Alright, so I got chapter three up here now. I'm not sure when the next update will be, since I have exams coming up and everything, but I'll try not to keep you waiting too long!

Oh, and I have to acknowledge those who reviewed! While I love all of my readers, reviewers have to get a little something special, right? So... everyone who reviewed gets some free digital cake. Enjoy!

zutara-is-evil-kataang-rules - I'm glad you've enjoyed it so far, and I hope you enjoy what's still to come!

Rose Tiger - You'll just have to keep reading to find out!

Chapter 3

Hinata Hyuuga sat at her little desk in the corner, furiously scribbling down what Kakashi Hatake was saying. She loved poetry, she really did, but the way this man taught was so… intense. She had already filled up half the pages in her notebook, and it was only the second day of class. It was not long, however, before Kakashi stopped lecturing and, as usual, proceeded to read while the class went about their studies.

Many students broke out assignments for other classes or began to doodle on their desks, but Hinata decided to look ahead in her textbook and read some more poems. It was amazing to her, how these great authors could string their words together to make the ordinary become supernatural. Everything was so eloquent, the images all so perfect; it made Hinata jealous that she could never speak so beautifully. Instead, whenever she tried to express her feelings, all that came out was a series of pathetic stutters.

She tried so hard to overcome that fear, too, to work up the courage to actually speak and make herself heard. What was it that always held her back? Why was it that whenever Naruto walked into the room, she had to look away with that embarrassed look? Why couldn't she just tell him how she felt? It was supposed to be different this year. It was supposed to be the year that she finally told that certain blonde boy that she was madly in love with him and always had been. Then he would say the same, and they would share a passionate kiss as they rode off into the sunset…

Oh no, am I blushing again?

Hinata put a hand to her unusually warm cheek before burying her face deep into the book, hoping that the pages would conceal her bashful countenance. She knew it was pathetic, being so hopelessly in love that she could not even think about the boy without turning as red as a tomato, but there was little she could do about it.

Sure, she could try talking to the boy, as she had on countless occasions, but every time she opened her mouth, a different part of her took over. While her heart wanted nothing more than to express its true feelings, her subconscious always brought up alternate scenarios. What if he already has a girlfriend? Does he even want a girlfriend? What if he's gay? That would be embarrassing…

No matter what the excuse might have been for the given day, though, Hinata knew deep down what her real fear was: what if he says no? It was more than she could possibly bear, the thought of the heartbreak that would ensue. Most people would tell her that there are other fish in the sea and try to console her, but they would be wrong. Hinata knew that in all the world, there was only one Naruto Uzumaki.

As the other students around her began to break into hushed conversations, Hinata glanced to her left, where she could see the boy of her dreams furiously erasing something on his paper, his tongue sticking out in concentration. To anyone else it would have seemed amusing, watching Naruto focus so intently on his work, but to the Hyuuga it was somehow… charming. It was just the sort of affect he had on the poor girl, that phenomena where even the most ordinary aspects of his personality took on a surreal quality. His bright, yellow hair glowed like sunshine, his eyes were deep, glimmering sapphires that brimmed with a masked wisdom, and his smile was always filled with such a warm gentleness that it made Hinata feel safe and secure in an otherwise daunting world.

You're doing it again, Hinata! Get a hold of yourself!

Just as the girl hurriedly pushed her face back into the pages of her book, she heard the bell ring, followed by the shuffling of bodies as everyone bolted for the door. Hinata took the time to pack her things before exiting the room, her thoughts still lingering on the blonde boy.

I can't go on like this; it's pathetic. I have to tell him somehow… I have to let him know how I feel.

It was the thought that remained on the Hyuuga's mind for the rest of the day. She was constantly moving back and forth between the two options, as she usually did when the topic came up. On the one hand, there was the thought that, unless she spoke up, she would never know how Naruto truly felt. On the other, though, was that fear that it was better to live in a state of doubt than to know for certain that her love would never be returned.

Thus, it was with a very dismal mindset that Hinata ended her school day, hardly even paying attention to where she was going as she brushed by people in the hallway. All of her movements became very mechanical as her mind focused entirely on what she was going to do about this feeling that kept gnawing at her day after day. Why did she even bother with her studies anymore? No success would ever bring her the happiness she wanted. It all seemed so very futile, a hopeless cycle that could only end in death or utter defeat.

Forget the family business. Let Neji take over; he's the gifted one, after all. Why waste their time on me when they have the perfect candidate waiting to prove himself.

As she stood there under the school's awning, struggling to stay dry in the sudden downpour, Hinata slowly felt her bitterness towards her cousin turn to mild anxiety. Where was Neji, anyway? He was supposed to give her a ride home today, but as far as they shy Hyuuga could tell he was nowhere to be found.

Of all the days to forget to pick me up, why did it have to be today?

Hinata took one last look around the deserted parking lot, hoping that she had simply overlooked her cousin's distinct, cherry red convertible. Of course, the Hyuuga's keen sense of observation had prevailed once again, however, and Hinata resigned herself to a long walk home in the rain. Before she could set a foot upon the damp sidewalk, though, she heard a familiar, if unexpected, voice call out from behind.

"Hey, Hinata! Wait up!"

The pale Hyuuga turned around slowly to find a grinning blonde boy, umbrella clasped in his hand. Almost immediately, Hinata felt a little bit woozy as the blood rushed to her face. "N-naruto… w-what are you doing here?"

"I should be asking you the same thing," Naruto said as he stepped forward, "Weren't you supposed to go home with Neji?"

"Oh, well… um… I-I guess he d-didn't wait for me," Hinata murmured whilst nervously pressing the tips of her fingers together.

"Why didn't you say so?" the blonde exclaimed as he placed a hand on the Hyuuga's shoulder. "Come on, I'll walk you home."

Hinata stood there for a moment with a blank, bewildered stare. Naruto… offering her a walk home? For a moment she thought that she had dozed off in class, that this was all some sort of sweet dream. Then she remembered her cold, rain-soaked shoes and the lack of a noble steed and realized that she never could have conjured up this mess. Thus, it was with a furiously beating heart that Hinata gave her response.

"Oh, uh, th-thank you… Naruto."

"Don't mention it," the blonde replied as he pulled Hinata to his side beneath the shelter of his bright, orange umbrella.

For a brief moment, Hinata was sure that she was in heaven. Being so close to the boy of her dreams, to actually have her face leaning upon his shoulder as they walked… it was all so very sudden. For all Hinata knew, the entire world might have stopped, for all of her attention was focused on the blonde beside her. The feel of his black jacket against her skin, the surprisingly pleasant, musky odor: the Hyuuga drew it all in and engraved it on the very fabric of her soul as they walked along the dampened street.

"So… Hinata," Naruto said rather awkwardly, scratching his head with his free hand. "Kiba was telling me yesterday that you went to the tropics this summer."

"K-Kiba?" Hinata repeated in confusion as she snapped out of her daydream. "Oh… umm… yes, I told him that. Y-you two are roommates, right?"

"Yeah, we share an apartment right across from Ichiraku Ramen," said cheerfully, his eyes widening somewhat at the thought of his favorite food. "You should come visit us sometime. I'm sure Kiba would love to see you."

Did he just invite me over to his house? Oh my… calm down, Hinata! He didn't mean anything by it… Probably just being polite…

"Hinata? Is something wrong?" Naruto suddenly asked, bending down so that he and the Hyuuga were at eye level. "Your face is all red."

The pale girl instinctively put a hand over her face and turned to the side as she responded. "Oh…um… i-it's nothing. I just…"

"Really? Let me take a look," the blonde replied as he gently pushed Hinata's hand off and placed his own on her forehead. "I don't know, you feel pretty warm. Are you sure you're not sick or anything?"

The young Hyuuga was relatively certain that she could have died of embarrassment at that very moment. "No, no I'm fine! I mean… I just h-have a little cold… that's it."

Naruto gave the girl one last skeptical look before giving a defeated sigh. "Alright, if you say so. I just thought you might like to get some ramen with me and Kiba. That always hits the spots when I have a cold."

What? Is he asking me out to dinner? He's moving so fast…

"Umm… m-maybe some other time," Hinata murmured, her heart racing and her head spinning with confusion. "I-I probably should be getting home."

Naruto looked visibly disappointed as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small slip of paper, which he pressed into the Hyuuga's open palm. "Okay, if you change your mind, though, just give me a call. I put Kiba's number on there too if you want to do something with him. Alright?"

Hinata honestly did not know what to say; she just stared at the paper in her hand, wondering what possibly could have happened to make Naruto notice her all of a sudden. "T-thank you, Naruto. I'll… I'll remember that."

Naruto gave the girl his signature, goofy grin before turning to leave, only to stop mid-step. "Wait, I can't leave you alone in the rain like this!"

"Oh… no, I'll be fine, Naruto," Hinata responded sheepishly. "I-I can make it fine from here."

"No, I insist," the blonde responded as he turned to offer the Hyuuga his umbrella. "Wouldn't want your cold to get any worse, would we?"

"B-but what about you, Naruto?" Hinata asked as she gratefully accepted the proffered umbrella. "How will you get home?"

"Don't worry about me," Naruto responded with a cocky smirk, "Kiba's always saying I should join the track team. Maybe if I hurry I can get home without even getting wet."

Before Hinata could object to the blonde's insane logic, Naruto took off running into the rain, waving playfully over his shoulder as he went. For a moment the Hyuuga just stood there in the middle of the sidewalk, watching as the boy of her dreams disappeared into the summer mist. So many questions were still racing through her mind that it was hard for her to grasp what had just occurred.

Why did he notice me today? Was he just being nice? Or does he actually… like me?

The moment that particular thought crossed her mind, all of the Hyuuga's questions vanished in an instant. It didn't matter why Naruto had talked to her. It didn't matter why he had offered to walk her home. The fact of the matter was that he did notice her; he did offer to walk her home. As strange as it all seemed, Naruto had reached out to her today; he had finally given Hinata the attention she had desired for so many years, and that was enough. Everything else would be made clear in time.

Thus, with a warm, serene smile Hinata Hyuuga started off toward her home, her beloved, orange umbrella blocking out the dreariness of the outside world.

And... that's it for this chapter! Be sure to tune in next time and, of course, review!