How To Catch Someone's Eye

Ch. 14 "Change of Plans."

I don't own Naruto, but I wish I did.

"I hate that girl!" Ino paced back and forth.

They were all gathered in Hinata's house, trying to cheer her up.

"Hey, at least he told her, 'No'." Tenten half-smiled. "And, why? You barely know her."

"There is something I don't like about her too." Hinata grumbled. "And not just because of what happened earlier."

"I know her type." Ino growled and pulled at her hair. At this rate—! "And I hate those type of girls!"

"Type?" Sakura raised a brow.

"The type that does whatever it takes to get what they want." Ino muttered.

"You just described us." Tenten sneered.

"No, not you guys. You guys are cool." Ino waved her off. "I meant like they would do ANYTHING to get what they want, even if it means killing you."

"She was acting a bit odd." Hinata gave a sigh.

"Now that you mention it," Tenten laid down on her stomach when she was certain Hinata was feeling a bit better. "She was trying to seem all cute."

"That's just trying too hard." Ino stopped walking back and forth and face her three friends. "That's what it looks like when you're desperate. Notice how Naruto shot her down?"

The three mutely nodded.

Then, Hinata remembered and frowned deeper. "He already has someone whom he likes." Of course, like I would be a worthy opponent for her. I already know what the outcome would be. "It was clearly apparent on his face."

"Hmmn." Ino's gaze fell on Hinata. "Change of plans you guys."

"What now?" Tenten yawned. It was getting late.

"You two, is it okay if we focus on Hinata for the time being?" Ino gave a cunning smile.

"Sure." Tenten shrugged. "I'm cool with that."

"Same here." Sakura also yawned.

"Great! Now we just have to give her a make-over, but not a total one!" Ino then yawned. "Man, yawning is contagious."

"B-but—!" Hinata looked at her friends, wide-eyed. They're willing to put their love lives on hold just to help me?

"Plus, let's face it! You're the one who needs it the most." Ino fell back on Hinata's bed. "With the girl here now, and Naruto being who he is, you kind of are in a disadvantage."

Hinata brooded. "Thanks, guys."

Ino sprung up from the bed and was by her friend's side in a blink of an eye. "Hey, I don't mean that you can't do this, it's just that, hurdles have been thrown your way."

Ino caught Tenten give a look saying, 'Watch what you say next time, idiot.'

"Let's try a new look." Ino nodded, getting her message. "Want a hair cut? You kind of let your hair go."

"I haven't cut it in two years." Hinata blew her grown bangs from her eyes.

Hinata's hair reached past half her back. Her bangs had grown longer, and she usually placed it to the side, exposing her forehead completely, holding it down with a clip.

"Let's give you a trim. You like long hair right?" Ino gave a silent order to Sakura to get her scissors. "Well, trimming it will help it grow. Plus, I kind of liked your bangs from back then. The way you wear yours now makes you seem childish."

Sakura handed Ino the scissors, a comb and a cup of water and went next to Tenten.

They were both silent as they watched Ino 'work her magic.' Ino dunked the comb inside the cup and got it wet before she ran over Hinata's overgrown bangs. Even when it was wet, her bangs passed her chin.

Hinata tightly closed her eyes, fearing how she would look afterwards. She flinched every time she heard the scissors cut her hair. What if she makes it too short?

The black canvas in front of her eyes turned a bit grey and Hinata couldn't help but to peek, astonished that the usual hair in her face has been snipped and now covered her forehead, like she had when she was younger. She immediately closed her eyes again and gave a silent prayer.

"There!" Ino breathed out contently, taking one last snip. "It's free-uniform tomorrow, so we should lay out your wardrobe."

Sakura had forgotten about that and mentally looked through her closet, trying to find the perfect clothes so that once she got home, she can already lay them out for tomorrow.

Tenten sighed, not at all happy about that. She didn't really have anything but traditional clothing in her wardrobe, and she certainly didn't want to go to school wearing the uniform on free-uniform day. Even though she was the owner of being number one in women's karate, women's judo, and men's judo, she hated the thought of anybody making fun of her for wearing the uniform.

That's right. Men's! Tenten pouted. I am such a tomboy!

Ino saw her frown and smiled. "Need help picking out an outfit, hot buns?"

Tenten narrowed her eyes at the girl. "I thought I made clear not to call me that when I had broken your shrine for Sasuke."

"Have fun being laughed at tomorrow for wearing your new year's attire months before the actual celebration." Ino sweetly batted her eyes.

"Touché." Tenten admitted defeat.

Ino triumphantly smiled. "So I guessed right about you not having anything to wear but traditional clothes."

"So what?" Tenten snapped. "My family is very traditional."

"Do you want to go shopping after we clean up?" Ino began to pick up the clumps of wet hair on the bed sheet, cursing herself for forgetting to put a plastic bag before she began cutting Hinata's hair. "There's a few hours before sundown."

Tenten shrugged. "Why not? I don't want to go home any time soon anyway."

"Hinata, I'm home!"

Tenten froze when she heard the main door close.

"Where are you?"

Ino raised her eyebrows and looked at Hinata, who still had her eyes closed.

"M-my r-room!" Hinata stammered. "W-with some f-friends!"

As soon as she had said the last word, the door burst open, causing Hinata to open her eyes, a piece of hair getting in her eye.

She gave a small cry and began to rub her eyes, tears escaping.

Neji drank in the scene. There on the bed was some blonde long haired girl with scissors in her hands, a pink haired girl next to Tenten, and his cousin rubbing her eyes, crying?

Wait! What's that? His gaze fell on the hair on the bed. He felt his fist shake. "What are you doing to my cousin?"

"Oh, shoot. I know this looks bad, but I swear, we did not do anything to her." Ino quickly tried to hide the scissors behind her back.

"That's a likely story!" Neji snorted. "You cut her hair. That's something!"

"Okay, besides that, we did nothing." Ino rolled her eyes. "Just chill."

"You!" Neji pointed at Tenten.

"Me?" Tenten pointed to herself. "What about me?"

"You did this to get back at me!" Neji shook his head. "First throwing the ball at my face, then eating my bento, and now this? This is unforgiveable! You shall pay!"

"Blah, blah, blah!" Tenten moved her hand, making it look like it was the one talking. "Oh please, I have no grudge against you."

"What right do you have to be inside of my house?" Neji narrowed his eyes.

"Pfft!" Tenten looked at him as if he were stupid. "And here I am thinking you were smart. I was invited here, genius."

"Why you—!" Neji balled his fist.

"Neji! Stop it!" Hinata jumped up and caught her cousin's fist just in time.

Her eyes stung but she tried her best to narrow them.

Ino and Sakura were in the corner, shaking their heads.

"Oh come on, Hina." Tenten pouted. "You know I could've taken the hot head, head on."

"Tenten, you really need to learn how to cool it." Ino slapped her own face lightly and shook her head.

"This isn't over." Neji shrugged Hinata's hold on him and walked to his bedroom just across the hallway, slamming the door behind him as soon as he entered it.

"Great." Hinata breathed. "Now I have to come home to a moody Neji after we go shopping."

Tenten quickly blushed and grabbed a pillow before she screamed into it. "Oh my gawsh! What have I done!"

"Make it worse for yourself?" Ino laughed. "Nice going!"

Sakura stifled her giggles. "I never realized how your cousin is such a drama queen, Hinata."

Hinata smiled, enjoying the excuse to laugh. "Must be because my aunt raised him up as if he was a girl till the age of four."

"No kidding!" Tenten gawked. "He must've have gone through an identity crisis!"

"Correction!" Ino cleared her throat, a giggle escaping at the same time. "Still is."

Neji shook his tightly clenched fist. You are mighty opponent, I have to admit.

He had overheard mostly everything that they had said afterwards and suddenly felt self-conscious about his personality. Even his cousin made fun of him.

Sasuke. Neji shook his head. I need to talk to Sasuke.

I'm going to learn what it takes to be the manliest of men!

Neji, I don't think you should go to Sasuke for that…

xD

And well, just more girl stuff.

Next Chapter:

Shopping~!

Guess who they bump into!

Thanks for reading~!

:)