Hi guys! Been busying enjoying my summer by lazying around my dad's house. I want some attention rn so I wrote another chapter. Hope you guys enjoy it. 3
II.
Hinata had been right, much to Ino's dismay. She had finished out the next two weeks, without seeing Sasuke again. She'd even weaved in and out of the Art building in between classes searching for him. Of course, it was under the disguise of trying to pick an artist for the cover of her end of semester project, a fully bound children's book, because Hinata would rather die than admit that she had actually continued thinking about that man. Plus her best friend would never let her live that down, and probably want to go on her own hunting excursion for the grunting artist, embarrassing Hinata to no end.
She smiled a little, thinking about it now as she sat in a cafe on campus across from a viciously cursing Ino because her colored pencils kept breaking.
"Son of a bitch. I don't even know why I keep trying." Ino slammed her black colored pencil on top of her sketch pad, and looked at Hinata, huffing as she sat back in her chair. Hinata chuckled softly before sipping at her coffee.
"You're awfully heavy-handed today. What's going on?"
"Nothing."
Hinata could only laugh again at Ino's pouty attitude.
"We both know that's not true."
"I don't want to talk about it"
Hinata hummed as Ino went silent, picking up a navy blue colored pencil this time, shading in her sketch of a very complicated looking skirt design. Hinata didn't push. She just stared out the window, where their table happened to be next to. She counted back from five in her head, knowing Ino all too well.
3…
2…
1…
"It's just that -" Hinata laughed, shaking her head, still maintaining her gaze on Ino, who had her brow furrowed in confusion.
"What?"
"Nothing", Hinata sipped her coffee again. "What were you gonna say?"
"It's just that, I think-I think Sai may have gone home with someone last Friday, and I'm not mad. I swear, I let it go - like - as soon as i saw it happened. I haven't even thought about it again, until now...", because Hinata knew her so well, she knew that was a lie, but she just nodded as Ino continued. "Because you know it's Friday, and well, you know how the crowd is at Black Oak on Fridays, and I just...I don't know. He might do it again and I just- I don't know!"
The point on the navy blue colored pencil snapped, and Ino growled like an animal looking at it. Hinata tried very hard not to laugh again, because she knew Ino was serious, but she also didn't understand why it was so hard for her best friend to admit her feelings for the handsome bouncer.
"Well, it sounds like you were are upset about it, to me at least."
"I wasn't, I swear!" She picked up a red colored pencil, and Hinata really wanted to take it before Ino got any angrier after it inevitably broke, but she stayed put because it seemed to be the only comforting distraction that kept Ino talking. "It just caught me off guard. He's never done anything like that before. He's never been like-like-"
"You?" Hinata cut her off raising a brow. It wasn't uncommon for Ino to pick someone up from the bar and go home with them. Hinata was certain Sai had noticed too.
Ino looked up at Hinata from her sketch pad, offering a sly side smile. "Touché."
Hinata smiled herself, shaking her head as she drank from her cup again. "You're shameless."
"True, but everybody knows that. That's not Sai's M.O., he's the good guy. The perfect man. The 'white-picket-fence-doting-husband-with-two-kids-and-a-dog'- type. Random one night stands are not his thing ."
Hinata could read between the lines. She had been since this whole attraction between Sai and Ino took off. She'd figured as much from the beginning, but she believed Ino probably thought she was too used to be with him, which was absolutely ridiculous. Hinata wouldn't say much though. The romance was a department she completely failed in, and she was in no place to be offering advice but she looked at Ino anyway, with a deadly serious stare.
"You deserve the good guy Ino, with the white picket fence and the kids and a dog, because you look for your guy differently - than others do - doesn't mean shit. Some people sit and wait. You just happen to be a bit more...proactive. That doesn't make you any less worthy of Sai."
Ino froze, looking at her with wide glassy eyes, the red colored pencil unbroken. "Thanks, Hina."
Hinata smiled, knowing she'd managed to make her best friend feel a little bit better.
"But I don't like Sai."
Hinata rolled her eyes, scoffing and sipped her coffee again. "Then why in the hell do you care about his virtue?"
"I didn't say he wasn't a friend."
Hinata rolled her eyes again but smiled at Ino's stupid reasoning. "Anyway, what are you wearing to work?"
Ino looked up at her again, her smile sinfully dangerous. "You'll see."
…
The crowd was so alive.
It usually was on a Friday night, but Hinata was completely feeling the vibe. Both she and Ino danced around each other, behind the bar, taking orders and passing out drinks. After meeting each other, freshman year in the quad, they'd clicked so well. Ditching their roommates, and left campus living behind... Ino had a car to get around, and when Ino wasn't free, Hinata took the bus - so a commute was no issue, but rent definitely was.
They'd had no idea, how they were going to make it until an old boyfriend of Ino's had taken them to the Black Oak. It was a twenty-one and older bar, and nightclub, that played tons of old and new music. Some nights, they even had a live band, and Hinata loved it. As bartenders, both she and Ino got free drinks and their uniform dress code was simplistic, just like the name.
Black.
As long as they wore solid black, they could wear any style they wanted. Hinata normally played it safe just like she was tonight. She was wearing ripped jeans she'd had on in class earlier today, and a loose-fitting t-shirt tucked into the jeans, while Ino was a little more risqué. She wore a four pocket vest with nothing beneath it. Her black jeans rode low on her hips, and the choker around her neck completed everything with her undeniable sexy smile.
Nights like these, Kakashi, the club owner gave them free rein. He was the most laid back boss Hinata had ever had, and pretty much let Ino and Hinata run the club how they saw fit during their late night shifts. Kakashi knew Friday nights consisted largely of the college crowd bombarding the dance floor, and he felt more than comfortable sitting in his back office, relaxing, while Ino and Hinata controlled the elements of the front lines. The security guards kept the crowd somewhat tame, and the DJ kept the music pumping. Everything ran smoothly under Ino and Hinata's watchful eye, even if they had a bit of fun themselves in the in-between time. They both danced and laughed, as much as anyone else, cracking jokes about the various characters coming through the door, and served the thirsty while taking keys from the ones entirely too intoxicated.
"Silver cab. How may I help you?"
"Hello, this is Hinata, I need a Black Oak to pick up, please."
"Address?"
"3496 Night Wolf Ll."
"Be there in five."
"Thanks."
Hinata clicked the phone off before clipping the landline back to her front pocket and began searching the front of the club for Sai. When she caught the attention of the burly, young guy, he nodded, making his way over. Black Oak was known for its care of those who drank too heavily. They did their best, to make sure, no one made their way to their cars after too many drinks, and even had rooms above the bar that could be used for those, who's too drunk to even give an address. When they woke up the next morning, the night's stay would have been added to their drinking bill. When it came to the customers, who were conscious enough to slur an actual address, Hinata and Ino called Silver Cab. The club had a tab with the transportation company. For an unlimited amount of pickups, Black Oak gave them a nice salary at the end of the month.
"What's up, babe?"
Sai was a tall, handsome guy. Hinata could definitely see, why Ino liked him. He was a photography major, with a black belt. Meaning, the boy had a body, that was to die for. He intimidated all who didn't know how sweet his heart really was, and he'd been at Black Oak long before Ino and Hinata had started. Once he'd met them, he'd said that there was an 'innocence' in Hinata's eyes, which was funny, considering he was younger than both, Hinata and Ino, but from then on he'd insisted on calling Hinata 'Babe', like a small sheep. To a lot of people's surprise, it held no romantic undertone. They were purely platonic, especially due to the fact that Sai had his eyes set on an overly flirtatious bartender that also happened to be Hinata's best friend and roommate.
It was beyond clear, that Ino adored Sai, as much as Sai adored her. It showed every time they saw each other, every time they shared gazes and every time they accidentally bumped into one another. At this point, it was just a waiting game of who was going to make the first move, but considering almost every Friday night Ino took home a new groupie from the bar, Hinata was hoping Sai made a move before Ino caught something. It was ridiculous, the lengths, to which her best friend would go through, instead of admitting her infatuation with the silent bodyguard.
Hinata removed some empty glasses from the bar, nodding her head at the man, faced down in a blue blazer, so Sai was aware.
"I've got a cab coming."
Sai nodded, taking the man's arm and slinging it over his shoulder. He grunted a little under the dead weight. Hinata was a little wary, that he'd lose his balance this time, but true to Sai fashion, he soon righted himself, holding the man up with ease.
"Address?"
Hinata shook her head, as she immediately began wiping down the counter: "I already gave it to them."
Sai nodded again and began moving toward the front door through the crowd. Hinata watched them go, before turning back to the bar, pouring drinks anew. One after the other, getting back to her rhythm. She was used to this, asking what people wanted, and giving it to them. It could become a mindless monotony. Consuming her in a familiar pattern, but relaxing her thoughts. She loved her job. She was good at it. Before turning back to the bar to serve her next guest. She grabbed a glass to wipe it out, and started to rant down her usual spiel:
"What can I get you?"
"Fireball Cinnamon, double. Neat."
Hinata's head snapped up at the sound of the graveled baritone and froze. She had wondered before, how her heart would react if Sasuke had actually smiled at her. It had left her awestruck at that moment. The sound of glass shattering was the only thing, that broke her trance, causing her to look down, red-faced, at her own incompetence. Sasuke's smile still burned in her brain, as she began picking up the larger pieces.
"Hey, you okay?" Hinata looked up at Ino, who was coming up from behind her. She was still holding an open bottle of Jack, eyes filled with concern, and Hinata felt even more embarrassed, that Ino had stopped pouring a drink to come to see about her. She turned to the trash dropping the glass in, as she nodded.
"What happened?"
"I just dropped a glass-"
"I think it was partially my fault. I startled her."
Hinata and Ino looked at the black-haired man, who was leaning casually against the countertop. There was no leather jacket this time. Just a dark black V-neck t-shirt, that offset his pale skin and ripped jeans. His right arm was covered in tattoos Hinata couldn't have possibly seen beneath his jacket earlier, and she found herself staring at them now. The black tree and dark starry night scene, that seemed to be so perfectly shadowed into the inside of his forearm, caught her attention the most. Hinata tried her best to stop from gawking and snuck a glance at Ino.
It didn't help, that her best friend stood with her mouth open. Hinata carded a hand through her hair, another nervous gesture, slyly nudging Ino on the shoulder. Ino looked at Hinata and back to Sasuke, before catching on to why Hinata's face was so red.
"Holy shit, prayers do work,"
Sasuke's brow creased, and Hinata immediately panicked looking at Ino, as if she'd lost her mind. There was a shout from the other end of the bar, and Ino and Hinata both looked back, realizing they were neglecting their jobs under Sasuke's distraction. Placing the Jack on the counter Ino reached beneath, tossing the broom and dustpan to Hinata before giving her a look that clearly suggested - the 'conversation' was not over- then grabbed the bottle again, while running to take the man's order.
Hinata took her time as she swept. Telling herself to relax, as she tossed the contents of the dustpan in the trash, and pinched at the bridge of his nose. She really hadn't expected to see Sasuke again, and truthfully within herself, she couldn't decide if this was a good or a bad thing. Part of her wanted to talk again. To experience that easy breeze of teasing between her and Sasuke, took place when they'd met in that hallway, but the other part of her wanted to run as far away as possible because there was no way that this could turn out good.
Hinata was definitely the one, who needed a drink.
Placing the objects against a self in the corner, Hinata turned back with a wide smile on her face, trying to slyly wipe her sweaty palms on her jeans.
"What are you doing here?"
Sasuke raised a brow, looking around at all the people in the club, and Hinata wanted to smack herself in the head. Of course, he was at a bar on a Friday night. Who wasn't at a bar on Friday night?
"Uhhh…, it's a bar." Sasuke chuckled, and Hinata laughed nervously. She went to speak again, but Sasuke cocked his head to the side smirking, and Hinata lost her capacity to think. She had no doubt, that Sasuke was enjoying the torture he was providing her with. He had to figure out, what he was doing to Hinata with just a look. Hinata needed to shake it all off, though. She kept giving herself a pep talk in her mind, about keeping her distance and just making the drink. She was so lost in Sasuke, that she still hadn't grabbed a glass, nor the bottle.
"Thought I'd have a night out with my friends. I didn't know you worked here, though."
"Yeah, I do. I spend most mornings at my other job, though, or at class."
Sasuke nodded, raising a brow again. Hinata didn't understand the expression as they stood there, looking at each other, but it gave her the moment she didn't need - to notice smaller things. Like his large hands that held long strong fingers. The padding rough, and veins prominent. Hinata couldn't stop thinking, how Sasuke created with his hands. Worked with his hands. How he knew so perfectly, how to use them, and how perfectly he would use them on Hinata.
"Can I get my drink?"
Hinata's eyes widened in embarrassment, as her gaze snapped back to Sasuke's. "Huh? Oh yeah."
Hinata grabbed a glass, tossing it behind her back and up over her shoulder, before grabbing it from the air and placing it down on top of a napkin in front of Sasuke, smiling.
"So, you're not a glass dropping klutz after all, huh?"
Hinata actually chuckled, although she felt her cheeks burn. She was purposely showing off a little bit. She had no idea, why she was trying this hard to hold Sasuke's attention, but something warm bloomed inside of her, knowing it was working. She reached back, grabbing the fireball from the shelf.
"I may know a thing or two." Sasuke didn't get the chance to reply, as another guy popped up next to him, while Hinata poured his whiskey.
"Six shots, Tequila. Lime."
"Salted rim?"
"Sugar, on the side." Hinata nodded, topping off Sasuke's drink, and plunking the whiskey back behind the bar. She quickly dished out a tray, tossing six of the plastic shot glasses with her right hand, followed shortly by her pouring an endless line of Tequila over the glasses with her left. She turned to the fridge, grabbing some of the fresh lime wedges she and Ino had cut earlier. Then laid sugar in a small dish, and placed it all on the tray.
After Hinata ran his card, she turned to tell Sasuke she hadn't meant to make him wait and found nothing but a fifty dollar bill lying on the counter. It didn't cost that much.
Hinata stood on a small stool, normally used to reach the shelved good stuff, searching over the high seats to find out where Sasuke had gone. Fifty was too much, and Hinata wanted to give it back. She looked from one end to the other in the dim room, trying to find Sasuke's mop of black hair. The lights glinted off of a pale arm, colored in black ink, and Hinata smiled, finding it connected to the man she was looking for, seated at a table in the far left corner of the bar. There were two other guys with him and a montage of scantily clad females, grinding against their bodies.
Hinata's smile slowly disappeared, as she watched Sasuke leaned back in one of the chairs, glass half empty in front of him. He didn't seem to be paying any attention to the pinkette in his lap. Breast pressed heavily against his chest, lips attached to his neck, like some sort of vampire, but that also wasn't the point. Sasuke wasn't pushing her away either. To Hinata's embarrassment, when she looked away from the woman, she found Sasuke's gazed directed solely on her. Something ugly warred inside of Hinata, and she quickly recognized it as misplaced jealousy. Sasuke wasn't hers. He could do whatever he wanted, and Hinata had absolutely nothing to be jealous of. They'd only had a couple of conversations and some flirtatious teasing. Still, she found herself picturing pulling the woman away. Replacing those slimy hands with hers, as the witch trailed her pink tinted nails over Sasuke's chest and seemed to suck harder at his skin. It would leave a mark and Hinata felt a little sick at the thought. She saw how Sasuke never looked away. Even as he gripped the girl's hip tightly in one hand, and the swell of her ass in the palm of his other. Hinata couldn't help the small gasp he made at the open display, as Sasuke didn't look the slightest bit embarrassed. The woman visibly got riled up further, and Hinata cringed, feeling as if she could practically hear her overdone moans over the music. It wasn't until she'd tried to kiss Sasuke, that he broke his gaze with Hinata. He pulled away from her, a look of disgust on his face, and Hinata heaved as she jumped down from the stool, turning away from the counter for a moment. She'd been so entranced that she'd stopped breathing.
Hinata bit her lip, as her fist clenched at her side. She was so stupid, getting involved with something like that again. Her heartbeat, like a thousand drums in her chest, practically drowning out the steady stream of music in her ears. Of course, Sasuke was gorgeous. He had been just trying to be kind, when he had spoken with Hinata and even still, if he had been flirting, Hinata knew how these things ended. Stupid crushes and petty attractions, that grew into something more. Something dangerous. No one was supposed to have this kind of control over her again. To make her feel willing and...excited. She jumped, as a hand came down on her shoulder.
"Hina, you okay?"
She tried to pull herself together, as she looked up at Ino, swallowing hard. "Yeah, I-" she stopped getting ready to explain, but thinking better of it. Ino didn't need to be concerned with this. She was having such a good time on shift. So Hinata just nodded. "Yeah, I'm fine. Let's get back to work."
Ino looked skeptical, but nodded, before she unleashed her usual playful smile. "Did you get Sasuke's number?"
Hinata tried not to flinch at the name, the jealousy, and annoyance still flowing fresh through her veins. She shook her head and turned back to the counter with a forced smile. "Nah, it was just too busy."
Ino followed, grabbing a clean rag from under the counter and tossed it over her shoulder. "Yeah, I know what you mean. It's been crazy, especially for it to be so early on in the night, but only a few more hours and we're outta here."
Hinata snorted a little, relieved, that she'd managed to successfully distract Ino from asking any more questions. "You? Leaving alone on a Friday? Amazing."
Ino shook her head, tossing loose bottles from behind the counter to Hinata so she could reshelve them. "Now, you know that's just not me. Besides, I've never tried a redhead before. Luck seems to be on my side tonight." Ino winked at him and Hinata chuckled. She came closer after the bottles were done, and grabbed her own cleaning rag.
"Well, consider yourself even luckier. You two can head back to our place if you want. I think I'll finish up the rest of the night with Temari and TenTen."
They had been smoothly moving around one another, as they both wiped down the counter only for Ino to pause right before she crosses stepped Hinata and looked at her. Hinata tried not to look too uncomfortable, to prevent Ino's questions, but there was only so much she could hide from someone who knew her so well.
"What's going on?"
Hinata shook her head shrugging. "Nothing. I just want the extra hours. It's not like we couldn't use the cash."
Ino still looked at her, and Hinata could see that she wasn't buying any of it. "Things didn't get weird until after you talked to Sasuke."
Hinata opened her mouth to deny anything being wrong, but Ino just rolled her eyes. "I'm not going to push or pry, and I know you already know you can tell me anything. I also know that this is neither the time - nor place - so I'll let it go, but just so you know, I do know that something is wrong."
Hinata closed her mouth, looking down at the cleaning rag she had been unknowingly ringing between her hands.
"Hina, you always do this thing, where you hold yourself back because of... him, but how about you take your own advice, hmm? You deserve the good guy too, you know?" she turned back to Ino. She was closer now and offering Hinata a soft look in understanding.
Hinata nodded, even though she knew she really wasn't too sure about that. She had thought she had the good guy once, and look how that turned out. Hinata was proud to say that she'd done well, piecing herself back together after her first heartbreak. Ino had been a huge help as well, and even though Hinata had felt as if she'd given that man everything, even down to her virtue, she'd still found something within herself to stand on. It had taken sacrifice. She had lost her love for dancing, but she'd gained a solid peace in mind. So, why did Hinata feel so singled out? Why had she felt targeted, and it all began with the day she'd run into Sasuke. It was pointless for a man like that to have stood in a hallway with Hinata acting so...awkward. So, why did he? It was clear he could have any woman he wanted. Which he'd clearly proven tonight. It all threw Hinata for a loop. She hated senseless mind games.
She looked out over the counter, sensing Ino move away to continue cleaning. There were people out on the floor. Talking, laughing, and dancing. Each with their own stories. Their own sins, pains, and complaints. Each with their own demons they were trying to escape, whether it be with alcohol or sex or mindless music. Sasuke was out there, and Hinata wondered vaguely, what he was escaping from, and if he would find it in the pinkette that had been in his lap. Shaking her head at the ridiculous thought, Hinata pushed her messy bangs back off of her forehead. She shouldn't be concerned about Sasuke at all. She had a job to do.
Taking a deep breath, she recomposed herself. The fifty Sasuke had left behind seemed to burn in her back pocket, and Hinata tried hard to just get back to cleaning before the next customer came, but something played in the back of her mind. Something hopefully.
Sasuke had been watching her as he touched that woman. Not once paying attention to her, and her wanton dramatics as she felt him up. Hinata could still feel his gaze. Steady and sure, as he watched Hinata, hand palmed at the woman's ass. Hinata couldn't help the nagging suspicion, that maybe, Sasuke hadn't been trying to express disinterest in Hinata and his lust for the pink haired woman.
Maybe Sasuke had been picturing himself...touching Hinata.