I sit by the window in homeroom, eating my packed lunch. I don't feel like being with all the students at the Academy, at least not today. Hinata sits quietly in front of me eating an apple. She's such a good friend, I couldn't ask for a better one.

The blue skies from this morning are bright compared to my uneasiness. I pick at the rice balls my mother so carefully prepared for me this morning. Normally they are my favorite, but I feel sick to my stomach. Ino's words have been echoing in my head since first hour. To make it worse Sasuke canceled lunch on me.

"I'm sure things are fine." Hinata says setting down the core of her finished apple. "He did say that he wouldn't be able to make lunch right?" I know she's trying to comfort me but I just don't feel it.

I shrug and eat the rest of my rice ball and glance up at the clock, 12:00. First years start to trickle in as the bell gets closer. Finally I see Naruto's blonde spikes and find myself holding my breath. I sigh with relief that Sasuke is right behind him.

"Oh man I'm stuffed!" Naruto exclaims seating himself across the aisle from Hinata and rubs his belly with a moan.

I roll my eyes at him and glance expectantly at Sasuke. He hasn't really spoken a lot today and I wonder why. He seats himself behind me and leans forward. Naturally I lean in towards him.

"Can I talk to you on the roof for a minute?" He asks quietly.

I nod and stand. I hope that he will clear the uneasiness that has slowly been creeping through my body since first hour. He gently takes my hand, entwining his fingers in mine, and I follow his lead out of the classroom, catching the small reassuring smile Hinata gives me.

Nervousness seeps into my body as we climb the stairs to the roof entrance. Sasuke holds the door open for me once we reach it and I step out onto the windy roof.

Gently he takes my hand and pulls me into a strong embrace. I can hardly breathe as his sudden display of affection has caught me off guard. "Sasuke?" I ask timidly.

He lets me go, taking a strand of my bubble gum hair and twirls it in his fingers. "I heard what Ino was saying this morning." He says quietly, not looking me in the eye.

I stand paralyzed in front of him, not knowing what to say. "You know Ino, she hates me with a passion." I say on a soft sigh.

Sasuke continues to play with my hair, but finally makes eye contact with me. "It's not true. What she said." He says quietly.

I've watch him for so long that I know the look in his eyes. It was the same look he had when his parents died in the hospital, the buried pain reflects in his eyes whether he wants it to or not. I remember listening to him, praying out loud in the waiting room outside the OR room asking God to keep his parents safe. Not more than five minutes later they told his older brother Itatchi and him that they both passed on the operating table.

I bite my lip and offer him a small smile. "I know. Ino just has that way of getting to you, ya know." I say. I hug him and nuzzle his neck breathing in the dark aroma that seems to cling to him. "Thank you." I breathe into his neck.

I feel him return my hug, his embrace solid and warm. "We should get back, the bell will ring soon." He says stepping away and offering me his hand. I take it and let him lead me back to homeroom, feeling better now that I know everything is okay.

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World History with Mr. Umino so far is proving to be the best class I have so far. I have laughed more in the first 5 minutes before class than I have all day. The guys in this class are complete goofballs, and to think I was worried about this class.

I sit in the back corner with three guys, Kiba, Choji, and Shikamaru. All of them are from the other junior high school, and the only one I'm familiar with is Kiba from first hour and all the times Hinata has mentioned him in casual conversation. Kiba is her best friend in her neighborhood and Choji and Shikamaru are his friends.

Kiba reminds me a lot of Naruto, now that I have officially met him. He's loud, funny, and energetic. But there is something about him that sets him apart from Naruto. He's got this protectiveness, if that's even the right word, about him. I'd be worried if I was alone on the other side of town with Naruto, but I think it be okay if I were with Kiba.

Mr. Umino has us open our books to the first chapter. After we read the first chapter we're supposed to discuss it with a group and then agree on a topic point to discuss out loud with the class.

I read it quickly and then wait for Kiba, Choji, and Shikamaru to finish. To my astonishment Shikamaru is sound asleep on top his book, and I can't help but wonder how he will pass if he sleeps through class. Chatter starts to flood the room as people start breaking off into groups causing Kiba to shut his book loudly.

"So I'm thinking that I'm going to fail history." He grumbles and turns to face me. At first I think he's angry but then a wolfish grin spreads across his face.

I laugh, looks like I'm going to be helping these guys out alot this year. I quickly scribble down some thoughts in my note book and hand it to Kiba. "This is what I'm thinking." I say.

Kiba slowly reads what I have written and then nods. "Right on!" He grins. "Am I a nerd for understanding this?" He asks with wide eyes.

I roll my eyes at him and he laughs. What a joker, but I feel my mood lightening. By the time class is over Kiba has managed to sell my thoughts as his own and brings the class to tears with laughter. I think I will really enjoy this class.

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(,(')(') Authors Note❀