Everything is so confusing now.

My mind tells me to do something, but my heart says another.

I'm just happy that a part of my problems have been resolved.

And I actually smiled... Genuinely. For the first time in weeks...

If only Sai saw me.

I ran through the streets of Konoha, not thinking where I was going.

The streetlamps provided light to guide me, but I couldn't help but still feel in danger. There was no one else walking around the streets…

Nevertheless I still continued on, no matter how tired I became. My feet ached and my breathing hardened but I didn't care. I just had to get away.

Suddenly I spotted a tall figure walking in front of me. Immediately I stopped, instinct telling me to do so. I squinted to have a better look at whoever it was. Black pants and jacket, dark spiky hair…

"Sasuke!" I called out but instantly regretted it. How could I be so sure it was him? The figure then stopped and slowly turned to me. His dark eyes and handsome face… It really was him! But what was he doing here?

I ran to him, all feeling of danger disappearing.

Suddenly I hit something hard and fell to the ground, my breath knocked out of me. I sat up and stared in front of me. Sasuke was still standing there, his hands in his pockets. There was nothing… There wasn't anything there! What did I hit?

I stood up, and ignoring my embarrassment, decided to walk only to hit an invisible wall again. I placed a hand in front of me and was surprised when my hand met a cold hard surface… that was invisible. What was this?

"Sasuke! Hey, over here!" I yelled again. I thought maybe he could help me but he didn't seem to hear anything. I hit the wall and screamed for him again. He didn't move.

"He can't hear you." Someone suddenly said. I turned abruptly at the voice and saw Kiba a couple of feet away from me. What was he doing here?

"And he won't help you." He continued.

"Shut up!" I replied and turned away from him. I didn't want to hear any more of it. I hit the wall harder but nothing changed. Why was Sasuke just standing there? "Sasuke can't you hear me!?"

"Hinata?" another voice said. I turned slowly… that voice… standing a short distance away from Kiba was Naruto! I made my way towards him. Maybe he could get me out.

Except I hit another wall…

"What?!" I screamed as I hit the wall with both hands. I started hitting my invisible cage frantically. What was this!? Why was I trapped here?

"I'm sorry Hinata." Naruto said as Sakura suddenly appeared beside him. I stopped hitting the wall and stared at her. She stared straight back her usual warm eyes so cold. I gave her a once over a realized she was wearing the exact same dress as me… except it made her look like a goddess…

"He loves me Hinata. You can't change that." She said in an icy tone. "So give yourself a break and stop trying."

I shook my head; Sakura would never say those things… I looked at her as she turned to Naruto. He then took her in his arms and pressed his lips against her neck. No…

"He doesn't care for you Hinata." Kiba said suddenly standing in front of me, outside my cage.

I couldn't take it anymore and turned away from the trio. I'd break through no matter what. I braced myself as I ran towards the wall but got knocked down once again as it seemed to have hardened. Sasuke looked at me for a minute before turning away.

"Sasuke!?" I yelled desperately as he started to leave. "Sasuke don't leave me! Please!"

Tears started streaming down my face. I never thought he'd make me cry again, I as so sure he wouldn't hurt me…

"I HATE YOU!"

I shot up on my bed, a cold sweat all over my body.

I touched hurriedly the pillows and covers that surrounded me. I was in my bed… I touched my face and felt the tears that stained it. It was just a dream…

I turned and placed my feet on the cold ground. I was so shaken up… "It was just a dream!" I told myself.

I took in a deep breath, trying to calm down my nerves. Ever since that awful Halloween night I've been met with many dreamless nights. And on the rare nights I did dream, like now, it would always be that horrible "invisible cage" one.

I looked over at my clock: 3:04 a.m.

I put on my slippers and walked over to my large windows. I pushed away the curtains and pressed my forehead against the cold glass. A thin layer of snow had already covered all of Konoha, making it as beautiful as the Snow Country. I always loved the snow but somehow it had no affect on me this year.

I put on my robe before opening my windows and stepping outside. A cold breeze met me on this cold November morning but I simply ignored it.

I took in the view from my deck. The moonlight made everything look soft and magical, from the icicles that hung from the trees branches and the large fountain in the middle, to the opalescent snow that lay all over the gardens.

No, it had no affect on me at all.

A shiver went down my spine as another cold breeze hit me. I hugged myself tightly and decided it was best to go back inside. I went straight to my bed only to be sidetracked by one of the many pictures of my desk. I went towards it and hesitantly picked it up. My other hand traced the face of the boy smiling next to me.

"Kiba…" I whispered. We didn't speak after that night. No one knew about what happened between us. There were many rumours though, following another incident that had happened once I left. I put back the picture frame and caught sight of another one took during Ino's birthday.

I received many calls on my cell phone that night from her, Neji, Tenten and other people. I turned it off only to forget that they had my home number too. I then unplugged it, knowing they wouldn't dare call my father's number. I only knew what happened once the party was over and Neji came home.

I remember seeing him knock on my door and inviting himself in. Fortunately I had washed my face and willed myself to stop crying. I gasped as I saw his shirt stained with blood. He shushed me as he quietly closed the door and said he'd explain everything.

He told me how much people talked about a certain indigo haired girl with a golden dress and matching mask. He told me about how guys were looking for her, thinking they might have a chance to talk or dance with her. I remember how he laughed as he recollected the many words he had heard. He laughed even more at how stupid he thought they were for not realising it was me.

He then turned serious as explained how he had gotten all the blood on his clothes. Kiba and Sasuke had gotten into a huge fight… He had to help Naruto and Lee restrain Sasuke while Shikamaru, Chouji and Shino held Kiba …

It was all people could talk about when I was back at school on Monday. "Sasuke vs. Kiba."

They talked about the way Kiba had smashed Sasuke's head into a wall. The way Sasuke had broken Kiba's arm, how both their faces dripped in blood… They seemed to be getting a real kick out of it but I found it horrible… Everyone kept saying it was they best fight they have seen this year… I just wanted them to shut up; I didn't want to imagine those scenes.

What made me feel even worse was how I failed to visit any of them. Naturally after such a fight they were sent to the hospital. I really wanted to see them, I really did. But… A part of me hated myself for wanting so see Sasuke after what he had done to Kiba. And another part of me hated how I wanted to see Kiba after what he had done to Sasuke… to me…

Obviously they were both suspended; therefore I couldn't see them until the following week. And I was horrified. They looked like hell. Especially Kiba… even if it was Sasuke who had to get his head stitched up, Kiba was the one who suffered the most injuries. However, even after the fight, Sasuke's suffered many injuries of his own… although not physical. His name became even more tarnished…

I couldn't speak or look at either of them. So many conflicting emotions went through me every time I'd try. Disappointment, anger, affection, hatred… Both of them avoided me also. I no longer spent those enjoyable after school hours getting "tutored" by Sasuke. I no longer walked Akamaru around the park with Kiba.

Before I could give it any more thought, I looked to the right and saw a picture of me and another girl with pink locks… I no longer spent time with Sakura… like I said the night of the dance; I wanted things to be different between me and her. And they were. Only not in the way I had planned. I barely spoke to her while she tried to be with me all the time. It irritated me how she'd always be so cheerful around me. But there would be an edge to her voice, like she was afraid that anything she'd say would make me snap.

And it didn't help how Naruto seem to always be there… how he tried to help me in everything I did even if it would be something as pathetic as opening my locker. He felt like he had to make it up to me… but I just wanted to get away from him. And surprisingly I told him so. Being as stubborn as he is, Naruto didn't stop. But oddly enough he did hang around me less recently…

I sighed as I threw myself lifelessly on my bed.

Why couldn't they just leave me alone?

"You're really good at it." Sai said behind me causing me to jump.

"W-What?" I asked as I stopped walking.

"That fake smile. It almost seems genuine." He then said as he left the classroom.

His words kept repeating themselves in my mind. I tapped my pen on my textbook as I thought about it. My fake smile… What did he know about smiles?

I looked down at my notes and shook my head. I didn't have time to think about such stupid things. Exams were coming up. If there was one good thing this whole situation brought me, it was my sudden resolve to study. I studied every night since then and I found myself getting better in physics and math. Even the teachers took notice and it made me very proud of myself.

Although Ino and Tenten would always complain. "God! Stop studying for one second and go out with us!" They'd say. Whatever, I didn't need any distractions. This report card is very important. I needed to get good grades in order to feel secure about getting into the best colleges. I'm a Hyuga after all…

I hadn't realized that I started spinning my pen. I smiled smugly. Yes, I could do it now. Sasuke had taught… I threw the pen away. I had to study.

Suddenly a bag was dropped on the left side of the table. I looked up from my book. Well speak of the devil… I looked back down quickly. Sasuke didn't even ask if I minded and just took a seat across from me.

Instantly the whispers started. I could only imagine how everyone in the library asked themselves why "The Uchiha" was sitting with me. I felt my face burn but ignored it. God I just wanted to study in peace…

I glanced up at him as he started emptying his bag. I was happy to see he was doing better. He didn't seem to wince in pain when he moved. I scanned his face. It was all scratched and bruised the first time I saw him, he was barely recognizable even. But now his eye wasn't as blue and he wasn't wearing the bandages on his head anymore. But he still had that big cut on his cheek. It looked painful… Suddenly I remembered how he hurt himself at my place. It had healed quite rapidly but it was maybe due to the ointment I had used on it. Did he clean it properly? I remember how he hated the alcohol… Maybe he didn't use it and that's why it wasn't healing as fast. Or maybe he wasn't even using any ointment on it at all! How foolish!

I snapped out of my trance when I realised he was looking at me. I then tried to make him think I was engrossed in the wonderful world of vectors.

"I couldn't find it." He suddenly said. I looked at him curiously.

"What?" I asked.

"That weird ointment you put on my cut last time." He said as he turned a page of his book. "I tried to look for it but I didn't find it."

"Oh." I simply said. It kind of freaked me out how he read my mind. "Well I didn't buy it at a drugstore."

He arched an eyebrow enquiringly, so I continued. "I bought it at this little shop that sells herbal medication."

"Name?" Sasuke asked.

"Chiyo's" I replied curtly.

"The one beside Yamanaka's flower shop?"

"Yeah."

He furrowed his eyebrows and I couldn't help but suppress a laugh. I'm guessing he didn't want to go anywhere near Ino right now. She'll probably jump at him considering how she "absolutely adoooored scars on a man."

"I see." He said.

"It's the only place they sell it." I added. Madame Chiyo was the only person who did that ointment and it was very popular. I always wondered what would happen when she was too old to work.

"Crap." He muttered. I smiled.

AAHH! I was so stupid! Why did I waste time like that! And why was he suddenly talking to me?

Although I did miss it…

ARGH! DAMN IT!

I started adding vectors with more fervour. Stupid Sasuke. Thinking he could just waltz in here and start a conversation. No I couldn't forget how badly he injured Kiba. But he did deserve it… slightly.

Whatever.

Suddenly a loud voice disturbed the silence of the library. I tiresomely turned to see who it was. My stomach lurched. I quickly stood up and gathered my things. I didn't want to see them…

"Hey man I found you!" he said. I put on my jacket and left hurriedly.

That was too close.

I took a seat on the bus stop's bench and placed a hand on my chest. I couldn't believe I actually ran. At this rate I'll be in better shape than Neji.

The next time, instead of studying in the school's library where anyone could come in, I'd study at my house. It was always quiet there and there was no one to interrupt me. I glanced at my watch. The bus would arrive in about twenty minutes.

I hated waiting. I hated having nothing to do, but I had to keep myself preoccupied! Because when I didn't… I started thinking… about stuff I didn't want to.

But I still did, remembering who I saw in the library. Naruto and Sakura. I shivered regardless of there not being any breeze. Naruto and Sakura… it sounds right doesn't it? Naruto and Sakura. Sakura Uzumaki. Cute.

I shook my head and checked my watch again. Five minutes have passed. Bull. I tapped my foot impatiently as I searched within my bag for something to read or my MP3. I then noticed how I didn't have my physic notes with me. "Damn it." I muttered. The moment I stood up I gave a small scream as I saw Sasuke standing in front of me.

He just gave me a smirk and held out a green notebook. "You forgot this." He said.

"Thanks." I answered as I took it and sat back down. I carefully opened it and started to read.

He leaned against the post and I felt his eyes on me. I ignored him.

"You're annoying." He suddenly said. I looked up at him. What did he just say?

"I said you're annoying. You irritate me." He continued as he placed his hands in his pockets. The monotony of his voice irritated me. It was as if he was simply talking about how nice the weather was.

"What did I do?" I asked. He was acting stupid. How can someone be annoying when they didn't do anything?

"Nothing." He said as he glanced at me. "You never do anything anymore."

"Oh please don't give me that BS." I wanted to say. I was doing something. A lot of things actually. Wasn't he glad I wasn't sitting around moping all the time like some girls do?

"It's your problem if I annoy you. I never asked you to be here." I muttered angrily.

"I heard that." He stated. Whatever.

I checked my watch. Another five minutes. That's it. I'm walking home.

I stood up and walked away, Sasuke stepping aside to let me pass. I didn't thank him.

"You can't run forever." He said loud enough for me to hear.

I stopped walking and turned to him. "What?" I asked not trying to hide the aggravation in my voice.

"We all go to the same school. You can't avoid us."

"You're the one to talk." I muttered. This coming from the king of running away…

He turned his face away from me and did that crooked smile his fangirls would go crazy over if they ever saw it. "I can still hear you." He said mockingly.

"Look I'm not avoiding anyone." I said as I made my way towards him. "I'm just really busy studying alright?"

"Every day Hinata?" he asked as he lazily turned his head to me, reminiscent of Shikamaru.

"Well forgive me for wanting to pass my exams!" I said as I turned away. Arguing with him was pointless.

Before I could even take a step he spoke again. "You think you're the only one who had to through this kind of thing?"

I stomped my foot. Why couldn't he just let me leave? "No." I scowled. I knew I wasn't the only one who had to go through this… I knew I wasn't the only one who'd feel this p-… pain. There was Ino, Sakura, Naruto, Kiba… My grip almost crushed my notebook. Countless people before me have experienced it, and countless people after me will.

"Then get a grip." He said unexpectedly. Somehow this struck home. I marched up to him and hit his chest with my notebook.

"You don't know what you're talking about!" I said loudly. Who was he to tell me to "Get a grip"? As if he knew what it felt like to love someone! He didn't! So he could just shut up!

He only looked at me indifferently, which made me want to hit him even more. I raised it again but before it could touch him he snatched it away from me.

"You think?" he asked violently as he stared straight into my eyes, daring me to continue. The way he held my notebook over me made it seem like he was going strike… He seemed to have noticed this and slowly lowered his arm.

"What?" I asked, my emotions running wild. "No hit?"

His eyes darkened but I still continued. "It looked like you were going to. So why did you stop?"

"I didn't mean for it to happen." He abruptly said. We both knew we weren't talking about me anymore.

"It still did." I whispered. I didn't know exactly what had started the fight and I wanted to know. "How could you?" I added. I wasn't even sure anymore if it really was Kiba who had started it.

"He attacked me." Sasuke said nonchalantly.

"You didn't have to hit back." I replied as I pulled up my scarf. He really didn't… maybe they could've talked things out…

"You're too nice for your own good." He said as he looked away from me.

I still continued staring at him. Looking how smoke came out every time he exhaled. It's been almost three weeks since I've been with him. A little inside my head enjoyed it, but the bigger part felt like I shouldn't be here.

"What happened?" he asked the ground.

What did he mean? How did he know something happened between me and Kiba? I fidgeted with my gloved fingers. Could I tell him? I knew he wouldn't say anything. He wasn't the type to gossip. But how would he react? Would he get mad? Wait, why do I even care how he'd react?

"He kissed me." I quietly said. My eyes shifted everywhere and I was glad that the cold weather already made my cheeks red. Just remembering it made me feel sick.

I saw him arch an eyebrow. "He kissed you?" he asked. I nodded. Was he deaf?

He looked at me with a smirk on his face. "Then that's why I hit him."

"You're just using it as an excuse." I grumbled.

"Isn't it a good one?"

"You still hurt him." I said louder. He looked at me pensively. I didn't bother to look away. He seemed to have found what he wanted to say and spoke.

"He hurt you."

How did he know he hurt me? For all we know I could've enjoyed it. But he was right. Kiba did hurt me but…

"He wasn't the only one who did." I replied.

Now his statement was complete. Kiba wasn't the only one who had hurt me that night. Naruto did… and himself as well…

Finally the bus made its way towards us and stopped. Passengers went off and looked at us curiously. It might have been weird to see two people standing at a bus stop but neither making any movement to get on. The driver then closed its doors and took off once again.

"You missed your bus." Sasuke said.

"Why do you care?" I asked. He had no reason to care whether or not I missed my bus. He had no reason to care whether or not I was hurt and lonely…

"I don't know." He mumbled. He slowly shook his head. "I really don't know." He repeated. He actually looked sincere…

Somehow what he had said touched me. I looked at my feet to hide a sudden smile that appeared on my face. It was rare to hear Sasuke say "I don't know." He usually acted like such a smartass. I laughed softly at my use of language. I never did talk like that until recently.

I looked at him as my smiled softened. I breathed deeply to try and clear my thoughts. I was so confused when I was around him. Was I angry at him or not?

"I'm not asking you to forgive me." He said. I guessed this was his way of apologizing. This was so confusing. I looked back at the ground to hide my smile.

"Who said I wanted to?" I said mockingly as I looked at him.

He looked rather annoyed at what I had just said. "I take back saying how you were too nice."

I openly giggled at his remark. Was this all it took to make things better between us?

"Um here." He then added. I looked over at what he had handed to me and saw my notebook. I completely forgot that he was holding the entire time! I thanked him as I took it and placed it in my bag. To think this all started because of a simple pile of papers stapled together…

"I saw how quickly you were doing the vectors." Sasuke started.

"Yeah I actually get it." I said casually, trying to make small talk.

"And the forces?" he asked as he looked at his watch.

"Easy." I said with a shrug.

"I guess you don't need me anymore then." He replied calmly. I turned abruptly to look at him. No! I still did! I tried to find anything in my studies where I needed help with but couldn't find anything… I just… I don't know. I just knew I'd need him. One day. I sighed. I was lying to myself. I just wanted to be with him that's all.

I missed him.

"No..." I said while shaking my head. "I still need you... I mean your help."

"In what?"

I thought about it for a moment. I wasn't about to tell him I missed him was I!?

I cleared my throat. "I need a ride home."

Sasuke bit his lip as it had a mind of its own and turned up. I snort escaped him and he turned to me. A smile on his face. I thought I'd never see it again.

"Don't you have a chauffeur?" he asked clearly annoyed.

I did. But I didn't want to admit it. "Well… W-well…" An idea popped into my head. "Wait a minute, if you had your car why did you wait out here with me?!"

Sasuke just glared at me and started walking towards the parking lot. "What I can't have fresh air anymore?"

I gasped at the aggressiveness in his voice. "That still doesn't explain wh-"

"The world doesn't revolve around you." He cut in.

His words resulted in a snowball flying towards him. He turned just in time for it to hit his face.

Oh snap.

"Y-Y-You o-owe m-me. Y-You're going t-to p-pay for this!"

He leaned in and smirked. "Shu-Shu… Shut up." He mocked. I opened my mouth to snap back but he closed the door before I could even pronounce a syllable.

I angrily buckled my seatbelt with trembling hands. I had snow all over me; well it used to be snow. Now it had melted into freezing water! I'm telling you Sasuke is cruel. I even had snow in my jacket and boots.

The next thing I knew it he was sitting next to me that obnoxious smirk on his face. ARGH! Although I took a moment to stare at him. What I saw would forever be engraved in my mind. His hair still had snowflakes in it… making his spikes look frozen… like a bunch of icicles glued to his head…

I covered my mouth as uncontrollable laughter left my mouth. Oh god that was too funny! Surprisingly Sasuke quietly joined in as well. "You look like Rudolph." He said before laughing even more.

I peeked at myself on the side mirrors and noticed how red my nose was. I started laughing hysterically. I was so going to get sick!

Sasuke then turned on the engine and drove. I really missed this… I smiled at how everything seemed alright. Even just for a while.

I looked out the window and saw a flash of pink. I looked back once he started getting further from school and noticed that the pink flash was Sakura… There was a moment where both our eyes connected.

I turned away from her; I didn't care if she saw us…

I was actually happy she did…

Guilt suddenly washed over me.

She actually forgave me.

I didn't think she would. And honestly I couldn't blame her.

But what surprised me was her confession of what happened that night.

So Kiba kissed her huh? I looked over at her and couldn't quite get over the fact that she would kiss anyone. Or that someone actually had the nerve to do so.

She looked so… so… naïve? Innocent? Pure? Something along those lines.

I'm guessing he got turned down pretty bad though. Considering how he reacted to everything… But hold on. If he did get rejected, but still managed to kiss her… then he forced her…

He forced her to kiss him.

I glanced at her once again as she started to slowly bob her head to the music. I clenched the steering wheel tighter than necessary.

I know I'm going to hell for this, although I had already done many things that would secure me a place there, but I don't feel guilty at all.

I was glad I beat the shit out of him.

Okay, even I surprised myself at how fast I wrote this chapter… I don't know how I did it lol! All I know was that on Monday we had no school, due to the snow storm we had the day before, and I wrote the ENTIRE chapter in one shot. Well the first version of it, I later edited it. Lol

Umm... so I guess this is gift #2! p I really hope you guys enjoyed it. I laid back on the drama for a bit. And I'm sorry if the first part of this chapter seemed really monotone and lifeless; I was kind of aiming for that without boring you guys to death… which is VERY difficult! But thanks for reading and please review. )

P.S.: Happy Holidays once again! I doubt I'll be able to update before Christmas with all the parties going on -- So…

MERRY CHRISTMAS! AND VIVE LES VACANCES WOO HOO! p