Disclaimer: GAAH SORRY FOR THE HIATUS..Wow. This chapter. Wow. Do not own Naruto. Review , fav and yeah. Psh. Thank yooou 3
'If she stares you in the eye , she's the winner.'

Well the day like no other once again started. Except today it was frosty outside. So Jack Frost visited today and I had my boots on this time and my grey coat with the fluffy border on the helped with the heat,sort of.I brought out my books for today and shoved them in my bag. I jingled through my pockets , I probably had enough money to buy something. Smiling contently I waited for Naruto to hop on downstairs. He did , he was tired but I was able to pull him down.

So we headed on outside and we didn't say much . At least I didn't. Naruto was asking my questions and soon the question I didn't want to hear seemed like it was coming up. "So that letter we got yesterday , that information one about..erm GCSE's? What's that about?"He asked curiously. I thought for a while and took a deep breath.
"They're test and you get to choose what lesson you want and those lessons you could continue further in college , university and get a job in it..that kind of thing."I replied.
"Ohh , I understand,"He stopped. "So what do you think I should choose?"He piped up and asked again. I rubbed my forehead.
"I don't know , what are you good at?"
"Well P.E is a lot of fun! So is woodwork in tech and then you have Chinese which is pretty easy too~"He sang.
"Well then you choose those subjects and you'll be doing them next year."I replied.
"What about you?" I glanced at him. "What will you be doing?"
I pointed a finger at myself and he nodded. I thought for a while , I thought and I thought. But I still had no idea instead I just shrugged. He mimicked my shrug in a cocky way. "Well we need to decide soon y'know?"
"Well duh I know , I know more than you."I angrily hissed. He put his hands in defense mode and chuckled. "I just don't want to decide and to be honest it's a while away."
"It's next month."
"Shut up!"I blurted out before stomping ahead of him. I didn't care. At least I tried to show that I didn't want to.

Like always we had our first three lessons before lunch and we headed to the drama department. Kayley was here this time , Zulaikha's partner so Naruto didn't have to perform with her. Today it was just me and Naruto watching. Kayley was nice , she was tall and she was pretty. She had a straight brown bob and pretty blue eyes. As they performed without their script and using the staging behind them to change their mask. It looked pretty professional. "I think I've memorized the script myself.."Naruto murmured. I gave off a chuckle.
"Well it's not a bad thing."I smiled. Kayley and Zulaikha were so fluent and so strong. Their voices matched with their body language and not one of them slipped up. I really enjoy watching this. It was brilliant. It wasn't very long but it wasn't very short. It put you on the edge of your seat and then slump back down. Zulaikha's tone was sudden , soft , subtle. Kayley's was strong and well manly. Since she was the man of the play.

"So what ya think? Think we can win?"Zulaikha asked. It was obviously rheotorical. I gave her a good thumbs up and smiled. Kayley grinned and laughed.
"You two are amazing , you'll ace it!"Naruto pulled up a thumb and grinned. For some strange reason. The two shared a smile. Zulaikha and Naruto. Both of them. As far as I knew this was a miracle!
"Well I'm heading to the next lesson , I'll see you tomorrow Zuzu~" Kayley giggled.
"DON'T CALL ME ZUZU YOU-"
"Calm down Zulaikha~"I sang. She gave me the look of death attacking me with her death hug as she wrapped her arms around me and pulled me down with her. Mixed giggles and shrieks was going through the drama studio .Mixed giggles and shrieks which I knew would disappear.

The day ticked like no ordinary day. We arrived home , we ate food. We went to bed and viola~ The morning arose. Today was Zulaikha's performance. I wasn't sure why I was so tensed about it but I was. Then again , I get tensed at whatever Zulaikha does. I'm sure if she doesn't win she'll get into some hissy fit and break the drama studio. Then she'll get detention or even worse excluded. Oh please Lord! Keep her calm!

So we arrived at class. Only to be attacked by the demon itself. Zulaikha. Her eyes were full of panic , her hands were trembling and I couldn't make out any words she was saying since her mouth was covered by her hands.
"Vatifgaiforgatmailines?"She said. I raised a brow. Not knowing what she said.
"Huh?"
"Vatifgaiforgatmailines?" She repeated.
"Look Zu, I won't understand a word if you're going to talk like that."I replied. Paulina stepped in and smiled lightly.
"She said, what if I forget my lines." Paulina nodded. I sighed. With my hands on her shoulders. I shook my head.
"You won't forget your lines , you have me and..Naruto."I smiled reassuringly. I turned to Naruto who was snoring away on his desk. "Okay , you have just me. You'll do fine!" Her large hazel eyes looked up at me , I could tell she was scared.

The performance was after school. So let's skip to then, shall we? I was back stage. She was performing in our theatre halls. I sat down, reading my maths homework whilst waiting for everyone to get ready and Naruto was beside me playing some game on phone. He was failing or he was trying to hard. I could tell by his grunts and anger. I rubbed the pencil on my forehead and sighed lightly. I then grabbed my bag and put the maths book back inside. With my hands in my lap and waited to be called for.
"TANHA?! TANHA?!" Oh so the silence was gone already. I looked up to see a panicked and..sweating Zulaikha. She pulled me up with one violent tug. I put my hands in defense, thinking she'll attack me but she didn't. Instead she was heavily breathing and sweating uncontrollably.
"What's wrong?"I asked.
"K-Kayley! She's ill! She left a minute ago! What should I do!? I'm the third one going up to perform!" She exclaimed. Placing my hands on her shoulder.
"Okay breath in..and out..and in-"
"STOP BREATHING GO AHEAD AND DIE! Argh! What am I going to do?! Tanha! Please help me!"She exclaimed. I breathed in myself. I didn't actually know however. I would find an answer. I always did right? That's how the heroine of the story does things, right? But then again I'm not some heroine. Nor am I the smartest. I thought for a while. I couldn't think of anything.
"Z-Zulaikha I'm sorry I really don't know.."I said quietly.
"Tanha..urgh. Maybe I should quit it." She said. I felt bad now. "Drama wasn't something I could achieve anyway.."
"Y-You can act on your own, right?"
"No! It doesn't work that way!"She was angered but was still depressed.
"I'm sorry.."I glanced down to Naruto. Who was staring back at me. That's when I got it! I always knew I was the hero! "Naruto! Naruto! You know the lines right? You said you got them memorized? Right?!"
"W-wait? What? You want me to go up on stage..well.."That was when Zulaikha pushed me off and crouched down to Naruto.
"Naruto, I never liked and I probably never will,"She started. I stared at her. Ouch , my back hurts now. "But , this is the one thing in the whole school I'm good at , I don't think I can shine in any other subject like the others.."Her voice was becoming a lot more calmer and cooler. "I don't want to be the only failure..so, please?"She asked. Naruto's eyes widened lightly. He stood up and brushed his knees. He handed me phone and gave off a grin.
"Why not?"

Backstage , they were practicing. I decided to sit in the crowd. To help Naruto with the lines. "Hey!"I called out , to one of the boys with the microphone. "Kayley's ill, so Naru- I mean Jeff is filling in."I continued. He nodded , writing it down in his script. I held the script in my hands tightly and waited for their cue. Did Zulaikha really think she was a failure? I couldn't help but think I was one too. I shook my head, this was my time to think about them , to pray for them. To give their motivation off. To he-
"Next performing, Zulaikha Hussain and Jeff..erm..just Jeff, is performing!" It was announced. The curtains were drew and I saw the pair in utter darkness. Their silhouettes soon lightened up. Naruto wore a plain mask , unlike Zulaikha's mask, which was pretty. I remember they were only doing two scenes, instead of the other scene. What was clever about this idea was the fact it was the scene when the two characters love each other, but neither of them think they're hiding a thing. The next scene , is the scene about the two is when they reveal emotions , reveal sadness. The clash of music and loud voices were always joined in. The anger of the female emotion AKA Zulaikha. Then the sadness and sorrow of the male. Naruto. I glanced at the judges from time to time , the female had content eyes and her lip would quiver from time to time. I took that as something good. The other judges had an interested look and he was questioning the time leap. The audience seem to enjoy it. I was glad. Breathing in.
"No need to fake a smile,"Zulaikha sweetly said. Turning to the audience as Naruto was still as a statue. "Or you'll lose that bright smile , you thought you once had."As that scene finished. The curtains drew and the claps were heard. I was glad. I was happy. They were fine. I breathed in and once more out.

In the end. Zulaikha didn't win. Actually , the two came second. I thought Zulaikha would be flipping tables and she did quite the opposite actually. She flipped chairs. No I'm kidding. She was laughing lightly and smiled. She recieved a pretty trophy and so did Naruto. I couldn't help but laugh myself. The judges praised her and believed she should do Drama for GCSE's. The commented on their tension , the music which played well. In a way , I felt rather proud.
We waited outside the hall for the two come out. We , meaning all of our friends. Ruth, Ellie, Harriet and Po. Including me. Paulina commented on how amazing the two were and Ruth was actually agreeing along with Harriet. "For two people who hate each other , they did pretty well~"Ellie Sang.
"No kidding."Harriet mentioned. A broken laugh flew out of our mouths. It died down once Naruto and Zulaikha came. Zulaikha doing her proud walk.
"I did amazing , yes you may have an autograph my little peasants." Well her spirit was totally broken.
"Naruto you were so cool!"Po exclaimed. Naruto scratched the side of his head and laughed.
"You really think so?" Po nodded. He turned to Zulaikha who we all caught smiling sweetly but that soon disappeared.
"Thanks Naruto."She quietly said.
"What?"He asked.
"I said thank you.."
"What did you say?"He teasingly smiled.
" I SAID BLOODY THANK YOU! Jeez!"She exclaimed. Naruto smirked and grin afterwards.
"You're welcomeee~" I let out a helpless smile. These guys..