I'm back with Chapter Two! I just want to give a BIG Thank you to all who fav'd/followed and to those who reviewed!
-YLCourt, SMILE, PAJAMALY, Raikiri80, love-kills-quickly, AmyKpd. - Your reviews were appreciated and definitely encouraged me to continue!
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto... Just the plot and my thoughts.
... Read on!
Chapter Two: New Acquaintances
Somethings unfolding,
I can feel it in the air...
Restlessly tapping her pencil against the desk she was currently hunched over, Sakura heaved a sigh as she finished going over her lecture notes for the third time. It wasn't that she doubted her ability to attain information, she was actually quite good at that. It was that fact that she had not been able to get the mornings events out of her mind that she so desperately, wanted to forget. She felt the heat rise on her cheeks again and fought the urge to slam her forehead against the desk.
How could I have missed that it was the 'Men's side?
Seriously Sakura? So reckless. So stupid!
... What must he have thought?
'Complete moron' Duh!
...Why do I even care what he thought?
I don't know him.. His opinion means nothing.
...But, he saw you half-naked.
Sakura now glared at her notes as her inner thoughts took over, and the mornings events in-admissibly replayed through her mind.
"I should ask you the same thing."
He intoned before pushing off the lockers and walking over to his bag, sitting on the bench a few feet in front of her.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Sakura questioned, confusion and anger evident on her face.
He gave no response, zipping his bag open, he dug through it's contents until his hands grasped what he needed. He pulled out his white v-neck t-shirt and began casually putting it on.
All the while Sakura watched in both awe; as to how his well-built torso stretched and flexed while slipping the shirt on, and incredulously due to the fact that he seemed so comfortable, so 'at home' about it.
"This is the Mens side." He deadpanned, breaking the silence that had thickened once more.
"... W-what? Your kidding right - "
"You have a half hour before they start filling this place up," He interjected, as he grabbed his duffle bag and threw it over his shoulder.
"You cant be serious?"
He met her gaze then, impatience contorted his features, "Dead serious."
Silently he moved passed her, and over to the exit.
Coming to stand before it, he rested his hand on the door, glancing over his shoulder to find her still watching him in disbelief.
"Half hour," he emphasized, before pushing open the door.
"W-wait! ..I-uh, thanks." She managed, in her shocked and embarrassed stupor.
"Class is dismissed."
Mr. Kakashi's voice broke through her train of thought, causing Sakura's unfocused eyes to snap back to reality. Students started shuffling out of the room, so she began gathering her things. Where did the time go? She thought inwardly. She decided she wouldn't worry about the mornings incident any longer, it was in the past, and it would stay there. She'd never see him again and no one would ever know... Including Ino. Sakura had skillfully avoided her best friend in the morning before class started.
Oh goodness if the blonde found out she would completely-
"Hey, your Hinata's friend right?" Sakura looked up from her bag to find a smiling brunette with twinkling hazel eyes watching her expectantly,"Yes, how did you - " Sakura was cut off as the girl quickly explained.
"I'm Tenten, a friend of Hinata's cousin... I saw you guys together this morning," she finished and held her hand out in greeting for Sakura to take.
Understanding crossed her features,"Oh I see, I'm Sakura Haruno," She offered with a small smile.
The girl with her hair in two buns beamed and continued,"You're freshmen right, like Hinata? I'm a sophomore... Neji asked me to keep an eye on you girls, there's a third one right?"(Referring to Ino) "Anyway, show you the ropes and what not, make sure you make it to class unscathed until you know the campus well enough.. And hey, having English literature together helps us both now." Tenten winked, then smirked suggestively. Sakura laughed at her bluntness, and that smirk. Now, a study-buddy was always necessary, and my friends, so was a cheat-buddy(Again, only when necessary. Like for example, if the teacher went berserk or something, and forced them to take an evil test - that would question their intelligence and eventually cause them to drop out of college and crush their hopes and dreams, they'd totally team-up and slip in through the night like ninja's and kick ass, and grab the answers and be best friends) That's what that smirk stood for, seriously.
She liked Tenten already.
The rosette eyed her curiously for a long second before voicing her nagging theory, "So... Neji is Hinata's cousin right?"
"Yup, that's right!" The brunette chirped.
"And... He has the same pearly-eyes, like all the Huuga's?"
Pink dusted the cheeks of the girl before her and Sakura fought the urge to smirk. Tenten cleared her throat and answered in false-indifference,"Yes, he does."
"... And, he's your friend?" She intoned 'innocently.'
"Yeah... he is," Tenten now timid, avoided Sakura's inquisitive gaze.
Stepping aside so Sakura could slide out of her desk, Tenten offered,"Wanna grab lunch together?" And fell into step with her as they both exited the classroom and entered the halls.
Sakura silently contemplated, it was passed noon... She probably wouldn't see Ino or Hinata until her next couple classes(She had physics with Ino, and calculus 2 with Hinata at the end of the day) so having lunch with someone she knew would be nice.
"I'd like that."
So they made their way down to the cafeteria. Ignoring the howls and whistles from random-hormonal boys, Tenten told Sakura all about the prestige 'KU,' Konoha University. Her eyes followed Tenten's hands as she pointed to the tall white buildings displayed all around them that made up KU. She began explaining the system in order to get Sakura more familiar with the campus. Every building was assigned a letter along with specific classes in the same category. For example, all English, Literature, etc. were in the E-wing, which they had just left. The letters were A-K wings, all buildings went in alphabetical order(These were not including the administration Offices or their dorm buildings)Their school colors were, red, black and white. First football game to start the season was this Friday. Tenten expressed that they go together, it was a 'can't-miss' kind of thing. Continuing on, she explained that there were all sorts of clubs and organizations. Frat party's were(the best)spontaneous and usually on the weekends, and very exclusive. Neji along with a few of their other guy friends were in the fraternity so Tenten always knew when a party was taking place.
"Are you interested in any clubs, sports?" Tenten asked as they entered the enormous cafeteria that was partially-packed with students, and walked over to the other side to stand in line. She grabbed herself and Sakura a tray before they continued down the lunch bar.
"Actually, I signed up for volleyball this morning." Sakura answered as she eyed an apple before setting it on her tray, continuing down the line behind the brunette.
Grabbing a sandwich, Tenten grinned in response "So did I, as I did last year."
"Me too! All four years - or three years at least, of high school." Her excitement dying with every word, she swallowed hard.
The brunette watched her curiously,"... You didn't play your senior year?" She questioned, having caught Sakura's change in tone.
"No - could you hand me a water-bottle please?" She spoke quickly.
It took Tenten a moment to process before she reached over to grab a water-bottle buried in ice. She decided against digging for further information. Clearly the rosette didn't want to elaborate. They paid and went to sit at a vacant table.
"Yo Ten!"
A voice called out from somewhere behind Sakura just after they slid into their seats. Both girls turned to find a blonde in a blue t-shirt and dark jeans making his way over to their table.
"Hey Naruto," She greeted as he pulled a chair out beside her and sat down, making Tenten the middle-man.
Sakura silently examined the new-comers features. Broad shoulders and a muscular physique were notable. Golden hued skin revealed that he enjoyed the sun, along with his shaggy blonde hair and eyes that were a beautiful shade of blue... Royal-blue, she decided. Sakura also noticed a lot of the girls were suddenly staring at them. What was with the expressions on their faces?
"Naruto, this is Sakura... She's Neji's, cousins, roommate." Tenten introduced, before taking a sip from her iced-tea.
He flashed his eyes over to the rosette before turning them back on the girl beside him,"Say that five times fast Tenten," he teased.
She only stuck her tongue out at him in response.
When she didn't hear the brunette give any other answer or reprimand, Sakura looked up again to find him holding his hand out to her.
"You have pink hair," he pointed out unabashedly.
She shook his hand and wore a thoughtful expression, as if 'pondering' before responding with, "I do," answering without showing offense in the slightest.
"It's natural too," he stated curiously, as if he was thinking out loud.
"I believe so."
Still shaking her hand, he continued,"Your eyes - like a feline."
"You should see my claws when I'm angry."
A grin split across his face in response and he turned to Tenten,"I like her," he stated, nodding in Sakura's direction.
Both girls laughed.
"Did I pass the test?"
The brunette shook her head at the blonde boy in disapproval, "Don't mind him Sakura, he has no-filter is all."
"Hey, I do too! I was just making sure she wasn't crazy. All the pretty ones have a crazy side." He finished matter-of-factly, looking at Sakura in open suspicion.
The rosette fought the urge to roll her eyes and merely stared at him blankly. And when she continued to give no reaction, he was tempted to poke her with Tenten's plastic utensils.
"So, what brings you here Naruto?" The brunette forcefully retreated her spoon from his hand and dug into her yogurt.
He sighed, leaning back into his seat lazily,"I was lookin' for Neji."
"He's with Shikamaru," Tenten answered after swallowing the creamy delight.
"... What about Sasuke? He wont answer my calls." She turned and caught his gaze.
"I have a hunch," Tenten said lowly, and something unspoken passed between the two that didn't go unnoticed by Sakura, but she remained silent. It wasn't any of her business.
Seeming to be satisfied with the information, he pressed his palms over the table surface,"Hmm, right.. Well I'm off then," he breathed, pushing himself up from the table, and sliding the chair back with his foot. He looked down at the still-seated two with a boyish smirk,"Tenten, Sakura, don't miss me too much," he winked before striding across the cafeteria and exiting through the double-doors.
Half the girls in the cafeteria watched his every move until he was out of sight, before some of them shot Sakura and Tenten curious glances.
Unaware of the attention, the rosette bit into her apple thoughtfully.
They were an odd group, she decided. Tenten, Naruto, this Neji character she had yet to meet that seemed to know a lot about them. Friendly, but they had secrets. Or a secret. What could they be hiding? Sakura wasn't sure, but obviously that Sasuke guy was involved, maybe Neji and Shika- whatever his name is were involved too. Something illegal? It's a possibility since they wouldn't disclose the information in front of her. She wasn't sure, she also didn't understand the attention they got too. Well, Naruto more than Tenten. It couldn't just be the fact that he was good-looking, it was almost as if the girls in the cafeteria were shocked to see him. Like he was a celebrity or something? Weird.
Anyway, she shouldn't put her nose where it didn't belong, she scolded. It really was none of her business.
The brunette watched the girl beside her curiously, deciding if she should test the rosette's reaction. It was a bit soon but she had a good feeling about Sakura... After a moment, she came to a conclusion and began hesitantly,"...So Sakura, how do you feel about adrenaline... About speed?"
What an odd question She thought,
Looking up, she regarded Tenten with some confusion,"Um, sounds dangerous?"
Tenten laughed out loud.
Had Sakura missed something? Was there something on her face?
"Whats so funny?"
"Nothing, your just adorable."
Unsatisfied, Sakura raised her brow in skepticism.
"There's a lot you don't know Sakura... Konoha is a different place when night falls."
...That was it? That parable was all she was gonna give her?
"Clarify... please?" She tried not to come off too curious, even though she was very intrigued.
So many assumptions and scenario's ran through her mind at that single half-answer.
The most frustrating thing for Sakura was when someone gave her a little piece of information but refused to further-explain or elaborate. Why bother mentioning it at all dammit? It drove her mad, but she kept an indifferent exterior, merely sighing thoughtfully.
She'd know soon enough.
But when the answer wasn't immediately available to her, and couldn't be found through a textbook or searched for on the internet, Sakura lost all balance and meaning in life, it was madness.
Could this be what she and Naruto were so secretive about? Considering the fact that she asked her the unusual question after Naruto departed...
It seemed sort of far-fetched... Why would a couple of rich kids be involved with something that sounded so - reckless? Well, maybe that was the answer itself, they had the money so they did as they pleased?...But what exactly was Tenten getting at? A party? Some secret roller-coaster ride?
"You'll see for yourself, sometime this week maybe, there's never a set date," She finished, breaking through Sakura's many thoughts, she pushed her tray aside and stood up from the table.
Watching the rosettes still-creased brow from where she stood, Tenten fought the urge to grin. Clearly, she had got the girl thinking. Tenten wished she could just tell her but it was too soon and she wanted the girls to be surprised.. She could already tell that Sakura was trustworthy, she was very to herself and seemed to like the brunette as much as she did. Tenten didn't doubt her or the other two girls fitting into their click, if they were anything like Sakura it was going to be a great year.
She cleared her throat, drawing Sakura's attention once again, "Are you coming?"
The strawberry-blonde still had her brows creased together as she studied the Tenten. As if she were a puzzle to be put back together with no picture to follow. Sakura sighed and pushed out of her seat,"... Yeah, lets go."
She wouldn't worry about it, maybe Tenten was just messing with her...
Maybe.
...
..
.
So, Tenten and our favorite knuckle-headed Ninja have made their first appearances.. They are all going to be a close bunch.. Naruto and Sakura already have that humorous/blunt acquaintance going... They are both going to fall into the same closeness they have in the manga(I adore their friendship)
Sakura, Ino, Hinata-19 years old-Freshmen-Originally from Suna.
Tenten, Naruto, Sasuke, Neji, Shikamaru, Kiba, Rock Lee, (& others that I will inform you of that haven't made an appearance yet)-20 years old-Sophomore-Originally from Konoha.
'He doesnt matter, I'll never see him again,' She is convinced she'll never run into him again and is comforted by that fact... Little does she know he will make another appearance fairly soon ;)
'Friendly, but they had secrets,' Sakura's curious and untrusting nature tends to take over when something in-explainable is in her midst. This is the beginning to where her nagging suspicions of the group begins.
Hmmm... what could Tenten be getting at I wonder? I'd love to hear your guesses! ... If it was obvious, that was planned. Lol. Anywho If you have any form of constructive criticism please do share, I am still new at this.
Thank you friends.