The Music class – the most important class of all for my story. Never been musically talented but oh well, life's life. I am one of the many that's tried to start playing the guitar but gave up when I realised I couldn't be bothered. But I don't mind not being musically talented – lets just hope people think I'm literacy talented or whatever.

Hope you enjoy my story, part 2! Other parts to come up soon!

Chapter 2

Neither Neji nor Shino took music so Naruto was safe at least. He also had the added bonus of Sasuke being in his class. He was starting to make a friend out of him. It was nice, to at least make another friend even if he wished it was more.

He entered the class on time to see Sasuke was already there, surrounded by girls, Ino was there as well – a vivacious blonde girl who could turn vicious in an instant to Naruto when Neji and Shino were around. He was fine with Ino; he could happily call her a stuck up dumb blonde bitch to her face. She was doing it to get the attention of Neji and Shino so they will introduce her to Sasuke properly. Sasuke seemed to ignore the girls that flaunted themselves at him. It was obvious he really disliked the girls there.

Kurenai-sensei came in. She was their music teacher. She was very friendly towards Naruto, which Naruto liked as finally, there was one teacher who didn't hate him for no reason like Iruka-sensei.

"Okay class. I will start by saying that your performance exam is coming up in a month. You will all be performing a few songs already known or some songs you have made up yourself to the entire year. I will be pairing you up and seeing how well you work together, I will show you to an empty classroom or area where you can practise and then you will come back here so I can explain the written coursework that goes with this".

Naruto looked around the class. He couldn't see who he would be paired with but he prayed to God it was not Ino.

"Well, let's see, Ino you can be paired with Elisa. Tenten, you can go with Ryo. Naruto can go with…err…Sasuke. Temari, you can go with…"

Naruto was shocked. He was going to be paired with Sasuke. At least now he had an excuse to talk to him. This wasn't turning out to be that bad of a day. He was paired with his secret crush!

Sasuke looked at Naruto who looked kind of blank. He walked over.

"Hey, what do you play?"

"I don't play. I sing".

"Well, this will be interesting".

Naruto's eyes followed the raven as he walked to Kurenai. "Where are we playing?"

"Oh, well, I see you already know each other so you will go to the empty elliot block opposite this classroom. She pointed out of the window and they saw the tiny classroom.

"Come on then, we need to go". Sasuke smirked, picking up his guitar case and putting it on his shoulder.

"Shut up, I'm coming". Naruto returned the smirk.

Kurenai waved the two boys giving them a few last warnings. They walked slowly to the building. They opened up and saw that the once tidy classroom was now a store room for chairs.

Sasuke turned to Naruto. "Got anything in mind? Just to test?" he unzipped his case and took out a shiny black electric guitar with silver attachments. It was beautiful.

"Nothing springs to mind. It has to be something you know how to play and I know the words".

"Do you know Three Days Grace?"

"Do I? They're my favourite band!"

"Well, which one do you think we should sing?"

"Do you know 'Get out Alive'?"

"Yeah, do you want to try that one?"

"Yeah let's have a go".

Sasuke started the introduction. Even though they didn't have the drums, Naruto still knew where the words went.

"No time for goodbye,

He said as he faded away.

Don't put your life in, someone's hands;

They're bound to steal it away.

Don't hide your mistakes

Coz they'll find you

Burn you and then he said".

Naruto continued the words and they finished the song with no mistakes.

"Wow, you're good", Naruto said.

"Thanks. You don't sound half-bad yourself".

"Well, do you want to do another or do you think Kurenai-sensei wants us back?"

"Well, you sound good together you too, so I think you should work together", Kurenai said from the door. "I didn't want to disturb you whilst you were in the middle of the song. Well, you have a drums issue then? Not to worry, you can play a tape with the drums on, or find someone who is willing to help you with the drums". Kurenai smiled. They did sound pretty good, even if it wasn't her kind of music.

"Come on, back to the classroom and I can explain the written side".

They followed her back, talking about what other bands they seemed to like. Naruto realised they had a similar music taste. Naruto hummed the song they played in his head as he listened to Kurenai explain the rest of the coursework.

"Right, you will be playing a minimum of two songs and a maximum of five. You need to write music sheets for these and if you are borrowing music from someone else, you have to write a biography on them. Find facts about their inspirations, about the band themselves and if you are doing multiple bands then you have to do one for each. If you write your own songs then you don't have to but you have to write about your own inspirations and I want in all of your notes of how you came up with the songs. However, focus more on your performance now as the written side doesn't have to be in until after the performance. I will give you a date some time after the performance".

Kurenai paused as she heard the class groan.

"You will also be competing against each other and the audience is to choose who they thought was the best by votes. If you win, you are entered in to another contest against all the schools in the area and if you are lucky to win that, against all the other parts of the country. To make this fair, you will see the audience but the audience won't see you. They will see you but you will be completely blacked out by the lighting so no one knows who you are. Also, if you tell anyone what you are going to do, you are disqualified. Right, here's your homework, see you next lesson. Naruto I want to speak to you. Quickly. The rest of you can go".

Naruto remained in his seat and waited for everyone to leave. Kurenai approached and he already knew what it was about before she said anything.

"About your bullying problems… I have suspended the two boys so they won't bug you for a while. When they come back though, we are going to have some serious discussions, okay?"

"Yes sensei".

Naruto left the classroom and walked to his locker to collect the rest of his stuff. He felt happy – something good had happened to him for once. He walked out of the student back entrance when he felt a sharp pain on the side of his head. He staggered over and put his hand on his head. He turned to the side to see Neji and Shino looking very menacing.

"You got us suspended!" Shino yelled.

"I…I didn't do anything", Naruto protested, hint of fear evident in his voice, "I didn't ask you to bully me and get caught. You two are the idiots!" as soon as Naruto had said it, he regretted it.

Shino and Neji looked at each other. Neji grabbed Naruto by his hair and Shino punched him in the stomach. Naruto gasped and Shino punched him again. Neji wrenched Naruto up as he doubled over in pain so Shino could punch him again. Shino then grabbed Naruto's hair so Neji could inflict pain on Naruto. After five minutes of beating Naruto up, they pushed him to the floor. Both of them sat down either side Naruto who was sprawled on the floor, trying to move.

"We heard you were put in a group with Sasuke and he didn't reject you. So what are you doing?"

Naruto coughed in response.

"Oi! We're talking to you here", Shino grabbed Naruto's hair and lifted his head up. "Answer!"

"W-we're d-doing a, a music p-project", he coughed.

"On what?"

"W-we've not d-decided yet".

"You mean Sasuke hasn't decided yet. Remember your nothing Uzumaki and he's the most popular person in this school. You have no parents, no friends and a guardian that hates your guts. Even the care home didn't want you".

Naruto couldn't take their psychological torture. He knew they were right. He was nothing, worth nothing, no one wanted him.

"Hey, Shino, someone's coming! Grab him!"

Neji and Shino grabbed Naruto, picked him up and threw him in a nearby bush. They fled.

Naruto fell out of the bush and coughed. He spat some blood on the floor and tried to get up.

"Hey need a hand?"

Naruto looked up to see Sasuke offering his hand to Naruto, his other holding up his school and guitar bags.

"Th-thanks".

Sasuke grasped Naruto's hand and pulled him up. Naruto staggered and fell against him. Sasuke was so firm, he didn't even fall back.

"I-I-I'm okay. Sorry".

"You have a tough time don't you? You sure you're okay?" he looked from Naruto's hand to the way he was rubbing his stomach. He looked terrible. Sasuke helped picking up Naruto's belongings that were scattered around the small patch of grass. He handed them over and Naruto blushed slightly.

"Fine. Sorry. Hey you got any ideas on the project yet?" Naruto asked, taking his stuff from him and diverting the conversation away from himself.

"Three Days Grace project, definitely. We'll make good head way with it. Here this is my address and my mobile and home numbers, I want you to call me if something ever happens to you; ideas pop unexpectedly. Just do me a favour and don't tell anyone you have it. It's hard to take being here where everyone thinks I'm amazing".

"Would never know the feeling", Naruto said quietly. He didn't know if Sasuke heard him, "Hey! Here's mine. I don't have a mobile – you know, I'm poor, living with a guardian the care home picked out for me, no family, but I have a home phone. Don't ever phone during the day between ten and four. There's a slight chance my guardian will pick it up and you don't want her yelling at you, trust me".

"Okay then. Well, I'll see you tomorrow. We have music so… anyway, bye!" Sasuke walked off, turned and waved before walking to find his ride.

"Wow, the first time I have seen him this interactive with people and it's with me!" Naruto walked off happy again, forgetting about the fact Neji and Shino really hurt him earlier. He was too happy to care and was preparing to face his guardian back at the flat.

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