Chapter 28 – Hinata's Chapter (Part 3)

I was so embarrassed. I couldn't believe I let Sakura talk me into going to the beach with Naruto. Sakura and Ino were coming with Sasuke and Sai but Naruto was coming too and he was going to see me in a bathing suit.

Sai got a car and picked us all up one by one to go to the beach. I was made to sit between Sakura and Naruto. He was so close. I thought I might faint. Sakura must have noticed my nervousness because she whispered, "It's all going to be great."

When we reached the beach we picked out a good spot on the beach. Ino, Sakura and I put down towels on the sand while Sai put up a large umbrella. Naruto quickly took off his shirt. I could not help staring at him. He was so well built and handsome.

"Don't forget your sunblock, Naruto," Sakura threw him a bottle. He grinned and started putting some on like everyone else. I noticed that he was not getting his back. Sakura did as well.

"Go ask to do his back," She whispered and pushed me towards him.

"Um…Naruto," I walked up to him.

"Yeah, Hinata?" He was so close to me.

"You…you've missed your back."

"Yeah, I can't reach it."

"I could do it…for you," I could barely breathe as I spoke.

"That'd be great!" He handed me the bottle and turned his back to me. I put some of the stuff on my hand and reached out to touch him. I trembled as I touched him. He was so warm. I rubbed him down and my heart rushed.

"Finished," I smiled.

"Thanks. Let me do you," He turned to me.

"Me?" I still had my cover-up on.

"Yeah. Take off that shirt and I'll get your back," He already squirted some lotion on to his hand. I shook as I toom off my oversized t-shirt. I wished Ino hadn't talked me into wearing a two piece. Everything felt so low cut and exposing. I held the shirt against my chest as I turned around. Then he touched my back. He rubbed up and down and even got my shoulders. I was going to faint.

"All done!" He removed his hand.

"Thank you," I whispered.

"No problem," He grinned charmingly. I put the rest of the lotion on me as I watched Naruto run into the water.

"Hinata, can you get my back?" Sakura asked coming beside me.

"Sure," I agreed.

Sakura was so pretty. I wish I had worn a one piece like her. She was modest but still pretty.

"Finsihed," I told her.

"Great. Let's go into the water!" She got up and helped me up as well. We headed towards the ocean.

"Ino, are you two coming?" Sakura turned around asked the couple cuddling under the shade of the umbrella.

"Go ahead," Ino waved us on. We joined the boys in the water. Having brought a beach ball we got to play monkey in the middle. Naruto got stuck in the middle and no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't get the ball. I finally did a pitiful pass to Sakura to let Naruto get out. I got in and the first throw came from Naruto and I caught it. I felt bad for getting in the middle again but Sakura and Sasuke thought it was funny.

We left the ocean to make a sandcastles on the shores. We girls teamed up against the boys. Every time we got it up, Naruto would somehow fall or knock down our castle. I knew it was all in good fun but Sakura punched him after the second time and each time after that. It was so much fun. As the day went on I felt more relaxed especially around Naruto. We sat on the towels for a bit as Ino and Sai went to pick up some food and Sakura was wading in the water as Sasuke sat on the shore close enough for the water to hit his feet.

"She better not drown this time," I heard Naruto mutter.

"Who?" I was confused.

"Sakura-chan."

"Sakura? She drowned before?"

"Yeah. When we were in middle school she got a cramp while we were swimming out there. I managed to get her to shore but no one knew CPR. Luckily, Kakashi-sensei showed up and gave her mouth-to-mouth."

"Wow," I had never heard that story before.

"Yeah. So now every time we go to the beach I get nervous she'll start drowning. But Sasuke is watching her and he knows CPR now so she'd be fine."

Sasuke did seem to have his eyes fixed on Sakura who was just floating in the water.

"Ugh, I wish he'd just realize he liked her and then they could go out," Naruto groaned.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"We all know Sakura-chan likes him and I think deep down he likes her too. If he could realize that then everything would be better. Sakura-chan would be happy. Sasuke would be happy. I would be happy. It would just make things easier. He's so stubborn," Naruto seemed exasperated.

"Well…sometimes people are afraid."

"Sasuke, afraid? What would he be afraid of? Sakura-chan would not reject him."

"It may not be the fear of rejection but maybe he fears he won't fulfill her ideal of him. She does hold him up to a high standard and maybe he is afraid he will fall short of that. But I think Sakura wouldn't care. She'd love him anyway," I suggested. Naruto stared at me closely. My heart raced.

"You might be right! Wow. You sure know a lot about love, Hinata."

"Not really…" I mumbled. I had never had a boyfriend and I didn't like any boys until I met Naruto.

"Aw, come on. I bet you've had a lot of boyfriends. You're so pretty after all," He elbowed me. He called me pretty!

"I haven't," I denied.

"Really? I thought you and Kiba were-"

"Kiba? No! We're just friends," I found my voice rather loud.

"Oh. I didn't know. Sorry," He gave me a sheepish grin.

"It's okay," I didn't want to think I was mad at him.

"So if Kiba and you aren't dating…then you're single?"

"Yes."

"Cool," He smiled and looked away from me. He started scratching his cheek then looked at me again.

"Hinata, would you like to go get some…ramen with me sometime?" He asked me. He asked me out to ramen. He asked me to get ramen with him! Naruto asked me out! I fainted.

When I came to Naruto was leaning over me. I almost fainted again.

"Are you okay, Hinata?" He asked. I saw everyone else had gathered around us. How embarrassing! I saw Ino and Sakura grinning in the background.

"Y-yes, I'm f-fine," I stuttered.

"Oh, good," Naruto helped me up.

"Maybe we should go. It is getting late," Ino suggested. We all agreed. I put my big shirt on as we packed up everything. I sat between Sakura and Naruto again. Sakura and Sasuke were dropped off first then Naruto was next. Before he got out he leaned near me.

"Hinata, are you sure that you're okay?" He asked.

"Oh, yes. I think it was the heat," I lied.

"Ok…so do you want to go out sometime? You didn't really answer?" He was so surprisingly shy as he asked.

"Yes!" I nodded.

"Great!" He grinned and got out of the car, "I'll call you."

I was so happy. I was so, so happy.

Author's Note: School is being a pain so I can't write as much but I will try to update when I can. Also if there is someone whose point of view you want don't be afraid to ask. :)