If you read my collection fic, Vicissitude, this will look familiar. I've decided to transfer those chapters (63 and 64) to its own fic, since it will most likely exceed three installments. All additions will now be posted here only. Thanks for all of the wonderful readers/reviewers who enjoyed the idea so much they inspired me to write more!
The original idea was an AU prompt from Tumblr: characters are dragged to the same inane events by mutual friends
Disclaimer: I don't own anything.
"Wow, what are the odds we're both at the same party again?"
Neji almost rolls his eyes, but decides not to give her the satisfaction. He raises an eyebrow at her instead.
"Right. Clearly the universe is sending us a sign," he responds drily, taking a swig from his beer.
Tenten's painted red lips pull into a grin. Neji can't deny that she looks pretty tonight—though why she felt the need to dress up for this fiasco of a Fourth of July barbecue he will never know.
She elbows him in the ribs. "Come on, you're supposed to be happy. We are celebrating independence after all."
Neji sends her a dull glare.
"This isn't even our holiday. We're not even in America."
Tenten shrugs. "It's entertainment, okay? Besides, it was Ino's idea. Ever since she spent that semester abroad I think she thinks she's American anyway."
They both look over to the blonde, who is dressed in a white top and cutoff jeans, her hair tied back in a red bandanna.
"Ino conned you here, didn't she?" Neji accuses, looking back to the brunette.
Tenten rolls her eyes. "How'd you know?"
"Because out of everyone here, you're the only one who comes close to being as annoyed as me by these stupid things."
"Duties of friendship," is her crisp response.
Summer had officially only started a month or so, not that this meant anything to the assembled Japanese students. They still had studying to do, papers to write, etc. No rest for the studious, and all that.
Except the fact that this year, there had been an increase in the number of get-togethers instituted by their friends.
Neji glances at Tenten, who's verbally trying to decide if she wants to risk getting dessert before dinner has officially been served. He and Tenten were not friends—they were mutual acquaintances through friends. They'd even gone to school together, but Neji doesn't really remember anything about her, except for that one time she accidentally set a classroom on fire during a festival day. They went to different universities—Neji to the esteemed technology-focused college in the middle of the city, and Tenten to a rival university across town. Other than that, he didn't know much about her, other than that they had been consistently dragged to the same parties for weeks now.
Tenten walks back over to him, inconspicuously holding a plate of cake. She glances over her shoulder, to see if she's been spotted. Neji wants to point out to her that if she had, Ino would have already descended upon her, squawking in her ear, but refrains. She's just covering her bases.
"This is good. Wanna try?" She holds the fork out to him, but Neji wrinkles his nose. Tenten grins.
"I can see why we're not friends," she tells him, surveying the party with sharp eyes.
Neji stares at her.
"It's because we have different friend groups, clearly for good reason," Neji answers, gesturing to Ino.
Tenten tilts her head at him and sends him an annoyed expression. "That's not funny. She's a good friend of mine."
"Because otherwise you wouldn't be here," Neji states.
She faces him, placing a hand on her hip. "You know why we're really not friends? It's because you're an ass."
And with that, she stalks away, joining the crowd.
Neji doesn't understand why, but it puts him in a decidedly bad mood for the rest of the evening.
"Oh, great. You're here."
It is August and the school term is about to resume. This is the last hurrah before they're all buried in work.
Neji stares at her and narrows his eyes. "I was invited," he says, gesturing to Naruto. "Why are you here?"
"Neji! Don't be rude to my guests!" Naruto calls from a few feet away, his blue eyes darting back and forth between them. "Tenten is good friends with Sakura-chan."
Neji looks at Tenten. "Of course she is."
Tenten glares back at him and rises from her spot.
"What are you doing?" Neji asks.
"Running away from your bad energy," Tenten calls over her shoulder.
Neji deliberates for a second, before following her into Naruto's kitchen. She is in the middle of popping a cookie into her mouth when he walks in. Neji smirks.
"What is it with you and stealing desserts?"
Tenten rolls her eyes. "Why are you pestering me?"
Neji leans against the doorpost and sighs, hating himself for the words about to come out of his mouth.
"I'm sorry. For what I said the last time I saw you."
"Why?" Tenten says, breaking another cookie in half.
"Because I was a jerk."
Tenten narrows her eyes at him, but waves her hand in dismissal.
"Fine. No hard feelings, alright?"
Neji nods.
Tenten studies him for a second before handing him the other half of the cookie. He takes it, trying not to see it as anything other than a dessert. But he looks at her, and he knows and she knows that it is much more than a cookie. It is an extended peace offering, an offer of friendship—maybe.
Tenten raises an eyebrow at him and smirks, before brushing by him, leaving him in the kitchen alone.
In the silence of the room, Neji considers it before consuming the cookie.
When she sees him she's surprised. Honestly, Neji is surprised too.
"You're at my school," Tenten says, walking over to him slowly.
She's bundled up warmly against the winter weather. Her boots have ducks on them. She's so weird, Neji thinks absently.
"It seems that I am," Neji responds, tugging down on his toboggan to cover the tips of his ears.(1)
Tenten stares up at him, waiting for an explanation.
"Are you free?" Neji asks, feeling his Adam's apple bob as he swallows nervously.
Tenten continues to stare. "Right now?"
Neji nods.
"Uh . . . yeah. But why? Why are you here, Neji?"
"It's cold."
Tenten chuckles. "Um, yeah, I know. But I doubt you traveled all the way here just to tell me that."
Neji doesn't want to say it because it's embarrassing and really—they're not even friends. But he hasn't been able to stop thinking about her ever since that damned cookie.
Neji decides to just say it, so he can get past this excruciating cycle of questions.
"I want you to go out with me. On a date."
Tenten's eyes widen a little, but her expression remains confused.
"O—kay?" she says.
She moves forward and loops her arm through his, stuffing her hands in her jacket pockets.
"Where to?"
Neji looks down at her, bewildered.
"Seriously? It was that easy?" he asks.
Tenten makes a face. "Not really. . . I'm still going to need an explanation. But it is cold. You can escort me to my dorm while we negotiate."
Neji smiles and proceeds to tell her about the cookie, keeping the whole fate thing to himself. Tenten takes all of this in silence, and when they reach her dorm's front door, she pulls out her card-key.
She assesses Neji and then says, "I accept your reasoning. You can pick me up tomorrow at eight."
She waves, and opens the door, slipping inside and charging up the stairs without a look back to him.
Neji turns away, still slightly puzzled, but pleased with the turn of events. Who knew those stupid parties would have been good for something?
(1) Small note here: It's come to my attention that not everyone uses the word "toboggan" the same. Apparently, most people in the States use it to refer to a sled. However, in the South, we've always used it in reference to a knit cap you wear in the winter. So—regional differences for you there.
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