*Hey peeps! *phew* I'm updating! YAY! Anywayz... I was talking to people in my World History class right? This boy saw my notebook and Neji's picture was on it! (I keep my hubby by my side where everI go!) He said 'Ooo! Shes hot!' I was like what the hell! He just called my husband HOT! And a she! I wanted to smack the shit out of him! I told him 'Thats a boy....'. He replied "Noway! Then whats up with the long sexy black hair and boobs!?". WHAT Boobs!? What black hair? His long sexy hair is brown! (But it was a black and white pic so...) ANYWAY. I was pretty mad. DISCLAIMER: I no own Naruto! LA LA LA!*



Chappie 18: LOVE SUCKS



"I CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE!" Ino barked at the lunch table. "Seeing Shikamaru talk to that hussie all day without every speaking to meee is driving me crazy!"

"(Not unless your already that way..) So how long has this gone on?" Hinata asked sipping her juice.

Sakura sighed at her answer. "3 weeks..." 'Come to think of it, I haven't seen Itachi in a while... I hope he's alright. Speaking of Itachi, Neji. I've been avoiding him for a while.' She thought nervously.

"Sakura?"

"HUH!?"

Hinata spoke quietly. "You've been out of it for a few days now.... Are you okay?"

"Yes, I'm fine! Why do you ask?"

".... Nothing. Its just that, well, when I see you and Neji not talking to each other, its strange. You never come over anymore."

Sakura looked at the far end of the table. Neji was once again, lunchless. (Sakura hasn't brought him anything! Poor baby!)

He looked up and caught her staring at him. Sakura quickly blushed and turned back to her food. "Well, strange as it may seem... umm... Its strange." (What the....?)

Hinata then settled that as the end of the conversation. She turned back to Ino. "Ino? Do you need to borrow Naruto all that much?"

"You'll give him to me?" Ino asked quickly sliting her eyes.

"I... I won't give him to you, but you may rent him."

"How much?"

"50 cent an hour." (50 cent! XD)

"Settled."

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*



One the way to 5th period

Sakura walked up the hall aimlessly, not knowing that she was in everyones way. The tardy bell had rung and she was off in another wing walking. She leaned against the wall, her thoughts were racing through her mind. Her body couldn't move any longer. Her thoughts were wearing her down. 'What do I do? What do I say!?' She thought. 'I can remember when Sasuke was the only person I cared for. Then, it was Itachi that approched me with his kindness, only to leave my feelings for Sasuke in the dust. Meanwhile Neji... he... he... tries his best to show his feelings. But I know its hard when you try to hide them all your life. And, and... I don't know what to do...' She got up off the wall and went out the nearest door. She needed air. And she needed to think.

Wandering outside, she watched some other gym classes run around the track. She sat down to continue watching them. Most of them had a partner to run and talk with. She saw one special couple, a boy and a girl holding hands while they ran. Both of them were in the lead. 'I wish... I wish I could, do that. I envy alot of couples. Ino and Shikamaru, Hinata and Naruto... I envy you guys. Sure, Ino and Shikamaru are having a disagreement right now, but at least they know who they love. And they are official about their feelings. Naruto and Hinata, I'm sure they have their ups and downs... But that doesn't stop them from being with each other each day. Both of them, enjoying each others company without thinking of another person. Being able to relax and know that your loved. Thats what I want. I want, a happy ending to this.' Suddenly, a cold breeze stung her. 'Winter is coming soon.'

She felt something warm against her. It was a jacket. Looking up she saw.. "Itachi. Hello..."

He sat down next to her. "Its getting cold. You better keep a jacket on when you go outside." He glanced at her lost expression.

"Thank you." She whispered.

"You sound... sad. Whats wrong?" A scooted closer.

Sakura leaned on him. "I can't figure out something."

"What is it?"

"If two people love one person, what does that person do if she loves them both? I mean, you can't live a lie. And, what if you make the wrong decision?"

He put his arm around her. "Like I said before, making decisions are the best thing you can do." He started softly with a deep comforting voice. "But I think, that person knows who she loves. Being rejected, accepted and dumped is all apart of love. You can't hide or run away from it. It has to come one way or another. You see that couple down there that you were busy staring at?"

"Yes.."

"They haven't had the best time in love." He smiled. "His name is Takuma, and her name is Ryoko. They're both in my class. Just a few days ago, they were just hooking up. Earlier they didn't even like each other. In fact they hated each other. Now, they plan to get out of high school, go to college and get married. Do you understand what I'm saying?"

"No, I don't."

Itachi sighed. "Love can come anytime. You may not see it in front of you, but its there." She looked up to his warm smile. "What do you see? Look really hard!"

"You?"

"Exactly."

Sakura got defensive. "Well, I don't know about you, but I'm not sure if I'm in love with you or not!"

"Even when your sad, you still have a wise mouth."

Sakura sighed. "But, Neji, he seems to have a dedication that I've never seen. And you, you just seem to pop anywhere I need help." She giggled. "Thanks for making me feel so much better."

Itachi got up. "Its my job. Now what do you say.... we SKIP CLASS!"

Sakura wacked him. "ARE OUT OF YOUR MIND!?"

Itachi felt his head. "Ouch... I guess so. Keep on hitting me like that your gonna make it go."

"I don't know about you, but I DO have a school life."

Itachi walked with her. "Wanna go out sometime after school?"

"No I can't. I need to go home and do my homework. I have tons of it."

"Oh... Can I help you?"

"Like you can really come over my house and tell them your my tutor..."

"I can if you want me to." Itachi laughed.



*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Hinata approched Naruto after the bell had rung to go home. He was by his lockers stuffing his books in his. "Naruto-kun...?" Hinata asked shyly.

Naruto turned around to face his honey. "Hinata..."

Hinata blushed. He was so cute! 'His big blue eyes, his soft sun shine hair... awww!!!' She swooned and snapped back to life. Since Naruto was staring at her strangly. "Umm... I was wondering, if you could spend a few days as Ino's boyfriend. What do you say?"

"Hinata, don't tell me... you... you..."

"She pimped you!" Kakashi said in the backround. Then continued walking down the hallway.

"No! Its not that Naruto!" Hinata shouted. "I just feel so bad about Ino's predicament that I-"

"I won't do it." Naruto said evenly. "I'm not going to be a toy."

"But..." Hinata had no choice but to break the news to him. "I'm loaning you. 50 cent an hour! And, you can have half if you agree!"

Naruto thought. '50 cent an hour isn't that bad considering all the hours I'll be with Ino. Maybe if Hinata could loan me for 2 or 3 days. I could be making big bucks. And I mean... All I have to do is hang around her. Not doing anything.... SWEET!'. He looked back at Hinata. "OKAY! I'll do it! You can count on me!"

Hinata smiled. "Thank you Naruto-kun!"

Naruto smiled back and took Hinata's hand and they went out the door.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"Ohh!!!" Tenten squealed. "Your so great Shika!" She hugged him. Today she was being treated to icecream. For their 'hard work' on the science fair project. All she did was hand him the supplies when he called for them. Thats hard work? Shikamaru handed her the vinalla cone. She happily accepted it.

Meanwhile, Ino sulked from afar. 'Grr... I can't stand that lil hussie! Stealing him away from me! Wait, now that I think about it, he's going along with it like he enjoys it! It hasn't been one moment during today that he's talked to me. Not even a glance. Damn... She has him whipped.' Ino swore again under her breath. Then she felt a tap on her shoulder. "EP!"

"Don't be scared." Ino looked up to see her new blonde classmate.

"Temari? What are you doing?" Ino said embarassed. Yup, she was caught spying.

She didn't pay her anymind. Instead, she looked at the happy couple walking away from the ice cream stand. " Let me guess, thats your boyfriend...?"

"No he ain't." Ino lied.

Temari looked at her. " Girlfriend?"

"YA THINK!? NO!"

Temari laughed. "Yeah. So why is your boyfriend hanging out with her?"

Ino's voice fluttered. "Because... They are working on a 'science project'. Science my foot. They're just trying to hook up and ignore me."

"I see. Hmmm.... I have an idea."

"What is it?" Ino asked VERY curious. "Cause I already had one."

"Oh yeah?"

"Yeah. I was going to use Naruto to make Shikamaru jealous."

"Really...." Temari looked like she was thinking. " That'll work too. But, I have a better idea that'll make that'll make her go away for awhile."

Ino tilted her head. "What do you have in mind?"

"Set her up with another person..."

"WHAT!? Like who!?"

Temari smiled. "Well... maybe someone she knows... Or someone she doesn't know." She thought a minute. "What about that boy named Neji? They hang out sometimes."

"Neji?" 'Oh... Thats Sakura's man. I shouldn't...' "Well, I really can't do that. But... I could! Later! I got a date to set up!" Ino ran off with a billon ideas in her head for the date they could have to make the date perfect.

Temari smiled. "That way... Sakura can have no one. Cause, I want Itachi..."

No chappie title right now. (Gomen...)

*WHOA!!! TEMARI! NO WAY! YOU CANNOT! I'm in BIG trouble.... *covers her head* Flames! EEEEE!!!! Just KINDLY brake it to me what you want to happen. Or just regular suggestions. I could ALWAYS use those. And for you other fans, I'll fit in a lil TentenGaara! *wink wink* Anywayz. PLEASE R&R!!!! I LOOOOOOVE REVIEWS! I'll update as soon as I can! *laughs evily* The computer is in my room now... I will be able to update faster and more efficiently. That reminds me(The efficient part). I have to check my mail box for my AOL 9.0! LOL!!! Well, Mrs. Hyuga is signing off again! And as always, love you!*