"…Kakashi sensei, I'd… like to tell you about what really happened at… the game. But I also want to make a request. "

"Go on. "

"I… I can't tell you here, I can't afford anyone hearing. This is really out of sorts, but may I visit your flat and talk to you, like last time? "

"My flat? "

"…it's fine if you say no. "

A pause.

"No, no. It is okay Neji, you may come to my flat at eight. "

Suddenly, the class door opens and Naruto's head pokes out.

"Oi, sensei!! You can discuss the time for your date with Neji… later! May we learn? "

"Cheek, Naruto. Get your head in before I close the door on it."

(Session #4- In Retrospect, Reminiscing and retracting what is left

Part eight: Prospects of a happy end of the year )

By the time I really take in what he's just said, he's already kissing me, an arm slung over my neck and lips burrowing into mine.

The other hand is placed casually on my hips, his bare chest pressed against mine. That 'other' hand is slipping just a bit. Dangerously low.

I inch away impulsively and back in to the wall too soon. It was only then I noticed that I'd been pulling away from him.

Maybe…it was because of that 'commando' comment.

"Sasuke? "

He's been closely following my moves, but then he suddenly stops.

"Jesus fucking Christ, if you want me to stop, a 'no' is enough. I get it. "

Sasuke raised both his hands up as if I was pointing a gun at him, and got out of bed. He stepped over the mess I had made out of his room and walk out of the room.

Was he mad?

I blush from head to toe, gather my books and run out of the flat.

Anyhow… that was the reason why I dropped in at Temari's house at 1am. (she lives at the opposite end) As soon as I creeped into her room with an armful of books and we had the door shut tight, she said:

"And I was wondering if you'd be sleeping over at his again this time. "

She reached over and tweaked my nose.

"Bad Hinata. "

(next day, walking to cafeteria with Temari)

"So, Hinata, what are you planning to wear? "

"W…what? "

I had been so preoccupied with yesterday's happenings that I had been completely oblivious to what Temari had been saying. I could tell she was not going to ask what had happened, or even mention yesterday for that matter…

She was understanding anyways.

"Thinking about the finals? Don't worry 'bout that hun, we're only sophomores. We still got two more years ahead of us, y'know. Anyways, have you decided what you'd be wearing for the end of the year dance? "

"H…huh? "

I sidestep and almost trip, but this time, no one's going to laugh at me.

They used to- everytime at PE, I was the girl scrambling after a ball that had been clearly aimed to practically fall into my hands… Now that I think of it, Tenten was superb at sports. I used to depend on her for tips.

And now I depend on Temari.

Am I the kind of person that has to depend on 'someone' to live?

I'm thinking as Temari gently pulls me to my feet, still talking.

"I don't feel like getting all lushed up in a dress 'and then' giving a speech with Shika at the dance- kinda lame but what do you expect of the school? We're forced to do it. "

Oh.

The end of the year dance. How could I forget? It was what all the girls have been talking about, in the hallways, cafeteria and changing rooms.

Things like:

"I can't believe 'she' got a discount and not me, it's the same fabric really… anyways, did Yamamoto ask you yet? No? That sucks shit. "

"He's just bowled over with the finals stress, his dad is a bit of a prick I heard. It's bringing him down. "

"That's some sad excuse girl. Finals? Who cares about the finals when there's the dance?! "

Something like that.

"Sasuke's taking you then? I've got to make sure he treats you proper, from experience, he 'might' turn up a lil soused up… no, no, don't get your face like that sweetie, I'll straighten him up for the night! "

Temari slings a slender arm around my shoulder when she sees my face crumpling like a used paper bag.

What if I lost my chance? It is a bit of a crap timing…

I can't believe I pushed him away last night.

Stupid timing.

(Mandarin class)

It's Mandarin class, and Kurenai sensei is handing out worksheet portfolios for our exams, starting next Tuesday, god forbid.

Class is half buzzing with talk about the dance, and half toned down because of the finals.

I can see Naruto four seats away, actually heads down and studying… I see Temari's Shikamaru lazily instructing Choji about the fundamentals of Chinese grammar… there's Yamanaka with a pissed look texting someone under her desk, I heard she got told off by Asuma sensei this morning… and… wait.

Neji's missing. He never misses class. Where could he be? I guess Kankuro would know since they're best friends, but he's not in this class…

So I go for Naruto.

I feel I'm not that… acquainted with Shikamaru yet, even though he's sitting just one seat away. I feel… overwhelmed with his total sense of ease… he kind of emits a… I don't know. I can't even try to explain.

I quickly jot out a note and cautiously ask the girl next to me to pass it on…Kurenai's got a sharp eye, she's known for it, so I have to watch myself, or else I'd get a point off just a few days away from the exams. How stupid would that be?

Miraculously, Naruto gets the note, but stupidly, as much as my heart breaks to say it…

As soon as he got the note, he turned back and asked with his clear loud voice:

"Oi, who's this from? "

I could have slapped my face.

Kurenai sensei was at his side immediately while the guy (footie mate) who's passed on the note discreetly mouthed, "Hinata… you fool. "

"Will you hand me that note, and turn in whoever who sent that note. I mean now, Naruto. "

I close my eyes in defeat- great, a point off just days from the exam…

zmy dad will kill me for losing points so idiotically… he'd…

There's suddenly a gasp and titters around the room.

I open my eyes to see Naruto chewing enthusiastically.

Naruto chewing… my note.

He's eating my note?!

"…what is the meaning of this, Uzumaki? "

Sensei looks skeptical, but possibly a bit amused.

"Mmmph… I like…mm, the taste of paper. Mmm, tres good. Not as good as ramen though."

If it had been anyone else other than Naruto, the class wouldn't have erupted in laughter.

But as usual, kids laughed at Naruto's latest antics.

Even the strict Kurenari sensei was amused.

"Alright, I get your point Naruto. But still, I have to take points off from you… fine with that, aren't you? "

"Sure am. "

He grins, showing his teeth while the teacher checks off a point.

Do I feel guilty…. As hell.

And he was so good natured with it too.

All the more to make me feel like I don't deserve it.

(After class, in the hallways)

After renditions of a million 'sorry' to Naruto ("Hinata girl, chill!! It's fine! I'm so crap at mandarin that a point's like, hell, nuthin'. Naw, really it's oka… whatthe, are you crying?! ), I pretty much forgot about Neji, shamfully as it sounds.

Because Uchiha Sasuke came up to me right after the period.

And he looked mad.

"That was a hell of a nice good bye. Where the hell did you go? "

Sasuke snapped as soon as he reached my side. I trembled into nothingness…

"I…I went over… to Temari's house. "

"Maybe a heads up on that might have been nice. "

He snarled.

"Walking out on 1am in the morning, with a stack of textbooks and no money? Shit, you're nuts. "

I raised my head on that.

"H…how did you know I had no money? "

"Your wallet was on the bed. Must've fallen out when you were pushing me away. "

Ouch.

Sasuke hands me back a- what now seems an irrelatively girly and childish bit of fabric- wallet… my wallet. Looking pitifully small in his large hands.

Actually, he tossed it, and I fumbled for it. I am pretty bad at coordination, no kidding.

"A…are you dumping me? "

I say this so softly that he could have just ignored it if he wished to.

And I wished he had, because he turned to me with another 'what the fuck is wrong with this goon' look.

"Gawd dammit, How many times do I have to tell you? Cut the bullshit! "

I flinch at the cutting words.

"Do I really look like the asshole who'd dump a girl for pushing me away in bed? I was on the can last night, get that?"

Oh… so that's why he got out of bed- I blush.

But then, I must have looked a tad bit- I could kill myself for this- dubious, because he leaned back and gave me a smirk that might as well have been a scowl.

"True, I'd dump one for less, but you ain't like any girl I've dated before. "

Also true. I was a virgin, for one thing and actually cared about my studies… and I didn't attract guys like others did.

"I'm…sorry I made you mad. "

One thing I've learnt from my past relationship with Neji, is that it only makes things worse when you try to reconcile with someone when that someone is trying to break up with you.

So I try to stay passive while he keeps on with his snarl.

"Look, to word it simple, it's real unflattering when you shift away when I'm trying to… Stop making that face, I wasn't going to fuck you! "

He said that too loud.

A couple of guys pass by with knowing hoots, and a junior girl who's been adoringly staring at him jumps up and flees.

"I wasn't going to. "

He repeats, and angrily pushes up my bangs with a sullen face.

"I wanted to ask you if you were planning to go to the dance. "

Sasuke suddenly looks like a kid who's lost his ice cream cone to a neighborhood bum. Pissed but relenting.

And I'm in wonders- Sasuke's date for the freshman dance was Haruno Sakura… and he was going to ask me… yesterday?

'He' is pissed because I ran away before he could ask me out... for 'the' dance?

"Y…you're not dumping me? "

He gives me the male equivalent of rolling one'e eyes, and kissed me roughly on the neck, whispering.

"No, I'm not… fucktard. "

I guess I have to get used to his swearing.

"What should I wear?"… is a sudden dilemma.

Such a happy dilemma.

(Back at home, in bed)

I shouldn't have told Hanabi that Sasuke was taking me to the dance.

I only did so because she'd been offensively accusing me (as younger sisters tend to do) of being a love pariah…

All day long, Hanabi's been jiving around me with squeals about, "Hina's got a boyfriend Hina's got a boyfriend!! Buh-bye love pariah, wheeee"

…so I could barely study.

Now that she's (finally) asleep, I could get a bit of studying don…

My phone's ringing. God, yes, that is my phone ringing from my bag.

The embarrassing ring tone that Temari's jokingly put for me ("I love you, you love me, we're one happy famileeeeee") is literally shaking my schoolbag. I frantically pick up, in case Hanabi wakes up with another rendition of "Hinata got a boyfriend…"

I glance up at the clock as I pick up, and it's almost 1 am.

Who could this be at this hour??

"…Hinata, help. "

"He…llo? Neji? "

His voice sounded weird, but it was indeed Neji.

Why was Neji asking me for help?

"I just…did something Kiba would hate me for. "

What?

(bloodiedsug's words on HSBK-

Sorry for the outrageous delay… I freaked when I realized it's been so long since I've updated.

And yay, I decided to take up some of the ideas and create a dance!

Anyone with ideas for Hinata's dress?

So far, I'm juggling three stories now ( I bet not many know… because it's a freaking lemon;;)

…and there's going to be a lot of HSBK references in my new story, Dear Senpai Remember me, cuz it's a side story. Also cuz it's about Kakashi sensei (the only reason I started the story; lol)

Though I might quit it if it gets 1) too boring 2) too tiring… so.

god. i'm tired... T.T 3am right now. plz excuse any typhos or crappy writing... i really couldn't do my best today

Bear with me. )