I crouched over my desk and began to doodle on my notebook; I had free time before the next period. Ino said we were in the same class but she conveniently left out the fact that I took different subjects from her and wasn't in all her classes. I chewed on my lower lip and dragged my pen across the book. Someone sat in front of me and leaned over my table, examining my silly sketch. I looked up slowly, a smile growing on my lips.
"Naruto, right?" I tilted my head. He flashed me a grin and nodded quickly.
"You're new, how is Konoha High?" He leaned even closer to stare at me. I laughed nervously and backed away, just slightly.
"It's nice. It's rather big, much bigger than my old school." I smiled.
"You're in the baking club?" He seemed to ignore my previous statement.
"Yeah..." I cocked an eyebrow.
"You know Hinata then?" He asked eagerly. I was just about to mention that she was my partner, but I paused and glared at him.
"What do you want with her?" I narrowed my eyes suspiciously. His eyes widened in alarm and held his hands up defensively.
"Nothing! She's a great cook isn't she?" He giggled. I maintained my stare as I scrutinized his embarrassed expression. A hand slammed onto my desk and I stiffened.
"He's her boyfriend," a crazed voice laughed. I looked up at the boy and pointed at him in horror.
"Is that face paint?" I asked. He seemed to recoil in the same shock that stunned me. Though, he did look quite offended.
"This," he gasped, touching his cheek, "is family tradition!" I let out a giggle.
"Kiba what are you doing here," Naruto rolled his blue eyes. Kiba, huh.
"Just making sure you don't scare the new girl away," Kiba grinned.
"I can take care of myself, thank you." I said politely, closing my notebook. Naruto let out a low whistle and clapped his hands in glee.
"So you sit with Sasuke in Biology huh. Must be tough," Naruto sympathized.
"You don't like him?" I blinked.
"Like him? Hell no! I love him! I met him when we were really, really, really young and he's this major pain in the ass. He likes to act all cool when he's actually not. He thinks just because he's an Uchiha he gets to do anything and everything he wants and he rarely has time for me anymore he's always studying and everything. He thinks he such a big shot an-"
"Wow... He really likes him." I whispered to Kiba.
"Tell me about it." Kiba rolled his eyes, "Sasuke is a major pain in the ass, and he does think he's really cool."
"He's good at Biology," I added.
"He's good at everything," The both guys said in unison. I laughed.
"Hold on," I said suddenly, "You're Hinata's boyfriend?"
Naruto blushed.
I smiled to myself as I unloaded by books into my locker. Naruto and Hinata, who would have thought? Such a sweet little girl with such a... well, I didn't know quite how to put it. It was rather sweet though, Naruto looked pretty desperately in love with her anyway. I ran a hand through my hair and headed for the cafeteria, Ino was probably already waiting for me. From the corner of my eye I spotted a familiar face and I paused.
"Hello!" I called out, waving at Hinata's cousin, the boy that brought me to the kitchen. I realized I still didn't know his name, how terrible of me. He was walking with a girl that looked his age. Her hair was tied up in tight buns while she permitted her fringe to fall loosely over her forehead. He glanced in my direction and motioned to the girl to walk over. I grinned at him.
"Hello!" I said again.
"This is TenTen, my partner," his deep voice held this alluring sense of authority. I smiled at TenTen and smiled.
"Partner? That's so cute!" I exclaimed. She flushed a deep shade of red.
"I meant work partner. I do all my projects with her." He said simply. TenTen laughed nervously.
"I'll catch you later Neji," she said, giving me a smile before hurrying off. I frowned at him.
"You didn't stop her," I said.
"Yes, that serves as a problem?" He questioned. I stared at his patient face and sighed, shaking my head lightly.
"Oh, give me a second." I opened my locker quickly and retrieved the cookies that I wrapped.
"Here, for bringing me to the kitchen and all." I smiled, "I made it this morning, and it's still fresh. If it isn't you have the right to complain!" I added quickly. He hesitated but took the cookies.
"I'll see you around," I waved, "Neji."
"Where were you?" Ino whined at my arrival.
"Sorry I was caught up," I apologized, turning to look at Shikamaru who was seated next to the blond. His gazed fixed on mine.
"Uh, hi,"
He nodded.
"Alright girl, information time," Ino drummed her fingers impatiently on the table to get my attention.
"It completely slipped my mind, I'm sorry. Our cultural festival is next week. And we're doing this Western Stall, we've got cooks, and waitresses, namely yours truly. We've got everything, but an advertisement to lure customers." She said quickly, pausing only to emphasize her role.
"Uh huh,"
"We need you to do the advertisement," Ino said slowly.
"Oh, sure!" I grinned.
I was given one notice, just one. I wasn't told what the advertisement was, I foolishly didn't ask either. Next week had arrived faster than I could imagine and the next thing I knew, I was in the girl's bathroom arguing with Ino.
"But you never told me about this!" I cried, pulling away.
"Hold still Sakura!" She grunted, grabbing the zipper.
"No! I refuse! NO!" I groaned. Zipping the zipper successfully, Ino took a step back to examine me. She flashed me the thumbs-up sigh. I shook my head.
"Sorry, I'm not leaving the cubical. Not dressed as... I don't even know what I'm dressed as!" I exclaimed, attempting to throw my hands in the air but was constricted by the costume.
"It's a tomato sauce bottle," Ino clapped her hands, "I searched it up."
"I'm a sauce?" I moaned. It was hot and extremely uncomfortable in the suit.
"Now, go out there and get some customers!" Ino shoved me out of the cubical. I stared at my reflection in the mirror in horror. I was indeed a sauce. I had a cap and all, not to mention the informative ingredient list right on my butt. I saw my head protruding out of a tomato sauce bottle and my legs stuck out from the bottom rather unsightly.
"You owe me; I hope I don't see anyone I know." I took a deep breath and left the toilet, Ino grinning with satisfaction right behind me.
I found myself the object of everyone's fascination as soon as I walked into the hallway. It was jam packed with students running in different directions. I felt rather fat in the throng of people. I swore to kill Ino after this festival. I would carefully plot her death, a slow but sure one. Prolonged agony, she will suffer.
"Come visit our Western Food stall!" I heard myself screaming at the top of my lungs, adding to the noise in the hallway. Ino was already gone, but her death can wait. I had a job to do.
"Come visit our Western Food stall!" I yelled, squeezing through the crowd with great difficulty. A girl ran past me, squealing an apology. I was completely knocked off my feet. I fell to the floor with a thud, the horrid costume weighing me down. I let out a grunt as I tried to pull myself back up.
"Who made this stupid costume anyway," I muttered under my breath. My heart raced as heads started to turn, someone burst into a giggle. My eyes landed on his indifferent expression in the crowd, Uchiha Sasuke. Perfect, he was present just to make a laughing stock out of me. A strong hand gripped my arm and hulled my up in one swift jerk. I gasped at the motion. Eyes wide I found myself staring at Hyuuga Neji, my face just inches away from him. The laughter died down and after a few seconds of staring at the situation, the whispers started.
"Oh this is just brilliant." I mumbled. Turning to look in Sasuke's direction I felt heat rise to my cheeks as he was no where to be found. There was something about the indifferent expression he gave me that unnerved me.
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