A/N: Hi, I'm finally back, XD so here's the next chapter and I was wondering if anyone has read my other story, I personally like it better then this one. Lol anyway enjoy and a he thank you for all your reviews, XD
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Winning Isn't Everything
Chapter 10
By AngelzGrace
"Tenten!"
Tenten groaned, "Five more minutes…"
"Hurry up or we're leaving without you!" Temari snapped
"huh?" Tenten said groggily, she opened her eyes and tried to focus on her clock, "Oh my god! I slept through the alarm!"
Outside the door Temari rolled her eyes, "finally" she said making her way downstairs.
"Oh no, god not on drama day, no way, Anko's gonna kill me!" Tenten complained as she rushed around her room grabbing a white t-shirt, blue jeans, white sneakers, white belt and her school bag. Rushing out of her room, she dropped her school back on the floor and rushed to the bathroom. Five minutes later she ran downstairs, tying her hair up. Hinata and Temari were waiting by the door.
"Sorry guys," Tenten apologized and followed them to the car. The moment they were all in Temari drove off. A few minutes later Tenten cursed aloud
"Oh no, I got to go back! I left my drama file and the script final piece at home!" she said panicking
"Tenten! You should have remembered miss scatterbrain," Temari said turning the car around in a U turn/
"No, you guys go without me, I'll get there!" Tenten said jumping out of the car and running home,"
"Will s-she be fine?" Hinata asked doubtfully
"Who know," Temari said with a smile, turning the car around once again and heading back in their destination.
Tenten cursed again as got home, "please say I have my keys…" she prayed as she searched her bag, finding them she ran inside, found her scripts and file and ran out the door once again, she ran al the way to school, by the time she got there she was fifteen minutes late and had a terrible stitch in her side.
Skidding down the hall, she entered the drama hall embracing herself for Anko's wrath. She was not disappointed "Arisawa! Late again?!" Anko shouted. The entire class stopped what they were doing and all eyes were on Tenten.
"Er umm, about that…I uh had-" Tenten began
"She was doing me a favor Anko sensei, it's because of me she's late," Tenten looked at the girl who had said that surprised
"Tsuchi?" Anko said confused now, so was Tenten. 'hmm what are you planning Kin?' she thought
"Yes sensei, it's my fault if you are planning on giving her detention, it is I who should be given it instead," kin said calmly.
"Hmph, whatever, Tsuchi, Arisawa next time either of you are late detention will be your pastime!" Anko said loudly "Carry on everyone!"
Tenten frowned going over to Kin she said "What are you doing?"
"'Tenten Chan' what's wrong… after everything I've done you don't think Neji kun will accept me so simply, I have to get into his good books…and you're my key to it," she said laughing softly. "it's our secret…we have 'a lot' of those don't we?" Kin said all the while a small smile on her face. Tenten controlled herself from saying some remark that would give Kin an excuse to blackmail her further.
"Whatever Tsuchi," she said simply about to carry on to find wherever Neji was.
"One minute," Kin said in a deadly calm voice.
"What?" Tenten said grinding her teeth
"We're friends now, so call me Kin Chan or Kin…oh and smile we're having such a friendly chat aren't we?" Kin said smiling at her.
"…right, this is cheating Kin" Tenten said smiling forcedly. Kin chuckled rather nastily
"Yes, maybe but…you don't really have a choice 'Saika'" she whispered.
"…whatever," Tenten said, trying to hide the effect that name had on her and walked off. Kin didn't stop her this time. She watched as Tenten looked around for Neji.
"Tenten!" she called her voice ringing softly. If someone saw her before and now they would seriously think, there was two Kin's.
"What?" Tenten said trying to stay calm.
"Neji kun's over there" she replied pointing to a far corner. Neji looked up when he heard his name, he raised and eyebrow as he saw Kin smile at Tenten and Tenten smile back.
"Thanks," she said, she knew what kin was doing clearly now. 'I won't lose though' she said making her way over to Neji.
"Hi," she said sitting on a box of clothes.
"Hi," Neji replied reluctantly. "So you and Kin are cool now?"
"Curious?" Tenten said taking up his file from the table.
"Hn, no,"
"Well, she apologized," Tenten said though she didn't feel like it, but Kin was near and if Tenten did one thing to displease her, her secret was out.
"Hn, oh," Neji said watching her flip through his file.
"And she's nice once you get to know her, ya know?" Tenten said flipping through his file, "Wait...what are these?" she added pulling out a few loose pieces of papers.
"Hand them over Arisawa," Neji said reaching for his file but she stood up holding the papers out of reach.
"Let me see them," Tenten said turning her back to him.
"Arisawa, I'm warning you," Neji said dangerously, standing up he snatched the sheets from Tenten's grasp.
'I never wished to cause you heartbreak, I never wanted to pull you aw-' it was all Tenten was able to read.
"Hey! I was looking at those!" she said pouting. "They were so cute, you write songs?" she asked not noticing that the said Hyuuga was looking rather angry.
"I don't like people going through my private property, get it?" he said quietly.
"I…" Tenten began wondering why he was so angry. Neji ignored her; instead, he picked up the script and started flipping through his own lines. 'What is his problem?, I better apologize when he's cooled down,' she thought sitting down again. The rest of the time was spent in silence, unlike the other groups who had done their script or half of it at least were acting it out, and Anko was helping them with their expressions ect.
(Umm I've never really been the acting type, soo drama wasn't my lesson and I'm not sure exactly how to go about writing about it, so yeah, I know it may not sound very drama-ish, 'drama-ish? is that a word ? Ah anyway, yeah… uh, so yeah so the drama lessons wont be very interesting and convincing I guess, anyway back to where we were)
When the bell rang, Tenten went over to Hinata, who stood with Sasuke and Anko,
"H-hai," Hinata said softly with a nod, Tenten wondered what they were talking about.
"Che, whatever," Sasuke said crossing his arms his head turned away. Anko nodded at them and went off.
"Hey what was that about?" Tenten asked slinging an arm around Hinata's shoulder.
"A-ano… nothing…" Hinata began with a sideway look at Sasuke.
"Oh okie, come on lets go find tem-a-ri," Tenten said getting her hint, pulling Hinata by the arm she led the way to Temari.
"B-bye U-Uchiha-san," Hinata said softly hoping she didn't appear impolite by simply making off,
"Che," Sasuke said glancing at her for a split second and then walking of to where Neji was.
"Oi, Temari!" Tenten said walking over to her friend who was chatting away with Shikamaru, "you going to come,?"
"Oh hi Hinata, Tenten," Temari said, "I was uh going to study with Shikamaru," she said a small blush creeping onto her face.
"T-that's f-fine," Hinata said smiling slightly she made to tug the occasionally slightly dense Tenten along but Tenten wouldn't have it.
"Ne Temari, how come your studying takes so long, I mean hello isn't your script done or are you going to act out your play and that would be soppy and would make anyone gag, you know that is so-" Tenten was cut of by Neji appearing he looked in one word 'furious'
"Nara," he said his voice dripping coldly. 'eek! Did I make him that angry over a simple line or two I read?' she thought doubtful.
"Eh?" Shikamaru said lazily then sweated slightly when seeing Neji's expression.
"You better get up and just come, remember, today's Wednesday," Sasuke said arrogantly but quickly as not to enrage the Hyuuga more, Shikamaru's eyes widened
"Oh right, ok later Temari, Hyuuga, Arisawa," he said and hurried out with the other two.
"W-what was wrong with Neji Nii san?" Hinata said softly
"Umm…it may have been my fault…" Tenten said laughing nervously, "I did read his song he was writing… well just two lines"
"Oh," Hinata said "I-I don't think it could have been just that though, t-there's not much that angers him easily,"
"Yeah…maybe but he did flip when I read it,"
"Come on girls, lets go," Temari said now feeling slightly down after her plans were ruined.
"You know Temari, if I didn't know better, I'd say you didn't want to hang with us," Tenten said eyeing her friend beadily.
"That's not true Tenten," Temari said making her way to the cafeteria, Kin waved at Tenten as she passed Tenten forced a smile and waved back.
"Hey are you two on good terms now?" Temari asked skeptically.
"Yeah kind of, she's not too bad once you know her, and she apologized…" Tenten said the lie was coming easily now and it made Tenten feel guilty lying to her two best friends.
"Oh," Temari said
"I-its good that she h-has accepted her mistake," Hinata said smiling softly, Tenten smiled Hinata always thought there was good in everyone.
"Hmm, yeah I guess," she said nonchalantly
"I know I mean after what Sakura did to Hinata, and she didn't even have the audacity to say sorry," Temari said. "Come on lets get food before it goes cold."
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Tenten sighed, she had told Temari to leave without her and she needed to get to the salon soon. Tenten was waiting for Neji to come out. She was at the moment waiting right next to his car. The sky was getting dark with clouds.
"Please don't rain," she said softly gazing at the sky. She felt a small drop fall on her nose. "…I said please! What is your problem? Do you want to make me my life harder or something?!" she said to the sky shaking a fist.
"What are you doing?" a voice said behind her. She turned startled
"Oh umm…nothing, well what did it look like I was doing," she said rather rudely "Neji kun," she added smiling sweetly. Neji eyed her beadily
"What are you up to?" he said unlocking his car.
"Nothing, why do you say that?" she said sweetly
"Hn, what do you want Arisawa?" he said as she was blocking his way to his door.
"Why do you ask so much questions?" she asked innocently then remembering the reason she was here and seeing Neji's narrowed eyes she quickly added "I'm sorry Neji, I didn't mean to upset you, if I knew you hated anyone looking at you songs, I would never have snatched them like that, gomen," she gave a small bow keeping her head lowered awaiting his reply. After a few moments, she peeked through her bangs Neji just stood there an unfathomable look on his face. "I came to apologize," she added
"Hn, fine" Neji said shaking his head slightly "it's fine, I wasn't angry at you,"
"Eh? You weren't! Then why were you acting like that for? I had to apologize for nothing?" she said more to herself then to him.
"Hn, want a ride home? Or are you planning on carrying on talking to the sky?" Neji said snidely.
"You'll give me a ride home?" Tenten said pouting slightly annoyed and surprised.
"Well, you did stay there just to apologize to me," Neji said cockily.
"…whatever Hyuuga," Tenten said getting in on the other side. After Neji had driven out they were stuck in traffic and the car was silent. Tenten took this time to observe him and study him.
'OK' she thought 'what do I know about him and what don't I know? Hmm his bad points:
no1: he hates music
no2: he's a snob
no3: he's a jerk
no4: he acts like a know it all
no5: he's a baka
no6: he's an annoying baka ok so I said baka twice but hey he's a double baka
no7: he had a bad habit of irritating me
This list seems to be evolving around his characteristics and I don't know…it doesn't sound too convincing.' Tenten thought huffily 'ok so, his few good points are:
no1: he's kind
no2: he sticks up for you
no3: he doesn't hold a grudge
no4: he's fun to be around (sometimes) Tenten added startled with her own thoughts
no5: he helped me out
no6: he gave me a free ride home
no7: whoa, wait! If I give a number seven they may become equal to the bads so no he only has 6 good points' she thought
"mhmm" she said nodding her head, Neji glanced at her but she seemed to be in her own world so he didn't say anything, he watched her out of the corner of his eyes. Now she was looking at him, Neji passively kept his eyes on the rd. 'what's with the look?' he thought trying not to comment allowed.
'OK so he had good and bad points now his appearance…his hair is too long! Yup too long for my liking, but its very nice and kept well too not just a greasy mane so he gets a tick for that' she thought grudgingly. 'his eyes are nice enough, ….hmm eyebrows are nice, nose is fine, skin is fine, fashion sense is fine, body is…hmm,' she thought eyeing him critically feeling that she was being too generous with her 'fines'. She ran her eyes from head down, nice jaw line, smooth creamy neck, his arms seems to have some muscles from what she could see roughly since he mostly wore a jacket, nice torso…heights good…she ran her eyes down, legs seem fine, 'he probably has knobbly knees', she thought with a small nod, those trousers probably cover them up nicely since he always seems to wear rather baggy pants. She glanced at his belt, 'hmm, likes to show of and seems to be proud he's a Hyuuga,' her gaze fell down to his lap and then… she looked away embarrassed.
"I was wondering when you would finally stop glaring at me" Neji said not realizing her discomfort,
"Whatever," Tenten said her face firmly turned away. Neji raised an eyebrow but didn't say anything. Tenten started fidgeting after a few minutes, the traffic was not clearing up and they hadn't moved for the past 5 minutes. Her foot touched something and she bent down wondering what it was. Neji glanced at her wondering what she was doing he soon found out.
"Ooh, Neji look, I found a phone, ne is it your girlfriends?" Tenten asked smirking not even giving the phone a glance. Neji raised an eyebrow,
"That's yours," he said simply, Tenten looked at the phone and became annoyed and embarrassed.
"Hey, why do you have my phone?!" she said changing tune very quickly.
"You must have dropped it the day I gave you a lift," Neji said haughtily
"Hmph, I need my phone, didn't you ever hear it ring?" she said trying to somehow blame him
"Hn, if anyone rang you I would have, but your popularity isn't much," Neji said smugly
"…baka," she said pouting
"You are one," Neji said, Tenten opened her mouth to say something but his phone went off, "Hyuuga," he said flipping it open.
……
"No, I'm stuck in traffic," Neji said his eyes on the rd as the cars began to move slightly
……..
"Hn,"
……..
"Why…you normally don't ring…"
……
"Wait…what happened?" Neji said his voice a tone louder then before, Tenten glanced at him and saw his hand tighten on his small phone.
……….
"no, tell me, Now," he said closing his eyes for a moment to control his emotions.
…………..
"I know something's up," suddenly his eyes widened as something struck him, "It's otousan… isn't it…"
……
Tenten wondered what was going on, she could see Neji was actually shaking now. "I'm coming there Now," he said his voice slightly huskier then before; he tossed his phone onto the, well onto Tenten he seemed to have forgotten she was there. He glanced outside the traffic was clearing slightly.
Tenten timidly shut his phone; she kept turning the cool slim piece of metal in her hand. "N-Neji…what happened?"
Neji jumped slightly, "are you ok?" Tenten asked startled
"I… forgot you were there… Tenten I need to get somewhere, I'm going there now, form there you can take my car," he said his voice still held the same tone as when he was on the phone. Tenten just nodded she would have normally mocked him for letting her drive his car but he seemed shaken. She could see his knuckles were white from where he gripped the steering wheel tightly.
Tenten wondered where he was headed and she found out when he stopped abruptly outside the Konoha hospital, he took a deep breath to calm himself.
"N-Neji are you ok?" Tenten asked now concerned,
"I'm fine," he said glancing at her; she held out his phone, he took it hesitantly wondering how she got it.
"I hope everything's fine…" Tenten said as Neji got out of the car. He turned and looked at her his face passive.
"Thanks," he said then walked quickly to the hospital.
Tenten lent back against the seat. Things were so unexpected sometimes, sighing she slid into the drivers seat. It felt strange she had passed her drivers test but she never really had driven any car since.
"This is gonna be cool," she said turning on the radio. She tuned it to her favorite radio station, "Ooh, he's got stereo's kitted at the back too. Fantastic, but I must say Mr Hyuuga what was the point if you don't like the sound of music?...and do you know Tenten you're talking to yourself" she added knowing she was plain stupid talking to herself. "Ah well, too bad, I guess I can't change who I am," with that she backed the car into the rd. ten minutes later the joy of driving a car hadn't died down even if she was stuck in traffic. Getting bored she reached for the glove compartment and looked inside. "Hey! He's got CD's here, must be DVD's for his stupid in car TV/DVD…wait…that's his neat writing isn't it…" Tenten trailed off seeing Neji's neat handwriting clearly marking what was inside. A car horn honked loudly making Tenten jump. She realized that the cars had moved forward and she was blocking the rd. hurriedly she drove until she was stuck in another jam of traffic but Tenten wasn't going anywhere and she seemed fine about it. Sliding a CD from its packet and slipped it into the CD player.
Neji's voice rang in the car. 'What I want' take one, "I was right…it was his music…" Tenten trailed of as Neji's soft voice filled the car, what was entrancing was how Tenten could hear the emotion in his voice so much, she could almost sense his feelings. The song was amazing.
'How long do you think you can resist me!
Ope'en your eyes and tell me what you see!
Suddenly Tenten shook her head and turned off the CD and switched back to the radio sliding the CD back into its case. "I shouldn't be looking through his stuff," she said determinedly, a pout had formed on her face despite her resolution not to go through his other CD's. The rest of the drive home was in silence she was lost in thought about Neji.
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A/N: ah so there ya go R&R if you like, Thanks