okay next chapter, and I think this one is longer than my previous chapters! Thank you people so much for your reviews they are very much appreciated.

enjoy people!

Chapter 7

I was currently trying to halt the anxiety attack that was threatning to overcome me. The end of my existance was coming up in three minutes, I noted as I glanced up at the clock. Fifth period was coming to an end, and gym was drawing near.

I had no earthly idea on how I was going to do this. How was I going to keep my secret in a dressing room full of guys. . .naked guys at that. And how was I going to survive? I should have known my innocence would never have lasted here. It was to much to ask.

From my spot in the back of the class, I watched the teacher pacing back and forth in front of the room, preaching about something I couldn't hear and had no interest in. Maybe because the lesson was about how you have to follow the law before you can understand it. Or maybe it was because he was so damn boring. I mean seriously, the fly on the wall caught my attention more than this. . . Orochimaru?

What kind of name is that? Sounds like something you here in murder cases. Ironic he's teaching lawmaking. I already don't like him, stinken femi-man. Femi-snake man, seemed to fit better since he kept flicking his tongue out of his mouth, that was very long by the way. What was he doing? Testing the air? The zoo people should come and pick him up, his own little display case could read 'The one and only Micheal Snakeson! Part snake, part articfical nose person!'

. . . I crack myself up. Trying to fight the laughter bubbling to my lips, I clamped my hands over my mouth. A few muffled chuckles passed through, and the source of my laughter glared at me with his slitted yellow eyes. It just made me laugh harder, because even his eyes reminded me of a snake. He would bring the zoo in a bundle of money.

With a snort of irritation, he turned back to his chalkboard and began drawing a diagram of the laws.

The one who was known as Shikamaru, that I had seen half-naked in the shower room and was one of the people in the picture in Gaara's room, was sitting on my right. He had been dosing up to just a few minutes ago. Up until the moment my muffled laughter woke him up.

Glancing at me, then at the clock he rubbed his eyes and sat up a little straighter. I glanced at the clock and could've screamed. If it had not been for my hands covering my mouth, I probably would have. I had one minute before the bell rang, announcing the last class of the day, and my death.

I paled slightly, and lowered my hands back to my empty desktop, I hadn't bothered taking out supplies for this class, and stared at the pale wood color of the desk. I could feel Gaara glance at me from a few desks up on my left, and Shikamaru from my right.

I took a deep breath to calm myself, readying for the coming class. I could do this. All I had to do was not look at anyone, and wait until they all left the dressing room so I could change in peace. Yeah, that would work. I could pretend to be busy looking for something in my bag while everyone changed.

Piece of cake, I could do this. Easy. Very simple. Nothing to it. Easy as pie. I could do this. I can do this. I will do this.

"DING!"

I CAN'T DO THIS! I CAN'T DO THIS!

I watched in shock as everyone rose from there seat and walked toward the door. After putting his books away, Gaara rose from his chair to. He gave me a look over his shoulder, probably wondering why I was still sitting in my desk like an idiot. I couldn't blame him though, I would thinking the same thing. With a shrug of his shoulders, he walked out of the room. The rest of the males in the room followed suit. At least, I thought they all did.

A grunt from my right snapped me from my small but effective heart attack. Turning my head slightly I found the Shikamaru guy propped beside me. He was standing with his hands in his pockets and putting his weight on one foot, leaning to the side. He yawned, then began to speak in a lazy tone.

"It's troublesome, but Kiba told me to show you to gym. Him and Naruto are waiting for us at the gym doors." he drawled.

If I had been in better spirits, I would have laughed and poked fun at the sloth guy. But as it was, I was to worried about gym, so instead I nodded and rose from my seat. Slinging my bag onto my back, I followed the spiky ponytailed boy out of the room and into the hallway.

It was a comfortable silence we walked in, which I was grateful for. It gave me a a chance to hone my plan to mild perfection. To where at least I had all the details down flat, and wouldn't screw it up to bad, causing everyone to know i'm female.

So far, I had all the possible questions they might ask pinned with the answers I would give them, and the time estimated I would spend digging through my bag for the object I 'needed'. Oh Kami, please let me not mess this up.

"Mat was it?"

I looked over at the lazy male walking beside me. His slow pace matched mine, and his hands stayed stuffed into the pockets of his black school pants. He rolled one brown eye to look back at me, and I was immediatly cautious and on alert.

How this lazy guy could have such a calculating gaze scared the shit out of me. It seemed like he saw through my lies, and was looking at the awkard, scared, frustrated girl underneath.

"Yeah, that's me." I said in a serious voice.

"We're here." he turned his eyes back to face in front of himself.

I followed his gaze, and saw big, metal double doors leading into what I could only guess as the gym. Kiba and Naruto stood in front of them. . .playing paper,rock,scissors? Geez.

"Nuh uh! I won, you do it. I can't take that guy anymore, if he does one more shiny teeth, 'ping' thing, I swear i'll kill him." Kiba said with a look of mock disgust on his face.

"But I don't want to either! What if I get blinded this time?" Naruto wailed back.

"That's not my problem." Kiba pointed out as he turned away from Naruto and faced me and Shikamaru, who were now standing in front of them.

"Oh hey guys." Kiba gave his wolfish grin.

"Hey." I replied. "What's going on?"

"Seeing who is going to take you to the coach." Kiba answered as he glanced at his blonde friend who was staring sadly at the gym doors behind him.

"And why is that so bad?"

"You'll see. Believe us." Shikamaru put in as he pushed past us and walked into the gym.

Naruto let out a whimper as he followed through, trailed by Kiba and myself.

The gym was fairly big.The beige walls and wood floors seemed welcoming enough. A basketball court dominated the middle of the gym with four goals posted at north, south, east, and west of the square room. Bleachers lined the walls on the left and right, and folded in on themselves giving more room on the gym floor.

And it all tied together with a man dressed in a green spandex suit with orange leg warmers, bowl cut black hair and eyebrows that seemed to be alive, standing in the middle of the gym. Kiba ducked into a door to my left shortly after seeing the bright man with a quick 'good luck' to me and the depressed blonde. Shikamaru left with Kiba with a backwards wave.

"Naruto? Who is that?" I nodded toward the man.

"Coach Gai." He sighed in defeat.

The silence was then shattered to minature pieces as said man sprinted over to us and promptly began screaming in our faces, his face a mask of horror.

"NARUTO WHERE HAS YOUR YOUTHFULLNESS GONE!" he screamed in distress.

"Out the window along with your sanity." Naruto mumbled under his breath.

Gai didn't seem to notice as he proceeded to drop to his knees, grabbing Naruto's hand on the way, and commensed wailing about his lost youth as waterfall tears cascaded down his face. Naruto stood with a miserable look on his face, seeming that at any moment he himself would join in the tears, but for a different reason.

A small smile broke across my face. This was to good. If only I had my camera, this could go on the site under 'The rejected proposal'. It looked like Gai had just proposed to Naruto, who rejected it. Bet that would get some hits.

"Gai, can't you see we have a new student?" A deep cheery voice asked from behind me.

I jumped and whirled around to face a man with spiky midnight colored hair and beard. He held the same lazy pose as Shikamaru, and a cigratte was sticking out between his smiling lips. A warm aura surrounded him, calming me slightly.

"Ah but Asuma, can't you see that poor young Naruto has lost his youthfullness! This is simply terrible! We must summon Lee!" Gai proposed as he jumped back to his feet with his pointer finger in the air.

"Gai I -" Asuma started but couldn't finish.

A crashing noise could be heard from somewhere in the back of the gym, followed by rushed, excited footfalls. I tensed and watched as a Gai mini-me came barreling across the gym floor with big round eyes.

Lee, I guessed, stopped in front of Gai and stood at attention with his hand brought up into a salute, and a happy smile on his face.

"LEE!" Gai sang.

"SENSEI!" Lee answered back.

"LEE!"

"SENSEI!"

I stared in horror as they hugged each other, and I could actually picture a backdrop of meadows and rainbows, complete with cheesy music and a waterfall. This school was just full of surprises.

"Lee, you must help Naruto regain his youthfullness!" Gai yelled.

"Yes sir!" Lee nodded his head vigoursly, making his bushy eyebrows dance, and grabbed Naruto by his wrist to drag him to places unknown. Or just to one of the basketball goals to practice free throws I noticed.

"What is your name, son?" Asuma asked as he layed a calloused hand on my small shoulder.

"Mat Zuma." I replied.

"Well Mat, welcome to gym class. Gai will give your clothes and shoes then show you the changing room. Today we are starting on teamwork, so hurry and get changed."

"Yes sir." I nodded.

"Youth is strong in this one!" Gai declared as he grabbed my wrist, much in the same fashion as Lee did with Naruto, and dragged me over to a desk in the corner.

"Your shirt and shorts size?" he asked as he grabbed a box from underneath the desk.

"Uh, small?"

"Here you go." he sang happily as he handed me a set of clothes. "Go through that door over there and change, but be quick. Lots of fun planned for today."

I nodded and followed his directions to a door labled 'Locker Room'. Well, I thought, here it goes.

I pushed open the blue metal door and stepped into the room. I kept my eyes glued to the floor as I heard male voices vibrate around the room. I reconized a few, and walked carefully toward them while keeping my eyes down.

"Oh hi Mat, you survived Gai I see." It was Kiba, and he patted me on the back with enthusiasm.

"Yeah." My voice a little high pitched. I was nervous.

"So what did you think?" He asked as he flicked me in my forehead. Which I would kill him for later since it caused my reflex reaction to look up. And the sight that met me almost put me in a coma.

Kiba, thankfully was dressed, and standing a little off to the side of me, giving me full view of everyone in the crowded little room.

I could see Shikamaru just now pulling on his white gym shirt over his lean chest, and Shino tying his shoelaces together. Kankurou was shirtless and walking around digging through the rubbish on the ground looking for something. His exposed skin was tan and to my surprise he had a six pack. Another boy in a corner was tightening the drawstrings on his shorts. He had on an orange mask that reminded me of a lollipop, and was muttering something about 'Tobi being a good boy'. A long haired blonde boy beside the masked male was trying to straighten his shirt and growling at 'Tobi' for not shutting up.

And Gaara. Gaara stood off to the side, farthest from the door, shirtless. Though it wasn't my first time seeing him without his shirt, it did nothing to stop my reaction. The muscles in his exposed chest rippeled beneath the skin, making my face turn red. The lighting in the room made him looked warm and approachable, while the way he held his body showed he didn't want to be bothered.

I had to fight hard against the nosebleed.

He looked so. . .appealing? No, it was much more than that. I couldn't even put a name to what I felt for him. It was beyond attraction, though I was very attracted to him. I wanted nothing more than to run my nimble fingers over the planes of his chest. Just to see if he would move under my touch.

"Mat? Mat are you okay? You look funny." Kiba said as he waved a hand in front of my face.

"I'm fine!" My voice sounded like I had just breathed in twenty balloons worth of helium. "I can't change in front of people, is there anywhere I can go?" I asked quickly, tearing my ogling eyes away from Gaara.

"Uh, sure. There is a bathroom over there." Kiba pointed.

"Thanks!" I said as I darted for the bathroom. I was beyond relieved. I was so happy I could scream. I would actually make it through this, well part of it anyway. I could be grateful for the fact that I didn't have to pretend to dig through my bag and keep my eyes to myself. Which had proven to be very diffucult once I had spotted a certain red head. I swear that guy was going to kill me.

After changing into red basketball shorts, and a white cotton v-neck shirt with white running shoes, I stepped out of the stall I was in and made my way to the door. I was alone in the changing room, aside from Kankurou who was still digging through things, I guessed he lost his shirt.

Holding in my amusement, I went back out to the main part of the gym. Once out of the changing room, I sighed in relief. I had survived. I was proud of myself. Here I was worried that I would have to change in front of them and watch the males change in front of me, only to have it not happen. I had been worked up for nothing. Well, not much anyway.

Mentally, I thanked whoever designed that room to have a bathroom stall. For the moment, they were my hero.

Ugh! I'm so mad at myself right now. I didn't describe Gaara good enough /crys in corner/ i could picture it perfectly in my mind but there just isn't any words to describe it. i'm sorry people if it didn't reach your expectations, i know it didn't reach mine, but don't worry i promise the upcoming chapters will be better! please review!!