Hinata pursed her lips, staring at her reflection as she held a top against her body and imagining herself wearing it. Not totally convinced she switched to the top in her other hand and mentally debated its merits.
"Picking an outfit for your study date with Naarruuutooo?!"
The way Hanabi teasingly sang his name had Hinata rolling her eyes before she glanced at her little sister standing at the doorway of her bedroom.
"It's not a date," Hinata dismissed, returning her gaze to the mirror and holding up the first top again. She wasn't sure if she should dress normally or dress up a little flirty to see if Naruto noticed.
"I don't believe that for one second," Hanabi huffed. "You totally love him."
Hinata refused to look at her sister, completely unable to deny her point. "Well, he's Shion's boyfriend now, so…" As much as she hated to say it out loud, Hinata hoped that little fact would prevent Hanabi from pressing the issue any further.
"Wait, Shion from the cheer team?!" Hanabi's eyes bugged out. Though only a freshman, Hanabi seemed to be rather plugged in into the high school's gossip scene. "No way! She's like a total whore! I swear she's got like ten boyfriends!"
Hinata frowned, letting her hands fall to her sides. She turned her attention away from her outfit choices to finally focus on her little sister. "Hanabi, you shouldn't go around spreading rumors like that. And you really shouldn't call other girls 'whores'," she admonished.
Her pale gaze fell to the ground. If anyone was acting like a whore in this situation it was her. She was actively trying to steal her teammate's boyfriend.
Should she really be doing this?
Hanabi crossed her arms over her chest and pouted. "So you're trying to tell me that you're really over Naruto then?" she asked, unconvinced.
The sad sigh Hinata gave was all her sister needed to understand.
"Well I like the purple one," Hanabi said giving her sister a sympathetic smile before leaving.
Hinata returned her attention to the mirror and held the purple top against herself once more. Her head tilted in contemplation. It was the cuter one, she supposed.
'I'm sure I can think of something you'll like.'
Even the memory of her whispered words brought pleasant goosebumps to his skin. The way her body was pressed up against his, her tone suggesting something less than innocent. His mind supplied him with images of several somethings he might like from Hinata.
Naruto slapped himself with both hands. He couldn't believe he let those thoughts invade his mind again! He had constantly reminded himself since that interaction that that couldn't possibly be what she meant.
Hinata wasn't that kind of girl and more importantly, she was his best friend.
But when she texted him that she was on her way over for their study session, his mind returned to wondering if she really had meant something else. Naruto found himself anxiously pacing back and forth in the front room.
Would it really be so crazy to think that she had meant it like that?
Yes. That was crazy! Naruto knew it was crazy and all his friends agreed he was making this into something it wasn't. He really needed to get it together before…
Three soft knocks on the door made him jump and he answered the door, way too eagerly. "Hey!" Naruto greeted. "Come on in!"
Hinata walked inside and removed her shoes before presenting Naruto with a neatly wrapped bakery gift box. "For you," she smiled, her eyes crinkling in the corners. He tried to keep his gaze on her present rather than her surprisingly, prominent cleavage. It was rather unusual for Hinata to wear something so revealing.
"For me?!" he repeated. He opened the box and the sweet smell of fresh-baked cinnamons rolls invaded the room.
'I'm sure I can think of something you'll like.'
Sweets. She meant sweets when she said that. Why would he possibly think she meant anything else!? He was so stupid!
Naruto tensed when Hinata softly caressed his arm. Lately, he had been hypersensitive to her touch, trying to prescribe meaning when there clearly was none. She probably thought he was acting so weird.
"Ya know, we can eat them right now if you wanted," she smiled sweetly in a not so subtle hint.
His nerves faded as a grin spread across Naruto's face. "We?! Are you trying to eat my present?!" he teased. She silently pleaded, blinking up at him with big lavender eyes. "But what if I wanted to eat all of them by myself?!"
"But there's six of them!"
"Maybe I'm really hungry!" he laughed as he started making his way to the kitchen with the cinnamon rolls in hand.
She followed quickly behind him. "If you're not sharing then I'm taking my present back! Give them to me!"
"If you want them, then take them," he told her, holding the box of sweets well above his head. Naruto chuckled at her adorably frustrated pout and futile attempts to reach for the box.
"I can't believe you're really trying to take back your gift! You promised me something good!"
He watched as her gaze fell from the box above to meet his. He hadn't noticed how close they stood and the way Hinata's hand had been clutching at his shirt until their eyes were locked on each other.
"What if... I could give you something better…" she whispered. His hand holding the box unconsciously lowered, his attention hanging on to every softly spoken word and their sultry tone. "...something you really want."
He swallowed nervously, searching her eyes for clarity. Naruto really didn't think he was misinterpreting her words this time.
The heat between them was palpable.
"Hah!" she exclaimed as she snatched the box from his hands and brought it over to the counter to help herself to one of the delicious cinnamon rolls.
Uncaring of his defeat, Naruto stood there and stared at her back from across the kitchen. It was like the library all over again. She's acting friendly and playful one moment and all… different the next.
He didn't understand. Was he making a big deal out of nothing?! Was she messing with him to try to be funny?!
Or was she serious?
Was it possible Hinata actually wanted him? Wanted to be more than friends?
Hinata's breath hitched when two big hands gripped the kitchen counter on either side of her. She froze, unable to move, as she felt Naruto's warmth on her back.
He effectively trapped her between his firm body and the counter. A fox and his little bunny prey.
"What did you mean by that?"
Lavender eyes widened at his words. His warm breath tickled at the back of her neck and sent shivers down her spine. The atmosphere in the room changed so suddenly.
Was he mad? Hinata couldn't really read his tone without seeing his expression, but his hands planted on the counter were tense. Her heart was thumping loudly in her chest, but with a deep breath, she built the courage to turn around and face him.
His blue eyes were dark and swimming with an emotion Hinata couldn't quite place, but the intensity alone caused her to blush.
She was suddenly so aware of how small she was compared to him. Her lips parted but no words came out. What did he even want her to say?!
She wasn't sure if she was bold enough to tell him the truth. It would be easier to laugh and play it off as a joke. Naruto had a sense of humor, it would be fine.
But if she said that it was a joke, she wouldn't be able to take it back and all her effort to change his view of her, of their relationship, would be all for not.
Hinata nervously licked her lips. Her heart rate increased at the way his heated gaze followed the movement. Was he thinking about… Did he actually want to kiss her?
Ever so slowly, Naruto leaned down and her suspicions were confirmed. His half-lidded eyes fixed on her lips.
This was happening. This was really happening!
She could feel herself inching closer, pulled in by his gravity. Her head swimming in nervous excitement.
Their lips were so close.
Just a breath away.
How long had she wanted this? To be kissed by Naruto.
Like a sudden bolt of lightning striking through her heart, Hinata was consumed with the overwhelming feeling that this was wrong.
This wasn't how her first kiss with Naruto was supposed to be!
The gratification completely outweighed by the fact that he would be cheating on his girlfriend. Their first kiss wouldn't be some special treasure, but rather a relic of his betrayal.
How could she have possibly ever thought this was a good idea?!
Uncomfortable knots churned in her stomach until she finally jerked away. Hinata turned her head and scrunched her eyes closed as she tried her hardest not to cry.
It hurt to reject him.
Her sudden movement must have been enough to break the spell because Naruto backed up, letting go of the counter and putting some much-needed distance between them. Hinata was thankful she could finally breathe again.
"I, uh… I mean… I didn't… I… sorry?" he stuttered awkwardly.
He couldn't even look at her anymore. His face was flushed with the embarrassment and shame of what he almost just did.
Stupid! Stupid! Stupid! Naruto repeatedly told himself that Hinata was his best friend, that she wasn't coming on to him, that she didn't like him like that and then he goes and does something as epically stupid as trying to kiss her!
God, he felt like such an idiot!
A wave of guilt washed over him when he realized Shion's feelings were an afterthought. Holy shit, he really was a piece of garbage.
And Hinata probably thought so, too.
"Hinata… I…" Naruto tried. But no words, no number of apologies felt adequate.
Blue eyes widened with worry, as she got up and frantically left the kitchen and scooped up her belongings. "I should go," she mumbled, still refusing to look at him.
"Please, Hinata…" He sounded pathetic even to his own ears.
Naruto froze when she turned and looked at him directly, her beautiful pale eyes rimmed red and drowning in unshed tears. Oh no...What did he just do?!
"I need to leave." He couldn't argue with the finality of her tone. So he said nothing as she hastily slipped on her shoes and ran out his door.
A/N: thank you all so much for your support! I love hearing your thoughts and reactions in the comments!