Complete Screw-Up

.:Dedicated:.

Misery's Toll

.: Happy Belated Birthday! :.

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There are three sides to an argument

Your side, My side

And the Right side

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--

"... I-I don't get it!" I said in a distraught tone. I knitted my eyebrow's together, staring at the calculus problem in-front of me. I bit my lip as my tutor, Kiba, sighed for the umpteenth time.

"Don't you get it!? It's right there in your face!" I looked down at my paper once more, seeing nothing but numbers and lines.

"..." Kiba sighed once more and ran a hand though his brown, unruly hair. I had a feeling the only reason he took up the job as my tutor, was to score a date with me. How pitiful.

"Look, I don't get what's so hard about it. A five-year old could do it..." He muttered absently as I narrowed my eyes.

"Well maybe if you had better teaching skills, we wouldn't be in this predicament right now!" I said, my voice an octave higher. Kiba growled lowly and straightened his back, a lone tooth sticking out from his lips.

"It's not my fault that you have your mind in the gutter!" I grounded my teeth and puffed my cheeks up.

"Shut up! Like your the one to talk! I've seen your eyes stray from the paper to my chest more then ten times in two minutes!" His growl became even louder as he grabbed the pencil and slammed the point on the paper.

"Here! The technique you use is The Power Rule! Don't you get it!?" I growled and crossed my arms over my chest.

"No! Because you never took the time to explain it to me! You were to busy staring at my chest you pervert!" I told him. Kiba thinned his lips and stood up, pushing the metal chair behind him.

"You know what?" He snarled out. "I quit!" I lifted my chin and narrowed my eyes. I didn't need him! So what if he was a complete Math whiz and was already in college level calculus! I could do fine on my own!

"Fine! I could do this by myself! I bet I never even needed your help!" Kiba smirked spitefully as he pushed in the chair, purposely making it scrape across the tiled floor.

"Yeah, right." I huffed angrily and grabbed the led pencil that was laying on my paper.

"I could! I'll show you!" I growled out. Kiba stared at me a minute before regaining his smirk. He walked towards the front door of my apartment, a bounce to his steps.

I sighed and looked at the calculus problem, seeing no possible way to solve it. I bit the inside of my cheek, a whimper building up in my throat.

"I just can't see that happening, Tenten." Kiba said in an easy voice, as if he liked seeing me troubled. I gasped silently and strained my neck back, seeing Kiba lingering by the door.

"I thought you were leaving."

He ignored my snide remark and said, "Your a complete screw-up. You can't do anything right, klutz." And with that, he left. The door resounding though the hallow walls of my small, one-bedroom, apartment.

I stared at the place Kiba once stood, my mouth ajar and my hazel-colored eyes wide. He was right. Every time I tried to do something, I ended up screwing it up for everyone. Like that one time I had to get the baseball bats from the gym's shack, I ended up dropping the whole rack and damaging the expensive track-timers that were sitting right next to it.

I got off clean, but I still had detention for a week. And because of that, they canceled baseball practice for that day. But, the thing was, that was our only chance to play. So let's just say I got the cold shoulder from many people.

I furrowed my brows and stood up, dropping my pencil on the table and going towards my window. I sighed as it rained heavily, the distinctive pitter-patter echoing though my mind.

Man... I can't believe I just lost my only chance to ace Calculus. Damn, and he was the only one I'd actually have the guts to ask. I thought sadly. Now how was I going to explain my unfinished home work to Gai-sensei?

-xxx-

"You fail!" Gai yelled in my face, his face tinted pink from fury. I looked down at my shoes in shame. They were wet. It must've been from all of those puddles I jumped into; just for fun. But it was during that time that I felt someone's stare on me, but every time I turned to look for the source; it was gone.

I shrugged it away as nothing and continued to play in the water, just like my mother would have wanted if she were still here. Yeah, she passed away during a cave-in. You see, my mother was always a thrill seeker. Where ever there was something-- well thrilling she would be the first one there, her bags packed up and ready to go.

But it was also during that time, that I was having trouble with my school work. Especially Mathematics. Since she was always on my mind, as well as the bills, the cat, the money and all the other things that were suppose to be her responsibility; I had no time for school.

When I was younger, I was always trying to keep up with the bills, always cleaning the house, doing the laundry. I would always be juggling my school work and my house work; trying to keep everything in order. But... it got hard. And soon, it became so hard, that I had to stop going to school; missing out on valuable English and Math lessons. I would go only about three or sometimes two times a week; just to keep the Child Services Administrators at bay, since no one had ever seen my mother.

And she had never gone to any of the school events.

"What happened to the tutor I assigned you!?" More like assigned himself. I thought with a bothered look on my face as Gai ranted on how he was going to fail me and how I was not going to be able to qualify to go to college.

I had pretty much thought of that already. With my grades and one year to go, I was going to fail; big time.

I sighed depressingly and stared at my feet once more, feeling certain dread crawl up and down my spine. I wasn't going to make it to college; it had finally sunk in. My mother wanted me to go though, to get a nice job and have a nice family. A normal life.

Something we didn't have. And I think she knew she was failing at being a mother, she would just not say. It was pretty gloomy, her not being with me. I was very surprised when I saw on the news that her group had caved in; there were no survivors.

I was going to call the police, to tell them that she was my mother ands that I knew her. But then thought twice. They said that she had no known relatives and that she had no family. Why? I never got my answer to that question.

And I never called the police.

Sure, I got depressed. The world lost it's color and I became more of a loner then I was already was. But I, somehow, got over it and started to smile again. That was when I was 15 now I was 17 and almost ready to start a life of my own. Once 18, I don't have to worry about Child Services anymore.

And I could let a bit of my guard down.

"I-I..." I stuttered as he looked down at me, his nostrils flaring with anger. Leave it to Gai to get pissed about something so small.

"Well...?" I sighed and decided to tell him the truth. If I didn't, I would be screwed anyways, so what the hell?

I took a deep breath when a velvet like voice cut though the air like a bullet. "I'm right here." I snapped my head towards the direction of the voice, hearing a sickening crack while doing so. I felt the breath get caught in my throat.

Neji Hyuga was standing right by me. His black messenger bag was hanging loosely off his shoulder and as was his jacket. He had on the school uniform, a collard, mens, button up T-shirt with the school logo on the right breast. He also had along some black slacks with a spiked belt.

I felt my heart lurch when he spoke once more. His voice was just so—smooth and controlled. It was unlike anything I had ever heard before. His face was also flawless, and his muscles were clearly lined, making it harder to concentrate on what Gai was saying.

Now I knew why he had fangirls.

Gai's bug-like eyes widened, "Y-You!? O-Oh, yes, of course." Gai straightened out and eyed me warily as I stared at Neji's composed expression, a blush starting to rise on my cheeks.

"B-But that does not explain--"

"-- I had a family meeting yesterday and could not tutor her on the new subject. Surely, it would not happen again. Gai." I winced. His voice was razor-like. Cutting thought the air at an unthinkable speed and making it clear that he, Gai, had no right to go against his word.

Now I also knew why no one dared out-speak him.

Gai swallowed and I could vaguely see the sweat drops dripping down his temple slowly. I tore my gaze from Neji's expressionless face and coughed, making Gai shift his eyes towards me.

"C-Can I leave..." I said, before continuing. "Now?"

Gai cleared his throat and stiffly walked over to his desk, where I saw him scratch out and scribble something else in. I furrowed a brow at his tense smile before he dismissed me.

I lazily threw him a smile before power walking to the door, where I growled loudly. I walked down the hall, my quick pace almost making me slip and fall.

"What the hell did you just do!?" I screamed as I turned my heel only to come face to face with Hyuga Neji, just as I had planned. He looked at me with a shocked expression that soon melted to nothingness.

"Helping you."

"And since when does a Popular help a Nobody!?" I yelled at him, my hands at my hips. He tilted his head upward and shrugged.

"Since now." I sucked in a deep breath and let it out all in one shot, feeling suddenly tired. I sighed and looked around the hall, everyone was gone. It was just me and the Hyuga, how pleasant.

A reunion.

I frowned, "Now I have to find a tutor in... less then half an hour!" I gawked at my wrist watch. I had half an hour to find someone to tutor me in Calculus. I was screwed.

I looked back up at him to find him staring down at me boredly. I blinked, he grew. I was sure that we were about the same height before... we stopped being friends. Yeah, I used to be his friend.

Best friend actually. But then he got involved with Sasuke, who showed him to the Popular table, where he decided to hang out for the rest of the school year... and the year after that. It happened about two years ago when I was sophomore. Me and Neji had been friends since the first grade! I never thought that it would be that easy for him to leave me...

He was my help buddy. He helped me whenever my mother left me to go to some thrilling adventure. He was always there when I cried. He was always there when I needed someone the most. He was always there...

Then he suddenly wasn't and my world came crashing down.

He found it easy to abandon me and leave me for dead. He found it easy to forget me. He found it easy to leave me stranded in a place I would never call home. Neji Hyuga did. So easy, that everyday I passed by him, I saw an arrogant and pleased smirk on his face when he made a girl go gaga for him.

And he never once tried to speak or befriend me ever again. And since he didn't try, I didn't also.

I narrowed my eyes at him, "Thanks a lot genius, you just ruined my only chance to get another tutor." With that I left. I couldn't see him. It just brought back horrible memories; things that I've successfully buried deep within myself. I didn't want to remember them, it would only make me even more depressed.

And it would be harder to let go.

"What happened to us...?" I froze. Not knowing what to say, I suppressed a deep sigh and looked down at my shoes, a nervous habit I got from my mother.

"I-I don't know."

"Liar." I cringed slightly, he always knew how to distinguish my lies. I bit my lip and heard him near me. In a panic, I shut my eyes and concentrated on the black I saw.

"You do know..." He stared, "What happened?" I sprang my eyes open, the anger inside of me rekindled.

"You should know!" I snapped at his confused face as I turned around. "You were the one that left me!" My words echoed though the vast hall way. The sounds of nothing being heard back. I glared into his smoldering eyes, seeing not an ounce of sympathy or sadness just... nothing.

Blank.

"I do not recall--"

"--Of course you don't..." I said bitterly as he took one step close to me. I backed up even more. "You never do." I turned my heel and made a quick dash to the door, tears beginning to blur my vision.

He hadn't tried to talk to me before, why now? Why now of all times!, I thought as I ran out of the school, slamming the glass door's open. Why now of all times?! He had never tired...

I panted and peered over my shoulder, seeing nothing but a McDonald's bag skidding on the floor; the wind picking it up and throwing it into one of the many street drains.

He didn't follow me... I stifled a gasp. Why would he follow me!? Why... Why do I feel so disappointed?

I sighed loudly and clutched my worn-out and torn back pack, my mind in complete turmoil. Now what was I going to do? I had no Calculus tutor, I was on the verge of having a nervous breakdown just because I spoke to Neji and—I was not going to college because of Calculus.

"Huh...?" I whispered as I saw two of the nine Populars walk down the sidewalk. Sasuke Uchiha and Naruto Uzumaki. They were the two most popular guy's in the clique, Sasuke being the first, then Neji and then Naruto. The whole gang was rich, they all had cash, looks, and charm.

It consisted of Uchiha Sasuke, Hyuga Neji, Uzumaki Naruto, Nara Shikamaru and Inuzuka Kiba. And those are just the male's in the group, the females were Haruno Sakura, Sabaku No Temari, Hyuga Hinata and Yamanaka Ino. Sabaku No Garra used to be part of there clique too, before he transferred to an over-sea's boarding school in England.

I gasped and frantically looked around, sprinting into the coffee shop that stood one store away from me. I was lucky that they were to engrossed in their chat to notice me run towards them, and then scramble into the store.

I quickly sat in one of the small, comfortable couches, sighing in relief as they past me calmly. I kept my head down and smiled, they didn't notice me. But even if they did, why would they talk to me? A nobody. I suddenly felt foolish; running away from someone that wouldn't even acknowledge my existence.

How pathetic.

I frowned and stared down at the chocolate colored table. I ran my fingers along it's smooth and cool surface, finding mild-comfort while doing so. I looked up and smiled, I was in Starbucks. Just my luck.

I stood and walked on over to the front counter, ordering a large cappuccino. The man smiled at me and asked for my name, I gave it to him and took a ten dollar bill from my jean's pocket.

After a couple of minutes, I checked the small plater that stood right next to the cashier and smiled. My coffee was done. I quickly grabbed it and went over to my table, grabbing two packets of sugar and putting it into my hot drink.

I put the cup to my lips and gulped down the scorching hot drink, grunting at the burning sensation I felt on my tongue. I sighed once more and grabbed my backpack, opening it and taking out my Calculus notebook. I had to finish it, even if all the answers were going to be wrong.

Crossing my legs at the ankle, I took out my led pencil and began the grueling Homework session.

-xxx-

Two Week's Later...

I put my head down, lifting my arms so they covered my head and groaned loudly. I got nothing. Zip. Nada.

I didn't get a single question. I only had to do twenty problems and all I had finished were two. The two most easiest and the two that didn't involve the Power Rule. I had also done one that did involve the power rule... I think it was wrong. I sighed and lifted my head, staring at my almost blank piece of paper.

I got everything, except the Power Rule. I somehow managed to get everything else but the damn Power Rule and a few other parts. As the day's past, the lessons got harder, and the questions more difficult. I was on the brink of giving up and dropping out just like my mother did when she was my age.

Neji kept pestering me. He kept on trying to talk to me, hang out with me and do other very uncharacteristic things. Rumor's say that Neji wants to ask me out then dump me in-front of the whole student body.

Yeah, I know, me listening to rumors. But, it's better then actually speaking to to him and then making the whole rumor come true. I also reminisced on past events and noticed that even before Neji saved me when Gai was scowling me. He had always been staring at me.

Even when he left me for the Populars, he was always somewhat close to me. I always saw him at lunch and he was almost all of my classes. Even the one's that I chose myself. Also, I would always see him after-school, like before I left, I saw him staring at me before hopping into his five-star limo.

So maybe I was in a sort of denial since, you know, I was trying to convince myself that he hated me and I hated him. Now, that was beginning to seem unreal and stupid. So, maybe I liked him... A lot.

But that doesn't mean I'll give them the satisfactory of seeing me cry for someone thats not worth it... or maybe someone that was worth it.

Bah! This is stupid! I'm just going in circles with this stupid problem! I have to concentrate! I have to finish my Homework and -somehow- understand it; or else.

I whimpered lowly as my eyes shifted from the text book to my notebook repeatedly. I was getting nowhere and I had exactly three months before the S.A.T.

Time was running out.

I chewed my bottom lip, staring at the Calculus problems that mocked me from the book. I vaguely heard the door silently swing open and close slowly. Yeah, I decided to come here, Starbucks, everyday. I liked the calm and relaxing music, the quiet atmosphere, the caffeine filled air. It was a perfect place to hang out or study, like I was doing... More like failing.

I froze as the chair across from me slide. I kept my eyes on my work, my laptop computer right next to me. For an orphan, I have some good stuff huh? Though the computer is a bit out-dated, it's still good for what I need to do, which is endlessly surf the Internet because of my lack of social contact. In other words, I was a complete and total loner.

I hesitantly peered upwards, the breath getting knocked out of me. There, in my peripheral vision, sat Neji Hyuga. The man I have been trying to avoid. I quickly looked back down to my notebook, mentally cheering that he was busy taking out something from his messenger bag.

Oh no! What's he doing here?! Damn, how the hell did he find me!? How...? I thinned my lips and grabbed my pencil frowning at my notebook. I doodled again. I think that the only good thing I could, was draw. I had a talent for it, all of my drawing's were unique and good.

For a second, I thought that maybe I could become a manga artist, since what I drew was an anime character—that looked vaguely familiar. But, now that I think of it, I think you need a diploma for that too.

I frowned and slammed my pencil down on the table, from the corner of my eye I could see Neji's head snap my direction. I ignored him and stared at the picture I drew. I drew my mother, thats why is looked so familiar. I drew her. I stared at the picture sadly, it was from the time we went to the amusement park.

She was bent on getting me to ride the biggest roller coaster of them all, but I was to scared to actually get on it

Her smile... I copied it perfectly. The crooked grin that looked like she was smirking and grinning at the same time, the warm chocolate-brown eyes mirrored what I felt. Agony. Her hair fell all to her side, in curls of golden-butter and streaks of coco. Her expression... it was a mix of pain and happiness. It was how I felt and looked like, at this very moment.

Mother... With sudden fury I tore the page out of my notebook harshly and crumpled it. Leaving it on the table as I snapped my laptop shut and stuffed my notebook into my bag. I grabbed it and stood abruptly, swinging my backpack over my shoulder and taking off without a second glance at Neji, who stared at me though blank eyes.

I heard him sigh and follow me as I exited the cafe, the cold December air hitting me at full force as I clutched my laptop under my arm. I felt Neji's presence close in on me as I walked down the steps quickly.

"Tenten." I sucked in a breath as Neji called out to me. I just wanted to go home and slide under my covers, then let sleep over come and await the next day.

"Tenten." He said in a stern voice. He wasn't going to let me go this time, but I had to try.

"Tenten. Now." I gasped as my body froze. I stopped in mid-step and let him catch up to me, I knew that he was far away since it took him a while to fall into step with me. I was staring at my shoes when he stopped right next to me, feeling suddenly embarrassed.

"..." I swallowed and shifted my eyes towards him, managing only to see his torso, nothing else. I licked my suddenly dry lips while he sighed. I stifled a gasp when he placed a hand over my head, as if patting it.

"Let's go to your house and help you solve those Calculus problems." I felt my eyes go wide at that request. Why did he suddenly show such interest in my school work? He never did before... Because... Because...

I never noticed.

At that sudden realization, I looked up at him and saw that he had already started walking. He stopped, his back turned to me and his head tilted to the side. "Are you coming...?" I blushed and nodded, catching up to him as the wind increased.

-xxx-

Thunk

I closed the door and quickly breathed in. Neji Hyuga was in my house! Out of all the houses he was in mine. I sighed as I walked on over to my room, passing Neji while doing so.

I threw my laptop on top of my satin black sheets while I changed into something more comfortable. I looked towards the door hesitantly and nodded to myself.

"Neji?" I yelled.

"Hn?" I sighed in relief. This wasn't going to be an awkward situation.

"I'm going to change, so make yourself comfortable." I almost grinned. I was handling this situation greatly. I haven't made a fool out of myself! Yet that is...

Something told me that I just jinxed myself

"Hn." I sighed, he had reverted back to using one worded responses. I looked down at my peach colored, off the shoulders shirt. It was long sleeved but I think it showed to much. I dug in my drawer and took out a black, long-sleeved, turtle neck. I slipped it on then slipped on my off the shoulders shirt.

With a sigh, I changed out of my soaked Van's and into my brown and black fluffy socks. I quickly looked at myself in the mirror and smiled, it was comfortable and stylish. I grabbed my backpack and took out my Calculus homework.

I nodded to myself once more for confidence and walked back over to Neji, who was reading the book I had set on my coffee table. I stared at him for a heart beat before walking over to my window and closing the blinds, since the sun was already setting. While doing so, I felt myself get hot. I could feel Neji's eyes boring holes in my back.

"Okay. I'm done." I said tensely. Neji nodded and stood up, walking over to my small kitchen table. I sat down across from him as he interweaved his fingers, resting his chin on top of them.

I opened the text book and then my notebook, then taking out the pencil I had tucked behind my ear.

"Good. Now tell me what you don't get about Calculus." I chewed on the inside of my cheek, feeling myself flush under his gaze. I sighed and wet my dry lips, the cold weather already getting to me.

I took a deep breath, "The Power Rule." He raised an eyebrow and smirked.

"The derivative of any given variable (x) to the exponent (n) is equal to the product of the exponent an the variable to the (n-1) power." I stared at him, my mouth parted slightly as he smirked amusingly at me.

I clamped my mouth shut and glared at him, "Are you here to help me or make me feel worse then I already feel?" I asked sarcastically as he glanced at my paper.

"Problem number three is wrong." I blinked and looked down, my stomach dropping.

"Really?"

"Yes, the answer's 20x to the power of 3 plus 6x to the power of 2 minus 70x plus nine." I groaned and rested my head over my arms. I tried to do the one of the questions on the Power Rule but got nothing! I was hopeless.

I felt a hand pat my head, "Don't stress, I'm here to help you."

And help he did.

-xxx-

2 Month's Later...

"Oh! So it's fifteen plus eight x to the power of 1 over x to the power of six!" I yelled while grinning. Neji smirked slightly and nodded while I scribbled down the answer.

"Now then, we'll move onto the Logarithmic differentiation." I nodded and smiled at him. Over the past few weeks, Neji had been teaching me Calculus. He was a really good teacher, so good, that when I took the exam Gai-sensei had given us, I only missed two of the twenty problems.

I practically aced it! My grade went up from an Fail to a C plus. I was doing well for someone who couldn't even do basic Math in her head without feeling dizzy.

"Okay!" I yelled happily, I had never been so excited over Math. Maybe it was because whenever I didn't get something, Neji would lean over and I would feel his minty breath tickle my cheek. Or maybe it was the fact that Neji looked at me adoringly... but that has to be my imagination because I'm just—just so... plain.

I mean, the girls he hangs out with are Goddesses compared to me. Normal Tenten. Plain Tenten...

Knock Knock

I looked up from my sheet of paper and stood, "Who could that be...?" I whispered as I walked on over to the front door, feeling Neji's piercing gaze while doing so. I opened the door and felt my heart sink.

"HEY!" Sakura and Ino yelled excitedly. I blinked as they walked in, Temari walking close behind them, her face bored.

"H-Hey...!" I stuttered before Sasuke and Naruto welcomed themselves in. Naruto grinned and me and said hello. Sasuke simply nodded at me and looked around him, approval in his eyes.

"How troublesome." I turned and saw Shikamaru walk in with the same bored expression he wore everyday, Kiba right behind him.

I glared at Kiba, "What are you doing here." He glanced at me before throwing me a wolfish grin.

"Hanging out with my friends, something you don't have." I hardened my gaze as he walked inside, a blush beginning to rise on my cheeks.

"I assure you I--" I was cut off by the sound of the phone ringing. It went silent and all eyes were on me as I walked to my room and took out my cell phone. I saw Sakura and Ino peer inside my room before walking in, Temari sitting down on the chair I was sitting in.

"Hello?"

I furrowed my brow as nobody answered. I shut my phone and stood up, walking over to where Temari was before my phone rang again. I answered it again, hearing nothing once more bu the phone dial.

I shut it and stared at it, seeing nothing happen. I was about to stuff it in my back pocket before it rang again. I rolled my eyes, getting irked, "What?! What do you want!?"

"Ten-chan?" I blushed and laughed nervously.

"I'm sorry, it's just the phone kept on ringing and no one was answering." I heard Hinata giggle over the line. Hinata was my only friend, and even if she was part of the popular crew, she hardly hung out with them and preferred to be with me.

"O-Oh! Well... I called but... um, I felt embarrassed afterward and quickly hung up." I smiled softly.

"Embarrassed about what?"

"That my suppose friends were going to come to your house and see you get hurt! I'm sorry Ten-chan! They're going to observe you then beat you up tomorrow after-school! They think that you're a fangirl trying to hurt Neji!" I stared at ground with my eye's wide. I knew that was the only reason, and I bet that Neji had no clue about this.

The tutoring, the smiles, the compliments... something told me that this had happened before and they were only trying to do the best for there friend but...

Why would they target me!? I mean, it's not like Neji likes me or anything...

Right?

"Well isn't that sad, I guess I misjudged them huh?" I heard Hinata question that comment before I laughed and hung up, feeling to disappointed to keep talking. I was going to thank Hinata for telling me that, but I think it would only make matters worse.

"Who was it Ten-chan!" Ino and Sakura chirped. I swear, they sounded like twins. They finished each other's sentence's and they practically spoke at the same time.

"Don't call me that." I said coldly. They seemed to be startled by the response I gave them, but they quickly covered it up with an overly-sweet laugh. I raised an eyebrow at them and said, "You guy's are weird."

That must've got to them because they quickly glared at me and became quiet. I raised an eyebrow at them and looked around, everyone was staring at me. Great.

"What?" Kiba snorted at me, I shot him a dirty look before looking at Naruto and Sasuke, whom were having a heated conversation about Ninja blood-limits or something. I then glanced at Neji and Temari, they were just quietly observing me while Ino and Sakura death glared me, but I went unaffected.

I've had worse.

"So, are any of you thirsty?" I started as they all glanced at me, "I can make some tea or hot coco."

"Oh! I'll have coco!" Ino chirped, forgetting all about her anger over me.

"I'll have tea please!" Sakura said, her eyes wary on me. It seemed that she wasn't as forgetful as Ino.

I glanced at Temari, "Tea please." I nodded and glanced at everyone else, once I got everyone's order's, I went to the kitchen and took out all the needed materials. I felt like a waitress but it's better then feeling like an outcast.

Once done with the tea and coco, I grabbed three mugs and handed them out, going back to grab the remaining ones. I grumbled silently, they could've helped!

So, I stood there, leaning against the counter, watching everyone mingle and talk happily. I was actually expecting another solo tutoring lesson. I mean, I can't say that I wasn't... excited by the fact that it would only be me and Neji.

But what else did I expect?

I frowned. I was behaving like a fangirl. I mean, I was over-joyed by the fact that Neji was going to be at my house everyday for the rest of the school. And not to mention I started to wear my best clothing, and I started to have romantic thoughts about him.

Tenten! Snap out of it! Stop illusioning yourself and think rationally! Why would Neji want to have a relationship with someone like you? A nobody... A plain-looking screw-up... I sighed depressingly. I just made myself even more sad then I was a couple of minutes ago.

"Hey Tenten-chan!" I looked up from my tea and gasped. Sakura and Ino were staring at me as if I was a test experiment gone wrong.

"Ahh!" I yelled and backed up, dropping the cup on the floor and making it shatter. I stood on my toes, slightly up and open, my eyes wide. I sighed in relief, it was a good thing that I finished almost all the tea and left a small ounce.

"Oh my God! Sorry!" Ino screamed.

"Here let me help you!" Sakura said, her voice a bit high. Oh yeah, I startled them alright.

"No! It's fine! It was my fault, I shouldn't have been thinking so hard!" I said tensely, waving my hands back and forth at there guilty expressions.

"Yeah, you're right." I blinked and turned to Kiba, who was leaning over my small table next to Temari. "You might blow a blood vessel or worse." He snickered at my angry expression.

I said nothing and went over to grab a towel. I kneeled down and collected all of the sharp shards, trying to be careful. I picked them up and went to the trash can where more of my klutziness showed.

"Ouch!" I whispered. I winced as the glass sliced though my skin. I threw the glass shards away and stared at the grand amount of blood that dripped out of it. It was a huge gash going almost all the way across my palm.

"Uh-oh." I said in my normal voice as I stared at the blood, the droplets falling onto the floor.

"What is-- OH MY GOD!" Temari yelled out, her eyes wide on the huge gash. I turned to her and laughed nervously.

"I'm sorry! I was being a klutz again and cut my... palm." By this time, Neji, Sakura and Ino were all around me, all staring at my cut.

"It's nothing! Just a scratch!" Sakura growled.

"That!" She pointed at my palm, "is not a scratch!" I looked back at my hand and blinked when a hand covered mine. I looked up to see an uncomfortable Neji.

"Come." I followed him silently as he directed me to the bathroom.

"Screw—up..." I heard Kiba mutter, out of the corner of my eye, I saw Temari punch him on the arm and scold him.

I must've looked sad since Neji shot him one of his famous death glares. That made me feel a bit better. He grabbed my palm and put it under the faucet, letting the water run over it.

I winced, "Ow..." He glanced at me and smiled slightly. I felt my cheeks catch flames as he stared at me.

Calm down, calm down, calm down, calm down—shit! I thought as I gave into his gaze. I felt his face get closer and closer to us and I was sure he was going to kiss me. I could his hot breath over my lips as he neared me.

I, too, closed in. I though for a second that we were going to kiss... if it wasn't for Naruto.

"Hey! Can I have more coco!?" Naruto screamed out, his head popping out of nowhere. I gasped and backed up, finding my tiled wall very interesting at the moment. I could hear Neji's growl as he wrapped my hand quickly.

"Well!? Can I!?" I sighed.

"Yeah, the kettle should--" Even before I finished my sentence, he was gone. What a weird guy... I thought amusingly. I glanced at Neji and managed to see his troubled expression.

I then remembered what we almost did and blushed heavily. I let my guard down! Argh! How could I be so stupid!? To let him almost kiss me...

But what scared me the most was... I wanted to.

"Thanks!" I said quickly and shoved my hand away from him. I walked over to the table and sat in the chair that Neji was sitting in before, seeing everyone laugh and talk.

I sighed, this was going to be a long evening

-xxx-

Sorry if the story is a bit boring! It's just that I had no time to think up of a good plot and I'm not good at writing High School one-shots... plus I think I over-did it.

This was actually going to be longer, but it was to long, so I split it in two :D Hope you guys enjoy Part Two. I'm sorry for the grammar errors, if anyone would like to beta this later; Please PM me!

Today was the due date, no exceptions

HAPPY B-DAY TERRA-CHAN!

Panda