A/N: YES its party time and let's see how Neji feels about spending a night with his ex girlfriend. Read, enjoy and review folks

Disclaimer: Last time I checked I did not own Naruto in anyway…….well not yet that is.

Previously

"I'm breaking up with you Neji, its over. I can't do this anymore, pretending I'm happy when you're just making my life miserable."

"But..."

"No buts, I like you Neji. I like you a lot but you don't seem to feel the same way"

"Tenten" he said desperately but she had already turned around and opened the door. She tried to fight back tears as she heard him behind her.

"Goodbye Neji" she whispered and she stepped into the night, shutting the door firmly behind her. Neji stood frozen, staring at the spot where she just was. His heart ached painfully like it had been ripped apart. And he knew why. There was a hole there, a painful hole where she had been. And now he had lost her because of his stupidity. He should have realized that he would have to make changes, eh would have to put away his cold and arrogant appearance for her and show her just how much he loved her.

"Yes he, Neji Hyuga had fallen in love with her and he had been desperate to tell her. But ever since her had found out he had been afraid and now that fear had made her think he didn't like her anymore. Why hadn't he told her sooner, before it was too late? Why instead of admitting how he felt had he tried to isolate himself and hide how he felt. Why did he subconsciously push her away because he was scared to love? But he wasn't anymore, he wasn't scared to love. He was scared to loose her to someone else.

'Whatever it takes Tenten I am going to get your back, no matter what' Neji declared silently. 'I love you and your mine, you belong with me and I will let no one else have you. I will get you back Tenten, I will'

-

-

Party time

The Friday before the party was defiantly an interesting one especially with Ino. She was going over last minute details which included the fifty or so guests that were coming and how the eight of them would be staying over the night so once the party ended, which was scheduled at eleven but everyone knew the guests wouldn't all be gone till twelve, so they could play some more interesting games. Most were too scared to know what these interesting games were and so they didn't ask.

The past week had been a very tense one so to speak. Both Hinata and Ino were trying not to be to affectionate with their boyfriends for Tenten's case while all three girls were secretly rather mad at the fact that Neji was acting like nothing had happened and it hadn't even bothered him. Though Hinata could see that although her cousin was hiding it the way his eyes would dull every time he looked at Tenten was enough to tell her he was actually very hurt by the breakup.

Tenten also had been oddly quiet and her friends could easily see that she wasn't in the best of moods. This was because of two reasons, one of course being her breakup with Neji that had hurt more than she had expected and of course him acting like he didn't care was upsetting her even more. But the other was this birthday party that was being held for her and Ino. She hadn't been to happy about it when she had first heard of it to start with but now it was depressing her even more. Truth was that birthdays to her were always a miserable time since she was younger. It was on her birthday that her mum had taken her shopping and on her birthday that her mother had abandoned her.

Every birthday she had reminded her of that abandonment, of spending years and years all alone. Tenten wasn't one to tell people how she really felt. True she was always honest about her feelings but deep down she was very secretive. She hid her pain and sadness and most of all the pain her past still caused her. She did wish that she could tell someone and be comforted for the first time but she just couldn't. No matter how hard he tried she just couldn't allow herself to break down her wall and confide in her friends even if she desperately wanted to.

She had thought at first when she started dating Neji that he would be that one who would help her, who she could trust. The one that would help her get over her past and realize that despite her hard and independent appearance inside she was still just a weak child and the older she got the harder it became to let that child out. But now all those hopes were gone leaving her with an empty feeling that she would always be alone. And now she had to pretend to be happy like she always did on her birthday party. Luckily it wasn't on her actual birthday but everyone celebrating it was enough to make those old feeling return.

"So you two are still coming a little earlier right" Ino was asking Sakura and Hinata.

"Yeah but Sasuke and Naruto are coming with me, or else they would probably forget" Sakura said as Naruto glared at her.

"I would not" he argued. "Teme tell her"

"Hn" was all he said as Sakura smiled in triumph at Naruto who was holding Hinata's hand as she sat next to him. Sakura was resting against Sasuke with Sasuke's hand casually around his shoulder while Ino was in Shikamaru's lap with Shikamaru's arms tightly around her waist. Neji was on one side of the group of friends while Tenten was on the other. He was trying to pay attention to the conversation but couldn't help but notice how Tenten was looking away from them all, staring off into space in sadness and being oddly quiet. He also had a feeling that her attitude wasn't just because of him.

Neji himself, although he was pretending to be unfazed about the break up and acting like he always had as if nothing had happened, he was starting to miss her a lot. Missing her staring at him, missing her smile or the way her hazel eyes lit up in his presence. The way her hand felt in his, her lips on his or just how it felt to have her in his arms. He needed her back but he had yet to get the courage to let down his pride and tell her how he felt. But he knew if he didn't soon then he would end up loosing her for good.

"Yeah that's fine, they can just wait in the lounge with Shika. I'm getting him from his house before you arrive so his not late"

"I told you I wouldn't be late" Shika yawned.

"I don't trust you, it may be too troublesome to arrive on time" she argued as he gave her a kiss on the cheek.

"I know how important it is to you so I wouldn't be late"

"I don't care I'm not risking it" she told him as he sighed but admitted defeat.

"Neji are you coming early as well, I mean since Hinata is and all and you guys do live together" Ino asked. Even with what he did to Tenten she still didn't hate him. She could see that he did actually acre after all and he was Hinata's cousin and practically like her brother.

"Yeah I guess" Neji replied.

"Its going to be perfect, isn't it Tenten" Ino said happily as Tenten felt her heart break. It was getting harder to fake her happiness and she couldn't take it anymore. She stood up making Ino look at her. Her friend could see that Tenten was distressed and that something was eating her up inside. Without another word Tenten started walking away, hiding her face from the others so they couldn't see how tears were threatening to fall.

"Should we go after her?" Sakura asked, she was truly concerned about her friend.

"NO" Ino told her sadly. "Let her be alone"

"No offence but do you really think her being alone is the right move, I mean maybe she needs the company" Shikamaru pointed out.

"I agree she does need company but you don't know her like I do. She builds a war around herself to protect herself and she wont let us in. trust me if we went to her it wouldn't help. She would just act fine and pretend everything was ok. She wouldn't deal with it at all and as much as she needs someone to comfort her if any of us go it wouldn't work. If we leave her alone then she can at least let it all out even if she is alone"

"I guess" Shikamaru muttered as he shot a glance at Neji. All were thinking the same thing, the one person she might have allowed to help her was the one that had broken her heart.

"What's with her anyway, I mean is it because of Neji" Naruto carelessly asked as Sakura glared at him.

"Naruto" she yelled as Ino sighed.

"No Naruto its not, I think most of it has to do with the whole birthday thing" Ino said then added, "But the 'Neji' thing probably isn't helping"

"Why would she be depressed about her birthday?"

"Naruto" Sakura moaned in despair at her friend's stupidity.

"Tenten's an orphan; she spent years with no one. Years being all alone and for some reason she hates her birthday. I think it just reminds her of all that, of for years having no one there to celebrate her birthday." Ino explained as Naruto's mouth opened in an 'O' shape to show his understanding.

"Poor Tenten" Hinata muttered, looking at her cousin who was staring at the spot where Tenten had been sitting.

-

-

"Would you two hurry up" Sakura yelled as she tapped her foot impatiently as she waited for her friends to get ready.

"Hn would you stop shouting" Sasuke asked as he stepped out of his room with an overnight bag slumped over his shoulder.

"No" she told him with a smile as he smirked and stepped forward to capture her lips giving her a quick kiss. Yet when he went to break off Sakura grabbed his shirt and pulled him forward, deepening the kiss as he wrapped his arms around her waist.

"Sorry to interrupt" Naruto said loudly as the two stopped their make out session but Sasuke still kept one of his arms around her waist.

"Hn"

"Are you ready" Sakura asked, trying hard not to blush in the process.

"Yep, hey are you going to the party dressed like that" Naruto demanded.

"No I'm getting changed at Ino's" Sakura replied. "Now would you hurry up?"

"Fine" Naruto grumbled as he locked the door and the three proceeded to Ino's.

They arrived and knocked on the door to have it opened by a bored looking Shikamaru.

"Hey" Sakura greeted as he muttered a "troublesome" and stepped aside to let them in. he sighed as he shut the door and they walked in. Sakura saw Neji already there as he sat on the sofa staring at the ceiling.

"The girls are upstairs" he informed her as Sakura smiled her thanks, kissed Sasuke on the cheek and proceeded to climb the stairs.

"Why are they all up there?' Naruto asked.

"Their getting ready" Shikamaru explained rolling his eyes as he pointed to a cupboard where they were to store their stuff.

"Hn which means they will be awhile" Sasuke replied.

"Yeah troublesome"

"How long is it till this party starts anyway?"

"Hn dobe"

"About half an hour" Neji announced as Sasuke sighed and took a seat.

"Is that how long their going to be"

"Yeah probably" Shikamaru told Naruto who grumbled and sat down.

"Hn" Sasuke said as they fell silent until Naruto decided to make conversation.

"So Neji how's things going"

"Fine"

"Really?"

"Yes"

"You sure"

"Positive"

"So you're over the whole Tenten thing"

"…"

"I take that as a no" Naruto announced with a grin.

"Hn"

"Hey that's teme's thing" Naruto told him as Neji just shrugged and Shikamaru sighed.

"You know she won't stay single for long"

"I don't care" Neji retorted.

"I mean she isn't that bad looking" Shikamaru continued.

"Whatever"

"So I suggest telling her the truth before it's to late" Shikamaru suggested.

"What truth?"

"The truth about how you love her" Shikamaru said bluntly as Neji stared at him.

"How do you know?" he demanded as Naruto gaped at him.

"It's obvious" Shikamaru said as Naruto laughed.

"So the Hyuga does have feelings"

"Shut up" Neji growled, he still wasn't that keen on Naruto seeing as he was dating his cousin. And he wasn't quite sure if someone of his intelligence was the right person for Hinata.

"Look instead of sulking just tell her, I'm sure she will take you back"

"How do you know?"

"Cause it's obvious she likes you"

"Yeah and she broke up with me" Neji pointed out as Shikamaru sighed.

"It doesn't mean she wanted to" he exclaimed as Neji fell silent.

"How long now" Naruto asked.

"Still got twenty minutes dobe" Sasuke replied as Naruto groaned.

"Oh man"

-

-

"You're here" Ino yelled as she hugged Sakura as she entered. Sakura laughed as she looked around. Ino was wearing a gorgeous purple strapless dress that stopped just before the knees with her blonde hair all done up in a messy bun for the occasion. She already had her make up on and was helping Hinata with hers.

"Hello" Hinata greeted as she stood up. She didn't have as much make up as Ino, and what Sakura would have in a few minutes, but she was wearing more than she ever had on before. She was wearing a lovely pale blue singlet top and a black skirt that fell just after her knees. Her long hair was pulled back in an elegant twisted knot and it made her eyes glimmer in the light.

"Now hurry up and get changed" Ino demanded as Sakura laughed and pulled out her lovely pink dress that was more of a candy floss color and had two thin straps which criss crossed at her back since the back was rather low cut. Once she was done she applied her make up while Ino curled her hair and Hinata put the finishing touches to her make up.

"Hey where is Tenten" she asked as Ino rolled her eyes.

"She is sulking again" she muttered.

"She is getting changed in her room" Hinata explained as Sakura smiled.

"No she tried to escape" Ino told her.

"Actually she made her leave to get ready before you could try and put on anymore make up"

"Whatever" Ino muttered as Hinata laughed.

"Yeah I'm sure"

"There done you look wonderful" Ino exclaimed a Sakura smiled and looked in the mirror. Her pink hair was now lightly curled and fell around her face nicely.

"Come on Tenten" Ino yelled as Tenten appeared at the door way and Sakura gasped at her. Ino wasn't able to get Tenten to wear a dress or a skirt but she did manage to get her to wear very tight fitting black jeans and a red sleeveless halter top that showed more skin than Tenten had ever shown before. Her top was very low cut at the back and made Tenten look rather attractive. She had very light make up on, only some light eye shadow and some lip gloss, and the most dramatic change was her hair. Instead of being up in its usual two buns she had it out so her lovely brown hair fell nicely down her back.

"You look amazing Tenten" Sakura complimented as Tenten blushed slightly.

"You don't looks so bad yourself" she laughed as Sakura smiled at her friend.

"Come on guys lets go" Ino declared as the four made their way downstairs to where the guys were waiting. Sakura went down first as Sasuke smirked at her, giving a small nod which was his way of telling her how pretty she looked. Ino came next as she gave Shikamaru a small hug as his eyes widened at his girlfriends appearance. He did like what she was wearing a lot but wasn't sure if he was comfortable with other single guys seeing her like that.

"What do you think" she asked him as he smiled and kissed her lightly.

"You look lovely" he told her as she smiled brightly back at him.

"Thank you" she said as she leaned up and gave him another kiss. Hinata had come down talking to Tenten and was engulfed in a hug by her overactive boyfriend.

"Wow Hinata you look wonderful" he exclaimed as he kissed her n the cheek and Hinata went brought red. Neji however was staring at Tenten who was laughing at Naruto. He had always found her to be attractive but now she just looked amazingly hot in his opinion. He had never seen her with her hair down and even despite wearing as little make up as possible she still looked very feminine. Naruto was now holding Hinata's hand as he led her to the kitchen while Ino had dragged Shikamaru to check out the decorations with her. Sasuke and Sakura were whispering as they went to follow Naruto while Neji started at Tenten who try to avoid his gaze.

"Uh Tenten"

"Yeah" she said rather sharply as he looked at her.

"Um you um" he tried but he couldn't, he just couldn't say it. He took a deep breathe and tried to calm himself. He had to tell her, he couldn't loose her.

"Well"

"Well I just wanted to say that…" but he was cut off by the sound of the door bell and Ino's loud squeak.

"There here" she cried as she ran to the door, grabbing Tenten in the process.

"Damm" Neji cursed as he watched his opportunity run away from him.

"The guests have arrived" Sakura yelled as Ino opened the door to reveal many of their fellow students and the party began.

-

-

The party had already been on for many hours and it was now already ten thirty. Ino was dancing with Shikamaru who had denied her this request until she started dancing with a few other guys, who were more than willing, and Shikamaru had grabbed her so that no one else could. Naruto was also dancing with Hinata who had obviously had quite a lot of sugar cause neither one of them could stop laughing at all. Meanwhile Sasuke and Sakura were also dancing, which was Sasuke's way of letting all the boys who had been staring at Sakura to know that she was his.

Neji sighed as he stood away from it all, usually in these kind of cases he would have Tenten by his side. Whether they were arguing, talking or just standing together he didn't care he was just grateful for the company. But now he had been forced to watch as Tenten had danced with a few boys and had seemed to be enjoying herself. Yet now she was no where to be seen and little did he know that Tenten wasn't having an as good of time as she had made out. In fact now she was standing in a corner hoping not to be seen by anyone. She to was also missing Neji's company.

Both had always felt a little claustrophobic at loud and crowded parties like this and had preferred to stand away from it. It was how they had first gotten to know each other as they sat talking. Yes true they would argue but they would also somehow get along very easily when they were just alone and both feeling a little overwhelmed at the crowd. It was here that Neji had told her about himself and she to had admitted how she was an orphan. It was also at a situation like this that he had started to fall for her.

He had come to like her fiery attitude how she didn't care what other people thought and how she didn't seem to blush or squeal in his presence like so many other girls. But then again she had never been like every other girl's and that's what had attracted I'm most. She was calm and normal, always joking and mucking around with him. She never cared about clothes or appearances, never acted all fan girlish and most importantly he had enjoyed her company more than anyone else's. Even his own shy cousin actually. It was now that he realized despite all their fighting and competitions Tenten had been his closest friend and now he had lost that to.

'Maybe not' he thought as he spotted Tenten not to far away. He noticed how she was trying to avoid attention and couldn't help but smirk. Where most girls loved attention she hated it. He knew that nothing had changed about her dislike of large crowd and decided that if he was to get her back maybe he should try acting like her friend. He knew this must be hard on her and that she needed a friend. After all Neji did care deeply about her and hated to see her suffering like this.

"Enjoying the party" he asked her as she jumped a little and looked up at him. She could see that as usual he was bored and couldn't help but smile.

"Maybe a little I guess"

"Meaning you're over it by now" he replied as she nodded.

"Yeah pretty much"

"Figured as much" he said.

"Did you know?"

"Well you were always one who hated crowds, you know preferred sitting on the sidelines"

'Like your one to talk" she replied.

"I admit I'm the same" he said as he led them to a couch and sat down.

"So how have you been" he asked as she stared at him, surprised that there was concern in his voice.

"Um fine"

"I see"

"Yourself"

"Ok I guess" he said as he looked at her.

"That's good"

"So" he began staring at her as she looked around the room. "Why do you hate your birthday o much?"

"Huh"

"Well you seem to hate your birthday, why?"

"I figured Ino would have told you"

"Yeah she did" he said. "But I wanted to hear it from you"

"You did?"

"Does Ino know the real reason" he asked as she gave a sad smile.

'Part of it" she admitted as Neji nodded.

"And the other half?" Tenten looked at him and felt her heart rate increases as she stared into his eyes. Damm why did he always do that to her. She sighed as she turned away but none the less found herself telling him anyway.

"My mum abandoned me on my birthday" she whispered as he looked at her.

"Really?"

"Yeah" she sighed as he nodded.

"That doesn't mean anything" he said as she turned to him.

"It does to me"

"Well it shouldn't" he told her. "I mean I know it must have hurt to be abandoned by that but look now. Here you are getting to celebrate your birthday with your friends, people who care. Obviously your mother didn't from what the others have told me so isn't it better this way. I mean you wouldn't be here if she didn't leave you so maybe you should think about the positive. Think about how in some twisted way it was a good thing. I mean you wouldn't be the person you are now if it hadn't happened."

Tenten looked at him and smiled. She knew now why she had liked him in the first place; he was always made her feel better. Always made her feel good about herself. She had never thought about it that way before but now that she did she was gratefull. Suddenly she didnt feel bad about her birthday anymore, in fact she felt glad it was her birthday. Most importantly glad she had the friends she did.

"Thanks Neji" she said as he nodded.

"You look nice tonight" he admitted as she looked at him in surprise.

"You think so"

"Yeah I do" he said with a smile. "You know Tenten I uh…"

"Tenten" Ino called as she tried to spot her friend. Neji cursed how yet again his confession had been stopped thanks to that annoying woman. He started to wonder if he would ever get the chance to tell Tenten the truth. Certainly not at this rate, if he kept on being interrupted.

"Coming" Tenten shouted back as she stood up and with a smile she left to get her friend. Deep down she was a little disappointed that Ino had broken their moment but the fact that he had complimented her could not destroy her good mood. She walked over to Ino, noticing on her way that most of the guests had left already and it was also coming close to twelve o'clock at night.

She helped Ino say goodbye to the remaining twenty or so, knowing that there had been way more than fifty people here, before Ino turned to the ones who had remained. All six were in the lounge as Tenten and Ino came back, all ready for the sleep over and whatever Ino had planned.

"Good" Ino said with a laugh as she looked at them all. "Now that the party is over, we can let the real fun begin"

A/N: Sorry I have to end it their but it's late and i need to get to bed before I get caught.

Oh I wonder what 'fun' Ino has in store for them. You know what to do, review and you shall see what happens next.