Cheerleaders
Questions

"Let me introduce you to the team." She then said, ignoring my quiet, but evident, protests. She pointed to a girl with vivid red hair. On one side it was smooth, stick straight and long – on the other side it was cut it random places, layered and messy. Somehow it didn't look as bad as it sounded.

"This," Ino said, as she motioned the girl to approach. She obliged and stood in front of me, analyzing me through her glasses. "Is Karin." She announced.

"Tenten," Ino called. Another girl came up. She was a bit taller than me, and her hair was brown and dressed in a Chinese bun.

"Temari." The next had blonde hair split in four ponytails, the ends spiking out accordingly.

"Hana." A girl with shoulder length brown hair and striking angles to her face stepped up. She had one scar sliding down right under each eye, nearly reaching her jaw line.

"And of course, our precious little Hinata." Ino said, smiling and turning to look at Hinata. She smiled shyly and blushed a bit. Before Ino could continue, Karin spoke up.

"So," She said, nodding diagonally towards Sai, "who's the hottie?" She asked, smirking slightly.

Ino smiled widely, wiggling her slim arched eyebrow as she glanced between us. "Is he your boyfriend?" She asked. Even Temari was leaning in and smiling now.

I only edged closer to him from discomfort, but hadn't realized how close he was. I knocked my back against his front for only a moment, and then I quickly step forward again, blushing madly. During that tiny moment I'd felt the hard muscles of his chest and abs contract, to keep from falling over. It had happened to quickly, but the squad had, as expected, noticed it.

Tenten grinned madly. "Oh my god. He's not, but…" She mumbled. I looked down in embarrassment, unable to see who had squealed.

Suddenly, Hinata spoke up, standing beside me, sort of. "Doesn't he…" She said quietly – somehow everyone heard her, while I, who was barely two feet away from her, had to strain to hear. "Doesn't he remind you of Sasuke-san?" She giggled quietly.

Ino looked up at him and blushed, smiling and covered her mouth as she failed an attempt at whispering, "I know! But there's something different about him…"

She sighed dreamily and Hinata giggled once more. Before I knew it, everyone was in excited chatter.

Suddenly, I felt Sai bend over so his mouth was right next to my ear. "Do they know I'm right here?" He whispered, his voice hot in my ear.

I shuddered before answering. "Don't worry about them," I said, then glanced at the giggling Ino, "I mean, you should worry, but don't be… afraid." I whispered as encouragingly as possible.

"Um… Thank you." He whispered before standing straight again. The minty smell of his breath lingered for a moment. I didn't understand how it could still smell so fresh, after the disastrous cafeteria food he'd eaten. I hadn't seen him chewing gum, either.

My thoughts halted at a road block in my mind. I needed to stop over thinking things. Or I would fall for him. I would fall for him hard.

"Anyway!" Hana said as she turned to me, grinning. Two sharp, no, angular teeth were visible in her smile. "We need to get measurements." She said. She pulled out a measuring tape from whoknowswhere and stepped towards me.

My eyes widened and I realised that if I were to join the cheerleading squad – which I definitely would not - I would need a uniform. "W-Wait a second…" I trailed off, slowly edging backwards. Sai was no longer behind me, instead he had moved next to me during some time which I did not recall. I slid behind him, half hidden from Hana's mischievous stare.

She cocked her head to the side, her eyebrow moving strangely. "Aww…." She cooed, "Don't you just look adorable together?" She asked; smirking instead of smiling, I noticed.

I fisted my hands in Sai's dark blue zip-up - part of the uniform – and felt my face redden even more. I buried my face in his back. I heard them sighing in awe, but tried to block them out as I buried my face deeper, and felt Sai's arm twist around to search for me. I suddenly felt a band of arms grab me and soon I was blind folded and surrounded by loud, excited chattering.

After a minute, silence enveloped the room.

"Guys…" I mumbled, feeling the claustrophobia kicking in. Someone untied the red band over my eyes and removed it, revealing the same room I'd seen nearly two minutes ago. I quickly noticed a difference as I scanned the faces around me. "Where's-"

"Oh, your friend?" The girl named Tenten asked, "We told him to head on home and that we'd take good care of you." I could just imagine the hesitant expression on Sai's faced as he tried to decide whether to leave or not.

I sighed as Tenten and Hinata raised my arms and Temari began to measure me. When they'd gotten everything written down I was ushered to sit down with them, on the floor, in a circle. "Since I, the squad leader, Ino, Hinata, Karin, Tenten and Hana have all accepted you into our beautiful squad," Temari said calmly. She was the oldest out of all of us. "It is time for your test, Sakura-chan – may I call you that?" She asked, staring at me.

I nervously nodded my head.

"Okay, Sakura-chan. We will begin by each asking you a series of questions, as many as possible during the time span of two minutes. Ready? Go." She said before I could answer, pressing a button on her silver watch. They took turns clockwise. Hinata then Tenten then Karin then Temari then Hana then Ino. I gulped.

"What is your favourite food?" Hinata blurted out so quickly that I spaced out for a moment.

"Chocola-"

"What shampoo do you use?" Tenten asked even faster. They were trying to ask as many questions as possible with the time they had.

"My aunt works at a salon so I get these expensive-"

"Do you have a boyfriend?" Karin interrupted me. I would have to keep my answers short.

"No."

"Is that a natural hair color?"

"I think so."

"How did you meet that hottie?"

"On the bus."

"How far do you live from the school?"

"Fifteen minute bus ride."

"Have you ever wanted to cut yourself?"

"No."

"Are you or have you been or have you ever wanted to be emo and slash or suicidal?"

"No!"

"Are you a virgin?"

"I most certainly AM."

"Have you ever been in love?"

"I don't know."

"What do you mean, you don't know?"

"I mean what you think I m-"

"Talk faster, the seconds are ticking away here."

"Ah. Sorry, I-"

"When's your birthday?"

"August 14th."

"Hey, I didn't ask my question!"

"…"

"Too bad, you were wasting time."

"…"

"How?"

"…"

"By telling her she was wasting time-"

"…"

"Wait, you're wasting time right now!"

"…"

"So are you, you stupid-"

"…"

"What's your mother's name?"

"Uh… Mikami."

"Are you wealthy?"

"How much are we talking here?"

"You can't answer a question with another question, Saku-chan."

"Sorry."

"HOW MUCH?!"

"Uh…"

"Ino-chan, please stop yelling."

"…"

Ino glanced at Hinata. "You stop yelling."

Temari rolled her eyes, and the timer went off. "Wow, we did our best yet. 16 questions. Still not what I'd like to get from you crazy people, but good enough, right?" She sighed, shaking her head.

Everyone but I burst out in giggles. Giggles turned into laughter and then into hysterical guffaws. I couldn't help but laugh a little as well. Hidden behind a hand, of course.

When I returned home, I was ambushed by my giant Dalmatian, Phantom. He panted heavily as he loomed over me, half sprawled on the floor. I slipped my bag from my shoulders and pat Phantom lightly. He moved to the side so I could get up. I dusted myself off, rolling my eyes as Phantom looked up, his tail wagging as though he'd accomplished something. I shut and locked the door, then turned and walked through the kitchen and into the living room.

My mom was in red track pants and a white T-shirt, sitting cross-legged on the couch and eating and apple. She had a fashion magazine in her hands, which she seemed to be frowning at, and her reddish-brown hair framed her young-looking face as she looked up at me. "Hey, honey," She said, waving with the hand holding a half-eaten apple.

"Hi mom." I said, sitting down next to her to peer at the model wearing the most impossible outfit it'd seen to that day. "Woah. How does that stay on, anyway? It looks like it'll fall off of her any second now." I commented, grimaced at shiny smile the model held.

"My thoughts exactly." My mother muttered, pulling her hair over to one shoulder so it wasn't in my face. "I've been sitting here for like, five minutes, trying to figure this out." She mumbled, finally flipping the page.

I rose from my comfortable position and walked back into the kitchen, picking a treat from the pantry. "Where's Dad?" I asked over the sound wripping plastic. I dipped my hand inside the bag I'd opened and plopped a chip in my mouth.

"He went to fetch his dry-cleaning." She answered, hearing her flip to another page again.

I paused, looking down at Phantom's pleading eyes. I glanced at the bag of chips. "Dry cleaning?" I asked, reaching to get a dog treat at the top of the fridge. I needed to stop spoiling him so much. He was already too big.

"Yeah, he wanted his suit to be perfect for the party." She said, I could just hear her nodding.

My hand stopped in mid-toss, the treat in my hand, and Phantom whimpering at my feet. "Party?" I whispered to my self, "Party?" I repeated, louder this time.

My mom's head entered the kitchen before the rest of her, leaning in through the passage. "You didn't know?" She asked, bewilderment clear in her eyes.

That could only mean bad news. Phantom turned to look at her as well and whipped me repeatedly with his tail. "Ow! Hey, here boy-ow-" I said and threw the treat in the air. He caught it with a jerk of his hand and happily walked off.

"I thought I told you." My mom said, walking towards me with a frown. "Oh, great… That means you didn't get your dress, right?" She asked.

"Dress? What?" I drawled, I shook my head and waved my hands. "Wait a second. What exactly is this party for anyway?" I asked.

My mom smiled. "You're father's promotion, of course." She said.

My hand slapped my forehead as I sighed in exasperation. "Why am I always the last one to hear about these things?" I muttered to myself.

My mom was suddenly jogging out of the room and up the stairs. "Wait a second, honey." She said as she disappeared up the spiral staircase.

I groaned and went to grab my bag of chips. I glared. They weren't there. Gone.

"Phantom…" I growled.