She never would have expected the pessimist to rescue her day.
He wanted to take her out for an ice cream sundae. Out of surprise, Tenten had nodded silently to his offer.
Neji was usually really dense about her small dilemmas and mood swings, but today, he seemed to be tuned in with her spirit—the way Lee usually was.
The Cold Stone had been a ten minute walk from their school to downtown. It was a very quiet walk. Tenten hadn't felt at ease with Neji in quite some time. She was relaxed today though—totally in sync with his strides…maybe it was because he was 5'10 and she was 5'6?
Neji, having ordered a Strawberry Shortcake sundae, and Tenten, an Oreo Brownie sundae, they sat down on the stone lining of the shopping area—watching as hyper children were called by their parents…and teenagers who marched in laughing packs, strutted down the sidewalk.
After a moment of happy chewing, Tenten felt a cold breath on her cheek.
"Are you mad at me?" Was his question. Tenten swallowed a mouthful of brownie—surprised. Had they really been sitting so close? Elbow to elbow?
"I…well…I thought you were mad at me. For what I said." She whispered.
There was a pause. Then a chuckle. Tenten elbowed him in the arm, and Neji cursed.
"Watch it! That's my ice cream—expensive ice cream, mind you!"
Tenten shrugged playfully—mocking innocence, "Sorry…" she put a pink spoon to her bottom lip, contemplating her response. And then she felt her lip crumbling, "I'm sorry. What I said-it wasn't really a nice memory—about the pool, I mean."
For a moment, Neji was silent. And then he took a bite of strawberry and melted vanilla.
"Don't worry about it."
Tenten blinked. She should have been relieved—happy even—that he was letting it go. But that's what bothered her. That he was letting it go.
Oh
That was it.
'Don't worry about it' wasn't the same as 'I forgive you'. Neji just didn't want to discuss it at the moment. Or ever, probably. Tenten frowned.
She wasn't being forgiven.
After a moment she started with, "So" and put her empty waffle bowl down, "What's up?"
Neji shrugged.
"At your locker you looked really dejected…and sad…and angry. So I thought, 'I want some ice cream', but thought it'd be rude not to invite you."
Tenten laughed, "What? That doesn't make any sense." And Neji chuckled around the spoon in his cheek, "So? We're here right? Are you still mad?"
Tenten shook her head fast, and Neji laughed.
"That's good then." He smiled, and then looked at Tenten, who in turn, smiled back.
Weird
When she sat with Lee and chatted, laughed, or stared-the silences between them never felt awkward. Neji. Being with him was comfortable enough—but only when Lee was in the party. It was just weird with Neji alone…or was it just on her behalf?
Her cheeks felt hot…and her smile was tight.
"So, um…I haven't seen Lee around." She said—a little too quickly for it to be natural. "It's only been a few days but-"
"I know right?" Neji said, "Lee doesn't have a life. When'd he get the nerve to ditch us?"
Tenten laughed—relieved that she wasn't the only one feeling Lee's absence.
"Next time I see him, I'll tell him that."
Neji was shaking his head—as if to say 'No, No, No!' And Tenten dropped her waffle bowl, laughing.
"Have you seen the exchange student?"
Tenten wiped a tear away before it had a chance to fall. With her giggles dying, she said, "No. I've only heard about him. Apparently he's Russian. And a genius."
"Russian? He looked a little Italian to me…but yeah. Russian. That looks right too."
Tenten gave a disbelieving look at Neji, but said guy shrugged.
"You've seen him? Well…what's he like?"
"I saw him. Not talked to him." Neji, for a thoughtful second, held his chin in his hand…and then shrugged, "He's pretty short for a guy…5'6? 5'5? And he's got red bed hair."
"Wow…sounds like a mad scientist." Tenten commented.
Neji shook his head, "But when the Professor was talking to him, his voice was really deep. He seems serious…mean too, but mostly serious…and you know what's really weird?"
Tenten, entranced, shook her head like a child, "How weird?"
"Very." Neji assured. "He's got a tattoo."
"Wow" Tenten whispered. "That's kind of badass."
"I guess? But it's on his forehead—above his left eye. It's a Japanese character?"
Tenten, not sure what to address first, only stared.
"Why does everyone get Japanese letters as tattoos?"
Neji shrugged, just as floored.
"It's on his forehead you said? I didn't even know that was possible..."
"Believe me" Neji looked at Tenten and then smiled, "When you see him, you'll know what I mean."
They laughed again…and the sky darkened. Parents dragged their children by the hands, and the teenagers, exhausted, were all walking back to their bikes. Neji, having decided it was getting late, offered to walk Tenten home, but she shook her head.
"No…I mean it's not that late you know? And I'm in sweats and a hoody" she laughed, "Nobody's going to jump me."
Neji shook his head sternly.
"Predators don't attack who they find attractive. It's all about finding a victim who is alone and distracted."
Tenten crossed her arms and gave him a look.
"Have you seen these guns?" Tenten rolled up one of her hoody sleeves and flexed a muscle. It wasn't huge—but it was good enough for getting a job done—be it lifting a 32 pack of water bottles, pushing a piano, or carrying two sacks of flower.
Neji gave way to a small smile, but quickly, it was gone.
"Impressive. But what happens if someone uses a real gun?"
Tenten didn't answer, and Neji patted her back.
"I'll walk you home."
