I'm alive! I don't think I can apologize enough for taking so long to update. I had the chapter done, but then I didn't like it, and writer's block kicked in, so I finally just deleted it and started over. Anyways, I won't take up anymore of your time.

It's been so long I suppose I should remind you that I don't own Naruto. Just Nanami.

Chapter 11- That's Your Opening Line?

Finally, after four very long days, Friday had arrived. Nanami was looking forward to today for a number of different reasons the foremost being the results from basketball tryouts. She got ready quickly not looking much different from how she usually did and dragged Naruto to school. Even Naruto, who wasn't a morning person at all was excited about today.

"Hey Nanami, I told Kiba that you would drive all to the movies tonight. Is that cool?" Naruto asked as he got out of the car.

Nanami looked surprised. "Um sure. It's not the whole group right? Because I don't think Little Red can handle that."

Naruto shook his head. "No he assured me it wasn't everybody. In fact, I think it might just be you, me, him, Hinata, and Shino."

"Oh, okay." Nanami agreed.

She was actually more excited about this now. She hadn't had the opportunity to really talk to Hinata since the Hole. She was convinced that tonight would be the perfect night to try to hook her up with Naruto. She knew Naruto would like her if he just got to know her a little more, and she couldn't get over how cute they would look together.

Naruto gave her a big grin and goodbye before running off to his first class. Nanami found herself looking forward to her first hour more and more each day. Her and Gaara's daily quips were entertaining to say the least. She never did tell him what she found out about him on the internet. For one thing, she didn't understand how it linked him to Naruto. For another, she liked letting him think he had the upper hand. It would just make it that more enjoyable when she ripped the rug out from under him.

All of her morning classes seemed to fly by until Art. Their projects were due today and the farthest Nanami had gotten on it was her name on the back. However, no matter how long she stared at it she couldn't come up with anything to draw. Tenten glanced over at her warily.

"Girl, you are so not going to make a good grade."

Nanami groaned. "I know. I'm sorry, but I've got to switch classes. I won't be able to pass if this is how my first assignment goes."

Tenten gave her a small smile before going back to her work. Tenten's was amazing. It was a baby grand piano with a purple backdrop, golden notes floating through the air, and boy sitting on the bench. Nanami had asked several times who it was supposed to be, but Tenten would always blush and look away. However, Nanami was positive it was Neji. Especially since she found out he played the piano for the vocal class. Before Nanami could even contemplate drawing a circle on her paper, the bell rang. She sighed staring down at her blank piece of paper. Everyone else was eagerly handing over their works to Kurenai before hurrying out the door. Nanami was at the very back and she practically threw her paper at Kurenai before trying to sprint out the door.

"Hey Nanami, hold on a second." Kurenai called out.

Nanami debated on pretending like she didn't hear her before grudging turning back.

"Yes Miss Kurenai?"

"Is this your assignment on how you view the world?" She asked curiously.

"Yes." Nanami admitted meekly.

Kurenai stared back down at the sheet. "It's blank."

Nanami bowed her head embarrassed. "Yes."

"I kind of expected as much from you. You have a pure view of the world, right?" She asked smugly.

Nanami perked her head up. That may not have been what she was going for, but that sure sounded good. However, then Nanami looked up into her red eyes and felt the guilt weigh down on her for even thinking such a thought to get a good grade.

"No Miss Kurenai, I can't draw. Art wasn't an elective I chose, and I don't feel like I'll be any good at this class." She admitted.

Kurenai looked thoughtful. "Just because you couldn't draw doesn't mean you wouldn't make an attempt at this. You don't seem like the type of person to just give up on something."

Nanami stared at the blank paper in Kurenai's hand. Now it just looked mocking.

"I-I…um?" Nanami searched for anything to say, but came up just as blank as that paper.

Kurenai smiled. "I'll tell you what, I'll let you transfer to another class on one condition."

Nanami looked up anxiously. "What?"

"You have to turn in this finished assignment by the end of the year and I don't care if it's full of stick people and lollipop trees. Deal?"

Nanami thought about it. If she stayed in this class, she was sure to fail. She didn't understand what was important about finishing an assignment for a class she wouldn't be taking either. However, maybe without the pressure of a short-term due date, she could actually finish it. And Kurenai said it didn't have to be amazing either.

Nanami nodded. "Okay, sure. I can handle that."

The day went by much faster at that point and Nanami was headed home in the best mood of her life. Mr. Umino helped her switch out of Art, and she would be taking Home Ec. Monday. Then, she found out she did make the basketball team. The downside was so did Temari, however, the upside was Sakura and Ino did too.

Nanami parked Little Red and skipped up to her room wondering if she should change clothes to something nicer. However, she was comfortable in what she was in, and it wasn't like she was trying to impress anybody. She blushed at that thought. She hoped she wasn't trying to impress anybody. Instead she pulled out her homework to pass the time. Naruto wouldn't get out of practice until five, so they decided to catch a six o'clock movie and maybe grab something to eat afterwards. Nanami worked on her math which was difficult even for her, finished her chem, and was just pulling out her history book when she heard the door open. She jumped surprised to see it was five already.

"Hey Nanami!" Naruto greeted on his way to his room. "Kiba and Shino are downstairs, and we have to go pick Hinata up."

"Okay." Nanami hollered back.

She hopped up from her desk, did some last minute appearance checks, grabbed her purse, and walked down the stairs. Kiba and Shino were standing around uncomfortably wearing their usual attire making Nanami glad she didn't dress up.

"Hey guys! What's up?" She greeted.

Kiba broke out in a grin while Shino remained impassive.

"That's your opening line? What's up?" He teased.

Nanami rolled her eyes. "I could have asked how's school." She pointed out.

He wrinkled his nose. "It's Friday, we don't have to think about school for another two days." He complained.

Nanami laughed. "That's definitely the truth."

They laughed along with her and finally Naruto came running back down the stairs showered and dressed in a black tee, orange shorts, and a black baseball cap.

"You guys ready?" He asked running out the door.

The other three shook their heads before following Nanami's eager brother to the car. Naruto instantly hopped in the front passenger seat leaving Kiba and Shino to sit in the back.

"Okay so how do I get to Hinata's house?" Nanami asked as she backed down the drive.

"You're going to go down this street, take a right, go about three miles, and then turn left. Trust me, you won't miss it." Kiba instructed.

Nanami nodded her head as she followed his directions. For the most part she listened to Naruto narrate how football has been going. Sasuke apparently has been seeing a lot of action as the quarterback during practice which had the blonde in a twit. Kiba dogged on Naruto about it, but Nanami wasn't paying too much attention. She was beginning to notice that they were getting into a very ritzy neighborhood.

"Um, are you sure this is the right way?" She asked uncertainly.

Kiba looked up. "Yeah, you're going the right way. Look, there it is right there."

Nanami's mouth dropped open. If it wasn't for the sign in front that said 'Hyuuga Estate' she wouldn't believe it. It wasn't a house it was more like a mansion. Nanami pulled up to the gates unsure of what to do.

"I'll text her and let her know we're here." Kiba said as he reached for his phone.

However, it wasn't necessary as the small blue haired girl came walking down the long path. Kiba got out so she could hop in between him and Shino.

"H-Hello everybody." Hinata greeted.

Nanami turned around in her seat in awe. "Hinata, you live there?"

Hinata blushed. "O-Of course."

Kiba laughed. "Nanami you act like you didn't know Hinata was an heiress."

Nanami felt shock overcome her again. "I didn't."

"Oops." Naruto commented.

"Naruto, you dope!" Kiba chastised.

Everyone started laughing except for Hinata.

"I-It's not N-Naruto's fault." She argued.

Kiba rolled his eyes, but Naruto smiled.

"Yeah, that's right. Hinata is on my side."

Hinata blushed instantly as Naruto smiled back at her. Nanami felt herself smiling at how cute it was. Even if Naruto was completely unaware of it, he was probably making the girl's heart soar. Interrupting to ask for directions, Nanami got them to the theater with twenty minutes to spare.

"Okay, so what do you guys want to see?" Kiba asked.

Nanami looked up at the list of movies. There was The Other Guys, Eat Pray Love, The Expendables, Vampires Suck, and The Exorcism. Nanami was getting nervous. Eat Pray Love sounded like the only safe one, but it was a chick flick and she and Hinata were outnumbered.

"Let's see The Exorcism!" Naruto yelled.

"No!" Nanami and Hinata yelled at the same time.

"Well we're not seeing a stupid comedy like The Other Guys or Vampires Suck." Shino remarked.

Kiba scratched the back of his head. "So Eat Pray Love or The Expendables?"

"Please not the girly one!" Naruto begged.

"So The Expendables sounds cool with everyone?" Kiba double checked.

The other three instantly started nodding their heads. Nanami, however, was hesitant. Maybe it wouldn't be as bad as she thought.

"Okay." She shrugged.

"Alright, two for The Expendables." He told the ticket tender handing her the money.

He took the tickets and turned back around looking at Nanami. Nanami blushed thinking that he had just bought her ticket.

"Thanks." Shino said taking the ticket from his hand and walking inside.

Kiba looked baffled before he followed after him slightly annoyed. Nanami hid a laugh and watched Naruto walk up to the ticket counter.

"One-OW!"

Naruto yelped in pain after Nanami elbowed him in the ribs.

"What was that for?"

"Buy Hinata's ticket!" She whispered urgently.

"Why?" Naruto asked confused.

Nanami desperately tried to think of something. "Be-Because…poor little Hinata is so shy. You can't possibly expect her to buy one herself."

Naruto's eyes widened in understanding. Nanami smirked at how well he bought it.

"Two for The Expendables." He told the clerk.

"Come on Hinata, let's go!" He told her handing her the ticket and dragging her inside.

Nanami could tell from her blush and the smile spreading across Hinata's face that she did the right thing. She bought her ticket and followed after the others.

"Hey Nanami! Do you want some popcorn?" Kiba asked from the line at the concession stand.

"Sure." She nodded.

He nodded back excited before he told the man his order. Naruto was in line behind him, and Shino and Hinata were standing off to the side next to the theater.

"So Hinata is Naruto getting you something?" Nanami feigned innocence.

Hinata blushed. "H-He said t-that he would t-take care of everything for me tonight."

Nanami cooed and hugged Hinata while the other girl tried to play it off. Pretty soon the boys were back with three popcorns and five drinks. Kiba handed one of the popcorns and a drink to Shino and then turned to Nanami.

"I was thinking maybe we could share the popcorn. You know unless you don't want to." He told her blushing.

Nanami smiled before grabbing a handful out of the bag. "I don't mind."

Kiba shot her a dazzling smile that betrayed his relief and excitement. Taking Nanami's hand in his, they walked into the movie theater. She wasn't exactly sure, but this was starting to seem like a date. Surprisingly enough though, that didn't really bother her.

She sat down next to the others so that it was Shino on the end, then Hinata, then Naruto, her, and Kiba. The previews started and Nanami was surprised by how violent they were. She gulped previews were usually a good indication of what the movie is like.

"Kiba, what's this movie about?" She whispered.

He raised an eyebrow confused. "Haven't you seen the previews? It's like a monster action movie that casted every big action hero star."

Nanami started to panic that didn't sound like it was good news for her. She stared at the screen with dread as she clinched the arms of her chair tighter.

"Are you okay?" Kiba asked worriedly.

The movie had started and Nanami could feel her heart beating faster.

"I've got to go." She suddenly announced getting up despite the protest from the other movie goers.

Her friends looked at her concerned, but she ignored them for the time being. She had to go. If she looked up at the wrong moment…

She had just reached the aisle when the first gunshot was sounded through the theater. She instinctively looked up at the movie, and felt her world going black. The red blood on the screen being the last thing she had seen.

So was it worth the wait? I figured since I started this story last fall that I should use some movies from that time period. It worked since there was a movie I could comfortably use for Nanami's...unease. So what's wrong with Nanami? I guess you'll just have to wait for the next chapter. Bwahahaha! (Seriously though, I'll work on it right now so you're not waiting an eternity for it.) Anyways leave me a review telling me what you think.