Naruto didn't invite Shion over because he was feeling guilty, they had already had plans! The flowers, however, might have been because he felt guilty.

Even a day later, Naruto was still trying to process what happened with Hinata and why his stupid brain told him to try to kiss her. Why would he even think she wanted that?! Did he want that? Was he just projecting?!

He just hoped the incident hadn't irreparably harmed their friendship. Naruto could accept that Hinata didn't want to kiss him, but the possibility that she may not want to be friends anymore made his chest ache.

He texted her several times since she ran out his door and had yet to hear back. He may just have to wait and confront her at school on Monday. He was prepared to beg for forgiveness no matter how embarrassing it may be. Hinata was too important to him.

Then that left Shion.

Nothing actually happened between him and Hinata, but his desire alone was enough to make him feel incredibly guilty. Hence the pink roses he presented to her when she walked into his house on Sunday afternoon.

The best part about Shion was that she was so direct when she was grateful she didn't whisper cryptic things to him that consumed his thoughts for days on end, instead she kissed him hard and pushed him down onto the couch before climbing on top of him.

Why did he even try to kiss Hinata when he had Shion?!

Being with Shion was simple and easy. He didn't feel compelled to impress her or be with every second of the day (like he did with Hinata), and he didn't have to worry about that weird fluttery feeling in his stomach when she was around.

Naruto almost whined when Shion pulled away from him, but then his eyes lit up when she grabbed the hem of her shirt and pulled it over her head and tossed it carelessly on the ground. Sure he had seen her in a bikini the few times they hung out in her hot tub, but a bra just seemed so much more intimate. Red and lacy and wow, boobs are awesome.

His hands roved over the bare skin of her hips. She gave him a coquettish smile before diving back in and kissing him with fervor.

Seriously why did he try to kiss Hinata when he has all the kisses he needs from Shion?! Actually better question, why is he still thinking of Hinata when Shion was straddling him on his couch and his tongue was in her mouth?!

As if summoned by his thoughts his phone began to ring. He pulled away from Shion's lips. "Sorry! Sorry! Sorry!" he muttered reaching awkwardly into his pocket to grab his phone and silence it. But then he saw who was calling...

Hinata.

After she ignored his texts, he hadn't expected to hear back from her. Naruto was so excited she didn't hate him that he answered without thinking.

"Hinata! I'm so glad you called!" Even with Shion still seated on his lap, he couldn't hide the relief in his tone. Shion raised a curious brow at him.

"... oh nothing, I'm just hanging out with Shion… no, no it's okay!... wait, are you sure?... well, can I at least call you later?"

She hung up so quickly, Naruto worried if she would even answer when he called back.

"What's going on?" Shion asked, her fingers threading into his hair and soothingly scratching at his scalp.

Naruto's mouth opened and then immediately shut. Shion was the last person he could talk to this about. But he needed to say something. "Oh uh, it's nothing really. I was just worried Hinata was mad at me, but I guess maybe she's not."

"Why would she be mad at you? I thought you two were tight."

"Well, we are but…" Shit! He really backed himself into a corner with this one. "I just did something she didn't like, and it upset her…"

That was entirely too vague and Naruto worried she might pry. But then Shion softly nodded like she understood, and he visibly relaxed.

"If she called then I'm sure she's already over it," Shion shrugged.

Naruto's face lit up, "you think?! Aw man, I really hope so. Like I honestly was so scared she might stay mad forever, which I know sounds so ridiculous because Hinata isn't even the kind of girl who gets mad and holds a grudge, ya know? She's like sweetness personified. But still, I had this really dumb worry that she might not ever smile at me again and, I don't know, it just made me so sad."

He was so consumed by his ramblings, that he didn't notice her fingers stopped scratching his scalp. When Naruto looked up at Shion her eyes were narrowed and accessing him.

"Are you hooking up with her?"

Naruto blanched, completely startled by the accusation. What did he say that would make her think that?!

"No? No! What?! Why would you even ask that?! That's…" Blue eyes darted nervously around the room, looking for the right thing to say. If he denies it too aggressively, she might be even more suspicious! But if he didn't deny it enough, wouldn't that be worse?! Naruto finally settled on, "Why would I do that when I have a girlfriend like you?!"

There was a bad taste in his mouth as he spoke. He hadn't actually done anything bad. Hadn't cheated on Shion… technically. But then again thinking about kissing Hinata. Wanting to kiss Hinata. Trying to kiss Hinata… he suddenly felt like garbage again.

"Wait, what the fuck?" Shion reared back.

Naruto grimaced. How was that the wrong thing to say?!

In the face of his obvious confusion, Shion let out an awkward laugh and began getting off of his lap. "Don't get my wrong, Naruto," she said, looking on the floor for her shirt. "You're hot and a pretty good kisser, and all that…" He wondered where she was going with this. "...but you are not my boyfriend."

Naruto gaped at her, his confusion growing by the second. "What do you mean?! What have we been doing then?!"

"Just having fun!" she retorted, as she slipped her shirt back on. "That's what I said we were doing the first time you came over, right?"

Well yes...

"But!… but?!" Naruto was reeling and suddenly felt like a total idiot. He went around telling everyone at school he and Shion were together.

"I don't really like putting labels on things," she told him matter-of-factly. Naruto pulled himself up and sat on the edge of the couch, trying to piece together the obvious miscommunication. Now that he thought about it, Shion never did call him her boyfriend. Did he really just make that up?! Was he so excited by the physical affection that his mind conjured up a whole relationship?

"I mean seriously, how could you think you were my boyfriend?" Shion laughed, putting a hand on her hip. "You don't even know anything about me."

"That's not true!" But even as he said those words Naruto realized she was right.

"Oh yeah? When's my birthday?" Shion asked as she crossed her arms over her chest. Naruto stared at her blankly; he didn't even have a guess at what month it was in. "What's my favorite food?"

These questions weren't really fair! They don't chit chat about those things and they don't really go out to eat. Their relationship had been almost exclusively physical, and mostly by her insistence. Shion initiated everything, and Naruto was all too happy to follow along.

How did she expect him to know the answers to these questions when they never talk?!

Oh... Well, maybe that was the point.

To think she was his girlfriend just because they make out sometimes was pretty presumptuous on his part.

"Here's an easier one, what's Hinata's favorite food?"

He was jarred by the question, but the answer immediately came to mind. Cinnamon rolls, obviously, but he knew better than to answer that out loud. It didn't matter though, Naruto knew Shion knew that he knew the right answer.

"Okay, but if we're not really together then why does it matter?" he frowned. What was the point of bringing up Hinata in the first place?!

"I'm sorry, I'm not trying to be rude. I'm just trying to get you to understand. And really I don't care if you see other girls, I mean I've been seeing other guys this whole time…"

"You have?!"

"What I really care about is if you're hooking up with another girl on the cheer team. I mean, our team is small and I really don't need that kind of drama."

Naruto held his head in his hands still trying to process this information. "Well, I'm not hooking up with Hinata, so…"

"Well, honestly that's probably worse."

"WHAT?!"

"Oh my god. Are you really going to make me spell it out for you?!" Naruto stared blankly at Shion until she elaborated. Nothing she was saying was making any sense at all!

"I'm surprised I hadn't noticed before, but you're obviously in love with her and if you feel like that and you aren't hooking up, then it's like..." Shion motioned with her hand like the next words were obvious. Now, Naruto was completely lost, but he nodded anyway.

"Here's the thing, I don't do relationships, because I really don't like dealing with other people's feelings. So I think I'm going to go ahead and remove myself from this situation before it gets too messy." She grabbed his guilt flowers off the coffee table. "I'm going to keep these though."

So was she breaking up with him? Or could it even be called a 'breakup' if they were even actually together in the first place?!

Then there was what she said about his feelings for Hinata...

Now fully dressed, Shion made her way for the door. Naruto's thoughts were running a mile a minute, still trying to explain to himself what the hell just happened and what it all meant.

Hinata was his best friend! Sure he could acknowledge he found her really attractive. Hell, he wanted to kiss her yesterday.

But he wasn't… Was he?

Sure, she's maybe the nicest person he's ever met, just like genuinely kind and thoughtful. He wanted to be with her all the time, but that's just because he always wants to tell her what he's thinking about. She's non-judgmental and just easy to talk to. In fact, she might be the only person who tells him how smart he is. She's always saying the sweetest things that make him feel all warm inside. She makes him feel like he's special. Like he's enough…

Oh… oh no.

"Wait, Shion," Naruto called weakly. She turned to him curiously, her hand resting on the doorknob. "You… you really think... I'm in love with her?"

With a sympathetic sigh, Shion approached him again and palmed his cheek as she looked into his eyes. "I think you got it real bad."

Dammit. He was doomed.

A/N: So in canon we're told Naruto can't tell the difference between loving a person vs. loving ramen. Which is funny, but also pretty silly. I think it's a more realistic struggle to discern the difference between simple physical attraction (Shion) and actual romantic feelings (Hinata). So that's what I was trying to explore in this fic.

I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter! I can't wait to read your comments!