DISCLAIMER: This also feels like a filler chapter, hmm... Oh, yeah, Naruto is still not mine.

+ NARUTO +

FML

Gives You Hell – All American Rejects

"And then she bit him!" I laugh. "You should have seen her! She was so freaking awesome! And Kiba's face was priceless! Hahaha!"

My laughter trails off as I feel a murderous atmosphere coming from the quiet bastard sitting on the opposite couch. He's glaring more intensely than usual. I should shut up. Then again, it may be best if Sasuke murders me now.

"Anyway, there's no chance in hell. I will never do it."

I stormed out of that stupid theatre before anyone could stop me. Are they fucking kidding? Do I look like a freaking actor? I don't act, much less sing. I only sing in the showers, for crying out loud! And how did that crazy bitch got inside the shower rooms anyway? She should get in trouble for that. She could be a peeping tom.

"What are you doing next week?" I ask Sasuke as I open another can of beer.

"This and that." Sasuke shares vaguely.

I'm telling him something important and he's staring at his beer can. "Mom told me to go home. She said it's a surprise. Yeah, right. Remember the last time she had one of her 'surprises'? It left me, her only son, traumatized."

Stupid clowns and their stupid creepy faces.

"What's going on next week?" Sasuke asks, getting to his feet.

I shake my head. "You've been cooped-up in that studio for a long time. It's Golden Week."

"Ah." He starts walking away.

I almost choke on my beer. "Hey! Where're you going?"

"To coop-up in my studio."

"Are you going to drop-out?"

Sasuke pauses in his track. "Clean up then lock the door when you leave."

Moody bastard.

We're supposed to have a manly chat and talk about whatever it is that's bugging him. I definitely think it has something to do with Hinata. That bastard's likely to punch me if I ever offer him some help on that department. But seriously… how much longer is he going to sulk? He already missed 4 days of classes. I know he wasn't really interested in attending graduate school and would rather just pursue Architecture right away… wait, is he really going to drop out? I can't let that happen! There has to be something I can do.

xXx

"No." Dogbreath answers without a second thought.

He should at least pretend to think about it. We watch as Sasuke does another 3-point. For a heartbroken bastard, he still plays exceptionally. "What's so bad about a date? It's just a date." I point out to this moron sitting beside me. We're cleaning basketballs. Again.

"Don't think I don't know what you're doing." Kiba mumbles, frowning. "You're setting them up."

"Look, Sasuke's in a really deep slump at the moment –"

Kiba snorts in disbelief and nods at the court where Sasuke makes another 3-point. "Doesn't look like it."

I so want to throw these balls at this moron's head. I restrain myself, though. The gym is full of senpais and I'll definitely get in trouble if I do that. "He's skipping classes and the only thing that's stopping him from never showing up in school is basketball. I'm telling you, he's this close to dropping out."

"That's good news then."

"What about the team, huh? We will never make it to nationals without Sasuke!"

Kiba sighs. "I care about winning and getting that SNSD signed poster you're bribing me with but… setting my friend up to a guy she doesn't like is not a good idea."

"She's perfect for him."

"He's not perfect for her. Besides, what you're planning is never going to work."

"Not without your help!"

"I told you no. There's no way I can help you with that because aside from the fact that I don't like Uchiha Sasuke… Hinata has… issues."

"What issues?"

"Ever heard of the saying 'Once bitten, twice shy'?"

I shake my head. "No."

"Well, that's Hinata. Her first relationship ended badly. She doesn't want to get hurt again."

That sucks. I can't guarantee that she will never get hurt again. This is Uchiha Sasuke after all. He's known for ripping women's hearts out and trampling on them with enjoyment. But I definitely think he's serious about Hinata. I want them to be together but I don't want Hinata to get hurt but if they don't get together Sasuke will go away and I can't let that happen because we have to win the fucking nationals!

My head. It hurts.

"So about that signed poster –"

"UZUMAKI!" someone booms out all of a sudden.

I jump to my feet and rush to a livid Coach Ibiki. What did I do?! "YES, SIR!"

"From this day onwards, you're not allowed inside the gym anymore."

Say what?! "W-what?!"

"You fucktard," Hidan-senpai chides, wiping his face with a towel furiously. The practice is over and everyone steps closer to watch me get humiliated. "Haku said you walked out of the Drama Club yesterday. That was your punishment, you moron."

Oh, the injustice… I look at the coach. "How was that a punishment, sir? They told me that I'm… that I was the actor!"

"That's the punishment." Coach Ibiki nods gravely. It looks to me like he's trying not to barf or something. "Either you accept it. Or you're out of the team."

"That's not fair!" I exclaim in indignation. Sasuke sighs. Kiba shakes his head. I point at him. "How come Kiba doesn't have a role while I get the fucking lead role?"

Coach Ibiki glances at Captain Haku. The captain clears his throat. "The Drama Club doesn't have a script yet so they can't designate which role goes to whom."

"Screw that!" I protest loudly. "I'm not going to do it!"

"Either you accept it or you're out of the team." Coach Ibiki repeats. "That is final."

They have got to be fucking kidding me. I don't want to be in a stupid musical. I hate this. There's nothing I hate more than being manipulated into doing things I don't want to fucking do, dammit. I know I'm hot-tempered, impulsive, obnoxious… I have a foul mouth too, but what did I ever do wrong to deserve this?!

Someone thumps my back. Hard. I look up at a staring Sasuke. And then I notice that everyone's gone. It's just the two of us left in the gym.

"Just suck it up, idiot." Sasuke tells me quietly, turning away. "And get it over with. Stop thinking too much. You look constipated."

"Let's get drunk tonight, Sasuke."

"I can't. I'm having dinner with Mom."

xXx

I feel pathetic standing outside the Drama Club's room an hour later. "How long do I have to wait?" I ask an over-zealous member through gritted teeth. He looks like a freshman so it's okay to intimidate him a little.

"Uhm, they're discussing the script and the budget. The meeting started a few minutes ago so I think it'll be a while. The president said no interruptions so…" he trails off apologetically.

Whatever. "I'll just come back tomorrow then."

The freshman grabs my arm. I glare at him. I can't even remember his name. Muro-something? "No! I mean… the president will be delighted to see you."

This kid is so obviously in-love it's painful. "So?"

"So, if it's alright with you, please wait inside the lounge." He gestures at the end of the hallway.

I'd like to tell what's-his-name to go inside the stinking room and inform that peeping tom that I – the one they're begging to play the lead role – must not be kept waiting. I hold on to my patience though and drag my feet to the lounge without another word. I stare in amazement once I get inside the lounge. It's very colourful. I particularly like the vibrant walls. But. I am mad about the couch. The orange couch. I drop my bag there and I can't help but stroke the upholstery. I should get me an orange couch too. I notice an open door to my left and see a lot of clothes strewn about. Costume Room? Looks like it. I plop down the orange couch, grab my bag and fish out my ipad. I'll watch my goddesses while waiting. They were so pretty at the airport. I met my goddesses in person a couple of times now. The second time was yesterday and the first was backstage before their concert. They thought I was a pop star because of my hair, tee hee… they're adorable. Wait, if this musical becomes successful and I indeed become a pop star… shit, I'll be close to my goddesses! I can invite them to my parties, do collaborations with them, we can hang out together!

The sound of an opening door snaps me out of my daydreaming. It's from the adjacent room.

"So… we'll be working together." Huh? That voice sounds familiar.

A second voice answers. "Y-yes."

Hinata-chan? Uh… this is awkward. I feel like I'm eavesdropping. Where's my headphones… I rummage through my bag quietly. It'll be even more awkward if I get caught. But technically I'm not really doing anything wrong here.

"Thank you for not messing up my audition."

I stopped searching for my headphones for a second. Why would Hinata do that?

"W-why would I do that?"

Exactly.

"I was part of Sasuke-kun's fanclub. I fed those trolls stuff about you."

I stop searching for my fucking headphones altogether. Now I know whose voice that is. It's pinkie.

"A-ah… I see." Hinata replies sadly. Why, I have no idea. She should be angry at her.

"I understand that you're angry but we can't let that affect this production."

"I'm not angry." I frown at the resigned tone in Hinata's voice. That girl's been through a lot. "T-this… isn't the first time I was b-betrayed anyway."

Oh, BURN! I didn't get to hear pinkie's response because the door bangs open. "There you are, Hyuuga! They're looking for you. Come on!"

"Y-yes, Senpai!" Hinata squeaks. "Uhm… e-excuse me."

The door closes. I hear footsteps coming closer and a few moments later, pinkie is standing in the doorway. She looks sad. Is this the end of their friendship? If you call that a friendship… She gasps as she sees me sitting on the couch.

"How long have you been there?" she asks.

I shrug. "Long enough."

Her green eyes narrow in suspicion. "How much have you heard?"

"Enough to make me understand what Kiba meant earlier."

"What does that mean?"

"I'm saying it'll be even harder for Hinata-chan to have friends because of people like you."

She bristles. "You know nothing about me, Uzumaki!"

Something odd strikes me at this very moment. She's… really beautiful. But too bad. She's one of Sasuke's psycho fangirls. I nod in agreement. "True."

Before she can reply, the door to the lounge bursts open. It's Peeping Tom. She shrieks as she saw me. "I CAN'T BELIEVE IT! YOU'RE HERE!"

"I don't really have a choice, do I?" I mutter bitterly. As I submit myself to this fucked-up circumstance, I have come to a decision. Sorry, Sasuke. I can't help you with Hinata after all. I guess I just have to find another way to keep you around.

Peeping Tom is overwhelmed and it looks like she's about to cry. "Thank you! Thank you so much for accepting! This means a lot to me. If there's anything I can do to repay you for your kind consideration, you name it! Anything!"

My kind-what? I wouldn't be here if I'm not so fucking desperate to stay on the team… Her offer though… "I want this couch."

March 05, 2013 – Wow, this finished faster than I expected. Probably because I'm too excited for the upcoming chapters. I'llsaynomorebecauseIdon'twanttospoilyou. Kekekekeke~

Thank you so much for the reviews! I grinned like an idiot when I read that this story is "kinda realistic". That's what I'm aiming for. I want this to be as realistic as possible. I even have a map of the University of Tokyo, lol!

By the way, I know I said I'll minimize the swearing but I just remembered the reason why I categorized this as Rated M – there's loads of swearing. ^^

Angst is coming.