Hinata turned off her computer, walked back to her bed and stared at the ceiling.

'Maybe whiskers is right, I do need to learn how to trust people,' she thought. Starting tomorrow she was going to give Naruto a chance, what's the worst that could happen? She would just get her heart broken, it's not like it hasn't happened before.

Hinata got off her bed and started doing her homework, preparing herself for the day ahead of her.

The next morning Hinata was on time to gym, like usual, but Naruto was late, so she didn't get a chance to talk to him. But even if she did she would most likely blush her signature crimson red color, and stutter out a few words until she couldn't take the humiliation anymore and walk away.

The rest of the day went on in this manner, Hinata would think about talking to Naruto, muster up enough courage, walk halfway to him, then back down and walk back to her seat. So, basically today was going like any other day would.

Except when lunch came.

Usually Hinata would sit with Kiba and his friends, Not really talking much, she sat there because Kiba said that that's what couples do, but now she realized it was just because he wanted to show off his trophy girlfriend(A/N: like a trophy wife). On the days Kiba was sick or just not there (probably with Ino) she'd sit with Shino at their exclusive table at the back of the cafeteria. But today Shino was out with a cold and there was no way in hell she'd sit with Kiba, plus it looked like her usual seat was taken by Ino.

Hinata scanned the cafeteria, hoping to see a familiar and friendly face she could sit with. She knew almost everyone in the cafeteria, but there was no one she knew well enough that she'd be comfortable enough to sit with.

After a while she gave up the search and found an empty table to sit at. Once she sat down she lost her appetite and started picking at her food, thinking about how horrible this day was going, instead of making a friend, like she planned, she took a step back and now was sitting by herself.

"Is this seat taken?" Hinata looked up and saw Sakura Haruno standing behind the seat next to her with a lunch tray in her hands.

Hinata didn't know Sakura all that well, but she did like her. Sakura and she were in the same dance classes at the studio, and Sakura was one of the only girls there that were nice to her. They were the two best dancers in the studio, meaning that they had to work together a lot. They talked a little, from time to time, but they never really became all that close of friends, on account of Hinata's quietness.

"N-no, go ahead," Hinata whispered, while still picking at her food.

"So, why are you sitting by yourself?" Sakura asked.

"No one to sit with," Hinata mumbled.

"I've never seen you sit alone before, what happened?"



"Well, um Shino's sick and Kiba's well, with someone," Hinata nodded her head in the direction of Kiba's table. Sakura turned around and stared at his table.

"Oh my God! I'm so sorry; I had no idea that Ino stole Kiba. I apologize on her behalf, once she sees something she wants, she gets it, no matter what," Sakura explained.

"I-it's ok," she said, still picking at her food.

"Well, you know what always makes me feel better?"

"N-no, what?"

"A party!" Sakura squealed. "Whenever I'm down in the dumps I go to a party, dance with guys I don't know, flirt shamelessly, it's perfect for forgetting all your problems!" Hinata just stared at her, amazed. Who did she think Hinata was? She had problems just talking without stuttering, so flirting was out of the question.

"I- I would l-love to, but I can't," Hinata whispered.

"Why not?"

"B-because I have a hard time talking to people, m-much less flirting. I'm an introverted person." She explained.

"I know, but you're also an amazing person with a great personality, why not let the world see that too?"

"But-"

"Please, Hinata? What's life without risks?" Sakura asked.

"W-why do you care so much?"

"Because you're my friend, and I don't want to see you sad, and if a party might make you a little bit happier, I want you to go." Sakura explained. Hinata was staring at her in disbelief, no one other than Shino or Kiba ever called her a friend that she believed. She didn't have many friends, on account of her shyness.

"There's a party tonight's at Naruto and Sasuke's place, you should go, please at least think about it," Sakura pleaded.

Ok, I'll thin-" Hinata was cut off by a deep voice from behind her.

"Hey, Sakura, Sasuke's looking for you,"

"Ok, well, see you later Hinata, and please come, for me at least," She said as she stood up, she gave Hinata a small smile and walked away.



The person behind her didn't leave like she expected him to; instead he took the seat Sakura was sitting in.

"So, when's our rematch?" Naruto asked, grinning wildly.

"I-I don't know," She stuttered, she felt her face warming up.

"Your face is turning red, are you ok? Do you need to go to the nurse again?" Hinata shook her head.

"What things do you do, other than running?" he asked randomly. Hinata concentrated all her energy and focus that moment on not stuttering.

"Well, I like tennis, and gymnastic. I love to watch baseball, even though I'm really horrible at playing it. And I love to dance."

"You dance? Too cool, what kind of dance?"He asked, genuinely interested.

"w-well I started with um, ballet when I was f-five, then jazz, I did those two for a w-while, and I still do, but when I was in middle school I became more interested in hip hop, and running. So, I dance ballet, j-jazz, hip hop and a little bit of modern,"

"Wow, never really took you as a hip hop kind of girl," he said truthfully.

"They never do," She muttered under her breath.

"What?" he asked.

"Nothing, so, what do you do?" she asked, hoping to make conversation.

'Um, football, lacrosse, and unlike you I watch and play baseball, there's more, but I don't want to sound cocky, I know how annoying that can be," he said while nodding his head in Sasuke direction.

Just as Hinata was going to say something the bell rang, meaning lunch was over.

"Well, lunch is over, what's your next class?" Naruto asked.

"I don't have one o-off hour,"

"Cool!" he shouted. "Come with me," he grabbed Hinata's wrist and dragged her outside, to the track.

"I want another race," Hinata stared at him for a while, her head tilted to the side, something she did when she was confused. "So, do you want a long or short distance race?"

"Y-you're a sprinter, right?" He nodded his head. "Well, I'm a d-distance runner, so let's do one lap around the track, just sprinting," He smirked, making Hinata blush once again.

"Ok, but just to warn you, I'm an amazing sprinter," Hinata smiled at him.

"Don't worry, so am I. One, two, three!" she shouted and they were off.



Even though she had raced him before Hinata was still amazed at how fast he was. Stride for stride, she and him were tied, evenly matched. Until the last stretch. Hinata knew she had to win this one, not only for her pride but her dignity; there was no way she would lose to him twice in a row.

She moved her legs as fast as she possibly could, hoping it was enough, and it was. She beat him by a whole blue Nike shock. When the race was finished they both collapsed on the track, exhausted.

"I can't believe…. I got beaten…. By a dancer," Naruto panted. Hinata knew she should have been offended by that, but she was just too tired to care. Hinata turned her head in Naruto's direction and saw him smiling. He was acting strangely for someone who lost. Naruto flipped on his stomach and turned his head to face Hinata's, a smile still gracing his lips.

"You have to come to the party at my house tonight," he said.

"Why?" she asked.

"Because if you dance as well as you run I have to dance at least one song with you," Hinata inwardly smiled at the compliment, but outwardly blushed.

""S-sure. I'll go," Naruto grinned.

"Great! Can't wait to see you there!" He shouted. An awkward silence over took them after that. "So... what are we going to do now?"

"Well. I have a calcuous test I have to study for, so, I'm going to Study Hall," She said quietly.

"Ok, ok," he said, clearly disappointed.

"Ok, well, bye,. I'll see you tonight," She picked herself off the ground and started to walk away.

"Hey wait!" Naruto yelled, scrambling after her. "You don't have our address," He took out a piece of paper and a pencil and jotted it down. "Here you go," Hinata took the piece of paper.

Hinata was just about to turn away when Naruto took her shoulder, spun her around, and crashed his lips into hers.

Hinata was clearly taken back by this, and even though her head was screaming at her to push him away, her body moved closer to him and put her hands around his neck.

After a few seconds they had to break aprt because of lack of air. She looked up into Naruto's eyes, and saw happiness in them, along with another trait that was unfamiliar to her, worry.

"Well, I-I should probably go now," she whispered. Before she could push him away he started to kiss her again. Finally when her brain gained control of her body, sh pushed him away.

"Gotta go study," she said as she turned around, see you later," Then she walked away. She was surprised at her actions, it was so un Hinata like, but she was happy about them too



'As Sakura says, what's life without a few risks?'