Under My Umbrella

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There are days when you feel like nothing is going right and the world is out to get you. For Hinata, it was one of those days. She rummaged through the contents of her locker and sighed.

"Not again", she whispered to herself. The time on her pink Hello Kitty watch read 2.30 p.m. She didn't know what was worse: the fact that it was raining outside and her umbrella had been stolen for the third time that month, or that she was going to be late for her father's birthday celebration. She did the most rational thing she could think of doing at a time like that- she started banging her head against the metal locker.

"Hinata what's wrong?" she heard Tenten rush towards her and stop her in mid bang. She looked worried and slightly disturbed at her friend's antics. Hinata blew a fringe away from her eye.

"I'm doomed", she huffed.

"Why, what happened?" asked Tenten, gently grabbing a hold of Hinata's shoulder.

"My umbrella got stolen again and I don't know how I will get home in this downpour and I'll be late for setting up the house for my dad's birthday and he'll get really mad because he's already very insecure about getting old and-"

"Woah calm down!" exclaimed Tenten. Hinata inhaled deeply and then exhaled, feeling a little at ease. She could always count on Tenten to calm her when her nerves would start raging a war amongst themselves. She looked at her watch- it was now 2.35. She let out a small scream and looked at Tenten expectantly with her translucent eyes.

"I have archery practice", Tenten replied, knowing exactly what Hinata was going to ask of her. "If I didn't, I would have walked you home. Sorry." Her raven-haired friend sighed dejectedly.

"And Neji has honour's society until 5.00", she spoke in a low voice.

"There has to be someone who can go with you", Tenten placed her hands on her hips and looked about the hallway. Just then, as if on cue, Naruto walked past, them swinging his orange umbrella, while talking to Gaara about how he could go home since Iruka sensei's class got cancelled. Tenten shot Hinata an indicative look, which made the latter jump in her own skin and shake her head vigorously.

"I can't ask Naruto!" she piped.

"Oh come on! You want your dad to scold you for being late for his 60th birthday?"

"50th."

"Really? Are you sure?"

"Tenten!" Hinata's face was burning, she could feel it.

Naruto stopped at the the main doors, still chatting with Gaara. Hinata gave herself 30 seconds to assess the situation. Maybe he could be in a hurry and would refuse her politely which would bring her back to square 1. Or maybe he could be a total gentleman, as she always imagined him to be, and would happily escort her home. In conclusion, it was a fifty-fifty situation, and Hinata mentally berated herself for not having the courage to go up to him right then and there. Luckily, Tenten gave her a little nudge, and by little meaning a rough shove, making Hinata stumble forward. She gulped. The image of her father's "you-disappoint-me-Hinata" face kept appearing in front of her vision and she had to shake head to make it go away. Thankfully, Naruto did not see that. She took a deep breath and marched forwards, but then she saw that the boy of her dreams was heading out of the door, slipping away from her yet again. And so she ran, she ran as fast as her skinny legs and wobbly knees would allow her. She rushed outside and called out to Naruto, being only able to say "Naru-" as the rest was lost somewhere in her throat. However, it was enough to get his attention. He turned around and saw her standing underneath the small extension of the roof.

"Hey Hinata", he greeted her happily. "Do you need something?" Hinata could feel her knees shaking under the weight of her nervousness. She stared at her feet as her heart was ready to rip out of her chest. 'Speak!' her inner self chided her.

"Um", she began, "I- uh, well I have to get home for my father's birthday, but my umbrella was stolen... again." She added the last part after a pause. Naruto looked at her for a moment.

"Well why didn't you say so?" he grinned and walked towards her, which made her blush a deep red. Naruto stopped beside her, towering over her small physique, and held the umbrella higher. Hinata could feel her heart stuck in her throat.

"Is this fine?" he asked, making sure the umbrella covered both of them. Hinata gave a small nod, still unable to let any form of a sound come out of her mouth. Their close proximity made her breathing slightly constricted and she sensed she would faint any minute. 'Get it together Hinata', her inner self encouraged. They began walking away from the school building and onto the streets. The first few minutes passed in awkward silence as Naruto looked straight ahead and Hinata looked at anything but him.

"So, it's your dad's birthday?" he finally asked. Hinata jumped a little but then calmed herself down. She didn't want Naruto to think of her as a weirdo again. She had happily stepped out of that phase of watching him from a distance like a creepy stalker. But just the mere sight of his messy blond hair and azure eyes sent shivers down her spine, something she could not control.

"Yes", she replied. "It's his 50th birthday." She twiddled her fingers and looked up at him.

"That's cool!" he grinned at her and she darted her eyes here and there, almost as a reflex.

"I was going to bake a cake for him, which is why I wanted to go home early."

"But your umbrella got stolen?" She nodded in affirmation.

"That sucks."

When they crossed the intersection, and were nearing the street where her house was located, Hinata's phone started buzzing in the pocket of her blazer. She fished it out and answered. It was her father, Hiashi, calling from his office, saying something about too much work and that he was going to be home around 6 o'clock. By the time the call ended, they had arrived outside the house. Hinata exhaled a sigh of relief, mentally thanking the Heavens above for giving her more time. More than she needed, in fact,

"My father will be home late", she said to Naruto while opening the small iron front gate and stepping onto the other side.

"Oh that's a relief!" he replied with a smile. "Now you have plenty of time to make the cake." They stood there in silence for a while.

"Would you like to come inside for some tea and biscuits?" Hinata blurted out before she even realised what she had said. Naruto blinked at her.

"Won't you be busy baking?"

"I can manage", she gave a small smile while hoping desperately he would say yes.

"Sure! I'm kind of hungry anyway", was his reply. Hinata's inner self did cartwheels and somersaults as she led Naruto inside the house.