Chapter 17 – Hinata's Chapter (Part 2)

"Guess who got a boyfriend!" Ino came up to me in the hall.

"Who?" I asked.

"Me!" Ino squealed.

"Really?"

"Yep. Sai asked me to be his girlfriend!" She was glowing.

"That's great, Ino," I congratulated her.

"Thanks, Hinata! It's so great being Sai's girlfriend. He's talking me to some fancy French restaurant this weekend. He's so sweet. He calls me gorgeous," She gushed. I was happy for Ino.

"I have to tell Sakura and give her my blessing to pursue Sasuke!" Ino ran off.

"What's up with Yamanaka?" Kiba asked coming up to me.

"She and Sai are dating now. Isn't that great?" I smiled to him.

"Man, everyone's starting to pair off now," He groaned.

"Like who?"

"Sai and Ino. Shikamaru and the girl from Suna School. Naruto and Sakura…"

I stopped listening after he mentioned Naruto and Sakura. I could not believe it. Naruto and Sakura were dating? But she liked Sasuke and I…liked Naruto…

"You okay, Hinata?" Kiba asked me.

"Oh, yes. I'm fine," I faked a smile and we walked to science class where we sat together. I looked over to where Sakura and Naruto sat. I wanted to cry. They looked so happy together. I was so upset I didn't even notice when Kakashi-sensei entered the room. Only when he talked did I notice him.

"Okay, class, today, we're switching things up. All the boys are to draw a girl's name out of the hat and that girl will be his partner for the day," He produced a hat filled with paper. All the boys got up and starting pulling names. I watched as Naruto put his hand in the hat. I secretly hoped that he picked me. He stared at the paper then looked up.

"Hinata," He grinned and waved at me. He came towards me and took Kiba's former seat.

"Hey," He got right in my face. I blushed furiously. I tried to say 'hi' back but I couldn't. He looked back to the front.

"I wonder who'll get Sakura," I heard him mumble.

"Sakura," Sasuke read the name. Cries of disapproval rang out from the other girls. I watched as Sakura went to him with a smile. How could she smile like that when she wasn't paired up with Naruto? Shouldn't she be upset to not be with her boyfriend?

"Good," I heard Naruto say.

"Good?" I managed to ask.

"Sasuke and Sakura-chan are together. That's a good thing," He told me quietly.

"Why? I thought Sakura had become your…girlfriend?" I tried not to cry.

"She's not my girlfriend. She just asked me out to make Sasuke jealous. But I was cool with it."

How sweet. He would take out a friend just in hopes it would help her love life with another boy. Oh, Naruto…

"You all are going to dissecting frogs till the end of the semester. This dissection will hold the power of two tests. Come pick a frog and get dissecting," Kakashi-sensei revealed bags filled with dead frogs.

"Let's go, Hinata," Naruto took my hand and rushed to the front to get our frog. I can't believe he was holding my hand! He grabbed a frog and went to a lab station beside Sasuke and Sakura.

The smell of the frog made feel sick and almost everyone stepped away. Only Sakura didn't step away or make a sound. Instead she slipped it out after putting on gloves and put in the dissection plate. How could she be so unaffected? Naruto gave me a mask and gloves. I really didn't want to go near the frog. It was just really, really gross.

"I'll do the dirty work, Hinata, if you'll do the lab notes," Naruto proposed. I agreed. I saw that was the case with most groups. Boys were cutting while the girls took notes. I looked over at Sakura and Sasuke. Sakura was happily cutting the frog as Sasuke stood there writing and telling her where to cut next. They were working so well together. I guess Sakura ad Naruto's date had worked in getting those two closer together. I wished that Naruto and I could be together…

"Hello, Hinata," Naruto held up the frog and made the mouth move as he talked. He was so silly.

"Hi, frog-kun," I said back making Naruto laugh.

"Stop playing around, dobe. You're getting juice everywhere," Sasuke scolded Naruto.

"Pay attention to your own project, teme!" Naruto snapped back.

"Sasuke-kun, can you hand me a pin?" Sakura asked and Sasuke assisted. We did what we could till class ended and we went on to the next class. I hoped Naruto and I would only grow closer with this project and maybe Sasuke and Sakura as well.