Chapter 3: Unfamiliar Emotions

Sasuke

Sasuke awoke but kept his eyes closed. He felt a familiar presence. Hinata must be here. Her scent is very strong. Wait, I can't tell her this soon! Not after scaring her like that! What would she think? Is this fear that I'm feeling? It felt strange to him. I've never feared anything in my whole life. Why be afraid of my own emotions?

He opened his eyes. Hinata's shin was mere inches away from his face. He sat up quickly. Why is she so close to me?

"Good you're awake! I set up a picnic to apologize for running away from you earlier. I hope you're hungry," she said in a meek voice. She played with her fingers. She looked very cute.

He sat there staring at her stupidly. She's so cute!

"Are you okay?" She tilted her head and looked at him.

"Oh!" He got her coat out from underneath himself and handed it to her. "I must have drifted off."

"Th-thank you." She slipped the coat on and zipped it up. "Um, what did you want to tell me?" she asked, with some trouble.

"It was, um," he spat out. What should I say?

"Yes," she said patiently.

"I… wanted to say that I was sorry for scaring you like that." Rrg! What am I so afraid of?

"Oh…" She was obviously thinking about something. "It's okay. W-would you like to eat now?" She gestured towards the picnic.

His stomach growled. "That's a great idea." He walked over to the food and sat down. He grabbed his chopsticks and brought a bite of ramen to his mouth. "Mmm! This is delicious! Did you make this?" He took another bite.

"Thank you! You're too kind! The recipe is a secret." She poked at her food but didn't eat any. She looked as if something was troubling her.

He swallowed his mouthful of ramen. "What's wrong?"

"Well, I… Sasuke-kun why are you so nice to me, but your heart stays cold to everyone else?" She blushed.

So you noticed that. Okay. "I never really thought about it. I suppose it's because you're so calm. You're a nice change from Naruto and Sakura. They never shut up."

A kunai flew in front of Sasuke's face and stuck in a nearby tree with a dull 'thunk'. "Hey!" He looked to the source. Naruto stood with his arms crossed. Is he trying to look threatening? Naruto had on the most ridiculous face Sasuke had ever seen. It looked like a cross between pouting and angry. It's not working. He suppressed a laugh.

"Who do you think you are? You can't say that about me! If anyone's annoying it's you!"

Sakura ran up and pushed Naruto over. "Don't talk to Sasuke like that! What are you thinking you idiot? That kunai could have easily killed him!"

Naruto got back on his feet. "Exactly!" he shouted in her face.

Oh yay. They went on and on throwing petty insults at each other until Sakura noticed the picnic that he and Hinata were sharing.

"Sasuke, are you… having lunch with Hinata?" She looked confused.

"Yes I am. Why would you care?" he said, putting the cold tone back in his voice. He said that even though he knew exactly why she cared. So, so predictable. Stupid fangirl.

"But-I-she-you… hmph!" She turned on her heel and walked away.

Sasuke rolled his eyes and sighed heavily. "I really don't feel like dealing with this right now," he said in a bored tone. He got up and headed into the forest.

Naruto laughed. "You're just scared! I'll let you go this time, but next time I won't go so easy on you! Believe it!"

"Goodbye Hinata," he called back. "Sorry to leave you with that idiot."

"Hey!" Naruto lost his balance and fell over. "Aww, man!" What a loser.

"Goodbye Sasuke-kun," Hinata said quietly. "I'll see you around."