A/N: Hey Guys! Sorry for taking this too long... but don't worry because I'll continue this story no matter what.
Hope to see your reviews then!
Enjoy!
Chapter 3: Tied in Between
Sakura was still in the foulest of moods by lunch. She was eating at the school canteen with Ino and Hinata, the two bugging her every now and then, proud Ino more than the shy Hinata. Irritated, Sakura placed her hands over her ears and began to talk gibberish just to let the girls know that she wasn't listening to their chatter.
Hinata, having realized that she had been talking too much, promptly shut up, fearing the pink- haired one's unbelievable temper.
Ino, on the other hand, in as much as she was intimidated by Sakura, provoked her still to talk about her decisions over Sasuke, clearly expressing her displeasure over Sakura's resolution –to mope. She blamed the girl for her poor fortune, and berated her, yet again, for blowing Naruto off.
"If you would just take my suggestion and get a guy friend, you'd be able to forget about Sasuke… he doesn't deserve you, so you should stop moping about him already!"
But no one and nothing would change her mind.
"You have no say in the matter, Ino. I've already made a decision for myself," Sakura replied, eyes not meeting the other girl's.
And it was final…
Hinata sighed at one corner of their table, appetite gone. She hated it when her friends fought with each other. I wonder what will happen if Tenten was here. She and Ino would surely have another row… please don't let her come here… not yet…
Ino fumed at Sakura, distaste showing through her many layers of make- up. She couldn't, for the life of her, figure Sakura's mind. I can't believe she's this thick!
Not really feeling hungry, but deciding that to stuff her mouth was the way out, Sakura opened another pack of chips from their tray. She frowned as a furious Tenten entered, just as she was to chew the piece she just ate. She frowned when she noticed that her friend's face was abashed and there were traces of tears on her red cheeks.
"Ten? What's wrong?" Hinata, thinking it was her job to open conversation (as Ino was still mad at Tenten, and she was sure Tenten was glaring the hell out of Sakura), said good- naturedly, standing up to assist the other to a chair.
Tenten slapped her hands away.
She clenched her hands tight, controlling the urge to do something unreasonable. Tenten was not in her mind right now, for she had just made the most startling, and not to mention life- stopping discovery. She couldn't believe her luck! All this time, and she didn't even have a chance against her.
Her once enthusiastic persona and naïve expressions were gone, as though all have been carried away by her tears. She stared long at her pink- haired friend, not sure what to make of anything. It wasn't fair! She already had a lot of suitors, and Uchiha… how come he too?
"Sakura, you BITCH! How can you do this to me, you stupid slut! I can't believe I considered you my friend!" Tenten yelled, spit flying and veins popping. Heads turned, and the four were quickly the center of attraction. Hinata blushed with the brown- haired girl's choice of words, and Ino just blinked owlishly.
Tenten hadn't had enough, though…
It was all because she was hurt…
Deeply hurt
Flashback:
"It's about you."
"Excuse me?" I didn't catch everything, but did Neji just say what I thought he said!
"I said, and I quote myself," Neji smirked at her, pearly whites peeking from his oh- so- kissable pink lips. "'It's not about chemistry, It's about you.' So… There," Neji's full- fledged smirk transformed into a half- smirked, half smiled. He was so amused by her bemused- but- trying- to- turn- annoyed expression.
"Huh? W-What do you mean? Tenten asked but she was already blushing as furiously as Naruto had once when Sakura had kissed him… Ugh! I look like such an idiot! God! Why did he have to say that!
"It's about you helping me to ask her out." Neji said dryly, pointing to the retreating head of –
"What!" Tenten exclaimed, heart half- stopping, half- dropping to the very soles of her socks as she saw whom he was pointing at. NO WAY!
She was nearly fainting but she managed to hold her feet firmly in place, trying and very much failing miserably to look unaffected and cool. Neji raised a perfect eyebrow, an air of impatience suddenly looming from his persona. "Well?"
Tenten dumbly stared at Neji's perfect face, mind still echoing the image of the retreating pink hair. Suddenly, she didn't want to see her friends anymore. Nor did she want to see the bishounen standing right in front of her. She just didn't want to see any single one of them – not in a few moments at least. Or maybe days… weeks… months… years…
Her supposed to be so- longed- sought- after happiness was replaced by disappointment, regret and most of all anger. She didn't know what to do anymore; all the feelings inside of her heart were crushing her… she didn't like the way Neji was staring at her either. It was as if he was daring her to say no…
Trepidation was slowly crawling in her spine, making her to shiver. She couldn't say no to the man of her dreams, could she?
No, I can't… I can't fight what I feel for him…
Why? Why do I feel this way?
Somebody, please help… I can't take it anymore…
Neji! I love you! Can't you see that!
Oh please, someone, if this is a dream… please wake me up!
Wake me up…
Wake me up…
Wake me up…
Wake… up…
Tenten snapped back into reality, that voice still echoing inside her head. She didn't know where it came from, or why it was bugging her, but she did find herself still standing on the same spot before, with her long- time crush. She heard again that familiar voice echoing inside her head, whispering that Neji wasn't the one to blame if he found her unattractive… stupid… incompetent… ugly…
Neji wasn't the one to blame if she just wasn't enough for her…
Shimatta…
Her tears were just about to fall; the pain of not being good enough for Neji hurting her more than she thought possible. And because of that stupid Sakura, no less!
She controlled herself, not wanting to look like an idiot – a weakling – in front of Neji. You probably already are anyway… after all, it's strong- willed Sakura that he likes, isn't it?
She didn't want to be a loser… Just because of that bubblegum pink- haired bitch… poor Tenten… aw… does Ten-chan need a huggie wuggie?
The heck!
Sakura's fault…
Tenten timidly, but rather stiffly walked away and left him a small reply. "Gomen, Neji, but I can't… not right now… I have to do something first."
Neji frowned, unamused. He set off, saying nothing to Tenten, clearly missing the tears now flowing from her once happy eyes.
Silent but angry tears were now falling continuously from Tenten's clear orbs, wetting her once dry cheeks. She tilted up her head yet, she saw nothing. Everything seemed to be just a blurred vision filling her into complete darkness…
Sakura's fault…
All her fault…
All Sakura's…
Sakura's…
Sakura…
Sakura…
Sakura…
Sakura…
She will pay.
End of Flashback
Everybody was surprised to see their friend blazing just like that… fire in her eyes' paths… all trailing to one person…
Sakura
Ino and Hinata's eyes widened. Both were hoping that someone would break the emerging silence surrounding the busy cafeteria, as the two other girls stared at each other, one in complete confusion, and one in cold fury.
Sakura was very confused. She couldn't understand why Tenten was glaring at her like that. Wasn't Ino the one she fought with a while ago? Why is she mad at me?
Sakura stared at Tenten for a while, still unaware of the ferocity of the brown- haired young lady's stare. She grabbed Tenten's hand, intent on checking if the other had an injury, but Tenten just pushed her away, vehemence now crystal clear in her hostile actions.
The look in Tenten's eyes was off…
Different…
Sakura knew that there was something wrong…
Terribly wrong
"Tenten…" Sakura couldn't think of anything to start the conversation; she wasn't clear on what the problem was, but she knew she had to help her friend… somehow…
Sakura tried to be playful, mock hitting Tenten in the chest. The sight of Sakura with her oh-so-good-natured concern further fueled her anger and she couldn't control it anymore. She hated the fact that she was the one looking very much like the villain while Sakura was again the protagonist in this dim-witted school.
She hated it even more when Sakura casually put a hand on her arm.
"Get your hands off me!" Tenten shook her arms and that made Sakura's tight hold to loosen. Sakura's face was one of mixed annoyance and surprise. She just couldn't understand why Tenten was so mad!
"What's the matter? What the heck is you problem?" Sakura asked, her eyes still fixed not showing even a hint of hatred, but a bit of exasperation. She was, after all, still in a foul mood.
How dare she ask me that! As if she cares! Damn you Sakura!
"Are you blind? Can't you see?" Tenten answered, voice trembling and hoarse. Her tears began to fall once again, but she ignored them. She wasn't done with Sakura just yet.
"Or are you just that stupid that you don't know why I'm acting like this!" She cursed and called Sakura names, all the while crying her eyes out. People became more curious, and it was all Ino and Hinata could do to try and give the two some privacy.
"I don't understand, Ten! What's the matter?"
"Of course you wouldn't! You never do, do you?" Why did it have to be you, of all people? Why!
Why?
"You… you are my friend, aren't you? But you don't understand! You never understand, Sakura! All we hear about is your problems! We never hear about mine, or Ino's or even Hinata's! It's always about you!" Even the one I'm all about is all about you…
Friendship…
For a moment, she remained absolutely still as if she was taking her own time to recollect her messy thoughts and she just stared at the floor. Sakura prolonged her patience a bit and simply stood there waiting for her to continue.
Or Love..?
But then, there was no response…
Until an ear-splitting shriek tore across Mikado High.
xxx
"What the—"
Neji's eyes widened when realization finally dawned at him and was about to tell Uchiha to get out of his way, when he'd realized that Sasuke was nowhere to be seen.
"Shit!"
Why does it always have to be Uchiha! He's always the one on top, always THE MAN. What about me, huh? I'm as good as he is! Even better, actually! Damn that guy, someday, I'd be the one on top and I'd be laughing at him then!
You'll see Uchiha…
You'll see…
xxx
A/N: Well guys sorry for reposting it...i guess i just need to make any corrections here. hehehe! Gomen! and another thing...I didn't want you to hate me for making Tenten bitchy, okay? It just so happen that sometimes loving someone deeply will make us do things without even thinking what others may think of us.