A/N: Hi guys! Hope you like this chapter!
Just have something to say (other than the disclaimer that is): I hope you guys who had problems with Sakura being too shallow and unbelievable and 1D last chapter will keep in mind that that was her first chapter, and I didn't have the space to make her character very 3D in one chapter where she isn't even exactly important.
Sorry if I sound really angry, but I would have liked some time to develop her properly. I mean, it was the first chapter and all, and straightaway I get someone complaining that she's unbelievable? And I ask her how to make Sakura more believable, and she doesn't answer (I'm assuming it's a she, anyway).
Nothing against anyone else! Everyone else has been super supportive of this story, and I'm really grateful. Thanks to all my lovely, wonderful reviewers, and the people who added this story to their favourites/alerts!
Sorry for that super long author's note.
Disclaimer: I think it's pretty obvious I don't own Naruto. It would be named Hinata if I did.
Chapter Four
The holidays had ended so quickly, in a blur of friends and siblings and most importantly, Hinata. For Gaara, it'd been nothing short of miraculous, how she actually seemed to want to hang around him (even if it was for school – he was trying not to think of that). After Yashamaru, she'd been the only person to accept him. And while she didn't exactly fully understand him yet, he was… content. Not happy (Gaara being happy? Please, be serious), but content. Satisfied.
So the first day of school wasn't as painful as it would have been under other circumstances.
Temari yelled up the stairs "Hurry up, lazy ass!" with her hands on her hips and a frowny face. Kankuro yelled in reply "Shut up, bitch!" but hurried anyway, before Gaara got annoyed by all the yelling going on.
She rolled her eyes and then pulled her ponytails tighter, with an air of preparing for war. Hitching up her already-beyond-short school skirt, she wiggled around until it was nudging the fine line between 'slightly indecent' and 'totally slutty'. Picking up her sling bag, she stepped out to wait for her siblings on the porch. Kankuro popped out of the house, hair in a mess and uniform crooked, but at least he was there.
Before they could leave, a sleek bluish black car pulled up beside the curb with a purr as the owner killed the engine.
Kankuro was practically drooling, but when Hinata stepped out (in the pathetically short school skirt. Really, this was getting ridiculous) he felt like he'd died and gone to heaven. First of all, the skirt rode up enough for him to see the edge of her white underwear. Secondly, she was walking to him.
"Temari-san, Kankuro-kun! Good morning!" she smiled cheerfully, and then looked past them. "Gaara-kun!" Hinata called with a wave.
"I thought you probably wouldn't want to sit in Neji's car… so is it okay if I walk to school with you?"
Neji stared daggers at the three siblings, making it obvious why anyone wouldn't want to sit in his car.
From behind them, Gaara nodded, pulled his bag up higher and walked past his siblings, shooting Kankuro a death glare. Obviously, he'd seen him swoon over Hinata's underwear. Oops.
"We'll be off then, see you two in school!" Hinata continued in her piping tone, before she followed after Gaara. She waved bye to Neji, who tried to call after her and ask her again to make sure she didn't want a ride. Who knows what could happen on her way to school? What if a rapist attacked her with a knife? What if she ran into a kidnapper?
He was maybe slightly reassured by Gaara's stolid presence next to her.
Then again, Gaara might be worse than a rapist or a kidnapper. God only knew what designs he had on Hinata-sama.
xXxXx
The pair walked slowly, because Hinata was a naturally sedate person and because Gaara didn't see a reason to hurry (and end his walk with his Hinata).
Neither of them felt the need to fill the empty silences, and they were comfortable with each other. That is, until Hinata mentioned that she'd packed a bento for the both of them because she wasn't sure if Gaara would like the cafeteria food.
"I'm sure the cafeteria ladies put a lot of effort into making it, but it isn't exactly… Well, it's not exactly edible… Most people go out to eat or pack their own lunches, and since it's your first day and going out probably isn't smart… Um…" she trailed off, realizing that she sounded like a mother hen who had a vendetta against lunch ladies.
"Um…" Hinata tried to continue, but her mind drew a blank.
What do I say! I must seem like such an idiot now!
Thankfully, Gaara answered that he didn't care much either way, and he was perfectly okay with a bento lunch. Of course he didn't mention that he liked the fact that Hinata had gotten up early to make him something. That would've sounded creepy.
"R-right! So…"
Hinata was painfully struck with the realization that it was a good thing she was a silent person. If she'd been talkative… She didn't even want to think about the messed-up sentences she'd spout.
"Tell me about school," Gaara prompted.
She nodded, the threatening blush slowly fading off her face, grateful that he'd provided a subject change. How nice of him.
"School is quite nice, you'll get to see everyone you met the past few weeks. They'll probably, um, give you a timetable like mine because I'm your aide – "
Gaara scowled. "Don't call yourself an aide. It makes me feel handicapped."
Nodding quickly again, Hinata wanted to slap herself for that mistake. His anger, usually so close to the surface, had been quite successfully repressed the last few days. How could she anger him so quickly on the first day of school?
On another note, she'd found out that if she said his name or maybe touched his hand when he was angry and mouthing off, he'd calm down fairly soon. Hinata found that strangely sweet. Although he'd told her that he didn't like physical contact because of personal issues he had yet to address, he seemed to be okay with her. That was encouraging.
"And well, let's see… Well, Konoha High has a lot of, um, cliques. There's one group of people, the ones you know, and then there are the seniors, and then there are the fan girls… Oh dear, I really shouldn't call them that but…"
Gaara looked at her. Did he look like he cared if she bad mouthed anyone?
"Who are the fangirls?" He didn't really want to know, but he did want to hear Hinata's voice.
"There's Karin, she likes Sasuke. Sakura likes Sasuke too, and um, Tayuya, who likes Shikamaru. Ino (you know, the girl who works at the flower shop?) also likes Sasuke. They're all presidents of their respective fan clubs… I think," Hinata frowned, unsure. After all, if he'd paid attention to her previous paragraph he would've realized that she had only mentioned two fanclubs. One of which was monopolized by three girls.
"Are you in a fan club?" He tested the word carefully, unfamiliar with it.
"No! I mean, um, no."
"Why not?"
"I don't like Sasuke or Shikamaru that way… I mean, they're both really good friends but…"
Gaara frowned.
The way she had ended that sentence – 'but…' It sounded like she was going to say something like 'but I like someone else'. Then again, what would he know about girls? Less than nothing. He didn't even know any (except his sister, and that girl back in Akatsuki High), so it made sense for him to know nothing about them.
Still, it was worrying. His Hinata liked someone else?
It made him want to go and beat the guy to a bloody pulp.
Did you say 'your Hinata'?
Gaara layered another frown on top of his present one. Who is this.
I'm your conscience. You know, the one who –
Shut up. He knew what was coming. And he didn't particularly want to hear it. God, what a great time for him to grow a conscience. Life was a nuisance.
"I d-don't know if I can tell you this," she admitted with a stutter. "But Gaara-kun is my good friend, a-and friends confide in each other… right?" Nodding, he decided that girls were weird. He had no idea what Hinata was talking about, but he'd just listen to her for now.
They stopped walking and he leaned against the gate enclosing the park.
She looked around, almost guiltily, and then tiptoed so that she could reach his ear (even if tiptoeing only let her reach the bottom of his jaw).
Looking down at her, Gaara thought that she was really quite adorable. And short. He bent a little so that she'd think that she had successfully reached his (pierced) ear. She giggled, as if humoring her was a really immature thing she didn't think Gaara would actually do. Which it was, but he wasn't telling her that. Hinata had the whole doe-eyed innocent face pat down, and it was something that made people not want to hurt her.
"Well…" she hesitated. And then she went on in a big rush "I sort of like someone else," which ended up in this really gabbled line that Gaara didn't hear a word of. He nodded slowly, as if he got it.
"You're not… You're not going to laugh at me?"
Her eyebrows were all scrunched up, as if she found it confusing that he wasn't splitting his sides rolling on the floor and laughing out loud. Gaara looked at her, bewildered. What could she have said that warranted his acting that way?
"I mean, y-you don't think it's weird that I have a c-crush? At my age?"
That came out a little clearer, because she was relaxing. Gaara-kun wasn't going to scoff at her after all! He really was a nice guy.
"Wait. What?"
xXxXx
Ahh, first day of school.
I get to see my Sasuke-kun again! Not that I don't see him a lot during the holidays, of course. I mean, he always comes to the ice-cream shop where I work, so I had plenty of opportunities to talk to him and all…
Y'know, I'm starting to think that maybe Sasuke-kun might have a teeny little crush on yours truly.
Not being egoistic or anything here, of course.
Just saying.
I mean, he does visit me often (although with a big bunch of friends; but I understand, it would look suspicious if he came alone, wouldn't it?) and sometimes he waves, or nods, or says 'hi' even! And duh, of course he talks to that Hyuuga girl a lot (what was her name again? Hanako? Hitomi? Whatever), but it's pretty obvious why!
She's his cover-up.
I mean, no one would actually like her. Sure, she's got really pale skin, and she's really skinny, and she's got an average figure, but she's just a wallflower. She's the kind who sits by the sides and smiles stupidly at everyone else having fun, because no one can actually remember who she is. Or they don't care, because face it, she's not exactly popular, is she?
Okay, so sure, she's got the hottest cousin ever and she's BFFs with that new guy in town, and she's good friends with practically all the guys who ever existed (which in itself is suspicious, if you ask me. I mean, who can be such good friends without having some benefits on the side? They're all so juicy looking).
But she's still nothing but a wallflower.
Unlike me, of course. I mean, I haven't got the best figure ever, but I plan on changing that soon, so that's one problem done with. And I'm a natural pinkette, which is the coolest thing ever! Who has naturally pink hair, huh?
And I'm like the only person I know with green eyes! You know, they all say that green-eyed people are special, pixies or fairies or something, and to be honest, I've always felt special in that way. All my friends say so.
So of course, it'd make more sense for Sasuke to use her as the cover up, and to actually prefer me.
Oh, I just had the greatest thought! We could be, like, Romeo and Juliet! Sasuke, of course, is Romeo, and I'm Juliet, and we'd meet outside and kiss secretly (I'm giggling like mad as I think this) in the garden and he'd declare his undying love for me and I'll giggle at him modestly and also very sweetly whisper "I… I love you too, Sasuke-kun" and he'll be so happy with me.
And that's because we were a match made in heaven. He is my one true love, and I am his.
And that is why I will not let anyone get in my way, not Kiba, not Ino, and especially not the washed-out, pale little bitch whose name is Hyuuga Hinata.
Just you watch. I'll show you all.
Sasuke is mine. He is mine.
Mine.
xXxXx
The pair reached school, a little relieved because Gaara looked so dazed and because Hinata was worried he was going into shock. After she'd stammered out that she had a huge crush on Naruto, he had nodded and then just turned his head to the side and ignored her.
Did I do something wrong?
Before she had the chance to pluck up her courage and speak to the brooding redhead, Tenten yelled as she ran across the car park "What's up, Hina-chan?" She skidded to a stop, gigantic smile on her face as she mussed her (future sister-in-law) friend's hair up. "I haven't seen him around," nodding to Gaara, "can you introduce me?"
Glad for the diversion, Hinata nodded and said "Tenten, this is Gaara. Gaara, Tenten."
Before anyone could continue, a huge cloud of dust blew up as two cars pulled into the car park simultaneously. Hinata coughed and had to be pulled out of the way by Gaara to avoid being made into a little pancake. A luridly coloured pink car drove past her, with one pink-tinted window rolled down. From inside, she could see Sakura, sitting pretty in the driver's seat with a careless hand on the wheel, smile and flash her the peace sign.
Okay, so it was her fault for standing in the middle of the car park outside the school. But who gave the peace sign to someone they had narrowly escaped crushing?
She stood straight, shakily, and checked if Tenten was still in one piece. Yep, she was fine. Tenten had good reflexes. "Thank you, Gaara-kun," Hinata thanked, manners, if not dignity, still intact.
The bright red Ferrari behind Sakura's car parked next to her, and a girl got out. She had a cloth cap, and exceedingly long hair, and was dressed in the typical popular teenage female highschooler (wow, that was a mouthful) outfit. Or in other words, a short layered tank top and low-slung jean shorts. Note the use of the word 'short'.
"Tayuya, honey!" another girl, looking like the carbon copy of the first except that her red hair was shorter, squealed as she got out of Sakura's car.
"Karin-chan!" Tayuya squealed back, like an answering call from the pack leader of a herd.
"Karin, Tayuya!" Sakura finished off, after climbing out and running towards them to air-kiss and air-hug. She had on a sleeveless (pale pink this time, thank the god) shirt that exposed her midriff and a matching miniskirt strangely reminiscent of a cheerleader's skirt. The shiny rose silver spurs on her pink cowgirl boots (in style this season) clinked as she ran.
In the middle of the ruckus, Sasuke and Naruto slowly got out of the back of Sakura's car, Sasuke with an "I survived; it's a miracle" expression and Naruto with an "I was in Sakura's car! Sakura's car! Sakura's car!" expression.
Hinata's face fell (due to obvious reasons) and Gaara looked at her, slightly irritated (also for obvious reasons).
"Come on, girls," Sakura said, looping her arms through theirs. "Oh, and I gave Sasuke a ride to school today," she added, as if it was of no importance. The effect was immediate.
Karin threw her arm off with a scream and ran towards him (how could she have not noticed!). And although he tried to duck behind Naruto, it didn't really help. Gaara was a little amused. It was the first time he'd seen Sasuke lose his cool like that, after all. And he never knew Sasuke could produce such sounds of absolute horror before. God, he screamed like a girl.
"Oh, Tayuya honey, look! Is that Shikamaru I see?" the pinkette giggled, pointing at a thicket of people clumped at the side.
It very effectively got rid of the other girl, who practically sprinted (you have to admire her. She was wearing 6-inch Manolo Blahniks, pink, of course) like a long-distance runner towards the crowd. "Shika-kun! Shika-kun! I see you, Shika-kun!" He wasn't there, duh, but she didn't know that yet.
This maneuver left Sakura free to catwalk up to Hinata, swishing her skirt, and ask very sweetly and politely, "May I please borrow Hinata-chan for a moment?"
Gaara looked at her rudely.
She looked at Gaara sweetly.
"O-of course, Sakura-san," Hinata said, wondering what the heck was going on.
Sakura closed her hand around Hinata's arm and pulled her away almost indecently quickly, the painted nails digging into her skin. Her boots bumped into Hinata's legs and the spurs pricked her. It was uncomfortable walking with her. So Hinata was glad when Sakura stopped outside the entrance to school, ensconcing them in a little niche behind a bush.
She looked around, curious as to why Sakura was behaving like this.
"Hello, Hinata-chan," she said in a honeyed voice, as if she had just seen her.
"Um, h-hello, Sakura-san."
"You know what I want to ask you, don't you?"
Hinata shook her head quickly to avoid having to speak (and thus, stutter). Sakura raised one perfectly plucked pink eyebrow and giggled again, humorlessly. She leaned in, so close that there was about one inch between their noses and Hinata was going cross-eyed trying to keep her in sight. A strong smell of cherry blossom surrounded Hinata. She thought she might actually gag from the too-liberally-applied scent clogging her nose.
"Oh, don't play that card," Sakura giggled flatly, the sound harsh. "Everyone can tell that you're not the innocent little Bo Peep you make out you are."
"What-!"
"You know what I'm talking about! You're after my Sasuke, aren't you? Well, let me just tell you, you can stop making eyes at him and pretending you're the sweetest little thing ever! I know you're probably screwing all your guy friends, but that doesn't mean you get to screw Sasuke too! So stop batting those big, innocent eyes at all of them and pretending you're just so sweet, Little-Miss-Perfect!"
She stopped and breathed hard. Hinata cowered away, frightened. What had Sakura meant? Screwing all her guy friends? How could she say something like that? For the first time in her life, she was honestly scared by Sakura. Hinata used to think she was just slightly airheaded but now...
The maniac shine in her green eyes was horrifying.
Sakura smiled, something inexpressibly cruel in the red, lipsticked mouth. "So listen here, Hinata fucking perfect Hyuuga, I won't let you have him."
An even bigger smile.
"Over your dead body."
A/N: I mean to portray Sakura as slightly deranged over the issue of Sasuke, with two sides to her coin. One that is sugar-sweet and cooing, and the other that has no limits to what she will do for Sasuke. So please do not criticize my portrayal as too extreme, unless you have seriously important issues you need to bring up that you think might screw over the entire story. I welcome those. Thanks!