A/N: Here's the third chappy! I know you were anticipating the Sai-getting-his-ass-kicked thing, so...sorrrryyyy. But speaking of that...

No Lie: Okay, well, usually I'd personally reply to a reviewer, but you left me nothing, so I'm just gonna have to reply like this. And I don't know if you're still reading this story after I did so bad last chapter, but just in case you're reading I wanted you to know: You're right. I shouldn't have left out the ass kicking thing and I know everyone was disappointed, but I have to be honest with you: I actually DID have the scene written out. However when I reread the chapter, like, twice, I was all, "Wow. I've written the gayest fight scene ever." So I rewrote it again. Then I reread it. "Nope. Still pretty gay." So *spoiler* I'm gonna hold it off until later. I already wrote it out, and it's not AS gay, but it isn't mind-blowing either to tell you the truth. I get all queasy when I read or watch action scenes. I'm just a coward like that. Anyway more *spoiler* you won't get to read the scene until chapter 19. There's still so much I needed to write before the fight, so I hope you understand. And I'm sorry for not being a very good author, I'm inexperience, but I guess that's no excuse. If you're still interested in reading my story (which I doubt, so this LONG paragraph might have been all for nothing), I hope you enjoy this chapter:)

Wild Thing

Chapter Thirteen

Part I: You've Really Got a Hold on Me

The first time I started Aka high, was the first time people actually started paying attention to me (and not in the "Eww, gross, it's Naruto." kind of way).

Sasuke snorted with what seemed to be laughter.

"Oh, shut up, teme!" Naruto exclaimed.

Anyway,

In elementary school and junior high, people saw me as an annoying, attention-seeking kid. It was pretty much true, but I hated that fact, and I hated them. Still, I pretended I didn't care and continued pulling pointless pranks, picking fights, and talking back to anyone who I thought deserved it. But in my freshmen year, everything changed. I suddenly became the hot, new eye-candy on campus. The girls wouldn't leave me alone, and the instant all the guys realized that, they all started coming after me wanting to create a 'friendship'.

The only problem was I knew everyone at Aka high. From the time we were in elementary or junior high, they hated me, so why should I forget all the pain and hurt they put me through? I was cold, and dismissed everyone,

until I met her...

"Mother-fuck!"

"Dammit!"

I crashed directly into a petite girl, books and papers flying everywhere.

"Watch where you're going!" I growled, having easily been irate back then. "Goddammit." I hissed, cursing how bad enough my day was going. I didn't even bother to look at her.

"I'm so sorry!" she said, picking up her pieces of paper and books, along with my own. "I have no idea where I'm going and I just panicked."

At that time, I decided to skip class and walk around in hopes of finding a vending machine. Well, whatever. She must be new, so I'd just give her a break, but only for today!

I looked down, and to my surprise, found a nicely figured girl with short, pink hair. Unusual color, but admittedly, really pretty. She lifted her head to look up at me, willing to apologize once more, but it wasn't until then I saw the most beautiful face I've never seen in my life.

I could never describe Sakura's beauty; it was something so...I didn't even know the words for it, and I don't think anyone would ever know how to put it in words.

I couldn't speak properly, whenever I tried, only incoherent stutters would spill out of my mouth.

"I-I...uh...it's...y-yeah...," I felt so stupid.

The gorgeous mystery girl stood up and handed me my things. "Again, I'm really sorry." she looked apologetic. Then suddenly to my surprise, her face appeared angry. She turned into my direction and snorted. "But maybe you should watch where YOU'RE going." she turned her heel and walked haughtily in the other direction.

I gawked after her stupidly, standing frozen in a horrendous shock.

So the new girl had an attitude?

1:00 o'clock in the morning was enough for Shikamaru to stand,

yet, here he was, forced into being apart of Ino's latest conversation.

He yawned and stretched his arms, slapping himself to keep awake. He stared at the clock again and sighed.

1:12 A.M. dammit.

His eyes wondered where Chouji was, obviously engaged in the conversation, no doubt because of his obsessive crush on Ino since the first grade. Lee sat on another couch, just happy to be there. Shino was pretty much dragged into this, and Kiba merely stayed because he didn't want to sleep: fuckin' soda machines. He even snuck Akamaru in, knowing the educational authorities were asleep; it was a safe bet.

God only knows Ino can't survive unless she has more than three people to chat with.

"So how about Neji, right? Isn't it great we turned a full-fledged Aoi into an Aka! Who would've thought? I mean, come on, people, Neji wasn't and probably still isn't the warmest person to be around with. Am I right?" she squealed.

"Of course! His lack of youthfulness disturbs me, but deep down, it's in there, and that is why he became one of us!" Lee responded, punching a fist in the air.

"Sure, Lee." Ino muttered.

"I just wanna see the look on everyone's faces when they see one of their best Aoi wearing a red-tie on Monday." Kiba smirked, gratefully pleased with himself.

Shino stared at him. "Is that why you accepted him so suddenly? Because you wanted to see the look on the Aoi's faces?"

An irritated sigh escaped Kiba's lips. "Duh, Shino. Why else would I let him join our ranks so fast?"

"Because we enjoy the fact that we have happily accepted someone into our family?" said Chouji with a shrug.

"No, fool! Because I enjoy the fact that I have inflicted pain upon the Aoi bitches!" Kiba laughed uncontrollably.

Akamaru didn't even bother to bark at him, reminding Kiba of how idiotic he sounds.

Shikamaru shook his head at everyone. Neji was certainly a cold person, but he's really shaped up since meeting Tenten.

Lee noticed the connection right away between the two star-crossed lovers, but couldn't find it himself to be truly happy with it. Ever since creating a bond with Tenten in the sixth grade, he's done nothing but adore her and doing anything she asks. However, the feelings were never returned. No matter what, all he'll ever want is for her to be happy, and if that meant being with his roommate, he'll just have to keep a straight, happy face and live with it. He genuinely believed Neji to be his friend, and that was the most youthful and precious gift he would graciously accept. That was enough to erase his bitter feelings and embrace Neji and Tenten's relationship.

"So I say we throw a party for our newly recruited Aka student!" said Ino, shining radiantly in the light.

Lee envied the youthfulness in her.

"Oh no, Ino, please don't." almost everyone in the room groaned.

She placed a hand on her hip and grimaced at everyone. "Well, why not? You guys always agree when Sakura wants to throw a party! What am I, an insect?"

"Because Ino, every time you try to plan a party, it ends up being too expensive, too extravagant, and it almost never happens anyway." said Shino. "And you are not an insect."

"Yeah, and Sakura hardly ever uses money to make a great party." Kiba proclaimed. "The most she ever used was a fifty dollar bill whereas your total sum would probably be a billion gazillion."

"What are you talking about!?" she shrieked.

Shikamaru snorted. "The time you wanted to have the party at Paris Hilton's mansion."

"She's the perfect party girl!"

"The time you wanted to rent the most exclusive club in Konoha." Shino muttered.

"The lights are cool! And the service is excellent."

"The time you wanted to buy a female/male strip club?" murmured Kiba. "That would've been a good idea if it wasn't IMPOSSIBLE."

"Whatever, Kiba. I thought everyone would have fun watching paid strippers strip! I didn't think it would be expensive."

"No one ever does, sweet-cheeks." Kiba muttered knowingly.

"Okay, so what? The things I planned were FUN." Ino rolled her eyes. "I can go under the price limit if I wanted to."

Everyone looked unsure, thinking if it would be a good idea to let Ino take control.

"Besides, Sakura's...busy at the moment. You guys know her situation, right?"

"I wish I didn't." Shikamaru groaned. "The school gossipers are still going through troublesome lengths to make sure everyone knows."

Ino coughed nervously. "Yeah, well, there you go. Sakura's busy, and so is Naruto apparently. So all you have left is ME."

"Well," Kiba pondered. "exams are coming up real soon, so I guess this would be the perfect time." Akamaru literally rolled his eyes at that comment.

"Exactly!" Ino beamed.

"Fine." Everyone sighed in agreement. "What do you plan to do, Ino?" asked Shikamaru who muttered 'troublesome woman' under his breath when her face lit up.

"Okay, so here it goes." she squealed delightfully. "I think we should invite a special guest appearance who will sing for us."

Uh oh.

"Who exactly?" Shino asked.

"Get this: Britney Spears."

"Ugghhh." the boys groaned, somehow knowing something exactly like this would happen.

"What? I'm sure she'll come for free!" Ino tried to encourage them.

Not wanting to witness Ino's embarrassment, Chouji stepped in. "How about we step it down a notch? Invite someone less in demand."

"Like who?" Ino crossed her arms, displeased with everyone's pessimistic attitude.

Kiba pondered. "Hmmm. How about Paul Anka?" he shrugged.

Ino made a face. "Who's that?"

Kiba looked completely flabbergasted. "Dammit, Ino. He's-He's a famous singer!" he threw his arms in the air.

"Oh, like Justin Timberlake."

Kiba looked questionable. "Who's Justin Timberlake?"

"He sings Sexyback."

"Oh." Kiba blinked. "I love that song."

"I know, right."

Shikamaru let out an exasperated sigh. "So are we doing this party or what?"

"I guess not," Ino lifted her nose in the air and attempted to walk away. "since you idiots won't go for my Britney Spears idea."

"Not a chance in the universe." Kiba muttered. "Even if you could convince her to come."

"Fine!"

The fifth time I saw her, she wasn't exactly pleased knowing I was in almost all her classes. In fact, she practically ignored me through the entire day.

But for some reason, I couldn't let that happen. I had to get to know her, I had to talk to her, I had to do something.

And at that very thought, I tripped against cold, smooth ground, landing near the new girl's feet.

Everyone in class laughed, knowing I was still the class clown. The girl looked down at me with her brilliant green eyes and a miracle happened: I managed to crack a smile out of her. Soon enough, she couldn't help herself, and broke into fits of giggles.

For the first time I felt like I've accomplished something big.

She offered me her hand, and I gladly took it. Giving myself the extra push, I got up and quickly sat behind her before anyone else would take the seat. You see, I noticed how often the student male body would goggle at the girl's very presence, like she was some kind of goddess deemed to be worshiped.

At the time, I thought so too.

"Looked to me like you faked it." she murmured, grinning devilishly behind those lust-teasing lips.

A light flush appeared on my cheeks. "What? No way! Why would I purposely fall flat on my face?" I laughed nervously. "Do you know how painful that was?"

"Was the pain worth getting my attention?"

I paused.

So she knew what I was up to. I played along. "I'd say so." She looked at me, not saying a word, obviously taken into thoughts.

"Oh?"

I grinned, and turned my head to stare at Kiba who turned away when he noticed I was looking. "You see that guy I'm looking at?" I nudged her arm, nodding towards the bruised and beaten up dog-lover. She turned her attention towards him and nodded. "He's been trying for hours to get your attention. Ever since first period. Remember when he and Lee picked a fight right in front of you?"

"How can I forget. I was traumatized for life!" She clutched her heart,

which didn't help me at all in calming down from nervousness seeing as how her heart happened to be her chest. And when I see a girl clutch her chest, my hormones go insane.

"Y-Yeah." I cleared my throat trying to regain calmness."Well, Kiba paid Lee with who-knows-what and asked him to beat the crap outta him in hopes that it would make you sympathize with him, therefore, getting closer to you." I told her, managing to look pleased with my great detective work, even though I was hella nervous.

She gasped. "He wouldn't go that far just for me!"

"You'd be surprised at how many guys would go far for you." I chuckled ironically.

"Wow." she said in deep thoughtfulness. "I just got here a few hours ago."

"Right." I retorted. "So you see, what I did to get your attention was feeble compared to about ninety percent of the male students here."

"No kidding." she laughed with me.

I actually got another laugh out of her.

Must've been my lucky day.

"And wow. Ninety percent?" she looked surprised.

I shrugged. "The other ten percent are either gay, or...well, gay."

The girl laughed again. Amazing.

After the laughter stopped, to my greatest disappointment, there was long silence. We looked into each others eyes for a moment longer, but I finally broke that silence.

"My name's Naruto Uzumaki." I tried to smile as charmingly as I could.

"I'm Sakura Haruno." It was the most beautiful name I've ever heard. It suited her perfectly.

Then I couldn't take it any longer; my feelings were no longer controllable.

"Will you go out with me!?" I exclaimed, surprising both myself, and Sakura.

I was grateful no one else heard.

"What?" her green eyes widened and her face flushed bright red. At first I thought she was leaning back away to reject me. "I just met you."

"I know!" Suddenly I panicked. "I just...it's that...you're so...uh...," I mentally slapped myself for being the incoherent freak again.

Amused by my unorganized sentence, she cracked a smile. "Okay."

I gaped, unable to comprehend.

"I'll go out with you."

That was the single most happiest moment of my life.

Sakura knew it wasn't in her best interest to complain, but Gaara forced her into it.

After talking with him, she's realized just how stupid she's been avoiding everyone the way she did. It wasn't fair treating people that way, especially Sai. She slowly, yet grudgingly walked to her dorm, hoping he was deep in sleep. Sakura got to her door and opened it as quietly as she could.

"Where have you been?"

Tons of curses threatened to escape.

"I need to talk to you."

Hearing the desperation in his voice, Sakura couldn't reject the vulnerable side of him.

What happened to the good old days when they hated each other? The times when he called her 'ugly' and she called him various names involving the words 'shit' 'fuck' 'ass' and 'skinny bitch'? What has he done to make her feel so attracted to him? To make her feel guilty and dirty? She closed the door behind her and looked at him for the first time in days.

He really did look miserable.

The boy sat on the bottom bunk, having perfect, purple bags beneath his eyes. His face was paler than usual, and worst of all, his closet and walls were empty.

What happened to all his paintings?

"Sai, don't move out because of me-"

He chuckled softly. "Why not? It's the least I can do if you don't want me around-"

"I do want you around!" Sakura pleaded desperately.

"But you don't want me..." he muttered, not being able to bear to look in her emerald, watering eyes.

And the tears spilled.

She cried, abandoning all efforts to hide her emotions. Sakura ran towards Sai as if she would never see him again, and wrapped her arms around his waist, crying uncontrollably against his chest. Sai flinched, shocked by the sudden reaction, but nonetheless, he stood on his feet pulling Sakura close to himself and embraced her, leaning his chin against her head.

He never experienced this emotion before,

it was something more than a beating heart, than the fact of knowing you like somebody.

Could Sai possibly love her?

The boy inwardly chuckled at the statement. Everything was going too fast.

No, it wasn't love.

But he's definitely more attracted to her than he thought possible.

"You're taking me to a...porn shop?" Sakura looked at me disapprovingly as if seeing me in the light for the first time.

I quickly explained that it was nothing like that and I had zero interest in porn,

which wasn't entirely true, but what she doesn't know won't hurt her.

I quickly brushed that thought off. "No, I hate porn." Liar. I was a big fat liar that night. "Nope. This is my godfather's shop. He's the owner."

"Oh." she looked pleasantly surprised. "You have a godfather?"

"Yeah." I shrugged. "Just a dirty, old geezer. He's nothin' special-"

"Naruuutoooo!" a loud, low, and irritating voice reached both our ears, causing her to jump in panic and causing me to groan in pain.

"What, old pervert!?" I grind my teeth, obviously annoyed.

I expected to see Jiraiya come straight at me for the rude comment, but instead, nothing. He didn't even come out to lecture me on the importance of respecting elders. Thank god. I don't think I could handle having Sakura die of boredom on our first date. I turned to give her an accomplished grin, but that instantly faded when I saw that fuckin' ero-sennin taking his huge, old-guy's hands into Sakura's. I'm pretty sure I felt steam escaping out of my ears and nose.

That pervy geezer wasn't going anywhere with my date!

"You're incredibly beautiful for a girl your age." He said, examining Sakura's blushing face.

"Uh, thanks." she replied modestly.

"And your body, my lady, I'll bet in a couple years you'll be the curviest, sexiest woman alive-"

"Jiraiya!" I groaned shamefully.

Sakura giggled at my distress, and suddenly I felt my heart flutter.

"What!? I'm only complimenting her." he shrugged innocently, and winked seductively at her,

or at least tried to.

"Come on, Sakura-chan." I muttered, taking her hand and leading her to the back of the shop.

When we got there, I opened the door and let her in first. I heard her gasp in surprise and knew my efforts weren't wasted.

Before I picked her up, I borrowed Jiraiya's movie projector (which was in everyday use for his open porno video club, a club I wouldn't be caught dead in), and set up a perfect, huge sheet I 'borrowed' from Tsunade up against the wall. I 'borrowed' a more comfortable sheet from Baa-chan too, laying on the ground for Sakura and I to sit on. And to perfect the date, brought in a little food.

"Wow, ramen?"

"Best meal you'll ever eat."

"Tell me about it. I love ramen." she beamed at me.

I nearly died when she said that. "Will you marry me?"

She smirked and teasingly shoved my shoulder. "So what movie are we watching?" she asked, collapsing on Tsunade's best sheets and pillows, making room for me.

I secretly smiled affectionately at the gesture.

"The Lord of the Rings trilogy." I grinned, noting the pleasant look on her face.

"Are you kidding? Those are my favorite movies!" She beamed brighter at me.

I would've just loved to make out with her then and there.

"Will you please marry me?"

A/N: Haha! Unfortunately that's what I meant when Naruto told Sasuke he asked Sakura to marry him! Whoo! Okay, Part II comin' up next week.