I saw Naruto's mouth hang open slightly as I turned toward him. I think that's a good sign. I smiled slightly.
"Wow," I heard Naruto mutter.
"They really did a number on you," said Kiba, "Take that as a compliment."
"Thanks," I said. As the 5 of us walked to class, Naruto didn't say a thing. Not one word.
"Hina," whispered Ino, "I think it's working."
"How do you know?" I whispered back.
"He keeps staring," said Sakura, in a low whisper, "In class you should sit next to him."
"Yeah," said Ino, "You should play with him a little." What is she talking about? I think she sensed my look and continued. "I mean like smile at him at times and drop your pencil and try to pick it up. He'll probably touch you and then if he blushes, that's a good sign."
"Do I really have too?" I asked quietly, "He hasn't said anything. Maybe he just doesn't-"
"Shush, Hina," said Sakura, "He likes you. Trust me, Kiba said so." I gulped. Kiba Naruto's best friend. He could be telling the truth.
"Just do it Hina," said Ino as we entered the class.
"What's my excuse to sit next to him?" I asked, "I can't just sit next to him. He's going to find out." Ino sighed.
"Uhhh. Naruto sits behind Kiba, who sits next to Sakura, who sits next to me and I sit behind Shikamaru. Instead of sitting next to me you'll be behind. That will leave you behind me, diagonal from Sakura and next to Naruto. So we'll be there if you need help. Got it?"
"Sadly, yes," I said. Gosh what would I do without Ino? I looked at my watch. It was 3 minutes until the bell rings. I looked at Ino. The seat next to her was occupied so I made my way behind her. I was about to sit, but then Temari pushed me out of the way.
"Sorry," she smirked; "Geeks are over there." she pointed to the other half of the room. I wanted to kill her. I looked at Ino, she nodded.
"Temari," She said in cheerleader, "You will like never guess who likes you girl. It's Sasuke." Temari gasped.
"Oh my god!" she squealed and stood up, "Good bye losers." Ino pointed to the seat and turned back around. I nervously sat down. As I turned to face the board, I felt his eyes watching, which made me even more nervous. Finally he spoke.
"Hey Hinata," he said. I turned to him and smiled. Was that it? "Hey Hinata." "I've wanted to tell you-" The bell rang. This was the first time that I wished that the bell had come later.
"Good Morning class. Today we're learning solving linear..." I didn't hear the rest after that. For some reason I couldn't concentrate. Maybe it was Naruto staring at me. I could feel his eyes burning on me. I stayed still, looking like I was concentrated. Suddenly, Ino dropped a note on my desk. I picked it up and scanned it.
Do something! I sighed and scribbled something.
What do I do?
Drop your pencil. Tell me what he does
I dropped it, and when I saw him try to pick it up, I tried to, our arms touching. "Sorry," he mumbled, blushing slightly.
Our arms touched and he blushed. She passed it back and there was a single heart on it. The bell rang and I stuffed the note in my pocket. She and Sakura immediately pulled me away.
"What are you doing?" I asked, "I thought you said you wanted me to talk to him."
"We did," Sakura said, "But let's see if he goes to your locker." I gave her a look.
"His locker is like 3 or 4 away from mine," I said, "He's going to go there."
"Whatever," said Ino as we reached my locker, "Oh look! He's coming. So we're leaving. Bye Hina. See ya at lunch." She and Sakura immediately walked away. Oh god he's coming! Act natural! I opened my locker and nervously shuffled my books in, until I felt some one touch my back. Hoping it was Naruto I turned around.
"Hey babe, are you new here?" Once I turned around I was face-to-face with Sasuke. Remember Sasuke? The football captain? Yes that Sasuke. His hand probably brushed my back. I shivered slight, not because I liked it, it's because I was disgusted! I shook my head and closed my locker, starting to walk away. But of course, he follows me like a lost puppy.
"Not to be rude," Yeah right! " But please stop following me and leave me alone," I said. I know I sounded a bit rude, but why do I care.
"Well," he said confidently, "I was just thinking...how does you, me, and in tonight's dance sound to you?"
"It sounds like some one's nails scratching on a chalk board," I said calmly. He gave me a strange look. God! Can't he take a hint?
"What does that mean?"
"Horrifying."
"Babe, the movie isn't going to be scary, unless you say so." Maybe when he was a child he didn't get enough oxygen.
"Okay, one, don't ever call me babe. Two, I didn't mean the movie was horrifying, I mean going out with you is." He opened his mouth to speak, but I knew what he was going to ask me. "That's a no." I began to walk away, but he grabbed my upper arm, holding it firmly.
"Come on!" he said, "It's just one little harmless date. I swear." I shook my head, but he still kept a hold on me. That is until his hand was yanked away from my arm. I turned to see Naruto pushing him away.
"She said no," said Naruto seriously, looking at Kiba, "Leave her alone."
"And you are?" Asked Sasuke.
"A friend," he said, "Now leave." Sasuke rolled his eyes and muttered something under his breath, just before walking away. Naruto turned to me and smiled shyly, and I couldn't help returning one.
"Thanks," I said quietly. He nodded. We stood there in the awkward silence, waiting for the other one to say something. After a few moments, I spoke up. "Well...I-uh...I'm going to go to class...Thanks again. I'll make it up to you." I turned on my heel and headed the other direction.
"Wait Hinata," he called out. Finally he says something. I turned around and looked at him. "What about...you make it up to me now-er... tonight at the dance?" I smiled and thought about but we all know I was pretending, I already knew the answer. I've been dreaming this day since I was 15. Just
"It's a date," I said finally.
XXXXXXXXXX
"I told you!" said Ino, "I told you! I told you! He likes you!"
"Okay Ino," I said, looking in my closet, "We get it!" Sakura rolled her eyes at Ino.
"So what are you going to wear?" asked Sakura.
"I don't know actually," I said, "I'm sure I'll find one though. I mean we did buy over 150 dollars worth of clothes and shoes and accessories."
"It was necessary," said Ino, "What about this?" She held up a teal dress. I shrugged.
"I don't know," I said groaning.
"Well what kind of look do you want?" asked Sakura.
"Uhhhhh...Something casual. Not too casual, but not too extravagant either." We dug into my closet for a while, throwing dresses around the room, until Sakura pointed to this red and white sun dress that came to about my knees.
"Here!" she said, "What about this one?" I took it and held it in front of me. They both nodded and gave a thumbs up. An hour later, there was a knock. The three of us argued who was going to open the door.
"Sakura you do it," said Ino. Sakura shook her head.
"Why can't Hina?" asked Sakura.
"It's my first date with Naruto," I said, "One of you has to go down stairs." Another knock.
"We can't sit here arguing," said Ino, "Go Sakura."
"What? You go Ino." Another few knocks.
"Guys, they're going to leave if we don't answer the door." I'm pretty sure they wouldn't just leave. They would break in through a window or something... "Flip a coin!" I threw them a penny.
"Heads" Sakura quickly said. We all stared at coin, making Sakura grin when she saw it had landed heads.
"Ha," said Sakura, "You go Ino."
"You cheated," Ino mumbled and went downstairs.
"How long until we go downstairs?" I asked as I heard the guys come in.
"About 2 or 3 minutes," she said. We listened as Ino chatted with them and Kiba and Naruto asking where we were. I gulped. The dance hasn't started and yet I'm still nervous. Suddenly Sakura pulled me to the stairs.
"Let's go," She said as she began to walk downstairs, me close behind. I saw their mouths agape. I'm sure that's what they wanted to happen. Okay fine, that's what we wanted.
"You look beautiful," he whispered as he took my hand. I blushed and looked back at Ino. She just smiled, as did Sakura.
"Okay gang," said Sasuke, "Let's head out."
"God! Don't they ever put on a song I like?" whined Kiba. We were sitting on a table in the gym just chatting, while Ino and Sakura try to get me and Naruto closer.
"I don't think they'll ever put on Prince," I said. The others laughed, which was surprising to me.
"Prince?" laughed Ino, "Who would've thought?"
"He can actually dance like him," said Shikamaru.
"Whatever," said Kiba, "Wait, where's Neji and Tenten?" He looked around.
"Tenten sick," said Sakura.
"And Neji didn't want to come because Tenten wasn't," I said. Ino turned to me and whispered, "Hina you should talk some more." I nodded, but still kept quiet.
"Let's dance Kiba," said Sakura. I saw her eying Ino, it was all a plan. Ino stood up too.
"Yeah," she said, "It's the last song of the night. Might as well dance."
"Fine fine," said Kiba as he got up and left me and Naruto by ourselves. Awkward... He needs to say something! Since he just looked at me, I decided to say something.
"So Naruto..." I said, "What were you going to tell me during class? You know at math, just before Temari came." I saw him turn scarlet, which was amusing to me.
"I-was-I was just going to...ask you to the dance," he said, but I was way smarter than that.
"Don't lie," I laughed, "Come on. Just say-"
"I was going to say how beautiful you look..." he trailed off. I smiled at him, my confidence boosting.
"Thank you," I said, "That means a lot to me," He flashed me the smile. Yes the smile. The one that made me fall for him in the first place.
"Do you want to dance?" he asked, getting up and giving me his hand. I nodded and took his hand. He pulled me to the dance floor and placed his hands on my hips, laying my head on his chest.
"Thanks Naruto," I said as he walked me to my door. He gave me a look.
"What for?" He asked as I giggled.
"I've never been to a school dance before," I said awkwardly.
"Really?" he asked, obviously astonished.
"Yeah...Nobody really asks me to these things. That's why tonight was just...wonderful." He smiled again.
"That's a surprise to hear," he said quietly, "I mean...beautiful...smart...funny...what else?" I blushed again as I looked into his eyes. I looked away and fiddled with the door knob.
"Well I'll just-" I was cut off when Naruto took my hand and pulled me close and laid his forehead making all the air inside me stop, then he kissed me softly on the lips. I was taken by surprise, but I gladly returned it.