It's Wednesday, 10:30 am and I'm sitting at my desk all by myself, the room rustling around me.
There's an open notebook in front of me, and a full whiteboard of assignment instructions that are begging me to copy them.
I'm just about to pick up my pen again, when -
Squeal!
In a nanosecond, my eyes are once more on Ino and her boyfriend's backs. A wave of nausea overcomes me.
He's tickling her.
''Hahahahaha- Naruto, stop! Please- hahaha!''
My eye twitches.
Okay, so he went to sit by his girlfriend, leaving me to do a group project all by myself. Big deal. I work better on my own anyway, and his absence means no running around doing chores for him and/or threatening to throw myself out of the window and pull him along with me.
But damn, must they be so freaking loud?
''Hahaha!''
Like, I get it. You're a good person (albeit a bad judge of character) and a bad person and you're happy together. Great. Now go gaze lovingly into each other's eyes and leave me in peace.
''Naruto! Quit it! Hahaha!''
God, they're so selfish. This is a school. People are trying to learn.
I huff and drop my pen on the table, exasperated, for what feels like the ten thousandth time.
I can't be the only one that finds them irritating. I look at my classmates, expecting to see twenty other faces staring at the happy couple. I find all of them either working in pairs or talking and laughing. None of them seem the slightest bit bothered by the hyenas in the front.
I aim my incredulous face back down to my notes and attempt to concentrate on my work.
Then the classroom door opens and Mr Asuma enters.
Naruto, who'd pulled a seat up to the side of Ino's table, what with Hinata occupying the chair next to Ino's, is very obviously not where he is supposed to be.
And I imagine an aura of heavenly light around Mr Asuma as he rolls his eyes and says, ''New kid, get your hands off your classmate and go back to your seat.''
There's some ''ooh''-ing, courtesy of the most immature kids in our class, as Ino gives his hand a squeeze and picks up his crutches for him.
''Isn't it around nap time, Naruto?'' I quip once he hobbled over to me and plops down in his own chair.
He puts his arm on his chair and turns, giving me an unimpressed look. ''There's no need to be a bitch, Sakura. It's not my fault you're such an arrogant, whiny shrew that nobody wants to touch you with a 10-foot pole.''
''Excuse me?'' I ask, eyes wide open. ''Not that it's any of your business, but I'm single by choice. Perhaps if men stopped being such ridiculous, impertinent pigs, I'd-'' I pause, turning in my seat to face Shikamaru and Kiba, ''I don't mean you guys. You're great.'' They each give me thumbs up, looking somewhat confused. I snap my head back to Naruto. ''Then maybe I'd bother to be with one.''
He smirks. ''Then from now on, maybe you'll do well to keep the jealous look off your face when you're watching Ino and I hang out.''
''Jealous?'' I scoff. ''Watching you two? Oh come on, I find this assignment on cell anatomy far more interesting than you rubbing your germs all over my best friend.''
His blue eyes flick down to my notebook. ''So if we weren't distracting, that means you're done copying off the board?''
''Of course,'' I lie, pinning my closed notebook to the table with the weight of my elbow.
Naruto doesn't look like he believes me, but before he can snatch my book from me and prove that I'm a lying voyeur, Asuma clears his throat.
''Sakura, do you mind taking these files to the head mistress?'' he asks.
''Of course not, sir,'' I answer, shoving my notebook into my bag and trying my best to resist the urge to hug my teacher as I he hands me a large stack of papers.
I catch a glimpse of Ino looking at me as I exit the room and clumsily use my elbow to close it behind me.
The soft click of the door falling shut echoes through the gloriously deserted hallway. The headmistress' office is at the next floor, meaning that the shortest route requires me to take the outside stairs.
I start walking toward the part of the hallway that, instead of windows, has a stone, gothic looking balustrade and steps leading both down and up. I walk a few feet up the stairs and then pause, one foot on the edge of the next step.
Whoa. What a view.
Looks like my second favorite season (spring being my first) has really kicked in now. Where a week ago only some of the leaves had changed color, now almost all of the trees have traded in their dark green leaves for warm orange or deep red ones, transforming the school yard into something greatly resembling a Van Gogh painting I once saw.
I can't remember autumn ever being this beautiful in the past.
But then a chilly breeze brushes past me, making my skirt flutter and my skin erupt in goose bumps.
I continue on my way.
Headmistress Tsunade's office is behind the first door I face when I'm at the top of the stairs. I open the door and step up to the desk of Tsunade's secretary, a young, dark-haired woman called Shizune. She currently has her nose pressed to the computer screen.
''Hi, Sakura,'' she greets, pausing in her robotic typing to shoot me a grin.
''Hey, Shizune.'' I say, shifting the weight of the files from one hand to the other. ''I'm supposed to deliver these to Headmistress Tsunade.''
''Tsunade's busy right now,'' she says, tapping an empty spot on her desk. ''Just put them here, I'll make sure she gets them.''
''Alright!'' I say, slamming the papers down a little bit too loudly.
She returns to her typing. ''Get back to class now, there's a surprise fire drill that should start in about-''
A loud, wailing alarm interrupts her sentence. We both wince.
''-about now.'' Shizune finishes loudly, smiling.
It's a complete chaos outside of the office. Groups of students are all being guided to a specific set of fire stairs by a shouting teacher. Some of them have obviously lost sight of their group and are twisting around, straining their necks. Others are pretending that there actually is a fire, screaming, while their friends laugh and slap their backs.
I wait for a stream of wide-eyed freshmen to walk by before I see chance to walk to the other side of the hallway without being nudged to the side. But when I finally succeed in doing so, I'm caught in a group of seniors that lead me to the fire stairs on the East side of the building. I duck and turn and tug until I'm finally free again and this time manage to make it to the stairs.
By the time I've managed to go down to the right floor without falling down the stairs and to wade through the mass of kids until I'm actually able to move freely, most of the hallway is deserted once more, although the quiet hat usually comes with an empty hallway is a distant memory.
Of course, when I arrive at Asuma's room, the door is locked. I don't know what I expected.
The fire alarm stops and I realize I'm the only one left in the building. I don't see anybody, but I can hear laughing and chattering and screeching coming from outside.
I'm just preparing to walk back to the main stairs and use the advantage of the height to try and look for my class, when a door opens further down the hall. A door I identify as the one to the boys' bathroom.
''Hey!'' I yell, ''Do you know what exit the kids on this side of the hall u-''
I stop talking when my brain finally registers the guy's bandaged foot and crutches. I finally realize who he is.
I groan mentally.
Why?
Why always him?
Naruto hobbles my way and nods behind me. ''I would think that one.''
''Why are you still here?'' I ask, unable to keep the irritation out of my voice. ''Nobody checked the bathrooms? Someone always checks the bathrooms!''
''Apparently not this time.'' He shrugs, hopping straight past me. I trail behind him.
''You didn't hear the alarm go off?''
''I'm on crutches thanks to you, remember?'' he says, not sounding nearly as mad about it as two weeks ago, when it'd been only days ago that I stomped on his toes. ''It takes a while to get my business done.''
I shudder.
When he stops in front of the iron emergency door, I walk around him and push it open.
I'm temporarily blinded by the bright daylight, but then the world pours back into my vision.
I step onto the iron platform - there's a metallic, echoing sound every time my feet touch it - and take a careful look over the railing.
The others must have all gathered at the back of the school. I can hear them, but I can't see anything but the cars zooming past the fence at the edge of the school grounds.
I step away from the railing.
We're not that high up. This point to the ground can't be more than a 25-feet drop. But I'm still not a huge fan of heights.
I manage to take one step down the stairs when Naruto's obnoxious voice stops me.
''Hey!''
I throw an annoyed glance over my shoulder. ''What?''
He's staring at me with raised eyebrows, moving his arms in a disbelieving gesture. One of his crutches hits the door. ''Are you just going to leave me here?''
''What do you expect me to do, carry you?'' I laugh humorlessly.
But Naruto's mouth corners are turning up into a sly smirk. ''Yes.''
My face falls. ''I'm not carrying your fat ass all the way down those stairs.'' I say.
He hobbles onto the platform, '''Fat ass'?'' he huffs, ''As always, I have no idea what miserable crap you're spewing. My ass is flawless. I believe Ino called it 'perfectly sculpted'.'' He says, a hundred percent serious.
I simulate heaving noises.
''Anyway, I thought we had a contract.'' Naruto says.
No, no, not that again.
The 'contract' thing has persuaded me to do the most ridiculous things for him over the past few weeks. And I mean ridiculous. I'm talking me doing his homework so he could go on a date with Ino, me asking the cafeteria ladies what exactly made the particular apple Naruto was eating taste so delicious (It was an apple. I tried to explain to him that they're delivered to the school in boxes, but he wouldn't hear of it) and - well, utter slavery and humiliation, basically.
''The 'contract' is written on your leg.'' I try, already knowing that it's no use.
And yep, ''Binding all the same.''
''No it is not!'' I groan. I decide to stand up for myself and continue walking down the stairs.
He hobbles closer to the edge. ''Stop! You were the one who broke my foot in the first place!''
''I know, and I told you I was sorry a thousand times!'' I roll my eyes tiredly and continue walking, feeling Naruto's glare on the back of my head.
''Alright,'' he says, his voice farther away, ''just tell Mr Asuma that you didn't want to take me! Just tell Jiraiya that you left the closest thing he has to a son to burn!''
''This is a fire drill!'' I exclaim. But then, with a grunt, I spin on my heels and stomp back up the stairs. I turn my back to him and bend my knees slightly. ''I hate you for this.''
Without warning he wraps his left arm around my neck, practically choking me, and swings his bad leg around my side. His other arm and leg follow quickly. I put my arms around his legs and bring them up to my side.
I start walking slowly, thanking the flying spaghetti monster that I still have some of last year's muscle mass left.
Right.
Left.
Right- I almost lose balance. Pay attention, S.
Left.
Right.
Left.
Right.
Naruto exhales onto my neck and my shoulders stiffen.
Where was I?
Uh, l-left.
Right.
Left.
''It's going great.'' Naruto comments, his hot breath once more touching my neck.
I gulp and feel my face turning red with exertion.
Left.
Right.
Left.
Then finally my foot touches the grass.
''Naruto, get off.'' I command.
''Help me a second. Here, take my crutch.''
I'm fiddling with my hands, trying to find a way to grab the crutch without bluntly dropping Naruto (insults are fine, but I think I hurt him enough physically in this lifetime), when a teacher walks around the corner, followed by a throng of students.
Naruto jumps off me as if I'm made of acid. He falls onto the grass. I straighten out my uniform.
The teacher stops in front of us and gestures for her students to walk upstairs. ''What were you two doing?'' she asks, throwing us a confused frown.
''We were, uh-'' Naruto starts, trying to get up without putting too much pressure on his left foot.
I'd probably come up with something more intelligent, but I'm currently preoccupied. I could have sworn I saw a raven bowl cut in the mass of faces.
Then I see Lee.
I throw him an awkward smile and a small wave. He doesn't smile back, but holds my gaze, looking between Naruto and I, frowning.
''Huh?'' I wonder out loud.
''Who's that?'' I hear Naruto mumble from beside me. His voice sounds a bit frustrated at his situation. I decide that whatever, I helped him this far, and pull him up.
''Hello, you two?'' The teacher asks once more, turning to us with crossed arms. ''What were you doing here? Who's your teacher?''
''Here I am, Kurenai.'' Asuma pops up out of nowhere to save the day again. That's 3 times today! ''I'll sort this out.''
And Kurenai shrugs and follows her class up the stairs.
Asuma turns to us, pulling out the list of the names of people in our class. He puts two last checks next to what I presume are my and Naruto's names, ''What were you guys doing here by yourselves? Why didn't you come along with the rest of us?''
''I went up to the headmistress' office, like you asked me to.'' I remind him, and he nods, rolling his eyes.
''Oh, that's right!'' he says, then his face turns confused again as he moves it to Naruto's. ''And what about you then, Naruto? Didn't I tell you you could take the elevator?''
My jaw falls slack.
Wait.
What?
I snap my face to Naruto's.
He's of course looking innocent as can be. ''Oh, that's right! I must have totally forgotten about it in all the turmoil.''
I don't believe a word of it.
You have got to be fucking kidding me. He obviously made me do all of this just to spite me!
I'm about to go Kaiju on this guy when Ino skips up to us and links her arm with mine, thankfully standing in between Naruto and I.
''Well, all's fine.'' Asuma says, ''If I were you I'd take the elevator now, though. Sakura, do you want to accompany Naruto?''
''No.'' Say three shocked voices at once.
One belongs to me, obviously. Another, of course, to Naruto.
The last one belongs to Ino. The two of us exchange awkward smiles.
''I'll go with him.'' she says.
''Sure. Go ahead, or you'll be late for your next class.'' Asuma says as goes up the stairs, beckoning for the class to follow him.
''See you later, S!'' Ino shouts distractedly as she lets go of my arm. Naruto and she start moving towards the back entrance.
''Are you coming, Sakura?'' Hinata grabs my hand. Kiba is waiting for us on the stairs, looking extremely comical with Hinata's light blue purse in his hand.
I turn around one more time, wanting to throw Naruto another murderous look.
He must feel my eyes on him, because he looks at me for one short moment, and then his mind is as far away from me as possible. He's smiling at Ino, who is busy picking blades of grass off the back of his white blouse.
The scene is so sweet and couple-y that it's all I can do not to retch then and there.
Kiba holds the door into the building open for us, and Hinata and I enter hand in hand.
During lunch, my friends and I are doing some last minute homework.
''Can somebody spell check my essay for English?'' Ino asks loudly. The table stays quiet. She frowns. ''Oh, come on, you guys all have straight A's. Help the less fortunate.'' She looks around. ''Shikamaru?''
''Nah, I'm not good at English.'' Shikamaru says, dropping his head back down on his arms.
she pouts. ''Yes, you are!''
''Fine, I don't want to.'' He doesn't even bother to pick up his head this time.
''You're an ass. Does anyone else want to help me?'' her hopeful gaze lands on me. ''Sakura?''
''Sure, fine.'' I say, shoving my own essay back into my bag. ''Give it here.''
And in barely five seconds I'm bent over another sheet of paper, crossing out every spelling error I can find.
''I still think it's ridiculous we can't just type it.'' Ino muses, watching me work.
''Then you'd use spell check! You'd never learn.'' I say.
Ino grins. ''Now you're my spell check, sweetie.'' I laugh and smack her in the face. ''Ow, watch the bang!''
''Is anybody excited for Halloween?'' Asks Hinata.
''Hell yeah!'' Ino says, leaning over the table and grabbing her shoulders. ''I love Halloween! Are you dressing up?''
She shrugs. ''I still have that Alice in Wonderland costume from last year. I think I'll wear that.''
''You looked adorable in that!'' Ino gushes. ''I'll probably be Wonder Woman. What'll you wear, Sakura?''
''My pajamas,'' I deadpan. I'm not much of a Halloween person.
''Well, that's kind of an anti-climax.'' Ino says, sinking back into her seat. ''You're supposed to dress up as something cool, Sakura!''
I gape at her. ''I'm not wearing my pajamas as a costume. I'm really just not going to do anything but hand out candy and watch nature documentaries and Girlcode. Or maybe some horror movies, if they're showing any good ones.''
''Nature documentaries?'' Naruto asks mockingly.
I narrow my eyes, ''I'm sorry, were you in this conversation?''
''I can't believe you watch nature documentaries. God, you're a dork.''
''You mean I actually have a brain, in sharp contrast to the chicken shit in your head? You're stabbing me right through the heart.''
''I think for that you'd have to have one.'' he scoffs.
''Children!'' Ino puts an index finger in both our faces. ''To get back on topic, Sakura, what do you mean you don't have any plans? Your sister is throwing a huge party!''
Uh.
What?
''No, she isn't.'' I say.
''She is.'' Kiba says. ''You mean you didn't know?''
''Huh? This weekend?'' I ask dumbly.
''Yeah!'' Hinata says.
Suddenly I remember random moments of the past week that I'd previously dismissed.
Karin on the phone, talking about some Halloween party.
Karin ordering ridiculous amounts of Halloween candy and beer.
My friends, excited about some party.
Classmates, excited about some party.
Totally random strangers, excited about some party.
And my parents are at a lawyer's conference in Shanghai for the weekend.
No parental supervision.
I gulp.
''Hey, it's okay,'' Ino comforts me, ''you're a party girl, right?''
''No, I'm not! I got drunk once!''
''You had fun, though, didn't you?''
''It was okay,'' I admit, sighing deeply.
I feel annoyance toward my sister bubbling in the pit of my stomach. She couldn't have told me? How hard would that have been? We live in the same house! That should make me at least slightly important!
''Well, this party is going to be great! House parties are super different. And you have a big house, which means that this party will be huge.'' I must not have looked impressed enough, because she gestures wildly with her arms. ''Huuuuuge!''
''Plus, we'll all be there.'' Hinata offers.
''Yeah, you're right.'' I decide finally. ''It's only a party. Let's just have fun.''
''Yay!'' Ino says, hugging me tightly. ''So about that costume...''
Groan. ''Can't I borrow something from you?'' I whine.
''Sure. So do you want to be a hula girl or a sexy officer?''
Naruto, Kiba and even Shikamaru burst out laughing.
''How about I drown myself in my coke instead?'' I ask, holding up my fountain drink as my cheeks flush red.
Ino shrugs. ''Your loss. Why don't we go shopping for a costume after school, then?''
''Alright.'' I say, sliding her English essay back over to her. ''There were only three errors, by the way.''
''Great!'' she squeals, bouncing up and down in her seat. She snatches it up from the table and plants a kiss on it.
Then the bell rings.
I have one period to go today. Then there's only Thursday and school on Friday, and then there's the party.
I remind myself to start mentally preparing.
And this time, no alcohol.
I totally made a Pacific Rim reference up there! HAHAHA.
And I love writing parties, is that weird?
Thanks everyone for the amazing reviews! And special thanks to raccoon4416 and morgaine4, for sending me amazing insightful and heartfelt pm's. Their comments and opinions whipped me right back on track. I'm ready to write eight thick NaruSaku novels now!
I'm home from the States, by the way. It was a long, eventful year, but overall I'm just glad to be home.
I hope you guys liked this chapter. Don't hesitate to review, even if it's just to tell me what color socks you're wearing or what you ate for dinner.