Standard Disclaimer Applies
Senior Prom. The most magical night of your high school years. Supposedly.
It's three months away and I'm already dreading it. Great, just great.
Let me introduce myself. I'm Sakura Haruno, and more likely than not, you know me as either the girl with the peculiarly bright cotton-candy hair (and contrary to popular belief, it is in fact natural) or the girl with a forehead large enough to write an entirefreakingnovel on (earning me the name 'Billboard Brow' my best friend Ino-pig). Obviously, I'm a senior in high school, the Leaf Academy to be exact, and believe it or not, I'm actually rather popular here (not the most popular- that would be Ino, of course). That probably results from being best friends with the cheerleading captain (Ino again, duh) and having once dated the most popular guy in school- the captain of the cross country, swim, track, AND soccer teams himself, Sasuke Uchiha.
Prom Queen
Chapter One: Season's Are Changing
"It's that time of year again folks, and welcome back from your long winter break," speakers around campus crackled, Principal Tsunade's voice thundering with command, "Your new semester schedules and room assignments can be found at any student help desk around the campus or in the main office lobby. Now remember, classes are still as important as they were in the fall, and the spring semester will prove to be much more-"
"Kick ass and totally freaking awesome man! Now if anything, don't forget, party hard and let spring fever take its toll on you! I know I will! Believe it!"
"Naruto!" Tsunade's voice hissed in the background while laughter began to erupt around campus. Good ole Naruto, you could always count on him to be getting himself into something as soon as classes let back in. "If you don't put down that microphone right this instance-"
"Well folks, it looks like I gotta run, Granny-Tsunade here looks like she's about to blow. This is your number one Ninja signing off! Goodnight San Francisco!"
A moment of (almost) silence- stifled giggles could still be heard- resounded across campus before Principle Tsunade's commanding voice came back on the speaker. "As I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted, the spring semester will prove to be much more challenging and should be taken with even more caution, especially for our seniors. Remember guys, if you don't pass your required classes this semester, we'll be seeing you back again next year. And trust me, none of us want that," she finished muttering the last part under her breath.
I couldn't help but laugh at our Principle's slight bitterness. She always acted as if us students, especially Naruto, were a thorn in her- um, well you know, but she loved us. If not, half of the seniors still here would have been expelled long ago.
"Yo!" I called to Ino who was already setting up the cheerleading recruit stand for the new semester. Every semester within the first week we got back from break, a day was devoted completely to recruiting students to different activities, sports, and clubs. I could only guess that it was necessary seeing as each student was required to participate in at least one extracurricular activity.
Which brings me to yet another reason I hate this Spring Semester. Other than classes being completely rigorous, my allergies constantly acting up (it sucks even worse than being sick because I can't even claim a sick day), prom being approximately three months away, I have to find a new activity to participate in this semester. Normally, this wasn't an issue because it was a simple choice. I would manage the varsity boys' soccer team, but this year, that wouldn't be exactly appropriate. See, the only reason I managed the soccer team in the first place was because I was dating Sasuke Uchiha, but seeing as not only did we break up, he's now dating this (red-headed, cocky, immature, probably would rape him at any given chance- eh can't blame her for that one)new girl named Karin. Let's just say I'm more than certain that my position would be, ahem, fulfilled.
"You've been working with Kakashi too much, billboard brow," Ino shot at me seeing as I've recently picked up greeting everyone with my composition teacher's classic one. I've been studying with him a lot lately, not because I'm particularly interested in grammar and all that other stuff associated with composition class, but because I have really became fond of writing since the break up last semester. It really helped me cope, and Kakashi really helped me hone my writing skills.
"You're just jealous because you barely passed Composition I last semester," I spat back, only jokingly.
"That's because I have a life. You better watch out, learning too much might cause that forehead of yours to only get bigger," She laughed plucking my forehead. "You decided what activity you're taking up this semester yet?"
"Nope, sure haven't. I guess these 'Recruiter Days' will actually come in handy for once."
"You know, Forehead Girl, you could always join the cheerleading squad. I mean, we could really use you after all. There's not many girls that can pull off half the stunts you can."
"Yes, but Ino-Pig, that's not all you need to be a cheerleader. You have to have a big mouth, but I'm sure you never realized that. Just comes naturally for you I suppose." I laughed as Ino punched me lightly in the arm. She had been trying to get me on the squad ever since she found out that I could do back handsprings, round-offs, and all that stuff. My mother had put me in gymnastics as a kid, and I failed horribly at it. It wasn't until after I began to actually mature that I ever took it seriously. Still, I'm not that good, I'm just better than the hopeful freshmen with no experience. Really, I believe Ino just wants to have her best friend on the team.
"Just consider it, will you? You won't regret it, I promise."
"Okay, okay. I'll think about it, but I'm not making any promises."
"Ugh, thinking. Is that all you do? You should be all like 'Oh yes, Ino, I would love to be able to spend every afternoon in your lovely presence and find it an honor that you even think I'm cut out for the squad.' See? No thinking required."
"Oh, I think I'm going to be sick," I gagged mimicking vomiting. Out of the seven deadly sins, Ino definitely was guilty of vanity, no questions about it.
"Sakura," a small voice rang behind me, "We're roommates again this semester." I turned around quickly only to find another one of my close friends, Hinata. She was such a sweet, soft-spoken girl, but trust me, wake her up at 3 AM in the morning just because you had a bad dream, and she turns vicious. She had been my roommate twice before, once as a freshman and then again as a junior last year. By far she was the best roommate I've had since I've being here at the Leaf Academy. She didn't party, unlike Ino who I had unfortunately roomed with once each year, and she wasn't a complete slob, once again unlike Ino (ever wonder where she got that pleasant little nickname of hers? Certainly not without reason).
"Aww! I was hoping we'd be roomies again! Ugh, I hope I don't get stuck with some Uchiha fan girl like I was last year during Spring Semester!" Ino whined.
"Oh like you weren't one. And I know you're devastated. I'd be devastated too if I didn't get to spend every night with such a perfect roommate such as myself. Good thing I got Hinata!" I chirped fully aware that Ino-pig's vanity was in fact rubbing off of me. It's okay though, what's wrong with a little power-trip every once in a while?
This time Ino began to gag mimicking vomiting. It's no wonder we turned out to be best friends. So very different on the outside and first few layers of personality, but so very much similar deep deep down.
"Come on, Hinata, let's go check out our honors dorms," I sang latching onto Hinata's arm after waving bye to Ino. That was one plus of Spring Semester, the best dorms always went to those that received honors during the previous fall semester. Fall semester dorms were only assigned on a first-come, first-serve basis, and I, well, I was never first-come.
"H-how was your b-break, Sakura-chan?" Hinata whispered seemingly almost afraid to ask. She knew I didn't exactly get along with my parents, especially my mother. They just didn't understand my dreams to get out of Konoha and make something of myself. 'What's wrong with the family business?' they would ask, 'Is that not making something of yourself?'. Don't get me wrong, I love the small shop my mother and father run, and as a child, that's all I ever wanted. But then I met Sasuke Uchiha and Naruto Uzamaki, both with big dreams, big inhibitions, big desires. I wanted to keep up with them; I didn't want to be left behind. I just began dreaming of bigger and better things- what things I'm still not sure of.
"Actually, it wasn't that bad. I kept to myself, had a lot of me time. I really think that's what I needed," I added with a grin, hoping I could fool others almost as well as I could fool myself.
"Are you sure?" She questioned even more quietly before, and I suddenly realized she wasn't asking about my relationship with my parents.
"Of course! Why wouldn't I be?" I chirped almost too brightly- not that I was trying to pretend, I didn't have to. I am really good, great, grand even, all of the 'G' words that promote happy glows. Sasuke Uchiha was not an issue. Nope, not an issue at all.
She just quietly nodded implying she didn't quite believe me. That's the one thing that made our friendship different than mine with Ino- She didn't believe me as easily. Ino would always question, but once I reaffirmed, she accepted it and didn't bother to question again. Hinata on the other hand didn't question but didn't accept either. She always just nodded and made her own judgments.
"So what dorm are we in?" I asked, quickly changing the subject to a much, safer one.
"Senju Hall, dorm 207."
"Sweet! I don't think that I've ever stayed in those dorms before; I wonder if they're special senior honors dorms."
"Oi! Sakura, Hinata!" Naruto thundered from across the horizon interrupting my ponderings. Sometimes I honestly wonder if I hear him from across campus, and I'm quite sure that I do (I've only yet to prove it).
"H-hi N-Naruto," Hinata stuttered in addition to turning about 7 shades of red reverting back to her former middle school self. She never failed to revert back to the same stuttering, fainting Hinata whenever Naruto came around (though I have to admit she is much better than she had been), and it only made her ever so obvious crush on him even the more apparent.
"Did you girls hear me on loud speakers? Pretty prodigious, huh?"
Both Hinata's and my jaw dropped at the sound of an SAT word coming from Naruto's mouth. I mean this is the boy that shoved a crayon up his nose… last semester so seriously, can you blame me for being just a tad bit surprised that a three syllable word really came out of his mouth?
"What? Is there something in my teeth?" Naruto questioned trying to cover his mouth.
"No, but someone's been brushing up on their vocabulary."
"Aw, thanks Sakura, I'll tell the bastard that the word of the day calendar he gave me really comes in handy with the ladies."
"Yeah, yeah, always Naruto, always," I replied rolling my eyes. Naruto always had this habit of thinking that he was a stud, player, and all of that sort, but really he was just another guy and had a personality that could never be that shallow. He really was a great guy, he just had a radiating personality that made people like him- or what I would like to call a Jesus Complex. "Well, I'm heading on up to our dorm" I said excusing myself from Naruto's and Hinata's presence to give them, you know, some alone time (if Naruto just opened his freaking eyes, he would realize that he's totally in love with Hinata and then they would live happily ever. Yep, definitely).
Senju Hall's dorms were actually pretty good dorms, not that I wasn't expecting them to be. They were just bigger than what I had expected which was awesome because now Hinata and I could you know actually walk around the room. Seriously, you would think that with the Leaf Academy being one of the most renowned magnet schools in the state,that their dorms would be something to desire, but no, they aren't. They're typically painted stark white, about the size of a decent walk-in closet, and most didn't even have a bathroom- not even a small one.
But Senju Hall's dorms were different. Instead of the blaringly white walls, they were painted a soft, rich red which was pretty sweet to be honest. I mean, red is my favorite color, but it took me a while to figure that out. Don't ask. I just always assumed my favorite color was pink, uh hello my hair, but then I realized whenever I bought something, I always got red even when it came in pink so there. Red is my favorite color. And these dorms had a half bathroom- no shower or anything, but it was definitely a step up from none at all. Beds were in a loft style, which was also totally weird, but I think that's what makes it seem bigger.
Anyways, since I've completely gone off a particularly uninteresting tangent that I'm sure no one really cares about in the first place, I guess I'll continue where I left off. After exploring my dorm, I figured I would go and pick up my schedule even though I really wouldn't be needing it until the beginning of next week when my cell phone began to vibrate relentlessly.
"Yo," I answered shoving the phone between my shoulder and ear (you know that awesome 'heck yeah look ma no hands thing'?) as I made my way to the door.
"Sakura," Hinata's voice rang sounding particularly stressed.
"Hey Hinata, what's up? You sound worried."
"Sakura, there's been a mistake with our dorms. You see-"
"What's wrong with our dorms?" I asked cutting her off again (I had a bad habit of doing that kind of thing). "They're aweso-"
This time it was me to cut myself off, or rather my shock. As I closed the door behind me, I looked up only to see Sasuke Uchiha doing the exact same thing.
"No, you don't understand. Senju Hall is the guy's dorms," Hinata finished almost out of breath as I stared with my jaw slowly dropping.
"Hn." Sasuke merely grunted as he noticed me.
I dropped my cell with Hinata still frantically talking away as realization hit me.
Sasuke and I were neighbors and oh god, we'd have to share the showers.
A/N: So here's my new story. Hopefully updates won't take too long. Unless I get a full time job this summer but I don't see that happening. This is the first time that I've actually written first person (well unless you count like letters but that's beside the point).
I hope you guys like! Tell me what you think so far. (Review)
Oh the art of subtlety doesn't become me.