Define "Functional" Family

Chapter 3: Friendships

Manga here...to be honest, I wonder if I can call myself that anymore. I can't get onto my account if I wanted to. Still, it has a nice ring to it, so I guess I will keep it. Anyway, I don't own Naruto, that honor belongs to the amazing Masashi Kishimoto. Enjoy dear readers, by which I mean Sam :D

*Manga pov*

Did Sam just...did she just leave me here?! In the middle of the schoolyard?! By myself?! Surrounded by people I didn't know and I'm pretty sure who already knew and or feared Sam and I?!

Okay, so our location was actually at a table in a secluded spot of the schoolyard, and if I were to be honest, not a lot of kids were located around us. Instead, they were staring at this kind of annoying looking black-haired kid. What was the deal with that anyway? I don't really care...I just want Sam to get back. I can't take being left alone. I'm not like Sam. 

I have no confidence. I'm the weak one. That's why dad always makes sure I'm at least with Sam. 

Everyone always assumes that I stick with Sam because I can talk our way out of situations or, if I am lucky, I can persuade Sam to not do something drastic. The real reason is more pathetic, though: I can't be left alone in public. Dad has never admitted it, but I think that he is afraid I will fall victim to another kidnapping if I am by myself. Sometimes I think Sam wonders about that too. 

Still, I wanted to make friends with people. My sister is the best person ever, but I can't hold her down forever. It's just...all these people look really, well...

Turning my head, stared at these two bickering girls hovering near the raven-haired boy. One had blonde hair and the other had pink hair. Neither looked friendly. Risking a glance at the center of attention, I see that he is not someone I would get along with. Emotionless and unempathetic to those around him didn't exactly make for friend material. 

Frowning, I turned back to my lunch and decided to look for friends another day. Suddenly, I felt my body stiffen itself. Someone was close to me.

I sharply turned to where I felt the presence was and saw a fidgeting purple-haired girl standing a few feet away from me. She touched her fingertips together every so often and kept her eyes off to the side or on the ground. She seemed pretty shy. 

Could it be? A potential friend appeared?!

"U-um...I see t-that you are a-alone. You're t-the new kid, right? Haley-san?" the girl spoke timidly, her voice faint. 

"Yeah. M-my dad thought that Sam and I should go to school. Well, technically hokage-sama did...b-but we are good kids! Just not very social. I mean, Sam is, but I just don't do well with people. It seems like every time I talk to someone the first time, I either clam up or just start ranting about the most useless things, like nature or something. Oh, but speaking of nature, did you know there is a lot of symbolism in books about nature? If you pay attention to some nature elements in books, sometimes you can see a foreshadowing coming. Plus-" I began to rant, stopping the moment I realized what I was doing.

I felt my cheeks heat up and I buried my face behind my hands, resisting the urge to scream into them. 

This. This is why you don't have friends Haley!! 

"You, um, you can walk away if you want. O-or I can. I'm really sorry," I muttered, beginning to get up from the table. 

Sam would be angry when she found out I gave up our spot, but she would end up understanding after my explanation on how. Well, she wouldn't understand, but she would at least go with it. She's awesome. Horrifying and destructive, sure, but awesome.