Disclaimer: Naruto and it's characters are not mine, as in previous chapters. But I might save up and buy Ino, just so I can stop writing these stupid Disclaimers...

Pairings: ShikaxIno (maybe ;)) and SasuxSaku

Author's Notes: The Flower Shop. Yay! Ino is still heartbroken, and now even more confused about Shikamaru. I feel like I'm torturing her. Poor Ino...but it's all for the good of the story! Take it like a man Ino. Ino punches Sammi in the face.

Chapter 3

I'm laying here on my bed, gazing up at my white bedroom ceiling. I should be downstairs serving customers right now, but Dad says I can take the morning off just this once.

I keep hearing that annoying bell tinkling as someone enters my flower shop. My bedroom's right above the shop, so I can hear everything that goes on downstairs. The customers enter, look around, taking in the amazing displays and bright colours of the beautiful flowers, breathe in the delicious fragrant air and then leave with another ring of the bell. Just leave. Walk out of the shop deciding that chocolate would be a cheaper gift for that someone special.

Dad really has no talent whatsoever when it comes to serving customers. Nothing like me. Yamanaka Ino never lets a customer leave without a flower. They don't always buy the flower to be completely honest, but they'll take it when I force it into their empty hands. I have a reputation to keep up you know!

So no customer ever leaves empty-handed. Well, unless it's Sakura. I'm not giving her any freebies, no way. She can just get out of my beautiful shop and go off with her stupid Sasuke.

Sasuke. Every time I think about him, I have to stop myself from crying. It's so unfair; I shouldn't have to suffer like this because of some asshole like him, but I'm heartbroken.

There's a knock at my door. I'm so glad I have an American-style door. Not one of those annoying sliding paper things. The wooden ones give you a lot more privacy.

"Ino?" It's my Mom. What does she want now? I've told her enough times today that I'm not in the mood for one of her lectures.

"Go away Mom!"

"So you're still not feeling better yet?" Stupid question. Of course I'm not feeling better yet. It takes longer than one night to bounce back when all your efforts have been crushed into tiny little pieces.

"No Mom!" I yell back. There's a pause and I think she's gone away. One disadvantage of a wooden door: you can never tell if someone is listening outside.

"Ino?" Why can't this woman take a hint and just leave me alone?

"Yes Mom?" I'm getting annoyed again now.

"Are you on your period again?"

"MOM!" I scream at her. I hear her footsteps shuffling away from my door. I think she's finally got the idea now.

But honestly, she always thinks I'm on my period when something's up. Whenever I'm emotional, something always has to be wrong. I mean, I'm a human being just like everyone else, so I'm bound to have feelings! Surely I'm not that heartless am I?

…

…

Okay. Maybe I am a little bit heartless. But not without reason right?

…

Fine then. I'm a callous, cruel, unfeeling bitch. Happy now? Good. Oh no. I'm arguing with myself again. Please don't let me go insane because of Sasuke. I wonder if when your heart breaks in two, your brain splits in two as well…probably not. But it would explain a lot if it did!

I roll over and start pummelling my pillow to make me feel better, pretending it's Sakura's stupid, oversized forehead. Heh. That makes me feel a lot better. Almost like laughing. But if I did laugh, Mom would really think I've lost it, so I decide not to.

I hear that annoying ringing of the bell downstairs and groan. I might as well go downstairs now; I've been laying here depressed for about three hours now.

I go downstairs and into the backroom of the shop, grabbing my lovely yellow apron and tying it round my waist. I walk through to the back of the shop beaming.

"Welcome to the Yamanaka flower sho-" I stop dead in my tracks, staring at the customer in front of me.

"What's up?" Shikamaru says, leaning against the door and half-smiling at me. I don't think he's ever come in here before. That's why I'm surprised. I mean, it's not like I like him or anything. We're friends. 'Team-mates', like he said.

But, Oh My God. What does he think of me? I collapsed into tears on him yesterday, and he's comforting me (which really worked FYI), then after I stop crying, I give him another hug and run off again. I really need to stop running away from people…

I snap myself out of it in case he falls asleep waiting for me to respond, then smile, avoiding his question. "Would you like anything?" I say. He better buy something: I have my reputation as the best salesgirl in Konoha to keep up.

"I'm looking for a flower." He says absentmindedly. Ooh. State the obvious Shikamaru. He's so dreamy. Crap. I didn't mean it like that! I meant, like, he's always got his mind on other things.

"Anything in particular?" I ask. There isn't a single flower in this shop I don't know. I can name them; I know all their meanings, what compliments it perfectly in a bouquet and especially what occasion each one is perfect for.

"Its…for a girl." He says quickly. He doesn't look me in the eye and is still leaning against the door. He's gonna cause some problems if anyone else wants to come in.

"Well, how about a red rose for true love?"

"Too cliché."

"A Carnation for devotion?"

"Nah."

"A Lily for beauty?"

He shakes his head.

"What about…?" I glance around at all the beautiful flowers and my eyes rest on my favourite flower: waxy-white petals, and completely beautiful.

"A Camellia. It means perfection and adoration." I say, taking a faultless flower from its display pot and handing it to him.

He nods and takes the flower, twirling it between his fingers. Then he looks me directly in the eye and grins slyly. "The perfect flower, for the perfect girl."

Ok. So that was chapter 3!

So is Ino Shikamaru's perfect girl? You'll have to find out in CHAPTER 4!

Warning: Chapter 4 may contain weirdos in orange jumpsuits.