Hey everyone. Long time no see, huh? Well I'm going to attempt something today. It might not work, but I'm going to try anyway.
Yes folks, that's right, I'm going to try and bring this story back to life.
If you're happy about that you can thank Life is no Fairytale for sending me a very convincing PM a few days ago.
As always I do not own Naruto.
Chapter 9: Now What?
I could have written a list a mile long about all the reasons I was dreading school the next morning the least important of which was that it was picture day. Honestly the date had completely slipped my mind until I slipped out of my cousin's car the next morning and saw the pandemonium ensuing.
Adolescent girls stood everywhere preening and primping for what was to be their annual 3 seconds of fame. Those girls who forgot, like myself, stood in the bathrooms trying to make themselves more presentable from over the shoulders of other make-up applying teens. Subconsciously I fretted the edge of my pastel sweater. It would have to do.
I made it all the way to my locker before I was captured. Sakura's arms were an iron grip around my neck while I tried to maneuver textbooks and binders into something resembling order.
"Hinata! Is that what you're wearing for pictures?" Sakura asked after she'd finally been convinced to release me by an amused Tenten.
"Yes, it is. I-I forgot that we had pictures today." I explained closing my locker and leaning against the metal door.
"Oh! Well I might have a shirt or something in my locker that you could-" I abruptly stopped listening to Sakura as I noticed a pile of messy-brown hair making its way through the crowd. 'Kiba. Oh God.' I'd stayed up until the late hours of last night trying to figure out how to approach him today. I didn't want to go out with him. Not that he wasn't a wonderful guy and incredibly sweet, but I just couldn't. On the other hand ending our friendship was almost a worse choice. Kiba and I had been friends since first grade. Besides Sakura, Kiba was my closest friend and someone I absolutely didn't want to lose over a kiss.
I turned to face Sakura, more effectively hiding my face from Kiba's direction. Maybe he wouldn't see me. 'Maybe he'd just keep walking!' I hoped when suddenly I felt two arms weave around my middle and I was swept into the air a spun in a circle. Needless to say, I yelped loudly and struggled in the strong grip.
Then the world stopped spinning I felt a loud laugh vibrate against my back.
"Morning, Hina!" Kiba exclaimed as he released me. I turned around and attempted a secure smile, as is I wasn't feeling faint from the anxiety of facing him.
"Good morning, Kiba." I replied and turned back to Sakura, praying that she was still talking just so I wouldn't have to. My prayers were answered.
"Ugh. Kiba! How can you dress like that on Picture Day? Were you raised by dogs?" She was exclaiming and gesturing frivolously at his crumpled, plaid shirt. He just smiled viciously at her, growled, and made a move to grab her. Out of no-where Naruto pulled him into a headlock and proceeded to grapple with him causing them scare some helpless freshman girls passing by.
"Don't worry, Sakura! I saved you from the evil dog!" He proclaimed from the floor where he and Kiba were wrestling like toddlers.
"My hero." Sakura mumbled with no small amount of sarcasm. Tenten was shaking her head and grinning at the boys. I also couldn't restrain the smile their antics inspired.
"Shouldn't we get them to stop b-before they get into trouble?" I asked while smothering some laughter when Kiba sat on Naruto's back and pretended to yawn.
"Naw. Let them figure it out for themselves." Tenten suggested as she walked away to her locker. I watched her go and suddenly felt a sort of sixth sense telling me that I was being watched in return. I looked around quickly, but couldn't see anyone immediately.
"Boys!" Someone shouted and I jumped. Turning back to my friends I found an infuriated teacher standing over Naruto and Kiba. "What are you two doing?" He asked crossing his arms.
"We were just messing around, Teach!" Naruto whined as the two boys stood up. The teacher looked less than pleased at the name.
"Yeah, really. Everyone knows that Naruto could never really take me in a fight." Kiba boasted. This prompted a whole new round of bickering and pretend fighting between the two.
"ENOUGH!" The teacher shouted and once again I was ashamed to realize that I'd jumped. "You boys are almost adults! Stop acting like such imbeciles! The next time I have to talk to you you're both getting detentions!" With that the stern man stalked away.
"Come on, Hinata. Let's see if we can find something for you in my locker." Sakura suggested and at that moment, with Kiba's smiled directed back at me, nothing sounded better.
"O-okay!" I agreed. Following her.
