Itachi stared down at the hat and the piece of paper that sat upside down beside it. The one that would have told who took the girl to the dance. He leaned in and picked it up, careful not to turn it around. He was deciding if it was best not to know or to know period. He stared at the small piece of paper as he went over what had happened.

Payton kept her gaze to the floor and surely everyone felt the sudden rage in the room. She had chosen Sai. Not even one of them but Sai, the male who never really made relationships and was socially retarded! Konan smiled softly and set the paper that had just a moment before decided her fate. "That's great honey," she exclaimed, sending Pein a victory smug look.

Pein stood up and walked over to her, making her shrink back. "You were supposed to choose from us! I know I said more good to you if you chose someone outside of us but I was just saying that to make you feel like you had a choice." He stopped in front of her. She glared up at him though everyone could tell that she wasn't as strong as she sounded in front of the intimidating man.

"Well…you still gave me the option…why would I want to go with any of you…monsters…" she replied, leaving the room full of now dumbstruck teens. Pein took a step back blinking at being called a monster. His eyes looked back at the group and he saw Kakuzu shrug. "She's right you know. If you really didn't want her to, you wouldn't have given that option to her." He stood up and stretched, simply leaving, Hidan following behind, glaring sourly at the miser's back.

Konan pat her friend on the shoulder, the smug look in her eyes never leaving. "This is karma, Pein," she began, "you forced her into a corner that had an open window and she decided to jump."

"Nice analogy," Sasori commented.

"Thank you," she said with a more cheery smile to the red head. Slowly everyone filed out of the room and Pein heard Itachi chuckle. "Did you really think that she would choose any of us?" Pein's ringed eyes turned to glare into the red eyes of the Uchiha prodigy. Why he wasn't already in college like offered, he could only guess he didn't want to immediately jump into the family business. At the moment he wished he would.

"She has a thing for dark haired men, it looks like," Konan mused to herself, being sure the other two didn't hear. The last thing the brunette needed was to have Tobi and Itachi constantly pushed into her direction. With this she left the room as well.

"Itachi…I'm leaving this to you…at the dance do whatever you can to take her away from him," he ordered before walking past him "and don't let anyone know of this…Konan will surely pull my piercings out with a magnet again."

He stared at his name on the small piece of paper and smiled a little. Maybe fate wanted to put them together…or maybe he had been lucky enough to even been drawn.

Or perhaps unlucky considering her choice in date.

As the week progressed she didn't really talk to any of them. This was usual but it wasn't getting them anywhere. The mere thought of her and Pein being in the same room right now was enough tension that the teachers couldn't even separate them enough. She sat beside Sai at lunch, even though it was without permission. It was allowed this time, however, seeing how Konan and even Hidan pointed out that their goal was for her to make friends.

"They really have you under their thumb," Sai grinned easily at her, watching the brunette turn to glance back at the group that was staring at them intently. Turning back around she looked up at him.

"Thanks again for agreeing to help me get them off my back…maybe if they think I'm making a friend they will leave me alone." Sai chuckled and slowly took one of her chips since she had snagged one of his cookies. She supposed they were sort of friends, but from what he had told her, and from what she gathered on her own, Sai didn't know how to hold a friendship, he barely knew what one was. He treated everyone the same, depending on what they relayed back to them. Social retardation at its finest, but he took to that title with a sort of pride. He knew who he was and he was content, even if he saw helping her with this as a chance to try some different emotions and skills he had learned from the books. Like it or not, he was influenced by his classmate Naruto to become better.

"It helps me as well…what color corsage do I need to get," he asked innocently. Her eyes closed at the question, though she answered, "They forced a freaking black dress on me, the one I texted to you. So I guess either red, black, or white since it'll go with it." He seemed to think for a moment then leaned forward.

"I think you will look great in the dress…Payton," he whispered in her ear, smirking as she blushed. She stuttered a moment, looking at him with slight fear. This was what she was trying to avoid for crying out loud! "What? I am still a teenage boy, no matter if I know what those feelings are or not." She laid her head on the table and he moved her hair away from landing in the noodles she had been given by Itachi earlier. "So I'll pick you up at 4 after school? You did say you wanted to get ready with the other girls right?"

She raised up and nodded at him. She hated hanging out with girls her age, or even younger in some cases, but maybe a little nice girl time with make up and giggly talking, not on her part of course, will make her at least smile. Every girl liked to feel pretty every once in a while. She felt him cup her cheek and he smiled his fake smile, and she realized that he probably didn't even know what the gesture meant. "Then I'll see you tonight."

She could almost hear the Akatsuki growl and tense at what had happened.

After school

Payton yelped as she was pulling into a car and blinked seeing Konan as the culprit. "Time for some girl time! Getting our nails done and ever-"

"I already have plans with some other girls. Let me out," she said immediately.

Dumbstruck and looking a bit hurt, Konan didn't even try or register the girl getting out and walking out to meet the group of other girls, all ages but really never associated with the Akatsuki. The blue haired woman stepped out to stare at the scene of the girl getting into the car with them and several of the guys going with them instead. This bothered her…she finally had another girl to be around…and she wanted nothing to do with her or any of them. She realized that they had pushed her this far…blackmailing her, treating her like a doll, treating her like she couldn't make any decisions.

The woman couldn't even believe she didn't realize it. The girl obviously had gone through something in her home life to want to runaway…or maybe her family was really dead and she didn't want to go in foster care. Konan slowly glared at the retreating car. Maybe…she too was done standing up for the girl…

With Payton

Payton kept mostly quiet but the other girls didn't seem to notice or just didn't want to pester her. A small smile came on her face as she watched them, envying them greatly. Of course she didn't have money to do her nails fancy as well as hair but suddenly the car stopped and they got out at a fancy mall. She stared at it, haven't even seeing a mall in less than a year. "Come on! We will cover yours this time," Ino said with excitement.

She didn't complain this time, she really couldn't. She was really used to being forced to do things by the Akatsuki. "I can't believe Sai asked you," Sakura stated, jumping in place as they waited to be seated at the nail salon.

Payton put on a smile "We are both social rejects so I guessed he figured I was a good candidate." Laughs went around as well as agreements. Payton felt…normal for once and actually relaxed a little. It was nice knowing they didn't know her secret and for once she thought she really could open up and make friends with them. She couldn't feel that way around the Akatsuki…they knew too much and only held it over her head.

She was seated and watched them put black tips on her feet and fingers. "Oh wow," Karin exclaimed, holding the brunette's hands in hers "You have lovely hands!" Payton smiled thanking her. Sasuke had asked Karin to go with her, so of course the redhead was ecstatic about this. All the other guys were here as well but were off doing some last minute shopping for corsages and tuxes. Naruto had finally pestered Sakura into saying yes, even though she was hating Karin at the moment for taking Sasuke first. Hinata was doing nothing but pouting over Naruto and was simply going alone. Sakura had tried apologizing and even offered to tell Naruto to go with her instead but Hinata went on a huge blushing rant about Naruto's happiness.

Well…Payton wasn't so sure of hanging around girls as much as she thought. Upon walking to the hair salon she was walking beside Hinata who still looked really down. Payton decided to speak up, "You know..you're the one that could have asked him first. She even offered to have him go with you instead, since he would because I think he's just a good guy. You declined that too…why don't you get out of your pity party?"

Hinata blinked at her and Karin smirked back. Ino looked amused and Sakura looked confused. Ten Ten, who was going alone as well, seemed to appreciate this. The blue haired girl looked away and walked ahead, but really Payton didn't like her much to begin with. She didn't like any of them except maybe Karin and Ten Ten. Ino and Sakura had their good points but with Hinata…well she just thought she was too stalkerish and obsessive and she hated those qualities in anyone. As far as she had gathered from listening to Naruto talk about the dance, he was infatuated with Sakura but said girl was the same on Sasuke, who she couldn't even see liking anyone. But she couldn't be the one to say that someone couldn't care about two people.

Karin hung back to her. "I didn't know you had a sharp tongue but pity party? Don't you think that's a bit hypocritical?" Payton blinked at her. Had Itachi leaked it to his brother then him to Karin? "What do you mean?"

She sighed "We all know from him that you had sex with Itachi then regretted it so you're mean to him and all his friends. I mean how can you say an Uchiha sucked?" Payton blushed and stared with wide-eyes. "WHAT?!" The yell gathered stares from everyone around and the other girls stopped. "I am still a virgin! I would never have sex out of wedlock, no less with any of those two timing, back-stabbing, assholes who do nothing but control my life!" she was tearing up and Karin stepped back, immediately believing the girl over the gossip.

Before anyone could say anything Payton turned and ran off from them. "KARIN," the girls yelled in unison and said girl only sighed as they all ran after her.

…..

Payton couldn't believe that the Uchiha would do that! What did he gain from telling people that?! She had never felt so hurt like she did now. Suddenly arms wrapped around her and she struggled against whoever it was. She looked up to glare at her captor to find it being Itachi himself. She shrieked and struggled making him grunt and blink at her actions.

"Woah woah woah! What's wrong," he asked tightening his hold, while trying to avoid her hits. "you bastard! I didn't have sex with you," she yelled in his face. He smirked slightly and put her down, but not letting her go. "Oh that got around to you did it?"

He saw that she was crying so he wiped her eyes "You don't need to cry…since you wouldn't tell anyone why you were secluded I had to come up with something. Besides don't you want to?" His smirk never left and he grunted as she socked in the face. He stumbled back rubbing his cheek from the powerful right hook. Weren't women supposed to slap? That had hurt, actually.

"Why come up with something like that?! YOU'RE ALL FUCKING MONSTERS!" He backed up seeing how hurt and strung out she was over this. "Ok Ok. So maybe I was wrong, I'm sorry but please calm down and go back with the girls." He held up his hands, looking a bit worried.

"Don't ANY of you speak to me ever again." With that she rejoined the girls, who of which apologized, except for Hinata who mumbled about karma so Payton just punched her too.

Dance

The Akatsuki all sat at a table but all of them weren't looking up. In fact all of them looked down after hearing what happened with Itachi. Some kept glancing at the door, just waiting for her to come in with Sai. They saw Hinata come in with Neji, his father forcing him to go with her when she came home with a black eye. Hidan snickered about it, saying the bitch had it coming. Payton had apologized and had shown her herself how to cover up a bruise and Hinata had forgiven her. Slowly everyone came in but Payton and they wondered if she had ditched it and gone to do something else with Sai.

Then Sai showed up looking rather dashing in a suit, all black even, most likely to match the dress they got her. Or so they thought.

In entered Payton in the dress but…she had altered it. Below the short end she had sewn on lacey black material that flowed out around her legs and even added sleeves that fell off her shoulders. It wasn't an amazing sew job but it worked. Deidara 'hpmh'ed but he smiled a little. He had thought the regular dress was just fine but at least she still wore it. Her hair fell in curls all around her and only slightly pinned back. No up-do was attempted. She looked stunning and Itachi slowly crossed his legs under the table. It was no secret that the Akatsuki liked to sneak in booze to the dances, and he still felt particularly terrible for what had happened.

She was moved over for pictures and nearly everyone was surprised at how she looked, make-up and all. Konan glowered, having wanted to give her dark make-up and a full up-do but Pein nudged her and got everyone's attention "As much as this pisses me off too, she looked happy so don't ruin it." They huffed and some got up to go mingle.

Payton sat with Sai, chatting softly with him when he suddenly pulled her up and took her to the dance floor a slow song coming on. He smiled at her and she just put her hands on his shoulders. He was a gentleman, keeping his hands on her upper back but did pull her closer. "I think you made them jealous." She smirked a little "Well good." They laughed softly and danced for a couple of songs before she got tired. Sai was pulled away by the others for a group picture as Payton excused herself to go outside. She took in the cool night air and walked around a bit, enjoying the quietness.

"You look amazing," Itachi said from behind her. She tensed, smelling the alcohol on him and whipped around, immediately giving them a big space. He stumbled a bit but his red eyes stared at her before he came closer again.

"Thank you I guess but I told you not to talk to me," she said, backing up when he got closer and closer but of course the wall had to get in the way.

A soft chuckle erupted from him as he placed a hand beside her head, "Oh come on…I only said it because I wanted to…I didn't think you would get mad," he slurred out. Uchiha's didn't act like this, she knew that. She figured he must have known he had screwed up big time. "you really do look…so amazing…"

His hand went to hold her chin and he kissed her, even drinking not going to affect his abilities. She pushed him away but he just pressed back against her, keeping hold of her chin wanting nothing more in his druken stupor to make the rumor true…well half true because he would make sure she wouldn't be disappointed.

She whimpered and tried to scream but his mouth covered hers. She felt his free hand run down her back, taking the zipper down as he did, if not for the sleeves she would have been left bare. She raised her leg and kneed him hard, right where it would hurt then slammed the heel of her shoe into his foot. She used the double pain to push him away watching as he fell onto his butt looking pained and surprised as he held himself.

Payton held her dress up as she expertly zipped it back up but he only came back again, stopping her hand. "HELP!" she cried out, desperate as he restricted her this time. She doubted anyone would hear her over the music. "Payton please," he said suddenly, "Please forgive me…please…we just want to help you…and that made people leave you alone….please…" he whispered against her neck, panting softly probably still from the pain.

He was jerked back and flung to the ground and she felt delicate hands fix her dress and pull her close. It was Konan, though she still was mad at her. She didn't deserve a drunk fondling her though. Tobi proceeded to punch Itachi in the stomach, that enough to make him roll onto his side in pain. Pein approached her and handed Konan the keys to the house. "Take her home. We're done here."

….

Payton didn't even have time to say good bye to Sai and thank him once again. Konan had dragged her to the car and driven her home, keeping quiet the entire way. Payton laid in the back, curled up as she shivered. Konan noted this and turned the back heater on. She wanted to comfort her but the blue haired Akatsuki female was a grudge holder. Sure nothing had really been done too bad but she still thought it all the same.

Once there Payton walked up to her room and locked the door behind her. After showering and changing into her pajamas, she laid down on the bed and held a pillow tight to her chest, using it to hide her screams and sobs. She shouldn't though…they should know how much she hated them, how much they were ruining her life. Soon she drifted off to sleep.

A few hours later she was woken up by someone laying on the bed beside her and she immediately darted from it. Itachi laid in the bed, passed out from drinking most likely. In his hand he held a single black rose that laid where she once did. Slowly she slid down to the floor and stared at the ground before turning to the window. She was on the third floor…the fall would be enough. Opening it she stepped onto the ledge feeling the tears fall down her face. This would end it all right?

It would make sure that man wouldn't be able to get to her, even if he found her now. It would mean that these people wouldn't be able to get to her anymore. They wouldn't be able to control her life, who she hung out with, who she talked to, when she did things, and if she did things. She wouldn't have to constantly run anymore. She let out a chocked sob and slowly let go of the railing, beginning her descent towards the ground…

Yeah a really crappy place to end it but it'll just motivate me to get the next chapter out earlier ^^"