Walking home alone felt weird.

Tenten stomped into her house and threw her bag on the floor. She walked into the kitchen, grabbed a bowl of cereal, and was about to head towards the stairs when her mom, who had appeared out of nowhere, stopped her at the doorway of the kitchen with her spatula.

" What's wrong, Tenten?" she asked looking at her daughter's unhappy face.
" Nothing, really. Bad day." She answered dismissively.
" Oh really?, her mother said cocking an eyebrow, where's Neji then?"

Tenten glanced down at the floor.

" We got into a fight."
" Oh…" her mother said understandingly. "Well then, I hope it gets better."
" Yeah, Tenten muttered back, me too."

She got into her room and threw her bag onto her desk. She lay down on her bed and stared up at the ceiling.

She didn't understand why he couldn't just be happy for her.

Gaara was nice, sweet, funny, interesting, and most of all the only guy who had ever looked at her that way.

She wasn't hot like Ino, pretty like Saukra, or cute like Hinata. Her hair didn't always stay in place and sometimes she wore giant baggy sweatshirts to school. She didn't have a body to die for and makeup made her look like a vampire.

Pookie jumped onto her bed and came to lie down beside her. She turned her head to look at him and her eyes were drawn to a picture on her dresser.

It was her and all her friends, toppled over each other under the tree near the school gates. Naruto was on top of the pile, laughing hysterically, accompanied by Kiba who's foot was in Sasuke's face. Ino was standing on Choji's shoulders, flicking her long blond hair in the wind while Shikamaru , who was next to her, was staring up at the clouds. Rock Lee was hanging upside down from the tree giving the thumbs up at Shino who was squatting down on the floor. Hinata, the only person actually looking at the camera, was on the far left side of the picture.

And finally, her and Neji. They were standing right smack in the center. His arms were wrapped around her stomach and even though she was laughing her head off – which usually made him sweatdrop – he was actually smiling.

She stared hard at the picture and pouted.

" Well, she thought to herself, nothing a little music can't fix!"

She got up, went over to her computer, logged onto her Itunes and blasted on the newest Jimmy Eat World song.

She danced around a bit, when suddenly she slipped on a piece of paper and fell to the floor. She blew her hair out of her face and picked it up.

Her jaw dropped.

The ski trip.

She had totally forgotten. They were leaving tomorrow!

She was about to jump into Neji's room when she remembered the fight.

She grabbed her cell phone and speed dialed Sakura, who was already packing her things.

" SAKURA!! What are we supposed to bring?!?" she yelled into the phone.

There was a moment of silence.

" Tenten, my ears. Look, just bring some warm clothes, pjs, and some skiing stuff. Same as usual. No reason to freak out."

" Ok…I can do that." She answered.
" By the way, Sakura added, what's the deal with Gaara? Are you two going out or something?"

Tenten hesitated for a moment and looked over at Neji's window.

" Yeah…I guess you could put it that way."

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Oh, the joys of waking up at five in the morning. Isn't it just lovely?

Neji groaned and dragged himself out of bed. He could already hear music coming from Tenten's room, and even though her curtains were closed he could see her shadow hopping around the room and kicking random objects.

Ahh…the kung fu fighting mood.

He grabbed the bag he had already packed up the night before and headed downstairs. He wondered if they were going to go to school together.

" Probably not, he thought to himself, she hates me."

Just then, he heard honking coming from the street and when he opened the door found Tenten's mom's car right in front of his house.

" Hop in or you're gonna be late!" she yelled pointing to the backseat.

He made his way towards the car after bowing politely and took a seat next to Tenten.

She turned around, smiled at him, and threw her arms around his neck.

" I'm so sorry! She yelled, I didn't mean to get to mad at you!"

His heart lifted and he hugged her back enthusiastically. He took a cookie she had handed him and bit into it happily.

" I mean, she continued, I can't have my best friend and boyfriend fighting all the time!" she jumped around in her seat.

Neji choked on the cookie and started to cough.

BOYFRIEND?!?!

She gently pat his back as he spit cookie crumbs all over himself . They finally arrived to school and, after excusing himself to Tenten's mom, ran out of the car.

But it was too late, she had already gone up to Gaara and he was stroking her hand.

His heart dropped about fifteen feet.

While all the girls stood around them giggling, the guys came up to him and Sasuke pat his back sympathetically.

" Don't worry Hyuga, you're still her best friend. Besides, that guy's an asshole, it won't go far."

Neji gulped.

Great, just great.

Just then, the bus came and out jumped an enthusiastic Gai.

" Ok, kids, now we're all gonna get in when I call your names, and prepare for the super awesome fun trip we're gonna have! Let me hear you say SKI!!"

The only one who answered was Rock Lee, who stood up on a bench and with his arms raised high belted out :
" SKIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII"

" Dear God, Shikamaru said, he's finally gone mad."

One by one, they got onto the bus, until there was only Neji left. He walked down the rows and sat down next to Sasuke, who was staring out the window.

He turned back and saw Tenten sitting next to Hinata while Gaara - who was in the row behind - them played with her hair.

He bowed his head and took a seat.

" So, Sasuke said turning to him, are you ready for the four hour long bus ride?"

" Yeah, he muttered. I guess."

And even though everyone was talking and playing music, the only sound Neji could hear was Tenten laughing as Gaara whispered something in her ear.