Chapter 6: The Athletic Reject
Today was a beautiful day-
For Haruno Sakura
She stepped outside of her house with a bright shiny smile on her face, stepped down the stairs with energy that rivaled medicine, walked down to the school with an atmosphere that scientists would never be able to define.
It was glorious.
The pinkette strolled through a park, taking in a deep breath of nature around her. The healthy green grass shone and glistened under the sun with vitality, the children were laughing, playing smiling, and the wind swayed by with a comforting gesture.
It was spectacular. That is until-
"Take this bitch!"
Sakura gasped as a car sped down the street and came to a screeching stop next to her. Within a split second, eggs were being thrown through the windows of the car, splattering on the cement and on Sakura. She dropped her books and held up her hands to her face in defense, but it didn't stop the eggs from pelleting down upon her.
Three minutes later, the car sped down the block and made a sharp right turn.
She stood there, seething in anger as she walked back home. How dare Ami and her stupid friends take it this far. Sakura didn't understand and tried to put the puzzle pieces together as she marched up the stairs of her house. But nothing came up.
She wrenched the door open with a growl and stomped into her house.
"Sakura?" Her mother's head popped from the kitchen door. But Sakura was quick enough to make a dash for the stairs.
"I forgot something important!" She screamed before she shut closed her bedroom door. Sakura leaned against it for a couple of seconds, trying to get the air rushing down her lungs. She then rushed to the restroom, took a three minute shower and threw on clean clothes. As soon as she finished, she looked in the mirror and her eyes widened.
The fake fatty skin she has was ruined with the eggs Ami and her friends threw at Sakura. Some of them made it through the tragedy, but it wasn't enough. Sakura looked in the mirror and saw that she looked like she "lost" 35 pounds. How is she going to explain this?
A soft knock to the door distracted her from the horrible tragedy.
"Sakura, this is Kenji," A low voice said from behind the door. "It's 7:25AM and I was wondering if you needed a ride to school."
"Thanks and yes please!" Sakura yelled through the door. She looked back at the mirror and let out a screech of anger before she grabbed her books and bag, rushing out the door.
Kenji's kind brown eyes took in the sight of Sakura. His head cocked to the left. "You look like you lost weight."
Her mother appeared by his side. "A lot," She frowned, her eyes asking for an explanation.
Sakura sighed. "I know I look like I lost weight, but some of that fake skin I bought was cheap and is now unusable." She growled as she collected her belongings and headed for the door.
"Do you want to skip school?" Her mother's hands began to wring nervously.
She turned around, smiled and shook her head. "No, my English class is going to talk about some camping trip and I have to do some stupid track event for school around three."
Kenji scratched the back of his orange hair. "Oh! You joined the track team?"
Sakura grimaced as she remembered the past events. "I was forced into it." She went to her mom and kissed her cheek. "Bye, mom. I'll see you later," Her mother gave her a firm hug and waved bye to Sakura and Kenji.
Within three seconds, Kenji's small blue car was driving down the streets, at the pace of a snail. Sakura patiently sat there, picking at her baggy gray sweats. "So, how do you like this town so far?" His curious brown eyes were glued to the road.
"It's okay," Sakura nodded. She fixed the glasses resting on the bridge of her nose. "It's different, but in a good way; it's a good change,"
Kenji nodded, smiling as he saw Sakura was in a mood of content. "Yes," He agreed. "It is a good change," His eyebrow then raised. "So, what place am I expecting for the track meet? First?" He grinned.
Sakura laughed quietly. "That Sakura just might do that. But I highly doubt it,"
After all, she was the best female athlete in Mist High.
Kenji drove away from the school after dropping off Sakura. She turned around and walked up to the entrance of the school. Ami and her friends were loitering around the gates, exchanging venomous glares with Sakura.
"How long did it take you to get all of that egg out of your hair?" One of them jeered at her.
"Probably forever since her hands can't reach her head with her fat in the way!"
Sakura swished past by as their laughter echoed down the hallways. She stomped towards her locker, her fingers gripping the books in her hands with intensity. She was so concentrated on opening her lock, that she didn't hear someone approaching her from behind.
"Hello?" A hand swayed in front of her face.
"Huh?" Sakura looked away from her lock to see Ino there next to her. "Hey!" She grinned and threw her books in the locker, switching it for her math and English folder.
"Did you lose weight?" Ino's face was priceless. "Damn! I want to lose that much weight!"
Sakura blushed and sighed heavily. "Thank. I've been exercising to lose weight these days,"
Ino grabbed Sakura by the shoulders. "We have to do it together! Let's exercise from now on together so that we can both reach the goal we want!" Her blue eyes sparkled with challenge and success.
"Okay," Sakura giggled and closed her locker. All her evil demons flew away since her friend was there to cheer her up. "Let's go to class,"
Suddenly, Ino's face went stricken. "Sakura!" She wailed and flung her arms around her neck. "I'm not in your Chemistry class anymore!"
"What?"
"Orochimaru put me in a different period!" Ino growled and clenched her fists. "Why in the world did he do that?"
"Maybe it's because you flirt with the guy who sits behind you too much," Sakura teased as they began to walk to their destination.
"Sakura!" Temari ran up to the two friends, a flyer in hand. "Remember what Kurenai-sensei was talking about?" She handed Sakura the flyer. "About the field trip we're taking to the legendary pond of that one book we're reading,"
"Yuki no hana?" Sakura pondered aloud as she looked over the flyer.
Temari's face brightened. "Yeah! That story! There's a meeting at lunch about it,"
"When is the trip?"
"Around next week during the weekend," Temari rushed past them, waving her hands. "I have to go and pass around these flyers! See you later!"
Sakura sighed as she heard the bell ring. "Let's go to class, Ino,"
Brown eyes gazed throughout the green field, soaking up in the sun, sighing as he watched his team members stretching their limbs. The intelligent eyes observed the rival team for today, studying their motives, their strengths and weaknesses.
"Haku!" A female competitor ran up to the team captain, her lean muscles stretching. "We're ready for the track meet,"
His feminine lips puckered as he watched one of the boys hurtling over the bars. "Okay, let's get the team together,"
Sakura grumbled in anger as she stomped her way to the field. "God damn," She cursed as she drew closer to the field. She would do anything in her power to get out of this meet, but when she talked to Zabuza about it, he said he would give her an automatic "F". And a nerdy girl does not want an F on her transcript.
"Don't worry, Haurno," Zabuza roared in laughter as he clapped her back with his huge hand. "You've got this all together,"
She turned to Zabuza, her hand held out. "Where's the sheet with the track events?"
"You're a smart girl," He laughed and handed it to her.
Green eyes scanned the paper, looking for the events she was to attend.
Sakura
Sakura
Sakura
Sakura
She nodded in satisfaction. "I only have four events. That's good," She handed the paper to Zabuza, giving him a smile. "I only have four events," She repeated.
Zabuza coughed in his hand. "There's a backside to the paper,"
"…WHAT?" She screeched and turned the paper over to see her name appear three more times. "I can't have seven events! That's impossible! You can get in trouble for that! I could only have four events the most, you bastard!" Sakura roared.
The coach only bellow in laughter and walked away. "You're my prized athletic student, Haruno. I'm not going to let you off that easy!"
"I just got called up by the National Guard! I'm going to the war as a part of the surge thingy!"
"There is no war!"
"My aunt is flying from China today! She only has one arm and two pieces of luggages! She needs me to carry them!"
"She can get help from the airport assistance,"
"I can't drive to Mist High! My keys are locked in my car, my car is locked in the garage and my mom is away for the week with the key to the garage!"
Zabuza only laughed as he turned the corner. "The track meet is on Leaf High school grounds, Haruno,"
Growling out like an animal, Sakura ripped the papers into bits of pieces and flung them everywhere. She screamed in frustration and stomped on the bits of paper, swinging her hands around like a wild monkey. Sakura huffed and panted as she smoothed down her fake hair and clothing. When she looked around she realized the Mist High teens were staring at her. "What are you looking at?" She screamed at the Mist High competitors. They immediately looked away from her.
"Haku-senpai, that girl is scary!"
"Did you see the way she screamed and yelled at her coach?"
"She's a beast!"
Haku stared at the curly brown haired girl as she stalked away, her demeanor filled with an aura so recognizable. Her voice seemed so familiar, but he couldn't put his finger to it. He grunted then turned away, his chocolate brown hair fluttering in the wind. "Let's get ready for the meet,"
Sakura sat on a secluded corner of the area, staring at the competitors as music played in her ears. She found comfort when listening to music before her event was next.
These are limits when one's buried
She watched the events with skilled eyes. Suddenly, her eyes widened when she saw one of the boys take the lead from the rivaled school. "Haku?" She whispered as she concentrated on the boy. Haku jumped over the hurtles with skill and speed, his nimble feet grazing the ground as he won the event with 10 seconds in the lead.
The body's left the soul
She watched him stretch out his body, warming down his sudden burst of adrenaline. Sakura watched him with longing eyes, wanting to go over and hug her big 'older brother'. She sighed and stood up, turning her back on Haku as she got ready for her next event.
Could we have known
"Sakura! You're up!" Zabuza ushered the pinkette to the track field, removing her jacket and handing her a hair tie. "Remember, concentrate and run,"
Sakura mumbled something incoherently as she accepted the hair ban. She tied her fake hair out of her face and walked to the track field. "I hate you,"
Zabuza laughed. "I hate your attitude, but I love your spirit,"
Never would I, helped to nail down
She went to her lane, placing one foot in front of the other as she stretched her lazy limbs. Sakura breathed in through her mouth and out through her nose as she jumped up a couple of times. Her muscles, skills were coming back to her.
The girl next to her snorted. "You know there's not award at the end of the meet, right?"
Sakura looked at the girl with an arch brow. "There never is an award. Only status in place,"
The girl laughed cruelly as she stretched her arms. "Just making sure that you don't expect food at the end of your race,"
She snorted. "Just watch my fat ass beat yours,"
"As if you can," The girl sneered.
"Want to bet?" Sakura challenged.
The girl held out a hand, a smirk on her face. "If you beat me, I will give you twenty dollars and my respect,"
"That's not enough," Sakura snorted. "I want you to drop the track team and scream out my victory at the top of your lungs," She held out her hand. "Deal?"
"Deal," But before they shook on it, the girl pulled back her hand.
"We had a deal, but I don't want to gain any weight," She giggled and went back to her stretches.
Sakura shook her head, continuing her stretches.
"Alright!" A old man approached the seven competitors, his clipboard tucked under his arm. "You know the rules. If you cross the other line, you are disqualified. If you attack the runners, distract the runners or even speak to the runners next to you, you are disqualified. Are we clear?"
"Yes," All the members nodded.
"Good, we will start now," The old man went to the sidelines, a special gun in his hand. Slowly, he raised it to the air, his weary old eyes watching the seven members.
"Ready," Immediately, all of the competitors went down to their hutches.
"Set," They fixed their footing into the starting blocks.
The old man pulled the trigger and a soft pop resonated throughout the grounds. Within a split second, all of them sprinted to the finish line.
"Sakura, you can do it!" Hinata yelled.
"GO FOREHEAD GIRL!" Ino hollered.
"You got it girl!" Temari cheered.
"GO! GO! GO! GO! GO!" Tenten roared.
Sakura's mind was in center and she was sprinting to her destination. Her limbs were stretching, taunt as she sprinted to the finish line. Her event was to run two full circles around the track field. Sakura did her breathing practice and she began to inch forward.
All four of Sakura's friend's eyes bulged out of her head as they watched the well rounded proportional teen increasing the distance between herself and the other competitors. Like the rest of the crowd, they gaped as they watched the fat girl run around the track.
She grinned in satisfaction as she finished her first lap. Sakura unconsciously nodded, now putting her full power and strength into her final lap. She sprinted through her lane, now finishing half a lap within less than seven seconds.
35 feet-
Suddenly, a empty bottle of water skidded across the rocky track field, sliding underneath Sakura's foot which was just about to land on the ground. Her feet flew from underneath her and she went plunging on the ground. The small rocks bit into her palms and knees, tears prickling at her eyes. She winced as she tried to get up.
Soon all the other runners were passing her.
"Seems like you're going to lose your bet," The girl in the next lane sneered.
35 feet-
"Damn it," Sakura cursed and got back up. She sprinted like hell towards the finish line. There was no way in hell she was going to let that skinny witch win this match.
27 feet-
The crowd felt the air that was full of tension and of suspense. When the fat girl had tripped, they had winced and 'oohed' and 'ahhed'. But now that she was back up, they watched as she quickly closed the distance that was there. She was now challenging the first two runners.
18 feet-
Sakura felt the adrenaline pump through her veins and forced her feet to cross the distance. Soon enough, within a second, she was the first one again. She smiled in glee and watched the finish line with determination flashing through her eyes.
10 feet-
Quickly, Sakura had ducked her head before her whole body had pass through the finish line. She had finished her event and was now slowly pacing herself.
"OH MY GOD! YOU ROCK!" The crowd was cheering with happiness and glee. This was unsuspected event and they got sucked into it.
The girl bowed her head in defeat and walked to Sakura. She sheepishly scratched the back of her head and toed her foot in the ground. "Uh, sorry about…you know…making fun of you and disparaging you," Her brown eyes were apologetic and full of wonder. "I give you my respect, twenty dollars and…" The girl took in a deep breath and screamed. "SAKURA IS THE BEST RUNNER EVER!"
Sakura laughed and shook her hand. "No, that's okay. I forgive you," She shook the girl's hand. "What's your name?"
She grinned. "My nickname is Tsunami. And since you're my friend that's what I want you to call me," She then looked back to her team and winced. "Uh, oh. My captain looks angry. I gotta go, bye Sakura!" Tsunami waved her hand and was gone.
Sakura's eyes watched as Tsunami went to Haku, who was gazing back at Sakura with a scrutinizing gaze. She smiled and tipped at Haku with her hand that went from her forehead to the air. That was a secret message, an original motion between the two.
Haku smiled as he watched Sakura walk away, relieved that he knew where she was residing. But there was a gnawing question that was trying to come out. Why was she dressed like that? Why is she wearing a disguise, hiding her true self?
How did she gain weight that fast?
He sighed and walked away, knowing that the answers will be provided soon.
