II

The next day, Friday, Naruto immediately jumped out of bed. He was still in his blue pajamas, but soon enough changed into his usually attire. He quickly brushed his teeth and combed his hair the way he always had it. He swiped his backpack and rushed for the door. He wanted to get early to school, still trying to avoid the other kids. Even though he knew he was overdoing it a bit by leaving a whole two hours before school started, but he didn't mind. Again, he was the social outcast. But what he didn't expect was when he threw his door open, he found Sakura about a foot from him. He almost jumped back in fright, since he didn't expect anyone to be standing right in front of his apartment. Sakura was also wearing her usual fashion. She was holding a strap of the pink backpack she was holding on her back.

"Uh, hi, wh-what are you doing here?" he asked, startled.

"Sorry to bother you, but I just wanted to ask if... well, I thought we could walk to school together," Sakura suggested, a smile smile appearing on her face, then disappearing.

"Um, sure. But, you do realize it's like five-in-the-morning, right?"

"Oh, I know, I wake up then too, because, well... Will you promise not to tell anyone?"

"Uh, yeah, but what is it?"

"It's... my dad. He's really strict and treats me like I'm five or something," she started as they walked. "Without him, my mom and I would be living on the streets. She could hardly afford to put food on the table a long time ago. But, then my dad came into the picture. He was nice before, but now... It's just, if I get out of line... Well..."

"Go on!" Naruto edged.

"Oh, never mind, it's stupid. Let's talk about something else," Sakura retorted, but she held a sad look on her face.

"Okay... Like what, exactly?"

"Um, I don't know... Anything, really..."

"Okay then, what do you want to talk about?"

After that, Sakura went on about what she thought about the school and the other popular girls. She had said that she didn't really like them, and even commented that a few of them were noticeably ugly. She also said that she didn't like Sasuke Uchiha much either. This made Naruto's heart fill with bountiful hope. If she didn't like Sasuke after all, then maybe he'd have a chance of winning over her heart. At least, unless she didn't like anyone else. He had to ask.

"Sakura... Is there, by any chance, anyone you like?" Naruto asked anxiously.

"I'm not sure," Sakura giggled. "It's only been two days since school started, Naruto! And you're already paranoid about people falling in love with one another! What? Is there someone you like?"

She was oblivious.

"Uh, no, Sakura, no, I just wanted to ask," Naruto replied. At least he was safe.

"Alright then."

The two had gotten to school together, away from the popular girls and other possible threats of seeing the two together. Naruto thought it was kind of like Romeo and Juliet. Only , this Juliet didn't love him, and no one was fighting. So, he knew it wasn't a very good comparison.

"Well, I've got to go now, Naruto. I hope we get to talk again later!" Sakura concluded and ran off into the school with her pink backpack trailing behind her.

"Yeah, I hope so too," he whispered as Sakura had just entered through the doorway. But that's when someone came and snuck up behind him. Naruto jumped back, frightened, but then stood firm, seeing it was Ino, the pig-faced popular girl who was said to be their "leader". Yeah right, she'd never make a good leader in her life.

"I see you were talking to Sakura..." she muttered coldly.

Naruto then stood proud, and folded his arms. He wasn't afraid of Ino. "Yes. Yes, I was talking to Sakura."

"If you know what's good for you, you won't even speak to her again!" Ino threatened. This only made Naruto laugh. "What's so funny?" she asked.

"You? Threatening me?" He laughed again. "Look, I don't think you get it Ino, but, you couldn't beat me up even in-"

"My dreams?" she interrupted. "Actually, that's not what I meant. And I can, in my dreams. I didn't even mean beating you up anyway. Ha! What a stupid thing! No, I meant, you'll be dead!"

"Death?! You wouldn't kill me! That's against the law!"

"Ha! The law-my-ass! I am the law around here! Sakura will be one of us, and then, you won't have her clinging onto you anymore!"

"You'd go that low to have one girl on your side! Wow, you all must really think you're extremely ugly!" Naruto retorted. "And that's definitely true..." he muttered under his breath.

"No, on second thought, death wouldn't be any fun! For every time you talk to her, we'll ruin you, Naruto! Got that? We'll make so she hates you so much, that... Well, just don't talk to her again!"

"Tch, whatever! I didn't understand a word you said anyway! I'm still gonna talk to her!" Naruto replied and ran through the same door Sakura had gone through.

It was now lunch period once again. Naruto sat in his usual corner, still not touching his food. But oddly, he couldn't find Sakura today. What was going on? She always sat in her regular place with Ino, but today, she wasn't. She couldn't have been absent, since he was just talking to her this morning! Something must've been wrong. But right when he shot from his seat to look around, he heard the clatter of a tray in front of him. Naruto sat down to face the tray, but he then looked up to find Sakura sitting with him. But, why would she do that and not sit with her "friends"? Sakura wasn't looking at him though, but she was starring at her food instead.

"Sakura?" he asked.

"She didn't answer him. Something didn't feel right. She was always talking to him when she got the chance. This must be Ino's doing, he thought.

"Sakura, are you okay?" he asked again. "What are you doing here?"

Sakura still didn't face him, but spoke nonetheless. "I can sit wherever I like. I don't need your permission."

Naruto could tell she was starting to get hostile.

"Sakura? Did Ino say anything to you? If she did then-"

"No, dammit! She didn't say a single goddamn word to me, okay?!" Sakura yelled at Naruto, now facing him. After a moment of silence, Sakura calmed down and faced her food again. Naruto looked over at Ino from far away and could see, with the sly smirk printed on her face, that this was definitely her fault. Sakura brushed her back once with her hand and continued eating.

Naruto decided he shouldn't talk anymore. Was popularity more important to her than he own true friend? Naruto guessed so and finally started eating his food too.

Lunch period ended and Naruto headed out first, as usual. He couldn't believe Sakura was acting like this. This wasn't her. He knew it to be true. But, he had to find out what Ino had said to her to make Sakura so upset.

As he fiddled with his locker combination, he heard a soft voice call his name, "Naruto?" It was Sakura.

"Oh, now you're fine..." Naruto muttered, not facing her, like she had done with him.

"Naruto, please, I need to talk to you," she muttered, holding her books to her chest.

Naruto glanced over to her, "You didn't seem to need to talk to me..."

"Naruto, please!"

"Fine, dammit, what is it?!" Naruto replied, facing her. Sakura grabbed Naruto's arm and brought him around the corner into the janitor's closet.

"I'm sorry about what I said to you. Ino said that... If I talked to you... She'd get my dad and then... Look, Ino's putting us against each other. We can't fall into her hands. We need to rebel-"

"You mean like talk to each other in public?" Naruto replied with a serious tone to his voice.

"Exactly, Naruto."

This is what Naruto had feared. It'll make it look like they were in a girlfriend/boyfriend relationship, and Naruto didn't want anyone telling Sakura that he was in love with her. But something in the pit of his stomach wanted him to agree. "Fine then," he agreed. "We'll talk in public then."

Sakura smiled softly.