Chapter 2: The Head Cheerleader and her Shadow
"Thanks, Sakura."
Sakura Haruno watched her longtime best friend, Ino Yamanaka, press her slightly damp hair with the towel she had just handed her. A week before school started, Ino had gone to their new gym teacher and executed a flawless acrobatic routine in front of her, succeeding in getting the position head cheerleader even before school began. Furthermore, she even managed to talk the middle-aged woman into letting her keep her old squad from Aiko Elementary. Right now, members of the said squad all looked beaten as they fixed their hair and walked out of the gymnasium. The first practice of the school year had just ended.
"Not looking good, I think," Sakura commented as Ino pulled out a water bottle from her gold and black-- the school colors-- striped bag. The blonde had taught them a difficult new move and no one had it done by the time practice was over.
"Yeah," Ino replied before twisting the cap off the bottle and taking a long drink. Just as she was finishing, the sound of the gym doors opening and banging shut drew their attention towards the other side of the building. The black-haired girl that had just come in saw them and started running towards them. "Oh, great…" Sakura heard Ino mutter under her breath.
"Konnichiwa, Hinata-san," Sakura greeted the newcomer with a smile.
"Ino-chan, Sakura-chan, I'm glad you're here," a slightly panting Hinata replied. She stood in front of them and smiled shyly, nervous fingers of clasped hands restless in front of her. "Um...Ino-chan, I was looking for you to apologize." Hinata bowed down low before them. "About the presentation last summer, I mean. I'm really, really sorry to have cause you so much inconvenience. If--"
"Hinata-san, it's alright, don't worry about it!" Ino finally cut her off, waving her hands in front of her in emphasis. "It was no problem at all!" she assured the dark-haired girl with a smile.
Sakura kept her own smile but was slightly irritated with her best friend. Ino can be such a fake at times, especially with Hinata. Their schoolmate was part of the Hyuuga clan, one of the most well-known families in school. Every Hyuuga had either brains or sports skills and each had left his or her own legacy-- about a third of the trophy room belonged to them alone. Their family had been held in the highest esteem for as long as anyone could remember, demanding respect and compliance from everyone. And while it wasn't likely kind Hinata would use her family's influence to get back on whoever would dare go against her, a Hyuuga, everyone still remained polite if not sweet to the young girl. Some were truly sincere while others, like Ino, only feared the other Hyuuga member in school-- Hinata's slightly overprotective cousin in second year, Neji.
They were talking about the song number she and Ino had in a couple of different schools last summer. Hinata was supposed to be her partner then, but changes were done on their family's plans for vacation and they left ealier than expected. For some strange reason they couldn't find a replacement for her, and for an even stranger reason, Ino ended up as the only one available to fill her place.
"Oh, good!" Hinata replied, a familiar smile finally breaking on her face. "Well, I have to go. Thanks again, Ino-chan! See you tomorrow in music class, Sakura-chan!" she bade as she ran back outside.
"I can't believe you're still taking that class!" Ino rounded in on Sakura as the gymnasium doors swung shut. Sakura turned her eyes away from them and turned to look at her best friend.
"Huh?" she asked, a bit bewildered, "What do you mean?"
"Your music class!" Ino practically spat, as if the very mentioning of it would ruin her reputation in school. "It was okay back in grade school-- even in middle school-- but we're in high school now, Sakura!"
"I still don't understand what you're talking about, Ino," Sakura answered, shaking her head, but in a voice she was sure wouldn't irritate Ino more.
Ino sighed, restraining herself from hitting her forehead with the palm of her hand. For someone who graduated Aiko Elementary top of class academics-wise, her best friend could be so dense sometimes. She pointed towards the basketball court. "Do the routine I was showing my squad earlier," she requested, more like commanded actually.
"Huh?" Sakura repeated the confused sound again, both at the weird request and at the abrupt change in their conversation, if you could even call it one. The look Ino gave her, almost a glare, made her move without further questioning of motives however. Sakura walked to the middle of the court and executed the routine perfectly. "Well?" she asked afterwards, slightly irritated with Ino. She was irritated with herself, too, for following the girl with no protest. Yet again.
Ino walked over to her and brushed away imaginary dust from her school skirt. Any ill-feelings she had half a second ago vanished into the air like steam from a morning cup of coffee. Because, really, what could she do about it? Ino was her best friend, her leader, and her teacher all in one. She used to be miserable, this awkard pink-haired big-forehead new girl, before Ino took her under her wing. She owed her a lot.
"See? You're better than over half of the girls in my squad, Sakura, but still you're--"
"--but Ino! I just managed to do it because I've seen you do it tons of times!" she quickly interrupted, already knowing where this conversation was leading to. Oh, how well she knew. They've had it for who knew how many times now.
"But on the first try? Don't kid yourself, Sakura. You and I know you're good." Ino spoke with pride in her voice, as if she too took credit on just how good Sakura was. She played the sister to the lone-child Sakura as well. "Now, if you'll only consider joining the squad, I'm sure you'll become popular too, and not just with the books."
"Oh, Ino." Sakura nearly groaned.
Ino's hands dropped to her side, a slightly disappointed look flashing acorss her face before the ever-confident cheerleader captain and school most popular freshman look came back.
"Just think about it, okay? I'll see you tomorrow," Ino said and waved as she went out of the gym.
"Nice game, everyone!"
Gym bag in hand, Ino turned her head towards the entrance to other gymnasium just as the doors closed behind a group of boys heading out. The would-be basketball squad. Some of them were arm in arm with a few of the girls in her own cheerleading squad and she sauntered over them to mingle. Her eyes immediately went over familiar faces of their year's in crowd, coming to a stop on two she didn't recognize. One had black hair and was quietly talking to Shino, the other had blonde hair and looked like he was trying to enter their conversation but couldn't. The black-haired one had all the markings of a snob, but it was him who attracted her attention the most. He was, to put it simply, gorgeous.
"Ino-chan, hi!" a voice she knew only a lot more perky greeted her before she could inspect the group further. Ino's blue eyes turned to the girl she had been talking to only a few minutes ago-- Hinata-san. It was a surprise to find her there. Not that she didn't belong-- in Ino's opinion she didn't, but she was a Hyuuga and all of their kin did. Hinata was one of the brightest in their level, but nothing too unbelievable and only that. She was like Sakura in more ways than one and, best friend or not, Ino would be first to admit Sakura would never make any progress up the social ladder if she didn't shape up. Unlike Sakura though who was just plainly unmotivated, Hinata downright avoided sports like a plague. Ino knew for a fact that it was because the girl lacked the confidence to play, as well as feared making a fool of herself and letting her family down. So, she'd rather not play at all. One who didn't have the guts shouldn't anyway.
So why was she, of all people, there and why did she sound like she was high on something?
"Yo, Ino! Your cheering practice done already?" a loud voice asked from beside the usually timid girl. The person it belonged to had one arm wrapped around her waist. His liveliness must be rubbing off on the quiet Hyuuga. Inuzuka Kiba, last year's captain of track team and member of the basketball team out of his above-average speed. Other than that, he wasn't a looker and definitely wasn't much of a student. It must be true then that opposites attract since he and Hinata have been best friends since Hinata transferred to Aiko Middle School during seventh grade.
"Yeah, sure," Ino answered smoothly as the group reached her. The girls of her squad were all busy talking with their respective male counter-parts, but they paused and waved at her before returning to their conversations.
"I still can't believe you talked Kurenai-sensei into making you head cheerleader-- just like that!" Kiba said, snapping his fingers in time for emphasis. Hinata smiled shyly next to him.
"Yeah, well, the seniors still get the spot. We're not the varsity team--" She smiled wryly. "--yet."
"I wouldn't be too sure of myself if I were you. Aiko High's cheerleaders are no airheads. They are Aikians after all," one girl in the group was quick to protest. Ino's eyes sharply turned to the direction of the voice, settling on the cute blonde who dared contradict her and look back at her unflinchingly. She didn't know her, but Ino wouldn't have anybody talk to her like that. She opened her mouth to say something scathing, but a male voice beat her to it.
"Temari, stop that."
The girl, Temari, immediately backed off at the softly spoken command. There was something close to fear in her eyes.
Ino's eyes turned to a redhead in surprise. "Do you know her?" she asked their basketball team captain and baseball's number one batter. Not to mention, one of town's richest kids and the son of the school's assistant principal. Gaara was a genuine spoiled brat and got whatever he wanted. He and Ino had been together two years ago, back in seventh, but only for appearances and a relationship wherein both parties were used to having their way would never work out anyway. They weren't on ill-terms with each other, but a silent popularity-war had always been there between the basketball team and cheerleading squad since then.
"My older sister, Temari," Gaara answered in that superior manner of his of doing things. More than one in the group was caught off his guard at the sudden admission as they turned their heads as one to look first at the redhead and then at his blonde sister. Gaara had never mentioned her and they had never seen her before today either. They resembled each other...somewhat. She definitely had his haughty air and eyes if nothing else.
"I've been living in France with my aunt," Temari explained to the owner of the curious eyes on her. She seemed to realize but was not at all perturbed with the fact that her own brother had on no account given even a shadow of a clue that he was not an only child as she continued, "I'm not surprised Gaara has never talked about me. It's nice to finally meet his friends though." This earned her a cold glare.
Still, Ino had not yet forgotten their little squabble earlier. "So why do you think we won't be able to defeat the varsity, Temari?"
"I've seen them. They're good," the girl answered simply. Ino refrained from snorting.
"Wait until you see us," she said boldly. Temari remained unimpressed. "Are you in the varsity squad?" Ino had to ask because of the other blonde's form. Temari regarded her curiously, and then shook her head. "Would you like to join my squad?"
"I have no in--"
"I only ask people who I think are the best to join my team," Ino interrupted. Temari smirked.
"Fine. I'll join your little squad. Just don't be a pain if your members end up thinking I'm better than you."
Ino smiled back over-sweetly before remembering what she'd seen earlier. Looking past Temari and his far-from-pleased-looking brother, her eyes locked on to the black-haired guy she had been watching before Hinata broke into her thoughts. "Hey, Kiba, who're those two?" It was best if she didn't let anyone know yet, he might turn out to be a completely dope, something she highly doubted.
"The one talking to Shino's Uchiha Sasuke. The other's Uzumaki Naruto," Kiba answered just as the two approached them, the blonde trailing after the other who looked like he either didn't notice or didn't care.
"I'm going," Sasuke said to no one in particular and a couple of the guys looked up in acknowledgement. Some even took their hands off their girlfriends' shoulders to pat him lightly on the back. No one saw it, but a shadow of annoyance flickered in the depths of the young man's black orbs before being replaced by coolish indifference as he flashed them a half-smirk half-smile and knocked closed fists with one.
"Great game today! You'll sit with us tomorrow in class, right? And look for our table during lunch! You can't miss it! You too, Naruto!"
Sasuke turned around to find his old classmate behind him again, and glared. Naruto was too busy grinning back at the guy to notice though.
"He's right. You guys have to sit with us during break tomorrow. By the way, this beautiful girl here is Hinata. She's my best friend. And this is Ino. She's the head cheerleader of our year's squad," Kiba said, motioning at the two girls in turn. Ino watched as Hinata's face immediately flushed at being introduced the way she had been.
"Nice to meet you, Sasuke-kun. Y-you too, N-Naruto-kun." Interesting. Hinata couldn't even look at Naruto straight for more than half a second.
"You too, Hinata-chan!" Naruto replied enthusiastically. Ino was starting to have her doubts about this kid. But, like the others, she was willing to give him a chance since he hung out with Sasuke. Who was cool without a doubt and was...looking straight at her.
Ino couldn't figure out the look he was giving her. His eyes...they were black! She had never seen such dark eyes and immediately knew them to be the kind you'd never get tired of looking into. The kind that, how cliché though it may sound, it would be so easy to get lost in. Unlike Hinata though, she wasn't about to mess up her first meeting with her prince charming.
Sheesh...He was so good-looking that even her speech was jumbled. Prince Charming? What was she? A first-grader? Ino mentally shook herself.
"Uchiha Sasuke." Even his name sounded good to her. Ino held out her hand and Sasuke took it wordlessly. There was still that strange look...not that she overly-minded. At least, his eyes were still on her. He let go of her hand quickly enough. Alright, time to do one of the many things she did best-- getting whichever boy she wanted....
And the perfect opportunity was interrupted by a loud cry from the Uzumaki kid.
"Ah! I have to go too! Sasuke, let's go!" Naruto exclaimed and was about to grab Sasuke's other hand to pull him towards the street when the black-haired boy quickly placed it out of his reach. He glared down at his posing-as-friend rival briefly then looked up.
"We'll see you later," he again told no one in particular as he and Naruto went on their way. Ino had to restrain herself from glaring at the blonde boy's back.
There's always a next time...one she wouldn't let pass.
to be continued...
Disclaimers: No, I don't own Naruto. Big surprise there, right?
Author's Notes: Simple and clean (no, not the song!), here's the second chapter and sorry for the LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONG delay. I wonder if anyone would be reading this now anyways....