Chapter 1:

Come Again?

I was nervous.

Extremely nervous.

Today was the first day back to school. I stepped off the bus, looked around at my highschool, Hidden Leaf highschool. I was walking toward the front door when I heard a high pitched shriek.

"Heyyyyyy Hinata!" I turned around to see Ino running toward me with outstretched arms which I knew held a bone crushing hug.

"Hey!" Ino said, crushing me as I well predicted.

"Hey Ino…you look really nice today!" I said, trying my best to breathe. She had her blonde hair out with a blue butterfly clip holding up her outrageously long bangs. She wore a black tank top, under a midnight blur cardigan and black skinnies. Her boots came up to her mid-calf and came to a point at the toe.

She pulled back and scanned me from head to toe. I didn't want to have too much attention drawn to me so I wore a lavendar purple button up with some straight-leg dark denim jeans.

"Wow you look great!" Ino shouted. "Is that a little (gasp) mascara and eyeliner I see?"

It was true; there was a little mascara on my eye lashes and some eyeliner. Ever since Naruto told me my eyes were, in his exact words, "Really, really pretty!" I had started using mascara on my eyelashes and eyeliner to make them pop. (As if they already don't because they are a lavender color, but whatever.)

"And this hair! Where did all of it come from?" A hand stroked through my luscious dark locks. I had finally let my hair grow out because I felt as though my bob-cut phase was coming to close. I was 16 for goodness sakes! I had to get myself together!

I turned around to see who had said that. It my other good friend, Tenten. I gasped. I almost didn't recognize Tenten with her hair…down!

"WOW, Tenten you look awesome…can't believe your hair is down!" Ino said.

"Hey, I figured it was my last school year, and why not come with a new look." Tenten said running her fingers through her chocolate brown hair and tossing it behind her shoulder.

Tenten was a senior and was a quite stunning one at that. Her wavy chocolate hair wasn't her only eye-catching attribute. Her body had matured and she sure liked to show it. She had a form fitting plain golden yellow sweater dress on with a brown waist belt. Her brown stockings and golden flats worked with her ensemble. We were all chatting when we heard a familiar greeting.

"Hey, Hey guys!" We turned and saw a flash of pink running toward us. Sakura ran up and hugged us all.

"Oh hey Sakura!" Everyone greeted. Sakura was beautiful and she knew it. She wore a green turtle-neck that hugged her curves and the tightest light-blue jeans that I ever saw. he hair was pulled back into a side pony tail that hung over her right shoulder.

"Oh, Hinata, some make-up, I see! What inspired you…Naruto, I presume?" Sakura smirked.

I blushed and turned away, not answering the question. This was also true. I had done a complete make-over, hoping Naruto would notice and he would eventually see me more than just a friend. Ever since he told me I looked best in purple, the purple section of my closet grew considerably.

"No, it's just…uhhh…a new thing I'm trying?" I said, hoping it sounded as convincing as it did in my head. Everyone smirked at me…

It didn't….

"Ooooookkkkkk….surrrrrrre you did…"

"That's what they all say."

"You keep telling yourself that."

We all giggled and walked into the school.

Ino, Sakura and I walked toward our classroom because we had homeroom together. We walked in, and observed the people in the classroom to see who we would sit with. I looked around and then I spotted him…Naruto. He was sitting in the back with Sasuke, Shikamaru and Kiba.

Over the summer Naruto and I had grown very close…in our friendship of course. We had spent a lot of time alone together and even had a heart-to-heart…you know, when you start talking about the personal things and memories in your life. I'll always remember that because he said what his requirements were before he could have a relationship with someone…1) Someone who would always treat him with kindness, 2) He had to make sure it would last by having a strong friendship with them first, 3) An honest person, 4) They had to be pretty or at least attractive in some way and last but not least 5) Who would be loyal to him and only him for as long they were together. After he told me that, I strived to meet all those requirements…and no, I'm not an obsessive stalker…I'm just very determined.

We made our way toward the back of the classroom and sat in the row in front of them.

"Hey Hinata, Ino and Sakura!" Naruto shouted.

"Gosh, Naruto, why are you so loud! We're right here!" Sakura yelled.

"Sorry Sakura…" Naruto whimpered away from Sakura.

"Well anyway, hey Sasukeee…" Sakura said, batting her eye lashes.

"Hey…Sakura…" Sasuke said, smirking at her.

I watched Sakura and Sasuke as they began to flirt. Everyone knows that Sakura has liked Sasuke for years but its waaaaay obvious that Sasuke is nothing but a big flirt. It's like that verb commercial that tries to make kids more active like: Verb, it's what you do except in Sasuke's case, it's how he makes girls go crazy for him like: Flirt, it's what he does.

I then took note of Naruto's gloomy facial expression. It must suck for Naruto to have such an attractive friend because Sasuke gets all the female attention…all, except mine. My attention is especially reserved for Naruto because Sasuke's little games and flirtatious nature never moved me like the other girls.

Naruto then turned toward me and smiled. I blushed and looked down. I still haven't broken that habit…well at least I don't stutter anymore.

"Hey Hinata…" Naruto grinned.

"Hey Naruto…" I said looking down and fumbling with my fingers.

"Ha, Hinata, you always look so nervous! Look how red you are! Is it because it's the first day of high school?" Naruto asked his face in a puzzled expression.

"Yeah Naruto it is…" I lied...I couldn't tell him it was because he made me so nervous, though you'd think he would've picked that up by now.

"You know you look really pretty today!" Naruto complimented. "See I told you purple was a good color for you! I may wear orange everyday, but I still know something 'bout color!"

"Oh thank you…" I was so ecstatic. Naruto had complimented me on how pretty I was! I guess the my mini make-over was working.

Naruto's gaze soon shifted over to Sasuke and Sakura whispering to each other and Sakura giggling. He frowned and then turned his attention towards Hinata.

"Hinata, move closer…" he said beckoning me with his hand.

I was in shock so I just looked at him. My mouth was open and I pray that drool didn't come out. Naruto just watched me stare at him in shock.

"Fine, I'll move closer…" he said moving his chair toward me.

Naruto then bent over and got close to my ear. I felt his warm breath and instantly turned red.

"Hinataaa…"

I was getting more and more light-headed as I felt him move closer to me.

"I have to talk to you after school about something really important…ok?" Naruto asked. I felt his lips brush against my ear. I couldn't tell if it was on purpose or not.

"O-Ok N-N-Naruto…" I said fanning myself. "Damn, the stutter is back…" I thought to myself angrily.

"Alright, good! Meet me at the back of the school near the gym." he winked, and moved away to talk to Sasuke.

I was turning back to my natural skin color, and was on the last shade of pale pink when Ino plopped down on a chair and scared me back up to red.

"Sooooooo….what was all that about?" She asked moving her eyes back and forth between me and Naruto.

"Well…it was nothing…" I said looking away bashfully.

"Well it must have been a whoooooole lot of nothing since he got you fanning yourself…" Ino said with her mischievous smirk.

"Shut up, Ino!" I said grinning. "All he said was that he wanted to tell me something after school…"

"Ohhh! Don't tell me your lil' make-over worked all ready!" Ino said laughing.

"I don't know, but I really hope so Ino. See now I can't wait for after school!" I said laughing.

I looked over at Sakura and Sasuke and saw Sakura heading over toward us. I guess Sakura heard all the laughter and had to come over.

"Sooo, what'd I miss, what'd I miss?" Sakura asked looking at Ino and me.

"Oh just a whooole lot of nothing between Naruto and Hinata…" Ino said, her laughter turning into giggles.

I grinned at Sakura and told her what he said.

"Oh! That's great Hinata! You'll finally get Naruto!" Sakura said smiling, but it wasn't too re-assuring.

"Is there something wrong Sakura?" Ino asked.

"No…well…it's just Sasuke. You know how he flirts a whole lot with me? I just really wish he would like me…you know? Well I can never tell 'cause he's such a big flirt…"

Then her gaze shifted to where Sasuke and Naruto were currently talking. She sighed and looked at me.

"Well you can never tell what's going on in a person's head…We can only hope whatever it is, it's for the best…" Sakura said and then walked to her seat.


I went to my locker and inhaled deeply…

I was going to meet Naruto at the gym…

This was my moment of truth…

This was it…

I started walking toward the gym. I stopped by my reflection and made sure my eyeliner didn't fade. I smoothed my shirt and fumbled around with my hair, trying to go for that Oh-look-how-naturally-sexy-I-am look. I finished with my appearance and opened the gym door. It was dark, but a ray of light shined through the window where I saw Naruto. I was ecstatic to see his jagged blonde hair and his orange T-shirt there, showing off his intensely toned arms. He turned, gave me his signature grin and started waving to me.

My heart skipped a beat.

"Hey Hinata!" Naruto said when I was within earshot.

"Hey Naruto, what was it that you wanted to tell me?" I asked.

"Welllllll, seeing as you and me have been friends for a while; I think I can trust you with this secret…" Naruto said as he started moving closer to me. "Hinataaa…" Naruto said, whispering into my ear again.

I felt my face heat up instantly. He was so close. My mind instantly conjured images of him placing his lips on mine.

"I really like…" Naruto said pausing for dramatic affect.

I started getting light-headed as I was waiting to hear the name I was sure was mine.

"Sakuraaa."

I instantly regained consciousness. I stood in silence as I stared into Naruto's piercing blue eyes. I didn't say a word.

I couldn't believe it.

"Umm…Hinata?"

"Come again?" I said hoping I had heard wrong.

"I said that I liked Sakura…" Naruto said blushing. He looked away and then back at me.

The reality of it all hit me. Naruto…likes…Sakura continued to play in my head repeatedly like a horribly scratched, broken record. My face was turning flushed pink…

"S-So why are y-you telling me?" I asked pulling back from Naruto. I felt the anger, sadness and disappointment fill me.

"Well seeing as you're her best friend, maybe you could help me hook up with her or something…you know, ask her if she likes me." Naruto asked, not registering at all my shocked disposition.

"Why in the HELL would I want to help you hook up with my friend! How can you not see how much I like you! How can you not see that she's in love with Sasuke?" I thought angrily.

"Ummm…I've got to go." I pivoted and ran out the gym.

"HINATA! WAIT! PLEASE! WHAT'S WRONG?" Naruto screamed after me. I heard his shouts until I left the school building.

When I saw Ino, Sakura and Tenten waiting outside they were shocked to see me red-faced and tears streaming down.

"Hinat—"

"Nothing is wrong. I'm fine. Please leave me alone." I said as I stormed past them.

But, boy was there something wrong. The boy I liked soooo much had just declared his love for my best friend. I felt as though my heart was broken and the pieces were swirling down into an empty, dark, vastness of space…and I don't think anyone could retrieve it…

(A/N: Yes some of the characters are DEFINITELY OOC…you can probably tell that…I mean, a semi-nice, flirtatious Sasuke? What is the world coming too? Please read and Review so I know whether I should continue or not.)

ObnoxiouslyFunny : P