Chapter 2: The Date

"So, what do you want to eat? I'll pay."

"Anything is fine," Hinata replied. She heard him mumble something about having something light and then they'd be off. She was told to wait and watched Sasuke walk off. He came back with two crepes—one chocolate, the other strawberry.

"Which one?"

"Umm… strawberry," she replied softly. He handed her the strawberry crepe and they ate in an uncomfortable silence. They sat on a bench beside each other, but looked the opposite ways. Hinata's mind raced as she thought of what to say. She didn't like situations like this—situations that made her shyness reach its peak. She opened her mouth to say something when Sasuke beat her to it.

"Look, I know you don't like me. And you know I don't like you—I mean, I don't hate you, but just not like it's supposed to be when you're on a date," he said plainly. She nodded in agreement, neither of them turning to look at each other except for the hesitant glances from Hinata. "We both could be doing better things today, but stupid people had to ruin it for us."

Hinata nodded obediently. Right now, she could lists millions of things she could've done today instead of going on a date with someone she didn't like-like. 'If only it was Naruto with me today instead of Sasuke…' she thought wearily.

"So… I suppose we better do what we're supposed to and—"

"Umm, S-sasuke…"

Sasuke was slightly shocked from Hinata interrupting him. He replied, "Hm?"

"What did they threaten you with?"

"Oh, you too?"

Hinata nodded, only to remember they weren't looking at each other. She finished her crepe. "Mm-hmm…"

"I'd rather not say. You?"

"M-me too."

"Well, come on. It's a date, might as well make it fun," Sasuke said, as if this was a burden—which it was. Hinata felt almost offended when she heard his tone of voice, but she got up and followed as they went to throw their wrappers away. They did the usual date—a walk in the park (forced to hold hands in case of spies), a small lunch, the such. Every moment Hinata was with Sasuke, she realized why she hadn't fallen in love with him like every other moron.

He was just too full of himself. He didn't care about others and he flings his anger inward, which gives him that emo vibe. If that was what hotness was, she'd rather not look for someone hot.

"I guess our date is done. Thank goodness."

"Wait," Hinata said; it stopped Sasuke in his tracks. Hesitantly, she dared to look the great Sasuke straight in the eyes. "I-I think you're wrong."

"What?"

"I-I think that you're not in as much pain a-as you act as you are." It was true; Hinata knew what true failure was. She knew what it felt like to be chewed on, spit up, and stepped on. She KNEW what it was like to be the heir of a family that had great expectations with a cousin that stared at your back like he was trying to burn a hole through it. "I-I know what it's l-like to be a f-failure—a f-failure to the f-family. I've h-had to live with it a-all my life. I don't see why—why a-anyone can find you l-likable. You don't show c-courage or s-strength…"

She didn't have the courage herself to say anymore. Sasuke's stare was more frightening than what Sakura and Ino had given her. He scoffed.

"You don't know anything. You're just a girl," he sneered back, turning away. For the first time in her life, Hinata got angry—a bubbling, boiling anger that made her want to rip something to shreds.

"W-well, you don't show strength or c-courage! All you show is weakness and vulnerability. Everyone has his or her own problems, so why must you step on them like they can't even hold a candle to yours?" she demanded, still using her soft voice. Sasuke turned around, looking even angrier than before.

"Like I said, you're just a girl."

And then he left, leaving a shocked Hinata to stand by herself… and it started to rain.

End of Chapter 2: The Date

Author's Note: Okay, I'm sure you're all wondering, WHERE THE HECK IS THE SASUHINA/HINATAXSASUKE/WHATEVER! and yes, I am getting to that. Whenever there is some sort of couple, it takes me a while to create the bond. Oo Yes, yes, I'm sorry. And for all you girls that like Sasuke, don't hate Hinata. She's cool.