Naruto looked at the waiter and then looked at Hinata. The waiter looked at Naruto and then to Hinata with shifty eyes.
"Um….I can come back if you want…," he started.
"No, uh we're ready. Yhea, can I get the kung pow chicken and some fried dumplings?"
"Drink?"
"Pepsi if you have it."
"Coke?"
"That's fine."
"And what can I get the lady?"
"Ano, um c-can I have the hot and s-sour soup with vegetable lo mein?"
"Sure, drink?"
"Sprite please."
"Kay' I'll be right back with your drinks guys," said the waiter taking their menu's.
There was an awkward silence between them as the waiter left. Hinata looked up and saw him staring at her again. Her cheeks flushed red.
"Y-you know Naruto-kun….I-I've al…always looked up to y-you. I mean you're so strong and confident. I-I-I wish I could be like y-you someday." She started playing with her fingers and took a deep breath. "I, I really like you….and and I-" She heard him give a small sniffle and looked up to see him wiping at his nose.
"You know….I though no one really cared for me…I mean sure there was Iruka-sensei, but I-," he was interrupted by Hinata placing her hand gently on his.
"Hinata…"
"It's okay Naruto-kun…."
"Hinata, I, I like you too."
He said it. Naruto played it over in his mind, and the more he did, the better he felt. Like a giant boulder that was lifted off his chest. He liked someone and that someone liked him back. All his life he was alone. No one to talk to, no one to share his ideas with, no one to touch, no one to hug, no one to kiss. But now, he felt as though he was floating on air. A great big grin broke out and he chuckled a bit and took her hand in his own. He looked up at her creamy white eyes and gave her a warm smile. Hinata felt the heat in her cheeks as she blushed.
"His hands are warm…," she thought to herself.
"Damn, she's pretty," thought Naruto.
"Hinata…do you think…..maybe you…you want to be my….girlfriend?" he asked hesitantly.
Hinata's eyes went wide and her heart beat quickened. She'd waited so long for Naruto to return the same feelings she had for him, and now he was asking her out. She opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out. Naruto's smile faded a bit.
"Er, I mean, it's okay if…you don't want to…haha…ha," his voice trailed off.
"No, N-Naruto, I-I'd love to be your g-g-girlfriend. I'm just s-so happy. I don't know what to say…"
"You can say yes."
Cream met cerulean, and she was sold.
"Yes. I-I'll be your g-g-girlfriend Naruto-Kun."
Naruto broke out in a huge smile and laughed jovially.
"That's…That's great Hinata. I'm glad."
Hinata took his hand in hers and gave him a smile.
"Me too…"
The cool night air seemed to get colder and colder with every passing hour. Shikamaru made his way up to his favorite resting spot near the Hokage monument. He loved it when it was cold out, the air was crisp and it made for good cloud watching. He plopped down next to a tree and looked up. The stars were out and the moon was big. Clouds drifted lazily by and he smiled to himself. He laced his fingers together, put them behind his head, and leaned back against the tree. The flowers laid by his side forgotten. There was something strange about those clouds. It made all his troubles disappear and his thoughts vanished into thin air. He felt so peaceful, clam. The wind blew gently and the trees swayed to it's rhythm. Shikamaru closed his eyes and started to daydream.
The sun was out, the birds were chirping, and Shikamaru sat on his front porch playing go with Chouji. It was another easy victory, but he let his chubby friend win every once and a while. Asuma was out on a mission, so they had the whole day to lounge around and do nothing. The only thing that could make things better was if a certain blonde haired girl were to be with him. He didn't know why, but he wanted her to be there. He around her. Like he could be himself. He felt like he didn't need to impress her for her to like him back. He suddenly imagined himself embracing Ino, holding her close in a tight hug. He stared into her bright blue eyes and made a move to kiss her. She tilted her head upward to meet his, and their lips grazed. She looked away embarrassed, her cheeks flushed scarlet red. He gave her a warm smile and leaned in close.
He stared to whisper in her ear, "I think I lov-".
Soft footsteps echoed in the night as they approached the lazy youth lying on the ground. He cracked an eye open and jumped to his feet immediately.
"I-ino…" he gave a nervous chuckle and looked down at the ground. He couldn't look her in the eyes after what he just imagined.
She noticed him turn beet red and raised an eyebrow.
"What are you doing here?" she asked.
"I-I, um…" Shikamaru stammered.
Ino looked behind him and saw the batch of flowers. She gave a small smile and continued to talk.
"Out of all the places I could of gone to tonight, I went to the place where you'd be. Just my luck."
She lied. She knew he'd be here. It was his favorite spot in the whole village. And it was hers too, because of the boy standing in front of her.
a/n
I'm not dead, just lazy. I'd say a couple of more chapters and I'm done
