I stalked to P.E. rather forlornly, dragging my feet, the heels clicking on the linoleum floor rhythmically. Tiredly, I ran my blue eyes over the backs of Sakura, Hinata, and Tenten as they chatted animatedly, the initial shock of me sleeping with Sabaku no Temari's boyfriend apparently wearing off. You see, after Sakura's announcement that Nara Shikamaru was my last fuck-buddy, I began to feel the rue of making such a ridiculous decision; I should have gone to romp with that pretty, pale-skinned, black haired guy, or rather "the Sasuke-Look-Alike," (if I couldn't have the real one, I'd settle for the next best thing!) But the way Nara's intoxicated, obviously drunk off his ass, gaze met my own hazy glance; I felt a shudder wrack my delirious and wobbly body. It was a delicious feeling and I had felt the heat gather in between my legs.

Sighing wistfully, my hair swished over my shoulder as I slumped even further, my posture mirroring my current attitude. It was hopeless, I thought. That sensation I received when I stared into those deep chestnut eyes would never return because Nara Shikamaru was dating Sabaku no Temari! It was a mistake. A major one, on my part. And to think it had to be Temari's boyfriend, of all people.

Temari had always been the Queen Bee of the Senior Committee, seeing as how she was a year older than our gang, excluding Tenten, Lee, and Neji. I came second in popularity only to her. For whatever the reason, she has always hated me; not Hinata, not Tenten, not Sakura. Me. Well, then again, none of the other three girls stuffed the ballot box full of little Watanabe Ami's for Pretty Princess in the city-wide Valentine's dance. Of course, I couldn't put my own name within the ballot—that would be highly suspicious. So, I settled for the resident whore of our grade and scrawled said name on little tabs and shoved them inside the small slot. My explanation and reasoning as to why I did this? Temari had beaten me in the campaign for Council President (given I never was around to help out the school.)

Unfortunately, Ami somehow found out I stuffed the box to let her win and went to hug me after the dance, right in front of Temari. And then kinda, stupidly sputtered out "thank you's" and "cheating was definitely in your blood's." And that kind, sorta made Sabaku upset that she became runner-up because of me. And then she kinda, sorta started chasing after me. And I don't think I have ever ran that fast since then.

As I reached the P.E. locker room to dress out, I shook my head, following my friends as they walked through the door. Sullenly, I realized: if Temari ever found out that I slept with her boyfriend…

My eyes rolled into the back of my head, the urgency to drop out of class at that very instant very tempting.

. . . .

I stepped out onto the field, eyes scanning the grounds for our usual gang. Our P.E. class combined two different years and my friends and I managed to snag this period for all of us. Soon enough, though, I spotted Naruto, Sasuke, Lee, Neji, Kiba, Shino, and Chouji. It was rather easy to find them too, considering Naruto and Kiba were screaming at each other for only-god-knows-why reasons and Sasuke and Neji were glaring at them, radiating death waves, obviously irritated. Lee was clapping his hands and spouting how youthful it was to argue and Shino and Chouji were just standing there, acting like there wasn't a pair of retards beating the shit out of each other right next to them.

Sakura giggled with Tenten as Hinata blushed, staring at Naruto. I rolled my eyes, grabbing Sakura's hand, who then grabbed Tenten's hand, who then grabbed Hinata's hand, and led them over to the boys.

We maneuvered our way through the other physical educators and students and met up with the guys and when we did, Sakura and I were ready. Simultaneously, we bonked each boy, Naruto and Kiba, on the head, respectively. Naruto yelped, gripping his bump carefully, before turning and giving Sakura puppy-dog eyes.

"Sakura-chan…that hurt."

She smirked, "Good."

He pouted.

Hinata spoke, "Um…Naruto-kun, what were you and Kiba-kun arguing about?" She twiddled her thumbs for an added effect on the cute-ness meter, but I don't think it was intentional.

Sasuke snorted, slinging an arm around Sakura's waist when Kiba began to ogle her legs, but who could blame him? Our P.E. uniforms were white tank tops sporting green jackets and black underwear things. Although the young men received a much more modest clothing apparel—black sweat pants instead, which, might I add, made Sasuke and Neji look rather fabulous, even more so, actually.

"These two," Sasuke spoke, his lips moving smoothly, "were just acting like the idiots they are. Nothing more, nothing less."

It was vague, the message Sasuke said. And I really wanted to be let in on the secret.

Next to him, Sakura hummed in agreement, nodding her head, "Really." She opened her mouth to say something more, but quickly stopped short.

Neji's eyebrow rose. "You want to ask something, Haruno?"

SEE? What did I tell you about his eagle-eye?! Wasn't it spot-on? The all seeing Neji Hyuuga!

Sakura shifted her weight, placing her right hand atop Sasuke's, which was situated perfectly on her slim waist, his long arm wrapped around her torso. Sasuke glanced down at her, his own eyebrow raising.

"Um…um…"

Tenten grunted, waving her hand in the air, "Spit it out, Sakura-chan!"

Sasuke pulled Sakura closer to him, so close that her hips were pressed firmly against his thighs, as he sent the brunette female a mild glare for yelling at his girlfriend. Tenten shrugged, clucking her tongue.

I watched Sakura as she moved her lips again; ready to give her notion, her reason, her idea. I watched as Sasuke supported her and held her and protected her as though her given statement would send her tumbling. I felt a wet substance gather around the corner of my eyes…and I couldn't believe myself. I was crying. At the time, I didn't know the reason why. Perhaps, I thought, I was jealous of Sakura, my best friend? Because she had a real family and a real boyfriend and she was loved. I didn't and I wasn't. And it hurt. But I brushed my tears away and turned to listen to Sakura.

"Sasuke-kun, or Naruto, or Neji, or Kiba—"

Kiba purred, "Anything for you, babe."

I don't know why Kiba does it. He knows Sasuke is going to beat the shit outta him. He does it anyway.

Hit on Sakura, that is.

A foot planted itself on Kiba's face, crushing the Inuzuka's perverted grin and flattening his nose.

A muffled groan slipped past Kiba's lips, falling to his knees and reaching up to grip Sasuke's clothed calf, attempting to drive the Uchiha's shoe-clad foot off his face. Tenten pointed and laughed at Kiba's expense while Naruto mocked the mutt, wagging his finger back and forth in a daunting manner. I grew impatient, my former anger and depression momentarily appearing (and it wasn't even that time of the month!)

"Oi, Sakura! Care to share with the class?"

She stuck her tongue out at me before looking up to stare into Sasuke's deep, onyx eyes. "I don't know; is Sasuke-kun ready to remove his foot from Kiba's face?"

Uchiha grunted, steadying his left leg (the one that wasn't on Kiba) before pushing forward on his right foot, sending Kiba onto his back, a large, red shoe imprint sketched onto his squashed visage. His crumpled form lay forgotten as the gang turned back to Sakura, awaiting her question.

She wet her mouth, her pink tongue peeking out and brushing against her upper lip. Sasuke watched the movement intently and my mind remembered the question I had asked the Uchiha in Sakura's home.

How happy are you with Sakura?

Very happy.

I had doubted his reply, his deliberate pause only caused due to the uncomfortable atmosphere I had so kindly provided. Sasuke was never one to express his feelings and I'd bet money he rarely produces an "I love you," to Sakura (although he probably delivers when need be), so I had no idea why I was so worried when he was hesitant to respond. But now, as I looked upon his face, his eyes, the almost insignificant and paltry curl of his lips, I knew it. Uchiha Sasuke was madly, deeply in love with Haruno Sakura.

I smiled, my other former emotion subsiding into a dark place in my forlorn heart, where jealously, envy, and spite resided.

Sakura continued, "I was wondering, more on Ino's behalf," she glanced at me, grinning painfully, "have you guys met the new guy, Nara Shikamaru?"

I snorted and rolled my eyes. "Sakura…"

Tenten cut me off, "Yamanaka, shut it. This may very well be your fate."

I scoffed; Tenten was stalking Neji way too often. Fate? Destiny? All of it was a load of bull.

Sakura nodded as Hinata craned her neck to stare at Naruto and her cousin, who were obviously deep in thought (which was a surprise for the former, considering he's a fucking moron.)

Shino spoke this time, a rare opportunity to hear his deep voice, "I have seen him. Sabaku no Temari's boyfriend, I believe. He just transferred from Suna where Temari and her brothers used to attend."

I groaned inwardly. Was I to be reminded of that fact everywhere I went? Nara Shikamaru is Temari's boyfriend. Ugh.

Naruto pursed his lips, making himself look even more like a monkey, "Why do you want to know, Sakura-chan?"

Kiba shot up at the mention of Sakura's name, "Are you breaking up with the Uchiha-asshole?"

Sakura gasped and copied her boyfriend's previous actions; although Sakura's methods were much more tactless and excruciating on Kiba's part. She wound her right leg back and kicked him straight through the side of his neck, near his ear. A perfect round-house kick. I guess those karate lessons that Sasuke, Naruto, and her took really paid off. She pouted after, mumbling, "Never."

Sasuke whistled low, smirking, "Nice try, Inuzuka."

Sakura beamed, before answering Naruto, "Well, I was just wondering because he's my new neighbor, you know?"

Sasuke's eyebrow arched, "I don't remember any new neighbors."

I nearly laughed out loud. Like Sasuke took notice of FOR SALE signs when he was about to get busy with Sakura. All he thought about was being inside of her or some shit of the same sort.

Sakura giggled, patting Sasuke on the chest, probably thinking the same exact thing I was; who notices trivial objects such as that when you're about to get laid?

Our conversation would have continued, but our period began rather loudly. Or, per se, our teacher spouted his usual youthful knowledge.

Maito Gai pranced through the backdoors where the field was located, screeching, "YOUTHFUL STUDENTS, PLEASE JOIN ME IN OUR MORNING AEROBICS."

I sighed as Lee ran up to the front of the class, performing jumping jacks and sit-ups and crunches and push-ups and everything in between.

Doggedly, I faked the movements as lazily as I could, instead watching some of the hot guys in my class compete with each other. They compared their masculinity by how hot their girlfriend was, how toned their bodies and muscles were, what their placement in their sports classes were, or how well they perceived the retarded P.E. work-outs. It made most of the females in our class happy though, myself included.

Most of the girls in our period were Sasuke and Neji fans and that pissed Sakura and Tenten off quite a bit. At the beginning of the year in our first year at Konoha High, Sakura had to beat Sasuke's fangirls off with a stick. Good times, good times.

Greedily, I observed the small beads of sweat run down Sasuke's forehead as he braced his arms and pushed his chest down to touch the ground. Caustically, I rolled my eyes. He was Sakura's boyfriend.

Being the good friend I was, I curved my eyes away from the Uchiha and spotted a boy leaning in front of me, tight calves and pretty strong by the looks of it; he pushed back and forth, completing five push-ups perfectly in a span of seconds. I could barely finish one of those when I was trying (which was hardly ever, mind you.) I settled for watching him, licking my lips unconsciously when I saw his muscles ripple (his sweats had ridden up to mid-calf, can you blame me?).

Alas, as luck would have it, when he turned over to commence the sit-ups, I saw that same spiky up-do and those charming brown eyes. I screamed. Loudly.

Shikamaru sat up with a jolt as I hollered and scooted further away. As my wails came to an abrupt stop, I saw Gai staring at me and I could have sworn I saw those caterpillar eyebrows wriggle. And, of course, I faced the class. Their eyes doing a poor job concealing their amusement and confusion.

Sakura had this expression on her face that I fail to describe. A cross between mortified and bamboozled etched into her emerald irises and her left eyebrow plummeted, scrunching, while her right one shot up. I face-palmed.

"Yamanaka-san, please, tell us, why were you screaming just moments ago?" Maito Gai boomed, his teeth sparkling. I bit my lip, trying to think up an excuse on the spot. Only for the try to come in vain.

"I saw…uh…a spider?" I finished lamely.

Silence engulfed the class before Naruto broke it, laughing raucously, standing up and pointing at me. I flushed.

Soon the whole class began chortling, excluding all the gang (excluding Naruto and Kiba!).

Shikamaru was looking at me, his eyes scanning over my own, analyzing me features. I gulped. What if he recognized me?

Thankfully, Gai cut in.

"If a spider managed to make you scream that youthfully, it makes me wonder how big it was."

This time, I began snorting and giggling. That was too much. That had to be the best innuendo I had ever heard. Even if the teacher wasn't completely aware of what he said, but he wasn't alone.

I glanced over at Sakura. She looked the same; perplexed. I shook my head slightly. My friend has probably had sex a bazillion times, yet she was still oblivious to a statement that obvious? She needed some help.

Maito Gai clapped his hands, "Thanks to Yamanaka-san, your morning aerobics shall be cut short,"

(Lee groaned, "GAI-SENSEI, NO!")

"And we shall begin our activity classes. Join your teams, please, youthful fledglings."

Swiftly, I darted out of Nara's sight and hopped onto Tenten's back as she dragged us over to our usual group. Deftly, Sakura picked a soccer ball out of the bin and began to juggle it with her feet, achieving a small smile from Sasuke (I'm guessing he taught her how to do that).

"Guys," I whispered.

Everyone turned towards me.

"Nara made me scream." I continued, trying to finish my coherent thoughts.

Tenten smirked, "We already know that, Ino-chan." She winked slyly.

I blushed furiously, "That is NOT what I meant."

Hinata blinked, her eyes conveying her understanding, "You mean, the spider incident?"

I nodded.

Neji rolled his shoulders, "What are you saying, Yamanaka? Is he invading your thoughts now?"

I blanched, "No, but he's invading my life."

And I shouldn't have said that. Really. Because at that instant, Gai-sensei galloped over to us, gripping a pine-apple boy by the shoulder.

He began, "Youthful students of Rookie Nine, please accept this young man as part of your group. He just transferred into this youthful school of youthful-ness and is in need of some helpful friends to guide him into the light of youth."

I scratched my head. I never understood what the fuck Gai ever said.

The boy's lips thinned, "Nara Shikamaru."

I flailed visibly as Maito Gai-sensei ran away, blowing on his whistle and doing whatever it was he needed to do.

Shikamaru gave me a look, "What's wrong with you?"

I stuttered, "Another…spider? You know. I think one just crawled on me." Which was partly true considering it felt like a million bugs were wiggling against my skin at the moment. Now I know how Shino felt.

He grunted, "Troublesome woman."

I gasped audibly as he walked away, heading towards the guys (Naruto, Neji, Kiba, Sasuke, Shino, Chouji, and Lee) while Sakura came over and grabbed my arm.

"What the fuck was that? Did you just flail?"

Tenten bombarded more questions, "Has he found out you were the one who raped him last night? Did he enjoy it? Did he break up with Temari?"

Hinata just twiddled her thumbs.

I groaned.

This day was not going the way I hoped.

And I don't think any of my other days were looking too good, either.

So long as Nara Shikamaru roamed the halls of Konohagakure High School, I had a feeling the rest of the year was going to be one hell of a roller-coaster ride.

Just what I needed.

I knew I should have dropped out of class today.

. . . .

Um, yeah, sorry for the delayed chapter. But finals and ODP soccer clogged my imagination arteries. Heehee.

I'll be on college break soon, so I should be able to update. I hope.

THANKS FOR THE REVIEWS, BTW. :DDD

--Atsune 3