Welcome to the Club

Night and Dance

The ride to the club was a bit tense, to say the least. I had expected it to be just me and Sakura, but she had failed to mention to me that she would be bringing Sai and Ino. I was ok with Ino to a degree because she was Sakura's friend, but Sai just creeps me out, if I'm honest. There's something about the predatory way he looks at some of the guys at our school that makes me feel slightly uncomfortable, no that's bullshit, it's fucking weird.
Thankfully, though, Sai never gives me that look. He probably finds me too popular for his liking. If that's the only pro that comes with being popular, I'll take all the cons that come with it any day. Damn.
"So, does Sasuke know about the two dancers?" Ino asks from the back seat.
"Yeah, she sent me a video," I answer for Sakura, knowing that she is more focused on not hitting the bikers on the side of the road.
"Aren't they good? And to think that they don't even get paid," Ino marvels.
I raise an eyebrow and turn to look at her. "They don't get paid?"
"Nope. They do all that for free."
"I imagine the owner or someone in the higher ups will figure out that they're the reason for the sudden increase in customers and figure out a way to pay them back. Maybe give them free drinks after they perform," Sai speculates calmly, never taking his eyes off of the window.
"Actually, I think that's already been done," Sakura speaks up. "I always see them getting drinks, but I never see them pay. Maybe the owner already noticed."
"How long have they been performing, anyways?" I ask to anyone who is listening.
"Three weeks. This will be their fourth show," Sakura tells me.
"Does anyone know their names?" Sai smirks and I mentally flinch.
"The redhead is called Gaara. He takes care of the blonde when he gets too drunk," Sakura explains.
The look appears on Sai's face and I look away.
"What does the blonde do when he's drunk?" Sai asks mischievously.
"Lose balance and talk louder," Sakura answers curtly, undoubtedly understanding what Sai was getting at.
Sai just playfully pouts in his seat. "Awe, that's no fun."
"It's not meant to be," Ino says with a role of her eyes.
Sai mimics her actions with a smile, but says nothing more.
Thankful, I return my gaze to the window, watching all of the unfamiliar buildings pass. I know if my mom was here with me, she'd scold me for not recognizing such important and everyday buildings like everyone else in the city did. It brings a slight smile to my face when I think of her, but I'd never admit it out loud.
"Alright, so we'll be staying for two hours, that way everyone can get home by their curfew," Sakura announces and we sit silently the rest of the way there.
"We're here!" Ino and Sakura shout in unison, snapping me out of my thoughts.
I look around just in time to see the glowing sign reading "Night and Dance" before we turn into a parking spot facing away from the club. Everyone hurriedly scrambles out of the car except for me, and I wait for Sakura to drag me out, which she does very quickly.
"You are going to have a good time tonight. We're not leaving until you get at least one person's number," she tells me and I let out a very uncharacteristic whine.
"Since when was that a thing?"
"Since now," Ino laughs, holding the door open for everyone.
As soon as I step in, the smell of sweat, smoke, and alcohol fills my nose and I slightly cringe away. It takes both Ino and Sakura to push me in and once the door closes, a song comes on over speakers. It was bad enough with all the pounding voices, but now I have to deal with the base too?
"Have fun," Sakura coos before walking away with Ino.
I make to walk after her, but quickly lose her in the crowd. I turn around and sigh, realizing that I had just been left alone with Sai. Well, at least, as alone as you can be in a club.
"Do you know when they're gonna start dancing?" Sai yells over the crowd and I shake my head.
"I know just as much as you do," I yell back.
He shrugs and half walks, half dances to the bar where he starts talking to a guy with blonde hair sitting by himself. I tilt my head. There's something about the guy that looks familiar...
Sai turns to me quickly and winks before continuing his conversation and I automatically know that it's the dancer that comes every Friday. I push through the crowd and make my way over to the two before stopping behind the blonde and Sai.
"Who's this?" I ask Sai innocently, smirking at the glare he sends my way.
The blonde looks over at me and smiles just as brightly as he did in the video before telling me that his name is Naruto.
I stick a hand out politely and tell him my name before sitting next to him, blocking Sai.
"Do you two know each other?" Naruto asks, taking a sip of the water that he had ordered.
I inwardly groan. "Sadly," I accidentally say out loud.
Naruto busts out laughing and Sai gives me a look that could kill.
"The hell do you mean?"
"We both know that neither of us can stand each other," I admit, knowing that the damage was already done, so I don't bother holding back.
"Damn, I'll let you two handle that," Naruto laughs, making a motion with his finger that resembled a tornado.
"No, it's fine. He's just joking," Sai lies cheerily.
Naruto raises an eyebrow at me and though I say yes, I use my hand to go over my throat, making it obvious that I was not joking. He smiles and makes a show of looking around before his eyes stop at the door and glisten with recognition.
I turn around to see what he is looking at to come face to face with the one known as Gaara, who is sending Sai and me an unwanting glare.
"Who are you?" he asks in a cold voice.
Naruto stands up with a smile before wrapping an arm around Gaara. "Get that stick out your ass, man. This is Sai and Sasuke," he says, pointing to us individually.
Gaara's scowl lessens a little and he holds his hand out for us to shake. "I'm Gaara."
"So I've heard," Sai smiles. "You two are quite famous around here."
Naruto blushes and Gaara looks down at the ground. "We're just two guys who're bored out of our minds and like to dance," Naruto explains, scratching the back of his head sheepishly. He removes his arm from around Gaara before smiling and wrapping his arms around me and Sai. "And you two should both lighten up a bit. Grab a drink or two. The show is about to start."
I gulp as he walks towards the DJ with Gaara in tow and look over at Sai who is staring at them with the look.
"Now why the fuck would you go say that shit when I'm trying to land a night in bed? Cockblock," Sai says angrily once the two disappear in the crowd.
"Because you don't need a night in bed, Sai, and I doubt the guy could even defend himself!" I argue.
"That's the point, Sasuke!"
"I'm not letting you rape anyone, idiot! That's fucking wrong!"
"Who said it wouldn't have been consensual?" Sai asks.
"You're impossible!" I yell, throwing my hands up into the air. I walk away as fast as I can, looking for Sakura so I could tell her that I was leaving. As I spotted the pink hair, though, I think about Sai being left alone with the two guys and suddenly, my will to stay returns.
I turn away from Sakura who's dancing with some upperclassmen that I recognize as one of Neji's friends. Lee, I think his name is.
"Alright, people, here comes the song you've all been waiting for," the DJ announces and everyone begins to cheer. I assume that means that Naruto and Gaara are about to perform and my suspicions are confirmed as everyone steps away from the middle of the dance floor, leaving plenty of room for the two to dance. I push my way to the front, earning a few angered shouts and wait as the DJ announces the song.
"Alright, so tonight, these two fine young men will be dancing to Faded, the Young Bombs remix."
I don't listen to much EDM, but even I recognize the song name Faded and I guess everyone else does too because more cheers erupt from the crowd.
As I watch the two dance, I pay attention to the lyrics and realize that they are actually following them, creating a smooth yet somehow random visual. When the base drops after the chorus, their moves suddenly become more heated and quick and before anyone knew what had happened, Naruto had flipped into the air, landing back on his feet as Gaara spins him around as if they were dancing in a ballroom. This earns a huge amount of applause, but they keep dancing as if no one was watching.
It truly amazes me that they are doing all of this in the first place, but to not even get paid for it? That's what gets the claps from me.
As the song ends, the two take a bow and everyone comes rushing to them, asking for pictures and the like. I find myself get pushed towards them and before I know it, I knock straight into Gaara. Instead of him snapping like I thought he would, though, he just looks at me with a half smile.
"Having fun?" he laughs.
"Who knew you of all people could smile?" I answer with another question.
He just shrugs. "I'm human too, dattebayo."
"That was so much fun!" Naruto yells, turning to face me and Gaara. "I was scared I was gonna miss the flip so bad."
"You practiced way too long to mess that up," Gaara reassures him, even though he had already done it right.
"You two were great," I tell them. "This is the first time I've gone to a club and that show kinda made it worth it."
They both raise their eyebrows and laugh. "What kind of guy your age doesn't go to clubs?" Naruto jokes.
I roll my eyes. "Me."
Gaara places a hand on my shoulder. "Hey, if it weren't for these shows, I'd be at home all year, too. I do hope to see you next week, though."
"Oh, for sure," Naruto agrees happily, shaking off some random girl who asked for a fourth picture with him. 
"I don't know," I sigh. "This just really isn't my environment."
Naruto pouts a lot like Sai did on the way here, only this time I can actually look at him without the urge to throw up. "But you're like one of the only people who talk to us that isn't either creepy, a fangirl, or rude," he counts off with his fingers.
Gaara seems to agree, shrugging his shoulders. "It's hard to find good people at a club."
"Well, yeah. No shit, Sherlock," I say sarcastically.
Gaara rolls his eyes and Naruto lets out a huff. "Don't talk to my friend like that, teme!"
"I can do what I want, dobe," I smirk.
Gaara laughs and holds Naruto back from hitting me. "Call me that again, you bastard!"
"Get that stick out of your ass, Naruto," Gaara mocks him playfully.
Naruto and I bust out laughing, both of us knowing that the argument that just occurred was not serious.
After a few more jokes and some playful banter, Sakura approaches me, announcing that it's time to go. It surprises me that I spent two hours here and yet didn't drink anything. It also surprises me how easy it is to talk to the two dancers without having a drink to loosen me up a bit.
Naruto and Gaara bid me a cheerful, albeit disappointed goodbye and I do the same in return.
When the four of us are back in the car, Sakura squeals happily. "Sasuke, you were talking to the dancers! How are  they? What are they like?"
I sink a little into my seat, feeling Sai's eyes burning a hole in my head. "They're fun. We mainly just joked around."
"Wow, the infamously stoic Sasuke Uchiha joking with someone?" Ino joked half heartedly. "Who would have guessed?"
"I mean, it was fun. They're just your average young adults, teens, whatever you want to call them," I ramble.
"Yeah, but you hardly get along with people that fast. In fact, I'm pretty sure that's the quickest you have ever made friends," Sakura points out. "Just wait until your mom hears about this."
I roll my eyes and fake discomfort, knowing I'll be forced to go again next week. On the inside, though, I can't help but feel as if all that noise and smoke is worth gaining a few friends like them. Of course, I would never show that mindset willingly, so I ride in silence until Sakura drops me off at my house.
I walk up to the front door with a bit of a skip in my step, and I begin to wonder if maybe I did drink something without remembering. Uchiha's don't get this happy over potential friends, right?