I sighed, leaning back into the soft grass, enjoying the sunlight on my face. The blades of grass tickled my bare legs causing me to let out a soft giggle. I smiled when familiar hands started running themselves through my short hair. The owner of the hands pulled my head into his lap and started caressing my cheeks with his soft hands. As I sighed again he lets out a soft rumble, like a purr, that caused his whole body to vibrate. My smile deepened and I opened my previously closed eyes to see a pair of soft, adoring eyes looking straight at me. I lifted a hand and traced the stress lines that ran down his face, watching as he closed his eyes and leaned into my touch. We sat like that for a while before he leaned down completely and captured my lips with his own. My hands wandered into his silky hair as if to keep him from pulling away. He purred and had just whispered my name lovingly against my lips when I was suddenly ripped from the dream world.

I woke with a started, screeching in pain as my mother dragged me by my hair down the hall and into the bathroom. I stopped when my head was pushed underwater and started fighting. Just when I was on the verge of passing out from lack of oxygen I was pulled out. As I sat on the bathroom floor coughing and gasping for air I heard my father yelling at my mother. At first I was confused, then I really heard them.

"Are you crazy woman? You almost killed her!" Dad shouted.

"So? That brat is completely useless; give me one good reason why I shouldn't just kill the little bitch!"

"Think about it! If Sakura dies Naruto will tell the cops it was us. He keeps quiet about us hitting her but if he thinks she's in danger of dying or something you know he's gonna tell." I heard my mother huff but it seems dad convinced her because I heard the click of her heels as she walked away. Dad poked his head in to tell me to keep quiet about this then he left too.

I stood up, trying to stop the shaking in my legs, and grabbed a towel to dry my hair with. Once my hair was dry I quietly left the bathroom and went back to my room to change. After I threw my clothes on (jean shorts and a plain red t-shirt) I slipped my sneakers on and walked downstairs. I packed my lunch of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and two apples and had just finished eating my breakfast banana when mum walked in.

I was expecting her to say or do something but she just grabbed the car keys and headed towards the garage. Knowing what she wanted I picked up my sack lunch and clarinet and silently followed. Mum didn't say a word the whole drive to school but right before I climbed out of the car she grabbed my hand. I flinched, expecting her to hit me and jerked my head up in shock when I felt her press something into my hand.

I looked at the money she had given me before looking up at her. She had a glassy look in her eye that made look like she was on drugs which was funny because my parents didn't drink or smoke or anything; they were model citizens. I stared for just a moment before murmuring a thank you and getting out of the car. I stood and watched her drive away before going inside.

'What was that? Mum never gives me anything and all of a sudden she gives me enough money to eat for the rest of the week.'

'Maybe she feels bad about trying to kill us? Why do you think she did that anyway? Mum and dad have never done anything to extreme.'

'Maybe she found out about you and didn't want to have a child she already hates be schizophrenic too.'

'That makes sense, damn it I hate our parents!'

I nodded slightly in agreement as I watched the other band members slowly file in. The band room got louder as more people entered until it was filled with happy and excited chatter. It seems I'm the only one who hates this. As always I let my eyes wander around the room with a vacant expression on my face. People bother me less when it looks like I'm not all there which is nice when I'm talking to Inner so needless to say I was startled a bit when someone called out my name.

"Hey Sakura, are you feeling ok?" It was Hinata. I'm not sure why she seems so determined to interact with me but I'm not complaining. It's rather nice to have someone to talk to who's not me.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Why; does it look like I'm not?" I was thoroughly confused as to what would make her ask that. I thought for sure that I looked fine, just tired.

"No, you look fine. Well, except for your eyes. They look sad."

"Oh yeah, I just had a bad dream last night and haven't really shaken it off yet. But I'm fine, really." Hinata had a skeptical look in her eye but didn't press the matter any further. I was really surprised that she was able to tell I was upset, I've been hiding my emotions since elementary school. I let out a groan when Kakashi came bounding into the room, twenty minutes late and grinned slightly when Hinata laughed.

'Maybe this week won't be so bad.'

Breathe, just breathe

It's not that easy to do

All the air I breathe

Just feels like poison

But all of a sudden

I get a breath of fresh air

I can breathe easier now

I can smile for real

I laughed at the devious look on Hinata's face. It was lunch time now and I actually had someone to sit with. I can't tell you how good that feels. Hinata had just finished telling me about the time she pranked a couple girls who were bullying her in the eighth grade. Apparently she's a technology genius because she had created a cannon that shot the ugliest color green she could find (she had Lee to thank for getting her the dye) all over the unsuspecting victims. She also programed it not to shoot until a specific time. She knew when they'd be in the bathroom so one day while they were wearing their favorite clothes they walked in to fix their makeup and BAM! They were covered head to toe in the green dye.

I looked around again, force of habit, and was relieved that no one seemed to care that I was actually happy. When I looked back at Hinata she had a sympathetic look in her eyes and I remembered that Naruto said she had been through the same stuff as me. I gave her a small smile to show I was fine and we started discussing high school. I told her the quickest ways to get from one end of the building to the other (going outside), which teachers you could count on to actually teach (there's a really pathetic amount), who you need to avoid (Ino and Karin is obvious but we have a school gang you don't mess with) and other things I wish I'd known my freshman year.

"Are you sure he's not a pedophile? I've heard rumors that he tries to seduce his students." Hinata's face was a mask of understandable confusion.

"Yes, I'm totally sure. Orochimaru-sensei may seem really creepy but he's actually a good teacher; he genuinely cares about his students. Well, he cares about most of them." The ones that pay attention at least.

"How do you know? Ino and some of the other flute players say he either hates you or creeps on you." I sighed, naturally reluctant to share something like that.

"I know because he's nice to me. Whenever I feel like people are really gonna tear into me at lunch he lets me stay in his room. If I need tutoring but can't get a ride home he drives me. I don't judge people so I guess that helps our relationship."

'He may be a creepy person but he can't help it. The fact that he understands what it's like to be different.'

'Cha, he's also really passionate about chemistry and biology and stuff so he's a good teacher. And he freely kicks students out. We like it when we can actually learn something.'

I nodded my head slightly, not missing the look Hinata gave me.

Help me, hide me

Please don't let them find me

I need to get away

It's just for a day just leave me be

Why can't I be alone?