Majide Hero
NejiXTenten. Tenten is Sasuke's cheerleadeer. Neji is a bespectacled nerd. This is going to feel good.
I don't own Naruto.
Chapter 9: The make over. Neji's metamorphosis.
Neji had checked and rechecked all the papers that Tenten submitted but it seemed that there was no error, no flaw, or whatsoever. He looked at her, sitting right across him. She was scribbling shapeless objects on her notebook.
"Don't be so hard on yourself." He said as he started reading a book.
"Where are those shirts we bought?"
"Shirts?" He met her stare.
"I clearly remember we shopped weeks ago and I told you to wear them but until now, I bet they're still in those paper bags!"
"Well…"
"You sure have a lot of money to buy things and not use them." She crossed her arms. "Of course, you get extra cash from your scholarship while I have to study hard just so I won't get deductions from my tiny allowance. You have it good."
He wanted to point it out that scholarships require good grades but he chose to stay quiet. She's venting, he thought. He went on reading his book. He had no intentions of adding insult to injury. Sasuke would be attending the dance and she wouldn't be his date. After that conversation with Sasuke, her expectations were sky high. He knew that it was going to be a tough week for her.
"Why?!" She demanded- hitting the table once. "Why did he ask Sakura?!"
"I believe Sasuke has the freedom to do as he pleases so I don't really see anything strange with him asking Sakura if that's what he wanted."
"But he told me that we'll go out, that we'll see each other! You witnessed that yourself!"
"You have grossly misinterpreted the line 'See you around.', which actually translates to a simple 'Later.' I'm sure you know that." He tipped his eyeglasses.
"But he never talked that way to any other girl!"
"Sasuke and Sakura are seatmates, how sure are you that they don't talk to each other?"
She paused for a few seconds- contemplating on his words. Sasuke was giving the impression that he was aloof, that he wasn't approachable and that he didn't care about anyone. But it could just be a façade. She wasn't in his class and her chances of seeing him were limited. All of her inferences about him were based on nothing but personal judgment.
"Now I'm even more depressed…" She said as she went back to doodling.
"Apparently, you work well when you're depressed."
"I just want to drown myself with all these stupid subjects!"
"At least you know your priorities." He sighed.
"I already bought a dress for this dance!" She tossed her pen on the table. "Why didn't he choose me? What's so wrong with me that he wouldn't pick me?"
"Who knows?" He shrugged. "Maybe you're just not really his type."
"Sometimes I wish you're not that straightforward."
"I'm not straightforward all the time."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"You can still go, it's not too late…" He paused. "But I don't see the reason why you would want to go, even with the dress… you will see Sasuke with Sakura so wouldn't that just annoy you?"
"Neji, I'm not expecting someone like you to understand…"
It was a long time ago since she said something like that. Suddenly, they were back to square one.
"I'll make it simple, I really want to go to the dance." She continued.
"Masochist."
"Look, it's exactly because Sasuke is with Sakura that I must go! I must watch their moves and make sure that they don't try anything funny!"
"You're planning to spy on them?"
"Something like that…"
She had lost it. Perhaps all those times that she seemed to have forgotten about Sasuke, she was just keeping it all inside until finally- it had to explode. It was clear that she was still crazy about him and in that situation, there was no way to control her.
"Since you're done with all these, you may go."
"I can't go because I don't have a partner."
"What's wrong with going on your own?"
"Because it's a dance and everyone will be coming with a partner! Walking down the hallway entrance with no one will make me look desolate!"
"You want me to ask Lee?"
"From desolate to desperate doesn't really make it any better, does it?"
"He's the only one I know who's available for tonight and…"
"Alright, listen… first, I want to tell you that this decision is pretty much like suicide. Both will result to catastrophe only that I can choose the method I prefer."
Obviously, she wasn't going with Lee even if it meant a full scholarship to Todai. Lee was her seatmate and for all those days that they sat side by side, she just couldn't get him at all. Who knew what antics he would pull if she took him with her.
"I'm afraid I don't get what you're saying."
Neji might be a dweeb but that was exactly the point. He would just sit in one quiet corner and merge with the wall unnoticed. She thought she could live with that. She just needed someone to walk with through the entrance. She had to choose the lesser evil.
"I'm saying I'd rather go with you!"
The pressure of all those eyes focused on her was unbearable. She quickly looked around, meeting the glances of the rest of the students present in the library.
"BECAUSE… BECAUSE I HAVE NO OTHER CHOICE! GOT IT?" She said, making sure her voice was loud enough and hoping that that would clear the misunderstanding. "Come on!"
"Where are we going?" He asked as Tenten dragged him along. "I haven't said yes."
"So you will reject me?" She stopped to face him.
"No… but…"
"Not that you're allowed to." She continued walking. "Anyway, we have to do something about those clothes…"
They were so pressed for time that it took her just about an hour to prepare- a far cry from the usual time she spent fixing herself. She decided to get dressed before taking Neji to her favourite shop. They would be heading straight to the venue as soon as possible. She had to be there to stop Sakura in case she was up to something.
She knew the stylist from that store because she was a regular customer. It was pricey but she knew she needed a competent person to make him look presentable, at least. She was annoyed that he was apathetically standing beside her while she was busy comparing her picks with the stylist's, but she figured that fighting wouldn't get them anywhere.
"Try these on." She said as she handed him three ensembles.
"All these?"
"Of course!" She said, pushing him to the dressing room.
"I think this is a little…"
"Please help him… as you can see, he needs it." She said, turning to the stylist.
Neji sighed. He was used to being ignored whenever she was hyper about something.
"I guess he wouldn't mind if I leave him once I get my eyes on my real target." She said when he was in the dressing room and she was alone amidst the gallery of outfits.
The walls of the shop were decorated with full length mirrors and she went to examine herself closely. In all that hurry, she wasn't even sure if she achieved the look that she wanted. She had waited so long for that dance and it was an unexpected horror that Sasuke asked Sakura. To think that she exerted so much effort planning- she thought she had never looked better.
Her hair was curled to gentle waves that fell past her shoulders. She had practiced on how to apply the make up to best highlight her features, and the result was a sheer and fresh look. She always thought that light make up worked for her. Her dress was a strapless navy chiffon and silk number, paired with three inch glittery stilettos. She smiled in approval. Practice makes perfect, she thought.
She saw the stylist holding a new suit, similar to the one that she picked- only that it was in black. She picked light colored ones, since she never saw him wearing dark colors. Makes sense, she thought. Black makes someone look slender.
"A silk navy tie on him will complement your dress." The stylist said- perhaps noticing the curious look on her face. "And we got the wrong size."
"Oh, right… good thinking…"
Damn it, she thought. Sure, she was going with Neji but she wanted to be discreet about it. She didn't want the entire school population to know that they were together. Besides, she was planning to leave him once they get past the crucial entrance stage. She calmed herself by thinking that someone else would probably be wearing navy blue. Then it wouldn't seem like they were so prepared for the dance. And she thought she also heard something about the size. She never bothered about the size- of course, it had to be large.
The door to the dressing room was ajar- and it caught her attention. She could only see him from behind because he was busy fixing his tie before the mirror. She knew that there were times when she seemed to look lovelier in some mirrors. But how could his reflection be so different once he dropped that oversized sweater and those baggy pants?
"Why don't you get closer?" The stylist suggested, noticing that Tenten was tilting in an impossible angle.
As though waking up from a spell- she straightened, walked past the stylist, barged through the dressing room and roughly turned him to face her.
"Now what?" He asked in surprise.
No, it wasn't the reflection. Neither was it an illusion. Who was that person right in front of her- she didn't know. Without the eyeglasses he looked so much different. What a waste to hide those mysteriously beautiful eyes behind a thick slab of glass- what shade or hue were his eyes exactly? She had asked that question before. He looked to his left to avoid her gaze- her face just a few inches away from his. Right, she thought, back in the library during our first study time together.
And why didn't she notice that he was really tall? She had to be looking up even with her stilettos on. Her hand trailed his shoulders, the other one unintentionally stroked his stomach during her search for the missing flab. He stiffly, yet quickly caught her groping hands though it was already clear to her that she was just imagining the extra weight on him. How many times did he say that he didn't want to lose weight?
"Why… in the world… are you wearing those loose fitting clothes?"
"Because they're comfortable." He answered, relieved that her trance seemed to be over.
The logical answer made sure that yes, indeed, it was still Hyuuga Neji. She laughed a little.
"You're an idiot." She said, turning him around to face the mirror again.
"Do I look funny?" He asked.
She took her own brush and started working on his long dark hair- and she thought Ino would do anything to have those silken strands. After securing it with a tight low ponytail, she turned him around again and a smile made its way on her lips as she looked at their school's Student Council president, Science club president, her study partner. Her goal was to make him look presentable, at the very least- looked like she went beyond 'at least'. She felt really proud.
"Do I really look that funny?" His eyebrows furrowed.
"No… you're okay." She chuckled.
"Then why are you reacting like that?"
"Do you have to be so insecure about this?" She scolded.
Her laughter was due to the unforeseen satisfaction, even awe, of his transformation. How did he get the idea that he looked funny? Because it was a clear understatement when she said that he looked okay. She just couldn't say it though- not after teasing him on a daily basis. It would be to her shame if she took back all those words.
He mumbled about something but she paid no heed. She was aware that it was a big change for him. She was hoping that he would keep the look though. And in her head, strategies on how she could convince him to stop wearing bulging clothes started flowing. Burning his entire closet sounded like a good idea. She saw the stylist pointing at the grandfather clock that stood at the corner of the store. It was looking to be an eventful evening- and they might just make it on time.
"Let's go." She said excitedly, grabbing him by his arm.
"Hold on…"
"We're late, you hate being late, right?"
"Yes, but…"
She ran despite his protest, looking back only when she heard a dull thud.
"I need my glasses." He said- a hand on his forehead that bumped against the glass door.
Todai - The University of Tokyo
I told you Neji, calm down. I'm a fan, alright? I wouldn't sabotage your coolness for a very long time lol.
