Long time no write…

Update… Something. I don't know.

[My attempts at being cool~]

I really like this chapter!

"OW!"

It just wouldn't end!

Naruto winced from the extreme pain increasing in his arm. He scowled at the laughing clique walking pass him.

They just wouldn't go away!

Sasuke looked over his shoulder and smirked with satisfaction when his eyes met with furious blue ones. Naruto was almost turning red with hate and Sasuke loved it! This was the best thing to happen since the birth of Hinata Hyuga! And that was putting this at a high standard. Naruto rubbed his arm to numb the pain. What the hell was that guy's problem? Every day it was the same thing: target, aim, and continue to torment the Uzumaki until his death (well, until the noticeable defeat). And, to be honest, Naruto didn't know what he did wrong. Everything was normal two weeks ago. It was just last week when Sasuke started acting weird, and he didn't know why.

"Naruto…"

He looked behind him and smiled shortly at the meek expression. "Hey, Hinata," he cheered.

She blushed, as always, and looked at her feet — as always.

Naruto tilted his head slightly to show his confusion. What was her deal?

"H-how are you?" she asked. Her eyes were still on the ground.

It's been four days already.

"Oh! Are you okay?"

Naruto noticed she was looking at his arm and he immediately stopped rubbing it. "I hit it against the looker…again."

She smiled sullenly and he grinned before turning away. He felt like a complete moron! She probably thought he was a tool who was also an idiot. Seriously! Who other than an idiot would continue to slam his arm against the lookers? That was his excuse anyway: "Every morning, when I change my shoes, I forget that the door pulls outwards!"

If the door pushed inward, everything inside would get smashed.

Naruto knows it's only been four days but…she probably has already sowed it in her mind.

"Are you…going to eat in the cafeteria today?" she asked.

He nodded and replied, "You bet!"

Her face turned red as crimson, and he still didn't get it.

She would never say it to his face.

But she has a stupid boyfriend.

Sasuke wasn't in Naruto's class — thank the Maker — but neither was Hinata so that made the day go by much slower. He didn't have anyone to talk to anymore since that royal douchebag decided it'd be fun to pick on him. No one looked at him; no one paid him any mind; it was like he didn't exist. It was the worst feeling since all of the people in his class used to talk to him before they realized it was started to get on the unhealthy side to do so. And he felt sorry for her, but at least he wasn't Hinata.

For a side note, it should be known that Sasuke used to be in Naruto's class, but then got transferred to Kiba's — that best-friend stealer!

Oh, and Hinata happened to be in that class too.

Today was Valentine's Day. And it just so happened to be the worst day for one poor soul, and the greatest for another.

Hinata flinched and frowned at a tap on the back of her head. And another. And another.

And another…

Why?

"Hinata."

She nervously turned to the whisper. She knew if she ignored him that'd make the day worst. Sasuke frowned and said, "Dodge them. This is boring."

She nodded and turned back to the chalkboard.

If she was so boring, then why won't he stop bothering her!

She proceeded to dodge another Sweetheart. Did he seriously buy a box of those nasty chalky things? How could he think this was fun — it hurt! This time, one landed on her desk. It read, "I Love You." Hinata frowned; that made her sick. Sasuke hated her. Another came flying and it had weird black writing on the back of it, almost like a marker. She flipped it over. It said, "Call Me."

Another one. "Date Me."

Another. "Be Mine."

And another. "Say Yes."

Hinata hid her face and put her hands over her head. Was he teasing her? He must've known that she liked him in the beginning of high school. Why would he do this!

Sasuke scowled and looked at Kiba. He gave a shrug showing he didn't know what to do.

Why was she so slow! It had to be obvious that all of these hearts being thrown at her were the clearest messages from him! It was pissing him off.

This time, he chucked, and very hard.

She dodged it as she was told.

It bounced off of the desk.

And hit a boy in the back of the head.

"Ouch!" he turned around and gave Hinata a mean look, which got him to receive a mean look from Sasuke Uchiha. The boy cleared his throat and turned back to the board. He didn't want to end up like her and Naruto.

"What's going on?" the teacher exclaimed.

He scanned the room and saw Sasuke ignoring him as he continued to glance at Hinata. A-ha! That was a cipher, wasn't it? Of course it was!

"Hyuga!"

She looked up and shivered at his deep voice. "Y-yes—"

"Detention after school!"

She couldn't do anything but pout to herself and nod.

Sasuke couldn't believe it — she stood up for him!

"OW!"

Kiba trembled angrily when the notebook that was just stuck to his face fell in his lap. The teacher rolled his eyes and turned back toward the class, seeing his used-to-be accomplice about to throw what would appear to be another book at Kiba — who the teacher thought was his best friend.

"Sasuke! See me after school!"

He nodded eagerly. Yes! A date!

After class, Hinata was, to put it plainly, scared out of her mind. The lunch bell rang and Sasuke rushed out of the room so fast she didn't have time to try and sneak away from him like she usually did. He always waited for her to leave the room first so he could follow and take away the little happiness she had left. Was he planning something? Hinata nearly gasped to herself: was he planning to murder her? That's what evil people do all the time in the movies! Oh no. She knew she should have just confided in her father and Neji. Maybe it wasn't too late to save herself! Damn it! She wished Neji didn't graduate! And even if he didn't, that good-for-nothing went to another school!

"Hinata—"

Naruto backed up when she jumped at the touch of his hand on her shoulder. He raised an eyebrow and asked, "Are you okay?"

"Oh, N-Naruto…" She nodded hesitantly. "Y-yes. I'm…fine."

He squinted his eyes. Weird. "Hey, I was waiting for you in the cafeteria but you never came."

"Oh! I'm sorry…" Actually, that's a little bad. "Um, how long were you waiting?"

"Uh…" He looked up in the air and counted his fingers. "About…fifteen minutes."

Actually, that was really bad.

No…

"I…I…"

Naruto cocked his head to the side at her trembling in a trance. "What?"

"I…"

Her heart was racing so fast.

"What?" Naruto asked again.

She looked up and he saw her terrified eyes. Her voice was faint, but clear.

"Help me."

"What—"

"What are you doing here?"

Naruto gulped and turned around. Sasuke glared and folded his arms. He looked pass the blonde's shoulder and bit his gums at the sight of Hinata calming down. She must have been lost without him! Naruto turned to see what he was looking at and…saw Hinata carelessly flattening the front of her skirt? She had nothing else better to do, like maybe be on guard! Seriously, Sasuke was around! And to be honest, Hinata was at peace with what was happening at the moment. Before it was nerve-wrecking but now only serenity and rainbows!

Side note: besides when she was at home, Sasuke has never let her be for more than five minutes. That fifteen-minute gap was scary as hell.

"Hinata," Sasuke called.

She readily stood up and walked over to him. He handed her a paper slip with a bill. "Don't be long."

Hinata nodded and rushed. Last time she took six minutes and it was like tenth grade all over again!

Flashback to the time when she took longer than five minutes…

"WHAT TOOK YOU SO LONG?" Sasuke asked — destructively — while nearly throwing a tantrum, which was followed by three days of juvenile torture.

Senior year has been the best out of all the three.

Thank you, Maturity.

Sasuke glanced at Naruto but kept his eyes on his ticking wristwatch. "Leave," he said.

Even though he furrowed his brow and bared teeth, he left as he was told. Well, tried to.

"Where are you going?" Sasuke asked. And he sounded paranoid.

"I'm leav—"

"Why were you here?" he asked.

And the worst, in which that was feared: it happened.

"He's going out with that girl," Suigetsu chimed in.

Kiba's head collapsed in his hand. Here it comes.

"What?" Sasuke hissed.

Suigetsu nodded. "Ask Kiba; he told me."

"No I didn't, you idiot!" He avoided eye contact with Sasuke and scowled at the fool who just put a bounty on his head. He told him not to say anything!

To clear the air, the past two weeks needed to be summed up. Basically, the first week started out with the main three of the clique: Kiba, Naruto, and Sasuke. Out of that group, one tormented a girl to show his affection for her, one knew that, and one didn't. Now, the one who didn't know about the troubling affection from the leader never understood why they picked on the girl. Well, the entire group didn't tease her individually but just fueled their leader's presence. Anyway, the clueless one went up to the plagued girl one day and spoke to her. Alone.

Which was a huge mistake.

"Don't take us seriously!" He laughed bashfully. "We're only kidding."

She nodded lightly, but she didn't believe him.

Then again, no one has ever talked to her in school before. And she liked that about this boy.

He didn't notice — but someone else did!

That was a Wednesday afternoon. The next day, Sasuke confronted his so-called friend.

"Do you like Hinata?" he asked impatiently.

He choked on his ramen noodles. "WHAT? No!"

Sasuke didn't believe him at first until Kiba backed it up. So, he accepted it with suspicion.

And then it happened Friday: hell.

Hinata was watching him and blushed!

That was it!

That Monday, Naruto just got his usual meal of ramen and went to sit in his usual seat with his usual friends! And there they were, his usual friends, sitting at their usual table in the lunch room, and his space opened for him next to Sasuke — then this white-haired douche just pushed him out of the way. Not only did he take his seat that he ALWAYS sat in, but he made Naruto spill his bowl of noodles. That bastard!

"Hey—"

Naruto stopped himself when he saw everyone react to the new guy's presence as if he's been their friend since forever.

He shook it off. Lost relative, maybe? "Hey! Get out of my seat!"

Suigetsu gave the blonde a dry look and said, "No."

"No?"

"This isn't your seat."

"What!"

He rested his chin in his palm. "Who are you?" he asked dully.

"Yeah, dude, who are you?" one of the guys said.

Naruto's jaw dropped. That guy was his neighbor!

"Stop fooling around—"

"This guy is a joke," another said.

"Wannabe."

"Loser."

"Go away," Sasuke finally said. Naruto was surprised that was directed to him.

So, that was the end of Naruto in the popular clique of boys. He didn't understand, and he probably never would, but he did know this: his life sucked! It wasn't as bad as Hinata's used to (and believe it when it's said that her life is so much better now; Sasuke mostly just makes her run errands for him now). Naruto didn't even think Hinata knew that Sasuke treated him like crap, and she didn't; she just thought he was brave enough to talk to her — a dumbass notion. Oh, and to add to this pathetic story, Naruto was now going out with Hinata — and the reason? It wasn't important, but whatever the reason was, it wasn't good enough.

"Hey!" Naruto shouted. He grabbed Sasuke's hand that clutched the collar of his uniform's shirt.

"This isn't funny," Sasuke lividly whispered.

"Let go of—"

He jerked him backward, then forward. "Why are you going out with her?"

"Why do you care!"

"Answer my—"

Everything calmed down, then. Well, everyone in the room calmed down — besides Sasuke. He was always freaking out according to Kiba.

"What is it?" Kiba asked when Sasuke shakily let go of the idiot's shirt.

He gulped and tapped the glass covering on his wrist. "My watch stopped working."

"What!" Kiba shouted.

Try to keep it calm, Sasuke. "What time is it?" he asked with his eyes closed.

Suigetsu shrugged. "Why does it matter—"

"Give me the time!" he snapped.

Kiba pointed at the center above the board. "There—"

"That's fast."

"How do you know that?" Suigetsu asked.

"I stopped counting at three minutes. That says it's been seven…"

Naruto frowned. Was he a serial killer or something? "Why were you counting—"

"Shut it, Naruto," Kiba yelled. Suigetsu shrugged with confusion as well. Kiba sighed and whispered, "He has…separation anxiety."

Suigetsu shook his head. That's shameful.

Sasuke was about to start hyperventilating and slowly walked to the exit of the room.

Just then, Hinata opened it and he wasn't pale anymore.

"Here," she said quietly and handed him a wrapped sandwich, a bun, and soda.

He nodded and she began to return to her seat very slowly.

"Wait," Sasuke said and she whipped around with rosy cheeks.

He was handing her the sweet bun and she chewed at her lips. "Oh, you don't have to—"

"Take it."

"Okay," she cheered quietly and smiled when it touched her open palms. "Thank you…"

He nodded and went to his seat to eat his sandwich. She did as well to eat her sweet bun. Naruto stared at the two in this stupid routine. Yes, Sasuke appeared in the lunch room every now and then, but he never ate there. Naruto always wondered where he ate and now he knew. He didn't know why though. He watched Hinata happily open the sweet bun and take a small bite of it. She must love anpan. Whenever they went to the cafeteria together she would always buy a drink, a small meal, and the same sweet bun. That was the only occasion they could really spend time together. Well, that short time and whenever classes would compete during gym. What boggled his mind was that she bought all of that for Sasuke every day and every day she would eat a sweet bun. He must have given it to her — every single day.

"Hinata, can we go to the cafeteria now? I'm starving!" Naruto whined.

Her happy chewing went away instantly. He blinked repeatedly. "What?"

She swallowed and glanced at Sasuke who stopped eating his sandwich to watch the conversation.

"I…I can't. I'm sorry…"

"What? Why not?"

She didn't know what to say. Saying, "Because Sasuke will have a conniption if I do," did not sound appropriate. And Naruto wouldn't buy that.

"Naruto," Kiba cut in. He knew Hinata didn't want to say anything. "Go get something to eat."

He frowned and put his hand on his hip. "What? You're talking to me now?"

"Leave, Naruto," Sasuke said.

He growled, but did so. Sasuke sucked balls!

Hinata didn't look at him as he left; Sasuke stared her down to make sure she didn't.

-x-

"Okay! Class dismissed!"

He put his hand outward at Sasuke getting up and Hinata packing her things. "Except for you two…"

She frowned. Great, now she wasn't going to be home in time for dinner. Her father was going to flip shit. Hinata cut her eyes over when Sasuke left his assigned seat that was adjacent to her and sat…NEXT TO HER? Why in the name of all that is holy would he sit next to her? She was scared, really scared. She looked forward to the front of the class. The teacher had his back turned to them, so now was the perfect time to commit murder — more specifically, her homicide. Well, it was a good…it wasn't a good life. She still wanted time to get away from Sasuke and lead a normal life! She had so much agony in her heart from the past painful three years that only time could heal! Damn it, she wasn't going down this easy!

Her eyes caught him grabbing the leg of her desk. Those big eyes got bigger, and he smirked up at her.

Was she going to die?

He let go of the desk since she was aware of him and just sat up and stared at her decisively. She was confused — maybe he was going to stare her to death. She always thought that Sasuke would kill her through a vicious glare that he has build up for the special occasion (otherwise known as her death), but she didn't know. Was this how she was going to go out?

Go out — that's exactly what he was going to ask her — to leave that fool for him! It was the perfect time!

She saw his Adam's apple go up and down slowly. "Will you—"

"You two," the teacher announced evilly, "I sent the group home who had cleaning duty."

Sasuke shrugged and the teacher smirked. "You two can do it — by yourselves."

"No," Sasuke said. "My cleaning duty is tomorrow—"

"Well, then, you have time to practice!" He smiled and exited the room. "Have fun."

Sasuke glared at the door. That bastard. Hinata, conflicting with herself about why this was happening to her and her life couldn't suck more, got up and picked up a cleaning cloth. Sasuke furrowed his brow and she smiled uneasily and lightly. She said, "Did you want me to do one half?"

"No," he deadpanned. She backed up when he left his seat and headed toward her.

She gulped. "I-I can do the whole room if you want to go home…!"

He picked up a cleaning spray can and her eyes shut from fear. Was he going to spray her in the eye with that stuff!

Hinata felt his hand grab her hand that held the rag and looked up at him.

"It will go by faster if we do each side at the same time," he said.

Her face was turning red and she hid it with a bow.

He was being amazing right now! Maybe he was going to shock her to death.

Anytime he had he got a whiff of her — she smelled like cinnamon!

He wasn't a creeper, promise.

However, his plan worked; sniffing her hair made time fly by!

"Is something wrong?" Hinata asked when Sasuke stopped cleaning.

If she thought she would get scolded for it, she wouldn't have asked.

"I'm leaving," he said, grabbed his bag, and left. She frowned.

Really? He left her here with all of this work! Well, there were only two windows left, so that wasn't that bad — but still!

And still, Sasuke didn't care if she was mad about him leaving her high and dry. He had business. He already put what his mother dropped off for him at the beginning of lunch where it was meant to be, but he thought it needed a note now. Damn, lunch today was cracked out.

Hinata sighed as she approached her shoe locker. Today was as tiresome as usual. She just wanted to be over with high school already. She opened her locker, and to her surprise there was a bag and letter on top of her shoes. The bag was more of a clear wrapping paper and the letter was folded in half neatly. She smiled serenely.

"Naruto," she whispered.

That definitely jabbed an ego nearby.

She couldn't tell what was in the bag, but it looked like candy. She opened the note up — and her smile disappeared.

It wasn't that she was disappointed or anything — she was just shocked.

The letter had turned her speechless: "Leave your boyfriend. And don't make me say please."

Normally, she would automatically think this was a threat (from Sasuke) but the wording meant the exact opposite; this was a request. Hinata slowly unwrapped the baggie in her palm, and out came miniature chocolate ice cream cones. Did someone…actually like her?

She popped one in her mouth and — chocolate ice cream? It tasted just like it!

She never told a boy that she liked chocolate ice cream.

Well, she told Sasuke but…no.

He would never…no. She shook it off.

But if he did…

From around the corner, Sasuke cheered from within when his love reread the note over and over again! She opened and closed it and opened and closed it! Then she ate another ice cream candy — he knew she would like those! Now, it was time! Yes, it was time to go through with what he had been planning for a month now. True, he didn't expect her to be going out with anyone but no matter! He would succeed — he just needed to get some courage because he was clenching to this wall like a pit bull on a leg. Or…maybe he'd just do it another day. Yeah, that sounded like a great idea.

And good thing he did because Naruto just came and offered to walk his lovely lady home.

He smiled at her amazement. "N-Naruto!" she squeaked.

A grin was coming, but then he saw the gift. "Where did you get that from?"

"Oh…" She stared at it a little spaced out. "I don't know…"

He peaked over. "What does the note say—"

"Nothing!" She blushed and hid it at her side. He shrugged when he saw the candy.

"Are you okay?" she asked.

He tried to sneak one but made a grimace at the taste; he was a vanilla guy.

"You didn't have to wait for me," she said timidly.

Naruto moved his hands to the back of his head. He shrugged, grinning. "I don't mind."

Glancing over, he saw her staring at the gift as they made their way home.

"Do you like chocolate ice cream?" he asked and she nodded.

"I do," she answered airily.

"Oh…" This was getting awkward with her infatuation with the candy. "I didn't know that."

Yeah, she figured as much.

Favorite part, hands down, is when Sasuke freaks out about the time.

[Gotta love the ones who are always out of it.]

Favorite line(s): Naruto was now going out with Hinata — and the reason? It wasn't important, but whatever the reason was, it wasn't good enough.

Well, I must admit…there's one chapter left.

[See you in 3 days…]