Chapter 7:

"Damn we look fine," commented Tenten as they both posed in front of her bedroom mirror. They were both wearing the outfits they had picked out with some make up to top it off. Both girls kept their hair down instead of their usually fashion. Temari nodded her head in agreement as she grinned.

"Tenten! You better get going. It is almost eight!" yelled Tenten's mother.

"Okay mom," she yelled back. "You know what, Temari?"

"Hmm?" she replied as she tied the shoes of her black converse.

"I had a lot of fun today," smiled Tenten.

"Me too," agreed Temari.

"I don't mean to sound weird or anything but I think you're my best friend. I know we have only known each other for a day and all but no one except for you and Neji are able to stand me."

"What do you mean?" Temari asked.

"I'm kind of out there, kind of annoying actually. As you can probably tell, I am not that popular."

"Tenten; you are most definitely not annoying. Believe me, if you were, I would have left hours ago. And you know what, you are my best friend, too," sincerely spoke Temari. Tenten smiled and gave Temari another hug. Despite the happiness she felt, Temari's face showed pain and resistance from this embrace.

"You're the best! Now let's get out of here!" she laughed. They walked out of her door and into her car. They chatted along the way and stopped in front of Temari's house. Standing outside were her two brothers.

Both had dressed casually like all the others for the occasion. Kankuro wore blue jeans and a tight white Abercrombie shirt. Gaara was dressed in dark skinny jeans and converse with a black "Finch" t-shirt. They approached Tenten's car.

"Hey Gaara!" greeted Tenten, "I am sorry but what's your name?"

"Kankuro, it is a pleasure to meet you, Tenten, right?"

"Yep,"

"Thanks for the lift," added Gaara.

"No problem."

"Hey Gaara; guess what?" spoke Temari.

"What?"

"We match!" At this, Gaara looked down at his outfit and then at Temari's. He sighed.

"Cool," he spoke sarcastically. They finally arrived at the party where they heard the bass thumping from outside of the house.

"This is going to rock," added Kankuro. They all entered the house that was filled with at least 70 teens dancing and grinding to the music. Gaara and Kankuro split from Temari and Tenten as soon as they walked in. As they watched Gaara and Kankuro walk away, they saw many girls awing at them and asking them to dance.

"You have a good looking family!" Tenten yelled over the music.

"Thanks!" responded Temari. Neji walked over to Tenten and gave her a little kiss on the lips.

"Do you mind if I steal Tenten for a dance?" Neji asked Temari.

"Go for it," she replied as she winked to Tenten. Temari took a seat next to the dance floor as she noticed the scent of her favorite blood somewhere in the room. She stirred in her seat trying to ignore it.

"Hey gorgeous," spoke a kid with black hair. "I saved a seat for you on my love train," he finished. Temari looked up and scoffed at this nuisance who had clearly been drinking some sort of alcoholic beverage.

"Maybe in hell," she shot back.

"Oh; I like feisty," he responded as he sat down next to her and put his hand on her knee. She immediately threw his hand off and pushed him away using no strength whatsoever.

"You're cold; want to snuggle?" he continued as he once again attempted to touch her. Temari was getting pissed off by his complete lack of disrespect and of the many guys who had been watching her since she arrived. She once again began smelling Shikamaru's scent and as she had predicted, he appeared.

"Lay off, man. Can't you see she doesn't want to dance," he told the black haired boy.

"What? Is she your girlfriend or something?"

"Yea, we are actually dating," Temari responded. At this remark, Shikamaru blushed.

"Sorry about that, man. Now you two try not to have too much fun," he blurted as he wobbled away.

"I can take care of myself, thank you very much," she told.

"Didn't look like it," he shot back.

"Believe me, I am a lot stronger than you could ever imagine."

"Another clue to solve your mystery?" he questioned.

"Sorry, Sherlock but there is no mystery to solve."

"Really?" He spoke as he moved close to Temari's body. He was taller than her by about an inch. The scent of Shikamaru's blood did not overcome her senses as she feared it would. Instead, it seemed to be being battled by another emotion Temari was feeling. Shikamaru took the opportunity to take her hand. Suddenly, the reality and temptation had caught back up with her and she immediately let go and pushed back. She could no longer take the scent.

"I got to go," she managed before she walked away to the outside of the house. She sat on the bench for a couple hours while many of the party goers began to leave. She had regained her composure and confidence. Tenten came out with relief.

"There you are!" she said as Temari looked up. "We are all cleaning up but if you want a few of us are going to sleep over and celebrate Hinata's real birthday tomorrow morning."

"I am sorry Tenten but I am exhausted," explained Temari.

"Pretty please, I know your brothers are..." She begged.

"Fine," she sighed, "what's the worst that can happen?"

"Yes! We are going to have so much fun!"

"Aren't you tired? It's two in the morning?"

"I am good for another couple of hours," told Tenten.

"Same," Temari replied smiling at the thought she does not sleep and is at a sleepover. They both went inside. Most of the house had been cleaned by the time they came back. Upon entering, Temari knew that Shikamaru was going to be sleeping over. They went in the living room where they met everyone else. She approached Hinata and gave her a quick, for her own benefit, happy birthday hug and handed her a gift.

"That was the most awesome party ever, Hinata!" yelled Naruto. Hinata blushed. She put the gift down with the others she would open later on in the day.

"Th-thanks N-Naruto," she spoke. Temari watched as she turned even redder. Upon realizing Hinata had a crush on the blonde-haired boy; another reality dawned upon her. Did she have a crush on Shikamaru? She shrugged the thought off, thinking nothing of it for now.