I am going on a date with Kankuro. I know what you're thinking: why on earth would you go on a date with him? You don't even like him. And you'd be right; I don't really like him—not in that way. But he is actually kind of nice (when he isn't trying to flirt the pants off of me) and I wouldn't mind trying to be friends with him. We're going out on Saturday to see a movie, so I have a couple of days yet to prepare myself.

How did I get a date with Kankuro, you ask? Actually, it happened during lunchtime after I had my argument with Neji. I was sitting with Naruto and Lee under the shade of a giant oak tree when Kankuro walked over to us, his hand rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly.

"Tenten, could I talk to you for a sec." He asked.

I looked up at him, feeling apprehensive. I really didn't want to go through this again, but I sighed, standing up to walk over to him.

Kankuro smiled at me slightly. "Thanks. I wanted to apologize for today. I can come across a little strong when I like someone, so I'm sorry for that. But I would really like to go on a date with you sometime. Just so you can get to know me better. I'm not always the jerk I come across as."

I stood there, speechless. He wanted to go on a date with me? I thought he usually just said that to annoy me. "Um," How was I supposed to respond to that?

"If you don't want to I'll understand, but even if we just go as friends. It would make me really happy."

I blinked. Then blinked again. Finally—after lots of blinking—I managed to say, "Okay."

Kankuro grinned. "Really?"

"Yeah. I'll go on a date with you, but only as friends." I added quickly when he opened his mouth to say something.

"Thank you!"

I gave him a stern look. "But Kankuro, as soon as you do something that makes me uncomfortable, I'm out of there. Got it?"

He nodded his assent. "No flirting. Got it." He grinned again. "Thank you." Kankuro took a step back, turning away slightly. "I need to get back to Gaara. I'll talk to you later."

"Alright, see you." I waved a quick goodbye before turning around to face the shocked looks on my friends' features.

The bell rings to signal the end of the school day and I shove my books into my bag. I feel a hand on my shoulder and look up to see Kankuro walking past.

"I'll text you later about where to meet for our date on Saturday." He says, his eyes sliding quickly to a spot behind me before coming to rest on my face again. He smirks, waving as he walks away.

I hear books crashing to the ground behind me and I spin around, only to see Neji staring at me with wide eyes.

"You alright Neji?" I ask, a little uncomfortable under his scrutiny.

"Date? You're going on a date with him now?" His voice was quiet but it shook with emotion when he talked.

I raise an eyebrow at him and prop a hand on my hip. "Yeah. But I don't see how it's any of your concern."

Neji's eyes harden and he shoots me a glare. "No, apparently it isn't any of my concern." He picks the books up off the floor and shoves them in his bad before throwing it over his shoulder. "Enjoy your date." He says, walking past me without even glancing in my direction.

I'm left in the classroom by myself, feeling my heart squeeze painfully at the way he just dismissed me. I growl, hating the way I react to him when he is being mean to me. "I don't care." I mumble to myself as I head out of the class to go home. "I told myself I wouldn't care anymore about what he thinks."

So why do I feel so sad?

Neji doesn't talk to me for the rest of the week—doesn't even look at me. I try to tell myself that his indifference doesn't affect me. That it doesn't shatter a piece of my heart every time he turns away from me. There is no reason why it should hurt me—it's not as if I like him. Right? I've never thought of Neji in that way before. He has always only ever been my rival. I strive to do better than him in sports and I struggle to keep up with him academically. So why? Why have I always sought out this rivalry with him?

Well, if I'm answering honestly, it's because I want him to notice me. To acknowledge me. Just like how I have always noticed and acknowledged him. Does that mean that I like him?

I groan my frustration and whack my head against the popcorn container that I'm holding. Kankuro gives me a weird look from the seat beside me.

"Are you okay? The movie isn't that bad, is it?" He asks, his eyebrow raised in concern.

Crap. I forgot I was out. At the movies. On a date. And here I am with my head full of a lavender eyed jerk that isn't even here.

I smile sheepishly at the boy beside me. "Sorry Kankuro. I was just spacing out a little. It won't happen again."

"Good. 'Cuz they're just about to get to the best part of the movie." Kankuro replies, indicating the start of what will no doubt be an epic fight scene. Not that I'm really interested in the movie right now. Or this date. Which is sad because Kankuro has been nothing but nice to me since we met up this morning. He paid for my lunch and even insisted on paying for my movie ticket. The only reason I had eventually let him was because I had demanded to buy the snacks.

Kankuro is being really nice. He is sweet and funny but has that dark, bad boy aura around him that most girls would swoon over. Me? I'm not most girls. I'm not attracted to him at all.

I sigh, settling back into my seat as my thoughts once again turn to the pale eyed boy that probably doesn't even care that I'm here.

"Neji, I'm really happy that you asked me to hang out with you today. But what I don't understand is, why here?" Rock Lee asked his friend suddenly. The two of them had been walking around the main square for the last half hour and Lee was starting to get bored.

Neji just shrugged his shoulder, the scowl that had been on his face all morning still visible. "Why not?" He counted.

Lee raised one of his perfectly un-manicured brows at the Hyuga. "This wouldn't happen to have anything to do with Tenten going on a date with that guy from Suna, would it?"

A low growl emanated from within Neji and he turned his glare onto Lee. "Of course not. Why would I care what that woman does? She is of no consequence to me."

Lee sighed, feeling sorry for his moody friend. It would be much easier if he would open up and just say what was on his mind for once instead of burying it all the time.

Neji was furious. He had no idea why—alright so he did, but he refused to admit it. He kept telling himself that he wasn't at the town's main square just to try and catch a glimpse of a certain brunette female. He didn't care that she was out on a date—Neji growled just thinking the word—with someone else. And Neji certainly wasn't going to walk up to that jerk Kankuro and punch him in the face if he saw him touching her.

Neji turned the corner, practically stomping, and prepared for another lap around the square. Lee sighed beside his socially challenged friend. This is going to be a long day. He thought.

I have never been the kind of girl that feels nervous going to school after something big has happened in my life. Not even when my classmates found out that my mother had walked out on dad and I. I had walked into school amidst whispers and stares and didn't care. I had gotten angry at times since some kids didn't know when to quit, (which is how I became Naruto's friend. I had punched him in the face for asking too many questions but apologized afterwards because I knew he was just trying to help. We've been best friends ever since.) However I was never anxious about going to school and facing my peers.

Today, though, I can feel my palms sweat and my heart beats fast in my chest at the thought of seeing a certain person at school.

"Tenny!" I turn around to see Kankuro waving at me in the distance. He jogs over to me and grins, bending over at his knees to catch his breath.

"Hey Kankuro. How's it going?" I ask, a little confused as to why he has stopped me.

Kankuro just keeps on grinning. "Good, good. I was wondering if you were free this weekend. Maybe you could go out somewhere with me again." He sounds so hopeful that it makes me smile lightly. He really is a nice person—after he stops acting like a douche—but I don't feel anything for him. Even my racing has calmed down after speaking to him, knowing that he isn't the person I am anxious to see.

"I'm sorry Kankuro but it's like I told you on Saturday. I can't go out with you."

Kankuro pouts, his shoulders drooping in disappointment. "You don't want to give it another shot? Maybe if I kiss you you'll change your mind." He adds, wagging his eyebrows at me.

I raise a hand in defence, fighting to keep the smile off my face. I know he is just fishing for a bite now. "If you kiss me I will smack you in the face." Kankuro laughs and I raise an eyebrow at him. "I'm not joking. I'll smack you so hard you'll be seeing stars for a week if you even so much as think about planting one on me."

"Okay, okay. I won't kiss you. But we would have been great together, you know." He says almost wistfully.

I grin. "I'm sure we would have been. I'll see you around Kankuro."

Kankuro waves as I turn to walk away. "Maybe Ino will go out with me. She's cute."

Laughing, I turn back around to face him. "Good luck with that. She's a feisty one so be careful." I walk away, shaking my head in laughter. He got over me pretty quickly I think with a chuckle.

I am strolling down the hall minding my own business, when a hand claps around my wrist and jerks me into a nearby empty classroom.

"Hey!" I shout, trying to fight my attacker. But I feel disoriented and can't see my assailant straight away. "I swear if that's you Kankuro and you're trying to steal a kiss than I won't stop at just slapping you."

The hand gripping me turns me around until my back is against the door. I stare in shock as Neji's pale angry eyes look back at me. "We need to talk." He practically growls, his eyes narrowing on his beautiful face.

I snap out of my shock and glare at him, standing tall despite the door at my back. "No, I don't think we do. I have nothing to say to you Neji."

A threatening noise sounds from deep in his throat and he slams his hands either side of my head on the door frame. "I'm sorry but I have plenty to say to you."

"If you don't move out of my way right now Neji, I will knee you where it hurts." My eyes grow hard and I heighten my glare. He has ignored me for almost a whole week and now he wants to talk? Hell no! I am not going to give him the satisfaction of hurting me anymore.

I push on his chest but he doesn't budge so I try to wiggle my way out from underneath his arm.

Neji shakes his head, his eyes never leaving mine. "You're not leaving until I have talked to you."

Tears suddenly prick my eyes and I feel defeated. I can't keep doing this dance with him. It hurts too much. I look up at him, both ashamed and uncaring that he can see the tears forming in my eyes. "Please Neji." I beg.

Just when I think he is going to back away from me—what boy wants to deal with a hysterical female?—he grabs my face in his hands and slams his mouth against mine in a searing kiss.

R&R's are loved. Thank you. ^.^