I walked downstairs feeling slightly uncomfortable. After I went home the day was normal. I hung out with Gaara, and my mother until my stepdad got home. Then my mother and stepdad went out to eat. Now it was midnight, they were back, and I was starving. I asked her to bring me back one taco, one measly taco. I walked through the dark living room feeling extremely uncomfortable. This isn't my home. It doesn't feel like my home.

Those thoughts plagued my mind all day while I awaited noon. I couldn't wait to see my name on that list entitled 'Varsity.' I stood there amongst my friends and other girls I was competing against to make the squad. When they finally posted the list and the cheer coach was back in her car we were allowed to look at the list.

I sprinted at full speed one of the lists. It was the varsity one. I quickly scanned the paper noting some of the names that were on it. Tenten, Sakura, and Ino made it.I scanned the paper twice and couldn't find mine or Hinata's name so I reluctantly walked over to the other list. Maybe I just missed my name. I attempted to tell myself so I wouldn't cry in front of these people.

Junior Varsity. The name itself sounds like it's made for losers. I scanned the paper and my shock was most likely apparent on my face. I was on the list. Tears were on the brim of my eyes. I walked over to my mom and asked for the keys, my voice slightly breaking. I grabbed the keys and ran to the car. Once safely inside I broke down.

"Ino made it and I didn't." I told my mother once she was inside the car as well. That sentence was more painful than the idea of me on the worse squad. "I'm much better than her." I grieved to my mother while she sat there helplessly and continued to let me sob.

My life sucks.


'Just sleep on it. You'll probably change your mind.' My dad said on the other end of the phone. I was talking to him about the whole situation and of course I was crying.

"Okay dad. I love you."

'I love you too. Just do what makes you happy.' I smiled and hung up.

I had been comforted by my mother earlier and now my dad was comforting me. If only they could comfort me at the same time. More emotions weld up inside of me as I collapsed on my soft bed. My muscles ached from the intense training I did and the many tucks I threw to make Varsity, and I hurt my back in the process and I didn't even make it. My heart ached for me to be able to hug both of my parents, but I probably couldn't even get my parents into the same room.

My parents were divorced and my mom got remarried a day after they separated. Weird right? What happened, completely oblivious to me until just recently, was that my mother was having an affair. She had betrayed my father and slept with another man while they were married. She told me that she didn't love my father anymore, and that they were going to end up divorced anyway if my stepdad hadn't come along because her marriage was that bad. I didn't believe her and still don't.

The separation was Hell on Gaara and me, who had to go back and forth between parents and were always put in the middle of the situations. Kankuro was my half brother and not my mother's son so I rarely saw him. My mother got full custody and we saw my dad and Kankuro every other weekend.

To put it easily it sucks and all the stress was put on my shoulders, since I was the oldest.

I was brought back from the past when I heard a small tap. Tap, tap, tap. It didn't sound like a door so I assumed the window, which was weird because I couldn't think of a reason someone would be tapping on my window. I opened it and peered out into the darkness. My eyes finally adjusting to the dark, I spotted Shikamaru sitting lazily on my roof peering up to the sky.

"Hey." I said as I climbed out of my window and onto the roof. I remembered the day, not too long ago, that I had shown him how to climb up onto the roof using the gate. Since back when my mom and dad were together they had decided to add onto the house because we only had three rooms and I was stuck living with Gaara. Our house was two story and they added to the back of the house so there was a roof right outside of my window.

"Are you okay?" He asked turning to look at me. I sat beside him and brought my legs up to my chest. I let the sigh escape as I looked at the endless stars above me.

"I didn't make Varsity." I said quietly. He placed his arm around my shoulder comfortingly.

"I noticed you were crying when you got home." I nodded and continued. "Was that the only reason you were crying?"

I always hated how he could read me like a book, but yet it was a good thing so I didn't have to hide things from him. "Ino made it."

"Oh." With that spoken a calm and comforting silence was upon us. Shikamaru kept his arm lazily around my shoulders. I sighed again and placed my head on his shoulder while still looking up at the stars. I loved the vast amount of stars. They always seemed to calm me whenever I was feeling distraught or upset. They made me wonder and think and were so scenic it cooled me down every time there was a night filled with them, like tonight.

"When are you going home?" I asked quietly, secretly hoping he wouldn't leave, but my pride got in my way and I couldn't voice my feelings. I couldn't face rejection and I never could. I had one boyfriend before and that was it.

"When you want me to. I snuck out so my parents don't know I'm gone." I nodded and kept my head on his shoulder. I couldn't explain the mixed emotions going through me. I wish I knew how Shikamaru felt about this situation and about me.

We stayed there in silence for a long time. I tried to stop the yawn from coming out, but it was inevitable. I brought my hand up to my mouth and yawned a really long and exhausting yawn. Shikamaru smirked at me.

"Someone's tired."

"No I'm not." I said placing my head against his shoulder again and closing my eyes.

"You're so troublesome." I smiled at his comment. "We have school tomorrow and it's already," he pulled out his phone and checked the time, "five till eleven. I should get going." I sighed and we both stood.

"Fine. Bye Shikamaru." I said giving him a big hug.

"Bye Temari. See you at school." He said waving and walking towards the edge of the roof. I climbed through my window, but stuck my head back out.

"Hey Shika." He turned to look at me with a raised eyebrow. "Don't fall of the roof!" I said with a smile. He shook his head and carefully climbed down the fence. Once he was out of sight I close my window and sank down to my bed. He was right. I was tired. My body shut down. I couldn't move it to turn the light off or the television and I was still wearing my close from the day. I fell asleep two seconds after I made the realization.


A/N: Second chapter. Some fluff. Don't worry, the story won't be all about Temari's problems and there will be much more fluff and romance down the road.

Reviews are welcomed, but not forced. Review if you want to.