Hi there again! Welcome to chappie number three! Thank SO much to everyone who alerted and favored! I was in shock (the good kind) and I was so fucking happy!

Thank you so much!

Now, more of Hinata, Naruto and others like I promised!

So, this story does get pretty judgmental until Sakura and Sasuke find out more about each other!

This chappie marks much more "progression" and it gets better! I will not reveal anything! You'll have to read on to find out! This contains humor, romance, drama as usual and other things!

So, Temari kind of plays a bad guy role... And the wrong-person role... Sorry, for Temari fans! Ino plays the jealous ex, and so much more!


Disclaimers: I, Kumi-Chan, do NOT own the plot of Perfect Chemistry and I do NOT own any of the characters used! Kishimoto-sempai owns the characters and Simone Elkeles owns the plot!


Written By: Kumi-Chan/Tobi-Is-Fluffy-Chan

Chapter 3: That Bet, Which Makes Me Wonder...


Sakura

After school, I'm at my locker when my friends Megumi, Mari and Moriko come up to me. Ten-Ten calls them the Konoha M-factor.

Megumi hugs me. "Oh my God, are you okay?" She asks, pulling away and examining me.

"I heard Hidan protected you. He's amazing. You're so lucky, Saku," Mari says, her signature curls bouncing with each word.

"It wasn't a big deal," I say, wondering what the rumor is in contrast to what really happened.

"What exactly did Sasuke say?" Moriko asks. "Akiko took a picture on her cell of Sasuke and Hidan in the hallway, but I couldn't make out what was going on."

"You guys better not be late for practice," Temari yells from the end of the hallway. Just as quickly as Temari appeared, she's gone.

Mari opens her locker, which is next to mine, and pulls out her poms. "I hate the way Temari kisses Ms. Kurenai's butt," she says under her breath. I close my locker and we walk toward the practice field. "I think she's trying to focus on dance instead of obsessing about her boyfriend going back to college." Megumi rolls her eyes. "Whatever. I don't even have a boyfriend so she gets zero sympathy from me."

"No sympathy from my end, either. Seriously, when is that girl not dating someone?" Mari asks.

When we reach the practice field, our entire squad is sitting on the grass waiting for Ms. Kurenai. Phew, we're not late.

"I still can't believe you got stuck with Sasuke Uchiha," Temari says quietly to me as I find an open spot beside her.

"Wanna switch partners?" I ask, although Ms. Tsunade would never allow it. She made that crystal clear.

Temari sticks her tongue out in full-gross mode and whispers, "No way. I never go slumming on the south side. Mixing with that crowd will get you nothing but trouble. Remember last year when Naomi What's-her-face (Temari forgot her last name) dated that one guy... Was was his name?"

"Uh, Shinji Masoka?" I say in a low voice.

Temari rolls her eyes in annoyance. "In a matter of weeks Naomi went from being cool to being an outcast. The south side girls hated her for taking one of their guys and she stopped hanging with us. The confused little couple was on an island all alone. Thank God, she broke up with him."

Ms. Kurenai walks towards us with her CD player, complaining about someone moving it from her usual spot and that's why she's late.

When Ms. Kurenai tells us to stretch, Ten-Ten nudges Temari over so she can talk to me.

"You are in big trouble, girl," Ten-Ten says.

"Why?"

Ten-Ten has "super" eyes and ears; she knows everything going on at Konoha.

My best friend says, "Rumor has it that Ino Yamanaka is looking for you."

Oh, no. Ino is Sasuke's girlfriend. I'm trying not to freak out and think the worst, but Ino is tough, from her red-painted finger nails all the way down to her black, high heel shoes. Is she jealous, I'm Sasuke's chem partner, or does she think I reported her boyfriend to the principal today?

The truth is I didn't report him. I got called into Dr. Danzo's office because someone who'd seen the parking incident and witnessed our confrontation and reported it. Which was ridiculous because nothing happened.

Danzo didn't believe me. He thought I was too scared to tell him the truth. I wasn't scared then.

But I am now.

Ino Yamanaka can kick my butt any day of the week. She probably practices with weapons, the only weapon I know how to use is, well, my pom-poms. Call me crazy but somehow I doubt my pom-poms will scare off a girl like Ino.

Maybe in a word war I would make a good showing, but definitely not in a fist fight. Guys fight because of some primal, innate gene that makes them prove themselves physically.

Maybe Ino wants to prove something to me, but there is no seriously no need. I'm no threat, but how do I let her know that? It's not like I'm going to go up to her and say, "Hey, Ino, I'm not going to make a move on your boyfriend and I never reported him to Dr. Danzo." Or maybe I should...

Most people think nothing bothers me. I'm not going to let them know something does. I've worked too long and hard to keep up with this facade and I'm not going to lose it all because some gang memeber and his girlfriend are testing me.

"I'm not worried about it," I tell Ten-Ten. My best friend shakes her head. "I know you, Saku. You're stressing," she whispers.

Now that statement worries me more than the idea of Ino looking for me. Because I try really hand to keep everyone at a distance... Not really knowing what it's truly like to be me or what it's like to live at my house. But I've let Ten-Ten know more about me than everyone else. I wonder if I should back off from our friendship sometimes, to make sure she's kept at arm's length.

Logically, I know I'm paranoid. Ten-Ten is a true friend; she was even there when I cried last year about my mom's nervous breakdown but never revealed the reason. She let me cry it out, even when I refused to give her details.

I don't want to end up like my mom. That's my biggest fear in life. Ms. Kurenai has us get into formation, then plays the custom music made for our squad by the music department while I count off. It's a mixture of rap and hip-hop music, specially mixed for our routine. My body hums to the beat. That's what I love about being part of the squad. It's the music that pulls me in and makes me forget about my problems at home. Music is my drug, the only thing that makes me numb.

"Ms. Kurenai, can we try starting in a broken T position instead of the T position like we previously practiced?" I say. "Then go into the low V and high V combos with Moriko, Hinata and Akiko moving to the front. I think it's look cleaner."

Ms. Kurenai smiles, obviously pleased with my suggestion. "Good idea, Sakura. Let's try it. We'll start with the broken T position, elbows bent. During the transition, I want Moriko, Hinata and Akiko in the front row. Remember to keep your shoulders down. Ten-Ten, please make your wrists an extension of your arms instead of bending them.

"Yes, ma'am," Ten-Ten says from behind me.

Ms. Kurenai plays the music again. The beat, the lyrics, the instruments... They all seep into my veins and lift me no matter how low I feel. As I dance in sync with the other girls, I forget about Ino and Sasuke and my mom and everything else.

The song is over too quickly. I still want to move to the beat and the lyrics when Ms. Kurenai turns off her CD player. The second time around is better, but our formation needs work and some of the new girls are having a hard time with the steps.

"Sakura, you teach the basic moves to the new girls and then we'll try as a group again. Temari, you lead the rest of the squad in reviewing the steps," Ms. Kurenai instructs as she hands me the CD player.

Hinata is in my group. She kneels down to take a drink from her water bottle. "D-Don't worry about Ino," she says. "Most of the time... Her bark is worse than her bite."

"Thanks," I say. Hinata looks tough, with her navy blue bandanna, three eyebrow rings, and hands always folded on her chest or behind her back when she's not doing routines. But... She has kind, and soft ultra-violet eyes. And smiles a lot; as well as blush, too. Her smile softens her semi-harsh appearance, although if she put a pink bow in her hair instead of a navy blue bandanna I bet she'd actually look girly. "You're in my chemistry class, aren't you?" I ask.

She nods.

"And... You know Sasuke Uchiha?"

She nods again.

"Are the rumors about him true?" I ask carefully, not knowing how she's going to react to my prying. I run my fingers though my cotton-candy pink hair, waiting for an answer. If I'm not careful, I'll have a long list of people who are out to get me.

Hinata's long, dark blue hair moves as she talks. "I...It depends on which one's you're referring to."

As if I'm about to rattle off the list of rumors outlining Sasuke's drug use and police arrests, Hinata stands. "L-Listen, Sakura," she says. "You and me, we'll maybe n...never be friends. But I have to tell you, no matter how much of a jerk Sasuke was to you today, he's not as bad as the rumors... He's even not as bad as he'd like to think he is."

So... Now, I am thinking of Sasuke to be a hot... Wait, did I say hot?... I mean, an emo teddy-bear with razor-sharp claws... Most likely, I'm wrong.

Before I can ask another question, Hinata is back in formation.

An hour and a half later, when we're all exhausted and crabby and even I've had enough, we're dismissed from practice. I make a point of walking over to a sweating Hinata and telling her what a good job she did today on the routine.

"Really?" She asks, looking astonished.

"You're a fast learner," I tell her. It's true. For a girl who never tried out for poms the first three years of high school, she's caught on the routine really fast. "That's why we put you on the front line."

While Hinata's mouth is still open in shock, I wonder if she believes the rumors she's heard about me. No, we'll never be friends. But I can tell we'll never be enemies, either.

After practice I walk to my car with Ten-Ten, who's busily texting her boyfriend, Neiji, on her cell.

A piece of paper is tucked under one of my windshield wipers. I pull it off. It's Sasuke's blue detention slips. Written on the back is a note saying: If you find this, pinkie, I owe you a kiss. Crumpling it up, and trying my best to conceal the light pink tint that rose up on my cheeks, I shove it into my book bag.

"What was that?" Ten-Ten asks.

"Nothing," I say, hoping she gets the hint that I don't want to talk about it.

"Guys, wait the fuck up!" Temari yells, running up to us. "I saw Hidan on the football field. He said to wait for him."

I look at my watch. It's almost six and I want to get home to help Aki make my sister's dinner. "I can't."

"Neiji texted me back," Ten-Ten says. "He's invited us for pizza at his house."

"I can come," Temari says. "I've been so bored now that Shikamaru is back in the Snow Country and I probably won't see him for weeks."

Ten-Ten is still texting away. "I though you're gonna visit him next weekend."

Temari stands with her hands on her hips. "Well, that was until he called and said all the pledges in the fraternity had to sleep at the frat house for some crazy initiation thing. As long as his penis is intact when it's all over, I'm happy."

At the mention of "penis", I search for my keys in my purse. When Temari gets to talking about penises and sex, stand back because she never stops. And since I'm not one to share my sexual experiences (or lack therof), I'm out of here. A perfect time to escape.

As I dangle my keys on my fingers, Ten-Ten tells me she'll get a ride from Neiji, so I'm alone during my drive home. I like being alone. Nobody to put up an act for. I can even blast music if I want.

Enjoying the music is short-lived, though, when I feel my phone vibrate. I pull my cell out of my pocket. Two voices messages and one text message. All from Hidan.

I call him from his cell. "Saku, where the hell are you?" He asks.

"On my way home."

"Come over to Neiji's."

"My sister has a new caretaker," I explain. "I have to help her out."

"Are you still fucking pissed because I threatened your gangbanger, emo-bitch-ass chemistry partner?"

"I'm not pissed. I'm annoyed. I told you I could handle it and you totally ignore me. And you caused a whole scene in the hallway. You know I didn't ask to be partners with him," I tell Hidan.

"I know, Saku. I just hate that guy. Don't be mad." He reassures me.

"I'm not," I say. "I just hate seeing you get all riled up for no reason."

"And I hated seeing that dumb fuck whisper in your ear..."

I feel a headache coming on, full force. I don't need Hidan to make a scene every time a guy so much as talks to me. He's never done that before and it left me open for more scrutiny and gossip, something I never want to happen. "Let's just forget it ever happened."

"Fine by me, babe. Call me tonight," he says. "But if you can get out early, come to Neiji's. I'll be there."

When I get home, Aki is in Yoshiko's room on the first floor. She's attempting to change her special leak-proof undergarments, but she has Yoshi in the wrong position. Her head is usually where her feet are, one leg dangling off the bed... It's a disaster and Aki is huffing and puffing as if it's the most difficult task she's ever attempted.

Did mom check her credentials?

"I'll do it," I tell Aki, pushing her aside and taking over. I've changed my sister's underwear since we were kids. I take a rubber-band and tie my hair into a pony-tail on top of my head. It's not fun changing the undergarments of a person who weighs more than you do, but if you do it right, it doesn't take long and it doesn't become a big, drawn-out deal.

My sister smiles wide when she sees me. "Sakiee!"

My sister can't enunciate words, but she uses verbal approximations. "Sakiee" means "Sakura", and I smile back while situating her better on her bed. "Hey, Yoshi-chan. You hungry for dinner?" I ask as I pull wipes from the container and try not to think about the task I'm doing.

As I slip new leak-proof underwear on her and slide her legs into a fresh pair of sweats, Aki watches from the sidelines. I try explaining while I'm doing the task, but one glance at Aki and I can tell she's not listening.

"Your mother said I can leave when you got home," Aki blurts out.

I roll my pale green eyes in slight annoyance. "That's fine," I say as I wash my hands, and before I know it, Aki has Houdini'd on me. She disappeared. Stupid-non-caring-bitch.

I wheel Yoshiko into the kitchen. Our usual pristine and tidy kitchen is a disaster and a complete mess. Aki hasn't cleaned up the dishes, which are now piled up in the sink, and she didn't do much of a hot job of wiping the floor after Yoshi's earlier mess.

I prepare Yoshiko's dinner and wipe up the mess.

Shelly drawls out the word "school", which really sounds like "cool", but I know what she means.

"Yeah, it was my first day back," I start to say as I blend her food and set it on the table. I spoon soupy food into her mouth while I keep talking. "And my new chemistry teacher, Ms. Tsunade, should be a boot camp instructor. I scanned the syllabus. The woman can't go a week without scheduling a test or quiz. This year isn't going to be easy."

My sister looks at me, decoding what I've told her. Her intense expression says she's giving me support and understanding without having to say the words. Because every word that comes out of her mouth is a struggle. Sometimes I want to say the words for her because I feel her frustration as if it's my own.

"You didn't like Aki?" I ask quietly.

My sister shakes her head full of light pink and a dull white-ish colored hair. And she doesn't want to talk about it; I can tell by the way she tenses her mouth.

"Be paitent with her," I tell Yoshiko. "It's not easy coming into a new house and not knowing what to do."

When Yoshiko finishes eating, I bring her magazines so she can scan them. My sister loves magazines. While she's busy flipping through pages, I stick some instant ramen in the microwave for my own dinner then sit at the table to start my homework I eat.

I hear the garage door open just as I pull out the notebook paper Ms. Tsunade gave to me to write my "respect" paper.

"Saku, where are you?" My mom yells from the foyer.

"In the kitchen," I call out.

My mom saunters into the kitchen with a bag on her arm. "Here, this is for you."

I reach in the bag and pull out a light blue corset designer top. "Thanks." I say, not making a big deal about it in front of Yoshiko, who didn't get anything from my mom. Not that my sister cares. She's too focused on the best- and worst-dressed pictures of celeberties and all their new shiny jewelry.

"It'll go with those black demin shorts I brought you last week," she says as she pulls out frozen steaks from the freezer and starts defrosting them in the microwave. She hands me the ramen noodles and grimaces. "Ugh. You eat that junk and it will go straight you your stomach. You'll be fat, as well as get stretch marks."

I give her a nod, taking a slurp from the noddles anyways.

"So... How was everything with Aki when you got home?"

"Not the best," I tell her. "You really need to train her." I'm not surprised she doesn't respond.

My dad walks through the door a minute later, grumbling about work. He owns a computer chip manufacturing company and has prepped us that this is a lean year, but my mom still goes out and buys stuff and my dad still brought me a BMV for my birthday.

"What's for dinner?" My dad asks as he loosens his tie. He looks tied and worn, as usual.

My mom glances at the mircowave. "Steak."

"I'm not in the mood for heavy food," he says. "Just something light."

My mom turns off the mircowave in a huff. "Eggs? Spaghetti?" She says, listing suggestions to deaf ears.

My dad walks out of the kitchen. Even when he's physically here, his mind is still on the job. "Whatever. Just something light," he calls out. It's times like these I feel sorry for my mom. She doesn't get much attention from my dad. He's either working or on a business trip or just plain doesn't want to deal with us. "I'll make a salad," I tell her as I pull lettuce out of the fridge.

She seems thankful, if her small smile is any indication, for the help. We work side-by-side in silence. I set the table while my mom brings the salad, scrambled eggs and toast to the table. She mumbles complaints about not being appreciated, but I figure she wants me to listen and not say anything. Yoshiko is still busy looking at her magazines, oblivious to the tension between my parents.

"I'm going to Takigakure on Friday for two weeks," my dad announces as he comes back to the kitchen in sweatpants and a T-shirt. He plops himself down at his usual spot at the head of the table and spoons eggs onto his plate. "Our supplier there is shipping defective materials and I've got to find out what the deal is."

"What about the wedding for our neighbors? It's this weekend and we already RSVP'd."

My dad drops his fork and looks at my mom. "Yeah, I'm sure the neighbor's kid's wedding is more important than keeping my business afloat."

"Honey, I didn't insinuate your business is less important," she says, dropping her own fork on her plate. It's a wonder our plates don't have permanent chips in them. "It's just rude to cancel these things at the last minute."

"You can go by yourself."

"And have rumors start because you're not accompanying me? No thank you."

This is typical Haruno dinner conversation. My dad saying how hard work is, my mom trying to keep up the facade that we're a happy-go-lucky family, and me and Yoshiko quiet on the sidelines.

"How was school?" My mom finally asks me.

"Okay," I say, omitting the fact that I got stuck with Sasuke as a partner. "I got a really tough teacher for chemistry."

"You probably shouldn't have taken chemistry," my dad chimes in.

"If you don't get an A, your GPA'll go down. North-Konoha is a tough school to get into, and they won't give you a break just because it's my alma mater."

"I got it, Dad," I say, totally depressed now. If Sasuke isn't serious about our project, how am I going to get an A on it?

"Yoshiko had a new caretaker start today," my mom informs him. "Remember?"

He shrugs because the last time a caretaker quit, he insisted she should live in some facility instead of at home. I never remember screaming so much as I did then, because I'm never letting them send Yoshiko to a place where they'll neglect my sister and not understand her. I need to keep an eye on her. That's why it's so important for me to get into North-Konoha. If I'm close to home, then I can live here and make sure my parents don't send her away.

At nine Moriko calls to complain about Temari. She thinks Temari changed over the summer and now has a big ego because she's dating a college guy. At nine thirty Temari calls to say she suspects Moriko is jealous because she's dating a guy in college. At nine forty-five Ten-Ten calls to tell me she talked to both Moriko and Temari tonight and she doesn't want to get in the middle of it. I agree, although I think we already are.

It's ten forty-five before I finally finish the respect paper for Ms. Tsunade and help my mom put Yoshiko to bed. I'm so exhausted my head feels as if it's about to fall off. Sliding into bed after I've changed into my pj's, I dial Hidan's number.

"Hey, babe," he says. "What're up to?"

"Not much. I'm in bed. Did you have fun at Neiji's?"

"Not as much fun as I would've had if you were there."

"When did you get back?"

"About an hour ago. I'm so glad you called."

I pull my pink comforter up to my chin and sink my head into my fluffy pillow. "Oh really?" I say, fishing for a compliment and speaking with my flirty voice. "Why?"

He hasn't told me he loves me in a long time. I know he's not the most affectionate person in the world. My dad isn't, either. I need to hear it from Hidan. I want to hear he loves me. I want to hear he missed me. I want to hear him say I'm the girl of his dreams.

Hidan clears his throat. "We've never had phone sex."

Okay, those aren't the words I expected. I shouldn't be disappointed or surprised. He's a teenage boy and I know guys are focused on sex and fooling around. This afternoon I pushed away the feeling in the pit of my stomach when I read Sasuke's words about having hot sex. Little does he know I'm a virgin.

Hidan and I have never had sex, period. Phone sex or real sex. We got close in April last year at the beach behind Ten-Ten's house, but I chickened out. I wasn't ready.

"Phone sex?"

"Yeah. Touch yourself, Saku. And then tell me what you're doing. It'll totally fucking turn me on."

"While I'm touching myself, what'll you be doing?" I question to him.

"Chocking the gopher. What'd you think I'd do, my homework?... I'll say it much more dirtier. Chocking my dick."

I laugh. Mostly it's a nervous laugh because we haven't seen each other in a couple of months, we haven't talked that much, and now he wants to go from "hi, nice to see you after a summer apart" to "touch yourself while I choke the gopher" in one day. I feel like I'm in the middle of some crazy song.

"Come on, Saku." Hidan says. "Think of it as practice before we do the real thing. Take your shirt off and touch yourself."

"Hidan...," I say.

"What?"

"Sorry, but I'm not into it. Not now, at least."

"You sure?"

"Yeah. You mad?"

"No," he says. "I thought it's be fun to spice up our relationship."

I didn't know we were boring."

"School... Football practice... Hanging out. I guess after a fucking summer away I'm sick of the same old routine. The entire summer I've been waterskiing, wakeboarding, and off-roading. Things that get your heart racing and blood pumping, you know? Pure adrenaline rush."

"Sounds awesome."

"It was. Saku?"

"Yeah."

"I'm ready for that adrenaline rush... With you."


Sasuke

I push the guy up against a sweet, shiny black Camaro, one that probably cost more than our house... And the things in it. "Here's the deal," I say. "You either pay up now, or break somethin' of yours. Not a piece of furniture or your fucking car... Somethin' you're permanently attached to. Get it?"

The guy, skinnier than a telephone pole and as pale as a ghost, is looking at me as if I just handed him his death sentence. He should have thought that before he took the Big 8 and bounced without paying up.

As if Tobi would ever let that happen.

As if I would ever let that happen.

When Tobi send me to collect, I do it. I may not like doing it, but I do it. He knows I won't do drug deals or break into people's homes or businesses to steal shit. But I'm good at collecting... Debts, mostly. Sometimes it's people, but those get to be messy affairs, especially because I know what's gonna happen to them once I haul them back to the warehouse to face Zetsu. Nobody wants to face Zetsu. It's way worse than facing me. This guy should feel lucky that I'm the one assigned to look after him.

To say I don't live a squeaky-clean life is an understatement. I try not to dwell on it, the dirty job I'm doing for the clan. And I'm good at it. Scaring people into paying us what's ours in my job. Technically my hands are clean of drugs. Okay, so drug money does touch my hands quite frequently, but I just hand it over to Tobi. I don't use it, I just collect it.

It makes me a damn pawn... I know. As long as my family is safe, I don't care. Besides, I'm good at fighting. You can't imagine how many people break down with the threats of their bones breaking. This guy is no different than other guys I've threatened, I can tell by the way he's trying to act cool while his spindly hands are shaking uncontrollably.

You'd think Tsunade would be afraid of me, too, but that teacher wouldn't fear me even if I shoved a live grenade into her hands.

"I don't got the money," He blurts oyut.

"That answer ain't gonna cut it, man," Naruto chimes in from the sidelines, talking with his mouthful. Yeah, that guy takes a burrito on the job. He likes coming with me, though. He thinks of it as playing good cop/bad cop. Except we play bad gang member/worse gang member.

"Which limb you want me to break first?" I ask. "I'll be nice and let you choose."

"Just smoke his sorry ass, Sasuke, and get this over with," Naruto says lazily, before laughing.

"No!" He shouts. "I'll get it. I promise. Tomorrow." He adds.

I shove him against the car, my forearms pressing his throat just enough to scare him. "As if I'm gonna take your word for it. You think we're stupid? I need collateral."

He doesn't answer.

I eye his car.

"Not the car, Sasuke, please."

I take my kunai out. I'm not going to stab or kill him. No matter who I am and what I've become, I'd never kill anyone. Or shoot anyone. This guy doesn't have to know this, though. It's all an act.

At the first glance of my cold steel, he holds out his keys. "Oh, God. Please, no."

I snatch the keys out of his hand. "Tomorrow. Seven o' clock behind the old tracks on Forth and Vine. Now get outta here," I say, waving my kunai in the air for him to run off on foot.

"I've always wanted a Camaro," Naruto whispers, flashing me a smug and hopeful grin. He says that when the guy is out of sight.

I roll my onyx colored eyes, tossing the keys to him. "It's yours... Until tomorrow. Don't crash it."

Naruto bounced with excitement, those blond spikes followed suit. "No promises!" He exclaims. "You really think he'll come up with four G's in a day?"

"Yeah," I tell him, totally confident. "'Cause that car is worth way more than four G's."

Back at the warehouse, we give Tobi the update. He's not happy that we collected, but he knows it'll happen. I always come through.

At night, I'm in my room unable to sleep because of my little brother Ichigo's snoring. By the way he sleeps so soundly, you'd think he didn't have a care in the world. Itachi is just sleeping, letting out even exhales. He's almost always serene and peaceful too. As much as I don't mind threatening lose drug dealers like that guy, I wish to hell I was fighting for things worth fighting for.

*At School*

A week later, I'm sitting on the grass in the school courtyard, eating lunch by a tree. Most of the students at Konoha High eat outside until late October, when the winter forces us to sit in the cafeteria during lunch period. I take a bite into the warm cinnamon-flavored dango, chewing slowly. Right now we're soaking up every minute of sun and fresh air while it's still decent outside.

My friend, Deidara, with his tight mesh shirt and baggy black shorts, slaps me on the back as he parks his butt next to me with a cafeteria tray balanced on his hand. His long blonde hair flips as he whips his head around to place the tray next to him. "You geared up for next period, Sasuke? I swear Sakura Haruno hates you like the plague, yeah. It's hilarious watching her move her stool as far as she can from you, hm."

"Deidara," I say. "She might be a girl, but she aint's got nothing on this guy." I point to myself.

"Tell your mama that," Deidara says, laughing. "Or Hidan."

I lean back against the tree, scratching my jet black hair, then I cross my arms. "I had phys. ed. with Hidan last year. Believe me, he's got nothing to brag about."

"You still pissed off 'cause he trashed your locker freshman year after you smoked him in the relay in front of the entire school?"

Hell, yeah, I'm still pissed. That one incident cost me a shitload of money having to buy new books. "Yesterday's news," I tell Deidara, keeping up the cool facade I always do.

"Yesterday's news' is sittin right over there with his hot girlfriend."

One look at Little Miss Perfect and my defenses go up. She thinks I'm a drugged-out user and an emo. Every day I've dreaded having to deal with her in chem class. "That chick has a head full of air, man," I tell him.

"I heard that ho was dissin' you to her friends," a guy named Jugo says as he and a bunch of other guys join us carrying wither trays from the cafeteria or food they brought from home.

I shake my head, wondering what Sakura said and how much damage control I'll have to do. "Maybe she wants me and doesn't know any other way to get my attention."

Deidara chuckles so hard everyone within a few yards stare at us. "There's no way Sakura Haruno would get within two feet of you on her own free will, dude, let alone date you, yeah." he says. "She's so rich, the scraf around her neck last week pro'bly cost as much as the stuff in your house, hm."

That scarf. As if the designer jeans and top weren't fasionable enough, she'd probably added the scarf to showcase how rich and untouchable she is. Knowing her, she had it professionally dyed to match the exact shade of her amazingly sexy... emerald eyes... Did I just think that? I didn't mean it...

"Hell, I bet you my RX-7, you can't get into her panties before the break," Deidara challenges me, breaking my wayward thoughts. "Who'd want those panties...?" I say in a low voice. They're probably designer, too, with her initials embroidered on the front.

"Every single dude in this school."

Do I need to state the obvious? "She's a snow girl." I'm not into north-side chicks... Or spoiled chicks, or chicks whose idea of hard labor is painting their long fingernails a different color each day to match their designer outfits.

I pull a cigarette from my pocket and light it, ignoring Konoha's no-smoking policy. I've been smoking a lot lately. Naruto pointed it out yesterday night when we hung out.

"So what? Come on, Sasuke. Don't be an idiot. Look at her, yeah."

I take a glance. I admit she's got it goin' on. Long, pretty cotton-candy pink, shiny hair, aristocratic nose, slightly paled arms with a hint of muscle in her biceps to make you wonder if she works out, full pink lips that when she smiles you think world peace is possible if everyone had her smile. Her sexy body, big breasts and curvy hips... Those enticing emerald-palish-green colored eyes... Espicially those light pink cheeks...

I shove those thoughts from my mind. So what if she's hot? She judges me like everyone else and she's a first-degree bitch. She doesn't even know me, like that. She hates me, as well. "Too skinny," I blurt out to everyone's silence because they were staring at her, most-likely thinking things like I just was.

"You want her, yeah." Deidara teases, trying his best to hide the smirk that was threatening to crept onto his face. "You just know, like the rest of us from the south-side, that you can't have her."

Something inside of me clicks on. Call it my defense mechanism. Call it cockiness. Or call it my stupid heart beating out of place. Before I switch it off, I say, "In two months I could have a piece of that ass. If you really wanna bet your RX-7, I'm in."

"You're kidding, right, hm?" When I don't answer, Deidara frowns. "You are serious, Sasuke?" The guy will back down, he loves his car more than his mama. "Sure."

"If you lose, I get Sasu," Deidara says, his frown turning into a wicked grin.

Sasu is my most prized possession, an old Honda Nighthawk 750 motorcycle. I rescued it from a dump and turned it into a sleek ride. Rebuilding the bike took me forever. It's the only thing in my life I've made better instead of destroying.

Deidara is arrogant. He will not be backing down. Time to either back myself or playing the game. The problem is, I've never backed down... Not once in my life.

The most popular chick at school would sure as hell learn a lot by hanging with me. Little Miss Perfect said she's never date an Uchiha or gangmember, but I bet none has ever tried to get into those designer pants.

Easy as a fight between Folks and People... Rival gangs on a Saturday night.

I bet all it'll take for Sakura to come around is a bit of flirting. You know, that give-and-take wordplay that heightens your awareness of the opposite sex. I can kill two birds with one stone: get back at Burro Face by taking his girl and get back at Sakura Haruno for having me called into the prinicpal's office and dissing me in front of her friends.

Might even be fun.

I imagine the entire school witnessing the pristine chick with sexy pink hair drooling over the Uchiha she vowed to hate. I wonder how hard she'll fall on the ass when I'm done with her.

I hold out my hand. "Deal."

"You gotta show proof."

I take another drag of my cigarette. "Deidara, what do you want me to do? Pluck out one of her fucking pubes?"

"How'd we know it's hers, yeah?" He responds. "Maybe she's not a real pinkette. Besides, she pro'bly gets one of those wax jobs. You know, where everythin' is-"

"Take a picture," Jugo suggests. "Or video. I bet we could make a lot of money on that thing. We can title it Sakura Goes South of the Border." Suigetsu pipes, laughing at his suggestion.

It's trash-talkin' times like these that give us a bad rep. Not that rich kids don't talk trash, I'm sure they do. To be honest, I think my friends are damn entertaining when they're ragging on someone else. When they're ragging on me, I don't find it half as funny.

"What'cha talkin' about?" Naruto questions, joining us with a plate of food from the cafeteria.

"I bet Sasuke my car for his motorcycle he can't get into Sakura Haruno's pants by the break."

"You crazy, Sasuke?" Naruto laughs. "Makin' a bet like that is suicide."

"Lay off, Naruto," I warn. It isn't suicide. Stupid, maybe. But not suicide. If I could handle hot Ino Yamanaka, I can handle vanilla cookie Sakura Haruno.

"Sakura Haruno is out of your league, my friend. You might be a pretty boy, but you're one hundred percent Uchiha and she's... Not."

A junior named Sasaki Haruka walks by us. "Hi, Sasuke," she says, flashing me a smile before sitting with her friends. While the other guys drool over Sasaki and talk to her friends, Naruto and I are left alone by the tree.

He nudges me. "Now she's a pretty girl, and definitely in your league. And her family is tight with the Yamanakas, so she's as good as the Uchihas and Uzumakis."

My eye isn't on Sasaki, it's on Sakura. Now that the game's on, I'm focusing on the prize. It's time to start flirting, and no bullshit come-on lines will work with her. I think she's used to those from her crappy boyfriend and other assholes trying to get into her pants.

I decide a new tactic, one she won't expect. I'm going to keep riffling her feathers until I'm all she thinks about. And I'll start next period when she's forced to sit next to me. Nothing like a little foreplay in chemistry class to spark things up.

"Damn it!" Naruto whines, throwing down his lunch. "They think they could buy a cup, put some water in it, and mix all thinks of stuff with some noodles, and call it ramen, but those cafeteria workers wouldn't know ramen, noodles, dumpling and soup from a piece of shit. That's what this tastes like, Sasuke."

"You're makin' me sick, man," I tell him, rolling my eyes and facing the other way.

I turn back around and stare uncomfortably at the food I brought from home. Thanks to Naruto everything looks like shit now. Disgusted, I shove what's left of my lunch into my brown paper bag.

"Want some of it?" Naruto says with a grin as he holds out the shitty ramen in the cup to me.

"Bring that one inch closer to me and you'll be sorry," I seeth.

"I'm shakin' in my pants." He jokes.

Naruto wiggles the offending ramen, goading me. He should seriously know better.

"If any of that gets on me-"

"What'cha gonna do, kick my ass?" Naruto sings sarcastically, still shaking the ramen. Maybe I should punch him in the face, knocking him out so I won't have to deal with him right now.

As I have that thought, I feel something drop on my pants. I look down even though I know what I'll see. Yes, a big blob of wet, gloppy stuff passing as pork meat and dumplings land right on the crotch of my faded jeans.

"Fuck," Naruto says, his face quickly turning from amusement to shock. "Want me to clean it off for you?"

"If your fingers get anywhere close to my dick, I'm gonna personally shoot you in the balls," I growl through clenched teeth.

I flick the mystery meat and dumplings off of my crotch. A big, greasy stain lingers. I turn back to Naruto. "You got ten minutes to get me a pair of pants."

"How the hell am I s'posed to do that?"

"Be creative."

"Take mine." Naruto stands and brings his fingers to the watseband of his jeans, unbuttoning right in the middle of the courtyard.

"Maybe I wasn't specific enough," I tell him, wondering how I'm going to act like the cool guy in chem class when it looks like I've peed in my pants. "I meant, get me a new pair of pants that fit me, dick-head. You're so short you could audition to be one of Santa Claus's elves."

"I'm toleratin' your insults because we're like brothers." He sighed.

"Nine minutes and thirty seconds."

It doesn't take Naruto more than that to start running toward the school parking lot.

I seriously don't give a crap how I get the pants; just that I get 'em before my next class. A wet crotch is not the way to show Sakura I'm a stud.

I wait at the tree while other kids throw away their lunches and head back inside. Before I know it, music starts playing through the loudspeakers and Naruto is nowhere in sight. Great. Now I have five minutes to get to Tsunade's class. Gritting my teeth, I walk to chemistry with my books strategically placed in the front of my crotch, with two minutes to spare. I slide onto the stool and push it as close to the lab table as possible, hiding the stain.

Sakura walks into the room, her light and sexy pink hair falling down the front of her chest, ending in perfect little curls that bounce when she walks. Instead of that perfection turning me on, it makes me want to mess it all up.

I wink at her as she glances at me. She huffs and pulls her stool as far away from me as possible. Remembering Ms. Tsunade's zero-tolerance rule, I pull my hetai-ate off and place it in my lap directly over the stain. Then I turn to the pom-pom pinkette sitting next to me. "You're gonna have to talk to me at some point. And... I still owe you that kiss... I take it, you found my note."

She reaches in her purse, tossing the balled up blue-slip in the waste-basket near the door. So, pinkie has aim... Damn, I... Kind of like that. She turns to narrow her eyes at me. "So your girlfriend can have a reason to beat me up? No thanks, Sasuke. I'd rather keep my face the way it is."

"What? All pretty, gorgeous and sexy?... Are you sure you couldn't you a new look?... That forehead of yours is pretty big. But, I don't mind." I smirked as she glared at me. "And, I don't have a girlfriend. You want to interview for the position?" I scan her from top to bottom, focusing on the parts she relies on so heavily.

She curls her pink-frosted top lip and sneers at me. "Not on your life."

"Woman, you wouldn't know what to do with all this testosterone if you had it in your hands."

That's it, Sasuke. Tease her into wanting you. She'll take the bait.

She turns away from me. "You're disgusting."

"What if I said we'd make a great couple?"

She was silent, before looking back at me.

"I'd say you were an idiot."


Sakura

Right after I call Sasuke an idiot, Ms. Tsunade calls the class to attention. "You and your partner will pick a project from this hat," she announces. "They are all equally challenging and will require meeting your partner outside of class."

Suigetsu smirks and raises his hand. "Can it be on female parts? For example, you're gigantic tits? My hypothesis will be, are they implants or real?" He laughs, high-fiving many other boys in the class who sit around him. Ms. Tsunade scowls, huffing and puffing, which I wonder if she realizes that doing that makes her breasts bounce. She walks over to her desk, getting over five blue detention-slips out and handing them to Suigetsu.

Yes, his name is on all of them. "Why not do your project on why brain cells die off. You can be the test expirement." She barks back.

Suigetsu shrugs his shoulders. "Been there, done that, Teacher." He remarks.

I roll my eyes. He acts similar to my chem partner.

"What about football?" Hidan interjects. "No way I'm missing practice."

"Or poms," Temari chimes before I can say the same thing.

"Schoolwork comes first. It's up to you and your partner to find time that works for the both of you," Ms. Tsunade says as she stands in front of our table and holds out the hat.

"Yo, Ms. T... Is one of them a cure for multiple sclerosis?" Sasuke asks with his cocky attitude that's setting my nerves on edge. He's like... Kind of.. Gleeful today. "'Cause I don't think there's enough time in the school year to complete that project."

I can see that big D on my report card right now. The North-Konoha admissions counselor won't care that it was my chemistry partner who wanted to make a joke out of our project. The guy doesn't care about his own life, why should her care about chemistry class? Plus, he's emo, they don't have feelings. The thought of Sasuke controlling the grade I receive in this class is overwheming me. Grades to my parents are a reflection of your worth. Needless to say, a C or D means you're worthless.

I reach into the hat and pull out a little white slip of paper. I open it slowly while I bite my lower lip in anticipation. In bold letters I read HAND WARMERS.

"Hand warmers?" I question, raising an eyebrow.

Sasuke leans over and reads the paper with a confused look on his face. "What the fuck are hand warmers?"

Ms. Tsunade shoots Sasuke a warning glare. "If you'd like to stay after school, I have another blue detention slip on my desk with your name already on it. Now either ask the question again without using fowl language or join me after school."

"That'd be cool to hang with you, Ms. T., but I'd rather spend the time studyin' with my chem partner." Sasuke responds, then has the nerve to wink at Hidan, "so I'll repharse the question. What exactly are hand warmers?"

"Thermal chemistry, Mr. Uchiha. We use them to warm our hands."

Sasuke has this big, cocky grin as he turns to me. "I'm sure we can find other things to warm."

"I hate you," I say loud enough for Hidan and the rest of the class to hear. If I sit here and let him flirt and get the best of me, I'll probably hear my mom tsk'ing in my head about reputations meaning everything.

I know the class is watching for our reaction, even Hinata, who thinks Sasuke isn't as bad as everyone thinks he is. Can't she see him for what he is, or is she blinded by his chiseled face and popular status amoung their friends?

Sasuke whispers, "There's a thin line between love and hate. Maybe you're confusing your emotions."

I scoot away from him. "I wouldn't bet on it."

"I would."

Sasuke's gaze turns toward the classroom. Through the window, his friend is waving to him. They're probably going to ditch class.

Sasuke grabs his books and stands.

Ms. Tsunade turns around. "Sasuke, sit down."

"I got to piss."

The teacher's eyebrows furrow and her hand goes to her hip. "Watch your language. And the last time I checked, you don't need your books in order to go the the restroom. Put them back on the table."

Sasuke's lips are tight, but he places his books back on the table.

"I told you no gang-related items in my class," Ms. Tsunade says, staring at the bandanna he's holding in front of him. She holds out her hand. "Hand it over."

He glances at the door, then faces Ms. Tsunade. "What if I refuse?"

"Sasuke, don't test me. Zero tolerance. You want a suspension?" She wiggles her fingers, signaling to hand the bandanna over immediately or else.

Scowling, he slowly places the bandanna in her hand.

Ms. Tsunade sucks in her breath when she snatches the bandanna from his fingers.

I screech, "Ohmygod!" At the sight of the big stain on his crotch.

The students, one by one, start laughing.

Hidan laughs the loudest. "Don't sweat it, Uchiha. My great grandma has the same problem. Nothing a diaper won't fix."

Now that hits home because at the mentionof adult diapers, I immediately think of my sister. Making fun of adults who can't help themselves isn't funny because Yoshiko is one of those people.

Sasuke sports a big, cockly grin and says to Hidan, "Your girlfriend couldn't keep her hands out of my pants. She was showin' me a whole new definiton of hand warmers, sir."

This time he's gone too far. I stand up, my stool scraping the floor.

"You wish," I hiss.

Sasuke is about to say something when Ms. Tsunade yells, "Sasuke!" She clears her throat. "Go to the nurse and... Fix yourself. Take your books, because afterward you'll be seeing Dr. Danzo. I'll meet you in his office with your friends Hidan and Sakura."

Sasuke swipes his books off the table and exits the classroom while I ease back into my stool. While Ms. Tsunade is trying to calm the rest of the class, I think about my short-lived sucess in avoiding Ino Yamanaka.

If she thinks I'm a threat to her relationship with Sasuke, the rumors that are sure to spread today could prove deadly.


Sasuke

Oh, this is rich. Tsunade and Danzo on one side of Danzo's office, Little Miss Perfect and her dickhead boyfriend on the other... And me standing by myself. Nobody on my side, that's for sure.

Danzo clears his throat. "Sasuke, this is the second time in two weeks you're in my office."

Yep, that about sums it up. The guy is an absolute genius.

"Sir," I say, playing the game because I'm sick of Little Miss Perfect and her boyfriend controlling the entire fucking school. "There was a little mishap during lunch involving grease and my pants. Instead of missin' class, I had a friend get these as a replacement." I gesture to the current jeans Naruto managaed to snatch from my house. " ," I say, turning to my chem teacher, "I wouldn't let a little stain keep me from your brilliant lecture."

"Don't placate me, Sasuke," Tsunade says with a snort. "I've had it up to here with your antics," she says, her hand waving her hand above her head. She glares at Sakura and Hidan. I think she's going to let them bitch at me until I hear her say, "And don't think you two are any better."

Sakura seems stunned at her scolding. Oh, but she was perfectly content watching Ms. Tsunade bitch me out.

"I can't be partners with I'm," Little Miss Perfect blurts out. Hidan steps forward. "She can partner up with me and Temari."

I almost smile when Ms. T.'s eyebrows rise so high I think they're about to run up her forehead and never stop. "And what akes you two so special you think you can change my class structure?"

Go, Tsunade!

"Tsunade, I'll take it from here," Danzo says to Ms. T., but then points to the picture of our school framed on the wall. He doesn't let the two north siders answer Ms. T.'s question before he says, "Our motto at Konoha High is Diversity Breeds Knowledge, guys. If you ever forget, it's etched into the stones at the front entrance, so the next time you pass by it, take a minute to think about what those words mean. Let me assure you as your new principal my goal is to bridge any gap in the school culture that negates that motto."

Okay, so diversity breeds knowledge. But I've also seen it breed hatred and ignorance. I'm not about to taint Danzo's rosy picture of our motto, because I'm starting to believe our principal actually believes the crap he's spouting.

"Dr. Danzo and I are on the same page. In light of that..." Tsunade fires me a fierce look- one so convincing she probably practices in front of a mirror. "Sasuke, stop goading Sakura." She fires the same look to the two on the other side of the room. "Sakura, stop acting like a diva. And Hidan... I don't even know what you have to do with this."

"I'm her boyfriend."

"I'd appreciate it if you'd keep your relationship outside of my class-room."

"But-," Hidan starts.

Tsunade cuts him off with a wave of her hand. "Enough. We're done here and so are all of you."

Hidan grabs the diva's hand and they both file out of the room. After I walk out of Danzo's office, Tsunade puts a hand on my elbow. "Sasuke?"

I stop and look at her. Into her eyes, which have sympathy written all over them. It doesn't sit well in my gut. "Yes?" I say quietly, giving her a stoic expression.

"I see right though you, you know."

I need to wipe that sympathy right off her face. The last time a teacher look at me like that, it was in first grade right after my dad was killed.

"It's the second week of school, Tsunade. You might want to wait a month or two before you make a statement like that."

She chuckles and says," I haven't been teaching that long, but I've already seen more Sasuke Uchihas in my classroom than a lot of teachers will see in a lifetime."

"And I thought I was unique." I put my hands over my heart. "You wound me, Tsunade."

"You want to make yourself unique, Sasuke? Finish school and graduate without dropping out."

"That's the plan," I tell her, although I've never admitted it to anyone before. I know my mom wants me to graduate, but we've never discussed it. And, to be honest, I don't know if she actually expects it. "I'm told they all say that at first." She opens her purse and pulls out my bandanna. "Don't let your life outside of school dicate your future," she says, getting all serious on me.

I shove the bandanna in my back pocket. She has no clue how much life outside of school leaks into the life I lead into the school. A redbrick building can shield me from the outside world. Hell, I couldn't hide in here even if I wanted to. "I know what you're gonna say next... If you ever need a friend, Sasuke, I'm here."

"Wrong. I'm not your friend. If I were, you wouldn't be a gang memebr. But I've seen your test scores. You're a smart kid who can succeed if you take school seriously. And... Drop the whole emo act. It's silly, really."

Succeed. Success. It's all relative, now, isn't it? And... I know it's silly. People don't understand that. They are quick to judge. "Can I go to class now?" I ask, because I have no comeback to that. I'm ready to accept that my chem teacher and new principal might not be on my side... But I'm not sure they're on the other side, either. Kinda blows my theories out of water.

"Yeah, go to class, Sasuke."

I'm still thinking about what Tsunade said when I hear her call after me, "And if you call me Tsunade again, you'll have the pleasure of getting another detention slip and writing an essay on respect. Remember, I'm not your friend.

As I walk into the hallway, I smile to myself. That woman sure does wield those blue detention slips and threats of essays like weapons.


Sakura

There's only a half hour left in gym. As I change into my gym clothes, I think of what happened in Dr. Danzo's office. Ms. Tsunade was blaming me as much as she blamed Sasuke.

Sasuke Uchiha is already ruining my senior year, and it's hardly even begun. He's even in my mind, a lot.

As I pull up my gym shorts, the sound of tap-tap-tapping on the hard tiled floor alerts me that I'm not alone in the locker room. I clutch my gym shirt to my chest as Ino Yamanaka comes into view.

Oh no.

"It must be my lucky day," she says, staring me down and looking very much like a cogar ready to attack. Although cougars don't have long, straight blonde hair... They sure do have claws. And Ino's claws are painted bright red.

She steps closer.

I want to step back. Actually, I want to run. But I don't, mainly because she'd probably follow.

"You know," she says, her mouth quirked in a wicked grin. "I always wondered what color bra Sakura Haruno wore. Black. How fitting. I bet it was as expensive as your dye job."

"You don't want to talk about bras and dye jobs, Ino," I tell her while I pull my gym shirt over my head. I swallow hard before I add, "You want to kick my ass."

"When a ho moves in on my man, I get territorial."

"I don't want your man, Ino. I have my own."

"Oh, please. Girls like you want every guy to like them, just so you can have them when you decide you want them." As she's talking, she's getting more riled up. I'm in trouble... And a strange feeling is growing in my veins. I really feel the need to hit her... But why? "I heard you talkin' shit about me. You really think you're all that, Miss High and Mighty. Let's see what you look like with a busted lip and a big, black eye. Would you come to school with a garbage bag over your head? Or would you stay holed up in your big house and never come out?"

I look at Ino as she walks toward me. Really look at her. She knows deep down how much importance I put on controlling the image I portray, while she doesn't care if she's suspended... Or expelled.

"Answer me!" She yells, then shoves my shoulders. It collides with the locker behind me.

I guess I wasn't listening because I don't know what I'm supposed to answer. The consequences of me coming home bruised and having been in a fight are insurmountable. My mom will be furious and blame the entire thing on me for not preventing it from happening. I hope to God she doesn't start talking about sending Yoshiko away.

As if magically all of the Harunos' external problems will be solved if Yoshiko disappeared.

"Don't you think Coach will come here looking for me? You must really want to be suspended?" I know, lame questions. But I'm trying to buy time here. That feeling... What is it? I can't shake it off. Is it anxiety? Am I nervous? Scared?... It's none of them.

Ino chuckles. "You think I give a shit about being suspended?"

Not really, but it was worth a try.

Instead of cowering next to my locker, I stand tall. Ino tries to push against my shoulder, but this time I manage to swat her arm away. That feeling is pure, raw adrenaline. I want to punch and slap and hit her so hard. To show her a different Sakura Haruno.

I smirk, teasing, "Oh... So, Sasuke, my new chem partner... He just, loves to talk to me... Clean, but mostly dirty." What? It's nothing but the truth. However, I cover my mouth, grasping at what I just said. Where the fuck was my mind? As if I'm some sort of robot. My eyes flicker down to Ino's clenched fists.

I'm about to get into my first fist fight. A fight I'm bound to lose. My heart feels like it's going to burst out of my chest. My veins are burning like venom is washing through them. My whole life I've avoided situations like these, but this time I have no choice.

One part of my mind is if I can pull the fire alarm to avoid this, like I've seen in the movies. But of course I don't see one of those little red boxes anywhere near me. Another part of my mind is thinking: Do it Saku, punch this blonde bitch! So what if she hits back?! Do it! Do it! Stop being the "perfect" Sakura. Be the REAL Sakura! Don't have a care in the fucking world!

I shake my head, ignoring that side of my head. "You little bitch! You're head must be up that tight and bleach-white asshole." Ino screeches before getting ready to throw a fist. I clench my fist and aim straight for her cheek.

Bam! I hit her and she stumbles back. I bite my lower lip, lokking at my fist that just struck on it's own. Damn, what did I just do? I'm dead. Ino cups her cheek, glaring her light blue eyes at me. "You're gonna wish you never did tha-"

"Ino... Leave her alone."

We both trun to the sound of a girl's soft but stern voice. It's Hinata. A nonfriend. A nonfriend who just might svae my face from getting bashed in.

"Hina, stay out of my business," Ino growls.

Hinata comes toward us, her dark blue hair in a high ponytail that sways when she walks. She starts speaking in some other language.

"Don't mess with this girl, Ino."

"Why? Why shouldn't I?" Ino barks back. "Because you think you're BFFs with pinkie here now that you have stupid-ass pom-poms together?"

Hina puts her hands on her hips. "You're mad at Sasuke, Ino. That's why you're acting like a bitch and a dog."

At the mention of Sasuke's name, Ino goes rigid. "Shut up, Hinata. You don't know anything."

Ino turns her fury on Hinata and yells at her in that language. Hinata doesn't back off, she stands tall in front of Ino and spouts the language right back at her. Hinata is short and probably weighs less than I do, so I'm shocked she's standing up to Ino. But she's holding her own. I can tell by the way her words make Ino back off.

Coach appears behind Ino. "You three having a party and didn't invite the rest of the class?"

"We were having a little chat," Ino says, not missing a beat and acting as if we're all friends hanging out.

"Well, then, I suggest you chat after school instead of during class. Miss Haruno and Hyuuga, join the rest of your classmates in the gym. Miss Yamanaka, go to where you're supposed to be."

Ino points her red-painted fingernail at me. "Later," she says, then walks out of the locker room, but not before Hinata moves out of the way for her to pass.

"Thanks," I say softly to Hinata.

Her answer is a nod.


Now, how was this chappie? Liked it? Loved it? Needs work? Too much like the original?

I'm not those type of writers who say, "Reviews make me Write" or "No Review, No New Chapter". No offense to those writers who do that. But, I don't want to pester readers into reviewing! However, they are lovely, and I'd like to see some more!

Please do review! :3 I'll update regardless, because I love to read my own published stories and I hate to make people agitated with no updates!

This chapter DID take ALL day long, my fingers got SO tired, I took a few breaks and stuff. And I finished like an hour ago!

Did you all enjoy this long chapter? I'd like feedback and some input!

Hehe!

I most likely will update tomorrow OR monday... Depends. I have no school on Monday, so yep! Free day for me!

Thanks For Reading!

Kumi-Chan/Tobi-Is-Fluffy-Chan

Next chappie is a... You fill in the blank! This time it gets pretty steamy between Sakura and Sasuke! No lie! Haha! Stay tooned!