Hinata enjoys to walk, it helps her clear her mind of lonesome thoughts as she takes in her surroundings. Near her house was a dirt path that led to an expansive lake that held many stories. From ones ranging from it being so toxic that if you stayed in it too long your skin would slowly melt off to stories of monsters coming out at night and dragging humans into its expansive depth. She is seventeen years old but could not help but wonder if there were actually creatures that dwelled deep within the lake. If so, she would like to meet one, one day. Her life is just to lack luster, maybe a scaly mermaid could spice it up a bit.
Unfortunately, her life seems like it will stay boring just as it always has been since the day she learned how to walk. Hinata grabbed a bunch of different rocks from the ground and attempted to skip them across the lake. They must only be able to do this in movies, she thought as she threw her thirtieth rock, with no luck. With each and every one of them she was just hurling them straight into the water.
"Wow, I have never seen anyone suck at skipping rocks as much as you. That is what you're trying to do right?" A voice looms behind her as she whips her head back. It's her neighbor and long time family acquaintance who also shares this space with her time to time.
"Yes it is, Sasuke, and it's harder than it looks." She mumbles and releases the rest of the rocks from her grip. She doesn't feel like doing it anymore, especially when her audience is a judgmental, mopey teen.
"I highly doubt that" He challenges. She stares at him with a raised eyebrow that challenges him. "Here, watch and learn."
He bends down to grab one rock making sure he chooses the right one. Before he throws the rock he meets her eyes and winks. She can't help but feel warmth fill her cheeks as she looks away to the lake. He throws the rock and it skips not just once, twice, or three, but a whole twenty six times. Yes, Hinata counted, twenty six.
She makes the mistake of looking back at him and sees the triumphant smirk on his lips. "Piece of cake, Hyuuga." She doesn't resist the urge to roll her eyes, something she does a lot when he is around.
Sasuke goes to sit on a rock and pulls out a cigarette, "Can you not?" He pretends she didn't say anything but she doesn't push it. The last time she commented on his life choices he up and left. She doesn't want the same outcome this time. She does not want to admit but he always seems to be some kind of highlight to her meek life.
They aren't friends. They barely talk and probably have nothing in common but Hinata likes his quiet presence. As she sits with her thoughts and she is reminded that there is someone else here with her. Someone else who needs an escape, from what? She doesn't know— for herself or Sasuke.
"I saw you got the Dobe to work with you on the worksheet in class today." This was weird, he usually doesn't start conversations with her. And especially not of topics that included her and his best friend.
"Uhm, yeah. He needed help so I offered." She explained. She began to twirl her hair between her fingers, clearly wondering where his conversation could be going.
"Getting more brave with your advances, huh?" He inquired.
She gave him a questioning look. "Advances?"
"I'm not dumb, Hyuuga. Everyone and their dead grandmas know your infatuation with the Dobe." He snickers as he flicks his finished cigaret into the lake.
What he just said and his littering got to her as she uncharacteristically bursted, "For one I am not infatuated with Naruto and for two go fetch that bud out of the water! This lake is dirty enough as it is."
He looked at her with an amused expression, "Please. You're always ogling your eyes at him when you get the chance and when he so looks pass your direction you clam up stuttering and muttering. It's pretty pathetic.
She feels his words stab her in the stomach. Why is he saying all these things? "What's your deal, Sasuke? What does any of that have do with you? Why do you care?" She is genuinely shocked. What has brought this on? She knows Sasuke could be rude but she never was on the receiving end of his remarks. They'd share this space once in a while and then just go on their merry way. What's changed?
"I don't care— at all in fact. It's just funny is all. Seeing you trying to hold in your squeals in and the way your face stayed beet red for the remainder of the day even after you guys were done. It was pathetic almost." He shrugged and turned to leave.
She was not going to just let him say all those things and disappear as if he was some know it all that discarded others feelings. She marched up to him and yanked his arm to spin him around. "Who do you think you are? What's your problem? We barely even talk and I have done nothing to you. What gives you a right to be saying these things to me?" She applauds herself for not bursting into tears as she says these things.
"It's not that serious, Hyuuga. Don't go crying and telling on me to your big brother now." He groans. She still has her grip on his arm and he thinks she must not know her own strength as he pulls away from her.
She looses her balance as he does this, "You are so fucked up, Sasuke." Not wanting to deal with his pompous ass anymore she decides he is not worth an ounce of her time and stalks off. She does not spare him a glance.
Hinata told herself she was not going to back to her usual spot at the lake, in fear of seeing him. But she quickly brushed that worry away as she knows it was her spot first. She should not have to give up her precious space for such an idiotic moron. Though as she walks to the lake, she hopes he isn't there.
The gods must be on her side today because the area was vacant. Not a person in sight. She smiles and proceeds to attempt skipping rocks once again. Practice makes perfect after all and by the way she throws yet another thirty rocks without a single skip, she knows she's going to need a lot of it.
"Why don't you give up, Hyuuga? Like the way the Dobe will never return the same feelings for you, you won't skip a single rock." The same voice looms over her shoulder.
And Hinata cannot help but curse the gods. Couldn't they just be on her side for once and stay there?
What the heck was all of that, am I right? In case you didn't pick up this chapter happens before the first and second one as many chapters more are going to be too. Do I know where this story is going? Yes... no... maybe... most likely? All I know is I'm gonna make Sasuke beg to be on Hinata's good side one day. Heh. Leave a review so I know people are actually reading. Or else I'm writing and posting this for nothing. Thanks!