a/n: For all of you who read ch. 2, I'm sorry. :( I've decided to take this story in a TOTALLY (and I mean TOTALLY) different direction. But it's still NejiTen to the core, and it's supposed to be very fluffy (after this chapter, anyway... you'll see!). I'm not so happy with this chapter, but I still hope you enjoy it. :) Review!

It was just like her fairytales.

Tenten lied in bed, tossing and turning.

It was just like her fairytales…So why did she say no?

She turned to her side, rested her head on the pillow.

It was because she couldn't stand to rely on someone like that.

She'd forgiven him, but she couldn't forgive herself for acting that way. For… for being so weak. All of her life, Tenten had relied on herself. She believed

After all, she loved him. She wanted to marry him. But there was a part of Tenten – the self-sufficient part – that told her she shouldn't do this.

And, though she didn't want to think about it, maybe the fact was that she was just scared. Scared to let herself fall in love.

She hadn't slept a wink all night.

Her eyes had shadows, they were even slightly bloodshot. She looked at herself, repulsed.

This was not the way to show her ex-boyfriend how wonderfully she was doing without him, thank you very much. The only time she had gotten less sleep was the night Neji had been sent on an S-Class mission…

She clenched her fists. Why did it always come back to him? Why?

She buttoned up her usual Chinese-style shirt, put her hair up, and lovingly picked up her bag of weapons.

She opened the windows, trying to grin. Trying to face the new day. As she opened the window, some birds resting there scattered.

She lived on the top floor of a building, and she loved it. She got to watch the birds that seemed to like resting on her windowsill.

Flexing her muscles slightly, she proceeded to jump from rooftop to rooftop-, ninja style.

The cool air against her bare arms refreshed her, as did the exercise.

I'll act like nothing happened… she thought to herself…like he never failed me. Like we never dated. Like he never proposed. For some reason, these thoughts made her eyes sting.

When she got to their training spot, she was perplexed to find that her sparring partner was not present.

So where was he? He would never be late. Hyuuga Neji kept his word.

Immediately, her mind was in overdrive.

Is it another S-Class mission? Oh, God, no…

But the conclusion came like a smack in the face.

He just doesn't want to face you. He's too proud.

With regret, the last part of the thought came.

And you hurt more than just his pride.