Hey everyone sorry this chapter took so very long to update. New semester of school is really getting to me. Anyways i hope you all enjoy this chapter i don't think the characters did very much. You'll see what i mean. I checked for grammar and spelling best i could and there is only one chapter left. (it includes the game and the dance so it might be a kinda long chapter.) so yeah review please.

Unlucky Fridays

Hinata's PoV

I peered out my bedroom door looking up and down the long empty hallway. When I decided it was safe I quietly closed my door and pulled open my closet. On the railing hung the cheerleading outfit and the dress I had purchased yesterday to wear to the dance. On the floor beneath where it hung were the pompoms, the sneakers and the many green and blue accessories that matched it. I opened up my old blue gym bag and began quickly stuffing the stuff inside. As the last pompom went in I heard a voice from my door.

"What's that?" I turned quickly and saw my little sister in my door way. She was staring at the half open bag. I quickly tried to come up with a cover story, lying really was not my strong suit.

"It's…umm n-nothing really," I thought I was over this stuttering "Some stuff that Ino left over here last time she came over. I meant to give it back to her a long time ago." Hanabi still looked skeptically at me.

"Whatever." She walked away leaving the door ajar. I didn't bother closing it I just zipped the bag the rest of the way and slung it over my shoulder. I picked up my school books from the desk in the corner of my room only to drop them again.

"Your sister is brat." I turned to see Neji now in the door way. "I'm leaving now, we were asked to be at school early today." I nodded to show I understood then bent to pick up my books. This lying thing was very stressful.

I stopped by the kitchen where Hanabi was eating her breakfast next to our father. I took a peace of toast from the maid and headed for the door.

"Hinata are you not eating breakfast today?" I turned and looked to my father.

"N-no, I just n-need to get to school, I have to give some things to a friend of mine." Hanabi gave me a 'you are up to something look' and I tried to not let that get to me. My father turned back to his own food and I left for the door. Neji was no doubt half way to the school but I was sure I would run into Tenten on the way.

"Hey Hinata." Tenten shouted to me as I reached the corner of the street.

"Hi." Tenten looked great. She is the typically tomboy who is as pretty as a model when necessary. She had on the blue and green cheerleading uniform, the same white sneakers; her hair was pulled into a single very long ponytail with the glittery hair tie.

"You brought your uniform I hope because I am not about to listen to Ino and Sakura fuss at you. I would abandon you first." She joked as we walked down the street.

"It's in my bag; I don't think my father has it figured out yet but of course Hanabi acts like she knows something." I told her uncertainly.

"That girl is a brat, innocent and sweet looking, but she's a brat." Tenten said with a smile. I giggle softly.

"That's what Neji said." As we came up on the school we quickened our pace. I would still have to change when I got there. Ino and Sakura were waiting right inside the door for us also looking great. Sakura's hair didn't even seem to clash with the blues and greens despite the fact that it should. I hoped desperately that I would look even half as nice as them. I never was compared to my friends but now with us all in identical outfits it would be hard not too. We rushed into the bathroom and I changed in one of the stalls. Ino pulled my hair up so I had the same ponytail as them. I looked into the mirror and noticed the dark blue of the elastic band blended in with my hair color so much it was hard to tell it was even there. Ino made us apply dark green eye shadow and then went to find the other girls from the team.

"Hinata you're being awfully quiet, is something wrong?" Tenten was looking at my reflection in the mirror. I turned and smiled.

"No not a problem." It didn't look like she believed me.

"Sakura you go on a head, Hinata and I need to talk." Sakura shrugged and left the bathroom and I repacked my gym bag.

"T-tenten really there is n-nothing w-wrong." I tried not to show the fact that I was lying but when I did my stuttering usually came back.

"You were right yesterday when you said you are a bad liar." She said.

"It's just that-" I paused, what do I say? "I feel inferior to you guys I guess." That made it sound like I wasn't even human. Tenten sighed.

"Is this because of Naruto's unhealthy obsession with Sakura?" She asked.

"Partly I guess but it's not just that. Lots of people like you and Sakura and Ino and I just feel less important." I sounded like I was sulking but Tenten being the wonderful friend that she is didn't seem to mind.

"Hinata you don't need to be so down on yourself, plenty of people like you, who couldn't like you your like the nicest person in the world." I smiled. "And you know what I think Naruto will come around sooner or later. Probably more later then sooner but still." I laughed, I couldn't help it. Together we walked into class, the boys were in the back corner as usual but they all were wearing dark green football jerseys. It looked very odd. Ino and Sakura came in behind us; they soon proved me right about how out of place the boys looked when they burst into laughter in the doorway. I took my seat as the others went to tease them. I watched them and listened; I only heard Naruto's loud shouts.

"Awww you girls are mean why can't you be sweet like Hinata." He had said loudly. I blushed but thankfully I was on the other side of the room and I was sure he couldn't tell.

Almost the end of the school day

Everyone, with the exception of Tenten, Neji and Lee, were making laps around the gym when the intercom came on and they all abruptly stopped; some clumsily knocking into each other.

"In about thirty minutes we will be starting the pep rally in the stadium and having students head out in staggered groups. If you are part of a fall sports team then you need to leave for the field within the next five minutes so we can get everything set up." When the intercom clicked off Gai dismissed those who needed to go while telling the class about how youthful it was showing support for the school. The group changed in the locker rooms and then walked down to the stadium. About one hundred other students were on the field Shizune was overseeing the separation of the teams and the group of evaluators sat with Tsunade on the first row of bleachers talking. As the boys and girls separated Ino ran up and shook her pompoms in Sakura's face chanting one of the cheers.

"Ino save your energy, we're going to be jumping around for an hour or more and then again tonight." Sakura pushed the pompoms from her face and they lined up with the other girls on the sidelines of the field closest to the bleachers. The boys were in the very back of the line up of teams; they were also the largest group with about forty players. Some of them stood looking fairly excited; some could not hold down their excitement and were running between other players shouting and grunting. And then there were the few who looked as if they would rather be anywhere else at this time. The school bell could be heard coming from inside the school, dismissing the students to the stadium. Groups of them entered at different times until a good portion of the bleachers were full and the noise level had risen so loud that a microphone had to be hooked to the speaker so Tsunade could be heard over them. One yell into the microphone and she had their attention.

"Good afternoon students." She said. "I'm not going to talk long the pep rally is more for you not me. So we staff members decided to give the floor to a person with a lot of spirit and who may not even need the microphone to be heard. Naruto." Naruto ran straight at her and nearly took her arm off while taking the microphone. Not needing any directions he seemed to know what to do.

"Alright everybody!" The pep rally was long, loud and tiring, at least it was for the girl who didn't get to stand still for more then a few seconds at a time. Giant paper banners had been painted with the sport's name written across it. They would hold them up while the team ran though them, after being announced by Naruto, and then proceeded to cheer and kick and chant. Hinata continued to shy away but was getting better. When she saw the entire student body the first time she nearly fainted on the spot. They were out there for nearly another hour even after all the teams had been recognized and all they wanted to do was crash until the game that night.

With the boys

The boys were hanging around still on the field, if they left they would just be stuck listening to more pep talks from Gai sensei in the locker rooms and dinner in the cafeteria.

"Well its Friday and still none of you have actually finished the bet." Naruto said as he joined Shikamaru, Neji, and Sasuke.

"You can't say anything Naruto; you haven't got a date either." Shikamaru said. "How many times has Sakura turned you down now? Twenty? Thirty?"

"Well see I have a back up, Sakura is not the only girl I like." The blonde boy said catching the attention of his companions.

"Really? Who?" Sasuke asked with mild curiosity.

Naruto looked over to the group of cheerleaders before he answered. "Hinata." He started toward the group of girls who were now all going in separate directions; the others just stood watching him go.

"There is no way Hinata will turn him down." The thought hit them hard.

"The bet is off. We have got to get a date before him." Shikamaru stated. The others nodded.

"There is no way I'm about to do what Naruto says for an entire week." Sasuke said and the three ran off in search of Tenten, Sakura, and Ino.

Sasuke's P.o.V.

I nearly sprinted in the direction I had last seen Sakura. She had been heading for the locker rooms with a small group of the cheerleaders. I saw a glimpse of pink entering the school and really did sprint. As soon as I was in hearing distance I almost shouted her name but a small part of the conversation she was holding stopped me.

"So you're just going to go to the dance alone, even after all those boys asked you." A dark haired girl was talking with Sakura.

"Well yeah is there a reason I shouldn't." Sakura answered the girl. "I don't like any of them as more then a friend and I would feel bad letting them think I might by saying yes to one of them."

"You got a lot good in that heart of yours Sakura. I'd rather go with someone I don't like then alone I think." Sakura smiled at her friend.

I stopped walking and watched them approach the doors to the locker rooms. I could have yelled to her and I could have asked her to the dance but I didn't. She was going to go alone unless someone she liked asked her and I wasn't sure if she still did like me. The locker room door shut and I turned back for the field.

Shikamaru's P.o.V.

I searched the crowd for any sign of Ino. She was always surrounded by people. Did she care anything about her privacy? Through the sea of green clad students I saw one more familiar then the rest sitting on the bleachers, water bottle in hand and eyes looking to the sky. She was alone, sort of. People were all around her but none actually speaking to her. I dodged people in the crowd trying to make my way to her. When I reached her she was still looking to the sky and didn't notice me standing there.

"Hey Ino." She jumped in surprise.

"Shikamaru don't do that." She didn't yell so loudly at him that time. "This whole week off from ninja training has gotten to me and I have been getting snuck up on all day." She whispered and laughed. I laughed a little too.

"So what'd you want to say?" Ino asked.

"Huh?" The purpose of me coming over had completely left my mind.

"Well you must have come over here for some reason; you wouldn't trouble yourself with the walk if you didn't." She pointed out.

"Oh yeah," I was almost wishing I was almost wishing for someone to interrupt now but it did not seem like anyone was going to come. If I didn't hurry Naruto will have asked Hinata and the rest of us guys are going to be picking up after him for a week and we'd never hear the end of it.

"I was just going to ask you about the dance." I started slowly realizing just how hard this was.

"Oh yes the 'oh-so-wonderful' dance that's got everyone in this school acting out of the usual." She said with an even bigger smile.

"I thought you'd be excited, you love all that troublesome stuff." I was confused didn't she love this girly romance-y stuff.

"Oh I'm trilled about the dance I think it'll be great." The smile on her face faded for the briefest of seconds.

"Speaking of the dance…" while focusing on asking Ino to the dance I didn't see another girl come and join us. "…I just heard from Natsumi, who heard from Akiko, who heard from Yukiko that Sakura isn't going to the dance with anyone." Ino stared at the gossiping girl. I glared at her but she wasn't paying the slightest bit of attention to me.

"Harumi you sound as if the world is ending."

"Well why is she going alone? You know as well as I do that she was asked by a ton of boys."

"Maybe she just wasn't asked by the right one, that's the reason I'm going alone." The girl continued to look shocked before running of to spread the new gossip else where. "Anyways Shika what were we talking about."

I sighed. So Sasuke hadn't asked Sakura, that or he'd been turned down. I couldn't ask Ino, it wasn't possible I was the 'right one' she was talking about. Are only hope now was that Neji found Tenten or that Hinata turns down Naruto. After evaluating the choices I almost prayed for Neji to find that girl. Ino was still waiting for an answer.

"Nothing important, I'll see you at the dance." I said and made to get up.

"Wait." She stopped me by grabbing my hand. "You never did tell me who it was you wanted to ask or if you ever asked her." I thought for a moment before responding.

"Umm…I asked her, she said no." I lied. Ino released my hand and crossed her arms.

"Well that's her loss isn't." She said. "I'll see you around I have to go find Sakura and tell her we are the new center of gossip." She waved and ran off down the steps. I went off to find one of the others not really caring much about the bet anymore.

Neji's P.o.V.

I looked everywhere for Tenten. If the evaluators hadn't still been lurking around I could have found her in a matter of seconds. I didn't see her leave for the school and I had searched the whole field so she had to be up by the concession stands. Many of the students who hadn't gone home before the game were hanging around up here and if I had been anyone other then me it would have been difficult to get through the hoards of people. I saw Naruto for the briefest of moments, he appeared to still be searching for Hinata and if it had been any other situation I would have been more protective of my cousin but really I could beat Naruto up later.

"TENTEN!" I knew that shout well. It was Lee's loud voice splitting through the crowd. Nobody even flinched, everyone in the school was used to the abnormally loud voice Lee had. Some people shifted and I spotted my teammates talking by the gates of the stadium.

"Hey Lee." Tenten said

"Tenten I have a problem. I have yet to get a date to the youthful homecoming dance tomorrow night." Tenten was smiling at Lee's distressed state. "Please, please help me."

"What am I supposed to do Lee, help you find a date? I'm really not sure I the most qualified person to do that."

Lee looked sadly at the group but then you could almost see the light bulb go on over his head.

"Well maybe you could come to the dance with me Tenten." She looked shocked from where I stood but I didn't go interrupt them yet.

"Lee…" Tenten began to object.

"It would not be like a date or anything like that Tenten, just come with me as a friend," Lee said sounding almost sane when he talked. "It would be most unyouthful for me to go alone." Tenten smiled.

"Alright Lee I'll go with you."

"Really? Tenten you are so youthful." Lee said giving her such a tight hug she almost couldn't breath.

"Yeah Lee, what are friends for. Now put me down." She chocked out the last part and Lee let go and skipped off.

I watched Lee go and decided to put him on the list, even above Naruto, who I needed to beat till they were hospitalized.

Naruto's P.o.V.

I needed to find Hinata. I knew the other guys must have been surprised when I said that I kinda liked her. I hadn't ever really made a big deal about it because I like Sakura so much more. But now asking Hinata was going to be the easiest way to win the bet so I had to. I saw the girl sitting on a beach and rushed over to her. She was reading. She looked so out of place with all the rowdy running around her.

"Hey Hinata." I shouted and she dropped her book. "Oops sorry." I picked up the book and handed it to her.

"Thank you Naruto." She didn't stutter but I could only barely hear her.

"Hinata, will you go to the dance with me?" She looked completely shocked, and almost on the verge of fainting.

"W-why are y-you asking m-me?" Hinata struggled to get the words out. I was confused why would she ask me that. She is supposed to just say yes.

"Huh."

"I-I asked why would you ask me? You like Sakura don't you?"

"Well Sakura doesn't want to go with me. She turned me down so many times I decided I would just ask you." I explained but I was slowly beginning to realize how bad that sounded. Now I know why people keep telling me to think before I speak.

"So you're just asking me to the dance because Sakura won't." Yeah it sounded really bad.

"Well…" What was I supposed to say? "It's like I don't like you."

"You just like Sakura more." She was speaking very quietly. She closed her book and stood up. "I'm sorry Naruto but I can't go to the dance with you." She walked away and I suddenly felt really bad. Getting turned down by Sakura was easy but getting a no from Hinata really hurt. I needed to talk to someone.

Back on the field

The football field was nearly empty now but Sasuke, Neji, and Shikamaru were all standing in the middle watching Naruto's approaching form.

"So it looks like you won the bet Naruto."

"No I didn't."

So the day wasn't all that great for the guys but i promise we we'll have all the promised couples by the end. Please review. Excuse my horrible grammar.

LovingMyLife