[high school AU, angst, fluff, funny]

An ordinary day of high school meant exactly as it sounded.

An ordinary day of high school.

Only difference?

The dobe wasn't late for once.

But it's the first day of school. By tomorrow, he's going to be as late as my passed grandfather. Just watch.

"So, welcome to the first day of Senior year, children." Our enthusiastic, new homeroom teacher yawned, scribbling the words in chalk on the chalkboard, "prepare to die."

I love this guy.

"Ah, excuse me, Kakashi-Sensei!" My best friend's hand shot up. Imagine a rocket. That'd be about accurate. He nearly threw himself out of his seat, "are you still single?"

There were some silent yet audible chuckles in the room as the Hatake just stood at the front of the room, staring at Naruto Uzumaki. A smile spread onto his face behind his mask as he replied, "you're a senior in high school now. Are you still single?"

The 'oohs' erupted from the classroom as Naruto slumped lower in his chair.

"Now." Kakashi set the chalk down and clapped his hands together, "you kids run along now. I've already held you long enough to make you guys late. Have a nice first day."

Thanks to him, we all got late referrals to class. I knew I chose the right teacher for homeroom.

I quickly paced down the hallway to get to the other side of the building with the hopes that I wouldn't be late for my next class.

"Hey you! Yeah you! Don't think I didn't recognize you!"

Who, me?

I turn around and see a crowd of girls. Sadly, not around me. Not my problem, not my place to go talk to them. Besides, I was late as is, so I continued on my merry way.

In this school, it's hard to know who anyone is. It's so big, You hear a name, and you barely remember them, because that's the only time you see them. Naruto has been my best friend since we were little. That's a different story. Other than him, I have no other acquaintances in the school, and I don't need any.

The moment I stepped foot into the History classroom, the bell rang, and the teacher at the front of the room chuckled.

"Nice timing, Uchiha."

Of course he knew me. This guy's my uncle, Madara Uchiha. I silently took my usual seat in the back.

As I'd noted before, I don't really know anyone here, and from my appearance, no one normally approaches me first. I get a good handful of girls, though. Either way, I'm not complaining.

"Psst, hey, you're Sasuke Uchiha, right?"

I peeked over to the fish sitting next to me. Well, his appearance reminded me of a fish. His white hair, buggy purple eyes, and sharp teeth, "what about him?"

"I just thought you were the coolest ever!" He whispered, "I mean, you're pretty popular around here, didn't you know? Everyone's talking about you."

"I never hear it."

"Well, behind your back, that is." He smiled his toothy grin, "my name's Suigetsu. Can I call you Sasuke?"

"No."

"Ay, Sasuke! I know we'll get along great!"

Feelings weren't mutual, if I wanted to be honest. But I suppose I can drag him around for a little while. Maybe I can send him on errands for me?

"So." Suigetsu lowered his voice as he glanced back to the front of the room, "you into girls?"

"... It depends which girl."

"Wise answer." He pointed at a girl in red glasses with red hair, "you see her there? She talks non-stop about you. Her name's Karin Uzumaki. You should go talk to her."

"Uzumaki?"

"Oh, yeah, like Naruto Uzumaki. They're cousins."

He never told me he had a cousin who was obsessed with me. Then again, he knows I'm not interested in girls like that, "no thanks."

"Aw, come on."

"If that's the whole reason why you want to hang out with me, then I'd just stay away if I were you."

"Ouch, you really are as sour as they say you are."

I looked down at my desk. I guess it's not just my appearance, then. I really am what I look like. Cold.

The rest of class, I only stared at the cold wood. And before I knew it, the bell rang and pulled me out of my meditation. I quickly got up and didn't think to wait for Suigetsu. Headed for biology, I glanced around at the crowd surrounding me, then spotted the same group of girls I saw on my way to history. It looked like they were casually going to class as well, but then I noticed that one of them was clutching her stomach. Again, it isn't my place to go around shoving girls. Besides, that would make me look worse than I already look. So again, I shrugged it off.

__________________________________

"You're so weak, you whore!"

"What good are you if you can't even fight back!"

"Ha, you're so stupid!"

"Ooh, look. She's going to start crying again."

I wiped my bloody nose and smirked, "heh. Yeah, you're right. I'm going to cry. So there really is something in those hard-heads of yours."

"Tsk! Shut up!" Her heel met my face once again, and this time, I flew back and hit my head on the drinking fountain that was perfectly there to give me a worse concussion, "don't think you're worth so much! We'll never forget what you did!"

There was no point in trying anymore. I rubbed my aching neck, and that's when I spotted my only hope. In this entire barren hallway, there was a single boy who was looking right at this group of girls. I tried to cry out, but the words wouldn't project. Before I knew it, he was gone. How could he not have seen this?!

"Hey!"

Another voice followed his disappearance, and we all glanced over to see a blonde-haired boy walking up to us.

"What do you want, Squirt?"

"What's going on here?!"

"We're just playing with her."

"Well, if you're going to make her bleed that much, take it outside. Or maybe I should take you outside." He stated coldly, followed by the crack of his knuckles.

"Ha!" She stood him up, "who, you? You're so puny."

It all happened in a flash. He threw a punch to her stomach before she or her posse could do anything.

"Get lost." His voice threatened, "or I'm going to make you sorry you ever hurt this girl."

"Whatever, you jackass." The girls picked up their bags and helped their injured friend away from us.

His tone softened and he smiled at me, "are you okay?"

No. I'm covered in blood, I've got a bruise the size of an egg in the back of my head, I have a minor concussion, and my nose is broken. I'm perfectly fine.

"Not really."

"Here." He took my hand and pulled me up, "let me help you, you need to get cleaned up. I'll take you to the nurse."

That's when I recognized who he was, "you're... Naruto Uzumaki."

"Yeah!" He smiled, "my mom is the nurse. I'm sure she could help you."

"And your friend is..." I was too in awe to say or do anything but walk as he pulled me towards the main office, "I mean, your dad..."

"Yeah." He chuckled, "forget that."

"A-are you sure? You're going to be late..."

"Don't worry about me. You need help."

I blushed a little, "thank you."

"No problem!" He looked at me, "so, uh, what's your name?"

"Sakura. Sakura Haruno."

Naruto grinned, "Sakura, huh? That's a pretty name! I like it!"

I managed a smile and nodded, "uh, haha, sure, if you say so." I glanced back in the direction of where we just came from, where I was just attacked by those girls. Every word they said, though, was true. But that's not what intrigued me. That boy that passed. I knew him from somewhere, and I wanted to go meet him.

"S-Sa..." I muttered.

"Hm?"

"Sas..."

"Eh?" Naruto looked at me, "what are you trying to say?"

My voice got all choked up again, the same thing that happened when I tried to call out to the boy, "his name... It's..."

"Who?"

"Sas..." I broke out in a coughing fit and tried to regain myself.

"Whoa, Sakura, calm down." Naruto grabbed my shoulders, "okay, just hang in there, I'll get you to the office as soon as possible."

"What was his name?" I yanked at my pink hair and groaned, "I knew him, but..."

"Who?"

"That boy back there..."

"What boy? There was no one else in the hallway."

But...

I stared at the ground until we reached the office, where I was treated, then sent home with a minor concussion and a broken nose, which I'd already picked up on when I first received them. I didn't tell anyone about that chance encounter, and Naruto swore to not tell anyone. That's just something I really don't need right now. But the thing that I really need to know is who that boy was. I knew him, I just can't remember where.

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Written by xX_Fang_Xx