Hiding behind a smile

Hiding behind a smile

Chapter 3- Friends...

After all of the stops had been made, Tenten was surrounded by guys who were laughing and joking with her like they'd known her forever, and Tenten felt accepted and happy that she'd made so may friends in just a day!!

"...and then I saw..." Lee was telling her about one of his famous missions with his sensei Might Guy, but Tenten was only half listening. Her mind was too busy thinking about Neji to understand what Lee was telling her.

"...and then...Tenten??" Lee asked, snapping his fingers in front of her face. "Are you alright?"

"Huh?" Tenten said distractedly. She shook her head, snapping her mind back. "Oh, sorry. Yeah I'm fine...just daydreaming."

Lee smiled and turned to Naruto, engaging him in a deep conversation. The bus suddenly to a turn, and Tenten was staring at the BIGGEST school she'd ever seen, and the most beautiful. Beautiful plants, flowers, and trees lines the walkway to the double doors leading into the school. Above the doors, a plaque read: Konoha Junior High.

Tenten stared at the building in awe.

"It's so big!!" she said, turning to Gaara. Gaara nodded, smiling at her.

"Trust me," he said in his deep voice. "It's pretty easy to get around. Hey, what's your homeroom? Here, let me look at it..."

Tenten handed him her schedule.

Homeroom-Kakashi Hatake

1st hour-Jiraiya, Math- Room 102

2nd hour-Might Guy, P.E- Room 650

3rd hour-Asuma Sarutobi, Social Studies- Room 106

4th hour-Kurenai Yuhi, English- Room 104

Lunch

5th hour-Kurenai Yuhi,English- Room 104

6th hour-Hayate Gekko, Study Hall-Library

7th hour-Shizune, Parental Education- Room 225

8th hour-Kakashi Hatake, Science-Room 109

"Cool!" said Gaara happily. "We have the same Homeroom teacher, same Math period, same English period, and Lunch!!

"Sweet!" Tenten cheered. Gaara handed it to the other guys, who also had some same periods with her and eachother.

The bus doors swung open with a Swoosh! Everyone stood up and piled down the aisle, trying to be the first ones out.

"I'll meet up with you guys in a bit," said Tenten, gesturing for them to go on without her. They hesitated, but when she smiled at them reasuringly, they left, a few glancing back. After the giant crowd had left the bus, Tenten stood up, shouldering her bag on her right shoulder. She glanced around. Neji and Itachi had also stayed behind, waiting for the crowd to go. Neji stood up and left without a word or a glance . She met Itachi's black eyed gaze, and he waved at her. Flushing, Tenten waved back and stepped into the aisle. She walked up a bit and got off the bus, tripping on the last step.

An arm shot out, wrapping around her waist to steady her as she almost hit the ground. She balanced hereself and the arm stood her up straight. Brushing off her jeans and flushing red with embarassment, she looked up and her rescuer.

Neji stared back at her, his face expressionless.

"Thank you," Tenten said, trying to keep her voice calm. her insides fluttering. Neji nodded and turned away, walking up the walkway to the school without a backwards glance.

"I guess Sakura was right," Tenten said thoughtfully, watching the doors swing shut behind him. Forgetting Neji, she began walking, staring at the plants and trees.

"Hey, Tenten," came a voice by the door. Tenten smiled when she saw Sasuke waiting for her.

"You didn't have to wait, you know," Tenten said, touched that he waited behind. "That was nice of you."

Sasuke shrugged. He gave her a smile. He reached into one of his jean pockets and pulled out his cell phone. snapping it open, he selected Camera and held it steady.

"Smile," he said. Tenten blushed and smiled. Sasuke snapped shut the phone, then flipped it open again.

"You have a cell number?" he asked her. Tenten nodded, whipping out her own phone.

"But first, you have to smile now," Tenten said with a smirk. Sasuke fake rolled his eyes and gave her the famous Uchiha smile that made any girl faint with the pleasure of seeing it.

"My number is 940-0314," Tenten said. "Got it?"

Sasuke nodded.

"Mine's 830-4579," he said, once he'd finished adding hers. Tenten nodded, entered the number, and snapped her phone shut, returning it to her pocket. Sasuke did likewise, then gestured inside.

"We shouldn't keep them waiting too long," he said, referring to the guys. Tenten nodded and opened the door, holding it for Sasuke. He smiled, a small flush creeping into his cheeks.

"They're in the gym," he said after she'd stepped in. She gazed at her surroundings in surprise. The floor was waxed and shined, and the office was to her right, Sitting behind an obsidian counter sat a woman with short black hair.

"Welcome," she greeted them with a smile. "9th graders in the gym."

"Thank you," Tenten said politely. "Come on, Sasuke."

Upon arriving at the gym, she and Sasuke were greeted by loud yells from the group of guys.

"OVER HERE!!" Naruto shouted, waving his hands. Tenten laughed and rolled her eyes, walking over to them. S he sat down between Gaara and Sasuke.

A group of girls stared at Tenten as she laughed and joked with them, jealousy on their faces. Except for one.

"Oh my God," a girl with long blonde hair said, staring at Tenten and Sasuke. "She's friends with Sasuke! No fair! But I can't believe she's hanging out with Naruto!!"

"Be nice, Ino," said Sakura. "She can be friends with anyone she wants. They can be guys or girls, okay? Just because she's a girl doesn't mean she can't be friends with them."

The girl called Ino scowled.

Tenten looked around at all the people. Itachi was sitting with his friends Kisame, Deidara, Sasori, Pein, and Konan, Sakura was sitting with Ino, and a girl named Hinata, and Neji...was sitting alone?!

"Hey," she said to Gaara, "I'm gonna go see what's wrong with Neji...he's all alone." Gaara smiled at her and nodded.

"You know Gaara, that's why I love you, you're always on my side, and i just met you today," Tenten said, patting his red hair.

Gaara chuckled, then gestured to Neji. Tenten nodded and walked over to him. She sat down across from him and put her chin in her hand. Neji made no sign of her presence.

"Can I help you?" he suddenly said, looking at her suspiciously.

"No, I was just wanted to come over and introduce myself. You look lonely." Tenten cocked her ead to the side. "I'm Tenten." she extended her hand cheerfully.

Neji stared at it a moment, then shook it twice.

"Neji," he said in dull tones. "And I enjoy being by myself."

"Okay, then," Tenten said cheerfully, standing up again. "It was nice meeting you." She waved to him and walked back to her friends.

Neji stared after a moment, his eyes thoughtful. It would be great to have friends like that.

Aww...poor Neji...well, stay tuned for Chapter 4!! Reviews reviews!! I'm up for advice, complaints...blah blah. D