Beauty and the Geek

Chapter Ten

Deep breath Sakura, deep breath. You can do this. You were born to do this. I CAN DO THIS!

I opened the door to my form room the very next morning after the events of yesterday. The room went silent, every single person turned towards me. I don't know how I managed it, but I somehow walked across the room to my seat next to Ino, avoiding the eyes of my form. My breathing hitched.

People were starting to whisper amongst themselves now. And I was grateful as it covered up the raw silence that would have really started pressing in. The quite hum of conversation allowed me to talk to Ino without everyone hearing every word we exchanged.

Ino embraced me with a tight hug as soon as I sat down. I wrapped my arms around her back, my head resting on her shoulder as she radiated warmth onto my cold form. I wanted to start singing that chicken tikka song from Mamma Mia but I knew this really wasn't the time. Ino pulled back and held me either side, her hands digging into my coat sleeves.

'Tell me everything' was all she said. Her eyebrows were furrowed to a dangerous level, and I knew that even if I hadn't wanted to tell Ino everything, I would end up doing so anyway.

And so the story poured out of me in hushed tones, everything that had happened since that fateful Friday evening in the rain. Ino didn't say a word, or interrupt me at all until I had finished with 'and then we went back to his house'

'You went back to Uchiha Sasuke's house?' she whispered harshly. I nodded reluctantly in response. Her eyebrows rose up dramatically, and then sunk back down into a frown again. 'What happened there?'

'Nothing' I said just a little too quickly. Ino raised her eyebrows this time, but I continued 'there really was nothing. It was just ridiculously awkward. Believe me'

'Okay. I believe you. But wow Sakura, I didn't know you had such a life behind everyone's back'

'It's not much of a life'

'It's more interesting than mine'

'Well, it doesn't matter how interesting my life is, because it's all over now. The whole school knows what's happened. I'll never live it down. What am I going to do? Ino what am I going to do?' my voice rising considerably towards the end. I grabbed onto her sleeves just as she was doing to me.

'Sakura, Sakura. Don't worry, I'm here! And so is Hinata, Tenten and Temari. We'll always be on your side. We're the ones you must rely on...' and not much to my surprise Ino began singing the chicken tikka song from Mamma Mia. I laughed softly and hugged her again. Best friends really were irreplaceable, and I was so grateful I had a few people who were with me, 'till the end.

Because the rest of the day was hell on earth, no questions asked.

After the pep talk in form time from Ino, I was confident that the whole thing would pass. I mean, how many people can care this much about what Uchiha Sasuke has been up to anyway? So what if he turned against his own kind? So what if he rescued the loser outcast? What difference does that make to anything?

My confidence was wearing thin though before I had even reached first lesson, as everywhere I looked I was being met with other people's eyes, as they whispered between themselves. No doubt talking about me, I even caught what one of them were saying. Even though she was from the younger years.

'That's her' she whispered to her friend 'that's the one got beat up then saved by Sasuke'

Oh dear God. This is not the reputation I wanted for myself. Why couldn't it be the other way round? Where I had rescued Sasuke? Speaking of Sasuke, I wonder how he was handling all of this. Probably a lot better than I was. But I had time to talk to him later, if he chose to reply anyway. No doubt he'll ignore me like he usually does.

Throughout art I couldn't focus on the stupid shell I was meant to be drawing. I didn't see the point in drawing things like shells. They're the least interesting thing to draw other than a rock. And the teacher did actually suggest that at one point. Such artistic differences it's unbelievable. I think we should be allowed to draw what we want, though if I drew what I wanted to right now it would be a big, angry splat in the middle of the page.

Every time I looked from my work I caught someone's eye. I bowed my head to my chest and felt sick inside, and I continued to paint away even though I wanted to crawl into the nearest cupboard and stay there until school ended.

At break Hinata and I went to the library to meet up with the others, and then we all went to a bench by the field. The cool air was blowing our hair around our faces, and some early autumn leaves scuttled past my feet. It was silent for a few moments, and I'm sure they were all thinking of something to say.

'Sakura, no matter what happens. We'll always be here for you to fall back on.' Tenten said. It was so corny, but it was so comforting, I didn't want to know what was awaiting me for the next few weeks, but it wasn't going to be pretty. We had science next, and being the rebels we were, we skived sitting in the disabled toilets listening to our iPods in the most silence we could muster. Everything was 100x funnier when we couldn't laugh. However, half way through someone tried to get in, so we escaped and ran across the school undercover to the girl's toilets on the other side - where we hid for the remainder of science. I never knew what I missed that lesson; I guess it wasn't that important. Beside's science is as useful to me as a cat flap is in an elephant house.

That was where I was wrong. You see, I later found out that Sasuke had been absent all morning, and that Karin had started a rumour about me that very lesson. The rumour wasn't an imaginative one (why would I expect it to be?) but it had all the impact it needed, and was realistic enough to be believed by the whole school.

According to that shirt-lifter Karin, I was PREGNANT.

If I thought the looks had been intimidating before, I hadn't seen anything yet. Everywhere I went, the whispers and disapproving looks followed me, getting imprinted in my mind. I tried to ignore them at best I could, but at that volume, coming in from all angles, I felt hopeless and so alone in all this. Stupid Sasuke. He didn't have to 'save' me. I could of made it out okay, probably.

Why would Karin do that? I know she doesn't like me, but was she going to go to that extent to show it? What was her motive?

When I saw her at lunch, I knew I had to go and talk to her, even if it meant another scenario popping up. I couldn't think of one worse than this anyway.

'Karin' I said loudly, so she stopped gossiping and turned to face me. She raised a pencil-thin eyebrow.

'What do you want?'

'Why did you start that rumour about me? What did I do to you to deserve this?'

'You always act so innocent and cute Sakura. What's with you?'

'Answer my question'

'I don't like you. You don't like me. You keep on taking something that's not yours; you need to know your place' she examined her manicured nails. Not even looking at me.

'What?'

'You wouldn't understand. You're such an idiot' she scoffed, rolling her eyes.

'What?' I repeated. When she didn't reply, I sighed irritably and left angrily. I did not need this. I especially did not need that trip to the head mistresses office after lunch either. She had come and FOUND ME. To speak to me in private, of course, everyone knew what it was about anyway.

The big mahogany door slowly closed to Miss Tsunade's office. I sat in the tiny seat provided; I was guessing it was deliberately small to make the person who occupies it feel small. It worked. The intimidation level was rising as she leaned out over her desk to fix me with this killer stare.

Not knowing what to do, I looked at the floor like an idiot, which I was in her eyes anyway.

'Sakura Haruno, do you know why I have called you here today?'

'Is it because of that rumour about me?'

'Let's hope it's a rumour, shall we?'

'It is Miss'

'And how do I know this?'

'Miss!'

'Sakura. I can't have this school's reputation put at risk by something like this' she turned around and looked out the window meaningfully, staring into the distance as if our school's reputation was over there.

'Miss, I assure you it isn't true. It's just a rumour Karin started about me'

'Why did she start this rumour?'

'She doesn't really...like me exactly'

'Why?'

'Because...because...' I tried to think of a reason, but I couldn't actually think of any reasons. Why did she hate me so much? Did she see me as a threat? Something to do with Sasuke? I felt a little smug at that. The fact that she would actually consider me as competition for Sasuke is quite something.

'Miss, to be honest, I don't know why exactly she doesn't like me. She just doesn't'

'I see- well just to be sure about all this, go downstairs to see the nurse. I can't take any risks Sakura you know that'

'But miss!-' I stopped immediately when she shot me a furious glance. 'I'll go now'

'That's better. After you see the nurse you may go back to your lessons. You're dismissed'

I got up stiffly and exited the office. I leant against the door after I closed it, taking deep shaky breaths. Now I had to see the nurse so she could make sure I wasn't pregnant. Oh this is just brilliant. I couldn't think of any ways this day could be better. Pushing myself off the door, I trudged to the nurse's office, my hands buried deep in the pockets of my coat and my head hanging lower than usual.

I knocked on the door weakly and poked my head into the office.

'Who is it?' asked the Nurse from around the corner.

'Sakura Haruno, class 10F. The head mistress sent me'

'Come in dear'

I stepped into the room and closed the door behind me, turning the corner. I then took a step back in surprise when I saw Sasuke sitting in one of the chairs, nursing his side. He obviously saw my eyes widen as he did his usual smirk, though it looked a little pained. I did my best to ignore him as the nurse questioned me.

I had to lean in and whisper why the head mistress had sent me, and she looked rather shocked. The first thing she said was

'My, you certainly don't look like the type who'd...you know'

'Tell me about it'

She asked me to sit down and that she would be with me in a second. I shuffled over and took a seat a few down from Sasuke. He was still holding onto his side. His expression was a complete poker face however. If he was feeling any pain he certainly wasn't showing it.

I zipped up my coat and nestled down to wait for the nurse. I knew this silence between us was pointless, so I rose my head up out of my coat to speak to him.

'So what are you in for?' I joked despite the situation.

'Fractured rib'

'What?' I exclaimed, my head fully popping out of my coat now. I thought he would have a bruise or a cut or something. Not a bone fracture! What was he doing? 'How did that happen? What did you do?'

He looked away, his eyes on the cheap lino floor. 'Long story'

'I've got time'

'No you haven't young lady' interrupted the nurse as she shut her laptop and stood up 'Come with me. Come on, and take your coat off'

I stood and quickly unzipped my coat, putting it on my chair before following the nurse into the separate room. She shut the door behind me, and I caught Sasuke looking at me through the closing crack. I stuck my tongue out at him before the door clicked shut.

We both took seats in the clinical room, the air smelt of plasters and the walls were white with lots of worrying posters that talked about things liked anorexia, depression and what to do if you thought you had Chlamydia. I gulped nervously and drew my attention back to the school nurse.

'Now then miss...what was it again?' she whipped out a pen and clicked it.

'Uh- Sakura. Sakura Haruno' I said nervously as she jotted down notes onto a clipboard with speed.

'Now then Sakura. I understand that Mrs Tsunade has sent you here to make sure that you aren't pregnant. Am I right?'

'Y-yes miss' hearing the words out loud really brought home the situation. That people actually I was 'knocked up'. I brought a hand to my stomach without realising it. 'Miss, just so you know. I really am not p-pregnant. There is no need to do lots of tests on me. I'm fine. Really'

'Well we don't know that yet' she smiled creepily. What was going to happen to me! What kind of tests did I have to go through? Would I be strapped to the table and prodded and examined like an alien abduction? What if it hurt?

'Will the test be painful?' I asked in a little voice.

'Oh no, don't worry about that' she laughed, patting me on the shoulder. 'All you have to do is take a pregnancy test' I looked at her blankly 'you know, you take a wee and if you get two lines then you're pregnant'

'Oh! That one'

She nodded with a less-creepy smile and then opened a draw in her desk before fishing out one of these pregnancy stick things. 'Here you go Sakura. Wait in the office until you need to go, have a drink as well. Then show it to me when you're done.'

'Okay miss' I took the box with the stick in it and went outside back into the office, where Sasuke was still sitting. I hid it behind my back to avoid talking about it.

'Sasuke Uchiha, I think I know who you are, you've been here so many times with injuries. Come here and I'll fix you up' the nurse ordered him.

He got up slowly and painfully, hobbling towards the room. As we crossed paths we exchanged weary glances. The door closed and Sasuke went to get bandaged up, as I went and drank a few glasses of water to speed the process up, if you get what I mean.

I slumped back into my chair, sitting on top of my coat which I'd left there. I read the instructions then opened the box, taking out the white stick. I didn't think I'd be seeing one of these for quite a while. I flipped it about in my fingers, waiting for nature's call.

After about 15 minutes of just sitting there twiddling a pregnancy test stick about, whilst suffering from a bum that lost all feeling a while ago, I finally felt the urge to go to the bathroom. I stood up, ignoring the feeling in my rear and waddled over to the toilet.

After doing my business I checked the stick. Of course, there were not two lines. I flushed and exited the bathroom with confidence, and walked straight into the nurse who was leading Sasuke out of the room.

'Oh! Sorry' I said, raising my arms in surprise

'It's alright dear; help this boy to his seat would you? Oh, thank you' I passed her the stick and she looked at it. I glanced to Sasuke to see if he noticed what was going on. Of course he did. His eyebrows flew clean of his face.

'See miss, I told you I was innocent' I told her, crossing my arms with defiance.

'So you are Sakura. That's what I thought anyway. I'll email the head mistress now'

'Thank you miss' then I went to help Sasuke back to his seat. Obviously the pain in his side was awful, I would interrogate him later. He better tell me what happened. I wrapped my arm around his waist, and he put his arm around my shoulder as we hobbled over to the seats. He was very warm; I could feel the heat coming off him even through his jacket. He doesn't seem to be doing that great today either.

I sat him down with some difficulty due to the weight and height difference, and then plonked down next to him.

'So your pregnant are you?' he breathed out

'No' I crossed my arms again.

'You don't seem like the person who would'

'And what's that supposed to mean?'

'Well you're not exactly...'

'What?'

He clenched his teeth and gripped his side, a low hissing noise escaping his lips.

'Sasuke!' I shot up and held his shoulder 'Are you okay? Nurse!'

She turned around and came to his other side. 'Sasuke, I've already given you some painkillers and bandaged you up best I can for now. Can you make it to the end of the day to go to the hospital?-'

'The hospital?' I interrupted frantically 'He has to go to the hospital? It's that bad?'

'It's a fractured rib Sakura. Yes it's that bad. Sasuke, can you last an hour?'

'Y-yeah. I'm fine' he murmured quickly, before having another spasm of pain, causing him to gasp. His fingernails digging in to his side

'Sasuke!' I cried out again, holding onto his shoulder as he clenched his teeth in pain.

'I'll call the ambulance now' the nurse said, standing and going over to the phone, as she talked I rubbed Sasuke's shoulder as he breathed in and out deeply.

'You're going to be okay' I said comfortingly

'It's not like I'm going to die' he muttered through gritted teeth. I pushed down the urge to whack him, I knew that wouldn't help.

'You're acting like it'

He convulsed for the third time, he groaned harshly and doubled over, before sitting back straight again, his eyes were shut in pain. And his jaw was clenched tight; his knuckles were white in his other hand as his grip tightened on the chair.

'Sasuke!'

'Stop shouting' he muttered again.

'Tell the ambulance to hurry up' I called over to the nurse, who was on the phone talking rapidly, before putting it down and coming back over.

'The ambulance is on its way. I've told the school office. All you have to do is hold tight Sasuke, they'll be here in a minute'

'Hang in there' I said, trying to reassure him again.

'What do you think I'm doing?' his retorts were getting tiresome now.

'Shush'

'You shush'

'Both of you stop. And don't goad him on Sakura' the nurse clucked as she checked Sasuke's pulse and went to get a thermometer.

'It was him!' I cried, seeing Sasuke smirk out of the corner of my eye.

When the ambulance arrived minutes later, Sasuke was taken off to the hospital. After watching the paramedics fuss over him and seeing him clenching his teeth in pain, I didn't know what to do with myself. I wanted to go in and help, but I was told to go back to my lesson by the nurse. But how could I after that?

I didn't know what was going to happen to him, I didn't know anything about fractured ribs. Did he have to have an operation? I chewed my bottom lip as I sat in the toilets again, mulling over everything that had just happened with my head in my hands. I was alone again; no doubt my friends didn't know where I was. This wouldn't be the first time. I didn't care that I was skiving lessons and that I would get found out, I needed time to think without teachers prowling around, invading my personal space.

I made up my mind about what I would do. As soon as school ends, or maybe now even. I would get a bus to the hospital and see if he is okay, then I can go home in peace, knowing that he's okay.

I stood up. Brushed myself off and shouldered my bag. I would have to sneak out undetected, unless I wanted to wait another half an hour in the toilets. That was not an option.

Like a mission impossible, I darted out of the toilets and round the back of the building. From here on I have to walk with confidence so it doesn't look like I'm up to anything. I strolled across the grounds and through some buildings until I came to the top of the drive. There was a big door, all I had to do was open it and walk. I stretched out my hand, turned the handle and pushed. The door swung open and I stepped outside, then without a backwards glance I speed walked down the drive, not halting when my calves started to burn. All the while feeling like my school was going to release the attack dogs on me, I kept expecting to hear sirens sounding and I mentally prepared myself in case I suddenly needed to make a break for it.

Don't worry Sasuke, I'm on my way!

Preview: Then he moved his finger away, and after looking into my nervous eyes for a few moments, he leaned over and kissed me.

Sorry for the delay everyone! I made it extra long so you can forgive me. Next chapter should be up soon as I've almost finished it already! Hooray for being on schedule! :D