Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto. It belongs to its rightful owner.

This is just a product of my wild imagination.

200 days before the incident

I love reading. I love the smell of books. I love that through books I am able to go on adventures. I can be a detective, a criminal, a witch, a dragon, a damsel in distress waiting to be saved or I can bea knightin my own shining armor.

Ilike both non fiction and fiction novels. I like stories with mysteries, with murderers in the loose. I also like to know what inspires the great men and women who lived before me to do greatness.

But I never like romance.

When I was a kid my mother used to read me books about princesses and princes and each story ends with the line "they lived happily ever after." But do they? It never tells what happened to the characters when they got older. They fail to mention that people age and die.

My parents once have their "happily ever after." A nice house, healthy children, living life better than most. But then there's cancer. My mother died and my father was never the same after that.

That's why I don't like that phrase. I really think they should re write it to "they lived happily ever after until one of them dies." Morbid but true.

"Hey, Hinata." Sai, one of our club members asked me. "Tenten and Temari are not yet here?" He sat on the chair opposite me.

"Tenten has a group project. While Temari is on her part time duty."

"Oh I see." He said and brought out his sketch pad. "You won't mind if I stay here and draw?"

"Of course not. You're a good artist, you know?"

"I know I am."

"You should join the art club."

"You think so?" He said while rolling his eyes.

Then I realized my mistake. "I'm sorry." I said red in the face.

"Hahaha. It's okay. It's been ages and I moved on." He laugh so carelessly.

Sai, was a member of our basketball team during our freshmen day. He has this, boy next door look and he is a really good player. So naturally, girls admired him. Ino being Ino, wants to get hold of him. She was obviously flirting with him and seducing him but Sai never gave her any thought. He is friendly with her and that's all she could ever get. But according to rumor, Ino asked Sai if he could drive her to the farewell party of the seniors in the basketball team. Once inside the car she tried to kiss him, which he avoided and told her he isn't interested with girls.

So with her bruised pride, she told the school that Sai is gay. And his life was never the same after that. He was kicked out of the team because apparently his teammates were uncomfortable sharing shower with him. Some even proclaimed, that once or twice they noticed him staring at them while taking a bath. Naruto and Kiba tried to reason out with their team that no matter what is his gender preference he is still a good player. But nobody listened.

Sai popularity went down after that. Then he tried to join the art club. But apparently the people there were no good either. They always made fun of him specially if there's a male model for their nude painting. They made him so uncomfortable he opted out.

Imagine, he can no longer do the two things he loves the most because of some girl's pride. Plus no one really wants to be seen with him. Until Tenten noticed him, eating his lunch alone in the stairs. She invited him to eat in the club room instead. Since then, he became one of our members.

I watched him as he moves his hands to create colorful pictures. I wonder how peaceful it would to be a portrait. A two dimensional being with a peacefully smile, not bother to the world outside.

"Do you have some interest on arts?" Sai asked me without looking at me.

"I like arts, but I can't draw. "

"If you also like arts, I suggest you visit this museum downtown. "

"Is it good?"

"Yes. You'll enjoy it."

Then we talked of different topics. From arts,to books to school subjects, until it is time he needs to go.

As usual, I am the last one to leave. I spent extra time here than going back home. I can read in peace. I can do my homework, so all I have to do when home is to sleep.

A few minutes later, I heard someone opened the door. I thought it was Sai, forgetting something. But I am wrong. The boy who entered who is also dark haired is not Sai. It is Sasuke.

After what happened on the first day of school, I haven't interacted with him. Well, there's some occasion that I caught him looking. Or it is me who was caught looking.

"Hey. May I?" He asked with a little nod.

"Hiding again?"

"Yeah. Sakura's getting scarier day by day." He said sitting in a vacant chair opposite me.

"May I ask you something?"

"What?"

"If you were annoyed by Sakura or Ino's presence then why don't you just tell them to stop?"

"That's a good question. However having the two near me, pushed the other girls away. I prefer dealing with those two than dozen others."

"So you're basically using them." I said.

"Yeah. I suppose I am." I was surprised he agreed. I never imagine that talking with him is this easy. "So, I am using your club too."

"Just be careful not to be caught by Tenten, our club president."

"Why? Will she be mad?"

"No. Not like that. She'll force you to join."

"That will be a good idea. I will have reasons to be here."

"That's not good at all. If you signed up in this club, a lot of students will too."

"And isn't that good? You'll have a better budget."

"It's not fun when this place get crowded by people who don't really like books. And beside, you'll no longer find this place peaceful if Sakura and Ino know you're here."

"Good point." He agreed. "So you don't like people too?"

"No. I like people. It's just that I don't want to be in a crowded place and have them looking at me."

"How could you like people and hate the crowd?"

"Uhm. I like to observe people. I like how they interact with each other. But I don't want to be the center of attention. "

"So like a stalker? That's why I caught you many times looking at our group?"

"Hey! That's mean and that's not true!" I said turning red.

"Relax. I'm used to being stalked anyway."

"Jerk!"

"Stalker."

We both looked at each other and I can't help but smile. And he too, gave me his famous smirk.

"You know what, I never thought that we will be able to talk with each other." I said after awhile.

"Yeah. You don't talk much yourself."

"How did you know?"

"Maybe you're not the only one who's good at observing people."

I raise my eyebrow and looked at him questioningly.

Then he decided to be busy watching movies on his phone. I did not dare to ask. And after sometime he stood up and left the room.

I checked my watch, it's almost six, I have to go home too.