Alright, so as I was writing this I couldn't help but feel like I didn't like it. Someone either prove me right or wrong. :)

Chapter Nine: Things You Can't Take Back

I had been sitting leaning over with my head in my hands for maybe 20 minutes before Ino came careening in, her arms enveloping me in warmth. I had to admit I was a little shaken up, only because not a single bleeping doctor had come out yet to tell me how she was doing. I didn't think her wounds were life threatening, only moderately dangerous. Maybe I was wrong, maybe I assessed them wrong. If only I had gotten there sooner!

What was worse is that I didn't have Hyuuga's number. Or anyone's for that matter. I snapped out of me reverie when I noticed Ino was talking to me,

"– called Naruto who called Neji to let their family know that Hinata is in the hospital. They said they were on the way. They'll be here in minutes." Her voice ended expectantly, as if she expected me to say something. What could I say? I'm sorry I was too late to save her?

"That's good. If they're coming now that means I can leave." I didn't want to be here when they came in. I would see them at school tomorrow anyway. We had gym together last period.

"You… You don't want to be here when they get here?" Ino was so confused. I hadn't told her the whole story. About how I had made a deal with the cheerleaders and if I lost that means that my life was over, as was Hinata's life. I knew that if I lost Hinata's bullying would just get worse and more horrid. I had to win no matter what. The less the amount of people who knew about it the better. Ino would just try to stop me. I'm just hoping Hinata won't say anything. She's unconscious, for how long I don't know.

"There's no point me being here. Let's go home Ino, we'll see them tomorrow. I don't feel about to any words of gratitude or explaining anything." I stood from my seat and began the long trek to my car. Ino had taken her car, so she headed to her own with one last glance of question in my direction. I purposely ignored her and jumped in my car, gliding through the car park towards the exit. I was almost there too before a long line of different coloured cars entered. The silver Volvo was Neji's, and I am guessing the silver Jaguar behind him was Hinata's father's. Two motorcycles came in at the rear. There was Naruto's orange Triumph Rocket followed by what I knew was Sasuke's black Ducati. I was always impressed when I saw Sasuke's two-wheeled vehicle. Ducati's were expensive.

I kept low in my seat and waited for them to pass me by. I almost made it out unseen, if not for Hyuuga's freaky x-ray vision. My window was slightly open so I heard him call my name. I pretended not to hear and screeched out of there like a participator in Grand Theft Auto. School was going to be hell tomorrow

Stepping off my purple Ducati (I left my black Honda at home) I noticed that I was getting a lot of stares. For heaven's sake I'm not that interesting! Self conscious, I straightened my red denim mid-thigh length dress. It was one of my favourite dresses, the straps attached to each shoulder by a cute black button. I usually wore slightly longer black cotton tights with it, and today was no different. I finished the look with a pair of Ino's slip on dark red wedges, which I was at that moment slipping on. It's extremely difficult to ride a motorbike, especially a large Ducati wearing wedges.

I leant against the bike waiting for Ino to amble in. She had to go back to the house because she forgot her lipgloss, I mean seriously, I'm definitely not that bad when it comes to looks. As I waited I admired my ring cut with a square ruby in the middle. It adorned my right hand, middle finger. It had been a gift for a 3-month anniversary with my ex-boyfriend. The Ai tattoo on my lower back had been my gift to him. And then the stupid prick went and broke my heart. But that's in the past, let's not revisit the painful heartbreak I had felt that horrid day. The ring was beautiful, though, and real, so not matter the hatred I felt towards him I couldn't help but adore my ring.

Flicking my hair back I pushed my purple tinted sunglasses to the top of my head to act as a makeshift headband as I waved Ino down. Her Jaguar practically purred as she parked smoothly next to me. She stepped out, turning a few heads while I just scoffed. Today she had donned a clingy, short blue sundress, matched with a pair of my jewelled dark blue pumps. Her hair was tied up in its usually long thick ponytail and her blonde hair covered her right eye like always. Her single diamond studs caught the sunlight as she walked, more like strutted, towards me. She flaunted her beauty, unlike me who, even though I do take care in my appearance, wishes that I was a little less eye-catching. My pink hair did enough of that already, which, by the way, I tied up today. My layers were too short to tie up completely, insert the sunglasses, so I had it tied up in a loose messy bun with a few pieces framing my face. Ino always said it gave me an 'I-just-got-laid' look, but seriously it was just the easiest to do.

We reached our lockers just as the bell rang signalling first class. I had art again, which meant more pestering from Kurenai. I was very happy that she thought so highly of my work, but a no is a no. I had been working on making my sketch of the now titled 'angel of shadows' into a canvas painting. Kurenai hovered like bees around honey. It was a little irritating, I only chose the Art elective because I thought it would be a nice subject to relax in. Instead, I am annoyed the whole lesson by Kurenai's eyes on my work.

Oh well, nothing I could do about it. My artwork was what attracted him to me in the first place. It was something that just came naturally to me.

Thankfully the lesson went faster considering there was going to be an assembly at the end of the day, so it cut a good 10 minutes off each 1 hour lesson. Kurenai actually left me alone for the lesson, instead helping someone in the front who had spilt paint all down their clothes. Haha, sucker.

Walking from the class to English, which I had with Hinata and Kiba who sat on my right at the back, I could feel eyes burning a hole through my skull. I inconspicuously tilted my head and used the corner of my eyes to see who it was as I stopped at my locker. That quick look saved my skin. A large fist was flying towards me, aiming on smashing me into my locker. I quickly dropped to all fours and throw out my leg in a sweep, catching the person off guard and slamming them to the ground. Blonde hair was all I had to see before I launched myself to my feet and got in a defensive stance, my books long forgotten splayed all over the floor.

She looked like she was about to attack again before Karin pushed herself through the crowd and gripped her wrist, her voice coming out in hisses. I didn't know why Raku had attacked me, she would have her chance this Thursday. She just had to wait 2 days until she had her chance. Maybe she hated me that much, pfft. I watched as Karin yanked her away and into a close-by classroom. Raku's eyes never left my own expressionless ones. Hers portrayed hatred and the promise of pain, while mine just held boredom. She could have at least given me a bit more of a challenge before being led away. I really felt like hitting someone.

The crowd quickly dispersed with well-aimed glares from yours truly. I wasn't an animal at the zoo for them all to gawk at. Realising no one was going to help me I quickly dropped to my knee's, cursing as I realised I was going to be late to English. My binder had opened on impact so there were papers covering a good side of the hallway. I reached for my notes for Human Biology, not realising someone was already reaching for them, and our hands collided. I looked up to see smiling cerulean eyes. Naruto.

"Tough break, hey Sakura?" He asked as he helped me pick up my books. Now we were the only two in the deserted hallway.

"She has issues," I simply replied to him, blowing some hair out of my face as I stood, throwing all my stuff into my locker. He placed the ones he had in his hands into the locker and then walked me to my English class.

"Come sit with us at lunch," he stated sharply, his eyes now filled with an emotion I couldn't name.

"Naruto, I –"

"That wasn't a request," and with that he walked away. Strange.

I wonder what's up with Naruto. They probably just wanted to talk about Hinata. I would have preferred to just move on with life and have them never know it was me who found Hinata and drove her to the hospital. Have them believe a small orange leprechaun magicked her there on a rainbow for all I care. Then again, I did want to know about Hinata's condition; how bad it was and if she had woken up.

With that mindset in mind I made my way to the cafeteria fully intent on facing the problem head on. I called a hurried "I have to go do something" over my shoulder to Ino before I barrelled into the cafeteria, grabbed a tray, some fruit and a water and slammed it down at their table, scaring the bijeezus out of a sleeping Shikamaru.

"Ok, what do you want?" I got right to the point.

"Happy little sunshine aren't you, little princess?" A deep voice from behind me identified who it was even before Chicken-butt took the seat next to me, spreading out his legs in a comfortable casual position.

"I don't beat around the bush. If you have something to say to me then say it." I wasn't going to tiptoe around the fact that they all knew I had been there last night. They didn't know what happened and so they came to me.

"Hinata hasn't woken up yet," Neji's quick voice broke the silence. My expression didn't change even though inside I was worried. "I want to know what happened last night, and you're going to tell me."

"… The cheerleaders attacked her. I didn't get there fast enough." I took my seat, getting comfortable as I knew there would be more questions. I just had to leave Karin and I's little deal out. "There was about 20 of them just surrounding her. I ran as fast as I could, but they had obviously been at it for a while." I stuck up my hand when he went to speak. "I don't know why they attacked her, maybe they just like preying on the weak, you will never be able to get any real evidence. She'll get avenged, don't you worry. They won't be touching her after Thursday." I smiled to lighten to mood, but all I got in return was sad and curious looks of anger.

"What's happening Thursday?" Ino's voice was laced with displeasure as her tray was placed next to mine. "You're not getting into another fight are you?" I was shocked. Completely and utterly gobsmacked at her attitude.

"Ino? Wh-what are you –"

"Do you ever once think about me when you punch someone in the face? Or when you put someone in the hospital and therefore we have to move school, once again? I was happy in Suna! Why can't you just let me graduate with my friends?" By now the entire cafeteria had quietened to listen to Ino's outburst. I could feel tears at the corner of my eyes from her betrayal, but she was right.

"Why didn't you ever say anything?" My voice was hardly above a whisper, trying to make all the busy bodies understand that I didn't want to be heard.

"What, and have your wrath turn on me instead?" She scoffed. I had never seen her so… mean before.

"After all those times I protected you, how could you think I would hit you?" I was aware of everyone at the table's eyes on me, but couldn't tear my own gaze away from Ino's hate-filled one.

"You never know, you almost killed your ex-boyfriend didn't you? You're capable of anything." I knew as soon as she said it she regretted it. I could see it in her eyes, but the damage had already been done. I felt a part of my heart harden at her words. Without a sound I stood so that I was nose to nose with her, her breath wafting over my face in a puff of mint and grape.

"I can't believe you just said that to me." I just walked away, calling over my shoulder, "I've lost my appetite, I'll talk to you later Hyuuga." And I took whatever little pride I had left and walked out.