'NARA!' The doors flew open and Shikamaru let his head down feeling that he was getting completely red.
'Here..' He mumbled.
'You're ok?! What accident? What has happened?' She kneed next to him and pulled his head up looking at it closely from every angle.
'I'm fine Temari.'
'What has happened?' She looked terrified in his eyes.
'Ino..She…wanted you to come. I'm sorry.'
'So..you're ok?' She looked relieved and kind of scary.
'I'm perfectly fine.'
She hugged him all of a sudden and let go as fast as she grabbed him.
'Where is that bitch?'
'Please..let her be. I messed up too..'
'Which one is it?'
'The blonde there…'
The blonde in a wide hoody and pajama pants – which Shikamaru realized just that moment- walked over to the pretty stressed out girl.
'Bitch.'
'Oh..You must be Temari.'
'Hell yes.' She stood very close to the other girl. 'Next time tell me something less dramatic, like he's drunk like hell. Or you know what Blondie? There will be no next time. That drunk mess there…' She pointed at Shikamaru.' That's mine.' She eyed her. 'I don't fucking care who you are to him, but you won't play me. Remember that.'
Ino's jaw dropped.
'Understood? Nod bitch.'
She nodded and looked terrified at Shikamaru.
'You're like the most terrifying woman ever.'
'Thanks.' She walked back to Shika and pulled him up by his shirt. 'We're going.'
'On my way…' He followed her not carrying how stupid he looked walking behind her.
'You'll have to make that up to me Nara. You're in big trouble, you know?' She looked at him and crossed her arms as they entered the lift.
'I'm sorry…' He looked at her with puppy eyes.
Just as the elevator doors were supposed to close a hand stopped them and a brunette with messy hair and a beer in his other hand entered the small space.
'Well well..I knew this mist have been you Temari. No other girl would make such a fuss out of the blue. What are you doing here princess?' Kiba spoke in a slightly drunk voice.
'Picking Nara up. Want me to drive you home?'
'Sure, why not. You're driving again?'
'That was an emergency.' She sighed and looked at Shikamaru who was standing pressed into a corner.
'So…' He looked at Shikamaru and smiled bitterly. 'You're dating my bro now?' He looked back at the blonde.
'We're going out sometimes.'
'He's been having an eye on you ever since we were together.'
'Kiba…' Shikamaru looked up at him and wated to explain but Temari interrupted him.
'Yeah, that's true. But that's now why I left you Kiba.'
'Is that so?'
'I was just sick and tired of fuckboys. What you gave me…That's not what I deserve. I really want a guy who will treat me better than you treat girls.'
'When did I treat you bad?'
'It's not bad, but you have that player attitude. I want to be taken serious.'
'You could have told me this Temari.'
'That wouldn't have changed much. You need to grow up to this.'
'And Nara is already that grown up? Mr. Smart-ass will make you happy?'
'I don't know. I know that I can date anyone I feel like and that's none of your business. What more there's no reason for you to be pissed off at that idiot here. He was a good friend.'
'Yeah…totally.' He rolled his eyes.
'You'll see once you get sober buddy.' She patted his shoulder and glanced at the embarrassed Shikamaru.
They got in a car Shikamaru has seen for the first time, actually he didn't even knew they had a car, or that Temari had a driving license. The blonde turned on the engine and the car moved securely.
'Why didn't you tell me you had a car?' He murmured from the back seat as Kiba placed himself in the front.
'You never asked. ' She looked focused on the streets.
'Pf.. So you didn't even tell him about the accident. And that's really what you left me for?' Kiba snorted.
'I didn't leave you for him. Stop it Kiba.'
'What accident?' The alcohol wouldn't stop him from asking.
'I've had an accident. A few years ago. Crashed my car completely and nearly died. I've never drove again since that day…well…till today at least.'
Shikamaru felt even more miserable. Not only he made her pick him up in the middle of the night, not only this was all a result of some kind of a stupid joke, but she also got into the car for him, for the first time in ages. He was getting terribly nervous knowing that this night definitely could end all of what he was working at for the last month. She could easily hate him and never want to see him again. He looked at her hair reflecting the street lights nicely, looking slightly sliver, and thought how much stronger his feelings for that girl grew. That small evidences of her affection really made it bloom like a bud in the spring. It didn't happen often but sometimes she was way nicer to him than to other people, or showed him kindness when he was prepared for fury. He knew it didn't sound like much, but to him it meant the world, because he knew, that's how she left hints of how she was feeling.
Actually considering that night, this whole thing was a big prove of her feelings. He had to smiled and look once more at her small hands on the steering wheel. She came because she was worried about him, that worried she even got into a car to make it faster. Being worried means somebody cares. He smiled wider forgetting about Kiba's presence. When she came, she hugged him. For the first time she showed physical affection. Now she's taking him home.
'The best girl…' He whispered unwilling, being in thoughts.
'What?' Kiba turned back to him. 'Stop fantasizing Nara! She won't be yours!'
'Shut up.' She hissed. 'Either you're getting over this or I'm leaving you right here Kiba!' She stopped the car at the wayside.
'Hey princess…calm down.' He smiled at her.
'Listen to me idiot. This' She pointed at her at Shikamaru. 'This is not your business. You have no right to bully that guy. No matter if he's just a close friend, fuckbuddy or boyfriend.'
'Don't say such things Temari…We could still…'
'Kiba.' He finally rose his voice. 'Stop. I won't let you get her back.' He eyes the surprised brunette. 'You've had your five minutes and now mine are here to come.'
'Lads, listen.' She sighed and closed her eyes. 'Can't we just have a peaceful ride home? I'm really too tired for all of this. You Kiba- get over it, you Nara- I liked you better when you were silent. I'm still mad.'
Both of them kept silent for the rest of the journey and as Kiba left the car and Temari saw him off with her eyes she looked back at the brunette at the backseat.
'Come to the front. I don't want to feel like your chauffeur.'
He changed places and looked silent at her for a longer time as she headed back onto the road to his dormitory.
'Temari.'
'Didn't I tell you not to talk?' She said incredibly calm.
'Sorry…'
'Do you respect me?'
'Of course…'
'Why did you let her call me that time of the night then?'
' I don't know…I'm sorry. I didn't think that through.'
'Also clever but clearly didn't plan this one. That's the problem with you genius guys, you seem so organized and to have everything figured out but emotions really seem difficult to you.'
'Looks like…' He sighed. 'But I'm absolutely sure how I feel about you and that I really respect you.'
'I believe you Shikamaru.'
'Great.' He smiled shyly.
After a while he realized they were not on the way to his room and he started looking interested at the road signs.
'I'm too tired for riding all around the city.' She said quietly.
'Oh, that's ok. I'll grab a cab.' He sat down more relaxed.
'No need. You can sleep at our place.'
'Oh…ok.' He looked unsecure at the blonde.
'Just sleep.'
'Good.' He looked out of the window and had to admit he felt relived. He didn't want to have his first time with her in such a state.
As they entered the apartment, the light in Gaara's room was lit and the music turned quieter as they entered.
'Temari?' He looked through the door slit like a small child.
'I'm back Gaara. Shikamaru's fine, he's here with me. He'll stay over.' She said in a very protective voice and undressed herself of the hoodie so she was back in her pajama.
'Oh…ok.' Gaara looked out slightly more to meet Shikamarus eyes. At first he seemed ice cold as always but just before the brunette would want to break the eye contact he smiled gently and returned to his room.
'You want me to prepare you a bed here?' She looked at her company.
'Well..'
'Or don't you mind sharing one with me?' She headed to her room.
He stared at the doors of the purple room and slowly moved towards them.
'Temari…'
'So you want a blanket?' She rolled her eyes.
'Are we two dating?'
Her eyes opened wider in surprises and she couldn't help but laugh.
'Well I convinced Kiba we're not dating…'
'So…what is this all about?"
'You tell me…You want us to be dating?' She smirked.
'I really would want that.' He said without even thinking about it.
'I'll consider it then…' She smiled and grabbed his hand. 'You're coming lazy?'
'Yeah…troublesome.' He smiled gently and let her lead him to the bedroom.