook she nodded, "Yeah I'm Roze." Temari read and nodded. "I'm Temari, I heard people saying you were mute. Let's be friends, yeah?" Roze nodded motioning to the picture Temari started working on. "You draw really well, is that your boyfriend?" Temari snorted. "Nah it's my little brother, Gaara. The teachers fawn over him. They commissioned me to work on a piece in the teachers lounge along with assistant teaching in the art department." Roze nodded pursing her lips in a frown. "Wait so you don't go to school here?"
Art was Roze's last class which she found out she had with Temari's two brothers Gaara, who was sitting with a clump of clay sculpting, and Kankuro, who was meticulously painting doll pieces. Temari graduated the previous year and was taking courses at the college in affiliation with their high school. "Dude, rich school are amazing. The shit we have available at our finger tips, my old school could barely afford to keep the art program running." Temari laughed. "Yeah. I'm glad though, it gives us a chance to build a reputation and specialize."
Kurenai, the actual teacher of the class, was making rounds and paused by Roze and Temari's table. "Not only a talented musician but a talented artist as well." Kurenai studied both their pieces before heading over to where Gaara had sculpted a pretty fierce looking creature. Roze's eyes lingered on the piece for a moment, watching as Kurenai pointed to various things. "Gaara is a pretty quiet guy, huh?"
"Yeah, he's always been pretty quiet, when we were young our father was constantly taking us all to therapy and psychologist. I'm not too sure if it helped him."
"I know the feeling." Roze turned back to shading a tree. "So were you always mute? Not to be nosy or anything but I saw you at the nurse's station taking some meds." Roze shook her head.
The bell rang. Roze glanced up to see Naruto in the doorway waving at her. Roze turned to Temari and gave her a warm smile thanking her.
"So how was the first day of school?" Kushina cheerily dug into her food awaiting a response. "Well in science class I almost set the table on fire… Heh, Chemistry." Naruto scratched his cheek, giving a sheepish grin. "Rozey could you help me with my homework later?" Roze nodded, mouth full of macaroni and cheese. "And how was your day Roze?" Minato asked. He ate carefully with his left hand as he held a pen in his right. The margin of his paper covered in notes.
"Well, I made a new friend today. I think her brother was once a bit like me." Minato and Kushina exchanged a glance. The TV played in the living room on a music channel. Roze's face lit up at the first chord of the next song. As she bounced in her seat she tapped on the table to the rhythm.
"I made a few friends too and talked to the soccer team's coach and captain. People seem really nice, compared to our old school at least." A heavy silence fell. Only the TV blaring and Roze still bouncing in her seat kept the mood from spiraling.
"Alright Rozey, ready for your eight o'clock meds? Naruto can you give her the shot tonight?" Both Naruto and Roze squirmed. "Ah ma' I hate giving her that shot. Remember what happened when I gave it to her last time? And it's painful for her." Kushina sighed folding her dish towel. She didn't look as she spoke. "That's why we rotate sweetheart."
It's not the needle that stung.
It was the medication.
A blind white-hot searing sensation that ripped through Roze's veins. The doctors said it was nature, a newer drug. Other than the pain the only side effects were a case of extreme drowsiness or insomnia, it was always a roll of the die as to which she'd get, but lately a new symptom had been showing itself. The doctors said the pain was normal and this way she wouldn't have to get up every two to four hours for medication.
Naruto sat in front of Roze perched on the edge of the bath tub, syringe ready. "I'm sorry Roze" she gave a tight smile as the needle entered her skin.
Once Naruto had turned thirteen he went through the same hospital run through that his parents got, learning how to administer Roze's injections and what to do in emergency cases. Until he got the hang of it she dreaded his turn to inject her the most. In the last year he'd really slowed down, become more aware of the fact his clumsiness made the process that much more painful.
"There… Ah." Naruto's hand shot out, catching Roze just before she slumped sideways into the counter. There was still a dark bruise hidden by her bangs from the last time he didn't catch her. It had only been recently that she started immediately blacking out, from the pain or extreme drowsiness they were unsure. Other than the very first week she started the medication there hadn't been much incident or variation other than the occasional bouts of insomnia. Naruto easily scooped her up and carried her out the bathroom. Once in her room he navigated the boxes and set her down gently, careful not to poke her with the needle of the empty syringe. With a gentle kiss to her bruised forehead he left the room.
"Did she pass out again?" Naruto nodded to his mother dumping the syringe in the special waste bucket. "Maybe that's for the best." Kushina chewed on her thumb, eyeing the stairs.
Wake up, eat, meds, repeat. The first week was easy, all too quickly things were becoming boring. At least until lunch, Roze had avoided the cafeteria for many reasons. Temari wasn't a student anymore so she rarely had the time to eat lunch between the couple classes she had for the university, assisting in the art room, and painting the new mural in the teacher's lounge. Naurto had his own friends now and she could depend on him forever, she already had to lean on him too much. Other than those two everyone else was… basic, simple. It was far too difficult to communicate in larger groups and everyone already had an established friend group being the middle of the year.
Roze stood overlooking the cafeteria with her tray in hand. With a deep sigh she aimed for an empty table on the far side of the room, that is until she was staring down at her tray lying on the floor. "Oops" Ino giggled. Annoyed Roze quirked her eyebrow. Lunch at her old school was pretty groddy to say the least, she had been looking forward to today's meal. Sighing Roze looked back up, looking into the glinting blue eyes of the blonde-haired girl set her off, the next moment Ino was sprawled on the ground and Roze's fist hurt. The roar of the cafeteria died to a low murmur as all eyes fell on them. Sakura and Ami knelt, checking on Ino. In a huff Roze turned on her heels and stomped out the double doors.
Finding herself out in the courtyard she chose a bench tucked away under a tree. Looking at her ratty converse she studied the faded smiles drawn a year ago on the toes of her shoes. The sound of footsteps grew louder the longer she sat until a pair of sneakers came into view. She glanced up to see the raven-haired boy that sat next to her in homeroom. Sasuke maybe?
She made a face searching for her notebook and a pen. "May I sit here?" Roze froze watching the boy's hands sign. She nodded, hesitantly. He placed a bright green apple on her knee and leaned back. "I'm Sasuke." He spoke aloud, his voice deep. Warm. "I'm Roze. Why are you out here?" Roze glared into coal black eyes. Giving a shrug he sipped on his ice coffee.
He stayed quietly by her at lunch. It became an everyday thing for about a week. "Soccer starts next week so I won't be around during lunch." Roze nodded chewing on her protein bar. "My brother is doing soccer as well, so I'll probably be around for after school practices since he drives." Roze frowned at the half-eaten protein bar and held it out to Sasuke who took it. "Why do you get these if you only eat half of them?" Roze shrugged leaning back on the palms of her hands and staring at the sky.
There was a loud crash followed by the sound of a throat being cleared. Ami stood in front of the them, hands on her hips. "Can I help you?" Roze signed to which Sasuke said "Ami what do you want?" Ami's jaw dropped for a fraction of a second before snapping shut. "You kinda stopped eating lunch with me, or even texting back for crying out loud. What the hell Sasuke?" She looked distraught but not exactly broken up by this. Roze rolled her eyes wishing she didn't have to witness a lovers spat. Sasuke seemed to feel indifferent about the situation, if anything he seemed slightly irritated. "Sasuke. Don't make me go tell my daddy. If you don't come with me right this instant who knows what might happen to that little freak friend of yours. She already decked my friend, so I have plenty excuse to already do something about her." Roze looked stunned. Did this brat just threaten her? Her expression turned to a glare as she sat up straight. Ami turned on her. "Watch it you freak. You have no power here." Roze was about to stand but Sasuke stood first, putting a hand on her shoulder. "Fine Ami. Chill. Soccer practice starts next week anyway." He shoved his hands in his pockets nodding to Roze and following behind the bratty princess.
The school bell rang, and Naruto came running up to Roze. "Hey sis can you text mom or dad and tell them the soccer team is having a quick meeting, so we'll be a little late getting home." Roze nodded following behind Naruto as he sped walk, taking them to the one building on this campus she hadn't been to yet.
On the way she saw the cheerleading squad practicing, unsurprising the princess and her lackies were there. Ami was chatting and hanging all over Sasuke. As Naruto and Roze passed Sasuke looked up catching her eye. "Later Ami. Soccer meeting."
Sasuke fell in step on Roze's other side as Ami screeched behind them. "Sup. You must be her brother Naruto." Naruto eyed Sasuke suspiciously, putting a protective arm around Roze's shoulders. "Yeah. And you're dangerous." The two boys held each other in a long glare. "What do you mean by dangerous?"
"Roze stay away from him." Roze pushed off her brother's hand and stepped away from the two boys. "No. I'll talk to whoever I want." Naruto looked stunned for a moment. Regaining his senses, he glared at the boy beside him. "Quit slacking boys! If you're late it's fifty laps around the school campus." Coach Gai hollered as he was doing hand stand push ups. Naruto hurried quickly over to the group of other boys. Sasuke looked at Roze who fell in step beside him strolling up to the group. "New toy Sasuke?" An extremely pale guy with dark hair smiled at her. His smile gave her the creeps. She side stepped closer to Naruto who glared. "Back off my sister."
"Oh I didn't know they were letting girls on the boys soccer team."
"She's not joining the team. We share a car." The boy tilted his head. "I meant you." Naruto's jaw dropped as Kiba, Shikamaru, and a couple of others laughed. Naruto started for the boy when Coach Gai stepped between them. "This should be settled in a youthful manner! One on one soccer match." Roze sighed. She had a feeling this quick meeting was going to turn a bit long. To her dismay the cheer squad wrapped up practice and the three bitches made their way over. "Is the blondie making trouble for you Coach?" Ami sweetly chimed in, giving Gai puppy eyes. "Not at all! So youthful. Why wait until next week to start practice?" Gair beamed watching the match between Naruto and the boy, who according to Sasuke was named Sai and was Ino's boyfriend.
"I just want to head back home." Roze looked at Sasuke, her eyebrows scrunched. He cocked his head, reaching out to feel her forehead. "Are you okay?" Roze scratched at her arm nodding then regretting nodding. She closed her eyes taking deep breaths. "Sasuke. Why are you with this freak again?" Ami's voice grated on her ears. With Naruto still playing against Sai she had no one else to turn to, with a frustrated sighed she deliberately tried calming her breaths.
"Coach Gai can the rest of the team leave?" Gai was in deep thought, watching the way Naruto handled the ball expertly dancing around Sai's attempt for the ball. "There's lots to learn from watching a practice match."
"Sir, I think you should put the match on hold and get Naruto over to his sister." Sasuke spoke with the slightest hint of urgency. "Ew! What the fuck is her problem? She's bleeding." Everyone turned to Roze. She stared straight ahead, controlling her breathing but her eyes had turned dark and her hand absentmindedly scratched at her arm. Little pricks of blood showing. "Roze!" Naruto ran over catching sight of his sister. "Hey hey. Can you hear me? You have to tell me exactly what it is." Naruto held Roze's shoulders firmly. When she didn't respond he pulled out his phone and called their mom.
Ami laughed turning to the girls "Maybe she's like some mental patient or something." Ami cackled. Sasuke knelt by Naruto. "Hey mom! Emergency. Roze is unresponsive. I'm unsure of which medication she needs or if she needs to go to the hospital…" Naruto listen to his mother, nodding. Roze was still sitting, Sasuke had grabbed her hand, stopping her from scratching even deeper into her arm. "Okay so the purple pills with the seven on them? And if she isn't better in thirty minutes hospital. Got it. I'm sorry mom." Naruto motioned for Sasuke to grab Roze's backpack.
"Sasuke, let's get going. Coach said your practice was over. Leave the freak to her own devices." Ami whined as she pulled on his arm. The others had already dispersed and Gai could be seen in the distance approaching with the nurse. "Ami. Just leave." Ami stomped throwing Roze's backpack out of his hands. Naruto snapped his phone shut. "Both of you get the fuck away from her, if you're not going to help fuck off." Naurto retrieved her backpack, digging and finding the purple pill just as the nurse arrived with water and a vitamin drink. Coach, the nurse, and Naruto settled her on the bench so that she was propped against Naruto.
Sasuke watched on as Ami continued to berate him. It was strange, he didn't know what to do. "Are you listening." Ami yelled snatching Sasuke's collar. Sasuke glared down at her ice blue eyes and shoved her off him.
A guy in a suit approached from the front gates across the field. "Sasuke sir. Your father requests your presence." Ami smirked, hands on her hips. "Lady Ami. If you could come as well."
Sasuke watched Roze's eyes clear. Sighing he shoved his hands in his pockets and followed behind the guy in the suit while Ami skipped along beside him.