Author's Notes: Gee......I hope I pass that first major quiz on my Engineering subject this week. Anyway, sorry about that ultra short chapter 3. Haha..on with chapter 4. Hopefully this would make up for that short chapter 3.

Thanks on those reviews. I appreciate it. I really feel better now.

Disclaimer: Why do I need to do this everytime?


My Imaginary Ex

by: LiL sPoIlEd BrAt

Chapter 4: Baby Are You Down?


College, 7 years ago

"You sounded great back there." Neji said half heartedly as he gave Tenten her school bag along with her jacket.

"I'm quite surprised that you heard us. You look terrible."

Neji offered Tenten a ride home after the choir practice. For someone as shy as Tenten, it was an achievement to make it to the school choir. And Neji was the one responsible for convincing her to put her singing talent in use.

That afternoon, the school choir was having practice for their Christmas performance, and from her spot on the stage, she can clearly see him on one of the seats on the nearly deserted auditorium. From where she was standing, Tenten could tell that he looks miserable. Heck, he wasn't even paying attention to the choir's singing.

On their way to the parking lot, Neji opened up his problems with Shizuka. It has been a shock to Tenten for he never really open up things to her. Especially not his problems with Shizuka.

In his story, Neji and Shizuka were having problems, ones that are difficult enough that Shizuka suggested that they should break up.

"What? But you've been together for two years now. What new problems could you possibly have now?" Tenten asked.

"Actually, it's the old ones."

"I do hope it's not about me. When do you plan on telling her that I was never your ex-girlfriend?"

"I don't know, honestly these problems are about the truth. I think it's better not to tell her about us."

"It's just that I have difficulty on keeping track on those stories I told her. I even forgot some things that I told her. You dealing with it wothout problems beats me."

Neji chuckled. "I just tell her that I am one of those who doesn't dwell on the past." Neji had this term coined out to describe their fake relationship. Canon, as he had quoted.

"You didn't add anything new to the canon have you?"

"Nope, not yet. Honestly, most of the stories came from you."

"Great. I did all the hard work and you just reaped the rewards."

"You really are a true friend."

Neji lived ten minutes away from Tenten's place. Tenten watched him drive and miss the highway exit leading to his house, in favor to the next one leading to the village where Tenten's house was located.

"So, how do we fix this problem with Shizuka?"

"What do you mean by 'we'? This is my problem, I'll solve it by myself."

"Well, Neji, I'm your friend and I'm a girl. So maybe I can reach out to Shizuka much better than you."

Neji refused her offer adamantly. To Tenten, it seemed that Shizuka and Neji's relationship was perfect- he never complained about Shizuka, nor mention to her that they have a fight. She would sometimes see him in a bad mood, meaning he was thinking about something thoroughly. But he never mention something bad about Shizuka.

He was really thoughtful and mature. Tenten thought. After all, he DID forgive me after dumping him at prom--wait that didn't happen.

Sometimes, Tenten herself tends to forget too.


"Problem? Did Neji mentioned that were having problems to you?"

Tenten knew she had caught Shizuka on a bad mood. She wasn't as composed and calm as she was, nor was she hurrying to go somewhere. But one thing's for sure, she was annoyed at Tenten. Very annoyed.

"No, he did not," Tenten quickly said, thinking that it would save herself.

"But he's been quite moody lately. He has this idea that something's wrong between the two of you, but he never talked about it. All I know is that he wants to fix it."

Shizuka looked at Tenten in a way that doesn't need Tenten's psychology major to decipher. Shizuka obviously put up a wall between them.

"Look, Tenten, whatever our 'problem' is, it's none of your business. I've just had it with the two of you and honestly I don't give a damn even if you guys were locked up inside a room. I'm done."

"Shizuka, wait. It's not what you think..."

"Whatever you say doesn't matter, Tenten."

"Please, Shizuka, don't break up with him. You just...misunderstood perhaps? Neji and I, we don't have feelings for each other." Shizuka tightened her grip around her binder.

"Why the hell does he tell you everything?"

"Believe me, he doesn't."

"Fine, but why is he telling you everything he tells me? Shouldn't I come first?"

"You do come first, Shizuka. Honestly, I don't really know where he is half the time. We never really hang out lately."

"I don't keep a friendly relationship with my exes, Tenten. I think it's not healthy." Shizuka looked at Tenten accusingly.

We just share a secret, and that can really bind people.

"Honestly, Shizuka, it's not what you think. We're only friends."

"I don't treat my friends the way he treats you."

"Shizuka, remember how you liked Neji as the mature ex and forgave me as well as deciding to stay friends?" Tenten reminded her desperately. And by the looks of it, it was working.

"Tenten, thanks for defending him, but it's still none of your business."


Shizuka broke up with Neji right before Christmas, but a few weeks after Tenten and Shizuka talked, it seemed she tried working out things again.

Neji didn't knew of what transpired between Tenten and Shizuka's conversation. Tenten didn't told him, and neither did Shizuka. And that was a secret Tenten and Shizuka shared.

Tenten heard the news on the last day of school before Christmas vacation. She hurriedly looked for him on his usual hang out place only to find the energetic blond, Naruto Uzumaki.

Tenten and Naruto shared their P.E. class as ballroom partners that semester.

"Did he leave already?" Tenten asked.

"Yeah, probably went home. Shizuka broke up with him."

"Just now?"

"Yup, they were talking on that tree for almost an hour."

Tenten then decided to show up on Neji's house with a gallon of Double Dutch ice cream. As soon as Neji saw her on his doorstep, he chuckled.

"I'm not a girl, you know." Neji said.

"Trust me, after this, you'll feel a lot better."

Tenten stayed over for dinner, but wasn't feeling hungry because she already had a few cups of ice cream. Neji didn't want to talk about Shizuka at first as he was very quiet, and Tenten decided it was better if he open up the topic himself. Instead, she played along as she told about her classes and electives and projects. She also told him about this movie she wanted to see that weekend. She was planning on asking him to accompany her that weekend. Two hours later, Tenten ran out of stories to tell and later grew impatient.

"Neji, about Shizuka…"

"I thought you wanted me to feel better."

"Talking will help you solve you issues."

"If you really wanted to make me feel better, you'd drop the 'break up' thing."

"Are you sure you're break up wasn't caused by our fake relationship?"

"Positively sure." Neji said. For a moment, Tenten thought he was protecting her. She knew she'd feel bad if she was somewhat involved on Neji and Shizuka's break up. And Neji knew that. Even if Shizuka hadn't said anything to Neji, Shizuka pointedly stated that the couple's problem somewhat had Tenten's name on it.

"Okay, if you say so." Next time, just be yourself.

"I didn't exactly thought about that, did I?" Tenten knitted her brows.

"What did?" Of course you didn't. Duh?

"About that canon story we made up."

"No." Tenten scooped out another cup of ice cream and sighed, at least she and Neji were on the same page now. At least they both knew it was their fault that the relationship ended. Tenten reached out her hand to Neji's and squeezed it.

"I'm sorry about Shizuka, maybe next time you shouldn't tell that I'm your ex-girlfriend?"

Tenten breathed deeply, regretting that she said the last statement for he quickly turn into that quiet and stoic person of his. She let go and breathed once more when he finally answered her.

"That's a good idea."


A/N: What do you think? review:)