My little hiatus is over. I'm on spring break now! WOO! But of course, during fourth quarter I don't think I'll be able to write that much since I know my parents will be forcing me to study day and night.

Anyway, this chappie is back in Ino's POV.

Still PG-13 (for later chapters really)

And I didn't say this last time, "Characters not mine. But the plot is! So nyah!

Chapter 4
Sakura's laugh brought a smile to my lips. I loved hearing her laugh, but what I said actually did sound funnier then I had meant it.

I opened my mouth to say something, but my words were cut short when Sakura stopped laughing and began looking out into space. She had seemed to forget I was here. Odd. I waved my hand in front of her face to break her out of it. "Sakura? Are you in there? Hello?" She blinked for a second and stared at me. Or at least, I think she was staring at me. Her eyes seemed to be looking right through me as though she were staring at the wall behind me. "Um, Sakura?" I shook her shoulder, "You okay?"

Finally, she seemed to snap out of it with a gasp. "I remember what I was going to tell you!" I raised an eyebrow as to tell her to keep going. She spoke some more, "This really hot guy came up to my door today. He was asking about some boy named Naruto. I think he said his name was Sasuke. He was really, really, really…" Sakura's word seemed to disappear as she spoke. She snapped herself out of it this time and said to me, "Do you know him?"

Oh yes, I know him. Sasuke, the biggest jerk a girl could meet. I had had a crush on him once. He took my crush and used it against me. His looks attracted people of both genders but his heart, what little there is off it, would break those who tried to befriend him. I shrugged lightly, not showing my hatred for him, and not looking Sakura in the eyes, "Yeah, I know him. And I know Naruto too." Sakura glanced at me with the same eyebrow-raising look I had given her earlier. "Yeah, Naruto was another orphan at the orphanage I was at. He brags that people like him better 'cause some couple adopted him. But the couple was two gay guys; one brunette and the other had gray hair with an eyepatch over his left eye. Weirdo." I looked back to see Sakura staring off into the distance again. I growled inwardly. Now Sasuke had stolen my best friends' heart. I decided to change the subject. "So, when are we school shopping? Less than a month till high school begins."

"I dunno, let's go ask my mom, and maybe we can start today." She said with a confident smile. I smiled back.

We left my little shack and headed for her house. She seemed a little too ecstatic as she skipped towards her home. I trailed behind remembering that I forgot to tie my hair up. Luckily, I had my favorite hairband in my pocket and just simply tied my hair back. I didn't feel like putting it up like I usually do. By the time I had finished, we were at her house. Sakura opened the door slowly and yelled inside as she entered, "Mom, I'm home. Mom?" I made my way up behind Sakura. Standing there quietly, I heard Sakura's mom yell back, "Sakura, good, you're home. I'm in the kitchen. Hurry up, I have good news for you." Sakura jumped up at hearing her mom say this. With no warning, she grabbed my hand a pulled me to the kitchen. I managed to close the door behind me as I was dragged away.

Sakura's mom, Mrs. Haruno, saw me standing behind Sakura. Her face gave me a dark look. I could've sworn I saw a flash of hatred in her eyes, but it was probably just a shadow. Her eyes drifted lower to my hand in Sakura's hand. She looked frightened. I almost laughed, she must be homophobic or something.

I felt Sakura jump up and down impatiently. "What? What good news mom? What?" Her mom forgot about me and smiled to her daughter. "Well I talked to the school you told me about and they are willing to take you in." Sakura squealed and let go of my hand to jump and give her mother a big hug, nearly choking her.

"You hear that Ino?" She said happily after she finished hugging her mom, "We'll be in the same school now. Can you believe it?" I nodded and ended up getting squeezed tightly in a bear hug from Sakura. She paused when the hug lasted a bit too long to be in front of her mom. She let go of me and said to her mom, "Hey mom, you know that Ino's parents are out of the country right now, right?" Mrs. Haruno shook her head. "Well they are," Sakura continued, "and she need help buying some school supplies. Can we help her?" Her mom frowned lightly at me, but not wishing to say anything to me. Sakura understood this and asked me to leave the room. I did as I was told and left the kitchen. I found a comfy place on the couch in the living room and waited patiently.

I didn't dare eavesdrop on their conversation because I knew it would make Mrs. Haruno dislike me more. Why did she hate me in the first place? What have I ever done to her? Or Sakura? Maybe it was the way I look or my attitude that displease her.

My thoughts were interrupted when I heard yelling from the kitchen.

"But she's my best friend and probably one of the nicest people in this neighborhood!"

"I don't care, she's a liar and a thief!"

"What makes her those things, mother? Where'd you get these lies?" I heard a slap and a yelp from Sakura.

"How dare you call your mother a liar! Especially after I got you into that school! If you wanna buy her some school supplies, you buy with your own allowance!"

"FINE!" Sakura screamed and stomped out of the kitchen. She pulled me off the sofa in her living room couch by the hand. She opened the door and pushed me outside. Before I could ask she hand gestured to me to wait a second and closed the door while she ran off inside. Standing outside in the warm afternoon sun by yourself seemed to last forever, but not in the happiest of ways, I suddenly felt so alone. Sakura was yelling at her mom inside again.

"No I'm not staying in here! I'm taking Ino shopping with my allowance just like you said!" With that, the door opened with an angry Sakura. She showed me the wallet in her hand. Her lips tried to smile, telling me to forget the earlier events, "Now, let's go shopping." I put my arm around her shoulders as we walked away from her house and down the street, even further from my home, everything forgotten but each other.

"I think these would match your hair best."

"It's pink," I said in monotone. Sakura nodded joyfully. I frowned. We had been shopping now for 30 minutes and everything Sakura had chosen for me was pink. "Isn't there any color in your life other than that?" I asked, but I already knew the answer.

She shook her head saying no. "Why would there be? Pink is such a beautiful color."

"I'd prefer blue or yellow. Heck, even green! But come on, Sakura. We're shopping for me, so let me choose." She sighed and but down the frilly t-shirt. "Thank you, now follow me to enjoy my taste in clothing."

She reluctantly followed me to the clothes on sale that no one wanted. I saw by her expression that she didn't like these. I know they aren't the 'in' clothing but these are what I liked and if she didn't like it; tough.

In the end we had bought a variety of pastel shirts and faded jeans with holes. I did buy a few skirts and pretty things to make Sakura happy. Next was school supplies. Obviously we bought the typical school stuff: paper, pen and pencils, a binder, a calculator and some other gizmos. But most important of all was the backpack or schoolbag depending on what I'd buy.

Sakura had easily found a small pink schoolbag that suited her interest. I glared, "You're buying that for yourself, not me. I need one with hidden pockets and tons of room." Not long did it take me to find the one I wanted. It was one of those backpacks that you could color on and add personal details to fit your needs. All I wanted done to it was have some initials sewn into a word. I told this to Sakura.

"Your initials are SH right?" Sakura nodded. "Mine are IY, but I could switch them around and put them in front of yours, it would spell YISH."

Sakura laughed, "YISH? Interesting. Sure get that sewn into there. We'll be known as YISH. Too bad we'll be in different grades."

"Umm, Sakura?" I said, almost afraid to tell her.

"What is it Ino?"

"Um…I…I didn't pass my grade last year, so we're actually in the same grade," I stared at her only to see a face so red with fury I jumped back a bit and covered my ears, knowing she would yell: "WHHHAATTTT!"

TBC...
OK, that chappie done, I'll get working on the next one ASAP.

Yugi-obsessed: I'm glad you wuv my story, and I hope you review again.

Kikirini-chan: Switching POV's is hard! But I'm glad you thought it was good. She hasn't met Naruto yet, so is it ok for me to use your idea about judging Naruto? 'Cuz that's a good idea. Yeah I don't really like Sakura either, but writing about her or reading about her (when she's not chasing after Sasuke) can make you wanna hug her. Hee, I'm glad to corrupt people! I seem to be doing well at it too! Ok, ramen-chan is ok, but it sounds more like something Naruto would say. Actually, unlike the show, I don't plan on any rivalry between Ino and Sakura. But there will be some jealousy sparks. Blehh, I'd like to tell you more, but I might give something away. Till next chappie, Kiki-chan.

OK, yup. Till next chappie, peoples. Later.

R & R