Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

Chapter II

Sakura shouldered her way through the crowd of kids swarming around Sasuke's pool deck area toward Ten-Ten, Aiko, and Ino, three other girls from school. "Glad you made it," Ten-Ten said. "Are you feeling better today?"

"Perfect." Sakura flashed a smile to prove it. "I had to park two blocks down the street. What a mob scene."

"Sasuke throws good parties," Ino said with a bored expression. She was a tall, willowy blonde who did some professional modeling. Ino wasn't Sakura's favorite person. Sakura considered her conceited and snobbish, totally unfriendly.

With a sly whisper, Aiko told Sakura, "Get a soda and I'll pour a little something special in it."

Sakura knew she meant something alcoholic because it was obvious that many in the crowd had been drinking. She was tempted, but for diabetics alcohol wasn't smart. It wreaked havoc with blood sugar levels. All she needed was to have a reaction and make a fool of herself in front of her friends. Especially Ino. "Maybe Later," she hedged.

"How about you, Ten-ten?" Aiko asked.

"Too many empty calories," Ten-ten said with a grin. "I'd rather waste them on chocolate."

Sakura admired Ten-ten's way of saying no. "So what's happening?" Sakura asked.

In one direction, Sasuke's house rose, a two-story mansion of white stucco and red Spanish tile.

"Same old, same old," Ino said. "No new faces. What a bore."

"Then why'd you come?" Ten-ten asked.

"She hopes Sasuke will give her a tumble," Aiko said cattily.

Sakura didn't like what she heard. She'd secretly been interested in Sasuke herself ever since school had started in September. Ino was formidable competition.

Ino arched an eyebrow. "I usually get what I go after."

"Did you get that job modeling clothes for the catalogue that's shooting on Miami Beach next week?" Ten-ten asked.

"Of course. My agent called to confirm yesterday."

Ten-ten said, "I'd love to model, but I love food too much." She patted her hips. "And every bite settles here."

"I eat whatever I want," Ino said.

"But you never seem to gain weight."

"There're ways around gaining."

Sakura listened glumly. Her diabetes caused her wage an endless war with weight gain. The only time she'd been truly thin was when she'd been first diagnosed. Diabetic ketoacidosis, a condition brought on by a need for insulin, had left her weak and gaunt, and dehydrated.

"Why are the best-looking girls at my party standing with one another instead of mingling?" Sasuke asked, swooping into the foursome, encircling Ino's and Sakura's waists with broad, muscular arms.

Sakura felt her breath catch at the sight of him. Ino said, "We were drawing straws to see who gets you for the evening."

Sasuke grinned. "Who won?"

"Don't you mean 'Who lost?'"

Todd nuzzled Ino's neck. "I could make time for all of you."

"Sorry, I don't do crowd scenes," Ino told him, eyeing the others. "And three is definitely a crowd."

He pulled back. "If it's privacy you want, come into the house with me."

Sakura felt Sasuke's arm leave her waist as he turned his full attention onto Ino. "Maybe I will," Ino said coyly. "But you'd better make it worth my time."

Sasuke took her hand and started up the sloping lawn toward the back patio and veranda of his home. "Don't mind me," Aiko called after Ino, her voice edged with sarcasm. "I'll find another way home." She whirled toward Ten-ten and Sakura, looking miffed. "Ino never thinks of anybody but herself. Did you see how she hustled Sasuke off?"

"Big deal," Ten-ten said.

But Sakura thought it was a big deal. In one smooth movent, Ino had staked her claim on Sasuke and wrapped him up like a package. "There's no accounting for taste," Sakura said to the others.

Aiko studied her. "At least you'll be doing his makeup for the play. That'll put you in his face every night for two weeks."

"It's a dirty job, but somebody has to do it," Sakura said sweetly, knowing Aiko's observation was true. The senior play was in March. Rehearsals had already started and soon, full makeup would be required. In the meantime, Lacey painted sets and did backstage work. "I'll mention your name when I'm 'in his face.'"

Aiko stalked off. Sakura watched her clear a path through the crowds and asked, "Gee, was it something I said?"

Ten-ten smiled. "Poor Aiko. Two strikes against her in less than fifteen minutes."

"Are you feeling sorry for her?"

"Are you kidding? She's the biggest mouth in school. She deserves to be hassled." Ten-ten tapped her chin thoughtfully. "Do you like Sasuke?"

"He's all right. Aren't you interested in him?"

"No way. The only person Sasuke cares about is Sasuke. He's too good-looking. He has too much money. He thinks he can have anything he wants. Don't waste your time on him, Sakura."

"Nothing else is happening."

"Boredom's no reason to go after a guy."

Ten-ten's words brought back Temari's from the previous summer at Jenny House when Temari had accused Sakura of leading on Naruto simply because she didn't have anything better to do. Sakura told Ten-ten, "Sasuke's cute. I'm interested."

"Poor girl. I'm telling you, Sasuke's no catch."

"Even for Ino?"

"Especially Ino. They're probably up there fighting right now over who gets to use the mirror first."

Sakura chuckled. "So who makes your pulse race from our school?"

"Dakota."

Sakura searched her memory for a face to put with the name. "Do I know a Dakota?"

"Sure. He's my white rat in psychology lab. He's warm and fuzzy and totally dependent on me. He's a cheap date, and when I'm with him, he has eyes only for me. Little beady red eyes full of adoration. Yes, Dakota loves me truly."

"You're silly," Sakura said with a grin. She looked around at the party crowd again. The music had grown louder, the shrieking and laughter louder still. The pool water had sloshed all over the deck, filling the air with the scent of chlorine. Several lounge chairs were sitting on the bottom of the pool and the colored lights, which earlier had seemed so pretty, made things look garish and distorted. All at once she didn't want to be there. "Would you like to come back to my house, make some popcorn, and watch TV? Friday is Fright Night on channel four."

"I'd like that better than staying here," Ten-ten said. "My car's parked someplace out front."

"You can follow me." Sakura led the way out of the party, wondering why she'd never developed a closer friendship with Ten-ten, who seemed nice and fun to be with. She thought fleetingly about Sasuke and Ino. Perhaps Ten-ten was right. Maybe Sasuke was too used to getting whatever he wanted. Ruefully, she told herself that tonight, at least, what he wanted wasn't her.

She found her car, waited until Ten-ten drove up behind her, then led the way out of Sasuke's neighborhood toward her own home miles away. In the rearview mirror, the lights from the party glowed against the night sky while the house where Sasuke lived reminded her of an amusement park.

Sakura awoke Saturday morning feeling sluggish and cranky. She blinked at the clock beside her headboard and saw that it was nine-thirty. Her father was picking her up for lunch and the matinee in ninety minutes. She groaned, cross with herself for sleeping so late. Why hadn't her mother called her? Why hadn't she remembered to set her alarm?

Ten-ten had stayed until after midnight, and they'd had fun watching old horror movies and eating popcorn together. When Ten-ten went home, Sakura continued to stay up watching an all-night movie channel. She'd even eaten more than she should have and that's why she'd not awakened shaky from an insulin reaction. However, now it was too late for breakfast, since she'd be eating lunch soon. Worst of all, she'd missed her morning injection time.

She rolled out of bed, only to hear the doorbell ringing. "Now what?" Where was her mother anyway? As the bell sounded once more, she recalled her mother telling her something about working overtime in order to prepare a presentation for a new client the ad agency she worked for was wooing.

"Terrific!" Sakura muttered under her breath. She pulled a filmy bathrobe around herself, raked her hand through her tangled pink hair, and ran for the door, shouting, "Hold on! I'm coming!"

She yanked open the door and blinked against the glare of the bright morning sun. "What is it --?" She stopped midsentence.

"I like your outfit." Naruto said, eyeing her up and down. He reached out and touched her cheek. "So, Sakura, have you got a minute for an old friend? Or do I have to stand on your doorstep while you stare me down?"