A Note from the Author: Call me a musical freak but I just absolutely adore the Phantom of the Opera! If you have not seen the film, YOU MUST GO SEE IT. Emmy Rossum has an excellent voice; I wish I could sing like her. The seduction, and innocence, ah the thrill of young love.
Another Note from the Author: I got some reviews saying that I have been avoiding some of my characters. Honestly, I am not, I just find no point of putting them in the storyline just yet with everything that is going on; you develop something before bringing a whole bunch of people at once. Think of it as a soap opera, you don't mush everything up together at once, it would leave the viewer dazed and confused, trying to keep up with everything. Princeton Review taught me this: take it by pieces, not everything at once. Call it a strategy, if you may.
Previously on Dangerously Sixteen: Naruto just can't keep his hands to himself and Hinata goes upset, and her cousin plays Big Brother on the phone. Sakura sneaks Sasuke out of her bedroom and finds out that her "fiancé" will be flying in next week and her parents nearly go on the verge of a divorce. Ino and Shikamaru share one of their predictable quarrels that would always pull them closer, but the question of whether Ino still has feelings for Naruto lingers on Shikamaru's mind…
Disclaimer: The characters that you have never heard of belong to me, and the ones that you have heard of belong to the sole creator of the series of Naruto. However, this story is copyrighted under my possession and should not be plagiarized at anytime and anywhere.
Title: Chapter 33
Jubilant music tinkled as bright lights dazzled in the night sky. Clowns with fiery red hair towed their decorated balloons as children stalked after them. Laughter permeated the environment as the audible sound of victory from one of the game booths were heard.
In front of the fair, huge throngs of crowds mustered together in one queue to enter the place of fun and enjoyment.
Among the crowd, two teenagers held hand in hand toward one of the rides.
"I take it that you've never been to one of these fairs," Naruto lifted his hand to guide his date inside one of the rides.
Hinata, who sat beside Naruto, wrapped her hands around the metal bars. The small cubed ride began to move and cruised upward and swerved to both sides before it scooped down to the ground. The ride continued this continuous movement for a minute before it returned back to its original position.
After the ride, Naruto and Hinata went to the ice cream parlor.
"Naruto," Hinata squeezed his hand.
Startled by the sudden grip, Naruto swirled his electric blue eyes to Hinata.
"What's wrong?" he had a worried tone in his voice.
"We've been going out for like…" Hinata thought deeply and counted mentally in her mind.
"14 days," Naruto nodded.
"2 weeks and a few days," Hinata smiled as she corrected him.
"Already?" Naruto smirked as he retrieved two ice cream cones for Hinata and him.
Hinata tasted her dessert and had a smug look on her face.
"Why do you ask?" Naruto took out a few dollar bills and handed it to the ice cream vender.
Hinata staggered her breaths and gazed deeply into the young man in front of her, "I was wondering well, since we've been dating, I was hoping that you would know things about me," she couldn't keep her eyes off of Naruto, "I mean, do you know…anything about me?"
Naruto tilted his head and chuckled lightly. Just like any relationship, he was asked if he knew anything about the girl he is currently dating.
Of course, he hasn't had any luck with the ladies lately, but he still managed to find information about Hinata, by himself.
"What do you want me to say?" Naruto twirled his tongue around the soft vanilla cone.
The raven-haired girl flushed crimson as strawberries.
"Ok, do you want to play 20 questions? Then we could learn what we know about each other," Naruto decided to prove to Hinata that he knows her well, "You'll ask questions about yourself and I'll try to answer, and then we switch off, will that work for you?"
As she took the last few bites into her cone, Hinata slid her hand into Naruto's.
"You go first," her playful eyes flickered against the bright lights of the Ferris Wheel behind them.
The couple strode together toward a game booth.
"Would the gentleman like to win a bear for the young lady?" a man who worked at one of the booths asked Naruto.
Agreeing, Naruto received a similar replica of a shotgun. As he placed his fingers around the trigger, he asked Hinata his first question.
"What music do I like to listen to?" Naruto stood still and held the gun toward his targets: a few cups.
Beside him, Hinata answered, "You're not much of a musical person, but if you count the alternative music you listen to in your car, then I guess."
Naruto pulled the trigger and shot all of the cups before him.
"Bravo! Which prize would you like?" the owner of the booth held up a few stuffed animals.
Naruto pointed at one of the plush toys.
"You're right, and here's a little tidbit, I know that lavender is your favorite color," Naruto handed over his prize: a lavender stuffed bear with the imprint of an ocean blue crescent moon engraved on its stomach.
Hinata was pleased as she accepted the gift.
A half hour passed by, and soon, Naruto and Hinata managed to pass through the long line near the entrance.
"If I had a million dollars, what would I do with it?" Hinata continued the game.
Naruto helped Hinata into the vehicle, and made his way to his side of the seat. He inserted his keys into the ignition and turned on the headlights.
"That's a tough one," Naruto replied as he looked at the rearview mirror. He pulled his car out of the parking lot and swerved to the left.
"Hmm, I know that some of it would go to a charity, the rest, I hope, you'll save it for college because you're book smart, and then you'll probably stash the other money into some secluded account so if you are ever on a run, you can retrieve the cash from the account," Naruto looked over to his side and saw a flabbergasted expression on Hinata's face.
"I'm joking! I joked on the last part," Naruto teased as he stopped at a red light.
"Good," Hinata answered.
In his driving seat, Naruto turned his head around to peer at his blind spot and signaled the other drivers that he was about to change lanes. The wheels of his vehicle swirled casually to the next changing lane.
Naruto's right hand moved from the steering wheel and found its way back to Hinata's hand. His stimulating blue eyes danced as his date clasped her hand tight against his own.
"So…" Naruto muttered as the two rode in silence on the freeway.
A few cars zoomed past them, and Hinata began to fidget with her hands trying to think of something to say.
"Any other questions?" Naruto pulled his vehicle out of the freeway and turned right onto a ramp.
"Where are we going?" Hinata seemed to have ignored his question.
"Oh, you'll see," an alluring smile curled on his mouth.
Ten minutes later, Naruto guided Hinata to a secluded area. There were a few lampposts on the sidewalk. Few cars were parked near a grassy area. As the couple slowly ambled to the silent location, the moon reflected its diamond gaze upon a nearby lake.
Dressed in a silk skirt with a halter to accommodate with, Hinata shivered lightly and pulled Naruto's arm close to her. As the two walked together, the young woman casually rested her head beside Naruto's arm.
It was a beautiful night, the stars had just come out. They glittered and waltzed like tiny diamonds in a pool of darkness.
The shimmering of the stars mirrored off of Hinata's dress, which gave off a heavenly appearance. Her hair was decorated with light curls and a small hairpin to hold part of her loose bangs above her ear.
Naruto steered his date close to him as they stood by a still lake.
Under the twinkling sky, he twirled Hinata's arm as she swirled her dress along.
"Would you care to dance with me?" He held out his hand.
"I would love to," Hinata ignored his hand and immediately wrapped her arms around Naruto's neck and gave him a light peck.
The young man's hand embraced Hinata's waist and held his other in Hinata's hand.
"Dancing in the moonlight," Naruto attempted to sing as Hinata rested her head against his chest, "Everybody's feeling warm and bright, it's such a fine and natural sight…"
"Dancing in the moonlight," Hinata whispered and felt as if her body could swoon in Naruto's arms any minute.
She could feel her heart skip a beat as she nestled her head and be led in a waltz under the starry night. Her legs intertwined with each other as the two whirled and spun on the docks. As they musically coordinated with each other, the sounds of distant cars cruised by as the audible night noises of crickets filled the night air.
Every breath Hinata took, she could feel the cool mist of air escape her thin rosy lips. Brushing aside a stranded bang, Hinata squeezed her hand and giggled when Naruto gave an unexpected dip in their dance, leaving Hinata lying backwards, in his protective arms.
Moments passed by, and the still lake's reflection shimmered in the evening as the sounds of crickets orchestrated a tune for the couple's moonlight dance.
Still in his arms, Hinata spot a gazebo that was painted white, with vines and roses interweaved around the edges.
"It's…beautiful," Naruto stared at the breathtaking moment as he sat beside Hinata inside the gazebo.
He hooked his arm around Hinata and leaned against her on his side. There was a comfortable silence as the two looked ahead onto the still lake as the crescent moon beamed upon the waters.
Everything seemed perfect.
Hinata giggled as Naruto left trails of kisses on her neck. The young man gently cupped her chin with his hands and tenderly felt her air against his nose.
"Naruto," Hinata opened her eyes as the young man lowered his hands down to her waist, which sent a jolt in Hinata's body.
"Naruto," she mentioned his name again, and Naruto kissed her and roamed his hands toward her legs, which sent a surge of pleasure in Hinata.
"Naruto!" Hinata raised her voice and stopped Naruto from going any further, "I'm sorry, I just—I need some space," Hinata released her hands from his grip and took a few steps down from the gazebo. Her long hair trailed behind her back, as she carefully stepped down in her heels and walked toward the grass.
"Wait, Hinata!" the young man called out to her. He walked up behind her and placed his gentle hands across her fragile shoulders, "I'm sorry about what I did,"
"Just don't pressure me, I don't like it," Hinata turned around to face him.
"I understand," Naruto stroked his fingers across Hinata's milky skin, and he thought he heard her gasp.
"See? You're doing it again!" she moved her shoulder away from Naruto and pushed him away.
"What do you want me to do?" Naruto asked as if he were to expect an answer.
"Just don't do it!" Hinata put her hands to her face and closed her eyes.
"Do you want me to ask you from now on? Like, if I want to hold your hand, or even kiss you?" Naruto tried to hold her hand.
"Just respect my decision," Hinata crossed her arms.
"Look," Naruto scratched his head as if dumbfounded, "I don't understand why you're being a prude over this; everyone's doing it,"
Shocked, Hinata couldn't believe what she heard.
She walked up toward him and gazed into those sapphire eyes she once dreamed of succumbing into, "Well, I'm not one of them," she still held her gaze, "And if you don't understand where I'm coming from, then I suggest that we should rethink this whole thing,"
"What do you mean?" Naruto asked.
"I need to go home," Hinata excused herself, but she was stopped short when Naruto held her left arm.
"Don't touch me, please," Hinata felt Naruto let go of her.
"What do you want me to do?" Naruto was behind her and lowered his voice; "I'll make it up to you,"
Hinata shook her head, "No."
"I'll bring you a dozen roses everyday to remind you just how much you mean to me," Naruto suggested.
"No," Hinata remained reluctant.
"I'll go to the beach from our first date and write in the sand how much you mean to me," Naruto wanted so much to hold her in his arms.
A chilly breeze swept between them, and Hinata still said no.
"It's…it's over," Hinata bit back her lip as if she regretted those words.
Naruto felt as if he had been punched in the face, he could feel his heart throbbing madly against his chest.
"Wh—What?" Naruto replayed the dreadful words over and over in his head.
"Just take me home," Hinata embraced herself as if she was shivering in the cold.
There was an awkward silence between the two of them.
Naruto's yellow Lamborghini arrived at the Hyuga's driveway. Before Hinata opened the door to let herself out, he muttered a few words to her.
"Wh—Why is it over?" he was still astonished by what had happened at the gazebo that night, "I can change,"
Hinata placed her hand on the door, and ignored him.
"Drive safely, Naruto," she bade him goodnight and did not look back when she entered the house.
He clasped his car keys inside his hands and wearily opens the door. As he ambled past the foyer, he arrived at the kitchen and swung the small door open.
Leftovers, as usual, were encased in small containers. His mother labeled them, of course, in case he didn't know what food to eat on which day of the week.
Naruto gazed at his grandfather clock and realized that it was pretty late, but not too late for him. As himself, he was a late sleeper and late bird in the morning.
The young man approached his bedroom and laid down his car keys on top of his dresser. In the restroom, he decided to take a nice cold shower, to rinse himself of his problems, and hoped that they will go down the drain.
I've been dumped, Naruto thought to himself. No girl has ever dumped him in his dating career; he didn't even want to break up with Hinata.
His thoughts drowned in the cold beads that were dropping on his skin. He ran his hands through his blonde hair, as he dipped his face in the cold water.
"Fuck!" Naruto cursed himself for ruining their relationship.
Lying on his back against his soft mattress, Naruto spread his arms and legs like an eagle across the sheets. He placed his arms underneath his neck for support as he stared at the empty ceiling.
It wasn't silent until Naruto heard a sound from downstairs.
Immediately, he thought it was Hinata who had come to his place to apologize for dumping him.
He wished.
Instead, he greeted a very unexpected visitor that night. Instead of greeting with his usual smile, Naruto opened his arms and embraced his guest of the night.
Naruto helped his guest by handing her a couple tissues. He sat by her side on his bed and comforted her.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
His other blonde half blew into the tissues and dabbed it across her eyes to soak in her tears.
"It's nothing, it's just that—" Ino was lost in her tears from her fight with Shikamaru.
Naruto had a sympathetic expression on his face and thought of how he could make Ino feel better.
"Come here," Naruto gave her a friendly hug and Ino rested against him and held onto a few fresh Kleenex.
Ino sniffed back her tears and wiped the tissues under her eyes to keep her mascara from running.
"Misery loves company, doesn't it?" Naruto whispered.
"What do you mean?" Ino threw away the Kleenex and sat on the edge of the bed.
"Hinata dumped me awhile ago," Naruto gave the news to his friend.
Ino was shocked when she heard this; after all, Hinata and Naruto were the "golden couple."
"Oh my god, why? You two were great together!" Ino was still astonished.
"I don't know!" Naruto let out a frustrated grunt, "She and I went to the fair today," Naruto began to tell Ino the story.
Ino couldn't help but smile, "That's a nice place for a date,"
"Thanks, well, later I drove her to this isolated place because the stars were going to come out at that hour and so we danced under the stars and then we sat in this gazebo, and that's when hell broke loose," Naruto massaged his head.
"Aw, poor baby," Ino comforted her friend and invited Naruto to rest his head on her lap. She stroked her fingers against his forehead and massaged his neck.
"Did you…pressure her?" she gazed down at Naruto who closed his eyes and relaxed to her facial massage.
"Well…we kissed, it was harmless and then she started to freak," Naruto explained.
Ino understood and nodded her head, "You know, girls these days, they desire to be respected," a tinge of familiarity of this conversation trigged a memory of her conversation with Shikamaru.
"Us guys, we can't help it," Naruto continued to close his eyes as he calmed himself down as Ino stroked circles around his temples and then down to his cheeks.
"What is it with you guys and sex? Is that the only thing you have on your mind?" Ino asked Naruto.
"Of course not!" Naruto disagreed.
"I know you're not like that. But some guys are jerks," Ino sighed, "You guys are so complicated,"
Naruto helped himself up and sat on his bed. He faced Ino and rested on his elbows.
"That's where you're wrong!" he gave a smile, "You guys are more complicated than we are!"
Ino gave a look of defiance and the two couldn't help but laugh at each other. The young female removed her hair ribbon and placed it on a dresser by the bed. She massaged her lovely blonde locks and let it roam freely below her shoulders.
She gazed at the young man in front of her, who was only dressed in his boxers. He must've taken a late night shower, she thought to herself. She looked at herself, and she was still in the same clothes from the previous argument with Shikamaru.
"I guess we're just made to drive each other crazy, don't you think?" Ino rested her head against the wall.
Pulling up beside her, Naruto and Ino sat side by side and gazed at the bedroom door as if they were both expecting someone to arrive.
"Naruto?" Ino called his name.
"Hm?" Naruto let out his low voice.
Ino hesitated before she asked her question, "Do you think…I'll ever find love?"
Naruto became intrigued by her question and turned to his side and stared at his close friend.
"What do you mean?" his voice was full of curiosity.
Ino grinned, "It's just that…" she realized that it was an embarrassing question; usually, she would ask them to Sakura, but she hadn't talked to her in awhile.
"It's Shikamaru, isn't it?" Naruto knew he hit the jackpot and beamed brightly as he pulled up his covers and went underneath the blanket.
Still sitting above the covers, Ino nodded, "He's just so…so…" she couldn't point her finger on what she was going to say.
"Superficial?" Naruto finished her sentence.
"Exactly!" Ino agreed, and before Naruto could answer, Ino continued to speak.
"And I know that he's like that. Superficial Shikamaru, what a nice alliteration," Ino rolled her eyes in amusement.
"I know that he can act insensitive," Naruto explained.
"Sometimes he just gets on my fucking nerves, and other times, he makes me feel so good…" before Ino could continue, Naruto finished the sentence for her.
"Inside?" Naruto rested his head on his soft pillow.
Surprised, Ino laughed.
"Yeah, how did you know?"
"Do you think that I'm that dumb when I'm around you two?" Naruto replied, "Everyone knew that you had something going on with him,"
"But, he and I always fight! And I hate that—" Ino was interrupted again.
"And you two kiss and make up the day afterwards," Naruto listed his facts, "it's nothing new, Ino,"
"You still haven't answered my question," Ino smiled.
"You'll find love Ino, no doubt about that," Naruto tilted his face upward to see Ino.
"And how do YOU know?" Ino playfully yanked the blanket away from Naruto.
"Hey!" Naruto stood up and grabbed his covers back. He then nestled underneath the covers and Ino joined him.
"A girl like you is capable of love and being loved back," Naruto gazed at Ino, the two looked at each other, "Who wouldn't love you?"
Ino could feel another tear coming, and she smiled, "Thanks, Naruto."
Naruto placed his left arm out of the blanket and readjusted his position. Ino remained still, holding the blanket up to her chest and staring at Naruto.
Ino moved closer to him and were inches away from his face, "Naruto?"
The blonde answered back, "Yeah?"
Ino bit her lip, "Back then…you know, when you moved away," she could tell that Naruto was listening to her every word, "did you…did you ever think of me, at all?" she rested her head on her arm, which was placed above another pillow beside Naruto.
"Everyday," Naruto beamed.
Taking a deep breath, Ino felt Naruto move closer to her. The two were locked in each other's arms as they enjoyed the peaceful silence together in Naruto's bedroom.
"You'll be loved, don't worry," he whispered in her ear.
Touched by his words, Ino closed her eyes and leaned forward and felt her lips caress against his.
Instant, by the touch, the two pulled away from their kiss.
"I shouldn't have done that, sorry," Ino could feel humiliation hanging over her head as Naruto laughed.
"It's all right," he accepted her apology.
Ino couldn't help but give a playful smirk as she placed her arms around Naruto's chest. The two were already beneath the covers and felt warmth already between them.
With Ino's arms over him, Naruto slanted himself toward her and fixed his cerulean eyes on the girl in front of him.
At that moment, it felt right.
He slowly fondled her cheeks with his fingers and felt sudden warmth against her soft face. Naruto leisurely closed his eyes and felt Ino's soft lips stroke against his as the young woman locked her hands in Naruto's.
Author's Note: I just finished the 6th Harry Potter book last Thursday. I have one thing to say: it is random. I'm not going to spoil it for you, in case you haven't read the book. All I am going to say is that a cute little romance emerges from the book, a stupid meaningless murder, a true liar, and a useless relationship, and a "blonde" evil is all in the book. Anyhow, I hoped you enjoyed this chapter. Don't worry, I'll put Lee, Ten Ten, Kaede, and Itachi all in a chapter sometime. Right now, I'm just developing the storyline that I made earlier in the first few chapters. So bear with me, and please review!
Incidentally: Come to think of it, I think it's kind of like an autobiography. And NO NO NO, I have never drunk or done drugs, but for the past few chapters; err hum, those conversations have been real (the ones with Shikamaru and Ino). I guess I have my own ShikaIno dilemmas these days. You know those people who argue and then make up the day after? Yeah, I'm one of them. :D