Sakura sat up in bed, with a look of horror plastered onto her face. She had been dreaming about Uchiha Sasuke. They had been walking together, and she turned to him just to see him disappear. She was alone in the dark. Then something grabbed her from behind. Sakura shook her head to clear the image from it, and slid out of bed. It was about 4 in the morning, but she couldn't go back to sleep yet.
She grabbed her glass of water and cell phone, and went over to her window seat. Her mom was out like a light and her dad was still on his business trip so she could make as much noise as she wanted. She sipped her water, while glancing around at her room nervously. He room was themed in pinks and greens. Her walls were a light pink, and she had bamboo wood floors. Her bed sheets and comforter were a pastel green, as were her curtains. It was so cheerful. Not fitting for the way she felt now. She flipped open her pink cell phone and dialed the first number she thought of.
Ino picked up on the 5th ring with an annoyed, "Who the hell is this?"
"Hey Ino, it's me Sakura. I'm sorry for calling so late, but I needed to talk to someone."
Ino's tone immediately changed. "Omigod. Sakura, I'm so sorry. Is something wrong."
Sakura gave her a lowdown on the dream and the line was silent for a while. "That sounds creepy," Ino said, and Sakura could imagine her shivering.
"Creepy isn't the point. The point is it felt so real," Sakura said, curling her legs up underneath her.
"Do you think it's prophetic?" Ino asked.
"I dunno… maybe I'm just freaking out over a little thing…"
"Sounds like it really disturbed you. Want me to come over?"
Sakura snorted. "Aren't your parents mad at you enough already?"
"Psshhh, you're my best friend. The parental units can just suck it."
Sakura giggled. "Thanks Ino, night."
"Night."
Sakura hung up feeling much better. She leaned her head against her windowpane, looking out on the dark streets below. She felt her eyelids drift close and she drifted off…
Sakura opened her eyes 3 hours later and blinked as the sunlight poured through her window. She had fallen asleep in her window seat, and she rubbed her neck as she sat up. "Ugh…" she muttered as she stood up, walking over to her closet. She grabbed a pleated green floor length skirt, and a pink halter, before walking into her bathroom. She climbed into the shower after stripping down and turned on the water. She sighed as she stood under it, letting it release some of the tension stored in her neck and shoulders. She grabbed her strawberry scented shampoo and rubbed some of it into her hair, before rinsing it out, and doing the same with her conditioner.
After scrubbing herself and shaving, she climbed out of the shower and toweled herself off. She got dressed, and bushed her hair and teeth. She couldn't do much to get rid of the bags under her eyes, so she just sighed and walked back into her bedroom. She grabbed her bag and went downstairs. Her mother was waiting for her. "Sweetie, you look horrible," she said, pushing a toasted bagel and an orange towards her. Sakura gave her mom a forced smile and picked up the orange.
"I'm fine mom… really."
Ino picked Sakura up again and they rode to school in silence. As they arrived Ino finally spoke. "Have you been thinking about that dream?"
Sakura looked at her and bit her lower lip. "A little bit. It's just a dream though," she said with a nervous giggle.
Ino stared at her friend and shook her head. "Sakura… Sakura… Sakura…" she muttered with a sigh.
The two friends got out of the car, and were met up with Hinata, Tenten and Temari on the way in. Ino was nervously going over her math homework with Hinata, and Tenten and Temari were talking about Temari joining some sports team.
"Hey Sakura," said Tenten. "Do you think the gym is done with its renovations? It would be awesome to start up gym and the sports teams again. Even if that would mean Home Ec would be back on…"
She and Sakura shuddered, thinking of their sociopathic Home Ec teacher, Anko. 'Not one you would imagine teaching about cooking, and sewing and crap like that,' Sakura thought. "Well… I think they are supposed to open it next week," she said. "I guess everything will be back on by then," she said with a smile.
Tenten grinned. "Thank god. I am so tired of being out of the sports loop. I am so ready to kick some ass."
Ino looked over at Tenten as she said that. "Well I am not… I hate gym. They never let us to fun stuff, like work on the treadmill or something. When I work out, I want to be doing stuff like that, or yoga or something. Not volleyball," she said with a shudder as they entered the math classroom. Mr. Kakashi wasn't there yet, so they stayed near the door to chat.
Tenten rolled her eyes as Ino said this and Sakura giggled. "What about you Hinata?" Temari asked the girl, with a mischievous grin.
"Oh… um… w-well… I like s-swimming," she said quietly with a smile. "I've always l-liked the w-water."
"Really?" came a voice from behind them. Hinata turned around and saw Kiba smirking at Hinata. Hinata gave him a small smile. "Oh, hi K-Kiba-kun," she said.
Tenten poked Temari in the side, and both snickering, they went over to their seats, while Ino and Sakura faded off as well. Hinata stared after her friends before turning back to Kiba. "A-actually, I do really love swimming," she said.
"Huh. Cool. In that case, want to come with me to the Kireimizu po-"
"Did you say Kireimizu?!" Ino asked, jumping back towards Hinata and Kiba, and leaving Sakura there to stare at the ceiling in exasperation.
"Um… yeah. The outdoor pool is closing this week until next spring."
Ino elbowed Hinata in the side hard. "We are so going. Tenten, Temari, Sakura, Kireimizu pool, this evening, 5 o'clock!" she yelled with glee, envisioning the high class, outdoor pool. She bounded back towards Sakura with Hinata in tow, while Kiba blinked several times, attempting to figure out exactly what just happened.
"Shit Ino… you are dense. He was trying to ask Hinata out," Sakura snapped. Ino blinked and then leered at Hinata.
"Oh ree-ally?" she said, while Hinata turned brick red.
"And you say you're the one with all the social skills..."
After school they all had plans for Ino to pick them all up at 4:30, so Tenten was ready by 4:20. She lived closest to Ino, so she was first to be picked up which also meant she could get shotgun before Sakura. She had her tight black speedo on under a pair of cut-off's and a sweatshirt. She sat on the back of her couch as she waited, listening to her little brother and sister watching some mindless T.V. show behind her.
"Tenten, where are you going again?" her little brother Ichi asked. Tenten looked back at him with a chuckle.
"I'm just going out with the girls. I'll be back with enough time to help you through some of your homework. You could just ask mom though."
He shook his head quickly. "Nooo. She gets really impatient."
Tenten giggled. "You've got a point." She heard Ino honking outside, and she grabbed her bag. "See you guys later. If I'm not home by 8, ask mom to help," she said, before running outside. She vaulted over the car door into the front seat, while dumping her bag in behind her. "Hey Ino," she said with a grin.
Ino grinned back. "Heya Tenten," she said, pulling out. Ino switched on her music and the first song to come on was 'Never Underestimate a Girl. Tenten groaned.
"Ino, couldn't we listen to some Queen, or Motorhead."
Ino made a face. "Ew, no. Driver picks. Seeing as I am the one ferrying everyone around, I get to pick the music." Tenten rolled her eyes.
Ino grinned. "But you have to agree with the song."
"What do you mean?"
"You should never underestimate a girl."
Tenten started giggling again, and kept giggling as Hinata climbed in. "H-hey Ino… Tenten," Hinata said.
Ino looked back at Hinata with a big grin. "So… did you actually bring a cute swimsuit this time?"
Hinata blushed. "I brought my blue one…"
Ino rolled her eyes. "Hinata, you are the only one of us who is too embarrassed to show yourself off. You've got to get over that."
"M-maybe Temari is too…"
Ino let out a huge laugh. "Are you kidding?"
"N-not really."
After picking up Sakura and Temari they finally arrived at the pool. "Kiba must already be inside. We'll leave you and him alone," said Ino to Hinata with a wink.
"I-Ino… I don't think Kiba m-meant it like t-that…" Hinata said, her face turning red again. Temari gave Hinata a push towards the locker room.
"Of course he did," she said with a laugh.
They got changed and went outside. It was still warm enough at 5 to stay in your swimsuits comfortably, so almost all of the girls had taken advantage of it. Sakura was wearing a pink tankini, with cherry blossom designs. Ino had taken advantage of her tan to wear a snow-white bikini, and she and Sakura jumped into the pool without a second thought. Hinata was wearing a big blue swimsuit, giving her coverage of everything. Tenten's was similar, but hers was backless and left a little less to imagination. Meanwhile Temari was in a red Bikini with lavender lining. She and Tenten coaxed Hinata to the edge of the pool, and pulled her in.
"Why are you so nervous, Hinata?" asked Tenten. "It's not like Naruto's here."
"Did someone call me?"
Hinata gasped and ducked under the water while Temari hit Tenten on the head. "Great! You jinxed it!"
Naruto swam over. "What's wrong?"
"What are you doing here?" Ino asked, swimming over.
Naruto looked confused. "Um, Kiba invited me and a few others. Why is Hinata hiding?"
Tenten dove under and pulled Hinata back up. "Um… h-h-h-hi… N-Naruto-kun," she said. Tenten rolled her eyes and steered Hinata away.
"Hinata… your going to get over this thing you have about Naruto one way or another. It's painful to watch you try to talk to him," Tenten said, looking Hinata squarely in the eye.
Hinata stared at the water. "Sorry…"
"And stop apologizing when you don't do anything! It's not like it's your fault you act the way you do," Tenten said. She floated on her back, her head pointed towards Hinata. "But you really have to get over this."
Hinata nodded. "I-I will…"
Tenten grinned. "Yay!" she said as she started to paddle towards the middle of the pool.
"Um Tenten… watch where you're going!"
Tenten bumped into something soft, and something grabbed her shoulders. She yelped and automatically shoved her arm back to connect with whoever had grabbed her. "Ow… what the hell was that for?"
She felt winded as she recognized the voice, and sat up suddenly. "Oh, um, Neji… sorry," she said, turning around to face Neji, who was watching her with one eyebrow raised.
"Defensive reflex, I assume?" he asked with a smirk.
She grimaced. "Something like that. I mean, what if you were a serial killer?"
He rolled his eyes. "Whatever, just watch where you're going."
He swam off and Tenten sighed, and sunk under the water slowly.
'That went well…'