"And all that counts is here and now, my universe will never be the same, I'm glad you came..."
A groan came from under a pile of hot pink and black pattern blankets, a hand flopped around on one side of the bed looking for the source of the song. The cell phone stopped and a moment later there was a beep followed by a whistle. Great a voicemail and a text message, Sakura thought sleepy, who is bugging me on a Saturday morning? She was so warm and comfy; she didn't want to get up. "And all that counts is here and now, my universe will never be the same, I'm glad you came..." Sakura sat up on her elbows and glanced around, "Where in the...? Oh, why are by my feet?" She asked no one. Picking up the phone, she flipped it open and yawned, "Hey, what's going on?"
"Sakura! What are you up to?" Tenten chipped happily from the other end of the phone, "Are you busy? Let's have lunch!" Sakura rolled her eyes and flopped back on her bed, pulling the covers over her. She had befriended Tenten a couple of months after hanging out with Hinata. Hinata and Sakura hadn't been close, but when she found some kids picking on her in middle school she found herself sticking up for Hinata. When Tenten says "let's have lunch" it means you're going to have lunch and everyone else is going to be there too. "I was very busy, sleeping, like normal people do on Saturdays."
She pulled the covers back and climbed out of bed, half falling out. Glaring at the sheets tangled around her ankle she asked, "Where are we meeting?" She knew that if she tried to say no, and go back to sleep Tenten would have Neji drive her over here and just drag Sakura out of bed. Tenten laughed, "Neji wants to go to P.F. Chang's China Bistro, Lee wants to go to a burger joint." Sakura looked around for her laptop and found it on the right side if her bed on the floor, "Tell Lee to get over it, P.F. Chang sounds amazing right now."
Tenten laughed, "Hahaha, definitely an amazing breakfast, huh? Okay, we all meet up in an hour, do you need a ride?" Sakura glanced at the time, 12:15. She usually took the city buses everywhere or she walked if she was close enough. "No, I should be fine." Sakura sighed and walked to the bathroom down the hall, "Thanks Ten, I'll see you there."
"Anytime Sakura!" Tenten sure is happy today, Sakura thought as she basted music from her laptop, before starting her shower. Sakura stripped down and let the hot water wash all her thoughts down the drain; she scrubbed her favorite raspberry shampoo deftly into her pastel pink locks. Her hair was surprisingly naturally pink, and had been darkening little by little over the years. Sakura went through the motions of her morning routine, she let her mind wonder. Grabbing a towel she dried off before wrapping it around her, she took her tooth brush and headed down stairs while trying not to freeze to death. Sakura spat the toothpaste in the kitchen sink, rinsed the brush off and glanced at the open island. Her mom sat with her back to her laptop open, several documents scattered around her. She watched her mom for a moment while finishing brushing her teeth. Her mom was hunched over the laptop, typing that sounded more like hacking away at the keys, her dirty blond hair wasn't up like usual but cascading down her back, and she seemed tired.
"Morning mom." Sakura set the toothbrush down as she took the seat across from her. Her mom barely noticed, humming under her breath, which might have been a reply. She had her reading glasses on and she had a frown on her once happy face. Sakura sighed and left to get dressed after writing a note that she was going out and putting it on top of a document. After putting her toothbrush back and grabbing her laptop (still blaring music) she set about finding some decent clean clothes. For Sakura Saturday's were a day to sleep in and stay out all night, and Sunday's were for last minute homework, chores, and sometimes her job would call her in, but Sunday's were mostly her laundry day.
"I could have sworn I owned another pair of jeans…" Sakura grumbled, looking through her dresser. She pushed aside an old pair of slacks and found her only pair of dark jeans, "Ah-ha! Found you!" Sakura laughed at her childish self, before grabbing a bra, matching underwear and shimmied into them. She made her way to her closet, hmmm….options, what to pick? She settled on her dark gray-black cami with her blue-green scoop neck quarter sleeve shirt over that, and her favorite crimson hoddie zipped half way up. A whistle sounded from down the hall. Sakura had just pulled on her shoes, when she hurried up to check the time, 12:36 pm.
Sakura scowled at her reflection, as lightly did her make-up; though she never brother with eye shadow, blush, or lipstick. She stuck to light-handed foundation, eyeliner, and lip gloss. Sakura grabbed her cell phone, wallet, keys, earrings, and necklace with a sliver wing charm. Sakura rushed down the stairs, about halfway down she grabbed the railing and jumped the last seven steps, she stopped in the between the living room and the kitchen Sakura clasped her necklace around her neck and pushed her dangly earrings in standing indecisive. I should at least write a note, the thought was more of a habit, she wasn't sure her mom would notice it. Sakura stepped quietly in the big room; her mom had probably left while she was in the shower the island was clean besides a folded piece of paper.
"Have fun, I left you some money – mom" Sakura read aloud, she snorted, then opened the note, "Some money, huh?" She counted it, sixty bucks. Sakura threw the note away and ran out the door, shoving the money in her wallet. It took Sakura ten minutes to walk-jog to the nearest bus pick/drop off spot, another five minutes for the bus to get there. I think I'm running late, Sakura had found her black headphones in her hoddie pocket when she jogged down here, she pulled out her phone 12:49 pm.
Sakura sighed and texted Tenten as she climbed on to the bus, "I might be a few minutes late, the bus took forever." It was an easy exaggeration. Sakura rested her head against the window, it was a pretty day. She watched the people and buildings as the bus passed them by. The bus stopped at a light and Sakura noticed a guy on a black and red motorcycle; he had dark jeans, a black leather jacket that fit him really well, fingerless gloves and a full face helmet on. I wonder what he looks like Sakura thought idly; he's probably a cute college student. She glanced at the street sign, 15th street and Market, two more streets. The bus rolled up to the next stop, her stop, Sakura hurried off and glanced at the light. Red, good, Sakura glanced at the cars again to double check before walking across the road.
"All that matters is here and now, my universe will never be the same –" Sakura pulled her phone out, pulling out one of her ear buds, "Hey, yeah," She paused on the side walk, waiting to the light to turn red on the other side to get to the restaurant. "I'm literally like three minutes away."
Tenten laughed, "That's good. I was just calling to say I sent Hinata to the front so you wouldn't have to wonder around looking for where we sat." Sakura smiled as she hurried across the walk cross and to the second building on the blocks doors. "Sounds good." She hadn't been able to see Hinata much this past week, mostly on Monday, and Wednesday; though Wednesday didn't count. Sakura glanced behind her and stopped. The biker guy was standing on the other side of the road, helmet still on, watching her. Sakura laughed softly to herself that was a silly thought, he's probably just reading the sign above me. With that she hurried in and easily spotted Hinata.
"Hinata-Chan!" Sakura grinned, the shy girl smiled brightly. "You look good." Sakura appraised. Hinata wore light blue jeans, a cute off the shoulders soft pink shirt and brown boots.
Hinata blushed lightly, "Thanks Sakura-Chan…you look good too." She peeked out from under her banges. Sakura grinned, she and Tenten helped Hinata get over most of her stuttering in middle school. Now she only stuttered when she met someone new, intimidating, was put on the spot, was nervous or uncomfortable. "Everybody's waiting back here." As Sakura followed Hinata they made playful chit-chat, asking what the other had been up to, planning when to hang out next. Hinata made a joke about going shopping, which wasn't one of Sakura's favorite things at all, but Tenten was a different story. Sakura was surprised to see a blond haired girl next to Lee, but she smiled at everyone else.
They had pushed together two tables so everyone could sit together. Hinata slipped back in her seat between Shino, a quiet guy who usually spends his time outside and wears high collar shirts and sunglass, and Choji a kind hearted guy who loves to eat and is a little on the chubby side, but if anyone insult his weight his temper appears.
Sakura sat between Shikamaru and Tenten, "I'm surprised they were able to get you out of the house Shikamaru."
Shikamaru leaned back in his chair, and muttered under his breath, "My mom wouldn't stop bugging me about college…troublesome."
Neji snorted from the other side of Tenten, he wasn't much of a talker either but he used to have a really bad attitude. "Just tell her you want to make sure it's the right college and you're going to go look at some." He had long dark brown hair that he kept tied back, pale eyes that are unique to the Hyuuga family.
Shikamaru took a drink of his soda, and shook his head, "She'd want proof, like flyers or hand-outs."
Sakrua laughed, and then turned to Lee, who sat between Neji and a pretty blond girl. "Hey Lee who's your friend?"
Lee grinned like a crazy person, which is what Sakura thought he was when she first met him. Lee usually wore green, acted just like Might Gai the school gym teacher, and his black hair was cut in a bowl shape. "Sakura, this is Hiromi my girlfriend." He glanced at Hiromi, "This is Sakura, the one Tenten was telling you about."
Sakura shot Tenten a look that promised death, while the blond smiled, and offered a small wave, "Hi, it's nice to meet you."
"Same." Sakura smiled politely.
Shikamaru distracted Sakura and began to ask if she had anything that could get his mom off his back. While Sakura told Shikamaru that she did have several things he could have because she didn't need them anymore she let her eyes wonder over the table. Tomoko a pretty red head from Sakura's art class, who loved the color blue a little too much sat next to Sai who had short black hair and no expression they were deep in some kind of debate. Kazuhiro a loud mouth guy with silver-gray hair who met them all through Neji was telling Shuji a junior who was on the swimming team about some awesome party he went to the other day. Yuka and Yumi, twin sisters who both have green hair and dark amber eyes were talking about the basketball team with Ryota a blond haired green eyed sophomore who's older brother Nobuo played on as well as the football team.
The waiter broke their conversations and everyone ordered and began to talk about the upcoming holidays, what they wanted to and what they were going to get their families. Sakura glanced at Hinata, who was chewing thoughtfully on an appetizer. "Hinata, I wanted to tell you there's going to be a transfer student starting next week."
Hinata looked confused, "Okay, but why did you want to tell me that?"
Sakura paused, "Well, he looks pretty intimating and kind of scary, so I wanted to give you a heads up. He doesn't seem to like to talk; I think he's one of those guys who keeps to himself. But I wanted you to know in case you bump into him."
Hinata smiled and nodded, picking up her drink, "Thanks Sakura."
They spend two hours in the restaurant talking about everything they all had done, and who was doing what. Tenten wanted to throw a party during Christmas break and wanted to know every ones schedule so she could plan it on a day when they were all free. Sakura felt as if someone was watching her; she glanced around the restaurant but didn't see anyone she knew. Tenten complained about how college was so far away and she never got to see Sakura and Hinata as much. Sakura told Tenten that she and Hinata could stay the night the next Friday she was down here for so much needed girl time. Neji threw Sakura a grateful look before going back to his conversation with Kazuhiro. It took everyone twenty minutes to figure out who was paying for who and they all spilt up.
Sakura waved to Sai, Choji, Shino and Hinata. "Hey Sakura, you want a ride home?" Tenten asked, dragging Neji behind her who nodded to his friends with a roll of his eyes.
"No, I'll be fine." Sakura grinned at Neji.
"Well, alright then, take care." And just like that they were gone like the wind. Sakura laughed at poor Neji, before she decided to window shop before heading home. Maybe she'd make it home before ten today.
