So before the point when all my exams will just come on me like a wrecking ball, I decided to upload a new chapter here. Hopefully you will love it!
Midterms. This word usually makes students shiver and grip their books tighter. This period is full of stress, when all students try to remember as much information as its only possible and spend all their time in libraries. Ino was one of them. Looking with an empty gaze at the open book about history, she only sighed and closed her face with her hands, not wanting to accept the fact that the exam is going to be soon.
''That's a very interesting way of getting ready for an exam.''
Strong arms wrapped around her waist and she smiled, leaning into him. Shikamaru was always there for her and she loved the point that he knows her that good that he can guess where she is quickly. Resting her head on his chest, she looked up, when he started to caress her back with his hands.
''I hate history'', she let out with a sigh.
''I know'', he replied and took the book in his hands. ''I don't hate it, so we're going to do it together.''
''Do what?''
''Get ready for an exam'', he replied and kissed the top of her head.
Ino smiled and cuddled to her boyfriend, letting her eyes wonder all other the pages of the book. She never liked to read, but this doesn't mean that she is stupid. This is a very huge stereotype that if a person doesn't read it makes him not intelligent and just dumb, basically. Ino, personally, couldn't read because she had issues with concentration and just couldn't bring herself to read something for more than twenty minutes. But Shikamaru always somehow made everything easier and more…game-like. She smiled, when her boyfriend started to explain her the theme.
''Just listen attentively'', he mumbled and Ino nodded. ''Where is Tenten, by the way? Did you get her from sociology notes?''
''Oh my god…''
As it was said previously, midterms are horrible. Not for Tenten, though. First, she always paid attention on the lessons and always did the homework, so midterms were just another case to check her knowledge. That's why instead of sitting in the libraries; she was lying on the sofa in her flat, watching a football match on her laptop. She loved football and basketball and basically everything that revolved around sports. That's why she chose Sports Journalism. This faculty was very interesting for her; unlike many students she went to classes with a good mood and smile on her face. Maybe that's why she was never scared of midterms and always passed them good. Rolling her eyes when Barcelona scored a goal to Atletico, she quickly took her notebook and wrote few sentences there, describing the goal. It was her favorite thing to do: she watched the matches and wrote down her own comments. Not like she wants to be a commentator, but this was a good practice. Her phone vibrated and she reached for it, picking it without looking.
''Ten! Please, say that you have notes for sociology!'' Ino screamed from the other line.
''Hi to you too'', Tenten mumbled, sitting up straight. ''Yes, I have them, why?''
''You don't live far from uni, can you bring them, like…now?'' her voice was rather hysterical.
''O..kay'' Tenten mumbled and stand up. ''I will be there in ten minutes.''
After agreeing on meeting each other near gates, girl cancelled the call and went to her room. Putting notes for sociology in her bag, Tenten quickly changed from her home clothes to the long blue dress. Road to the university was quick and in ten minutes Tenten was already coming up to the gates. She saw Ino running to her and when her friend gripped her so tight that she couldn't breathe, Tenten stepped back.
''Here'', she mumbled, handling of her notes. ''What happened?''
''Oh my god, you're an angel!'' Yamanaka screamed and loudly kissed her on the cheek. ''I will give them back to you in two days! Love you!''
All Tenten could do was just nod, when her friend ran away from her to university. The girl already wanted to turn around and go back home, when she saw something that caught her attention. Better someone, because she saw two of her really good friends going to university form other side and both were in bruises. Her heart skip a beat and she ran towards them. Lee noticed her first and smiled warmly, waving with his hand. Shino raised his head and smiled too, stopping on his tracks. Tenten came closer, looking at their bruised faces with wide eyes. They all knew each other from the first year at Uni and were really good friends. In this year their relationships changed a bit, as both guys started to attend boxing classes and they didn't see each other much, but their friendship was still strong, or so Tenten thought.
''Oh God, what happened with you two?'' She asked. ''Don't tell me that it's all because of the boxing.''
''Few days ago we had competition between cities, so yeah, got a bit bruised'', Lee answered and shrugged. ''Nothing much, though. We didn't win, unfortunately.''
Tenten skeptically arched her eyebrow. Unfortunately? Was he kidding? The whole left side of Lee's face was red and she noticed how Shino was limping slightly. Knowing that right now she will say something bad about boxing, both guys smiled and showed her thumbs up, hoping that this will calm her down.
''What about you? Getting ready for midterms?'' Lee asked, trying to switch topics.
''Did you get the camera?'' Shino asked. ''You talked so much about it, so did you eventually find it?''
Tenten sighed loudly. Should she say that she didn't find it or say that she found it and then lost? Her mouth opened and she already wanted to say that she has not found yet, when strange sounds made her look around. Shino and Lee turned around too and saw a group of girls, standing near some expensive car that had just parked near the gates. Lee and Shino whistled loudly, when they saw car fully.
''Never thought that we have that rich students in uni'', Shino mumbled, raising his eyebrow.
''We don't'', Lee said. ''Look at the car, it just can't belong to a student.''
Tenten, who was as interested in cars as she was in football, took few steps closer to look who's going to get out from the car. Curiosity was getting the best of her and other students. Whispers were getting louder and she noticed how all girls started to fix their dresses and skirts. Chuckling on this, Tenten gestured to Lee and Shino to come closer. She saw Ino standing along with Shikamaru and smiled sadly. Yamanaka is probably offended on her for not calling and not explaining anything, but what she could do? When a door of the car opened everyone shut up like by some command. Side, where Ino was staying could see first who walked out and Tenten bite her lip, trying to see man too. But when she saw back of his head, no matter how strange it sounds, she already knew who it was. He shut the door of his car loudly and looked around. The whispers started with a new wave, everyone was talking and so on, all she could hear was ''What Neji Hyuuga is doing here?!''. Tenten would like to know that too and she stepped closer, turning to her friends.
''Come on, let's go, aren't you curious?'' She asked from her two boys, who only shrugged and went after her.
Neji was in shades and Tenten stopped for a few seconds, admiring him. Simple black jeans, white v-neck shirt, black big watches on the wrist and ray-ban shades. He was looking absolutely great and she smiled, looking at how all girls were looking at him. Hyuuga looked rather dismissed; he kept on turning his head in all directions and because of shades she couldn't see where he was looking, but it looked like he was searching for someone.
''Hey, careful!'' She let out, when two girls tried to push her away and get closer. ''Hey!''
Because they were pushing, she got pushed too and in few seconds Tenten was standing in few meters away from Neji, who turned her side and stopped. Even though she couldn't see his eyes, she was sure that he was looking at her. And he was. Hyuuga let out a sigh of relief and mentally thanked the Gods that he didn't have to go to the head mister of university or whatever to find her. He slowly took his shades off and was now looking right at her. Blue suits her.He blinked at this sudden thought and then shook his head. Without any hesitation, he came right to her. The model could perfectly hear all whispers behind his back when he reached the girl and handled to her his hand. Smile took its place on his face when he saw the way she looked at him. With her wide eyes and mouth opened in little ''o'' she looked absolutely adorable. And only now he noticed that her hair was not in buns, but all free.
''What are you even-'', she stared, but he cut her off.
''I got the camera.''
Just like he expected, she got incredibly happy. She was smiling widely, her eyes were shining and he caught himself in thinking that she looks beautiful when she's happy like that. Girl fought the urge to hug him. She bite her lower lip and stared at the man, who only chuckled at her reaction.
''Come on'', he said and turned around.
Neji wanted to take her hand in his, because this seemed to be more polite than she will just follow him, but he knew what will everyone think when he will do this. Sometimes he got really surprised how people seem to analyze his every move, but then he just got used to it. That's why he was going to his car, knowing that she's following him. All those gazes were not making him comfortable anymore; he had a good immunity to them. But he forgot to think of Tenten, who wasn't used to this kind of attention and now just wanted to disappear. She raised her head and met gaze of Ino that was just screaming ''Why are you going with him?!''. The girl opened her mouth, but nothing came out. Her best friend shook her head and turned around, going away and taking Shikamaru with her. Tenten sighed and stopped, when they both reached his car. Words couldn't really describe how happy she was when he took the camera out of the car.
''Is it that one?'' He asked, handing it to her.
''Yes'', the girl answered, taking her camera back.
Neji smiled, looking at the way she held the camera in his hands. Like it was the most precious thing in this world, when for Hyuuga, it was just an extremely old camera, which was two-staged. He completely forgot about all the other people in this place, when she raised her head and looked at him. Her brown eyes were gazing at him with such an admiration and love that it started to get hard to breathe because of the strange lump appearing on his throat. Sun lights were making her hair look brighter than they are, brown eyes were shining because of hidden tears of relief and happiness, lower lip was trembling and she bite it, still looking at him. Kami-sama, she's breathtaking.
''Tenten!''
Neji blinked and looked up, seeing two guys running to them. He narrowed his eye son them when they both came closer. The guys looked at him too and something clicked in his mind. He knows them.
''What happened?'' Tenten asked, turning to them.
''Is everything okay?'' Lee asked, looking at her.
That voice. Neji stared at the guy, keep on staying silent. His voice. He heard it already.
''Of course. Neji gave me camera. Look!'' Tenten answered and proudly showed them her camera.
People started to slowly leave the place, losing their interest in whatever was happening there. If it was not a drama, then it just wasn't interesting. Lee took the camera in his hands, while Shino looked at Neji.
''You know Tenten?'' Shino asked from him.
Neji flinched, switching his gaze from one guy to another. This voice. He heard it too. Some time. Not a long time ago. I can't remember.Usually Neji wouldn't care for this, but for some reason he was sure that this is important right now to remember where he heard voices of those two guys. He didn't even bother to answer Shino, who then turned to Tenten with a raised eyebrow.
''Oh, I just bumped at him once'', girl mumbled, trying to come up with a lie. ''In the shop. I forgot camera there and he now gave it to me.''
Boys only nodded and then paid all their attention only on Tenten, who was showing them her camera. The girl looked up at Neji, who looked like he was in a deep thought. Giving the camera to Shino and asking him to be careful, she tapped his shoulder. Neji looked at her and raised his eyebrow.
''Is everything okay?'' She asked quietly, looking in his eyes.
''Yes'', he answered shortly.
Tenten didn't believe in this, but decided not to push. Turning back to the boys, she took her camera back and told them that they will see each other tomorrow. Lee and Shino nodded and waved to her.
''Bye'', they said in unison to Neji, who nodded at this.
Those voices. Damn.When they both walked away, Tenten turned to Neji and he grinned, looking at her I-have-so-many-questions face. Leaning on his car, he crossed his arms over his chest, looking at her. The wind was blowing, making her dress go to the side and she looked cute, trying to hold it on the place.
''You remember Kakashi?'' He asked and Tenten looked up at him in shock. ''Yesterday after the photo-shoot I went to that park and the camera was still there.''
''Wow'', she let out and he nodded. ''I'm lucky.''
''Extremely lucky'', Neji corrected. ''Anyways, I took the camera and then saw that vintage shop. I went there to ask a bit more about the camera and when the owner saw this camera, he instantly started to ask where did I get it and then told me about you. We had a nice chat, and then he told me in what university you are studying and I promised him that I will give this back to you.''
Tenten smiled, listening to him. She missed Kakashi and was thinking to just come into his shop someday and have a talk. She narrowed her eyes a bit and her eyes shone with curiosity.
''What have you been doing in the park?'' She asked innocently.
Oh trap.Neji raised his eyebrow. Of course he couldn't say to her that he went there to find her camera. And of course he couldn't tell her that he wanted to find this camera so they can meet again. This would sound ridiculous, won't it? So Hyuuga found quickly another answer.
''Just wanted to look at that place again, did they start to build something or not.''
Tenten nodded and then looked back at her camera. It was quite unbelievable for her that she's holding it in her hands. She raised her head and smiled at him. She was really thankful.
''Thank you'', she said in a whisper, looking in his eyes. ''Thank you so much.''
Neji only nodded. They stared at each other for a few minutes before they both moved and cleared their throats. Neji opened his car and turned to Tenten, who stepped back.
''On what faculty are you?'' He suddenly asked.
''Sports Journalism'', she answered without blinking. ''Why?''
''Just asking'', he mumbled and then looked up. ''What's your name?''
''Tenten. Just Ten, actually. But you can call me Tenten if you don't feel comfortable with just Ten'', she let out and then furrowed her eyebrows, getting how strange she sounded right now.
Neji chuckled and get in the car, closing the door and opening window. They both stared at each other and then Tenten looked down, blushing for no reason.
''Bye'', she said quietly, looking at him.
''Good luck, buns-girl'', he said and put his shades back on, turning the key in the car and driving away.
Tenten stayed in that place for a few more minutes and only then turned around, going back to her flat. Neji was driving to home too, ignoring all calls from Hinata, who should be chosen furniture for him. His mind was busy with trying to recall where he heard voices of those two boys next to her.
- You idiot, we both heard that scream. Some girl is here.
Neji leaned on the wall, not even breathing. He was standing too close to that dead body, too close to the two male figures, who was now standing there too. It was some miracle that they still didn't see the phone, but even Neji could hardly see it. No light and add to this that the phone was black. He was listening carefully, trying to remember that voice.
- And what you suggest to do? Run after her? This is a labyrinth, she won't find the exit if she won't get lucky.
It was already another voice and Neji swallowed. Labyrinth. How lucky they both were to get straight to the exit. Guess like this girl was some lucky charm. Getting concentrated on his aim, he took few steps closer. Two guys were standing with their backs to him and didn't even see him.
- We can't leave it like that.
Neji kneeled down and his hands started to share on the ground for the phone.
- We can. No one apart from us heard this; so let's pretend that nothing happened. She won't find the exit from here.
Neji moved and his hand finally gripped something that should bephone. He froze in his place, when one of the guys turned to the left.
- I heard something.
Hyuuga slowly stand up, gripping the phone in his hands. Both of the guys were tall and broad-shouldered and model wasn't that dumb to attack them. However, he just couldn't go away that easily from here. They were both standing nearan exitand there is no way to pass them. Darkness, for this time, was his best friend. On tiptoes, he came closer and with one straight kick made one of the guys to meet with the ground.
- What the…
Another kick in the leg and Neji was running up the stairs, grippingthe phonein his hands and not turning back.
Hyuuga stopped the car, breathing fast. One of the guys was limping and others had his left side all red. Neji closed his eyes and took a deep breath. That's why those voices sounded so familiar. He remembered how Tenten talked to them and they looked like her best friends. Loud moan escaped his mouth and he closed his eyes. What a troublemaker.
A/N: I think I'm way too excited with this chapter, which is pretty strange. What are your thoughts? Let me know them in reviews! – Nizza. xx
