Chapter Two

"Gosh I wish it were still summer vacation." Sakura's friends complained as they all sat in their first period class. She didn't bother to engage in their conversation as she rested her head on her desk. She had a long night, and the last thing she wanted to hear about was how they all wanted to be home. Obviously everyone would rather be home.

"How are you, Sakura?" Hinata asked, while gently touching her shoulder. "I'm fine," She said while looking up for a second, and smiling at her friend. Hinata just smiled and nodded, knowing that she was lying. All of her friends knew that Sakura hadn't been sleeping well since the first week of school over a month ago, but they didn't mention it, because they all knew why, and it was normal.

As she closed her eyelids again, her teacher walked in and announced that there would be two students joining their class for the rest of the academic year. She didn't bother to look up, because there had been plenty of new students in the last week alone, and she just didn't care.

"Please welcome Sasuke Uchiha, and Naruto Uzumaki with open arms. Boys take an open seat." Hinata knew that she had heard their names from somewhere, and she knew exactly where she had heard of them, but Sakura was so tired that she hadn't been listening because she had fallen unconscious.

Ino leaned forward in her seat to ask Hinata if these boys were who she thought they were, and Hinata nodded. "Wow." Ino said, as Sasuke sat in the open seat in front of Sakura, and Naruto sat in the open one next to him, in front of Hinata. "Should we wake her up?"

Ino asked, "I literally don't know. She probably didn't sleep much last night. Maybe we should just let her-" Mr. Hatake interrupted their conversation by looking up from his book and saying, "Is there something you'd like to say to the entire class, Ms. Hyuga?"

She blushed deeply as everyone stared at her, including Naruto and Sasuke. Her eyes glanced at Naruto's blue ones, and she cleared her throat while shaking her head. "No, Sir."

"Then don't talk during my lesson please." "Y-yes, Sir. Sorry." As soon as he turned his back to return back to his lecture, she let out the breath she had been subconsciously holding.

Naruto smiled at the girl, before turning around in his seat, and writing a note on a piece of notebook paper to give to her, while Sasuke waited for Sakura to show him any bit of attention. It was weird that he practically seemed to crave it, but he did. Every girl in the class couldn't help but stare at the two attractive boys who had joined their class, and all Hinata and Sakura could do was remain completely oblivious.

Stretching his arms, Naruto purposefully dropped the folded note onto Hinata's desk. She assumed that it wasn't for her, so she leaned forward to whisper in his ear, "The girl behind me has a boyfriend.""Then it's a good thing that it's for you, Princess." She blushed, before sitting back in her seat, and opening it. She was met with a flirty message that made her blush a deep red, and bite her bottom lip.

  Writing on the back of it, she folded it, before tapping his shoulder, making him extend his arm toward the floor, so that their teacher couldn't see the exchange. As he took the folded note, his hand lightly brushed against her exposed leg.

When he read the note, he smiled before rubbing the back of his neck. Hinata smiled stupidly too, until she noticed Kakashi grabbing a ruler, and walking their way.

Reaching over, she tried to wake Sakura up, before he got to her desk, but she wasn't budging. "Am I that boring?" He asked the class loudly, yet she wasn't waking up.

Hitting the ruler on the desk, she jumped up, while cursing underneath her breath. When she woke up, Hinata noticed that she didn't look good. "Class isn't where you nap, Ms. Haruno."   "Are you okay?" Hinata asked her friend, but before she could reply, she got up quickly, grabbed the trashcan by the door, and rushed out of the classroom before she made a mess.

"Can I go check on her?" He nodded, "Yes. Take her to the nurse if she needs it." She nodded, "Will do." Before grabbing the small bag from her friends backpack.

"Hey, what's going on?" Hinata asked, although she could guess. Sakura couldn't respond as she continued to regurgitate.

"Open the door." She said, and Sakura did so. Looking up at her friend, she smiled slightly, before getting sick again, and leaning over the toilet. Hinata held her hair back, as she rubbed circles in her back.

"Sakura, you know you're not supposed to mix your meds with alcohol. You're going to get an ulcer if you keep doing this." She hated to be the friend who worried tirelessly about her friends well being, but she had to. Sakura gasped as she finally stopped hurling, "I know, Hinata. It's just, ugh."

"I don't want you to keep going the way you're going. You'll hurt yourself. You could OD." She said while helping her friend off of the floor, so that she could compose herself. "I know, I'll stop."

"Promise me that." Hinata said while sticking out her pinky finger, Sakura smiled, before interlocking hers with Hinata's. "I promise, Hinata. I'm in so much pain this isn't even funny."

"Now here's your toothbrush, and stuff." She said while handing it over. "Did you eat breakfast?" Sakura shook her head, "I'll give you the Banana from my lunchbox, and then take a Tylenol, okay?"

"Okay, Mom." Hinata rolled her eyes, "Also you were sleeping, but Sakura." She looked at her while putting the toothpaste on her toothbrush, "Yes?" The bell rang, and instantly Ino walked in with both of their backpacks in her hands. "I can't believe they're here!"

"Who's here?" Sakura asked with a mouthful of toothpaste, "Sasuke and Naruto." Spitting it out, her eyebrows furrowed in confusion, "You're kidding me."

"Nope. Sasuke Uchiha sat right in front of you." "He's hot isn't he?" She asked with a smile, making her friends laugh, "He is. So is Naruto."

"Yeah, what were you guys passing around anyways?" Ino asked, and Hinata blushed, "H-he was just flirting." They both smiled, "Oh shit, Hinata." She laughed, before they were joined by their other friend in the bathroom, just as the tardy bell rang.

"I see we're all skipping class today." TenTen said, "I say we leave." Ino suggested, and they all looked at each other, waiting for someone to object. "We can go to my place."

"Okay, but if we skip today, then we can't skip the next two weeks." Hinata negotiated, "Fine. Let's go." Sakura said packing her things into her bag, before the girls all left the bathroom.

When they walked out, they saw Sasuke and Naruto with Neji, as he gave them a tour around the school instead of going to his second period class. "And where are you guys going?" He asked, "No where, Neji." Hinata answered, "Then why aren't you in second period?"

"I got sick." Sakura said before looking at Sasuke, who looked at her too. "Hey! When did you guys get to Konoha?" She asked before hugging the both of them. "Two weeks ago." She nodded with a smile, "Well I hope it's treating you well, here take my new number, I'll take you guys out sometime." She said while giving the both of them her phone number.

"These are my friends by the way. Hinata, Ino, and TenTen. You already know Neji." She said with her hand resting against Sasuke's bicep. Naruto winked at Hinata, making her blush deeply again, while nervously playing with the hem of her skirt.

"Are you okay?" Sasuke asked her, and she nodded. "I am. How are you?" "I'm good. I want to see you later. When are you free?" She smiled, "How about tomorrow? There's a big football game, and we have to go support a friend of ours. How about after that?" He nodded, "Okay. I'll text you. Are you guys about to head out?" She nodded, "Well I guess I'll see you tomorrow."

Smiling one last time, her and her friends started to walk toward the parking lot entrance, but Naruto grabbed Hinata's hand, making her stop. "Yes?" She spoke, not looking into his eyes to try and keep herself from blushing. Naruto knew that he made her nervous, and he thought it was cute.

"What happened to walking me to class?" She gasped before looking into his eyes, and blushing cutely, "Aw I'm so sorry! I completely forgot. You didn't get lost did you?"

"I did, it was scary, Hinata." He joked, making her giggle while getting lost in his ocean blue eyes. They were almost hypnotic as she got lost in them while he spoke, but she didn't listen. "Princess?" He said while cupping her chin, blinking twice she asked, "S-Sorry. What did you say, Naruto?"

"I said, make it up to me by letting me take you out for a date." She smiled, "O-okay, yeah. I'll give you my number." Pulling out his phone, she typed in the seven digits, and they smiled the entire time. At this point Hinata's friends were waiting for her at their cars, and Sasuke and Neji were touring the school.

"Here you go, Naruto." She said while looking up from the phone, to see him staring right at her. Although she thought his eyes were hypnotic, he felt as though she had him in a trance, and they had both only just met.

"Thank you, Hinata." He said while picking up her hand, and kissing it. "I'll text you later?" "Sounds good. I hope that you have a good first day. Bye, Naruto." His eyes watched her walk away with a smile on her face, making him smile too. ~ "You should so go on a date with him!" TenTen said while taking the bottle of wine from the table, and pouring more into her glass. "I will, I just know that he gets around. He probably just wants to have sex."

"I mean he wouldn't be the worst guy to have sex with." Ino said while the rest of them nodded, except for Sakura who laid asleep on Ino's bed. "Is she okay?" TenTen whispered, and Hinata nodded while lightly stroking her hair.

"She just had a long night." They nodded, "But I agree with Ino. You should definitely smash." They laughed, and Hinata shook her head. "We'll see. I don't really know if I want a serious relationship."

"Good, they're so stupid." Ino said, making TenTen nod in agreement. "Don't get me wrong, I love Sai, but man I wish I could be more selfish, you know?" TenTen nodded in agreement while saying, "I get that, like I have to think about how certain things will affect the both of us, rather than just me."

"Sleeping around was fun. You could always just do that, Sakura has fun with it."

"I tried that, and we all remember how that went." They nodded at the horrific memory, "Yeah, well it's not for everyone." "Yeah, I guess you're right." She said, before her phone vibrated, and she looked at it to see Naruto text her. It was only noon, so he wasn't out of school yet.

'I tried to wait to text, but I just want to see you again.' She blushed while responding to him, as her friends watched the show that played on Ino's television screen. 'Then let's do it :)'

Back at school, Naruto was smiling stupidly at his phone while texting Hinata back. "Yeah, and Naruto is getting all of the girls already." Lee said, making Naruto look up from his phone. "Hardly."

"Psh, you've gotten four numbers since first period. Which one are you texting now?" Kiba asked, "The prettiest one." He said while winking at the boys, before texting her back. 'I have a good idea, are you busy tonight?'

As he waited for her response, he noticed a group of girls coming to their lunch table. "Hey, you both are new, right?" Sasuke and him nodded, "That's so cool! What are your names?"

The brunette asked, "I'm Naruto, and he's Sasuke." He answered, before picking up his vibrating phone. He smiled as he saw Hinata's name followed by her response.

'No, what do you have in mind?''It's a surprise.' 'Well what should I wear?' Hinata asked him, 'Something comfy! I can pick you up' 'Don't worry about it! Just send me the address of whatever and I'll meet you.' 'Will do! See u tonight, Princess ;)'

Putting her phone on the nightstand next to Ino's bed, Hinata smiled before plopping down on the pillows next to the sleeping Sakura. "Someone's blushing, are you talking to Naruto?" Ino asked with a smile. "We're hanging out tonight."

"Yay! Oh my God wear something tight." Ino said making all of them laugh so loud that Sakura's emerald eyes opened. "Sorry, Sakura. We were excited." She yawned before sitting up to stretch her arms, "About?" "Naruto and I are going out tonight." "Oh my God! We have to pick out the perfect outfit."

Hinata laughed at her excitement, "It's not that serious. He said to dress comfortable." She said with nonchalance, though she was just as excited. "Ah so you don't know what you're doing?" She nodded, "No idea."

"Spontaneous dates are always fun." They all nodded in agreement to that, "Don't sleep with him on the first date." Sakura said, "I say if the opportunity presents itself, then do it." Ino said while shrugging her shoulders. "Yeah, I don't know. We'll see."

  "Well in case you do, use a condom. I don't care how much he says it feels better without one." Sakura said, and they all nodded in agreement. She laughed, "Okay guys. I have to go pick up Hanabi from school soon, because they have an early release, but I'll text the group chat for outfit ideas. Bye ladies." She said, while getting up and grabbing her phone. "Bye! We love you." "Love you too." ~  When Sakura got home, she was met with her mother's voice. "Sakura! Dinner is almost ready!" "Okay!" She said before walking up the stairs of her home, toward her bedroom. She wasn't hungry, but she knew that if she didn't eat her mom would worry and be on her case.

When she got to her room, she plopped onto her bed, and scrolled through her phone, before she saw a message from Sasuke. 'Let's grab coffee tmmr after school?''Sounds great! I know the perfect place.'

A smile came to her lips as she texted him back. She had missed Sasuke like crazy, but she never thought she would ever see him again. She was surprised to say the least. Besides, life had gotten in the way, and she knew that he probably hadn't been thinking about her the way she used to think of him.

As she thought of Sasuke, Hinata video called her while she got ready for her date. "What should I wear?" She asked her best friend as soon as she answered, "I really like that blue crop top that's a little low cut."

"But it's a crop top, and my boobs make me look fat." Rolling her emerald eyes she said, "You're wearing it. You should pair it with those mom jean denim shorts, the ones with the tie around the waste, instead of a button."

"I love those! Alright that's perfect. I'm so nervous for tonight. Did you see how hot he is?" Hinata asked with a smile on her face. "I know! I'm so proud, but you'll have a great time, he's a good guy."

  Hinata nodded, "He does seem really nice, he just makes me nervous, you know? And I thought I grew out of that faze."

"Well that's probably because you like him." She blushed, "Maybe I do. It's too early to tell though." Sakura laughed, "I think it's cute. I miss that feeling." "Well Sasuke seems to be trying to rekindle whatever feelings you guys had." She nodded, "Yeah, but it's probably just to hook up."

"I don't know, I heard he wasn't giving any of the girls that were talking to him any attention today, and you know how the girls at our school are." She nodded, "Yeah, they were probably throwing themselves at him."

Hinata nodded in agreement, "Well I will text you when I head home. Remember what we talked about at school, Sakura. No mixing your meds and alcohol." "I know, it won't happen again." "Okay, you promised." "I know."

"Okay. I love you, talk to you later." "I love you too, text me if you need anything." Before long, her mother's voice came through her rooms intercom, telling her that dinner was ready. Leaving her phone on it's charger, she started walking down her stairs and prepared herself for dinner with her mother.

"Hey, Sakura. How was school?""Just the usual. How was work?" "Good, getting more clients everyday." She said with a smile, as they sat at their dinner table. It had been just the two of them since she came back to Konoha last summer. After having the best three weeks of her life with a boy she hardly knew, she returned home to be met with her father smiling happily one moment, before falling deathly ill to an undiagnosed brain condition the next.

He remained on life support for thirty days, before Sakura and her mother decided that he had no chance of living the life he once had. His death caused Sakura's life to spiral out of control, and she began depending on her antidepressants, amongst other medication to make her feel relatively normal again, only they had begun to stop having the same affect they used to. Now, she just felt empty all of the time. She tried to fill that void with a multitude of things, but nothing seemed to work.

"So, how are the new meds working out? Any nausea or anything?" Her mother asked, as Sakura swirled her noodles around in the bowl. "Honestly I don't like them. I kind of think it's time for me to go cold turkey." Her mom looked at her with concern on her face, "Why?" She shrugged while coming up with a lie, "I just feel like they're not working anymore, and I'm tired of switching to new ones every two months."

"Okay, well you have to know what that means. You're going to have some intense mood swings, and if you need a day or two off, tell me and I'll call in for you, okay?" Sakura nodded, "Okay, thank you for understanding." "Of course, I can tell you're not hungry, so get some rest. You can leave your meds on the counter, so I can have them just in case." "Okay, I will. Goodnight, I love you.""I love you too."

Walking up her stairs, she couldn't stop the smile that came to her face. She felt like this would definitely be the start of a new her. A better her. When she opened her door, she grabbed all of her prescribed medication, alongside the other medication that she had gotten from people here and there.

The one thing she kept was her unprescribed valium. She hadn't taken it since last night, and although it helped her sleep, it made her extremely nauseous. Throwing them all into a bag, she went to her bathroom, before unscrewing the lids, and dumping them all into the toilet.

As she did, she couldn't stop the tears that fell from her eyes. A sob left her lips as she reached for her last bottle, and unscrewed it. "Almost there." She said with a smile, though she couldn't stop herself from crying.

Finally pouring them out, she looked at her bottle of valium, and thought of what she promised Hinata. She wouldn't be able to keep her promise if she still had them. Sighing, she grabbed them and poured them out too. Instantly she felt a huge weight lifted off of her shoulders, she sighed deeply before sitting on the cold tile of her bathroom floor, and crying at the bittersweet feeling.

All she wanted to do was text Hinata about this amazing break through she had just made, but she knew that she was busy with her date. So, instead she got up from her floor, and grabbed her phone, before calling Sasuke. "Hey, are you up right now?""Yeah, what's up?"

"Want to hang out?" He looked at the time on the dash board of his car, and saw that it wasn't too late. "Yeah, I'll come get you. Send me your address." "Okay, I'm gonna take a quick shower and I'll see you in a few, bye Sasuke." "See you, Sakura." ~ "So you just couldn't wait to see me, huh?" He teased, making her laugh, before leaning over the console, and kissing his cheek. "I couldn't. I know this cool look out spot if you want to go."

He nodded, "Of course." As she gave him directions they both talked about how Sasuke was adjusting to life in Konoha. "It's great honestly, a lot different than before. Everyone is really nice, and welcoming." She nodded, "Aw I love that for you, everyone at school seems to love you."

"You too, everyone was worried when you skipped the rest of your classes today." He placed his hand on her thigh, "Are you good now?" She nodded, "Really good. That's why I called, I wanted to have some fun tonight, and Hinata is out with Naruto."

"So I'm your second choice?" He asked as they parked at the beautiful look out, that gave them the wonderful view of the city. "Aw, you'll always be my first, Sasuke." She said making him smile, before asking, "Let's get in the back?"