By the end of the second week he had learned her name. She was Hinata Hyuuga, and the two began hanging out every day at lunch, and even spent minutes together before and after school. By this time Lee had become blatantly obvious of the feelings she harbored for him, and he returned them to some extent, but there was something holding him back. She was beautiful, with her delicate features, and that same kind smile that warmed his heart, but even then something was still missing. He had feelings for her, and decided to take a chance on it. As Gai once said, you never know until you try.

He had made arrangements for them to meet at the library, the quietest place on campus, the same place where they often spent their afternoons studying. He would slip her a textbook, their literature book, and ask her to explain a certain story, as he did she would flip to the corresponding page, where a note would be lying, and in his messy writing the words 'Will you go out with me' will be plastered on the torn notebook paper. It was all perfect and surely it would be to Hinata's liking.

When lunch hour came around the two picked a spot farthest away from everybody else, ensuring it to be secluded, and that was when he put the plan into action. She flipped through their lit book and stopped on a page where a note stuck out from the rest. The young Hyuuga raised an eyebrow questionably, looking to her friend for some kind of reassurance. He nodded and she slowly reached for the note, scanning the messy writing for any significance. After rereading it again and again her pale cheeks turned a rosy red, and her eyes met with his.

She smiled and for a moment he felt at ease, and then she reached for his hand, and grasped it within her own.

"L-Lee." She stuttered, her cheeks turning an even darker shade of red, "Y-Yes, I'll go out with y-you."

He smiled and the two began to pack their things. On the way out of the library he grabbed for her hand, and intertwined his fingers with hers. They felt nice against his icy cold fingertips, and he thought back to his old friend one winter afternoon while he was watching the brunette play on the playground.

Back when he was younger Lee was never one for participating in sports or generally anything involving another person, but when it came to his friend, he followed him like a lost puppy looking for shelter. It was chilly that day, and he had forgotten his jacket at home, leaving him cold and exposed to the icy winds.

He had picked a seat atop a bench, closest to the playground. Kiba was hogging the slide with his "none shall pass" order, upsetting all the other children, eventually getting him kicked from the slide. Hurriedly, he rushed over to Lee and begged him to join him on the swings, where they would take turns pushing each other.

Lee shivered and shook his head, ducking his head low as he sneezed into the fabric of his shirt. This caused his friend to raise a thin brown eyebrow, and soon he was freeing himself from a pair of mittens, leaving his fingers bare. He handed them to Lee, who quickly refused the boy's generous offer.

"But then you'll be cold." The dark haired boy argued, shivering once again. "You keep them."

Kiba was silent for a moment, before slipping one of his mittens over the exposed flesh of his fingertips. Then he gave the other one to Lee, forcibly slipping the boy's trembling hand into the soft warm cloth.

"We'll share." He spoke, baring the same goofy grin. With that said he grabbed at Lee's hand and led him to the playground, where he resumed his reign over the slide. The two sat atop the play structure, hogging the slide until the bell rang. At first Lee didn't want to leave, he had never had so much fun with another person, but Kiba had again grabbed at his hand, and tugged him down the steps, eventually leading him back to their classroom.

The two had made it out of the library and to the quad, where many of the teens sat. Heads turned and whispers began, spreading throughout the school. Many thought they were cute together, but among those wandering eyes he spotted Kiba who sat at the popular table, seemingly bored with whatever topic they were discussing. His head turned just in time to catch the couple, and for a brief second he nodded towards Lee, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

It was his approval, his way of praising the boy for something he'd done. Kiba accepted this, and Lee had the sudden urge to start up a conversation, but something held him back.

As much as he wanted to say differently, they were no longer friends; Just acquaintances that just so happened to share a class. He was the nerd, and Kiba was the jock, two strangers from two completely different worlds, and it was time Lee started treating him as such. But then again, was it strange to acknowledge someone's existence with a friendly wave?

He lifted up his free arm and waved in Kiba's general direction, a feeling of mixed emotions running through him. He wasn't sure what kind of emotion showed itself, but he assumed it to be a good one, because at this action Kiba grinned.

The bell rang and Hinata tugged at his arm, leading him off. Lunch was over, and the two would have to head back to their classrooms, first science and then English, his final class for the day.