So this chapter didn't turn out quite the way I wanted it to, but I kind of like the way it went. Enjoy!

The next morning sucked for both Gaara and Sophia. Sophia had stayed up a bit later that she would have to finish her assignments in addition to the sleepover the previous day, so she was quite sleep deprived when she wandered into Calculus the next morning. Gaara had been awoken early just as Sophia had asked, so that he could finish his homework, not exactly the best thing to wake up to, though he did notice that he had slept very well, despite being dragged several blocks and dumped on a couch.

Kakashi seemed to think that leaving the class to its own devices worked out quite well for him yesterday, so once again he called out, "Partner up," before returning to Icha Icha Paradise.

"Okay, so why did I wake up at 5 in the morning on my couch when I don't even remember going home?"

"Uhhh… Well we were talking about insomnia, so when I noticed you were asleep I figured that I shouldn't wake you up because there would be no way you'd fall asleep. So I half dragged, half carried you to Sasuke's room since I didn't know where you lived."

"You managed to carry me?"

"Hey. I'm strong." He raised his eyebrows. "Don't doubt me. You know what? I'll prove it right now. Come on, get up."

"You're serious?"

"Did I stutter? Get up." He got out of his desk, shaking his head. They moved off away from the objects. Kakashi was completely oblivious, no doubt reading an explicit scene of his 'book.' She picked him up bridal style. She stumbled a little under his weight and couldn't carry him for too long, but she did it regardless.

"How the hell?" She put him down.

"There. Believe me now?" She sat back in her seat, opening her textbook.

"I guess, but still. You could have woken me up, or gotten someone else or something."

"Two things: one, you didn't wake up the whole way there, so how was I supposed to wake you up? And two, I was just supposed to leave you alone and unconscious on the roof of a pretty seedy building to get who exactly?"

"Fine."

She just smiled. "Come on, let's get to work." Once again they managed to finish all of their homework in class.

"Hey guys. Sorry I didn't make it yesterday," she said as she sat down at their table.

"Oh that's just fine," said Ino, implying something more happened than what actually did.

"Come on. It's not like that. I just got here. Did I or did I not tell you about my ex. You should know I'm not looking for anything like that. Be serious."

"I thought you said you'd try to drop by," said Ino in a sweet innocent voice.

"I would have but it was pretty late when we got back, and I had to do all my homework."

"How late exactly?"

"Uh…"

"Ha. She got you," joined in Tenten.

"Guys! We were just hanging out."

"Oh, we know, but we love teasing you." Ino then stuck her tongue out playfully.

"Mer…" pouted Sophia.

Later at lunch Ino suggested that they go sit by the boys, to Sakura's horror and Sophia and Hinata's displeasure. "Oh come on. Teasing them all and making Sakura strip down is one thing, but being forced in their company is quite another. Mostly because that bothers me," complained Tenten. Ino resolutely put her food down at the boy's table.

"Oh come on. It's not that big of a deal," said Ino. "Hey, boys. Do you mind if we sit here today?" They didn't respond. "Thanks." She turned back to the girls. "See. They don't have a problem with it so neither should you." Hinata nodded her head while the rest of them just rolled their eyes.

"Is everybody excited to be swimming today?" asked Tenten for she clearly was.

Sakura replied first. "Yes. I have been dying to get back to the pool, the last few days have been so hot. Plus, Anko is usually lighter on us these days."

"How is that a plus?" said Tenten. Ino just glared at her. Sophia could tell that another fight was about to erupt but before she could intervene Hinata came to the rescue.

"So… Sophia, do you like swimming?"

"Huh?" she was still concentrating on Ino and Tenten. "Oh. Yeah. I love it. It's so much fun, but I don't have the best stamina, so I never win any races."

Tenten became interested now, "Did you compete?"

"Oh no. Nothing like that. Just when I'm hanging out with friends and we decide to see who can get to the other side of the pool and back faster. That kind of thing."

Tenten sounded disappointed, like she might have found a worthy opponent. "Oh."

"But what about you guys? Do you do any sports?" she asked, eager to get off the subject of the upcoming swimming class.

"Just Tenten," said Ino, bored.

"Which ones?"

"Just soccer, volleyball, basketball, cross-country, and track and field."

"Just? How do you find time for all of that?" Sophia asked, incredulous. Tenten just shrugged.

The guys, so far, had just kept to themselves on their side of the table, but Sophia decided to take a chance. "Hey, you over there," she called to the boys. "Do you do any sports?"

"Too troublesome," responded Shikamaru. Ino looked over at him, eyes wide, like he was the only one who understood the unnecessarily time consuming and possibly damaging effects of sports.

"Neji, Sasuke, and I play soccer," said Gaara.

"I got kicked out!" Naruto yelled, quite happily…

"Why'd you get kicked out?" asked Sophia.

"It's because he's an idiot," said Sasuke.

"He's not an idiot!" shouted Sakura, pissed at him for really no reason, but the fact that he was an annoying chicken butt.

"He kept scoring in the other team's goal," said Sasuke.

"So?"

"So that just proves that he's an idiot!" Sasuke started to get quite as angry as Sakura. Sophia was going to open her mouth to say something but Ino held her back.

"Do you or do you not want to see what's about to happen?" Sophia agreed that this would be, at the very least, entertaining.

"The only idiot here is you!"

"Hn."

"That just proves it! You're losing the argument, so you just shut down. When are you going to stop running away from your problems, Sasuke?" She stood up and turned to the girls. "I told you this was a bad idea, Ino. I'm going." She stalked off in a foul mood.

As soon as the girls had run after her, Sasuke burst out, "What the hell is her problem?"

"She's not getting enough ramen in her diet," replied Naruto, completely serious. Sasuke hit him.

Ino was the first to speak when they finally found Sakura crying in the girl's locker rooms. "What the hell is your problem?"

Sakura looked up, rage etched in every aspect of her tear-stained face. "My problem? MY PROBLEM?" her voice was shaking she was so angry. "What the hell is wrong with him? Naruto's his best friend and he insults him all the time. How is that okay? How can he be so mean?" She broke off, her voice softer now. "How am I attracted to that? How can I imagine myself with someone who is so abusive?"

Ino sat down next to her. "Ohh sweetie." She pulled her into a big hug and stroked her hair. "He's not like that. He just teases and since Naruto doesn't complain, he doesn't know it's wrong. But if he says one word to you-."

Tenten cut her short, "We'll pop a cap in his ass." Sakura choked out a laugh.

"Thanks guys. I know I'm overreacting, but I get scared about myself sometimes, because even if it isn't him, what if I end up with someone else, someone who really is abusive?"

"Sakura," Sophia was now the one to provide comfort. "I've known you for like two days. I can already tell that you're too smart to end up with a guy like that. You have way to much taste to do that either. You're so strong, you would never let him defeat you. And most importantly, you have some of the greatest friends I've ever seen. Like Tenten said, we'd kick that mofo's ass." She wiped a tear from her face. "Don't worry, okay?"

She nodded. "You're right. Just being silly."

Hinata finally spoke up, "Sakura. You're never being silly. Every worry is real, and the way that it bothers you isn't wrong, so don't think that it isn't okay. But what is wrong, is letting it stop you from doing what you want. I know all too well."

"Thanks." Sakura got up, wiping her face. "Oh god. I must look like a mess." Ino refrained from affirming this statement. Sakura went to go wash her face free of tears while the rest of them changed into their swimsuits.

Ino wore a simple black two piece. Tenten donned a sporty green tankini. Hinata put on a pale blue one piece with a butterfly on her hip. Sophia had on a red one piece swimsuit and dark red boy trunks. Once Sakura was back she put on a white two piece, much like Ino's.

"Sophia, why are you wearing those shorts?" asked Sakura.

Shit. Just lie, do whatever you can. "Uh… I just don't really feel comfortable with my thighs..?"

"What are you talking about? Your thighs are amazing," said Ino, utterly confused. "Come on. Strut your stuff."

"I just don't feel comfortable with it. Okay? It's not like I'm wearing a wetsuit."

"Fine. Do whatever you want, but just for the future, I will not be afraid to tell you if what you're wearing is absolutely hideous."

"That's fine, and I don't doubt that you will." She smiled. "Come on. Let's get out there and strut our stuff." Tenten just rolled her eyes.

They were a few minutes early so they sat by the edge of the pool, kicking the water with their feet. Anko soon arrived and like Sakura wanted to know why Sophia was wearing shorts.

"Please, can I just wear them? I'll do 20 laps around the pool. Anything. It's not against dress code, is it?"

"No. I was just curious. It's just kind of odd. And you don't have to resort to extra laps. The workout I'll give you today will suffice."

Everyone's face but Tenten's fell simultaneously. Tenten just beamed.

Karin and her gang entered the pool area wearing what had to be just triangles on strings. It was odd since this was a girl's only class, but they probably didn't bother buying non-slutty outfits. Karin's misled group contained Eiko, Michiru, Nozomi, and Sugako.

"Oh great. It's the crabby mcbitch crew," said Ino.

"Good one. I was going to go with slutty ho squad, but I think yours really captures the true evil," Sakura said.

"Okay, so which one's which?" asked Sophia.

"That one there," said Ino, pointing at a fake blonde. "That's Eiko. She is one of the dumbest girls you will ever meet. Sakura sat next to her in Japanese last year.

"She asked me how to spell orange."

"That little one, that's Michiru."

"She's totally rich because her dad invented Toaster Streudels," added Tenten.

"Michiru knows everybody's business, she knows everything about everyone," muttered Hinata.

"That's why her hair is so big, it's full of secrets," finished Ino.

"And evil takes a human form in Karin. Don't be fooled because she may seem like your typical selfish, back-stabbing slut faced ho-bag, but in reality, she's so much more than that," scathed Sakura.

"She's the queen bee - the star, those other four are just her little workers," said Ino. (I apologize for totally ripping off Mean Girls, but it came into my head and I had to put it in.)

"A couple of announcements. We'll be in the gym again tomorrow, but on Friday the boys will join us in the pool. Now go. 5 laps, back and forth, long ways."

"What was that you told me about Anko taking it easy?" asked Sophia.

"Sorry."

Tenten had already jumped in and was coming back before anyone else had gotten in. Once the girls finished, they were allowed to do whatever, as long as they were doing something. Tenten had decided for all of them, since she finished first, that they would play sharks and minnows.

"As long as you're the first shark," said Sakura.

Hinata whispered to her, "Are you sure that's the best idea."

"Oh yeah. Crap… We're all going to die in a watery grave…"

Tenten gladly jumped in and waited menacingly. She counted down from 10. Sophia took a deep breath and dived in. Tenten immediately dove after her, giving the other three the opportunity to sneak past her. Sophia, to Tenten's annoyance was at the very bottom of the pool, crawling on the ground. Since the rules required Tenten to bring her to the surface, she went down after her, and started tugging, but Sophia managed to get to the other side, before needing to come up for air. "You bitch!" yelled Tenten. Sophia just stuck out her tongue.

This time Tenten was ready for her, as soon as Sophia got in the water, she immediately dove down to get her. She grabbed onto Sophia's shorts which made her gasp and lose her breath, so she immediately swam to the surface so that she wouldn't drown. She made her shorts were on, but before she could get more than a few feet away Tenten got her. "And you called me a bitch!"

"Fair is fair."

"Oh, whatever. I'll get Sakura; you try for Hinata or Ino?"

"Sure."

They began to count in unison, more intimidating than ever. Sakura jumped in, Sophia scrambled after her. She managed to catch her about three quarters down the pool. When they turned around Tenten had the other two in each hand.

Sophia had to fight to keep from laughing. She finally yelled, "If it was so easy for you to catch them, why did you go after me?"

"The challenge."

"Gr…"

"Girls get out and get dressed!"

All of the girls got out slowly, not wanting to go to their next classes. Nothing that eventful happened on the girl's way to history, but it was a different story over by the crabby mcbitch crew.

"What's up with that new girl?" asked Sugako.

"She sat at a table with the cutest boys in our class today. Who the hell does she think she is?" demanded Nozomi.

"It's not like we need to feel threatened. She isn't a bit pretty, so it's not like any boy is going to ask her out," said Eiko.

"And what about that swimsuit she wore today. Ugly! And pairing it with those shorts was just weird. I thought Americans were supposed to have a sense of fashion to compensate for their horrible looks," Michiru commented.

"Don't make me laugh Michiru. Plus, I think you're being too judgmental of our new classmate," said Karin. The rest of them just stared at her. "I think she knew she looked weird, but I think what the shorts were covering must have been even more so."

"I don't get it," said Eiko.

"Of course you don't. She's hiding something, maybe a gang tattoo, who knows what that American gets up to. We have swimming again with the boys on Friday. Any chance she has now will be dashed on the rocks."

"I still don't get it."

"Just pants her on Friday."

"Okay!"

"Dumb whore," Karin muttered under her breath.

Okay, so I know the Sakura and Sasuke was a bit random, but it seemed to flow into the story, and I didn't just want to focus on Sophia and Gaara. I feel like maybe the fact that she was wearing shorts was stressed a little too much, because to be truthful, it's not that weird. I feel like maybe I'm leading up to it a little to much and then it's gong to be anti-climactic, so I'd love any opinions on that. I just wanted to make a quick comment about Karin and her girls too. I don't want them to be the typical fangirl types that are just falling head over heels for the guys. I want them to be more like stuck up bitchy snobs. I don't know. Opinions on that would also be appreciated. If you have any comments, suggestions, complaints, I really want to hear them.

Special thanks to Ninja-Bunny-Master, iluvninjas, and Shadow-Ninja-Captain69 for reviewing my last chapter. ^_^

~MorwenKazul