A/N: As mentioned previously, or rather later on, (wow this is like some time paradox) I am editing this story slowly, but surely. Here is the edited version of my second chapter, and I sincerely hope you enjoy it.

"Okay, I know exactly what to do." Hinata smiled as she held out her hand to take the folded note from Temari's fingers. Unconsciously, Temari clamped down on the valentine and pulled back a little, suddenly finding herself unwilling to let the note out of her grasp. While it was still between her fingers, it was within her control. The moment it left her hand, that meant plummeting down an emotional roller coaster, not knowing what to expect from the track in front of her. These thoughts only added to the turmoil within her, and she drew in a strong breath to clear her head. Any extra minute spent pondering is another minute risking her courage, and that was something that she did not need right now. With sheer determination, she shoved the paper into Hinata's hand forcing herself to walk away to keep herself from further doubting her actions. After all, the greatest rewards come from the greatest risks, right?

Temari's head pounded as Hinata recounted, or tried to recount the exact path of the valentine after it had left her hand.

"And then... Ano, where was I? Yes... Sakura. So then Sakura passed it to umm... Right, Ino. And Ino passed it to Choji, or was it Lee? No, it was Choji. And then Choji passed it to Shikamaru!" The girl finally finished, grinning at her, a little out of breath.

Temari squeezed her nosebridge, trying to process the newly-fed information, and sighed. Exactly how many people now knew that a valentine was written for Shikamaru? This was too many for comfort? And Shikamaru? He's so smart, he could ask each of them and follow the chain back and figure out that it was her oh Kami she was so stupid why did she even decide to do this in the first place? She had to slow down her racing heart and just relax.

"How did he react?" Her heart clenched slightly at Hinata's crestfallen face, her voice becoming a little guarded. "Hinata...?"

"Well he said 'Okay'." Hinata said, nervously pressing her fingers together, not daring to meet her friend's piercing gaze.

"And...?"

"Well, that's the thing. That's all he said. He took it, and went, 'Okay'." Hinata squeaked, furiously fiddling with her fingers as she tried to make her friend feel a little better. "Maybe he was just tired, or maybe he didn't want others to know how happy and flattered he was!"

Hinata knew that it was too late from the arms that folded instinctively across Temari's chest, the light that faded from her eyes and the lips that pursed ever so slightly.

"Oh... I see. Yeah, you're probably right Hinata!" Temari tried, pushing her mouth into a smile that didn't quite seem genuine.

Temari attempted to gulp down the rising disappointment in her. So he was not even interested in who this mysterious admirer was? Or maybe it was because he got too many of these everyday, or he thought it was a prank? She decided there and then that she would see for herself what he thought.

Using the skills acquired from a good 16 years of ninja training, she sneaked all the way to his apartment unnoticed. Peeping through the window while hoping to catch him in a decent situation, she was relieved (albeit a little disappointed *insert winking face*) to see him sleeping peacefully on his bed, well covered-up by the blankets. She then scanned the room for the red note, but felt crushed when she finally spotted it in the cluttered room.

It was in no way given the glory that she had hoped, maybe pinned up on the cork board, or placed on the desk.

It was used to prop up the uneven leg of his desk to prevent it from shaking.

Her hands started to tremble as she fled the scene, holding back tears, trying her best to just stop thinking and stop feeling, all the while knowing that it was impossible.

Hinata had left out one more maybe.

Maybe he didn't even care.

A/N: Yes I definitely like the edited version better :) Hope you liked it as much as I did! Next up, editing chapter 3! :D