: I admit, I'm a failure ate keeping up with this story, but I do eventually come around…
Only in Realization
The lock clicked and Shino knew she wasn't to return until late in the night. He turned to face his company and sucked on his lower lip, pondering what to do. Kiba slinked closer.
"Kiba, I think you should go."
Kiba stopped mid step and made a disgusted face.
"What?"
The word was sharp and displeased. Shino shifted his weight to his left foot and rubbed his hand along his right arm.
"You heard damn well. You need to get out of my house. I need to think things over."
Kiba stormed passed him, purposely knocking his shoulder against Shino's. He ripped his jacket off the hook and slammed the door behind him.
Shino flinched at the noise, but didn't turn around until he decided to relock the door. For a second or two, he just leaned his head against the door, hand still cupping the knob on the lock.
He slowly turned himself, back against the door, gazing upon the vacant living room. His eyes immediately went to the kitchen door frame.
With more energy, he pushed himself off the door and made his way to the refrigerator. The light flickered a bit, but didn't go out when he opened the door. He scanned the shelves until he decided to feast on a peach.
Though there was more stock in the fridge, it still didn't contain much food. He bit into the sour fruit and puckered his face. Definitely not ripe. He continued to eat it though, to satisfy his stomach.
The recent events came to mind and he didn't know what to think of Kiba. He got flustered when he lingered around, but it'd only been 2 days. He needed time.
His thought cloud was pushed away when the phone shyly rang on the counter. He pressed the receiver against his ear, very unenthusiastic.
"Hello…"
A more than peppy voice sounded from the other end.
"Hey, Shino!!! It's Ino!!"
"Yeah, I gathered that."
He fiddled with the cord, trying to straighten it out against the counter, but to no success. Ino quickly filled the silence.
"So, I was wondering if you wanted to join me for the carnival on the outskirts tomorrow…"
The phone fell silent again, awaiting a reply. Shino pinched the skin between his eyebrows and closed his eyes.
"What makes you think I'd want to do that?"
Ino stammered, a bit disappointed.
"Well, I thought it would take your mind off of things and we haven't hung out in a while."
Shino ripped his eyes open and stood up straight. Does she know about Kiba!? his breathing grew slightly shallower as his nerves began to grow tense.
"W-what do you mean? Take my mind off what?"
He couldn't see her but Shino knew she had rolled her eyes, just by the sound of her voice.
"I don't know, Shino! I'm not in your head. You've just seemed…not there recently."
The rain pattered against the windows, gradually becoming more scattered. Shino tapped his finger against the broken tiled countertop in rhythm with the weather.
"I guess it couldn't be that bad. Why not?"
He almost didn't get his last sentence out before Ino chimed in, more than excited.
"Great! Meet me by the gates and I'll bring you your ticket! Say around 7 o'clock?"
Shino murmured an okay and goodbye then returned the phone to its cradle.
Wait, she already had my ticket? …girls are strange.
He tossed what remained of the peach into the waste basket as he headed down the hallway to his room for another nights rest.
: Wow, that was a really short chapter. Soooooooorry about that. ._.