~*~*~*~*Dance Partners*~*~*~*~

A NejiTen fanfic

Tenten's P.O.V.

"Let's go, Tenten!" Hannah called.

"No," I groaned. I had just gotten back from dancing in the Moonstones class and was pooped.

"Yes," my father argued. "Tenten hurry up,"

"But I'm tired," I complained rolling over on the couch.

Hannah cracked her knuckles. "Tenten," she warned, inching closer.

I cracked an eye open. Shit. Adoptive mother pissed. Run.

"GAH!" I sprang up and scurried through the hallway like there was no tomorrow.

When my mom gets pissed, she gets physical. When she does the warning, it's a sign of get your ass out of there.

Grumbling, I crawled into the back seat. It bothered me back here because I felt so out of it. Away from everyone else but since both of my parents were coming I was forced to sit back here. Grr...

Well that went well.

Shut up.

You know I'm gonna count how many times you tell me that.

...Have fun with that.

I will.

I was joking.

I wasn't.

...

Kay maybe I was.

You lied. Lier.

Wha-

LIER!

Calm down.

NEVER!

No seriously.

Make me.

I could give you a migraine?

You wouldn't dare-

Psh! Yeah I would!

Great. My life is awesome.

Don't blame me. It's the-

Fairs fault I know. I don't want to go.

Really? I didn't know that.

Nice sarcasm there.

Why thank you.

Know what? I'm sulking. Go away.

Don't you want to talk to me.

I'm sulking.

So...

What part of sulking don't you get?!

Um...

That's right. Be left speechless.

...I thought you were going to sulk?

I am!

And what are you doing now?

Talking to y- wow.

He he.

Wait am I thinking to you or talking to you???

Stop trying to change the subject.

Whatev. I'm gonna go sulk.

You do that.

yeah. Bye.

"Now you're going to have fun," Hannah said, getting into the car, Drew following.

"Sure mom, sure," I answered. Whatever you say...not.

The car ride wasn't very long, but to boring to tell about.

My mom and dad bored on about the fair being so great. I'm just like. yeah....

"OUT!" Drew announced.

"God it's not a fricken military," I mumbled, slamming the door behind me.

"WHAT WAS THAT?!" Drew cried.

At that split second, I bolted. My father was not happy. Maybe I could like...I don't know. Pretend to have fun?

Still in hearing range, I heard my father chuckle. "Works every time,"

Wow. Whatever. At least I don't have to put up with him now.

I wondered aimlessly throughout the annual Konoha Fair. Yeah there were rides and stuff. Most of them were rusty and old. Probably about to break sometime soon.

Without thinking, I shuffled into the line for the Ferris Wheel. Might as well do something. Since I was tired I guessed that this would be relaxing because I didn't have to do anything.

"Hello," The ticket guy greeted. "You live in Konoha?"

"Yep," I showed him a headband (1)

"Do you mind if you share with someone. We don't have enough with the time table we're on?" He suggested.

"Nope," I grinned, trying to look happy and failed miserably.

He gave a half smile. "You can share it with this young man,"

"Sure,"

But the moment I stepped into the cart I immediately regretted it. He was there.

I took a seat on the opposite side. "What are you doing here?"

"What are you doing here?" he repeated.

"Riding the Ferris Wheel," I answered.

He raised an eyebrow. "Obviously,"

"So Neji, I didn't know you liked Ferris Wheels," I teased, smirking.

"I'm escaping from my family," Neji responded, not looking at me as the ride shifted into motion.

"Hmph, same," I replied.

I bit my lip. There was an awkward silence. It was even worse too because we were stuck at the top. They were probably putting more people on. Damn you slow workers.

Even worse than that. A certain topic was bugging me and I really had to get it off my chest.

"Neji?" I asked.

"What?" He remarked coldly.

I gulped. Here we go again.

"I'm not lying..."

"Stop talking," Neji ordered, looking downward, blankly at the ground.

"What?" I hissed.

"You're bothering me,"

What kind of nerve does this guy have???? I mean honestly! He is so cold it's like...IMPOSSIBLE!

"Why do you hate me?" I asked him suddenly. "I mean of course you're mean to everyone else but why especially me?"

Neji sighed. He still didn't look at me. "I don't hate you," he finally replied.

I rolled my eyes. "Like I can believe that."

Neji raised an eyebrow. "I didn't say I wasn't angry with you,"

"Yeah. So you hate me," I growled.

Neji looked at me, obviously thinking I was immature.

"Anger and hatred are two very different things," Neji explained.

It was my turn to raise an eyebrow. "Really?" I inquired. "Please enlighten me then,"

Neji clicked his tongue in annoyance. "Why should I?"

I gasped slightly. First he doesn't hate me (or so he says) , but now he seems like he does again! BIPOLAR!

"Anger isn't as deep. Or long lasting," Neji said, resting his chin on his fist.

I frowned. Anger. I knew all about that. Hatred is too something different. But I still knew. My old parents. My real ones. The ones that tried to kill me.

My eyes softened as I stared in the opposite direction of the prodigy. I sighed. "Yeah, I know what you mean,"

"Hn,"

Of course. His obvious answer. Yeah I expected that.

Suddenly I realized something.

"Neji?" I asked.

"What?"

"How long have we been up here?" I questioned.

Neji's eyes widened the slightest bit. I SURPRISED HIM!

He leaned over the edge to get a view of the bottom, tilting the cart a little.

I clutched the side immediately. Okay. Maybe I didn't like heights.

Neji glanced at me for a split second, trying to stifle a laugh and looked back over the edge.

"Shut up," I hissed through my teeth, feeling the cart rock more.

I squeezed my eyes shut. I'm not gonna fall. I'm not gonna fall. I tried to push the images of falling to my death out of my head, but it wasn't working too well. If stupid Neji hadn't leaned over I never would of had a problem with this. But oh god he's tipping it again!

Neji sighed. "Whatever. They'll fix it even-"

"WHAT THE HELL?!" I shrieked, grabbing the side tighter.

The entire Ferris Wheel was swaying back and forth.

Neji's eyes twitched in frustration and he clenched his teeth.

"Dammit," I heard him mutter.

"What do we do?" I demanded.

Neji rubbed his temples while the Ferris Wheel continued to rock. "Quiet. I'm thinking,"

"How can you be calm in a time like this?" I squeaked.

Terror had already sneaked into my body. Creeping into places. Filling it entirely.

Neji closed his eyes. "I thought I said be quiet,"

GOD DAMMIT! I"M SCARED OUT OF MY MIND HERE! WHY. ISN'T. NEJI?!

Then I heard the loudest, screeching noise, that pierced the air like a thousand knives.

The wheel tipped to the side, crashing downwards.

I shrieked, waiting for the deathly impact that never came.

The Ferris Wheel halted to a stop when it tipped, flinging me out of my seat and hovering about the ground, hanging on with my hands.

Clenching my teeth, I gripped onto the side with all my might. Crap.

This was bad. This was bad.

The fear in my body right now felt so real it was hard to explain how scared I was. Since I was originally afraid of heights too. That's just great.

Ignoring these horrible thoughts (and failing) I searched through the scene then my eyes stopped and my jaw dropped.

Oh. My. Fuckin. God. The wheel was being supported by one very very small cable. Shit Shit Shit!

I watched it get slightly thinner, making the wheel jerk farther, and stopping abruptly once more, making my left hand fling off. I now swung dangerously with my right.

Now, I screeched in terror. The crowd below me gasped. I could hear shouts of 'Someone call help,' and 'What do we do?' or 'Oh my god' etc.

Tears finally rolled down my cheeks. I was so fricken scared it wasn't even close to funny. Soon those tears turned into sobs and I finally cried loudly. I was too busy to notice the hand by my head.

"Take it," a voice growled.

Neji.

With my left hand, I slowly reached up but missed Neji's terribly.

"I-I c-can't,"

Neji's eyes narrowed in frustration as he reached farther.

Where was everyone else on the Ferris Wheel?!

My breathing become heavier when I realized I couldn't reach him. I bit my lip. This was so bad!

Suddenly, the wheel jerked more, finally throwing me off for good.

I screeched so loud I though all of Konoha would here.

My weight stopped in midair.

I glanced up and saw Neji, his right hand was clutching the side of the cart, his left holding my right.

His entire body was shaking uncontrollably.

"I can't hold on," he grunted, trying to squeeze tighter.

Through my tears I could see his intense frustration.

"I'm sorry," I sobbed.

Neji could barely move his head to look down on me.

"You baka," he hissed.

I shut my eyes knowing he was right. But I didn't want to believe it.

He was right all along. I was probably just a burden. Great. I'm just great. I bet everyone just loves having me around.

I saw Neji's grip loosen.

No!

Feeling a sudden surge of adrenaline, I reached up with all my might, pretending it was when Neji held me at our last dance. I tightened all my muscles and reached.

Finally gripping the side, I used all my upper arm strength to bring my other hand around. Neji's body relaxed, easily putting his other hand back up.

Suddenly the wheel jerked again, almost throwing me but I kept my firm grip, gritting my teeth in the process.

Then, grunting, I used my arms strength, heaving myself onto the edge, feeling my muscles burn.

I breathed out, leaning into the cart on the edge, my stomach touching that.

Neji and I exchanged glances. We both knew how bad this was.

I tried to shake off my fear but it kept coming back so I started to breath through my diaphragm.

"Climb down," Neji said.

"What?" I asked in terror. "Are you crazy?"

Neji's arms were shaking as he held on, same as mine, while he said, "Do we have a better option. It doens't look like they're going to help us anytime soon and this Ferris Wheel will tip sometime soon."

He was right. Finally I nodded. "So what do we do?"

"Climb around the cart and we can both squeeze through those bars," Neji pointed out. "They'll be easier to hold on to,"

I nodded.

Slowly, Neji and I maneuvered around the cart, making our way between a string of bars.

I clutched onto the metal, lowering myself downward, having no footing. There was nothing to put my feet on!

My eyebrows lowered in frustration.

I gritted my teeth, trying to concentrate.

Don't fall.

Thanks for the advice.

No prob.

Now go away.

You got it.

Thank you.

I shut my eyes, lowering myself down another bar.

Finally both of my feet crashed into the ground.

"I did it," I breathed in relief.

"MOVE!" Neji cried.

"Huh-"

He grabbed my arm and yanked. It was painful but definitely worth it.

As we ran, the wheel came falling down.

Everyone gasped.

A piece of metal grazed the back of my left arm.

I gasped, grabbing it. There was only a small cut but it bothered me.

People surrounded us. They asked us questions. I pushed them away, trying to find my parents, who obviously weren't here.

Finally the crowd cleared and I sighed. It was just Neji and I.

"Thanks you," I said abruptly.

He looked up in surprise. "Don't thank me," He grumbled, finally turning away.

"Can't you just say your welcome?" I demanded.

Neji started to walk in the opposite direction. "No," he answered, continuing.

I bit my lip, watching him disappear.

"TENTEN!" voices cried.

It was my little gang of friends. I get to deal with them now. Great.

"Where were you guys?" I interrogated.

Hannah looked at me. "We left you there because we thought you wanted alone time at the fair,"

My nose crinkled. "Yeah. Alone time. I almost got myself killed."

"What happened?" My parents cried in unison.

"Never mind," I remarked coldly, gripping the railing as I stomped up the steps. "I don't wanna talk about it."

And with that, I slammed the door to my room, leaving my mother and father bewildered sitting at the table.

Neji is mean and cold. He saved my life today but still acts weird. He doesn't even say your welcome. My parents wouldn't understand. They wouldn't know. They never never will. They can't comprehend it.

No one can.

A/N I'm so glad I finished that chapter. Sorry for not updating but it was my bros birthday yesterday. HE TURNED SEVENTEEN! Sniff sniff. He's too old. Anyways. I also couldn't write because I made a NejiTen Music Video. MY SECOND ONE! Hurray! This is my best. You guys have to check it out. There's a link at the bottom of my profile, very last thing. NEJITEN FTW! Mwahaha, it's my best work. You guys probably haven't heard the song but it SO describes Neji and Tenten. So thanks for reading and please review:)