Me: Hello and welcome back to the next chapter of this very badly named story!

Gaara: Am I going to be in this chapter?

Me: Maybe, maybe not. (pats on back) Don't worry; I'll put you in soon.

Gaara: You'd better. (glare)

Me: Oookay. Well anyway, thanks so much for the reviews! I really, really appreciate all your enthusiasm for my story. I almost cried when I read all my reviews because they made me so very happy! Thank you: InuKagKisses,Psychoticbunny, AzureBlue-eyed-dragon, No No 22, FakeSmilingFox, and I want to give a special thanks to Narutard Kiba for being with me and supporting this story from the very start! I owe you twenty-thousand cookies! XD It's your turn now, Gaara. Thank all the kind reviewers!

Gaara: Thanks.

Me: I want a smile with that. (glare)

Gaara: No.

Me: I'll give you a cookie!

Gaara: (smile) Thank you all soooooo very, very, very much for reviewing!!

Me: That's better. (Tosses cookie)

Gaara: (eating cookie) ee dosn now aeyhin. (gulp) She doesn't own anything. Wow. This was a long A/N…

Thursday:

Thursdays for me are usually good days; today…not so much.

Yesterday had been a disaster; after the 'incident' Neji had called his chaffer in a rage which forced Kiba, Hinata, and I to wait until Kiba's older sister came and picked us up. When I got home I was in a mess. So much of a mess, in fact, that even my laid back guardian, Kakashi, was worried. He had sent me straight to my room and told me to stay in bed until dinner. It didn't help at all.

I sank back into my seat and stared at the wooden table in front of me. I was exhausted; I had hardly gotten any sleep that night. I glanced out of the corner of my eye to the table where I knew Sasuke would be sitting. He hadn't talked to me at all today, which was usual, but it still hurt.

'I bet all the school knows about yesterday by now.' I thought. 'I wonder why no one has said anything. I mean, I may like Sasuke but that doesn't mean that he isn't an ass. He has to have told somebody.'

Sasuke must have felt my eyes on him then because he turned towards me. Blue met black and a chill ran down my spine. His gaze held as much intensity now as it had the first time; so much that I had to look away. I was fairly (haha cool word) certain I was blushing, so I looked down at my desk again and hid my face with my bangs. When I was sure that my temperature was back to normal I looked up again, but this time I wasn't chancing a look at Sasuke.

I watched my silver-haired guardian as he wrote complicated math problems on the board and actually tried to pay attention for once. I was failing too many classes already to be getting behind in this one. Especially because Kakashi taught it. He would be on my back about it forever (not literally) if I flunked his class.

So here I was, listening to Kakashi's lecture but at the same time finding a way to think about Sasuke. I know….pathetic right? Yeah. I thought so too.

Today the Uchiha was wearing the white basketball uniform of our school's team which I thought looked almost as good on him as his usual dark, emo style did. The basketball uniform had a loose, sleeveless mesh top with long black shorts and his shoes looked three times too big effectively making him look all the more hotter. Wait…is that even a word. I'm not sure…

Anyway, the reason he was even wearing his basketball uniform today was because his team had a game. Usually they played on Fridays but today was an exception. The P.E coach, Mr. Guy (freaky man…eyebrows), loved to get in as many games as possible before the play offs.

Sasuke was the team star and co-captained with Kiba. My dog-like friend was the number two, though not nearly as popular as Sasuke. They both would be leaving next period to get on the bus. Even Hinata and her Softball team were leaving early to play today.

I envied them. I really did. Not just because they were getting out of school (that was part of it, though) but also 'cause I love basketball. I would have to say I'm pretty good at it too. You're wondering why I'm not on the team if I love the sport so much, right? Well, that's because of my grades. As I said before I'm not exactly acing all my classes and if you have a C- or lower in any one subject, you can't be on the team.

I sighed. Yes, today was not a good day.

"Oh, it's 10:15 already?" Kakashi looked behind me at the clock, "My, time does go by fast when you're doing math." Kakashi smiled and made a shooing motion with his hands. "Out! All of you."

I finished my last line of notes and packed up, wanting to be the first out of class so that I could find Hinata and Kiba to wish them good luck before their games. I hurried out of the room and looked up and down the halls. I caught sight of Hinata talking to Ten-ten on their way out of the English room. I caught up with them quickly and tapped them both on the shoulder.

"Hi Hina-chan." I hugged my friend and nodded at her companion. "Hey Zero."

If you are wondering where Ten-ten's nickname came from, all you have to do is look at how her name's spelled. Self explanatory.

"What do you want?" Ten-ten asked, already looking annoyed. I sweat dropped. Why does she always look at me like that?

"Nothin' much. Just wanted to say good bye." I answered. "So see ya guys."

Hinata smiled at me and waved. "Bye, Naruto!" I watched as her friend pulled her in the direction of the curb where I nkew the bus would be waiting. I sighed again as I waved at my friend's back, wishing I could be going with her. Oh well. What can you do?

I turned around towards the direction of the Spanish classroom. If I was right Kiba should be getting out of that class right about n…

There, leaning against the hallway wall with a smirk on his face was Uchiha Sasuke. And he was looking straight at me.

"Hey." His low, beautiful voice almost brought a blush to my face. Was he talking to me? Why would he do that? Especially after what had happened Wednesday. I resisted the urge to look behind me to check if he was talking to someone else.

"H-hey." Did I just stutter? Oh my god. He's going to think I'm a freak. Well at least I worked up the nerve to say anything at all. Yeah, I know I sound like a wussy chick right now but it was just…his eyes. They were smoldering me.

I clutched my books to my chest and waited for him to say something else, anything else. But he didn't. "S-shouldn't you be getting on the bus right now? Your game starts soon."

"Yeah." He speaks! "I guess I should be." He straightened up off the wall and walked right past me. I didn't turn around to watch him. I didn't need to; I could hear his footsteps as he walked away, despite how crowded the hallway was. Then his footsteps stopped. "Hey!" I turned around when he called to me, heart thumping in my chest.

"Yeah?" Sasuke was almost halfway down the hallway now, hands shoved into his pockets.

"Aren't you going to wish me good luck?" I almost gaped at what he said. There was no doubt that I was blushing now, though I hoped he'd be to far away to see.

"G-good luck!" I said, blushing deeper. He smirked at me and nodded, turning his back on me once more. I watched him leave, not really believing the conversation I had just had. I let out a breath that I hadn't known I was holding and just stood there for a while. I needed a chance to calm down. It didn't matter that I would be late to my next class.

After a few minuets of just caching my breath and went to trade my math books for my science binder at my locker. When I finally made it to my class I wasn't too late, but Ms. Kureni still gave me a dirty look as I sat down in my seat. My seat that was right next too…

Crap! I forgot that Neji and I were in the same science group. Oh joy.

I should have remembered that he wasn't on the basketball team; he's probably too wrapped up in his homework to have time for sports. I looked at him out of the corner of my eye cautiously but he wasn't looking at me, he was looking intently at his note page, scribbling things down on it every once in a while. He was staring at it a little too intently if you ask me. Like he was purposely avoiding my eyes. That was good news for me. It meant that I didn't have to worry about him glaring at me all during class, but still…

I hadn't meant to hurt him that much.

'Maybe I should apologize.' I thought but quickly ditched the idea on a side road in my mind. I was not going to apologize to him. He should be the one apologizing.

'He should be begging me for forgiveness.' I thought to myself sternly. I mentally nodded and squared my shoulders. But as I looked down at him and saw how desperately he was trying to not look at me I knew I had already made up my mind. I needed to apologize.

I waited as the class droned by, paying attention, but barely. I was relieved that we didn't have a group project that day because it was obvious Neji was not in the mood to work with me right then.

When the class was over I followed Neji out into the hall, staying with him all the way up to his locker. I leaned on the wall next to him as he put his books away, making my presence obvious. He still pretended like he didn't see me. I waited for him to give up but he was being stubborn and refused to acknowledge that I was there.

"Hey, Neji." He finally turned towards me at the sound of my voice, but after giving me a quick, cold stare he turned around and started walking away.

'Oh no you don't.' I grabbed his arm and turned him to face me, looking him right in the eye.

"Neji, we need to talk." I said.

"What about?" Neji answered coolly.

"You now what about." My eyes narrowed. How could he be so calm and composed?

"If you're talking about what happened yesterday I don't see that there's any need for us to discuss anything that happened. What's done is done. Fate has played her hand. She's not about to take it back." Neji tried to walk away once more but I pulled him back. I wanted to retort with a smart, angry remark but that was not what I had come for. I had promised myself that I would fix this and I am a man of my word, if nothing else.

"Look. I don't want to fight you about this. All I want to do is to say I'm sorry about what happened. I know I hurt you and I feel sorry that I did. So what do you say?" I held out a hand to him. "Even if we can't be together like that. Can we still be…friends?"

I watched for Neji's reaction and was stunned when his lips twitched up into the first real smile I have ever seen on the light-eyed boy. "Yeah." He gripped my hand tightly. "Friends."

I grinned back at him. Hinata and Kiba would never believe this. We're now going to have a foursome instead of a threesome. I wondered how Hinata would react but decided I would just have to talk to her about it tonight. I grabbed Neji's arm for a third time and dragged him over to my locker. I talked to him as I put away my books.

"What's Sasuke gonna think? I mean, he's your friend right?" It was almost easy to be around Neji now. I guess all we needed was a truce. He still looked a little awkward, though.

"He'll manage without me." He wasn't smiling anymore but his expression was calm, not relaxed, but calm.

I closed my locker door and walked with him to the Greenfield. Maybe today wasn't so bad after all.­­­­­­­­­­­­­

"Kakashi! Hurry up! I need to use the phone." I stomped impatiently next to my guardian and crossed my arms. He had been talking to this mysterious new girlfriend - that I had yet to meet, by the way - for about an hour. He gave me an annoyed look and spoke into the phone.

"Sorry babe. Got t' go. The brat's pestering me." I tapped my foot as the person on the other end answered Kakashi. "Ok. Love ya. Bye." Kakashi hung up and handed me the phone.

"Finally!" I started dialing Hinata's number and ran into my room. I shut the door and listened to the phone ring.

"Hello?" A feminine voice answered.

"Hinata?"

"No, it's Hanabi. Wait."

Hanabi? Who's…? Oh yeah, Hinata's little sister. I almost forgot she had one. She never talked about her.

'I wonder why?' I thought to myself.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Hina-chan."

"Wazzup?"

"Nothin' much…but I was wondering if Neji said anything to you when he came home today." I was nervous but my voice was steady.

"Um…no. Why? Was he supposed to?"

"No no. Just wondering. Well actually, something happened between us after you left."

"What?!" Hinata practically screamed. She probably expected the worst. "Did he hurt you? Did he molest you again? Or did he …"

"Hina-chan, calm down. It's not a bad thing. I'm perfectly fine."

"Than what was it?" She wasn't shouting anymore but she still sounded suspicious.

'She must really hate her cousin.' I thought. 'How am I going to tell her that we're friendly now?'

"Well, Hinata, we kinda' made a truce. We're friends now." There was silence on the other end of the phone. Then Hinata started laughing. I almost dropped the phone because of how suddenly and loudly she was laughing.

"Haha! Funny, Naruto! You really had me goin' there for a second."

"Hinata I'm serious!" I was frustrated with my friend. I had actually worked up the nerve to tell her and she didn't believe me. The laughing stopped.

"Really?" Hinata's voice was dead-serious now.

"Yeah, really. Are you going to be ok with him hanging around with us?"

"I-I'll be ok." I smiled.

"Are you sure?"

"Yep. I trust your judgment."

"Thanks Hina-chan."

"No problem." I heard the smile in her voice. "So I'll see you tomorrow?"

"Yeah, see ya."

"Bye."

"By-Wait! One more thing."

"What?"

"I was wondering…why do you hate Neji so much? I mean besides him being an ass to you on the drive to the library." For a second time Hinata was silent. When she spoke again her voice sounded shaky.

"It's a long story. Family thing."

"You want to talk about it?" I picked up her mood and wanted to help.

"N-no. I'll see you at school, Naruto." And then Hinata hung up on me.

Me: I know it was short but how'd ya like it?

Gaara: It was terrible.

Me: I wasn't asking you! (throws rock at head)

Gaara: (wearing Band-Aid) Ow. (sniff)

Me: That's right! Cry!! Cry!!! (evil laugh)

Gaara: I'm not crying.

Me: Whatever. Oh! (turns toward readers) Just so you know I'm going to be going away on a week long class trip starting St. Patty's Day so I'm sorry in advance for not updating or answering reviews for the duration of that time.

Gaara: That was a long sentence.

Me: I know. Until next time! XD