I smell a mixture of thick, yet elegant, but clearly men scent oriented, shampoo, I think? I also smell ramen, but everything is still black. When I open my eyes I see blurry yellow and that I'm moving. Well, my body is moving, but my feet aren't. Once my vision clears, it is obvious what is happening. Naruto is carrying me. I use to have dreams about this when I was in middle school. Of course, I am less appreciative about it now unlike back then. Wait!
"Naruto?" I say softly. He turns around, so I only get a profile of his face. His skin is flawless. He smiles.
"Good, you're awake." He stops walking. "I don't know if you should walk quite yet. Was that one bowl of ramen all you ate today?"
Ramen? We did get ramen today, didn't we? And then, what? What happened next?
"What happened?" I asked him. He puts me down and rolls his shoulders. I feel a bit embarrassed. How long has he been carrying me?
"Well, we were deciding on whether or not to go back to school and then you, sorta, passed out on me." I can't tell if he was feeling awkward about the fact he had to carry me or if it found it humorous in some way. Either way, I was mortified. I haven't experienced that since middle school, since I was obsessed with him. Why is this all coming back again?
"I'm so sorry." I can't even fathom the right words to say. I'm completely embarrassed. All day, Naruto has just been nice to me, trying to help me out, and I completely ruin his day. Typical Hinata.
"No, don't be sorry!" He chuckles, scratching the back of his head. "If anything it's my fault for catching you off guard. Kiba warned me about that."
"Kiba did?" I didn't even think before saying his name, and just before all the thoughts come rushing back, Naruto's voice saves me from myself.
"Yeah!" He smiles, so dork-like. "He said if I catch you off guard, you'd probably pass out." He giggles a little bit. "I thought it was just an expression, I didn't think he was serious!" Of course, his face immediately changes to a concerned expression. "But you're alright, right?" His range of emotions is almost comical. I bite my lips to let the laughter pass.
"I'm okay, thank you." I say. "Sorry to cause you so much trouble."
"No, like I said, it's my fault for surprising you." He keep saying that he, 'surprised me', but I still don't know what he's talking about.
"I'm sure I just overreacted to whatever it was." I assure him. I thought I was comforting him, but his face looks so sad. Did I say the wrong thing?
"So you don't remember?" He asks me. As soon as he finishes that sentence, I try to scramble through my brain for the answer. He keeps talking, but I don't really listen, I just keep searching. I come up empty. I'm so embarrassed. "It's alright, Hinata." He's such an optimist. I want to be like that. "I'll just try it again."
"Try…?" It just escapes my lips. I finish the "…what?" part in my head.
His hand reaches up, and places my hair behind my ear. His fingers only skim my actual skin, but it was enough to send shudders through my entire body. I blush as his hand traces down my arm and his interlocks his fingers with mine. Is this real life? I don't understand.
"Hinata." I look up at him. I wish I didn't because now I'm hypnotized. It's been years since I've been mesmerized by his face. "Will you go out with me?"
I can't speak. Only sounds with no meanings come from my mouth. What is happening? What's going on?
"Naruto… I-"
"I know you're still depressed from your break up." He's right. I am. "But it's been three months." He's right again. It has. "I think it's time to move on, and I think I can help you with that, if you'd let me."
I've heard this before, almost exactly. I don't think I have the strength to go through this a second time. I can't handle that again. These three months have been the hardest of my life and to go through that all again would just crush me.
"Thank you, Naruto." He's so nice, he really is. "But I can't go through this again." It's literally the same thing except the two have swapped places. Was this some kind of sick joke? Were they planning this all along?
"At least let me be your friend." He reasons. "If it goes somewhere, then it does, if not, at least you're not alone anymore."
I am alone. The past three months have been the most alone I've ever felt. How is it okay to get so close to someone and become so attached, basically inseparable, then in an instant become strangers. How is that normal? How is that human?
"I don't know…" I really don't.
"Then give it a shot! What do you have to lose by gaining a friend?" That's Naruto for you, never taking no for an answer. He's right though, I need to do something. It's exhausting being depressed all the time.
Oh the déjà vu. I can still remember, this was the same feeling I felt when I was told to "give him a chance". I don't think I can take anymore chances, not with love at least. But a friend would be nice. I miss having just one person to talk to. It's been a very lonely three months, trying to get over everything.
"Just a friend… right?" I clarify. Naruto nods at me with his contagious grin.
"And nothing more," He promises, although I could've sworn I heard him mutter something after. But that's probably a side-effect from fainting earlier. I smile back and nod.
"Okay." And just like that, I have a friend again.
StereoxHearts
