Miss Trouble Magnet

Chapter 12:

I choked on my spit as I sobbed and ran down the hallway. I ignored the calls from Naruto and my teacher and turned down a different hall, leaving their sight. I passed the girls bathrooms and Hinata and Sai's English class. I could've sworn I saw Hinata see me run passed the open door. I ran for a few minutes before I grew tired and slowed my pace.

As I wiped my eyes and turned into a hallway that led to the staircase, I rammed into something. I fell flat on my butt and tried to stop my sobbing. I opened my eyes and slowly looked up.

Damn it.

I knew I was in deep trouble as I stared into the eyes of the person in front of me, they looked furious. "I haven't seen you in a while."

Karin seethed.

I gulped and quickly wiped away my tears as I stood up and tried to regain my calm. "Yeah." I managed the choke up.

"What happened to you?" She asked as she looked me up and down as her nose scrunched in disgust.

I couldn't dig up enough anger to retort what I truly felt like saying. "Where've you been, anyway?" I calmed myself enough to say.

Her face turned back to normal and she looked at me strangely. "Not too happy, are you? Did Sasuke already dump you?" She snapped.

I could've sworn I heard a hint of hope in her voice. "No… Just going through some more near death experiences, that's all." I mumbled. What a weird conversation we were having.

"Right." She simply said. We stood quietly for a moment. "So… I guess you win round one." She sighed.

I did a double-take. "What? Win what?" I quickly asked.

She had a faint smile. "All is fair in love and war."

I waited for her to continue.

"You caught Sasuke before me, and that's it." She explained.

I couldn't believe my ears. "Oh… Well that's…" I couldn't find any words to describe it. I didn't feel any better. My problems were like a giant ant hill, no matter how many ants you killed; it didn't make much of a difference. It always seemed like they had an infinite supply waiting to pop up.

"But that doesn't mean we're friends. And that doesn't mean I don't hate you anymore either. After all, you stole the one guy I wanted, and the only reason why you're still standing here is because I haven't found a way of taking him from you. Until then… you better watch your back." She smirked before walking off.

Thoughts raced through my mind as I walked towards the janitor's supply closed and snuck inside. It wasn't all that roomy but I had only wanted some time to think. As I sat on the downside of the bucket I tried to figure out whether all of this was real or I was in a very bad dream.

Also known as a: nightmare.

-

-

I slowly opened my eyes and looked around. I was in a very dark room, and my butt hurt. I tried to stand and leaned forward too much, hitting my head on what felt like a wall. "Ouch…" I mumbled as I rubbed my head. I realized that I had been sitting on a bucket, the reason for my rear pain. I remembered that I had been in the supply closet, and had probably fallen asleep.

I groaned as I reached for the door knob and turned it. I sleepily walked out and closed it behind me. It dawned on me that night had fallen. "Oh shit!" I swore loudly. I saw the hall guard's flashlight approaching from around the corner and ran back into the supply closet. I creaked the door open just a bit.

The chubby man had greying dark brown hair, a beard, and a moustache. He was walking with a swagger, which he had probably picked up from one of the high school boys. I struggled not to laugh as he seemingly walked with a limp down the hall.

I could faintly hear him singing a song, with one headphone in his ear, as he turned and left. I quickly ran out of the closet and towards the stairs, from which I managed to arrive at my dorm room safely.

I opened the door and let out a huge yawn as it automatically closed beside me. "Sakura!" Hinata yelled and jumped onto me, giving me a tight hug. Temari was right behind her.

My yawn was cut off short and I waited for her to let go to breathe. She quickly did so and put her hands on her hips, waiting for an explanation. "…What?" I slowly asked as I took my chance to breathe.

"Where the hell were you?! We were so worried; we thought you ran off out side or something!" She rambled, I was surprised, Hinata rarely swore. Temari had a look of relief on her face, but Hinata looked completely exhausted.

"Whoa! Calm down!" I urged her and was pushed deeper into the room.

"Hinata went crazy, and you know how anxious she gets, Sakura!" Temari whispered to me, as she pushed me towards a chair.

I sat down and blinked. An unpleasant memory of an annoying Hyuuga girl talking non-stop about absolute nonsense when she had been waiting for her final exam results came into mind. I laughed nervously. "Sorry…" I mumbled.

"Well, as long as you're here now…" Temari yawned.

Hinata smiled and seated herself on her big panda plushie, formed as a seat. "So, tell us… what happened to you?" Hinata asked me, now looking quite anxious.

I let out an exasperated sigh before beginning. "I'm guessing Temari already told you what happened in class…" I said.

Temari nodded her head.

"Well, after I totally ditched you guys, I ran into Karin." I told them casually, as if it happened everyday, "Then I took a long nap in a supply closet." I quickly finished.

"Hey, wait a second! What happened when you met Karin?" Hinata asked.

I let out a huge yawn and stretched my arms as I answered. "You won't believe it… but, Karin and I just… talked." I told them.

They both blinked. "You just talked?" Temari asked.

I slowly explained the rest of my adventure thoroughly.

Soon, things settled down and I was able to get into my bed for some sleep. I heard Hinata's bedside lamp flicker off and waited for my eyes to adjust to the darkness in the room. I glanced towards the window. It had just began snowing, a reminder of the ever approaching holidays.

Christmas!

It was still quite a while away but I was still planning on what to buy my friends… Maybe I could get some stress relieving yoga videos for Gaara to try out; to calm his temper. I giggled out loud. No one made a sound, so I continued to think to myself.

Hinata had almost everything, being the wealthy child she was, so what would she want? Some chocolate maybe… A big plate of hugs and kisses? It was the only thing she didn't have after all; love. Her parents hardly paid attention to her. They thought that, to make a child happy, you just needed to shove unlimited supplies of gifts in their face. I sighed loudly. I heard Hinata shift in her bed.

Ahh… on to Sai. He was quite the subject, that boy. He needed some mental healing, maybe a nice long book? I'll probably give him a video game or something to keep him busy… I snickered quietly.

"Sakura-chan, shut up and go to sleep!" Temari ordered.

Alright, sleeping time now!

I closed my eyes and enveloped myself in endless wrappings of thoughts, dreams and nightmares.

-

-

I had woken up screaming again. I couldn't even remember what I had dreamt about, and Hinata became very suspicious, thinking I was trying to hide the truth from her. "I swear, I don't remember!" I told her for the umpteenth time.

She studied my face calmly, just as she had done many times before. "Sakura… Your screams… They were so… They were filled with so much pain." She finally said.

I felt taken a back for a moment. It only made me want to know what my nightmare had been about even more. I sighed and opened my locker. My lunchbox was placed there, waiting for me. Apparently there was a special treat inside that Hinata had gotten me and she wouldn't let me see it until lunch time.

Good thing lunch time was now. I grabbed it and closed my locker. Just as I was about to turn and leave, I felt someone push me against my locker. "Eh?" I squeaked and looked up. Oh god…

"Hello, sweet cheery blossom. I have been told that my eternal love for you might be catching on, will you be my girlfriend?" He asked, holding out a rose.

I frowned. "Lee, in case you didn't already know, Sasuke's my boyfriend. And I don't plan on leaving him anytime soon." I said and pushed him back, giving myself some space to breathe.

"But I'm sure my sources were correct! A certain someone told me that you-"

"A certain someone…?" I muttered.

Karin strikes again.

"I told you, I have a boyfriend." I repeated and walked away from him. Hinata looked bewildered, but followed closely behind. Karin sure didn't take much time to think of a plan, but sending only Rock Lee must have just been a warm-up for her. I would simply have to wait for her whole plan to set motion.

Hinata followed me quietly into the cafeteria, where we found Sai and Gaara waiting for us. We found our table and quickly sat there. We were soon joined by Naruto and Sasuke, who I was surprised, had shown up. I could feel girls glaring at me from miles away as he sat next to me.

"Hi Sasuke-kun." I said and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek.

"Hi Hinata-chan, Sakura-chan, Gaara-kun, Sai-kun, Sasuke-teme!!" Naruto yelled before Sasuke could react.

"Shut up, dobe," He said and smacked Naruto's head, "You're too loud, as usual."

Hinata and I shared blissful smirks.

"Hey." Gaara greeted them in a bored tone.

Sai merely glanced and smiled.

I held Sasuke's hand. "Sasuke-kun, I think we should talk about something…" I told him.

He looked at me curiously. "What about?"

I blushed, and traced circles on his hand. "Well, Lee… er… tired to kiss me in the hall. You know how he kind of likes me and all…"

"More like he's obsessed with you." Sasuke snorted and looked around the cafeteria, looking for a certain bowl hair cut boy.

"Well, please don't get mad at him. I think someone told him that I was… interested in him." I explained.

And I think I know who it is…

"And who is that?" Gaara suddenly asked, he was on the defensive, I could tell by the look in his eye.

"Guys, stop worrying so much! I can't tell you, because if you guys go and beat up the suspect, and it's the wrong person, then who knows how much trouble we'd all get in to? I'll handle it by myself." The two boys seemed unsettled, but would have to stay still for now.

Lunch soon came to an end, and Sasuke was forced to leave quickly. "See you at the café, Sasuke-kun." I said and gave him a quick kiss, once more. He smirked in response and left me and Hinata, the only ones in the huge room.

Time to open presents!!

I felt Hinata's nervousness beside me, but decided to ignore it. She took my lunchbox and took out a rectangular box, wrapped in green wrapping paper. "Come on, open it up." She told me, a small smile on her lips.

I gently took it from her hands, and then opened it piece by piece. Finally, inside, I found a picture frame. "It's so…" I mumbled and flipped it around. I gasped and nearly dropped it. Hinata bit her lip hard.

The picture the aged wood encased was one of my family and I, sitting in front of our Christmas tree. The picture was nearly seven years old, back when my family was still in one piece.

"I-I…" Hinata stuttered, "I found it in an old box in your closet… It was so ripped and torn that you couldn't even see the picture. I asked my mother that it be fixed… I would never have thought… t-that it would be something like that… So, I decided that it would be best if you had it." Hinata mumbled quietly.

I could tell that she was afraid of how I would react, and so was I. I was absolutely speechless. I didn't know whether to be sad, or angry, or happy. So I gave Hinata a tight hug, for a very long moment… and ran out of the school.

-

-

I silently raced down the open road in my car; I was feeling so little, that I felt so much. I felt confused, that was the only word I knew that could describe even the slightest amount of emotion in me.

That doesn't mean you were born to run,
Either we're vain or we're broken hearted.

I suddenly turned, and realized were I was heading. My old, quiet home was sitting so silently, waiting for me.

We don't believe in the heaven above,
That's why we're back to the place that we started.

I didn't gulp. I didn't take a deep breath. I simply parked my car near the house and got out. I sprinted to the lawn, it was white and snowy.

That doesn't mean you were born to run,
Either we're vain or we're broken hearted.

A snowman completed the desired look. Despite the cold, I threw off my winter jacket and lay it on the snow. I shivered and sat down on the jacket, legs and arms crossed.

As sure as the stars in the skies above,

And I just stared.

We're goin' back to the place that we started...

I stared at the house that I had once lived in. It seemed so long ago. The nostalgia of it all seemed completely unreal. I slowly blinked and looked up to the stars.

And the music still played.

I wondered whether it could all be real, and the pain in my heart threatened to tar me to pieces. And I wandered into my thoughts again…

If the sky would fall,
Would it take that to bring us together?

"Mother… Father…" I choked, forgetting all my surroundings.

Do we have to start, all over again?

A clinging noise startled me, and I glanced towards the door, where an elderly woman stood. "You must be so cold, why don't you come in?" She asked me kindly. I quickly wiped away my tears.

I considered her offer for a few seconds, before answering. "T-Thank you… I'd love to." I stood up and grabbed my now wet jacket. I walked inside, fearing nothing. I saw the stairs leading to the room and basement to my right, the closet to my left, and the kitchen and living room just down the hall.

I slowly walked into the kitchen, following the lady. The wood floors creaked beneath me, giving me a giddy feeling in the pit of my stomach.

"Oh my, you look so restless! School work is stressing you, right?" She conversed happily.

I took the seat she offered me, and watched her pace around the kitchen, the pitter patter of her slippers made my head spin. "Oh, how rude of me," I realized, "I haven't introduced myself… My name's Sakura." I said politely.

She smiled, just like grandma used too. "It's nice to meet you Sakura, call me Misa. What brings you here?" She asked me and passed me a mug of hot chocolate.

"O-Oh…" My brain halted for a second, "I-I just knew someone who used to live here… a long time ago." I told her and let out a small laugh.

She smiled and sipped her hot chocolate. "Ah, did you hear what happened? Apparently, there was a girl who used to live; I think she was about your age…" Misa started.

"…What happened to her…?" I slowly asked.

"Well…" Misa hesitated, "Her mother died in this very house. Doesn't that frighten you?" She asked, in a haunting voice.

I felt like my stomach was rolling in my throat. "Not really... Do you think her ghost might be wandering in here?" I asked, looking around, as though my mother's ghost was to emerge from the sink faucet.

She scrunched her wrinkly face in concentration. "No, I think she's found peace. I don't see any reason for her to be wandering around here… Besides, the girl's father was also rumored to be sick. Though, they say he's still alive." She told me.

"So you believe in ghosts, Misa-baachan? You think she might have wondered around here if she was in pain or if she was… angry?" I asked.

Misa laughed. "Oh, well we can always imagine! I doubt she'd be angry though, it was no one fault."

She smiled, though carried an apologetic look on her face. "It must be hard for her. They say she was actually a very cheerful girl, and quite pretty too. It's just so unfortunate…" She mumbled and spun her spoon in her hot chocolate.

"Yes. She must feel so… restless." I muttered, and finished the last of my drink. "I think I should leave now. I have to get back to… stuff." I said and stood up. She showed me to the door and watched me walk to my car.

That doesn't mean you were born to run,
Either we're vain or we're broken hearted.

"Get lots of sleep, and eat your vegetables, dear!" She called as I hopped into my car.

As sure as the stars in the skies above,

I revved the engine without a word, and I didn't respond to her call either as I drove off, a tear falling down my rosy cheek.

We're goin' back to the place that we started.

-

-

It seemed like I had driven for days, though I knew it couldn't have been more than an hour. The sky was growing dark; the sun was tired of supplying light for us. I stared at the darkening sky, and was startled by a funny noise erupted from my car.

"Oh god, please not now…" I muttered under my breath. All around me was a grassy field, and the road only had too lanes. There were no lights in sight. All I could see was grass and cement. I turned my car to the side of the road as it slowly used up the last bits of gas. I groaned angrily and got out of my car. I angrily kicked the wheel.

"Stupid piece of junk…" I muttered and gave it another kick. I let out a loud sigh and sat down by the wheel. Why hadn't I brought some money with me? All I had was my nearly empty wallet, my present from Hinata and my keys.

"ARGH!" I yelled and grabbed my pink locks of hair, failing another attempt at ripping them out. I paced around my car hundreds of times, but I couldn't help but feel even angrier. Memories of my meeting with Misa came back into my head.

"Why hadn't I told her it was me?" I asked myself, walking away from the car and into the enormous field of high grass. The grass was so long and tall that it nearly passed my elbows.

I walked very far, so far that my hummer was only the size of my thumb, before I answered my own question.

"Because I wanted to feel NORMAL!!" I yelled into the sky.

All I could hear were the crickets singing along. I took in a deep breath, preparing myself.

"I didn't want to be the girl whose life was hell; I just wanted to be in the place of someone in the sidelines! Who will never understand my life, who will only be allowed to wonder what it's like to have a hard life!!" I continued to yell.

"Why must I be the one in the spotlight?!"

"To what extent must I suffer, and scream, and cry just feel a bit better?!" I screamed to the sky angrily. I felt my eyes swell up as my tears began to pour again. And my heart began to ache, and my tired body began to suffer.

The cloudless sky looked emptier than ever, even when the stars shined brightest, there was this eerie feeling that I could feel, from so far away. The wind blew hard, biting my skin fiercely.

And then it stopped.

No noise.

No movement.

No feeling.

"Are you even listening?!" I screamed for the last time. I felt onto my knees and stared up at the sky silently. I let my eyelids slowly closes over my tired and red eyes. And I drifted off to sleep.

-

-

I mustn't have slept for more than three hours, because it was still dark outside. I suddenly realized what a huge mistake it had been for me to have fallen asleep out side like that. I was covered in snow and was shivering uncontrollably, as if the ground was shaking underneath me. A feeling of dread washed over me.

I let out a huge sneeze and sniffed. I felt my nose running and tried to wipe it with my sleeve, but it was covered in snow. I felt aching pains all over my body, and took off my soaked glove. My fingers were frozen in place and they were as red as blood. The numbness made it seem as though they weren't even there, and my toes felt like they were missing as well, though I knew they were very much there.

I got on my hands and knees, and managed to get up, onto my feet. The numbness was so incredible that I couldn't even stand, and fell back onto my stomach on the ground. I whimpered and shivered even more. I coughed dryly and felt my tears warm my cheeks. "S-Sasuke-kun… H-Hinata…G-Gaa…ra… S-Sai…?" I choked and cough even more.

My conscience was telling me to go to sleep, and peacefully just close my eyes and forget anything, but I fought back with pure will. I knew that if I closed my eyes they might never open again. Just before I could lose consciousness, I heard loud cars honking. Sirens were heard as well; blue and red lights flew over the tall grass.

"Sakura-san…" I heard them call from afar. "Sakura-san…. Are you there…?" They called.

My eyes shot open and, in an attempt to speak, I took in a huge breath, and some snow was sucked into my mouth. I choked on it for a second, but it melted as I coughed it back out loudly. I heard the people running now.

Their footsteps neared me, and for a second, I thought they'd miss my snowy figure on the ground and step right over me. "Sakura!" Gaara and Sasuke voices were heard. "She's over here!" I heard them call everywhere. And the noise became even louder. I suddenly began to miss the quietness that had previously enveloped the field.

Someone's arms turned me over and held me. I felt them whipping off as much snow from my body as they could manage, and wrapped something incredibly warm around me. "G-Gaara?" I mumbled through my numb lips. It was painful even to talk.

"Don't worry, Sakura. Everyone's here." He told me calmly. I could still hear the fear in his voice.

I wished I could jump onto him and hug him forever, but I couldn't move. I was carried onto a moving bed, and the lights flashed everywhere, and everything became too blurry for me to see anything anymore. I felt Gaara's hand slip away from me as I was carried inside a white truck-like vehicle.

They told me I'd be fine… but just the thought that I could've died there…

"G-Gaara… where are you?" I panicked. "Gaara?" I choked out. I felt something made of plastic cover my mouth, and suddenly it was easier to breath. My eyelids struggled to keep me awake, and I kept calling for him. "Gaara!" I yelled loudly.

I could've died just like mother… I could've left just like father…

"Don't worry, you'll be just fine." A female voice told me. I felt a small pain in my shoulder as someone inserted a drug into me.

And I never thought…

My breathing quickened, and I trashed around, trying to find him. "Gaara, where are you?!" I pleaded again, my eyes closed tight.

That being alone at that moment…

"Calm down! You'll be okay! Everything is just fine!" The nurses held me down, telling me over and over that I would be fine. I had a bad feeling that something would happen, something big. I couldn't tell whether it was good or bad, I just wanted my brother with me at the moment.

Would cause me so much pain…

"Gaara!" I screamed. I stopped trying to struggle against the arms holding me down, I had absolutely no strength left.

Because I promised mother, and I promised myself…

"It's okay… Sakura…" I heard someone say as I drifted off again.

That I would live as a normal person.

That I would never leave my friends or die on them…

Just like my family had done me.