A/N here's the next chapter I wasn't going to post it yet but I don't know when I'll be able to next, I've been busy lately, XD so enjoy :p
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Winning Isn't Everything
Chapter
By AngelzGrace
In room 4, on the 2nd floor, a phone went off, 'Justin Timberlake's 'cry me a river' song echoed through the room, the teacher Jiraiya sensei turned around eye twitching. He looked around for the source.
Sasuke frowned, 'Neji, what are you trying to do?' he thought as he quickly reached in his bag for his cell phone. His phone had different tunes for each contact so he knew it was Neji.
"Uchiha, phone off" Jiraiya said loudly frowning; he was one of the rare teachers who disliked him. Sasuke glanced at him calculating how bad it'd be if he…
"Yeah?" he said sliding up his dark blue phone. A few gasps could be heard around the class.
"Sasuke kun, you'll get into trouble," Sakura whispered loudly to him, she sat three seats away.
Ignoring her Sasuke listened as Neji spoke, "…this, Uchiha, do me a favor" Neji's voice said curtly
"This better be worth it, I'm in class," Sasuke said quietly, Jiraiya was trying to get himself composed, he was shocked that a student had disobeyed 'the mighty Jiraiya sensei' Sasuke smirked Jiraiya in his opinion was pathetic.
"its worth it, I need you to get me the info on two kids…" Neji said quietly, Sasuke raised an eyebrow slightly, as Neji continued talking to him.
"Got it, I'll email it to you," he said sliding his phone shut, turning to Jiraiya "it was urgent Jiraiya sensei, it wont happen again"
"I hope not! Detention Uchiha" he said trying to keep his disbelieve in check 'did this boy think he could talk his way out of this one?' "Uchiha you're not talking your way out of this one" he snapped pointing a finger at Sasuke, Sasuke sighed two minutes left and this loser was still ranting.
"Sir, I think your time to hand out our assignments is over," he said arrogantly standing up just as the bell rang. He was the first to exit the class.
At the back of the class, Hinata had watched the entire scene fold out. It seemed that even Uchiha Sasuke could get in trouble. A small smile crept on her face as she got up slowly packing her stuff again. She did not see Sakura look at her a thoughtful expression on her face. Sakura had seen her smile as she looked at Sasuke misinterpreting its meaning Sakura was in short: Angry.
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Neji rubbed his forehead as he tossed his phone onto the passenger seat. 'Ok I've missed class; I'm planning on doing something which may get me in trouble at home and I'm in a real bad mood'. He thought as he drove home, his house was quite far from the school and on the opposite side of Tenten's house, after about 10 minutes his phone went off and Neji reached across flipping it open, "Hyuuga" he said not realizing he had just run through a red light.
"I sent the email…what's up?" Sasuke said nonchalantly, Neji smirked slightly
"Hn Uchiha, curious?" he said
"Che, no," Sasuke muttered.
"I got some sorting out to do,"
"The guys are Kin Tsuchi's sidekicks Dosu Kinuta and Zaku Abumi," Sasuke said carelessly "and Tsuchi seems to dislike your partner for the project…"
"Hn," Neji replied, Sasuke was not stupid and he knew that,
"Its nothing I'm sure, I didn't see her in class either though"
"Hn, they messed with her," Neji said shortly
"You mean…" Sasuke began as it sank in.
"Reason was, she's my partner," Neji said sighing, "I'm going to give them a piece of my mind,"
"Or a piece of your fist," Sasuke added smirking, Neji chuckled quietly
"Maybe," he said as he pulled up outside of his huge manor.
"Hyuuga, one thing," Sasuke said, Neji knew he was hesitating to ask him whatever he wanted to.
"Yeah?" he said,
"Hinata, what kind of girl is she?" Sasuke said casually trying to hide the fact, he was not very happy with having this conversation, "don't take it wrong, but so far all she has said in our study sessions is 'hai' and 'of course'"
"She should open up…I haven't talked to her for many years," Neji replied smirking slightly "you know Uchiha isn't it you to snap at the girls?"
"She's your cousin" Sasuke replied curtly
"I don't care, as far as I'm concerned we're not related."
"Family problems huh…" Sasuke said softly, "I wouldn't know," Sasuke lived alone, all his family had been killed in a fire.
"I guess," Neji, said realizing what was going through Sasuke's head.
"Later Hyuuga, I've a meeting with your cousin," Sasuke said arrogantly
"She's not my cou-" Neji began, but Sasuke hung up on him. "Uchiha," Neji said with a shake of his head. He had entered his house and had made his way to his room, where he logged onto his pc, ready to check his emails.
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Tenten sighed as she relaxed in the bath, she had come home, got out of her torn dirty clothes, and had gotten into the bath, soaking her aching body, it had already been more then an hour and the water was getting cold, washing her hair and body she rinsed off and got out wrapping the towel around herself. It was nearly time for work, Tenten hurriedly did her hair up, and changed into a pair of black pants and a black sweater with long sleeves, she wore a pair of black sandals. Adding her accessories, she ran downstairs as Temari and Hinata came storming in.
"Tenten!" Temari said relieved "we rang you so much times, we were told you had gone home cos you were sick, are you ok and why didn't you answer your cell?"
"Chill Temari, I'm fine and I misplaced my phone, I'm ready for work" Tenten said smiling as Hinata gave her a hug and said
"I-I'm glad your fine Tenten Chan"
"Thank you Hinata," Tenten replied as Hinata seeing the time ran to get ready for work.
"Wait… your nose…it looks swollen" Temari said eyeing her beadily
"I know, I had a kind of crazy cold for a few hours," she said laughing slightly, apparently Temari believed her
"You'll drive me crazy Tenten, I've got the day of from work so I'm going to stay home and chill," Temari said letting her hair down and dropping onto the couch.
"I-I'm ready" Hinata said softly coming back down the stairs dressed in white cargo pants and a lilac polo-neck chenille jumper. She was about to grab a big fluffy coat but Tenten shook her head and tossed it back onto the rack.
"Come on Hinata," she said taking Hinata by the hand and dragging her out the door and to the bus stop.
Rain poured down outside in a fast downpour, Tenten sighed Hannah's was rather empty, Hinata was wiping some tables clean, the other worker Andrea was wiping glasses and restocking the straws and such. Most of the customers had left once they realized it was going to rain. Tenten went over to the radio tuning it, the rain was making it harder to tune.
"Baka rain," Tenten muttered, she still felt pain going down her side and her nose hurt slightly, it was making her feel rather wretched.
The diner was glowing comfortably and looked very cozy Tenten hoped it might draw in a few customers seeking shelter from the rain.
She retied her red apron and rested her elbows on the counter, resting her head on her chin, listening to her favorite radio channel. It was always on in Hannah's since they non stop played songs.
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"Nara, no" Sasuke said doubtful as he looked at the diner Shikamaru insisted upon going to.
"Uchiha, it's where ordinary people go, no one will recognize you, so don't worry,"
"Che," Sasuke said turning his head away.
"I don't know Nara…a Hyuuga doesn't really enter any random shop" Neji said slowly, Shikamaru sighed
"Fine if the mighty Uchiha and Hyuuga don't wish to enter, I'm sure they'd prefer to rather die of a fever out here, we're already soaked and just imagine what will happen if we travel down these grungy streets to the car," Shikamaru said pushing the door to the diner, which jingled.
"Hn, I guess there's nothing to lose, no one will even know us here," Neji said following him.
"Che," Sasuke said arrogantly striding inside with an air of ruling the place.
()()
Hinata smiled softly as the door jingled, turning as she always did she smiled and said "welcome to Hannah's" in her sweet voice, "please take a-" she stopped suddenly.
Tenten looked up she had been dropping of, rubbing her eyes she wondered why Hinata had stopped, Hinata stood there, her face paler then normal she was gazing at the customers who had just entered. Tenten followed her gaze and saw none other then Neji, Sasuke and Shikamaru.
It was hard to say who was more surprised.
Tenten looked surprised to see the haughty Hyuuga and Uchiha in such a diner.
Hinata was scared stiff to see her cousin there.
Neji looked surprised at seeing Hinata and Tenten.
Sasuke looked to say the least slightly embarrassed to be seen in such a place by students who went to his school.
Shikamaru found it funny, he had come here often until last year when his family moved house.
"This place is not fit for a Hyuuga to work" Neji said coldly to Hinata breaking the silence as Andrea watched interestedly. It was the first time he had talked it Hinata. Striding past the frozen Hinata, Neji took a seat, arms crossed. Tenten frowned, her lips forming a pout.
"Hey Hyuuga!" she snapped, making everyone turn to her "stop being a snob" she said as Hinata timidly placed menus in front of the three boys.
"I believe, we are customers, you can not really treat us disrespectfully" Neji said lips curling. Tenten frowned he was right. Instead, she went and turned up the volume to the music, Neji did not like music she thought slyly giving him a glare.
"Hn," Neji said glancing at the menu, 'it seems she's back to normal' he thought as he glanced down the menu, Hinata had gone off somewhere. Tenten smiled to herself as one of her favorite songs came on.
"Oh, Andrea could you put the volume higher, 'papa don't preach' is on," Tenten said earning herself a glare from Neji. Hinata came scurrying back into the room holding towels. Tenten smiled Hinata was so considerate.
"A-ano…I-I thought m-maybe you-you would like to dry o-off" she said softly holding out the towels to the three boys, Shikamaru smiled
"Arigatou Hinata," he said taking a towel,
"Che," Sasuke said taking the two remaining towels and tossing one at Neji, who caught it reluctantly.
"Hn" he said drying his long hair. Tenten watched them pouting from the counter.
"Hey Hyuuga" she said,
"Hn?" Neji said giving her a glance.
"You know my friend works at a hair salon, you should go get a haircut, maybe she'll give you a discount," Tenten suggested cheekily.
"Hn, Arisawa envious of my hair?" Neji said with a toss of his head a smug smile on his face. Hinata took the towels from the three and went behind the counter putting them in the back room.
"No!" Tenten said crossing her arms huffily, "Hinata's hair is so much nicer," she added grabbing Hinata's shoulders just as she re-entered and made her turn around pulling her bobble from her hair so that her long locks were on show, despite Hinata's feeble protests.
"Hn," Neji said turning his head away. Tenten smirked 'show off' she thought.
"h-have you d-decided what you would like to e-eat?" Hinata said softly once her hair was back in a bobble.
"I'll have a cheese and tomato panini with a can of coke" Shikamaru said placing his menu down.
"Hai," Hinata said writing that down, she waited for Sasuke and Neji to speak.
"Che, I'll have a grilled chicken salad wrap with coke," Sasuke said haughtily
"h-hai," Hinata said glancing to see if Neji had chose anything, 'I wonder if he'll choose the spicy cod wrap with no salad no cheese extra dose of mayo and a bottle of mineral water' she thought, Neji and her had a lot in common. Neji had changed a lot since when he was a kid. He had not cared about rank or money; he had dragged Hinata to many different diners and take-away shops when they were a kid. It had been his dream to open a take-away shop of his own, Hinata has asked if she could come there whenever she wanted to, Neji had said, she could be his partner and they together will run there little shop. Subconsciously Hinata smiled, she was brought back to the present by Neji speaking
"-not sure…there's nothing that I really care for" he said arrogantly not looking at Hinata.
"M-may I m-make a su-suggestion?" Hinata said timidly
"Hn, whatever" Neji said coldly "what would you recommend?"
"T-the spicy c-cod wrap" Hinata said timidly
"Hn? Where's that on this list?" Neji said frowning scanning the list, 'at the bottom' he realized it did actually say that, he would have chose that if he had paid attention to the menu "fine, I'll have the spicy cod wrap with no salad, no cheese, extra dose of mayo and bottle of mineral water," he said curtly,
"H-hai," Hinata said a small smile on her face, he had not changed much from the inside. Turning she went and past her list to Tenten who had started on Shikamaru's order.
"Hyuuga," Shikamaru said smiling slightly
"What?" Neji said looking at him
"Your cousin seems to know you well," he said quietly so apart from the three, no one could hear him.
"Hn," Neji said, Shikamaru smirked changing the subject he said
"So how are your projects going?"
"Hn, ok I guess, haven't actually gotten on to the actual script, its mostly planned out though," Neji said resting his chin in his hand.
"Che, I haven't even got through the ideas, your cousin doesn't even make one suggestion," Sasuke said arrogantly crossing his arms.
"Eh? You guys are behind, my script is done, need to get the acting out done though," Shikamaru said absentmindedly something making him smile, he did not see the expression on the other two's face.
"Wait, you're done!" Sasuke said rather loudly slamming a hand on the table, "your normally last and rarely ever get by"
"Heh, well this time it's done, and excellently if I must say," Shikamaru said locking his hands behind his head.
"Nani?" Sasuke said grabbing him from the front of his jacket.
"Hn," Neji said turning his head away. "I'm not planning on losing to you two." He said calmly the other two did not hear apparently.
"What do you mean 'what'? My partner is Temari, and she's scary," he said smiling slightly, pulling out of Sasuke's now loosened grip.
"Che, I'm going to have to get her to open up soon," Sasuke said turning and watching Hinata sharply as she went to the fridge, getting their drinks and then begin to set the tray.
"Hn, good luck Uchiha, you wont get far," Neji said smugly
"What? You said 'she'll open up soon,'" Sasuke said haughtily.
"I was lying," Neji said smirking.
"Che," Sasuke said with a toss of his head. "Hyuuga that was low"
"Hn, I don't do 'low' Uchiha," Neji said
"Heh, look at you two," Shikamaru said smiling lazily
"Orders up!" Tenten said to Hinata who started placing the stuff on the tray, with Tenten helping her.
"Thank you Tenten Chan," Hinata said softly taking the large tray to the table, where the three boys were talking. Setting the stuff down in front of the boys, Hinata made to go away when someone put a hand on her shoulder, she turned startled to see Sasuke standing up.
"I-is there s-something y-you need?" she asked slightly worried incase she had forgotten anything.
"No," Sasuke said with a flick of his head. He leaned down so his face was quite close to her, "Hinata," he said quietly. Shikamaru smirked knowing what Sasuke was doing. Neji snickered softly,
"h-hai?" the poor girl said softly. Sasuke closed his eyes for a moment, opening them he looked at her softly
"Hn, it won't work Uchiha," Neji muttered
"I bet 30 it will" Shikamaru said quietly to Neji
"You're on" Neji said smirking
"Hinata, we need to get a move on with our project, if you could please speak a little more," he said his left hand was still on her shoulder; with the other hand he placed a finger under her chin. "It would be so…devastating if I don't come first…and I'll need my Juliet to complete it," he said softly. Hinata went ten shades darker; Sasuke smiled thinking he had won until Hinata pulled away giving deep bows mumbling. Behind the counter Tenten sighed, 'Hinata didn't fall for such charms. She knew that.
"G-Gomen nasai U-Uchiha san, I-I'm v-very s-sorry" with that, she rushed away leaving Sasuke standing rather confused.
"Che, it…" he began taking his seat slightly embarrassed.
"Argh you win Hyuuga," Shikamaru said handing over the money.
"Hn, obviously" Neji said taking the money and pocketing it. "Not as charming as you think Uchiha?"
"Che, whatever" Sasuke said blushing faintly, "I never fail, your cousin's just…" he trailed off not sure what he wanted to say.
"She's a Hyuuga, they can be rocks," Shikamaru said starting eating. Not realizing that Neji was glaring at him, he looked up after a moment realizing someone was watching him, "what?"
"Rocks…" Neji said his eye twitching
"Che, you are a rock Hyuuga," Sasuke said cockily whilst Shikamaru sweat dropped.
"Yeah, Hyuuga's are rocks and Uchiha's are bricks" Shikamaru said opening his can. He glanced up seeing Sasuke glaring at him, "man…how troublesome" he said ignoring the two.
Sasuke and Neji began eating, after a moment Tenten came over to the table holding a lilac file,
"Uchiha," she said one hand on her hip. Sasuke glanced at her raising his eyebrow. "Stop scaring Hinata!" with that she tossed the file at Sasuke who caught it, then stormed off pouting.
"This is…," he said opening the file and flicking through it, "Che, I guess at least your cousin has a brain,"
"Hn, she's a better actress then writer though," Neji said without thinking, realizing he had just said something clearly showing them that he knew her well.
"These ideas are fine, I may take a few and alter them," Sasuke said putting the file down on the table,
"I'm surprised Sakura hasn't said anything to her," Shikamaru said sitting back after finishing his food, "I mean, if Tsuchi's already messed with Arisawa, Sakura is much worse if not physically, she can mess with a persons mind" he added now frowning.
"Hn, Hinata doesn't mind being hurt physically however…" Neji said wondering why he even pretended to not know her if he was going to just say stuff without thinking.
"However?" Shikamaru said looking at Neji, Sasuke turned his head subconsciously so his full attention was directed at Neji.
"However, she can break dangerously if someone abuses and puts her down mentally; she's got no self confidence and esteem" Neji said taking a gulp of water,
"That's not good," Shikamaru, said sighing
"Che, what about your partner, her enemy would be Yamanaka," Sasuke said smirking.
"Hai, hai, that's already happened though…" Shikamaru said lost in a past memory.
"What happened?" Neji said glancing at Shikamaru, Tenten came for the dishes it seemed Hinata had gone to hide somewhere.
"Troublesome but…" Shikamaru began, "shortly put Yamanaka got mad and Tem scared her away, I don't think she'll mess with her again." He said gazing into space lazily. Even Tenten stood there watching him, looking shocked and as for Neji and Sasuke, they looked stunned.
"What?!" Tenten said first placing the tray down,
"Eh?" Shikamaru said looking at her lazily, "you're her friend you know she's scary"
"Not that!" Tenten said trying to get her words sorted.
"What Arisawa means is" Neji began
"You call her" Sasuke cut through him
"Tem?!" Tenten cut across him, "Are you to together now? She never told me!"
Shikamaru blushed, "Er I don't, we're not, I just-" he began but Tenten would not here it. She picked up her tray and stormed off.
"So I guess you actually have a partner for the end of term dance," Neji said smirking. "What about you Uchiha, Sakura?"
"Che, I'm not going," Sasuke said gulping his coke down
"Hn, we have to," Neji said closing his eyes for a second. Sasuke ignored him.
"We better get going soon as well," Shikamaru, said, "my mom will kill me if I'm late,"
"Right," Neji said standing up.
"Here's your bill" Tenten said smiling and holding out the slip, Neji took it and took out the money that Shikamaru had lost to him. "My treat" he said
"Heh," Shikamaru said smiling slightly.
"Hinata, where is she?" Sasuke said not looking at Tenten directly.
"Hinata!" Tenten called pouting at Sasuke's manners.
"Hai?" Hinata said and then paling upon seeing the boys "I-I thought you said you'll call me when th-they have g-gone…" she whispered to Tenten.
"Uchiha's calling you," Tenten said apologetically.
"I'm taking your file here," Sasuke said smirking arrogantly,
"H-hai," Hinata said then paled "A-ano, m-may I s-see it for one s-second?" she asked timidly
"Che, hurry up" Sasuke said tossing it to her, Hinata opened it and took out something covering it with her hand, too late though Sasuke had seen it,
"H-here y-you go" she said handing it back, pocketing what she had taken from it.
"Nice pic," Sasuke said complacently handing her 20, "there's your tip" with that he turned and followed Neji and Shikamaru out the door, leaving Hinata dumbstruck.
"Nice tip he gave you," Tenten commented with a wink. "That was a long night, and Andrea san left it to me to close up for today, come on Hinata," Tenten said grumbling and not realizing that Hinata was blushing, deeply embarrassed.
End of chapter
A/N I hope you like it so far. XD ja'ne