Okay, things really start heating up in the next chapter, but this sort of puts a big base on it. whatevs! -NTFE3

Later that day, when most of the sophomores were driving home, Tenten was talking to Neji, while closing her locker. She grabbed her keys and slammed her locker shut. "Well, I'm off. I'll see you tonight, like we planned." Tenten giggled, and walked away.

Neji caught her by the arm and kissed her. Tenten put her hands on his face and laughed when they broke off. "Like we planned." Neji gave a crooked smile, and went the other way down the hall.

Tenten picked up her doodle notebook and her favorite pen, plopped down on the couch, and turned on her TV to listen to something. She flipped to an empty page and started drawing. You wouldn't notice it on the outside, but Tenten is really artistic. She can make anything out of everything.

By the end of her doodling, the page was filled up with a whole bunch of 'Neji's and little pink hearts. She put her pen down and grabbed her head. What's going on with me? Two days ago I wouldn't give a damn about what Neji Hyuuga was doing, and now I'm drawing hearts around his name?! I'm going crazy!!

She couldn't sit there for long, because, as planned, she was going on a date with Neji. Quickly, Tenten threw on a pink-purple frilly dress. It had spaghetti straps, and a sort of tank top feel, but with frills that went down a lot lower than a tank top. She put mascara, lipstick, and eye shadow on, and got her purse. Her car was a little green buggy which she drove to the restaurant.

It was a really popular place called "The Hot Rock". They served sushi, seafood, and their special, the hot rock.

Tenten walked through the door- more like ran- and sat down at the booth Neji was in. "Sorry I'm late," she breathed, "I lost track of time."

"'S'okay." Neji said. "I already ordered us drinks. Do you like Mr. Pibb?"

"Yeah! I'm totally fine with that." Tenten replied, feeling her cheeks burn, and felt flustered. Okay, I am seriously going crazy! She took her napkin and laid it in her lap. "So…"

"This place is pretty hot right now," Neji commented, eyeing the dance floor. Tenten glanced over there, frowning at the dancing girls. I'm jealous?! "Right?"

Tenten came back from her thoughts. "Huh? Oh, yeah, uh huh…." She stuttered. "They're really good dancers, huh?" She watched the boys' side show their moves, then looked at Neji. He was glaring at them. Is… is Neji jealous too? She covered her mouth to keep from giggling. That's so… adorable! He's so cute! "Neji, I don't like them. Don't get the wrong idea!"

He relaxed his muscles and turned his attention back to Tenten. "'Kay."

The waitress walked up and set their drinks down. "Are you ready to order?" she said, mostly to Neji. She seemed too friendly for Tenten's taste.

"I'd like the calamari." Tenten butted in, to save Neji from answering. If he wanted to be saved, that is. He looked pretty thankful, though.

"Um," Neji murmured, "I'd like the hot rock." The waitress gave him a not-so-secret smile.

"Of course! It'll be out soon. Call me if you need anything!" She said, and bounced away. Tenten glared at her back, and when Neji wasn't looking, stuck her tongue out at her. This is so childish! Why am I doing this?

"Tenten."

"Hm?"

"I'm not interested in her." He chuckled. "Don't worry."

"Good," Tenten breathed, glad.

Nine years ago- Tenten is seven, Neji is eight.

Tenten sat on the little bench near the gates out of Konohagakure. She kept her hands intertwined around her knees, bent over a bit. Her eyes followed every little movement there was in sight. When she was this young, she would see everything. Almost like Neji with his Byakugan.

She was so focused on the movements, she hadn't noticed Ino walk up behind her. "Tenten!" she crowed. Tenten jumped nearly a foot in the air off of the bench.

"Gah! What are you doing, scaring me like that, Ino?" Tenten gasped.

Ino giggled, like a tiny girl, and said, "I just walked up. Watcha doin'?"

"Um… Staring, I guess."

"Well, stop staring and come with me. We've got a serious makeover to do, Tenten!" Before Tenten could protest, Ino was already dragging her through the village. And they didn't stop for anything or anyone, except for Neji.

He kind of gawked at them, probably because Ino had makeshift handcuffs on Tenten's wrists (using her hands), and Tenten literally on the ground, being dragged. But his only comment was a bored "Hn" and stood with his arms crossed.

"We're getting Tenten a makeover!" Ino answered the unspoken question. "It's for you!"

She looked down at Tenten with a smile, which was returned with an astonished glare. "What?" Ino asked innocently. "I'm only speaking the truth! Don't you love Neji?"

"What?" She screamed. "Ino, you're such a brat!" At that, Tenten yanked her hands out of the 'handcuffs' and stomped down the street. Not fast enough, though, because faintly she could hear Ino say to Neji, "Just you wait and see; she'll come back. It's only the first stage of love!"

And I've made it so far, now. Ino, if you could have known what was going to happen then, I would be so…. Pause… dead. Tenten thought. The memories she had of her days at the academy were ones of laughs and embarrassments. And her nonstop crushing on Neji. Her Nej!

Their food arrived, and they ate. They chatted a bit, but because both of them were a percentage of shy, they didn't say a whole lot besides, "this is a nice place," and "So, what's your favorite etc?"

Until they left and went to the bar, where they met up with Hinata and Naruto, Sakura and Sasuke, Temari and Shikamaru, Ino and Choji, and Kiba (who was still single :D).

Then the drinks came.

Oooh, another cliffhanger. I love these things! They make for a really good story. R&R!