Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto

Chapter 04

I am frustrated.

No, skip that, I am downright angry and if I ever catch sight of TenTen again I am going to rip her a new one.

I never even told her I could handle the shop on my own, I never claimed such a thing. So to say that since Friday is a slow day and for that reason Guy wouldn't need two people watching was ridiculous. It was only so convenient she would offer her pay-check for a girls-night-on-town.

I sigh. Now I'm stuck working Friday-shifts on my own and even though I really wanted to disagree with TenTen, I know she's right.

So here I am alone with absolutely nothing to do.

The bell chimes and I'm delighted to see it is Shikamaru who's entering.

It has now been six weeks since he officially introduced himself and I'm relieved he's taken a liking to me. He knows I'm stuck working Friday's so he's been kind enough to drop by around nine on all of those nights.

He's as nice as I had imagined him to be and apparently, to my utter delight, fancies both women and men.

He's had two boyfriends and two girlfriends so far, all were troublesome in his opinion. I don't dare to ask what he thinks of me so far.

"Hi," I welcome him, turning to the coffee-machine to make his regular order.

"Hey yourself." He drawls and leans onto the counter. "Slow night again?"

"Isn't it always?" I ask, turning to him and handing him the cup.

He takes it from me almost awkwardly and I frown. Strange, since that first time we shook hands he's avoiding my touch. I can also swear I feel his eyes following me when I busy myself with some actual work. Yet I've labelled both things as my paranoid brain playing tricks on me and are thus unimportant.

He thanks me with a small smile and sits down in the booth facing the counter. He's changed seats so he can now talk to me while I clean the backroom. And even though I know it's just a kind gesture, my heart swells every time.

"So, you've heard the news about that perverted professor down at the lab?" He asks me.

Conversation is always easy to start between us and most of the time the clock announces twelve without me realizing I've spend such an amount of time talking to him.

We've been talking for a while when suddenly the front-door opens again, the bell chimes happily as always and a female voice calls out: "Hi Neji."

I blink and turn towards the door and smile fondly when I catch sight of the woman that entered the shop, who's now fidgeting her coat and looking at me quite shyly.

I walk towards her, hugging her for a short moment and kissing her cheek. "Hey Hinata. It's been a while."

She nods and glances to Shikamaru who's watching us with a raised eyebrow and something flashing through his eyes.

I frown. Is that jealousy? No it can't be, I tell myself. Don't be ridiculous.

"How have you been?" I ask and want to guide Hinata towards the counter when her small hand is laid against my shoulder, stopping me.

"I've been great, Neji. I'm in a hurry actually but father was wondering if you'd like to come by for dinner tomorrow." She asks with a shy smile. "A-ah, if you haven't got something else planned." She adds, her gaze wondering off towards Shikamaru again.

I chuckle. "No, tomorrow's fine. How does six sound?" I ask. I really haven't been around that much lately and it's understandable uncle would want to see me. I don't mind that much, Hinata is a wonderful cousin and I'm happy to have her care about my well-being.

She nods enthusiastically and gives me a quick hug. "Thank you." She tells me in her timid, soft voice.

I nod. "You're welcome, Hinata. Really."

She smiles gently, a blush on her cheeks. "See you tomorrow." She says, before leaving the shop again.

Outside I can see a shadow of someone walking towards her and while for a moment I think something's going to happen, she's being pulled into a kiss which she returns. I grin, she's going to have to explain that to me tomorrow.

When I walk back to the counter again I hum happily. Dinner with my family tomorrow, drinking coffee with Shikamaru tonight. Life's good.

But then I catch sight of the look that's now gracing Shikamaru's features and I freeze.

I can't deny it anymore, I'm truly seeing this. He's upset, angry and annoyed and biting my lip, I can only hope it is for the reason I think it is.

TBC.