Title: Italian
Rating: PG
Characters: Tenten, Neji, and another surprise
Word Count: 701
Summary: Neji just wants to get some Italian.
Author's Notes: N/A

Tenten pushed the restaurant door open with her foot, and poked her head inside. Most of the tables were full. More importantly, there weren't any harboring a lone figure. It looked clear. She sighed in relief. She'd come fifteen minutes early, just to be sure. She was nervous about going on a date as it was. She didn't want to think about how much worse it would be if she came LATE.

Walking to the counter, Tenten told her name to the hostess. The woman smiled and jotted a few words on her clipboard. "Oh, yes, we received a call about half an hour ago, to be expecting someone. We'll have your table ready at seven o'clock sharp." She gave Tenten a wink that made her cheeks flush. The hostess motioned toward a row of chairs that sat alongside the wall, facing in toward the restaurant. "Just sit down over there for a little while and we'll call you."

Tenten took a seat on the end, so she sat in a corner. She grabbed a menu, but instead of reading it, she began fanning herself. She felt feverish, and she knew she was sweating. She wasn't sure how she was supposed to eat anything anyway, with her stomach doing somersaults like she had just come off a roller-coaster.

A bell rang as the restaurant door swung open. Tenten turned her head to see who was coming in, and...

"Neji? What are you doing here?" A wide, relieved grin split her face as she motioned him over. Neji decorously held up a finger, indicating that she should wait, and went to give his name to the hostess. By the time he sat down beside her, Tenten was almost bouncing on her chair with relief. Waiting would be so much easier with a friend here. Finding a way OUT, if this date went south, would be so much easier. Thank god!

Neji turned to her, wearing a small smile. He was always so much more relaxed with her when they weren't in the middle of a mission. "I really like this place. I thought you knew that, Tenten? I come here every Friday night. They have excellent pasta. What about you?"

A thin wail escaped from Tenten's throat. "I'm meeting someone! My date just.. hasn't arrived yet." Anxiety mingled with relief in her voice. The longer she could delay the inevitable...

Her friend smiled again. "I'm happy for you. I'll admit, I didn't think you and Kiba were the best match, but..." Neji's voice trailed off as Tenten hung her head.

"I... we... I broke up with Kiba a month ago. You were right. The only thing HE cares about is that stupid dog." Tenten tried to keep the bitterness she felt from reflecting in her tone.

"Oh. I'm sorry to hear that. Well, hopefully your new date will be a better match." Neji didn't pry any further. He knew she would tell him when she felt like it. Neji was always a perfect gentleman.

Tenten was too ashamed to admit the truth, though. She had signed up for one of those mail-dating services, just after her break-up with Kiba. She had been hurt too much. She just wanted someone to talk to, someone she could share her feelings with. The mail-dating service had matched her with a boy about her own age, and they had been trading letters back and forth for about three weeks. He seemed wonderful, almost too good to be true from the letters. But tonight was the first night she would actually see him in person. "I hope so too," she mumbled weakly. They sat in silence for a few minutes, neither of them willing to broach the subject again.

Finally, Neji glanced at his watch and stood, giving Tenten a small nod. "Well, it's seven. They should have my usual table prepared by now. I hope your date goes well, Tenten. Let me know if there's anything I can do to help."

The hostess took up her clipboard and looked at them. Both of them. "Hyuuga Neji, party of two?"

Tenten and Neji spun toward each other at the same time, their voices twin echos. "You DIDN'T!"

Every time I tell you people I don't own Naruto, it takes away time I could be writing stories. Take the hint already.