Notes from the Authoress: I was going to put this up this morning, but my mom dragged me out of the house as I was opening the file to visit family. It was horrible. I made a ginger bread house for the first time, though, and learned that eating everything off the roof and remaking it twice is bad, but the last roof always looks best.

Disclaimer: Roses are red, violets are blue. I don't own Naruto, and neither do you.

Chapter Three: The Gossip Queen

Ino loved to be the first one to hear things. Gossip was her mistress, and Ino served her mistress well. That's why when she found out from Sakura—Haruno Sakura, of all people, who didn't even go to Ino's school anymore—that Nara Shikamaru, the lazy bastard Ino knew so well, had been seen on a date with none other than Temari-sensei, she was a very unhappy camper.

But she wanted to know all the details.

Ino milked Sakura for every little thing she knew about said date—where they went, what they were doing, what they talked about, what they were wearing—and committed it to memory. If Ino couldn't hear it first, she would at least be the first one to spread it.

Shikamaru knew when Ino sat down next to him with an innocent little smile on his face that something was wrong.

"Hi, Shikamaru-kun," Ino said sweetly.

Something was definitely wrong. Shikamaru observed her wearily, wondering when she would drop the bomb shell, for she surely would. Ino couldn't keep things to herself for long.

"I was talking to Forehead Girl last night," Ino continued rather cheerfully, as if she was talking about someone having invented chocolate that tasted the same but had no weight-giving, pimple-endowing qualities. "She had a great bit of news. Did you know…" Ino lowered her voice dramatically, so no one else in the classroom could hear what she was saying. "That Temari-sensei is dating a student?"

Shikamaru immediately realized Ino knew more than that, and Ino could tell that he knew. "Ino, shut up," He whispered harshly, but before she could reply, Kurenai-sensei came into the classroom and called for silence. Ino abandoned her innocence for a smug smile as she looked to the front of the room, and Shikamaru was so bothered by the fact that Ino the Gossip Queen knew, he couldn't even fall asleep.

As soon as class was over, Shikamaru walked right by Chouji, grabbed Ino by the arm, and dragged her out of the classroom. Ino knew exactly what it was about, and, completely unbothered, allowed him to do so. He dragged her outside—no one was there because everyone was bustling to class so they wouldn't be late—released her arm, and turned to glare at her.

"Who have you told?"

"Oh, no one yet," Ino said disinterestedly as she examined her fingernails. "I thought you hated Temari-sensei, though. This will spread like wildfire."

"How many people know?"

"Forehead Girl told me," Ino answered immediately. She loved knowing that she had something to hold over Shikamaru's head. "But I have no idea who told her. It's quite hush-hush right now, but I'll be making a few calls in Gai-sensei's class. Ooh, I wonder if we could start betting on when you'll finally loose your virginity."

Shikamaru knew better than to correct her in saying he already had. "Ino, stop it. You can't tell anyone."

"Oh, yes, I can—"

Shikamaru cut her off, his voice still harsh, although Ino could pick up a pleading note. "You can't. This isn't just gossip. I could get kicked out of school, and Temari could loose her job. You have to keep this to yourself, Ino. Damn it." He sighed heavily and placed his hand against his forehead, a headache already forming from the frustration this was causing him.

Ino's smugness slowly faded as she watched her distressed friend. She was never entirely close with Shikamaru, but she still knew him better than just about anyone except Chouji, and she had never seen him like this before, not even when she encouraged the rumors that Shikamaru was gay in their sophomore year. "Shikamaru…do you…" She scratched her nose, showing that she was a little nervous about what she was saying. "You really like Temari-sensei, don't you?"

The reply was automatic. "No. She's troublesome."

But Ino, who spoke Sasuke-ese and Neji-ese fluently, was quickly able to translate Shikamaru-ese. "Well—I thought you were just going out with her because she was hot. Look, I'll do you a favor, but this is a one time thing and you have to take me shopping this Saturday. I'll make some calls and squash the knowledge before it gets around. Deal?"

Taking Ino shopping would be a bother, but knowledge that Ino had the abilities and the contacts to keep the relationship quiet awhile longer was worth it. "Deal," He grumbled.

The bell rang that the next class was starting, but Shikamaru and Ino continued to stand outside in silence for a long while. Now that Ino thought about it, it wasn't that strange for Shikamaru to be dating a teacher. He was much more mature than anyone their age—even if he could be an immature, whiny little brat sometimes. Ino knew that she would love to date a teacher herself, if there was one she thought hot enough.

"Well—see you in math," Ino said quickly before rushing inside. She wasn't one for being nice or charitable, but in the end, Shikamaru was her friend, and she could do this little thing for him.

Sometimes Ino could be a pain, but in the end, Shikamaru was always glad she was around.

Notes from the Authoress: Yeah. I didn't really see Ino being all that creeped out, so here we are. After the next chapter, I have three little Christmas-y chapters (because I celebrate Christmas). Then I have the one after the Christmas chapters written, so I think I'm all set for the next few days! Well, review.

In the Next Chapter: He was her student. She couldn't ask him out…could she?