I laid there, eyes shut tightly, as the tears flow. I usually cried myself to sleep at night for as long as I could remember. Usually I cried because I was dealing with the stress of school and the divorce, but sometimes I just cried to cry. This was that time. I was feeling sad and I felt like relieving it by crying. I hate my life. I wish I would sleep and never wake up. I wish I was never living. I know I sound dramatic when I say that, but it's true.

I hated my life and that was that. I usually thought about suicide, but was too scared to actually dwell on it. Sometimes I would be feeling great for the longest time and depressing thoughts like that would never cross my mind, then I something sad would happen and I would fall into deep despair. That was just how my life and myself worked.


I woke up slowly. It was Monday. I hated Mondays.

Slowly and groggily I got up and went to my closet. I slipped the big tee I slept in every night over my head and deposited in my drawer. I pulled out a simple black shirt with random neon peace signs and a pair of long dark skinny jeans. I put on my favorite pair of teal converse over my different colored and random socks. Before leaving my room to go downstairs I spotted my hot pink fishnet gloves on my dresser.

I took one look at my wrist and pulled them on. I went into the bathroom and pulled my hair up in the signature four ponytails I always wore. I applied my foundation, a thin layer of mascara and eyeliner and was out of there and on my way downstairs. Grabbing my school and cheer bag, I ran out of the house and walked down the driveway.

"Temari." I looked up at the sound of my voice and spotted Shikamaru across the street waving at me. I smiled and crossed the street, blindly running in front of a car, who honked at me. I gave the driver a small smile as an apology and continued walking to Shikamaru.

"Hey Shika!" We started walking down our street on our way to school. Shikamaru offered to carry my cheer bag and I obliged. I handed him my bag, but before I retreated my hand he grabbed my wrist and stopped walking. "Shika?"

"Nice fashion choice." He said examining my fishnet gloves. He then turned his gaze up to me and I blushed a little.

"They're new and I thought I'd wear them. I like them." I said pulling my hand away from him and continued on my way. He followed after me.

"You know the only people who wear those are people who cut their wrists." I nodded. I knew the reason behind the fashion statement. "People are going to get the wrong idea and judge you."

"Let them judge me." I said a little angrily. I didn't want to dwell on this subject. Just because people at the school that wear these cut themselves doesn't mean that's me. I told myself slightly lying. I took a peek at Shikamaru who was still staring at me concern evident in his eyes. "I don't cut myself." Anymore. Okay I'm not going to dwell on the past.

"Okay."

There was a long silence. "Can you believe we only have a week of school left?" I asked cheerily trying to start a conversation.

"Yeah. Can you believe you're going to high school?" I frowned. High school. The name itself is horrible. I was dreading that day I would be a freshman.

"No." And that was the end of that conversation. We walked to school in silence. I could tell I was being angry for no reason, but I couldn't help it. I hated the idea of going to high school. The school was in sight, but before I could cross the street that would get me onto the school property, I was jerked away from it. My 'kidnapper' pulled my away from street and turned me around. I glared at Shikamaru.

"What are you doing?" He let go of me and rubbed the back of his head avoiding eye contact.

"I just wanted to know if I said something wrong. I don't want you mad at me." I smiled. Even though he could be lazy, he was still sweet. I wrapped him up in a hug.

"I can't be mad at you. Sorry I'm such a bitch." I said happily with a small smile on my face. He brought his arms around me and hugged back.

"You're so troublesome… and bipolar." He added. I laughed.

"That's why you love me!" I said pulling away from him with a cheesy smile on my face. He rubbed the back of his head. He smiled shyly at me.

"Yeah that's the reason." I brushed that off. He didn't mean it that way. I told myself trying not to get my hopes up. I giggled and grabbed his arm, putting it around my shoulders. We walked across the street (looking both ways before) and were getting closer to the school doors. "One day I'm going to take you to the hospital." I looked at him quizzically.

"Why?"

"To get you checked for bipolar disease." I punched him in the arm playfully. "And it strikes again." I sighed and rolled my eyes. He such a smart ass sometimes.

"You know Shikamaru-"

"Shikamaru!" A shrill voice said behind us, causing us to turn and see what that was. Technically it was a person, but I consider it a thing. Ino practically pounced on Shikamaru wrapping her arms around him. "Hey cutie!" I sighed. There went my peaceful Shikamaru time. I never see him as much even though he lives right across the street from me.

"Hey Ino." He pried her arms off of him and turned back to me. "Here's your bag." I smiled as I took it back. Ino saw it was my cheer bag. Great. I thought sarcastically.

"Can you believe I made Varsity sweetie?" I saw Shikamaru wince at his nickname and I laughed inside. His pain was my enjoyment.

"That's great Ino. I have to go. Temari needs my help with something." I looked at him confused, but he didn't bother to elaborate before grabbing my wrists and pulled me away from the pouting bitch. Ha bitch. Serves you right. I gave her a sweet smile before we were in a different hallway.

"Care to explain what it is that I need your help on?" I said while turning to face him. We halted our walk and sat on the floor against the wall. I was in a great mood watching him ditch his… I shuddered… girlfriend. I gave a fake gasp. "Don't tell me you plan on cheating on Ino with me! Shikamaru Nara that is something I would never stoop to even though I hate her guts." He rolled his eyes at my humor.

"She's so annoying." I raised my eyebrow at him. He is the one that said yes. "I only agreed because she kept bugging me and asking me. I didn't have the heart to tell her no." I laughed.

"She is extremely annoying. Let's not forget bitch. So when are you going to dump her?" He groaned and hit the back of his head against the wall and left it there. I laughed again as the pain obviously flashed onto his face.

"That's the problem. I want to, but I can't do it." I placed a hand on his shoulder and he looked at me.

"It's okay to hurt her. She's a slut and would've ended up hurting you anyways." He nodded and smiled. He put his arm around me in a sort of half hug.

"You're right. You're smart Temari. That's why you're my friend." I smiled at him. He looked at me and I sort of blushed. We both stared into each other eyes deeply. He leaned closer and I froze. What's wrong? You know you want to kiss him. I blushed even deeper at that thought. His face was slowly getting closer and I noticed I was leaning in also. Stop body. Damn it. My body was being control by my heart and hormones. It wouldn't listen to my brain. I could see a faint blush on his cheeks. We were centimeters apart. I could feel the warmth of his breath on my lips. I was about to touch his lips with mine when the bell rang.

"I have to go." I said embarrassingly as I stood up. I grabbed my school bag and hurriedly walked away, looking through the crowd for my friends. On my way to first period I didn't come across any of them and I was first to class, so I stood outside the door and waited. Our Spanish teacher Senora Baldez made us wait outside so she could ask us questions in Spanish on our way in. I waited for Sakura, who had this class with me, to get hear. I could still feel the heat on my cheeks and my heart was beating furiously.

"Temari." I jumped at the voice and turned to see Shikamaru. My cheeks flared up and my almost calm heart beat rapidly. That moment was too embarrassing and I couldn't really face him. "You left your cheer bag." I looked down to see my cheer bag in his hands.

"Thanks." I grabbed it and looked back up at him with a smile on my face. "I'm surprised it wasn't such a drag or too troublesome for you." He shrugged and started turning away.

"I'd do anything for a friend." He said quietly I'm sure I didn't hear right. He turned and walked away giving me a half wave as he disappeared in the crowd. I looked down at my bag clutched in my hands and smiled.

"Temari." I jumped again and turned to see Sakura. I placed a hand over my heart.

"Sakura Haruno don't scare me like that again."

"Where were you this morning? We didn't see you in the gym." I sighed. Students weren't allowed in the actually school before school started unless you had a pass so in the mornings you went into the gym. How Shikamaru and I got into the school without being stopped was beyond me.

"I was with Shikamaru and we hung out in the school. We were trying to escape Ino." She nodded. I groaned inwardly. I hated Ino. I can't believe she was dating my Shikamaru. Technically he wasn't mine, but I knew him before she did. A small smile appeared on my face. Shikamaru doesn't even like her. Sakura just looked at me weirdly while I continued to smile to myself.

Looks like my life is getting better.


A/N: Review if you've got the time or actually want to. I don't care.

Unanswered questions will be answered in later chapters. I tried to make this chapter more fluffy, but it was hard because I don't plan on them getting together too soon in the story. As for how long this thing will be I don't know.

Sorry the chapters are soo short. I had thought this chapter was longer than it actually was and I was so happy for it, but it wasn't that much longer. Oh well. Please don't hate me for it!