Crossroads.
noun. /ˈkrɒsrəʊdz/
1. an intersection of two or more roads.
2. a point at which a crucial decision must be made which will have far-reaching consequences.
Uchiha High has secrets. Black ones. Gabby has a past. A black one. One she wishes to be kept in the past. When two old face reappear, nothing will be kept in the past and unfortunately, Gabby's best friend will be pulled into her dark past with her.
A black past, chapter one.
playlist
1. Bang Bang, my baby shot me down – Nancy Sinatra 2. Bang Bang Bang – Christina Perri 3. I wanna dance with somebody – Whitney Houston 4. You're the one I want – Greece 5. What's love got to do with it – Tina Turner 6. She looks so perfect – 5 seconds of summer 7. Just a kiss – Lady Antebellum 8. That's what you get – Paramore
Her footsteps pounded on the pavement as she ran, books clutched under one arm and breathing heavily laboured. Her brunette locks that she had forgotten to tie up in a ponytail kept hitting her in her face and she shook her head irritated. Gabby Momochi was late for school, again. Her alarm clock that she had set countless of times had failed to wake her up, again.
Her teacher was going to murder her.
She scrambled up the steps to the high school and almost tripped, yet still managing to graze her shin. Gabby knew she should have picked up the jeans rather than the skirt that she had worn yesterday. Paranoia was trying to tell her that she had spaghetti stains on her skirt and she pushed them into the box in the back of her mind. Later.
The girl ran down the empty hallways, ignoring the janitor that shouted ''no running'' at her and almost flew through the door to her classroom. ''I'm fashionable late!'' Gabby shouted in a panic at a class with no teacher.
Her classmates gaped at her in surprise before a couple snickered at the panting girl. A frown flit across her face until the truth dawned on her and Gabby's shoulders slumped in defeat. They didn't actually have a teacher for this period.
''Oh Gabby,'' a pretty brunette grinned broadly at her best friend. Marina Akazuni had only known Gabby for a year, but they had been like two peas in a pod since the day Marina stepped foot into the school. ''Did you have a busy weekend?'' The girl teased as Gabby walked over to plonk herself in her desk in front of Marina's.
''Har-har, very funny.'' Gabby scorned at the girl. They both knew that Gabby had slept all weekend. She was very much jobless and had made no effort whatsoever to take any kind of step towards finding one to her guardian's dismay.
''Honestly, it's an absolute mystery how in the world you manage to oversleep after pretty much sleeping for forty-eight hours.'' Gaara Sabuko smirked at her, flipping a chair around and seating himself on it to face her.
''I don't do it on purpose.'' Gabby grumbled, slamming her books on her table. ''I just need a lot of rest.''
''No, you're just lazy.'' Marina rolled her eyes at her friends, removing a chewed up pen from her mouth. ''Would you like my history notes? Kim gave them back to me, so I can't promise that all pages will be there. You know what she's like.'' She pulled a wad of paper from her bag, waving it at Gabby.
Gabby just groaned, thumping her head on the table. ''Just kill me now. I'm going to fail this year, I can just smell it.''
''Don't be so dramatic, Gabby.'' Marina smacked her friend on the back of the head with the papers. ''Just take the notes, copy them and return them to me. Actually, on second thought Kiba took them too so don't worry about giving them back. God knows you can't even read your own handwriting.''
Gabby barely had any time to make a face at the girl before it clicked what she had said and instead she shot a suggestive wink at Marina. ''Kiba, huh?'' It was a well-known fact that Marina was sweet on Kiba, but nobody had the heart to embarrass the poor girl about it. That was, nobody but Gabby usually.
''Gabby,'' Marina groaned and leaned her elbow on the table. She shook her hair over her eyes, trying to mask the blush that crossed her face. ''Don't start now,'' she hissed at her, trying to gesture at Gaara listening to their conversation but trying not to be too obvious about it.
Gaara held his hands up, palms outwards. ''It's fine, I know when I'm not wanted.'' The boy sighed exaggeratedly, standing up and scraping the chair backwards. ''I'll go sit over there, with the less cool kids.''
A mixture of complaints and protests could be heard at that statement and Marina had to hold in a laugh, biting on her lip to keep it in. She threw him a thankful look, one that Gabby pouted at. ''I was going to stop, you know.'' She grumbled. ''You're going to have to throw me the gossip anyway. I know something happened over the weekend, you hardly messaged me at all after telling me how you were going for a walk with him yesterday.''
The two girls pretended to scowl at each other, Marina reaching over and tugging Gabby's hair. ''You're so silly.'' She merely replied, smiling goofily and dropping a wink. She would tell Gabby everything later.
The headmaster Fugaku Uchiha was stood at the window, his hands clasped behind his back in the formal pose he usually tended to hold with his shoulders upright and face solemn. He wasn't always this solemn, his children and their friends would often come into the Uchiha household filled with laughter at the jokes he would crack. But today was not a day to crack jokes.
Fugaku's youngest son came to stand next to him, chewing his bottom lips practically to shreds as he tried to peer out of the window to see what his father could see. Naturally there was nothing there, but it wouldn't hurt to look. ''Are you sure about this? It could give the school a bad rep, dad.'' Sasuke spoke first, looking up at his father.
Fugaku sighed, cracking a smile finally and ruffled his hair under the protest of the seventeen year old. ''You'll understand one day why I'm so forgiving, kid. Especially when you have your own children.''
''Dad-'' Sasuke frowned but rolled his eyes when he saw his dad's twinkling eyes. He had only been teasing.
''You're a good kid, Sasuke. Keep an eye on her. She'll come around soon.''
The canteen was god awful busy, it was like people had actually made an effort to be there today rather than leaving site to find somewhere else to eat actual decent food. Gabby grumbled, having to shove past people to get to the lunch queue. ''Man, it's so damn busy.''
''Tell me about it.'' Marina rolled her eyes, having followed the rude slightly older girl in the path of destruction and possibly even tears she had made. ''I'll be so glad when we graduate and find our freedom.''
''Don't wish your life away too quickly, girls.'' The lunch lady waved a spoon at them, coming dangerous close to launching food all over them. ''You'll end up like me, serving a ton of brats.''
Gabby and Marina exchanged nervous looks, holding their trays out and making their escape as quickly as they could, stifling laughter and pushing each other. It was all going so well until Marina pushed Gabby too hard and the girl bumped into someone else who turned around angrily.
''Watch where the fuck you're going, Momochi.'' Hidan Fukyuu snarled at the younger girl, stepping a threatening step closer to her. ''I'll fucking kill you.''
''I'd like to see you try, asshole,'' Gabby stuck her middle finger up at him, her eyes glazing over the jacket he was wearing and stumbling in her escape as she slowly came to a stop and looking back up at him. Marina could have sworn that there was a flicker of terror in her eyes when the silver haired guy grinned a wide toothy grin at her friend.
''Gabby.'' Out of absolutely nowhere, Sasuke came in between the two, grabbing her upper arm and dragging her away towards their usual table where their friends had started to stand up. ''You two okay?'' Sasuke asked, almost concerned.
''Fine, I'm fine.'' Gabby shook his hand off her shoulder and placed her tray on the table. She glanced back once more before shaking her head as if to get rid of a bug. ''What the hell is Hidan doing wearing that?''
Sasuke exchanged glanced with Hyuga Neji before grimacing. ''We wanted to tell you but—''
''What the hell!?'' Naruto Uzumaki practically leaped onto the table, the typical drama queen in their group. ''No way!'' he screamed, his finger pointed at the doorway and Gabby looked over so fast that Marina was sure she heard something snap. It was seconds later that Marina realised that the room had gone silent and she slowly looked around.
Gabby had gone pale white, her hands were shaking even though she was trying to mask it by pressing them against the table. But slowly Marina could see her cheeks flush with red, she wasn't too sure if it was anger or shame and she followed her friend's look towards the entrance.
She was in love.
Marina gaped at the two guys in the entrance, more specifically the taller one. His hair was a ginger colour and his eyes were the most abnormal but strangely beautiful purple. He was covered in piercings but for some odd reason this didn't put Marina off even though if it had been anyone else it would have. She gasped when his eyes found hers, his lips curling into a coy smile before moving on to the girl besides her.
Gabby was grinding her teeth, she was sure anyone sat close to her could hear but she didn't care. She couldn't care one bit. What were they doing here? The entire school was gawking at the two and Gabby couldn't bring herself to look away. They weren't supposed to be out for another three years.
The other boy was slightly shorter than the other, his dark hair tied back in a ponytail but loose strands still hanging down his face. Marina glanced at Gabby, taken aback by the mixture of emotions that were flashing through her eyes. ''Gabby?'' she spoke carefully, touching her hand. Gabby seemed to startle, breaking her stare to look at Marina.
''Nothing.'' Gabby spoke quickly, too quickly for her liking and she frowned. The guys had walked off, joining a few others at the table. There were twelve people sat round the table, eleven guys and one girl. They were all wearing a black jacket with some kind of red print on them.
''Who are they?'' Marina spoke quietly, feeling the tension in the air. The canteen had filled with noise again, but this time there were hushed whispers going through the air. Whatever the two newcomers had brought with them, Marina did not like it one bit.
''The Akatsuki.'' Sakura Haruno spoke up. She flipped her shocking pink hair over her shoulder, scowling at her food. ''They're this stupid gang that bullies everyone. They disbanded two years ago but it seems they're back.''
''Hi guys.'' Kiba Inuzaka had slipped unnoticed into the seat opposite Marina, the girl looked up immediately, a smile brightening her face as well as a slight pink colour flushing her cheeks. ''I see the bad boys are back in town.'' His tanned face fell into a frowning face, shaking his head to get rid of the light brown curls that fell into his eyes.
''I see that everyone knows everything when I don't, again.'' Marina complained about it, picking at her food. Once again it looked disgusting and completely put her off her appetite. ''I hate being the newbie. A year later and I'm still absolutely clueless.''
Kiba chuckled, kicking her lightly under the table. ''Oh, don't worry. You have nothing to complain about not knowing these guys. They're not good people.'' He gave Gabby a glance, pursing his lips at her stiff stare at the table. ''The batshit crazy looking guy, there on the left. His name is Madara Uchiha.''
Marina looked up at Sasuke swiftly, her jaw dropping. ''I didn't know you had—''
''A cousin.'' Sasuke filled in for her quickly. ''He's my cousin. Not my brother. The guy sat to his right is Tobi Uchiha, his younger brother. Madara was set back a year because of stuff.''
''That guy is cute.'' Sakura spoke without thinking, taking a couple of seconds before realising everyone was gawking at her. ''Not in that way!'' she protested. ''I mean, sweet. Goofy kind of cute. He doesn't mean much harm. I'm one hundred percent sure he's not all with it. Only ever listens to Madara, and Madara is one crazy bastard; I assure you that. Just avoid him at all costs, you've done well so far.''
''Deidara Kastuhiko.'' Neji nodded towards the long blond haired guy sat next to Tobi, currently trying to ward off the boy that was trying to spoon feed him. ''Another—well they're all crazy bastards to be honest. He's some kind of art genius, never mind the fact he once blew up a classroom in his freshman year on purpose.''
''Sasori Akasuna.'' Ino Yamanaka continued. ''The red head. Another genius, god knows what they're still doing at school. He does stuff with puppets, pretty creepy if you ask me. He's not a nice guy, quiet, but dangerous.''
Shino Aburama lifted his sunglasses from his face, squinting over to the table. ''Kisame Hoshigaki is the dude with the massive grin on his face. Swim team captain if you were ever wondering why we never sign up for swimming. Obsessed with sharks, brilliant swimmer but a bit—'' he tapped his forehead rather than continuing. ''Strange.''
''Kakuzu Hoshi.'' Neji rolled his eyes towards the ceiling. ''After the president's job most likely. Carries that stupid briefcase around, he handles money for the school which in my opinion is stupid because he hates everyone. Most likely why this school is such a shit hole, no offense Sasuke.''
''None taken,'' Sasuke murmured and took a bite from his sandwich. He wasn't hungry, but it was something to do so he wouldn't leap over the table and shake Gabby until she vomited. He scowled at her and she glared back. ''Then you get the creep, I mean we call them all creeps,'' Sasuke told Marina. ''But Zetsu Kuroshiro is the real creep. Some gardening whiz, always talks to the plants as if they talk back to him. Bipolar.''
''Like really bipolar,'' Ino quipped in, ''freakishly bipolar, I swear to you.''
Marina stared at them in horror. How the hell had she not heard all this before. Yeah, she had seen them all around but never spoken to them, she never had a reason to speak to them. ''So, that guy. The one you bumped in to…'' She gave Gabby a questioning look.
''Hidan.'' Gabby sighed, looking at her. Looking anywhere but at him. Her heart was still racing and she was pretty sure she was going to throw up at any point soon. ''Arsehole. Religious, some kind of Jashinism. Offers up people and blood to this Jashin God. What a numpty.''
Marina had to stifle a giggle at the word choice brushing her hair out of her face and catching Kiba's eye. He winked at her and her heart skipped a beat, her stomach dropping and her breath stopping for a moment. She smiled shyly, looking away and back at Gabby. ''What about the other three?''
''Konan Tenshi.'' Gabby continued. ''The girl, the blue haired one. She's nicer than the rest, and I'm saying that lightly. But she's not to be underestimated. Especially not considering she's involved with him.'' She nodded towards the first guy Marina had seen entering the room. ''Pein.''
Marina's breathing hitched just by the mentioning of his name. ''Who is he?'' Her voice dropped to a whisper, unsure why but it seemed appropriate at that particular time.
''He's—their leader.'' Gabby paused for a moment, sending another wave of confusion through Marina. There was something going on but she couldn't figure it out and every second it was nagging at her more and more. ''Just—don't even look at him, Marina.'' Gabby's voice changed, it was more urgent as she spoke to Marina.
''But why? Why haven't I heard of them before?'' Marina asked confused. ''I don't understand.''
''You don't need to understand Marina!'' Gabby slammed her hands on the table, standing up and pushing her chair back with a screech. ''They're all a bunch of criminals, and you do not need to get involved with them!'' She practically shouted, once again the canteen going quiet.
Marina stared at her friend in pure shock, her jaw agape as she stared at her. Gabby had never ever shouted at her like that. Ever.
''Just stay away from them.'' Gabby exhaled in frustration before pushing her chair over and storming from the room under the calls of her friends. It didn't take a genius to know Sasuke had come after her immediately but instead Gabby broke into a run, taking the first steps she found and disappearing silently through a door. She stopped just inside, listening out until she heard Sasuke's steps run past.
Gabby knew she was in the wrong, she shouldn't have shouted at Marina. Gabby bit her lip, fighting an internal battle. Rather than to acknowledge where she went wrong, the girl jutted out her bottom lip in defiance at herself and started up the steps ahead of her. She pushed through a heavy door, labelled ''no entry'' and found herself on the roof top of the school. Somewhere she had not been in a long time.
A/N: So here we go again! I'm definitely redoing this story, I'm trying to write out the entire first arc before posting anything but I can't promise that you get to binge read as Mary is an impatient reader of mine. I have left the other chapters up for now to make sure everyone gets notifications of this rather than starting it as a new story. There won't be massive changes expect for my writing which has improved so much, but I'll throw in a couple of changes now and then.
Another few things I'm going to have to apologise for,
- I'm awfully rusty on Naruto, I've decided to watch a couple of episodes I've already seen whilst writing to boost my skills on the characters but to be honest, I never got very far in watching Naruto despite that they're only 20 minute episodes.
- I have a 1 year old little girl at home so I can't always be writing, sorry about that but some updates may be slower than others.
Definitely give the playlist a listen guys! The first two songs are relevant to the start of the story, I feel like that's what music would be playing on the background as the camera zooms across the town before focusing on first Gabby's feet until zooming out to a full body image. I wrote to those songs and I'll be doing a playlist for every chapter probably!
Thank you so much for reading, I promise my other A/N's will either be non existent or short because who really reads them anymore, right!? Let me know how I'm doing on canon characters as I'm really worried about them!