Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.


Chapter Four: Discussions and Cookies


The first three weeks of class passed with no surprises. Tenten had no complaints, however. Normalcy was a comfort she revelled in. She knew that the otherwise would certainly mean pain, and uncomfortable change. Ino and Sakura, however, were clearly craving for the opposite.

"Nothing's happening," Sakura groaned, before placing a spoonful of ice cream in her mouth.

Tenten raised a brow. The three friends had convinced her to accompany them in a shopping spree. Tenten wasn't the type to go shopping, but all the same did not want to disappoint her newly found friends. They were the first girl friends she actually had in her whole sixteen years of existence, and she figured spending some girl time with them wouldn't hurt. How wrong she was. In a span of four hours, she had managed to twist her ankle upon trying on a four inch heel the girls called a stiletto; she cut her finger from removing the tag of Ino's blouse, which she insisted on changing into immediately; and both of her legs were complaining from the strain of walking non-stop. Things were definitely happening.

"You're right," Ino sighed beside her, and Tenten turned to glare at the blonde. "What?" she asked, feigning offense at the look she gave her.

"Things are good as it is," she said.

"How can you even say that?" Ino looked sincerely surprised. "People should be breaking each other's hearts by now!"

"You want someone's heart to break?" she scoffed.

"Well, not ours," she continued, "the boys, at least. Or somebody's. Okay, okay fine. That was bad. But people at least should be confessing to one another! Or kissing one another! Or... something!" she waved her hand in indignation.

"We're at the age where our hormones are supposed to be raging and all that," Sakura agreed with her.

Her words only made her best friend laugh, spluttering some cream on the table. She murmured an apology before turning to face Sakura. "Well, Lee's hormones definitely are," she grinned slyly.

Tenten smiled, deciphering her meaning. "I think Ino's right."

Hinata giggled, and her eyes also found Sakura. "Not you, too," Sakura said to her, then glared at Tenten. "And you. Now you agree with Ino?"

"Well, that's because I'm telling the truth," Ino placed both elbows on the table and leaned her head on her hands, drawing closer to Sakura. "But let's not talk about me. How's Lee, Sakura?"

Tenten fought the laugh that threatened to burst out of her. Sakura's cheeks were contending the color of her hair.

Sakura sighed. "It's just a crush," she said. "Besides, he's just a friend. A good friend."

Ino withdrew then, leaning her back on the seat. "What a bore," she said, taking her cup of ice cream.

Tenten smiled sadly, she felt bad for Lee, but Sakura's feelings were open for everyone to see. Tenten had always wondered why her friend would let himself fall into such a hopeless case. Unrequited love was one Tenten had watched through the years, she cast a side long glance at Hinata. The Hyuga had both her hands on her lap, and she was staring intently at them. Tenten knew she was not the only one contemplating about Sakura's feelings, and she knew she was also not the only one who noticed that Lee had another contender for the pink haired's attention. She sighed, taking another spoon of ice cream. Theirs was a complicated love triangle.

"I got it!" Ino suddenly shouted, and the three other girls stared at her.

"Got what?" Sakura asked.

"We need a sleepover! And we'll have bonfires, and pillow fights, and of course... Truth or Dare," she grinned.

"Ooooh! That would be really fun!" Sakura grinned back.

Tenten however, frowned. "I don't see what's so exciting," she crossed her arms over her chest. "We three are practically always together. And what don't I know yet, that I'll be able to find out at Truth or Dare?" she asked.

"But Tennie," Tenten cringed at Ino's nickname for her. "We'll be inviting the boys, of course."

She and Hinata blinked. "Wh-what?" Hinata said, already blushing.

"Oh, don't be a virgin. The guys are practically harmless," Ino answered.

"That's right," Sakura said, "We have sleepovers with Naruto's group all the time."

"I guess you're right," Tenten shrugged. She had often visited Neji's place and ended up sleeping over one too many time.

"Then it's decided," Ino said, while she and Sakura brought out their phones.

"What's happening?" Tenten asked, still clueless about the girls' routines.

"We're calling the boys of course," Ino dialled a number on her phone and brought it to her left ear. "Oh, Hinata, you should call your cousin, tell him we're sleeping over at your place."

Hinata's eyes widened for a fraction of a second. "B-but, Neji-san might be—,"

"Tenten, you do it," Sakura instructed her in a tone that did not entertain any questions.

Tenten sighed, but she knew Hinata would not be able to ask favours from her cousin. At least, not yet. Tenten dialled the number and listened to the ringing tone in her ear, while watching the three girls speak animatedly on their phones. Even Hinata was talking to someone. Kiba or Shino, perhaps.

"What?" Neji's voice greeted her, after the ringing she thought would never end.

"Heyyyy, Nejiiiii," she grinned at her phone.

She heard him scoff. "What do you want now?"

"So I'm with Ino, Sakura, and Hinata right now and they th—,"

"What?" he cut her.

"What do you mean what?" she glared at her phone.

"You're actually with them? During the weekends?"

She could almost hear him laughing at her. "Is there a problem with that?" she said through gritted teeth.

He chuckled then, his low baritone voice seeming to vibrate through her phone. "Did you get your nails painted?" he teased.

"Oh shut up," she scolded him, but smiled nonetheless.

He ceased his laughing, and for a moment, Tenten just listened to his breathing through the phone. "So, what do you need?"


"Chips?" Tenten asked, holding up a big bad of unflavoured nachos.

Neji nodded, and she tossed four bags into the trolley.

"Dip?" She continued, raising a big bottle of spinach dip.

He shook his head. "We still have two unopened bottles from last time," he told her as they walked on.

"Two?" she asked incredulously, looking back at him, her eyes questioning.

He shrugged. "Choji wasn't able to go, remember?"

"Ah," she nodded, and then stopped when they reached the drinks section. She and Neji had been tasked to shop for food. The other three girls were doing last minute shopping. They invited Tenten to go along, of course, but she had politely declined. She couldn't take anymore walking-around-to-try-on-and-look-for-clothes. Hinata had offered to go to the grocery with them, but Tenten knew she had wanted to go with Sakura and Ino. Besides, she stole a glance at the long haired Hyuga walking beside her. She had learned from previous efforts to try and get the cousins to talk with each other and bond. She always ended up having to talk and fill the awkward silence.

She stooped down to get two bottles of coke and two more bottles of orange juice. "I think that's it," she told him, and he gazed down at the trolley.

"Your cookies?" he asked after inspecting.

"Oh, yeah!" she exclaimed, before leading the way. Whenever they had sleepovers, she always ended up craving for sweets. She remembered the time she forced Neji to walk with her to the nearest convenience store just to buy some M&Ms. When they reached the sweets section, her gaze flew to the highest shelf. She frowned, wondering why they thought it smart to put the cookies she always bought at such a height. She reached up, standing on her toes and stretching her arms, but she could barely touch the bottom of the box.

Neji sighed from behind her, and a sudden warmth filled her back. He towered over her as he reached for the box. They were so close that some of the strands of his hair managed to touch her shoulders. He grabbed the box and placed it in her hand. She clenched the box to pull it away from him but he held tight. She raised her face to look at him, their faces were mere inches apart. She narrowed her eyes when she saw him smirking.

"It must be so difficult being short," he finally said.

She groaned before pushing him away. "Remember that I was just as tall as you when we first met," she put out her tongue.

"Yes," he stared at her mockingly. "But then you stopped growing," he grinned.

"Shut up," she said, and was about to scold him when she heard familiar voices from down the aisle.

"Got everything?" Sakura smiled when they neared.

"Pretty much," Tenten replied, glancing at the number of bags they held. How could one find the need for so many clothes?

"Great, so shall we pay?" she asked, to which Neji and Tenten nodded.

"I don't think we all have to go," Ino said, and they turned their attention to her. Tenten couldn't help but notice the smile in Ino's eyes. "We would just crowd the counters. Tenten and Neji can do it, and we can wait outside."

"I guess so," Sakura shrugged, and looked at us. "See you outside, then?"

"Okay," Tenten replied, and she waved goodbye to the three. Her gaze lingered, however, on the sly grin on Ino's face.

END OF CHAPTER


A/N: So I figured it was a lot more difficult editing all my past chapters to first person. So I decided not to go with it. Aaand, I've found a use for the 3rd person perspective. Does anyone know a beta? I think I could use some help.

And please guys, leave a review! :) I need some fuel here.

Love,

Vee