Chapter Two
"Somebody switch seats with me." Naruto called out to the others in the room.
"No way," Sakura said from the seat behind him. "Nobody wants the seat right in front of the teacher's desk."
"Exactly!" Naruto said. His eyes browsed the classroom for an extra seat, but there was no luck.
Out of the three rows of five desks, every chair had been taken except for the furthest four in the last row near the window. Naruto didn't like sitting by windows. They tended to distract him.
"Just sit there, it's only homeroom. It's not like you're going to have to sit through a lecture." Shikamaru drawled from the front desk nearest the door.
"Tch. Whatever." Naruto huffed, sitting in the chair. "What are you doing here anyways? You don't have classes until eleven."
"It's the first day back. I think I should show a little effort and come to homeroom once in a while." Shikamaru said, leaning back in his chair.
"Yeah, right. I bet he's just here to see Temari. Always liked the older women, eh, Shikamaru?" Kiba teased, poking Shikamaru's back from his seat behind.
"Disgusting." Gaara scowled. He didn't like the idea of his sister seeing one of his friends.
"You liked her in freshman year, didn't you?" Sasuke asked.
"Shut up, it's not like that. That was just a stupid crush." Shikamaru said. "I'm just here today to get my schedule. And I'd never go for Temari. She's Gaara's sister. And she's twenty-one. That's so-"
"Old?" suggested a voice from the doorway.
"Yeah. Old." Shikamaru turned to his right.
Standing there was a very annoyed looking Temari. "I'm sorry my age revolts you. Don't worry. I'm not into kids."
Temari walked over to the desk in front of the room. After placing a few folders on the desk, she pulled a small stack of papers out of a bag. She looked up at the class and sighed. As luck would have it, Temari had been put in charge of the seniors that, not only her brother was in, but all his friends as well. She frowned at the blond boy sitting in the front.
"Not even five minutes into the school year and one's already asleep in class."
"Naruto, wake up!" Sasuke leaned over and kicked the desk right of his.
"Guh!" Naruto woke with a jolt.
"Okay, now. Is everyone settled? There are some very important things we need to take care of before I hand out-"
"Sorry!" Temari was cut off as Neji ran through the door dragging a girl along with him. "I'm so sorry we're late. We won't be marked as tardy, will we?"
"I haven't even taken roll call, yet. Please hurry and take your seats."
"Hinata!" Sakura stood and ran to the girl Neji had dragged in. "I'm so happy to finally see you again. Here, sit next to me."
"Ah… okay." Hinata blushed and took the seat between Sakura and the windows, behind Sasuke, with Neji behind her.
"Okay. Is that everyone? Should I expect anymore interruptions?" Temari asked impatiently, eyeing the young students in front of her. "No? Well, then. Let's start.
"Obviously, I am your homeroom teacher. This makes me in charge of you lot. Any problems, please come to be. I'll help the best I can. Please remember I am not a permanent teacher, and my internship may end anytime during the year. Secondly, new students. I know we have one. So, welcome to Konoha Academy, home of the Mighty Slugs. Be sure to stop by the main office and pick up a copy of the student handbook in your free time. We'll all get to know you, and you'll get to know us during self-introductions after I hand out schedules."
"Self-introductions? Isn't that what you do in elementary school? We're seventeen, not five." Ino commented.
"I hate self-introductions… you have to stand in front of the whole class and talk about yourself while others stare." Kiba said.
"Yes, I know. It's horribly uncomfortable. But I'm going to be a teacher, and it's practically their job to make you all feel that way." Temari continued. "All students are reminded that the gym is off limits during lunch time due to the vandalism by undiscovered students last year." at this, Temari shot Naruto a glare. She knew it was him because she overheard Gaara talking on the phone about it after it happened. Also, upon hearing this, Naruto leaned over and high-fived Sasuke. Temari inwardly groaned.
"Well, then. Schedules. Pass them around. Don't forget, since you are all seniors, one class required will be student services, in which you'll each work in a different area of the school for one period. Report to the senior lounge for third period to receive your placement." She handed Sasuke the stack. After leafing through them for his own, he passed the rest down behind him.
"Literature for first. Physics. Student services. Then, Calculus and gym." He read aloud.
"We've got all the same classes, then." Neji commented from the back.
"Crap. I've got art with Anko. That crazy bitch is going to make me throw paint on a wall or something." Naruto said, as he passed the stack to Sakura.
"Hah, I heard she makes students sketch naked models… of her." Sasuke commented. Naruto's face turned a faint shade of green.
"He's joking Naruto. I took her class last year, and she's a really good teacher." Sakura commented. "Aww, Sasuke, we only have physics together."
"I've got Anko for first with you, Naruto." Gaara said.
"Awesome. What about history? I don't want to sit through boring lectures alone." Naruto asked.
"Chouji has history, but it's for fifth." Shikamaru commented, reading Chouji's schedule.
"Don't read other people's schedules!" Temari snatched the paper away from him and placed it in a folder. "Well, now that everyone has their schedules, we'll start with self-introductions. Shikamaru first, then we'll go down the rows."
"Troublesome…" Shikamaru mumbled as he stood and faced the class. "I'm Shikamaru Nara. I'm a genius."
"Well, you're an exciting one." Ino said.
"You all practically know everything about me." Shikamaru stated, taking a seat. "What else is there to tell?"
"Okay, okay. Let's make this more interesting." Temari said. "I'll write a couple of things on the chalkboard that you have to tell us. Favourite colour, favourite subject, hobby, what you plan to do after you graduate, and an interesting fact; that's it."
"Green, art, I don't know, and my mom made pancakes for breakfast." Shikamaru said. "Kiba, you're up."
"There's nothing interesting about pancakes for breakfast." Kiba said as he stood. "Okay. I'm Kiba. I like the colour brown. I don't really have a favourite subject. I like to work at the Veterinary Clinic after school, so I'll probably become a vet. And I have thirteen dogs."
"I'm Shino. I like the colour white, science, and bugs. I want to become an entomologist. That's a person who studies bugs." Shino noticed Naruto's hand shoot up in the air at the word. "And, my ant farm is thriving."
Ino shuddered at the thought of bugs as she took her turn. "Hi… I'm Ino Yamanaka. My favourite colour is periwinkle. I like art the best. When I graduate, I'm going to become a professional ballet dancer, and I've won seven ballet contests."
"I'm Naruto Uzumaki!" Naruto said as he stood at the front of the room. "You all know that already, though. Orange is my colour, gym is my subject, partying is my hobby. I don't want to tell you all what I want to be in the future. And this year, I'm going to throw the greatest end of the year party, ever!"
"Haha, okay. Sit down, party boy." Sakura laughed. "Hello, I'm Sakura. My colour is pink, obviously. I like Health. My hobbies are hanging out with friends. I'm probably going to become a nurse. And I love my boyfriend." She winked at Sasuke as she took her seat.
There was silence in the room. Temari looked up and saw Gaara looking out the window. He clearly wasn't planning on introducing himself. "We'll skip Gaara for now, but we'll come back for him later."
Tenten rolled her eyes as she stood. "Hey, I'm Tenten. I like the colour blue. Literature is my favourite subject. I love music, and I want to start a band someday. The Uprising of Us All by A Night to Forget is my favourite song."
"Hello!" Lee stammered as he stood. "My name is Lee. Rock, Lee. I like the colour green, as well. I enjoy journalism, and cooking is my hobby. I hope to become a great chef in the future. I'm new and moved here just last week."
"Welcome to our town." Temari smiled. "Sasuke?"
"I'm Sasuke." He said, still sitting. "Blue is my favourite colour, math is my favourite subject. I have nothing else to say."
"I-I'm… my name is…" Hinata stuttered as she stood, eyes cast downwards. "Uh… I like lavender… and art… and photos… I want to be a… Well, I-I'm not sure yet…"
Neji stood when Hinata had been silent for a while. "I'm Neji Hyuuga. I don't have a favourite colour or subject. I enjoy data and statistics. That's most likely the reason I'm going to become a Data and Statistics Analyst."
At that moment, the bell rang. "Off you go, then." Temari said as the class started to rise. She turned to the board and began to write some notes on the board. About ten minutes after, she turned to sit at her desk.
"Shikamaru!" she gasped.
The aforementioned teen grinned from the desk he had been clearly sitting in since homeroom. "Not very observative, are you?"
"What are you doing here?" Temari slumped into her chair. "This is my prep, which means no class for the period. And why aren't you in your class?"
"I'm a genius. I don't have class until eleven. And you're wrong."
"What?" the blonde looked up at him.
"The notes. The atomic weight of zirconium is 91.224." Shikamaru pointed at the notes on the board.
"Oh, whatever. These aren't even my notes. I'm writing them in for another teacher. I'm just a student-teacher." Temari complained as she corrected the mistakes.
"Well, then. You might also want to correct the way you spelled palladium. Two Ls, not one." Shikamaru stood and walked over to the desk. "This is probably why you aren't a fully licensed teacher yet."
"Shut up, you." Temari said, sitting down again. "Go do something more productive. Why don't you go read a book in the library or something?"
"Why, when I can hang out here with you?"
"Shikamaru, don't." Temari warned. "We're not doing this. I'm your teacher now."
"You're not really, just an intern." Shikamaru said, rounding the desk. "And it's not as if anybody will find out."
"But what if somebody does?" Temari said, standing and walking to the other side. "I can get in real trouble, you know."
"No one will. It's been six weeks." Shikamaru followed and took Temari in his arms.
To no other than themselves, they had been seeing each other since the third week of July. It was purely coincidental and unplanned. It had just been an average night in July. Temari was out having a drink with some friends from college when she noticed one of Gaara's friends hanging out by the bar. After a few drinks, they ended up spending the whole night talking in a park until the sun rose the next morning.
After that, they had been meeting up night after night. Unknown to anyone else, they soon became a couple. It had been a bit problematic at the beginning dealing with the differences in their ages, but now that Temari was teaching, they had new problems on their hands.
"You're amazing." Shikamaru said.
"Seriously, Shikamaru. Stop. Someone could pass by and see." Temari pushed him away and walked back over to her chair.
"Fine." Shikamaru said, leaning on the edge of the desk. "And I'm sorry about that thing I said earlier."
"What thing?" Temari asked while shuffling through some papers.
"About you being old and disgusting. You're not. You're mature and amazing."
"And you're cheesy." Temari laughed. "Hey, whose purse is that?"
Four desks down the first row was a small, blue purse.
"It's Ino's. How troublesome. She forgets things a lot." Shikamaru sighed and walked over to pick it up.
"Are you and that Ino girl close?" Temari asked.
"Not particularly. We played a lot when we were younger since we were neighbors, but that's changed." Shikamaru answered, walking back.
"Oh, how so?" Temari looked up at him, fingers laced beneath her chin.
"Usual stuff; different interests, growing up and the like. Why?" Shikamaru leaned over the desk towards her. "Jealous?
Temari smiled. "Jealous of what? She's just an old childhood friend, right?"
"Exactly. Anyways, she's not into lazy geniuses like me. That's your thing." Shikamaru smirked and leaned forward to capture the lips of the older woman.
"Oh god…" Ino gasped, and turned from the classroom, running silently back to her computer class. She had realized her purse lay forgotten in her homeroom about thirty minutes into first period and had gone back to retrieve it. She did not expect what she had just witnessed.
"Whoa, what happened to you? You look like you've seen a ghost." Sakura said upon Ino's arrival. "Where's your purse?"
"Oh, uhm, Temari wasn't in. And the door was locked. I'll get it later." Ino stammered back.
"Okay…" Sakura said eyeing her friend suspiciously. "Whatever you say… so listen, Sasuke's decided to throw a small party this weekend. Since we've all been pretty busy this summer, you know? And it'd be great if you can come."
"Yeah, okay." Ino absentmindedly listened to Sakura. Her thoughts were elsewhere as she recalled what she'd seen only moments earlier.
How could Shikamaru be with Temari? Ino remembered something about him liking her back in freshman year, but that was just a silly crush… right? They hadn't even been friends. They only knew each other because Shikamaru and Gaara were friends. That's all he was, though. When had it changed? When did Shikamaru become more to Temari that just one of her little brother's friends?
Ino shook her head. She didn't understand why she was thinking so much about it. It must've been because they had been talking about her. That was it. She frowned as she recalled being put down by Shikamaru. True, he wasn't her type. Definitely not. She'd never want to be with someone who smoked, anyways. It was unhealthy and a dirty habit.
"Ino? Ino!"
"Yeah, that's cool." Ino said, coming back from her thoughts.
"It's cool?" Sakura asked. "Ino, were you even listening to me?"
"Uhm… no, sorry. Lost in thought. What were you saying?" Ino smiled apologetically.
"Honestly." Sakura said. "I was talking about Hinata."
"Oh! Hinata, yeah. I'm glad she's back. She looked a little uncomfortable today, though." Ino noted.
"She must feel so lost. Suddenly leaving school halfway through. Neji didn't say much last year, but I think she was admitted somewhere." Sakura whispered.
"Don't say that, Sakura. Hinata's always been shy. We shouldn't assume what's happened to her. Also, I overheard my parents talking about it. My father heard from Hinata's that she became very sick and stopped eating out of stress. They found her fainted in her room and sent her to a hospital to get better." Ino said.
"She was looking awfully thin around that time last school year. I hope this year's better for her. We should invite her out sometime."
"Excuse me, ladies. But could you please go back to your work and not make plans in my class?" their teacher had come up behind them at the moment.
"Oh, sorry…" Ino apologized and went back to her work.
Note that chapter two focuses on Ino, Temari, and Shikamaru. Later chapters will be like this, focusing on specific characters and whatnot. Don't worry, though. Everyone will be covered.
Feedback appreciated. :D
x5012