More than Friends

Summary: Tenten's out to find true love. Tired of hearing her best friend, Hyuga Neji, talk about how easy it is to get a girl. Tenten says she can find someone special before he ever could. Neji doesn't know the first thing about love--all he knows about are hormones. But after weeks of dating misery, both are ready to accept defeat...until Neji suggests they date each other. Do friends really make better partners? Pairings: Nejiten and Sasu/Saku

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

Rated: PG

Chapter 5

Friday afternoon was cold and wet. Tenten's mood matched the dull and gloomy weather today. She didn't want to look stupid taking the initiative to call Itachi. 5 days had passed since Tenten had last seen or talked to Itachi. In fact, she hasn't even seen Sakura or Neji or Sasuke all day long. She wondered where all her friends were. As soon as broke out of her daze, she saw Neji waving frantically at her.

"Tenten! Where were you all morning? I feel like I haven't seen or talked to you in ages!" said Neji.

"Where was I? More like where were you! I couldn't find any of you guys the whole day! I wonder where Sakura is."

Neji chuckled and replied, "Some day today huh…All dark and gloomy. I couldn't find Sasuke too. Wonder what they are up to…How about hanging out at my house?"

Tenten giggled, "Sounds great! And you better not let Sakura or Sasuke hear what you said. I'm not helping you if you get killed."

"Neji, you really have to do something about your car," Tenten said as they pulled out of Konoha High's crowded parking lot.

"Why?"

"Why? You're asking me why? It's disgusting! I think there's something growing in your drink bottle." Tenten said as she held up the bottle for Neji to inspect. There was some green liquid sloshing around in the bottom. Then she pointed at the floor where her feet were resting. Piles of old newspapers were under her feet. There was also an assortment of change, dirty t-shirts and empty soda cans.

"You're right. As payment for a ride, you can clean it up for me. I'll even drive it to your house in the morning just to make it easy for you." Suggested Neji brightly.

"Fat chance! I'd probably end up I hospital, a victim of some toxic lurking in here." Tenten replied, and wrinkled her nose as she got out of the car.

"So how's the lovely Ino?" Tenten asked as soon as they settled down on the couch in Neji's house.

"Lovely." Neji answered dryly.

"Too bad Ino isn't really the kind of girl you could fall in love with. Guess I'm the leading contender in the race to find the perfect mate.

"What?" Neji shouted. Tenten was seriously bugging him now. "Why on earth would you think I shouldn't fall in love with Ino?"

"Didn't you see the way she looks at other guys? Obviously she got a roving eye. I just hope she doesn't eye my Itachi. You know, she is awfully pretty…"

"Give me a break. Ino would never ever go out with Itachi. He's totally inferior to me." Exclaimed Neji.

Tenten laughed. "Oh yeah, I forgot who I was talking to. You are the greatest guy in the whole wide world."

"I don't need your sacarsm. And you know what? That loser Itachi is still in love with his ex girlfriend. " Said Neji, feeling hurt.

Tenten was quiet for a moment. Then she said, "I mean it Neji, you're truly the best. I just need to look at your choice of friends to realize that. But why are you always criticizing and making up lies about Itachi?"

"I'm not Tenten. It's true. Sasuke told me that a week ago. He said that Mia had been calling him and they had been talking on the phone a lot nowadays."

"They are just friends! Hang on, did you say Mia?"

"Yeah, why? You know her? She was from Konoha High and she's a popular girl. She's in college now."

"Mia…Mia..Mia…That girl from the bar the other night…The girl Itachi sang to…Did they rekindle their love, and that's why Itachi didn't call me these few days?" Tenten thought. Her mood crashed and she felt horrible.

"Earth to Tenten, ARE you there?" shouted Neji into her ears.

Tenten woke up from her trance. "Yeah, I'm sorry. I was just thinking about some stuff." She said in a quivering voice.

"Hey are you ok? You don't sound good."

"I'm fine, Neji, I'm good." Tenten lied. She silently hoped that Itachi will call her soon and explain what exactly is going on…

Later that night…

"Tenten, phonecall for you!" shouted her mom.

"I got it! Hello?" said Tenten. She wondered who would be calling her so late at night. Probably just Neji, she thought.

"Tenten..It's me."

Tenten froze.

"Look, I'm really sorry for not calling you sooner. I was busy with my band these few days. You see, we were practicing for the upcoming homecoming dance."

Silence…

"Are you angry with me Tenten? I'm sorry. Forgive me please?" pleaded Itachi.

"Oh no..I'm not angry. I was just..ermm..nothing. Anyway, how's your practice coming along?"

"It's great. And about the other night, I got your message. But the guys insisted I party with them, so I couldn't get back to you…I am really…"

"It's ok Itachi." Tenten cut in. "You don't have to apologize so many times you know!"

"I know, but I really am sorry. You doing anything tomorrow?"

"Nope."

"Let's go to Sam's Pizzeria. I'll pick you up at 6pm tomorrow ok?"

"Sure!"

"Ok, see you then."

Tenten heaved a huge sigh of relieve. She was glad that Itachi didn't call to dump her., which means he's over his ex girlfriend! Tenten went to bed happily that night.

On Sunday night…

"Bye!" Tenten yelled to her parents.

"Neji always comes to the door." Her mom called.

"Neji's a dork!" Tenten called back.

Itachi was waiting in his blue convertible. Tenten thought Itachi looked breathtakingly handsome. She hopped into his car and they made their way to the Pizzeria. For several minutes, they drove in silence. Tenten looked out of the window and saw many twinkling stars. She closed her eyes and wished that she would win the bet with Neji. She was ready to fall in love. When she opened her eyes, she found Itachi glancing at her with an amused expression.

"You're so beautiful."

Tenten's heart beat accelerated. Itachi's voice was deep and husky, sending chills down her spine.

"Would you go to the homecoming dance with me?" Itachi asked all of a sudden.

Tenten looked surprised but in her heart, she was bursting with joy. Despite her saying that dances are stupid and she would not go even if Itachi asked her to, she said yes.

Sam's pizzeria was a popular spot for dates. Tenten had been there a million times with Sakura, Sasuke and Neji. Itachi placed his hand on Tenten's back as he lead her to a corner booth.

"I like Pepperoni." Said Itachi.

Tenten looked at the menu and thought, "Neji and I always ordered the Hawaiian, that's our favourite…" But she decided to go with what Itachi wanted.

There was an awkward silence after their orders were taken. Finally Itachi spoke up.

"Are you and Neji an item before?"

"What!"

"I mean, did both of you date each other before? Both of you seemed inseperatable."

Tenten laughed and said, "Of course not! We're just friends! Why? Are you jealous?"

"No…" Itachi replied, "I was just curious."

"Oh…" said Tenten and they fell silent again.

"But I know one thing, Tenten. We can never be friends."

"Why?" her thoughts about Neji flew out of her mind as Itachi's strong hands covered hers.

Itachi looked right at her into her eyes. "Because I always wanted to kiss you, like I want to right now."

Tenten's cheeks were flaming red and she wasn't sure how to answer him. Fortunately, their pizza arrived and broke the tension. However, with Itachi staring intently at her, she couldn't swallow her pizza properly and practically gagged on all the cheese. She could barely breathe. She coughed and took a huge mouthful of her lemonade.

"So, Itachi, do you always write your own song lyrics?" asked Tenten, desperate to change the topic.

"Yeah, I do. I may write a song for you one day."

Tenten felt herself blushing to the roots of her hair. She looked down on her food and continued eating. She couldn't think of anything to say back. They fell into a silence again. Tenten could hear the couple from the booth behind them talking.

"Daddy took my credit card away for 2 months! He was pissed when I spent $200 on a jacket!" the girl whined.

"How unfair! No one can live without a card!" said the guy who was with her.

Tenten rolled her eyes.

"What can I do? Maybe I should sue him for negligence!" continued the girl.

Tenten giggled. "Did you hear what they were saying?" she asked Itachi.

"Oooh, It's so atrocious! Daddy took my rolls Royce and made me drive a junk! I cant face the world anymore!" Tenten imitated the girl and burst out laughing.

Tenten winked at Itachi but his expression was totally blank. Obviously he didn't think that Tenten was funny. Tenten sighed and she thought if Neji was here with her, they would be spending hours imitating them and laughing hysterically the whole time. Being with Itachi sure isn't the same as being with Neji…

"My band might get signed by an independent label. We could have a CD soon." Said Itachi.

Tenten was impressed. She pictured herself as the girlfriend of future rock star Uchiha Itachi. "Really? Will you give me a private listening to you album?" Tenten asked as she batted her eyelashes at him.

"There, I flirted with him." She thought.

"Anytime Tenten, anytime." Itachi said as he held her hands.

It was pretty late by the time Itachi drove her home. Tenten started to pull the car's door handle when Itachi held her back. Then he leaned forward and kissed her. Tenten kissed him back and was glad she was sitting down as her legs felt wobbly. Finally they broke apart and Tenten walked up the path to her house. As she thought about the kissed they just shared, she felt something missing.

The next morning, Neji caught Tenten at the lockers.

"So, how was the date last night?"

"How did you know?"

"Sasuke told me."

"Amazing."

"Are you sure you are not saying that just to win the bet?" Neji raised his eyebrows at her.

"That stupid bet is the last thing I have on my mind right now."

"So you didn't find Itachi boring?"

"No! His band is going to release a CD."

"Sasuke told me that his brother had been saying that since last year."

"More importantly, he finds me fascinating." Tenten retorted.

"Yeah, after going out with Miss beauty queen Mia Thompson, you must seem like a rocket scientist."

"Thanks for the compliment." Tenten said sarcastically.

"Sorry, just tell me one thing."

"What!" Tenten asked getting irritated.

"Did he often check himself out in the mirrors?"

Tenten laughed. She had to agree with him. Itachi was pretty vain and she caught him looking at his reflection in the glass panels yesterday. Neji started to imitate how Itachi would look at himself in the mirror and then he turned serious again.

"Seriously Tenten, how much do you like him?"

Tenten thought for a moment. "I like him a lot. He's the guy for me."

"Don't say that too soon. A lot can happen between now and the prom." Said Neji as he left her for his classes.

As soon as Neji left, someone called her.

"Hey Tenten." A soft, weak voice called out to her.

"Sakura! There you are! I called you five times! What happened to you!" Tenten asked as she did a head to toe glance of Sakura. She looked terrible.

"Long story Tenten. I don't want to talk about it. Sorry I didn't return your calls. I had relatives over at my house during the weekends and I had to look after all my little cousins. They are monsters!" replied Sakura tiredly.

Tenten thought this was so unlike of Saukra. She was usually very bubbly and loud. Something must have happened, I'll wait till she is ready to tell me, she thought. As they walked to their first period together, they bumped into Sasuke. To Tenten's surprise, Sakura looked away and hurried off without insulting Sasuke. Sasuke just stared at Sakura and didn't say a thing. Tenten muttered a quick hello to Sasuke and hurried after Sakura.

"Mmm, something has happened between them. Maybe Neji knows something about this. I'll have to interrogate him later." She thought. She sighed as she stepped into her physics class. This is going to be a long and boring day…

Thanks for reading! Please tell me if I'm going too slowly! Next chapter will be a small part on Neji/Ino, more Sasu/Saku! And more Neji/Ten before the dance!