If you're on your way
I'm not gonna write you to stay
If all you have is leavin'
I'm gonna need a better reason
To write you a love song
Today
--Love Song, Sara Bareilles

Chapter XIII
The Truth about Forever

"So? What happened?"

I stiffened in shock and slowly turned to face Ino, who was peering into my face eagerly with that knowing smile on her face, the smile that told me she probably knew more than she let on. It usually reminded me of my own smirk, the one I used on everyone when they chose to underestimate me and my intelligence.

"Nothing. Why do you ask?"

Chouji's loud munching in my ear nearly made me jump. "Got a big grin on your face since you came back from having chased Temari-san to the bathroom. And you guys were together for an awfully long time. Missed the fireworks and everything."

"What happened?" Claws dug into my forearm, even through my coat, courtesy of Ino. "Tell me!"

I tried to shake her off but she only clung tighter, recently manicured acrylic nails feeling like they were going to start tearing little pieces of my skin off. "Nothing. Happened." I enunciated the words perfectly and completely, and hoped she got the point. I usually didn't make an effort to make sure my words didn't slur together.

She didn't.

"I'm not going to believe that," she declared, eyes boring a hole into my temple. Fortunately, she did remove her hands and let me stagger away. "Even Temari looked flushed. And she left running home. By herself. And you didn't even bother to stop her and spew your whole women and men crap you usually say."

Well damn, if I'd known I was being watched carefully for any out-of-character-ness on my part, I would have been more careful to make sure I pissed Temari off.

"Nothing happened," I told Ino once more, trying to avoid her questions and avoid her by drifting away from them and walking quicker, eager to get the girl home and away from me. Chouji didn't really seem to care as he mulled over his chips, but I could feel his narrowed eyes watching me carefully, probably as analytical (if not more) as Ino.

"Shikamaru."

I stopped dead in my tracks and slowly turned, cocking my head to the side and giving Chouji my most bored look.

"You kissed her, didn't you?"

"You what?!"

I growled at them. "No."

Chouji smiled triumphantly, noting my discomfort. "You did."

"I don't know what you're talking about."

Ino's mouth gaped wide and open. "Oh my goodness, you did!"

I shook my head. What the hell? Was this suddenly 'Let's-Torture-Shikamaru-the-Best-We-Can-Day'? What a great fucking way to start off the damn year.

If I had known all of this would happen because of one (two… three… a whole lot) kiss, I would have kept my lips to myself and left that stupid, bitchy woman in the goddamn bathroom by her goddamn self.

…

Okay. So I was lying. I probably would have still chased after her. But I wouldn't have kissed her.

Well, I would have had far more control if she didn't look the way she did. Look so defeated but still trying to stand tall, locks of damp hair clinging to her sun-kissed skin, eyes wide and water clinging to her lashes. If my heart didn't beat so annoyingly fast when she was near, and if my palms didn't get all clammy and sweaty every time I saw her, then I would have definitely not kissed her. Of course. Naturally.

"I didn't," I tried again, but to no avail. Ino had already gone off ahead of us, screaming "Oh my gosh, I can't believe this!" while Chouji smirked knowingly and handed me his potato chip bag.

The last chip.

I hated them all.

When I finally got home, I was greeted by my howling hag of a mother and my sleeping father, who had a beer can resting carefully on his stomach as he was sprawled on the couch.

"Nara Shikamaru!"

I nodded my head. "Yeah, yeah, I'm home."

My mother frowned and waved her hand in my face, and I could tell that even though she looked angry, she was more worried than that. "What time is it?"

I checked the clock nailed to the wall. "Four in the morning."

She nodded, and next thing I knew, she was pulling my ear, leading me deeper into the house, not even bothering to let me remove my shoes. "Wonderful, my son can read a clock. Can you tell me if my son can call his mother and tell her the time he will be home?"

I sighed. An argument. For the new year. This was definitely not going to work out well. "Mom—"

"Don't 'mom' me, mister! It's four in the morning. Do you know how worried sick I was? You don't know who can be outside at this time! Rapists, murderers, psychos, serial killers, crazy doctors, prostitutes—"

"Mom."

"—Thugs, drug dealers, rapists—"

"You said that one already," I told her, voice monotone.

"I'm reiterating."

My dad had woken up, probably due to Mom's loud voice. He sat up from his nap, rubbing at his eyes, downing the last of his beer in one gulp before placing the can carefully on the table (on a coaster, of course). He observed the scene carefully before smirking.

"My son spent New Years with a lady," he said, winking.

Mom gasped. And then smacked me upside the head.

"Ow!"

"You had sex?"

"Mom, no! Pops, you're making things worse."

He shrugged. "You're gonna deny you were with a girl?"

I glared at him before answering, "I was with Ino, yeah. And Sakura and Hinata and Tenten and Temari-san—"

"The girl you show around town?" Mom's voice.

I nodded.

My father's smirk widened. "So that's the lucky lady."

I groaned. Mom smacked my head again.

"You're sleeping with a girl older than you?"

"I didn't sleep with her!"

"My son is having sex at fifteen, oh what has the world come to?"

"Mom, I'm sixteen."

"Oh, so you are having sex?" The narrowed eyes told me my mother had only confused my age to try and get me.

"No."

"He only kissed her, dear," Pops said, sighing exaggeratedly before hauling himself up.

Mom's incredulous gasp. "You kissed her?"

"You make that sound worse than having sex," I told her, not bothering to care whether it was going to earn me another pull or a mouthful of soap.

This was getting blown out of total proportion. It wasn't even like I liked Temari.

Okay. Another lie. I was lying a lot already.

Not a good way to start the year, I was sure.

Thing was, I didn't know how to deal with liking someone. Liking a girl, for that matter. I didn't like most people, and I definitely didn't like women. They were always… women-y. Complaining or bitching or doing something unnecessary and troublesome and all around annoying. But then there was Temari. Temari. A girl from a completely different country with completely different ways of working. She didn't look like the other girls. Didn't act like them. She could have probably killed me by crushing my head in with her thighs. She was independent, dangerous, and beautiful.

Shit.

"I'm going to bed," I said, and Mom let me go, staring at me curiously.

"Night, son."

I nodded.

In my room, I didn't bother to go into my bathroom and brush my teeth. I didn't bother to strip out of my clothes as I threw myself into bed, burrowing my head under my pillow and into my mattress. I closed my eyes, waiting for sleep to claim me, subconsciously wishing to still feel her lips pressed against mine, soft and giving, tasting like spices and danger.

I avoided her.

Like I would the Bubonic plague, Influenza, small pox, SARS, bird flu. I could barely look at her, let alone be in the same room with her. Every class I had with her, I was the last one in and the first one out. Participation was out of the question. Group work was immediately avoided by feigning sleep and allowing to get sent to the office, where I would detour and not return till the end of the period. Lunch was taboo, as I knew Ino and Tenten and all the other girls, who all the other boys would sit with, would insist she join us. I ate outside, in the cold.

Who knew why I avoided her? I sure didn't. I racked my brain for reasons, coming up incredibly short. There were reasons like avoiding speaking about the incident, avoiding messy complications like having to ask her out. But I knew they were all only part of the real, big, large, humongous reason why I kept from meeting her gaze or accidentally bumping into her in the hallways. However, that reason eluded me.

I don't know what compelled me to wake up so early, or get to school so early, skipping breakfast and ignoring the hag's screams that I better not be eating any of that junk they sell in convenience stores this early in the morning, or she'd have my head. I was only faintly aware as I made my way to school, my legs having memorized the path a long time ago, leaving my mind free to wander wherever it wanted to go, though lately, it only strayed down the same path that often ended with me thinking of a girl who was far more annoying than I had ever given the female species credit for.

It was in the school courtyard that I saw her. She was sitting on the steps; chin in hand, billowy sandy hair in a piled mass on her head, she looked more like a college student rather than a high school student. Especially with the open book in her lap, the fingers of her free hand playing idly with the corners of the worn pages.

She spotted me and straightened, teal eyes staring intently as I crossed the rest of the way and landed on a step above her. She didn't turn around to look at me for a long time, allowing me to let my eyes rest on the back of her neck, tan and smooth and tempting to touch.

When she finally angled her body towards me, I stiffened, suddenly acutely aware that this was the first time we had seen each other face to face since New Years. The memory was still fresh in my mind, and apparently, my over thinking brain had provided new and exaggerated details to add to the scene, making it that much more enticing and hard to forget. And as she regarded me with a careful blank expression, I couldn't help it but let my eyes gravitate towards her lips, pink and the bottom lip pulled between her teeth.

Before long, the lines of her face were set, and her eyes were fierce. I didn't bother to hide my grimace as she leaned forward, only an inch, before standing up and dropping her book into her open bag.

She took the steps down two at a time, landing on the ground with a jump, turning around fully to glower at me.

"You're skipping school," she declared, and it took me off guard that her voice sounded so… so perfect. So much how I remembered it and I hadn't the slightest clue why I would have imagined it to change.

Then it hit me.

"Wait, what?"

She placed a hand on her hip, cocking her head towards me, a small hint of a smile trying to pull her lips upward. "You're not going to school today."

I stared blankly. "No. I think I am."

She shook her head. "I don't think so."

"I am not going to skip school."

She nodded, just once. "You are."

And much to my chagrin, though I should have expected it, because as much as I happened to be partial to anything she had to say, I wasn't up to arguing with anyone then, especially someone like her. So I scoffed, looked away, and pretended not to notice when I felt her hand clamp down on mine, slowly pulling me up, leading me down the steps.

At the bottom, she dropped my hand like it burned her, turning away, hiding her face from view.

"Let's go," she said into the air, and even though she wasn't looking at me, even though I couldn't see her eyes, I could tell this was going to change everything more than anything had before.

At first, she had been leading me down the path that had become familiar and easiest to reach her house from. After a few minutes, she paused, and since I had been trailing behind her, caused me to almost crash into her as she debated with herself. A few seconds later, she went back down the way we'd come, and I realized she wasn't in any mood to let me in her house.

Fair enough. I had ignored her. But to be honest, she'd been ignoring me pretty well herself.

Who knows how long we walked. All I was aware of was that she was taking me somewhere, and that I couldn't exactly devise any strategies in escaping. Well, I was sure I could, and I had plenty flitting around in my brain, trying to force me into action, but that didn't necessarily mean my body was all too eager to comply. In fact, it seemed ready to do anything but leave.

Finally, she stopped. We were standing on a rather populated street, being pushed to the side as people rushed back and forth, yammering away on cell phones, giving us odd glares as the sun beat down on us, oddly warm for such a winter day. She stood near the entrance of a café, just opening for business, a pretty old clock handing from an extended bar that displayed that it was now nine in the morning. A worker, who was busy sweeping the front sidewalk, glanced up to look at us, curious smile on her face, before nodding along as Temari asked her something quietly.

She turned back to look at me, teal eyes dark with repressed anger. "C'mon."

I hesitated, watching her as she took a few steps toward the café, right foot lingering on the threshold, the dim lighting from inside covering half her face in shadows. It was an odd play on her skin, so tan and meant for the sun that the dark of the shadows looked strange and unfitting. Like she didn't belong, half cloistered in darkness.

Once more, she was looking at me. "Come. On."

I released a slow, steady breath as I followed behind her, trying to avoid looking at the strange lady who was now smiling widely, blue eyes glittering as she followed behind us, shutting the door as it tinkled.

"Sit down, I'll bring you some menus," she told us, waving a dainty hand at one of the two-seat tables, bowing her head slightly at Temari-san, who was already dumping her things on the floor. She shrugged out of her coat, stretched, and plopped down in the seat, staring at me with her beautiful (—wait, what?) eyes.

"Do you need to talk to me about something?" I asked her, sitting on the edge of the chair so that if I had to spring into action (like run for the door to escape her), I could do so without wasting much time.

Strategic thinking. That was the way to go.

She scoffed, a harsh sound filling the air, and it made me flinch. "Ha. Obviously." She leaned forward, eyes smoldering. "Don't act like you don't know what we're here for."

I let a smile creep onto my face, knowing it would irritate her. I watched with satisfaction as she stiffened and immediately drew back, hands clenching the table, knuckles turning white. "Like… a date?"

The word had the desired effect, draining most of the color from her face as her mouth opened slightly. "W-what?"

"So, is this like a date?"

"Stop being an idiot."

"Ah, so it isn't."

She snarled at me, one corner of her lips pulling upwards in a way meant to scare me. "Stop being such an idiot."

She seemed to be calling me that a lot, lately.

The lady waltzed towards us, carefully setting down the menus on the table, smile still in place on her broad, pale face. "Tell me when you're ready to order, loves."

Temari nodded curtly. "Thank you."

I didn't say anything. I was too busy staring at Temari to care.

"So?" I took my menu, briefly glanced at it, decided I didn't really care what I ordered as long as it was warm and wouldn't distract me too much from focusing on figuring this girl in front of me out. "What is it?"

She visibly tensed, hands curled around the menu tightly, holding the block where the drinks and pastries were etched out on in front of her face, blocking me from view. She lowered it slowly, eyes not meeting mine, glaring at the iron-wrought table for quite a while before actually meeting my gaze. Just as she opened her mouth to speak, the damnable lady returned, took our orders, and silenced Temari long enough, until the lady returned with our drinks. A macchiato for Temari, tea for me.

When the lady had skipped away again, Temari's eyes landed on mine again. She seemed unsure of what to say, unsure of herself, fingers playing idly with the curve of her mug, tracing the lines and form of the handle carefully with the pad of her index finger. Finally, she seemed ready to speak.

"…About… that night."

And then I understood. So perfectly. So obviously. It was right there, and I had been trying to avoid that more than I was trying to avoid her.

It made so much sense. It wasn't that I didn't want to speak to her, or that I didn't want to look at her; it was the very opposite. I was in such a state, wanting to constantly hear her low, rough voice that it brought me pain. But what bothered me the most, perhaps barred me and kept me from seeking her out or attempting to even make any more contact with her than our eyes meeting, was the fact that the night would be brought up. That I would discover that whatever it was I felt for her—and I could barely deny it now, let alone try to mask it for something else—was felt only by me. She was two years my senior, beautiful, destructive, impatient, striving for a better life. A life away from the one she lived. A life that would eventually lead away from me.

"I get it," I ground out, and my tone was probably harsh enough that her head snapped up to give her eyes access to look at me, to glare at me, to watch me intensely. "It didn't mean anything."

Her eyes, which had been widening, suddenly narrowed dangerously. "What?" she intoned.

"It. Didn't. Mean. Anything." I didn't really get why I was so angry. I just was. The sudden realization that she didn't want me was enough to make me irritated. Enough to make me want to get away from her and everything around us. But really, mostly, to get away from her.

Her eyes were still narrowed, but I saw something flit across them, though I wasn't sure what emotion that was, not that I cared. Not anymore. Her tongue darted out, traced her lips, as if stalling for time, trying to figure out what to say. "It didn't mean… anything?" she repeated dumbly, and I was struck with just how sincerely confused she sounded. But it was all an act. I was sure of it.

"Yeah. Nothing."

Suddenly, her eyes flashed dangerously, and she was angry. She slammed her mug down, making the liquid inside slosh and spill onto the table. Scraping her chair across the floor as she moved back, she placed a few bills on the table, not meeting my gaze.

"I guess we're done here," she said, though her voice sounded distant, carefully detached. Like it wasn't really her. But I couldn't be bothered.

I shrugged. "I guess so."

I watched her stalk out, barely acknowledging the lady as she bowed her head deeply. The lady turned on me, eyes sorrowful, her hands gathered before her.

"Silly boy," she said to me, shaking her head sadly. "You've just broken her heart."

AN: Muahahaha. Guess who's back? (Back again?) Shady's back--

Hmm. Well. Alright. Moving along.

And there seems to be some confusion. I DID NOT draw anything for this story. Any fanart that has been made is definitely NOT mine. I can't draw to save my life. The only fanart for this story so far has been drawn by DARKGAL69 and JYUEN7 on deviantART. So yeah. I'm not sure whether or not to put up Jyuen7's fanart, because she said it would be colored, so... I don't know if she wants me to put up the lineart or the finished project. So you'll all have to wait for it, or get curious and go on dA to look for it. It's really great. I love it. Just like I love Darkgal's fanart. BOTH of them. Thanks so muuuuch

This chapter was an absolute torture. I mean, I was so stuck that I felt like bashing my head through a wall, though that could have been this horrible headache I've been having for a while. And if that weren't enough, I've been so fixated on Twilight and the rest of the books in the series that I feel like my addiction to ShikaTema has slowly dwindled down. I'm becoming incredibly intent on reading and writing about Bella and Edward, and it's making me ANGRY. Bella and Edward are hot and everything, but ShikaTema is just... bursting with like, sexual tension and hot chemistry.

So, I will go on with writing ANFBSSS. Hopefully, the next chapter, and the chapter after that, and all the following chapters won't be so hard to actually sit through. And once I do finish with ANFBSSS, I'll start on my not-so-wonderful idea for Twilight. Which, to be honest, has totally stole my life. It just ate my SOUL.-giggle-

Anyway. That's it for my annoyingly long Author's Note that had no point or anything.

But, I guess I should say that there will be more drama. There will be more problems. Love isn't easy, especially when it comes to Shikamaru and Temari.