7/7/7 is just about my favorite date ever, because 7 is one of my lucky numbers, so I'm starting this, my new story today! It's called The Four Phases, about the four phases of a crush which are:

Denial

Rage

Neutrality

Acceptance

The couple, like usual, is NejiTen, with some NaruHina, maybe more in later chapters. (Keyword is maybe.) This hasn't been beta-ed or anything, so I'm sorry for any grammar or spelling mistakes that I might have made. Now on to the story!

The Four Phases: Phase One: Denial

Tenten never had a particularly large number of female friends. That's why when a couple years back, Sakura had invited her to a sleepover with Ino and Hinata, she accepted, with the knowledge that they would surely make some crazy accusations. Of course, she was a little afraid of the girls, so she brought a couple of kunai, some shuriken, a katana or two and various other weapons that were in scrolls scattered across her person.

When the girls pulled off her jacket (it was January at the time) and found three large sealing scrolls, to say they were slightly shocked was just about the understatement of the century.

After that little mishap, they still, for some odd reason, kept inviting her and for some odder reason, (or so many thought) she kept coming. Spending time with Neji and Lee was fun, but every now and again she liked to talk to people of the same gender.

The girls chatted, gossiped, did hair, did makeup, giggled, guffawed, and much more, always at the spacious Hyuuga compound. There was one sleepover a month, every month, day depending on who-was-where-when.

They really had become close friends over those last three and a half years. Well, close enough that Sakura and Ino were able to confront her very bluntly on a subject most were too scared to think about bringing up.

"Tennie?" Sakura asked quietly with mischievous undertones while looking down at her friend laying on the ground, flipping through a magazine, the epitome of a serene, happy teenage girl. "What are your thoughts of Neji-san?" Hearing the name of her team mate, previously mentioned brunette lifted her head lazily to look the green eyed kunoichi in the eye.

"He's a very nice person, if slightly cold. Is there a reason for this, Saku?" She smiled brightly until the end of the second sentence, when she narrowed her eyes and her smile became demonic. The other girls (Ino and Hinata) stood next to Sakura to circle her.

"Well, Tennie," Ino started, "we were merely curious. After all, we know you're crushing on somebody…"

"How did you infer that?" the weapons mistress interrupted, with a slight mood. "I haven't said anything on the subject."

"R-Remember that chain letter I sent you? The one that said the stuff about colors relating to your romantic state?" Hinata said. When Tenten shook her head 'no,' she brought out a copy of the said document that went like this:

From: (part disabled because of possible virus. For more information click here)

Sent: Sunday, June 9, 5:44 PM

To: (more)

Subject: FW: Fwd: Fw: Fwd: White

This is really cute! Keep passing it on! Choose the color that represents you romantically. If you aren't honest, you'll have bad luck for the rest of your life!

Pink: Taken and happy

Lime Green: Taken and not satisfied

Forest Green: Taken and uncaring

Orange: Taken and breaking up

Yellow: Single and loving it

Navy: Single and hating it

Black: Single and unsure how to feel

Gray: Single and uncaring

Baby blue: Single and in love

White: Single with feelings that you aren't sure of

Indigo: Single and crushing

Send this to at least three of your closest friends with in the hour to avoid eternal relationship problems. For every extra person you send it to, that's a little bit more luck for you!

Tenten scowled. "And so you automatically assumed that it was Neji, and the feeling was something involving love, or at least extreme like?"

"Ummm… yeah… Were we wrong in that?" questioned the only blonde of the group, after which Sakura promptly kicked her in the shin 'subtly.'

"Forehead, what was that for," she 'whispered in the ear of her friend.

"You weren't supposed to say that we thought she was crushing on him! God, you're such a pig, pig." Their two female counterparts sweat dropped with a deep sigh. Was this the smartest kunoichi of their age group?

By this time, Sakura and Ino had completely forgotten about Hinata and Tenten, starting to really yell at each other.

"I mean, so what, every one knows we want Neji and Tenten to get together. It's not that big of a deal that I hinted it to her so back off!'

"She probably didn't know until you told her! I can't believe that you said that! How are we going to do it now? Surprise is pretty much all we had!"

The argument continued until all members of the group were flustered, for one reason or another.

"SHUT UP!!! I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU PEOPLE! ALL I WANT TO DO IS CHILL WITH FRIENDS, BUT YOU JERKS CAN'T STOP FIGHTING, AND TENNIE AND MYSELF ARE SUFFERING FOR YOUR STUPIDITY!!" screamed an angry Hinata, to everyone's surprise. The others, of course, shut their mouths immediately.

"W-Well," said Hinata, breaking the odd silence caused by her, "I'll go g-get us some soul food." She was sort of subdued because of her outburst, so she stumbled out of the door to grab snacks.

"That was weird."

"Yeppers."

"You could say that again, blondie!"

"Ummm…. Tennie? We're sorry for being so nosy but… you'd just look so cute with him!" Ino said. Said girl went to sulk in a corner of Hinata's huge room, facing the lilac wall dejectedly.

At this point, Hinata came back in with popcorn, chips, Oreos, cookies, and milk for every one. Their brunette companion ran back as soon as she laid her eyes on the Oreos.

"Score!!!" she shrieked before grabbing two and stuffing them into her mouth in a way that was incredibly un-ladylike, enough to make Hinata blush, while Sakura and Ino grinned. Ah, the joys of a tomboy.

About a half hour later, the four girls were stuffed to the limit, except for Tenten, who always has room for more food, especially her precious Oreos. Ino and Sakura were more than ready for the next portion of their sleepover: truth or dare.

"So guys… we're going to play truth or dare now… who wants to go first?" said Ino. The pink haired medic next to her automatically volunteered, and went, after receiving the consent of her peers.

"Hinata, truth or dare?"

The Hyuuga heiress took a deep breath before speaking. "Dare, Sakura-chan."

Her friend glanced at the other girls before giving the fateful dare. "I dare you, Hyuuga Hinata, to go to Naruto's house right now, wake him up if he's asleep, and ask him to go to get ramen with you the day after tomorrow at five." The dark haired girl widened her eyes and blushed so deeply that they were afraid of her fainting, but she nodded regardless and made her way out of the room, promising to be back soon.

"Why not tomorrow, Saku?" Tenten asked. "I'm busy then. That means I won't be able to spy on them!" Tenten and Ino both sighed and rolled their eyes dramatically.

For the next fifteen minutes, the girls were reading the same magazines they had been previously. Then Hinata returned.

"How did it go???" was everyone's question as soon as the shy girl walked in the door, trembling violently.. "What did he say?"

"H-Hey guys. It went like this…"

Flashback Time!!!!

She was finally at Naruto-kun's house. She knocked on the door twice, but with out an answer. Oh gosh, she'd have to go in and wake him up, wouldn't she? This wasn't good! She wrapped her chubby little fingers (they were a little bit too boyish for her) around the door knob, and pushed softly. It opened. Hinata shook her head while giggling. What shinobi besides Naruto-kun left their door unlocked. That boy! She stepped into his apartment.

The laughter stopped instantly because not only was she in Naruto's apartment, she was in his bed room. There were only three rooms in the whole place: a bathroom, a living room/bedroom, and a kitchen. This place barely existed compared to her home! The shame of being so ignorant about his condition almost made her cry. Poor Naruto-kun! To come home to an empty house, especially one like this every single day must be awful. This only put her deeper in love with the boy.

Now, now, Hinata, she scolded herself, we can't get carried away, after all, we're here for a reason. She crept up to the bed of her crush, only to find, wide eyed…. (drum roll……) that it was empty. Where was Naruto? She used her Byakugan to see that he wasn't even in the apartment, no one was. (Stupid, she said mentally, I should have done that in the beginning. Hinata was jerked out of her thoughts with the door opening. With an inhuman (incivilian, really) speed, she went into the kitchen, but it was hopeless.

"Who's in there? I know you're there," called out the tired voice of the only ninja in history (that matters) who wears orange. She walked out of the kitchen and Naruto blinked when he saw her.

"Hinata-chan, what are you doing here?" he asked. She flushed hearing the friendly honorific.

"N-Naruto-k-ku-un, I had a… ummm… q-question for y-you. I try… I tried knocking but you weren't there. I'm- I'm… I'm really s-sorry!" Her lighter haired 'associate' chuckled.

"It's fine, Hinata-chan. What was your question?"

"Well," she started, finally overcoming her stutter, "I was just curious if you… you know… would like to go get ramen with me tomorrow?" She almost fainted, but managed to keep herself together.

He was infinitely clueless. "Sure, Hinata-chan. I'm fine with that! Could I bring Sakura-chan too?" Sakura again? She should have known. He couldn't get it, that boy. She was almost ready to burst out in tears right then and there, but managed to hold it in.

"Sure, Naruto. I don't mind freaking at all. I'll be there at five." She shot him a cold glare before stalking out of his apartment. Oh wait, what? Crap! What had she done? Naruto-kun probably hated her. The evil side of her kicked in. Screw him, he deserves it. Let's go back to the girls fast, so we can kill that whore, Sakura!

I can't cry, I can't cry, she told herself on the way home. She walked into the doors of her room, not crying, but shaking to tell the girls.

Flashback's Over!!!!!

"THAT JERK!" screeched her friends, as soon as she finished telling her story. "I will kill him!" murmured Sakura. Ino glared darkly at nothing in particular, but Tenten was smiling.

"What's wrong with you, Tennie? Why are you SMILING?"

"Why of course, Hinata stood up for her self to that jerk! Aren't you guys proud?" Tenten replied.

Sakura and Ino blinked before running up and hugging the girl.

Five minutes later, every one had settled and they were ready for the next turn, glancing up at Hinata eagerly.

"Tenten, truth or dare?" she asked, energized from what she did with Naruto, and smiling, believe it or not. The bun haired weapons expert chose truth. Hinata quietly consulted with her other friends before turning back to Tenten.

"Tell me, what are you feeling towards Neji right now?"

"Well right now, I'm annoyed at him because he broke my 8th favorite katana the other day! I had to get a new one to replace it!"

"But… but… but…." Her friends stuttered, appalled by her extremely anti-climactic answer.

"You didn't ask for in general, and if you did, I would have said I have absolutely no romantic feelings for him at all. I, for the last time, am not in love with Hyuuga Neji!"

The other girls just shook their heads and said that it was probably time to get to bed, after all, it was two in the morning. As soon as they knew she was asleep, the other three sat up.

"Stage one: denial, complete."

I'm sorry if it's not very good! Please, please, I'll sell my soul for a review!