Up All Night

Summary: AU. Characters are OOC. Sure, Neji's cute, but he's also obnoxious! So try telling that to Tenten's mom. She thinks that Neji is the perfect guy for Tenten. So when Neji surprised Tenten by asking her to the prom, she had to say yes for her sick mom whom she didn't want to let down, even if it meant spending the most romantic night of her life with him. Neji. The guy she can't stand. On the other hand, Sakura isn't interested in love. Her parents are divorced and Sakura is pretty down on couplehood. The last thing on her mind is jumping into a relationship, that is, until Sasuke comes along. Will these 2 girls have thier perfect prom night? Pairings: Neji/Tenten, Sasuke/Sakura.

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto!

Rated: PG

Chapter 1

Tenten poured a tablespoon of olive oil onto the center of a large frying pan, then tilted the pan from side to side until the oil was evenly spread across the Teflon surface. Next she cracked an egg on the edge of the counter and carefully spilled its contents onto the sizzling oil. She turned up the heat and waited for her egg to be ready.

A year ago, nobody would have said that she, Tenten, could boil a pot of water, much less believe that she would wake up at dawn to perfect another breakfast item she was adding to her slowly building repertoire of dishes. Then again, a year ago, nobody would have said a lot of things about her that was now true.

For instance, nobody, and she meant nobody would have predicted that she would be going to her senior prom with Hyuga Neji. She still couldn't believe she was stuck going to the dance with that annoying collection of irksome personality traits. But there's a reason to this madness, she reminded herself.

It was the reason that lay behind most, if not all, of the innumerable changes in her life. She held back tears as she stared at the frying egg. Her mom used to be the one who got up early every morning to cook breakfast. But she hadn't been able to do that for a long time. Not since she had been diagnosed with breast cancer eighteen months ago.

Tenten's mom had suffered through a major operation and she had won a few battles against cancer. But deep down inside her heart, Tenten knew that she probably wasn't going to win this war. Making breakfast everyday wasn't much but at least she felt she was doing something to help her parents. As Tenten slid two pieces of bread into the toaster, she remembered the time in third grade when Neji and her had tried to make grilled-cheese sandwich in the toaster. It was a miracle that they hadn't set the entire kitchen on fire. Of course, that was back then, when she and Neji had been friends – it seemed like a lifetime ago.

Tenten had practically grown up with Neji. His mom and her mom were best friends and their family just lived down the block. They had spent their summers together. Neji had been her first confidant, and for a while, she thought that she was in love with him. Then again, she had also thought she was in love with Barney the dinosaur.

A date with Barney would have probably gone better than the one she and Neji had, Tenten thought as she watched the toast pop up. It had been summer after seventh grade. Neji and her had been flirting for months and then "it" happened.

He was wearing a green shirt and jeans and he showed up at the door of her house, stammered for approximately one minute and then asked if she would like to accompany him for dinner and then to the movies at the mall. By the time she had finished saying yes, he was already halfway down the block.

Tenten had stood motionless at the door for what felt like an hour, going over and over the invitation in her mind. That afternoon she had been the happiest girl in the world. Too bad she didn't have the wisdom to stay at home and practice putting on eye shadow the night of their so-called date, she thought now.

Neji and Tenten never recovered after that night. They had been forced together the very next day for a family function – big mistake. Their delicate thirteen-year-old egos had been too recently stomped on by each other. They had glared at each other, made obnoxious comments under their breaths and with each passing day, they grew further and further apart. And suddenly weeks, months and then years had gone by.

Tenten was still thinking about Neji as she cracked another three eggs onto a bowl. It was almost unbelievable that Neji and her were still locked in their version of cold war, especially because they were thrown together all the time – un unfortunate by-product of their parents' longtime friendship. They had always hid their animosity from their parents but not from each other. Both Neji and her had become experts at the verbal one-two punch. Too bad her mom was so set on the idea of her going to the prom with none other than the vain, toad-spotted pig-nut himself. Probably because the first real date her mom and dad ever had was the night of their prom. Since then, her mom had been convinced that it was a night of magic and somehow, she thought that Hyuga Neji plus Tenten equaled abracadabra.

Tenten doubted it was Neji's idea to pop the big question. She was ninety percent sure that Mrs Hyuga had talked him into it. Nonetheless, Neji didn't have to agree to ask her to be his date. As much as she hated to, Tenten had to give credit for his part in making her mom's dream come true. Maybe she could try to get out of the date with Neji, she decided. She would be doing both of them a favor.

Tenten's dad walked into the kitchen just as she turned off the heat under the French toast. He was whistling but he looked tired.

"How is she?" Tenten asked.

"She's okay honey, not great, but okay." He said as he dropped a kiss on the top of her head.

"I made French toast. Mom loves my French toast." Tenten said brightly.

She picked up the plate and set her face in a grin position. She made sure that the first time her mom saw her every morning, she was smiling. Tenten wanted her mom to believe she was happy, no matter what she was feeling inside.

Tenten knocked softly on the door of her parents' room but there was no response. So she nudged the door open and stuck her head inside. Her mom lay in the middle of her bed and her eyes were closed.

"Mom…time for breakfast," she whispered.

Her eyes fluttered open. For a split second, Tenten watched the muscles of her mom's face contort with pain. Then her gaze landed on Tenten and she smiled at her.

"Good morning sweetie, how nice of you to make me such a delicious breakfast."

Tenten felt a warm glow from the praise. Now that her mom was sick, she treasured these little things she can do to make her happy.

"Do you feel up to eating something?" Tenten asked, her voice hopeful.

"For you, I would eat liver, or cow's tongue. I'll try…at least."

Tenten laughed. "As long as you manage a few bites, I would be satisfied."

"This is delicious Tenten, you are an expert chef now," her mom said as she swallowed a bite.

"Oh, come on mom, its just bread fried in egg batter!"

She didn't reply Tenten. Her mom was now staring at the food as if it were her worst energy. Tenten bit her lip, trying to hold back her tears. She knew that her mom had lost her appetite and if she took another bite, she would probably throw up. Tenten took the tray from her gently and set it on the bedside table.

"It's alright, I'll leave it here, you can have some more later."

"Thanks honey, I guess I wasn't as hungry as I thought." Tenten's mom said as she leaned back against the pillows, her eyes heavy with fatigue.

Tenten took a deep breadth and stood up. "I'll see you after school mom."

Her mom just nodded sleepily. As Tenten tiptoed out of the room, her mom called her.

"Tenten, I remembered something. As soon as up pick up your prom dress from Claire's boutique, you'll have to do a fashion show for me."

"I will, I promise."

"You and Neji are going to have a wonderful time at the prom. It means the world to me that both of you are going together." Her mom said and all signs of fatigue were gone at the thought of her daughter going to the prom with Neji.

"Yeah…it will be great." Tenten agreed.

Tenten heave out a sigh as she closed the door of the bedroom. How could she even have considered getting out of the date? It meant so much to her mom. There was no way she was going to let her down. She is going to the prom with Neji and she was going to pretend to love every minute of it…for her mom.

In her room, Tenten started to get ready for school. As she slipped into a white cotton shirt, she caught sight of herself in the full-length mirror. Her skin was pale and she had dark rings around her eyes. She couldn't help notice that she wasn't a very pretty sight.

"This is no good Tenten," she told herself.

A few strokes of the blush brush, some mascara and lip-gloss later, Tenten looked tons better. But there was still something missing from her face. A smile. As much as she appreciated the concern of her best friend Sakura, had for her, she didn't want her pity. She didn't want anyone's pity. It wouldn't help her mom and it would make her feel even worse. She started practicing different smiles in the mirror and finally settled on a more natural and casual grin that almost reached her eyes.

"Good enough, Tenten, you're ready for public." She said to her reflection in the mirror.

Her friends were not going to know how scared she was. As far as the world was concerned, she was a normal, happy, healthy teenager.

On Neji's side…

"Come on, I know you can do it baby!" Neji begged as he turned the key in the ignition of his Volkswagen for the third time, praying for some life from the engine. But there was no sound from the car's internal organ and he knew getting the engine going within the next three minutes was impossible. That was the last thing he needed. He was running way late and Mrs Crouch had informed him last week that he was going to stay after school if he was late one more time. At the age of seventeen, staying after school was a downright humilation.

Neji gazed down the block, trying to figure out his next course of action. His dad had already left for work, and his mom was in the shower. But if he walked to school, he would be twenty minutes late. And then he saw non other than Tenten racing out of her house. Her arms were loaded with books as usual. Neji sighed. Tenten was the last person he wanted to ask for a ride to school. But she was also the only person on this street to school.

Pride or detention. Pride. Detention. Okay, he was going to sacrifice his pride in the name of avoiding detention. It was the only sane thing to do. Neji jumped out of the car and slammed the door behind him. Swinging his backpack over one shoulder, he jogged down the block, waving his arms. When he was fifty feet from Tenten's house, she looked up from the door she was unlocking.

"You can stop waving Neji," she informed him. "I see you."

"Can I have a ride to school? My car isn't in one of her moods." He asked.

Tenten shrugged. "Get in."

That was easy, Neji thought. That wasn't the first time he had to swallow his pride and ask Tenten for a ride to school. But usually she tortured him for a couple of minutes before she grudgingly agreed to let him grace the inside of her precious car. Neji tossed his backpack into the backseat of her Honda and slid into the passenger seat.

Tenten barely seemed to notice him as she started the car and put it into gear. Her eyes were focused on the road and she seemed to be in some sort of trance.

"You're losing your touch," he commented, glancing sideways at her dark brown hair and ivory skin.

Tenten raised one eyebrow. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"I haven't received one insult since I got into this car." Neji pointed out. "We have been together for three minutes and you've neither called me a rotting log nor commented on my poor taste in girls."

"Maybe I've matured," she said. "Maybe I have realized that it is a waste of time to expend even an iota of mental energy sparring with you."

"I've got another theory. I think you're harboring a hidden, burning passion for me. It's written all over your face."

Now that got Tenten's attention. She took her eyes off the road just long enough to glare at him.

"I might have a burning disdain for you. But as for giving you a ride, I'm only doing what's right. My parents always taught me to take pity on stray animals," she retorted.

Ouch. He should have never opened his mouth. But now that he had…there was no way that he was going to let Tenten get the last word.

"Speaking of animals, I saw your ex-boyfriend making out with some freshman in the cafeteria the other day. He was kissing her in between showing his ability to snort milk out of his nose to his buddies."

"He must have been making out with Leah Nelson. Isn't she that girl who turned you down for a date last month?" Tenten came back at him.

Ouch again. Tenten was an expert at getting under his skin. Why did he find it necessary to provoke her the minute he got into the car? Because you're an idiot, Neji told himself. But it was too late to take it back. So far, this day wasn't a very good start.

For the tenth time, Neji regretted the fact that he ad let his mom talk him into asking Tenten to the prom. Not that he had resisted the idea. He knew that Tenten's mom had always had a not-so-secret hope that Tenten and him would fall in love. Making her happy by taking Tenten to the prom was the least he could do for the woman who had been just like his second mom to him since he was five.

It was ironic really. Neji could have named at least six guys who would have killed to take Tenten to the prom. And now he, her archenemy had asked her to the dance as a favor to her mom. At what point is life going to start making sense, he wondered as Tenten slammed on the brakes to avoid going through a yellow light.

"So have you thought up a good excuse to get out of going to the prom with me yet?" Tenten asked, almost as if she had been reading his mind.

"Why? Have you found some no-brained jock you'd rather go with?"

Neji had never understood Tenten's taste in guys. She flirted from one amiable good-looking bonehead to another. Apparently, she enjoyed the company of guys who resembled friendly puppies. Naturally, none of these relationship lasted for more than three or four weeks. Sometimes he thought that she chose her dates based solely on who would provide the best material for his stinging barbs.

"For you information, Ken was a National Merit semifinalist," she retorted, referring to her last sort-of-boyfriend. "Not everyone finds it necessary to flaunt their smarts in order to get attention." She added.

Neji decided not to respond to that particular comment.

"Now don't you worry. Once we get to the dance, you can flirt with any National Merit semifinalist you want to."

"I know Neji. We'll do the limo, we'll do the corsage, and we'll do the pictures. After we make nice for the parents, we're both free to do whatever we want once we arrive at the prom." Tenten declared.

"Unless you want to be real dates," Neji said quickly. "I mean, its not like I'm going to refuse to dance with you or anything."

Tenten snorted. "I'll have plenty of people to do that with, "she assured him. "Don't you worry your tickle-brained little head."

"Say no more, I'll be more than happy to leave you to your own devices."

"Good."

That word had the ring of a definitive, final statement. Tenten was done with the conversation. That's fine with Neji. Who cared if Tenten didn't want to talk to him? He didn't want to talk to her either. Still her attitude was just irritating him. She didn't have to be so bummed about going to the prom with him. It wasn't as if he were a total loser. In fact, he wasn't any kind of loser. Not that he would ever let Tenten know that she had even slightly gotten to him. He might not be too proud to cop a ride, but he had his limits.

Neji was getting the sinking feeling that prom night was going to be a replay of the date from hell in the eighth grade. At least it can't be any worse, he thought.

Sometimes it was hard for him to believe that at one time in their lives, Tenten and him had almost been inseparable. She was the first girl he really got to know. In truth, she was the first girl Neji ever loved. Neji sighed quietly, glancing at Tenten out of the corner of his eye. Now that they were not engaged in verbal combat, he could really study her face. She looked as beautiful as she always did…but something was off.

She's got circles under her eyes, he realized. She's tired. Sure, she was wearing blush and lipstick and whatever else it was that girls wore to make themselves look totally put together. But beyond the makeup, Neji could see that Tenten was exhausted.

Suddenly, all the fire seeped out of his bones.next to him sat the girl he had grown up with and she was going through the worst time of her entire life. Neji felt a deep pang of sympathy but he knew better than to say anything aloud to Tenten. She wasn't the type of person who wanted to acknowledge any kind of weakness. If he let her knew that he sensed her pain, it would only make her feel worse. There was, however, something he could do.

He could offer Tenten what he always offered her. A person with whom she could argue and vent and relieve some of the tension that must be building up inside her. It wasn't much…but it was all Neji had to give…

Author's Notes:Thanks for reading and don't forget to review! I'll read every single one of them and try to reply all of them. Sakura and Sasuke will appear in the next chapter! Until then, bye!