Hinata awoke to three hard knocks on her door. She hastily got out of bed and began stumbling around the room trying to find her clothes. Two more hard knocks made her jump and drop her pair of blue jeans. "Just a minute!"

"No more minutes Ms. Debra. You said you'd be saying here for one night! This is the second night! Pay up," the angry receptionist yelled back from the opposite side of the door. She was fed up with Hinata's lies. Hinata finally got her bearings and opened the door. She tried to look casual about the situation, but she was clearly out of breath. The real Debra held her hand out expectantly and Hinata smiled at her.

"You know you're right. Here you go ma'am," Hinata placed an envelope in the woman's hand and bowed with respect. She then quickly gathered the rest of her things and scurried out of the room. Th woman smirked out of accomplishment. She opened the envelope and her face turned beet red.

As Hinata ran down the motel's front door she could hear an outcry of anger. Hinata had gave the woman an I.O.U. instead of the money she owed. She couldn't pay her because she only had enough money left to feed her for today. So, it was either pay a woman she had never met or eat. A pretty easy decision to make in her situation.

Although she didn't steal or rob people much. Hinata had learned that sometimes you have to do what you have to do. And right now, she had to eat.

Naruto slid his card in the machine to clock in. He had another opening shift. He liked how many hours he was getting lately, but constantly being on his feet made him cranky. He even yelled at Choji today about eating the ingredients. The shocked and pitiful face that resulted made him instantly apologize though. As he pleaded for forgiveness the first customers started to come in.

"There are customers! Thank you for being on time for once though," Suzuki said with a chipper voice. She skipped into the kitchen to open the door wide for him. Naruto through his head back in irritation. As he worked pass her he ruffled her hair up making her squeal. She frantically slatted him away as he laughed at her evilly. He grabbed his note pad and went to take orders.

He first went to a family of four who were regulars as far as he could tell. They smiled at him and begin ordering. The two kids, a boy and a girl around the same age of probably ten, ordered. Then the parents. The dad made puns about noodles that everyone rolled their eyes at. But Naruto genuinely laughed; having to wipe a tear from his eye.

After serving about two people he noticed a girl sitting alone at a corner booth. Suzuki was already taking her order. However Naruto felt the need to approach her as well. He made two steps towards her before he heard Ayame ring the bell. "Order up!" Naruto looked back at the girl but instead decided to shrug off the feeling.

Suzuki came up to Naruto and poked his side. He jumped hard and almost dropped the bowl of Ramen he was carrying. Suzuki giggled and said, "Pay back!" He would've got her back again but she cut him off. "Also that girl over there is weird. She got one look at you and froze up. I can't get her to order anything. She must be a squatter." Naruto raised a brow at this.

Why would I have that affect on some random chick?

He continued to give a man his food. He looked over at the girl again. Her short black hair kept him interested. She kind of looks like…

SHE LOOKS LIKE –

Naruto froze up and the world began to blur around him. He could tell people were talking to him and trying to get his attention but he couldn't stop staring at her. She kept her head just low enough so that he couldn't see her face. It seemed intentional.

In a daze he drifted towards her. He didn't realize he pushed Suzuki over causing her to drop food on the floor. Despite that, he kept walking. He felt like he was moving in slow motion. He felt his heart stop as the girl slowly and agonizingly raised her head.

In an instant grey met blue.

Hinata gave Naruto a shy wave and a tiny smile before fidgeting with her fingers. Naruto rushed over the booth and plopped down right next to her. He grabbed her and pulled her into the tightest hug imaginable, much to her and his surprise.

"Hinata," he breathed out while squeezing tighter, "I've…I've missed you."

Hinata gave into the hug and whispered back, "I missed you too."

"You know what I missed!?" The two jumped hard. Naruto released Hinata to see Ayame standing over them with her eye twitching out of anger. "I miss my waiters not knocking over their colleagues to cope a feel!" Naruto leaned forward to see Suzuki on the floor in a pool of noodles wailing like a child. He laughed nervously before Ayame grabbed him by the ear and pulled him towards the kitchen.

"Don't leave Hinata! Wait til I get off okay!" He yelled while wincing in pain before getting thrown in the kitchen for a reprimanding. Hinata nodded with a smile that faded as soon as he disappeared from eye sight.

She could feel her insides turning and she wanted to vomit. She just saw Naruto for the first time in forever and this was overwhelming. All I wanted was some Ramen. She whined to herself. Maybe I could just…leave and try and go to the next town or I could…

"So you never ordered," Her thoughts were interrupted by Naruto standing before her again. His face had the in print of a hand on it. It looked like it burned and Hinata frowned at it. "Oh that," he rubbed his cheek, "that's just how Ayame shows me love!"

Hinata giggled like a little girl. She covered her mouth and pretended that she was coughing instead. She didn't want to revert back into a kid just because he was around. She cleared her throat and narrowed her eyes at him. Naruto looked taken back by this. "Well Naruto," Her voice was low and sultry, "I didn't order because I don't have any money. I'm a squatter just like that little girl said."

Naruto looked around the restaurant before sitting beside her again. "Do you have a sore throat? Your voice is deep all of a sudden." Hinata became beet red and blinked at him in amazement. While she was working in a club that voice practically made guys melt. Her eyes softened while looking at Naruto's concerned face.

"Yea…I um have a cold," she faked a cough for good measure.

"So you're back home? Must be nice to be back in that huge house of yours!" Hinata shook her head at this.

"Not my house at the moment. It's my uncle's," she practically spit the words out her mouth in disgust. Naruto gave a confused expression. She waved it off. "I actually um…have nowhere to stay at this point in time." Naruto popped up out of his seat.

"What kind of dumb sentence was that!?" Hinata blinked rapidly at him. "You can stay with me is what I'm saying!" And with that Hinata proceeded to pass out.

Author's Note : hey hey I know I said I'd update soon. But look you guys should know by now that I'm a liar! Anyway thanks to a guest reviewer I felt inspired to write again. It's hard for me to tell if anyone reads this if you guys don't talk to me! I promise I don't bite. Please review. I promise it makes me update faster.