Routine came fast. Work was unusually comforting and his mother strangely nice. Finally a few weeks later the day came he was looking for desperately. He got promoted. A real police officer. No more parking tickets and boring activities. Real police work. In the evening there was a huge party planned as his best friend also got the good news. He put on a shirt and his Sunday shoes. A real holiday he thought while smiling at himself in the mirror. He walked down to the living room of their house, where guests were chit chatting, drinking cocktails and laughing while some music was playing. When was the last time it was that lively in this four walls? He didn't want to get emotional thinking about his father and shook slightly as Ino's hand grabbed his.
'He would be very proud.' She squeezed his hand. 'My dad too.' Tears shimmered in her eyes. They died at the same accident two years ago, which made the two teens get even closer and become really close friends. Shikamaru smiled and also squeezed her hand. He was really happy she was there and were speaking this kind words to him. Suddenly a black haired, tall man appeared in the door frame and Ino's eyes glowed up.
'I think he might be looking for me.'
'I bet he is.' He let go of the blonde's hand. 'Go get him. Thank you for coming Ino.'
'Thank you for inviting me Shikamaru. Once more congratulations.' She looked at him with a tender warmth.
'Thank you.' He smiled back and saw her leaving and finally sinking in Sai's arms. She was in love, as much as a person could be and one could see he like her back. She was happy and that was all that mattered. He turned his head towards his best friend who was sitting by his family and laughing out of his deepest soul. A view he could participate for hours. There really was something heartwarming about this person. He didn't know what but he was sure there was no other like Choji on this earth. You could search for a more genuine person with a magnifying glass and wouldn't find one. He bloomed being surrounded by his beloved. His mother and father. His friend smiled at him and Shikamaru waved. He was happy too. That was all that mattered. He took a few steps to gain some more distance of the gathered crowd and spotted his mother in her favorite blue dress his father got her. She was also definitely enjoying that event but as always seemed a bit sad. He decided to join her and sat down at the arm of the armchair.
'How are you mom?'
'I am wonderful honey. I just miss your father so much. He would love to be around an occasion like this.'
'I miss him too mom. I am sure he's watching us from wherever he is right now.'
'You're right darling.' She took his hand. 'Did you invite her?'
'Who?'
'You know who I mean darling.'
'Mom the thing is…' He actually wanted to be partly honest with her.
'I think she will come.'
'Mom I didn't invite her.'
'I know.' She smiled shyly. 'But I did. I told her to come even if you wouldn't inform her yourself. I thought it would do you good to maybe meet her again.'
'How?' He was surprised.
'A mother has it's methods.' She winked.
Another reason for him to believe she really worked for the FBI. Scary.
'I am ok mom.'
'I know darling.' She stroked his cheek. 'I know. Just have a talk.' She pointed the door with her chin. 'Don't make her wait.'
'There's no one there mom.' He looked confused at the main doors.
'Could you go and check them for me?'
'But mom….'
'Please Shikamaru. If I'm wrong you'll be able to continue the party anyway but if I'm right and you won't check that door you might miss something very precious.'
'Precious?'
'Check for yourself.'
Again it felt like Christmas. He was almost afraid to open that door so he converged on it slowly. The feeling of stupidity rose with the diminishing distance. What was the chance someone was really behind that door? Just as great as the possibility Santa Clause existed. He turned around to look at his mother who was observing him and only gestured him to keep on walking with a secret smile on her lips. He pulled the handle and the doors opened lightly. A cold breeze of fresh air blew in his face and he gasped of surprise. After reopening his eyes that didn't expect that cold greeting, they met two deer-like round, shimmery objects in front of him. Attached to them was a pale face, blonde hair, tied to a messy, low ponytail and a body which was dressed into a coat and high heels shoes.
'Shikamaru? Did someone come?' Choji's voice came from the background and he closed the doors behind him immediately. He thought he might be dreaming and didn't want anyone else to be part of this mysterious meeting. In the end, Santa was real.
'How did you know I am here?' She whispered.'I am sorry I shouldn't have come here.' She turned towards the car who had its engine still on.
'Did you make this up with my mother?'
'What?' She turned around gracefully.
'That you would be waiting behind this door?'
'She did invite me but I wasn't sure I would come. I actually was pretty sure I wouldn't show up but last minute I forced myself to drive here….I kind of lost my courage standing in front of that door.' She spoke quietly. 'Looks like this wasn't such a good idea.'
'So you were lacking courage? You?' He walked towards her.
'Yes.' She looked up to his face.
'Interesting.'
'Congratulations.' She smiled awkwardly and pulled her hand out towards him.
'Thank you.' He shook it and kept on holding it. 'Just that you know I do not not like you.'
'Thank you.' She looked at their connected palms. 'Just that you know…I am sorry. I am sorry I screw up. I was impossible.' She sniffed.
'Yeah you were.' He nodded and smiled. 'But I wasn't easy too.'
'I really like that night back then…I just got so awfully scared.'
'Scared?' He looked surprised.
'That you would use me and disappear out of my life.' A tear flew down her cheek. 'I was embarrassed and overwhelmed. '
'That's ok.' He stepped closed still not letting go of her hand.
'It wasn't ok but I didn't know it different. So I just got mean as always and you've finally had enough.' She looked down. 'What you said in the car really made me realized how wrong I was. I really believed you.'
'That's good.' He gently put his hand on her back.
'I am sorry it took me this long to tell you this.' She was sobbing.
'Is ok now. Don't cry.' He pressed her against his torso dressed in only the shirt. Hot tears touched his skin soaking the shirt's material and made the cold wind feel even more acute.
'I was wondering if we could eventually go back to that deal…'
'I don't think that's possible.'
'Ok.' She looked at him and tried to stop herself from crying.
'It's impossible but well we could try to go out just like that. Without a deal.'
'Just like that?'
'Yeah, you know, sometimes I really hated you to the boned and even though I forced myself the hardest over this weeks to ignore all the thought about you I couldn't. But I don't want that deal. I mean I still do want what I wanted from the start but I also want something more.'
'Is this a joke?'
'Absolutely not.'
'You really would want to date me? For free?'
'Well I do want a payment. I want to kiss you and hug you. I want you to stroke my hair and to sleep on your lap. I want to spend the night with you and wake up next to you and have breakfast. And I want you to make me coffee when I'm at your place.' He smiled. 'No more ubers and Starbucks coffee.'
'I would be supposed to make coffee to you?!' He pretended to be offended but laughed genuinely and snuggled her face in his shirt. 'You must be awfully cold.'
'A bit.' He hugged her closer. 'So is that deal ok for you?'
'But that thing…I mean the final…' She looked embarrassed and stuttered.
'We still got ten dates don't we?'
'Ten.' She nodded.
'How about I don't care about them anymore?'
She looked at him again with eyes wide open and he observed her carefully.
'I don't care if it takes 2 dates or 10 dates or 30 dates.' He caught her face in two hands. 'We'll see how things work out.' He kissed her gently. 'Although I must say I would rather it happens after 10 dates than after 30.' He laughed. She smiled too but grabbed his hand firmly.
'I have to be honest with you…'
'Honest? More surprises for today?'
'I….'She looked at the door and around herself. 'I may actually never have done that before.'
'Done what?' He looked confused.
'Have had sex.' She blushed heavily.
'What?'
'On please, don't look so shocked.' She turned around. ' I am dying out of embarrassment already.'
'No, I mean, what are you talking about? We've spend the night together.'
'What?' She looked around and frowned. 'That night after the club?'
'Yes. There was a condom on the floor.'
'Well yes.' She covered her face. 'My God I am so embarrassed.' She shook her head and looked at him again. 'Don't you remember anything?'
'Actually no.' He blushed too.
'Well, I wanted to do it but you were so drunk. The moment we put it on you actually came and fell asleep.' She turned around.
'I did what?!' He turned around too and felt his heart racing and face burning. 'Lord…I am so so so so so sorry Temari.'
'Not a big deal. I though you knew. I thought that was the reason you were so obsessed with doing it again. Because you were ashamed.'
'No. If I knew I would probably avoid you like fire. I wanted to do it because I didn't remember a thing of my first time and thought it was horrible. I couldn't sleep because of it. Got me totally obsessed. Obsessed over you and the thought I missed something this important and turns out nothing really happened.'
'Your first time?'
'What?' He turned over his shoulder and looked panicked but knew he had to play his cards open.'Yes. It was my first time too. I mean it wasn't. God what a night.' He sat down on the doorstep. 'Kill me please.'
She laughed and put her hand on his head. 'Don't be silly.'
'I spend months thinking I slept with you.'
'Is that so bad? Don't you want to do it anymore?'
'Well…I do.' He looked up. 'But would you want a male virgin?'
'I don't see a problem.' She shook her shoulders. 'It's actually a relieve I don't have to complete with any other woman.'
'Woman.' He sighed.
'You're so funny Shikamaru.' She giggled.
'Oh really…'He stood up. 'So you think I am silly?' He smiled and kissed her while hearing the doors open.
'Holly molly!' Choji exclaimed. 'So that's why your mother didn't want to let me out!'
'Choji….'He mumbled while still looking at Temari. 'You want to come in? Can we tell your driver to leave now?'
'Oh no…' She turned around. 'I've completely forgotten about Kankuro.'
'I'll go talk to him.'
'Shika…'
'Let me handle this. Get inside.' He walked towards the car with dark windows and knocked at the drives side. The window rolled down and the brunette looked at him silently.
'She'll stay. I'll drive her home later on.'
'You're one hell of a troublesome motherfucker, you know that?'
'I know. I promise to improve now.' He smiled.
'You better. She gave us hell because of you. Next time I'm going to rip your balls off.'
'That's a fair deal.'
'I know.' He sighed. 'Take good care of her. She's my sister.'
'I know, I know.' He scratched his neck. 'Go now. I promise to take care of her.'
'Yeah. See you looser.' He rolled the window up and drove away.