I am so sorry that I couldn't update sooner! Things, and I mean a lot of things, have been getting in the way! A few of them are school requirements, the internet server (It's still messing up with me!) and minor writer's block… oh, and Kankuro.
Kankuro: Oi!
Me: Anyway, I am just so, so sorry for the rather late chapter but I really, really hope that it was worth the wait.
Kankuro: It never is!
Me: Why you little--!
-chokes Kankuro a la Homer and Bart Simpson-
Kankuro: Y-You… -choke- are sooo… -hack- unoriginal… -cough- -wheeze-
Me: Shut up! Shut up! Shut uuuuuup!
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.
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Chapter Eight:
"Messed Up."
OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoO
"Cut! Okay, thank you so much, guys! That's the last rehearsal for tomorrow's play! Congratulations!"
The sound of the actors screaming in joy and relief seems to be music to my ears. I suspect that I won't be the directress of the College Drama Club so this could be the last time I'll ever say a line like that. My last play for the year is ready for performance.
Looking up at the stage from my director's seat, everyone looks so worn out and enthusiastic at the same time. But no one's more worn out than me. I still have to contact the ticket vendors and I also have to reserve the auditorium for tomorrow's play.
It'll be shown five times tomorrow: twice in the morning, twice in the afternoon and once at 8 p.m., which will be called the gala performance. The only unfair thing I hate about my job is: The money we earn from selling tickets immediately land into the Grad Ball Committee's pockets. That's the purpose of the play performance, though. It's a fundraiser from both the ball and graduation day.
Speaking of the Grad Ball, it's already in two days and I'm definitely not ready. I have both my stag status and attire to worry about. I guess I'll be heading to the mall with my pals later…
Pals. Lee and Neji. Yeah. Honestly, the first thing I did this morning, the moment I woke up, was run to the bathroom and examine my neck for hickies. Really, Neji was slick enough not to leave one.
Since this morning, I tried calling him up, but he wouldn't pick up at all. I wanted to pretend like last night never happened. Maybe he's flow along with that. But I'm guessing he's too embarrassed to even answer my text message as of now.
I watched everyone walk out of the auditorium. Shino passed me, carrying CDs that he used for the background music and all. He eyed me in disgust, pity and utter passivity. I guess he still remembers me as the nerd who got Kiba's mystery gunk onto her hair in the movie theatre.
I'll never look back at Shino the same way again.
When almost everyone was gone, Lee approached me with the copy of the script in hand (He wrote it. The lines are a tad too mushy, but it's Romeo and Juliet anyway.), "Ready to go, Tenten? We must go now. You said we were going to the mall to complete your Grad Ball look, right?"
Oh, yeah. I called Lee to accompany me to the mall to go get matching shoes and accessories for my gown. He pranced around the auditorium, saying, "Once we've got your attire together, you'll be as stunning as Cinderella with Beast's plastic-surgically improved features."
Screw Lee's poetry.
Heaving a sigh, I nipped my lip and muttered, "I think… we should really try to call Neji first…"
Lee knew why I was disappointed. I told him about last night. "He still hasn't answered any of your calls?"
"Obviously."
"Tsk. He must be avoiding confrontation, rejection and conflict like a cowardly knight fearing a dragon with halitosis…"
"Don't call him a coward!" I snapped at Lee, pointing at him with anger, "I'm scared, too. I want to talk to him so badly, but I really don't know what to say. I failed to say yes when I could. I fell asleep, damn it! I messed up! Me!"
Hearing me, Lee gave me a small pout and suggested, "Well, you said he asked you to the ball, right? Make like the love-sick damsel you are and say yes."
Saying 'Yes' to Neji's proposal has always been an option. This is weird, but Neji's the Mighty Trinity almost every girl wants out of a date-slash-boyfriend: Dark, Tall, and Handsome. Okay, so he's pale. But dark as in mysterious a la Bad Boy Stance, especially when he has that bandana on.
Before, I've always thought that whoever becomes Neji's girl, one day, will become the luckiest girl on Earth. I admit it: I wanted Neji to be my boyfriend last year. I just stopped dreaming after he got his first girlfriend.
Shaking my head wearily, I walked out of the auditorium with Lee. I asked him to call Neji to invite him to go to the mall with us. If Neji won't pick up when I'm calling him, maybe he'll pick up if it's Lee calling. Lee put his phone on loudspeaker so I could hear the conversation, too.
After fourteen rings, Neji finally picked up. I was surprised to hear a croaky whisper out of the other side, "I'm not in the mood to talk, Lee."
He has never sounded so sick, so horrible, so damn distressed since his parents died. But, heck, he still sounds attractive, strangely.
"Good morning, Neji!" Lee happily greeted him, "Are you feeling fine as a freshly-pruned rose on the Prom Queen's corsage?"
This will seriously piss Neji.
"Fine?!" Neji growled on the other side, "Did I sound fine, Lee? You wouldn't believe what I did last night, Lee! I was so stupid! Too confident! I messed up big time!"
Lee had to pretend that he didn't know what happened, so he tried to sound shocked when he actually sounds constipated, "What? Messed up? What happened, anyway? You shout like you killed someone."
Neji sighed before answering, "I went with Tenten to her house after bringing you home. We were in her room, eating ice cream and all, then she goes asking me to massage her. I was a little hesitant, but I did it. Then, I found myself kissing her… on the neck! I'm betting she thinks I'm a perverted flirt! A maniac! I'm just glad she didn't break my bones then and there. She probably hates me as of now."
Hearing Neji say all this made me arch a brow. Perverted flirt? That's what I thought before he told me how he wanted the kiss to be real and before he asked me to the ball. Right now, I kinda think it was pretty… romantic?
Lee faked a shocked tone, "No way! This is unbelievable: Like how Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt aren't married!"
…They're not?
"I know, I know…" Neji miserably answered, "Plus, I asked her to the ball. But she fell asleep and didn't answer. I bet she just pretended to be asleep so I could just leave her be. I don't know what to do, Lee."
Hey, one thing's for sure: I did not fall asleep on purpose.
"Say," Lee began, "You want to go to the mall today so we can shop for the Grad Ball? It is, after all, going to be a night of elegant fairy dancing, soothing odes of love and twinkle, twinkle little stars."
Neji has to agree to come. I am so sure he won't have anything to wear to the ball. His wardrobe is filled with vest shirts, jeans, plain shirts, bandanas and sneakers. The closest thing to formal wear is a simple and sleek polo and slacks set with a thin, black, scrawny tie. He has no choice but to come if he wants to look decent for the ball.
"Will…" Neji muttered, "Will… Tenten be there with us? Coz I'm not going if she is."
Something hit me somewhere with one big 'Ouch' (Take note: I'm pointing at my heart.).
I threw Lee an irritated look as he told Neji, "Of course she'll be with us!" I was just glad that Neji didn't hang up.
Neji didn't reply immediately. "Then, you'll have to go without me, Lee." Neji said. Bigger Ouch. He went on, "If Tenten sees me, she'll either murder me or slap me for what I did last night."
"She wouldn't!" Seriously, I didn't know if Lee was sarcastic or not.
"Believe me, she would."
I rolled my eyes and thought, "Seriously, Neji, what do you take me for?"
Lee blurted out with a rather self-assured beam, "Don't worry about that, Neji, old pal! Tell you what: Come with us to the mall and when you're faced with Tenten, be like a clueless gargoyle with a martini and mimosa and act like last night never happened."
"Stop it with the crappy poetry, Lee!" Neji suddenly yelled on the phone, "It's pissing me off too much!" After a concealed grumble, there was silence. Lee and I exchanged glances and finally, Neji mumbled, "Look, Lee, I'm not ready to face Tenten. I… I just can't, okay?"
Then, he hung up.
I sighed in wretchedness. Maybe things'll be better between us after a while. But I'm not willing to wait that long. If we still can't face each other by the time of the ball, I'll kill myself. What kind of crap have I gotten myself into?
Lee frowned with me and stuttered, "Sorry, Tenten. I tried."
With an understanding smile, I nodded and mumbled, "Yeah, I guess I know how he feels, anyway. Let's just… go to the mall without him." I rubbed my arm uneasily and walked out of the school exit with Lee.
O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O
One of these days, Lee has got to get a new car.
Getting seen riding in an emerald green colored Beetle car with a daisy spray-painted on the hood is very bad for the reputation… especially if the daisy was spray-painted on purpose.
I swear that as soon as Lee had parked his car on the fifth floor parking lot, I ran to the mall entrance as fast as I could with a jacket over my head.
Seriously, if anyone I knew saw me, I'll be graduating as 'The Batch Sissy who rides in the Gay Ass' Floral Beetle Car'. It could get worst, but that's definitely horrible as it is!
We went to the department store immediately so Lee could shop for his outfit. As usual, lee was ecstatic, running around the place like a psyched kid with a sack of free chocolates on Christmas. He quickly grabbed one of those hand-held shopping baskets for easy shopping (Be surprised: He picked the green one.) then took off with me just tailing him.
He said he wants a look that screams, "Love me, I am a classical, quixotic, noble gentleman-slash-poet." For every event, he has a theme for his wardrobe. Last prom, he said his theme was: "Respect me, the royal and handsome lover." He arrived in a purple-checkered tuxedo, a red and pink bowtie and a fake crown.
Six sections later, Lee had managed to buy the right cuff links, polo, slacks, coat, shoes and a top hat. Honestly, the clothes looked rather… normal. So, this event's look is plainly a la Willie Wonka.
As for me, all I need are some accessories and a pair of shoes that'll match my gown. Lee, and only him, has seen my gown. It's something my parents got me two years ago. I never wore it, not even once. I asked Lee to alter it and he did a pretty great job. So he knows what will be perfect with it.
"Tell me something, Tenten," Lee began as he held a Bohemian necklace, holding it against my neck, "When are you going to give Neji your answer?"
I could tell that I was blushing because of the topic. I replied while examining a beaded bracelet, "I don't plan to, really. It'll destroy everything… my friendship, my time at the ball, my graduation, my life… everything. I don't want to take that risk."
I paused as I put on a pair of dangling butterfly earrings for size, "Neji and I have been best friends and nothing more, nothing less," I continued, "Saying either yes or no could change that in a bad way. Besides, I'm supposed to act like nothing happened, right?"
Looking back at the reflection I saw at the store's mirror, I saw myself with those cheap, plastic butterfly earrings on. Not just that. I saw my eyes and noticed how droopy they were. My lip thinly scowled and everything else seems so… depressed. Deep inside, I must look worst.
But what am I really supposed to do? What was the right thing to do? When I could be shopping for my Ball garb or asking other boys to the Ball, I'm here, sulking as I think of Neji. Should I go to Neji and… say yes?
Resignedly, I took the earrings off and tried a pair of metallic blue heels. I hated the shoes. The strap squeezed the life out of my ankle. Seated on the store's stool, I just buried my face in my hands and sighed exasperatedly. What's an idiot like me to do?
I took my phone out and dialed his number. The ringing echoed in my ears. Gawd, he's taking too long, damn it. Soon, I just got annoyed and hung up. This is getting infuriating already. Why doesn't he want to talk to me? I don't know why he's such a coward now. I've made my choice. I'm going to go to him now and just talk.
I'll tell him that I felt the same way. I admit it! I also wished the kiss was genuine, real… true…
And I'm going to smack him clear with a loud "Yes!"
What was I thinking? I can't just let it pass. Ask yourself: If your hot best friend had given you a massage and kisses and had asked you to the Ball last night, can you just pretend the magic never happened? Would you let these last few days before the actual Ball just go by without telling him, "Hey, I'd love to go to the Ball with you, thank you so damn much for asking! I really, really love y—…!"
That's it. I'm going.
"T-Tenten? Hey, where are you going?" Lee called to me as I ran out of the store. Say that I'm out of my mind or whacked and I won't care. Maybe I'll sue you later, but I really, really don't care what anyone thinks now!
I kept running and just called out to Lee, "Go buy the necessary accessories for me, Lee! I owe you! I'm going to Neji's!" And there, I rushed out of the mall and called for a cab.
Oddly, I was grinning inside.
O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O
"Hey, Hanabi. Is… Neji home?"
Hanabi looked kinda shocked to see me. She stood at the doorway, as if she had seen a ghost. Was I that freaky?
But, seriously, I am an idiot for going here and not knowing what to say. Stupid, stupid, stupid!
"Uh…" she started to talk with a tense tone as she held the door slightly ajar, "He's not feeling well. He's got… uh, a rare case of gingivitis where he grows hair on his tongue and boils on his eyes. He looks ugly right now… although he always has…"
"Shut up!" An enraged yet distant voice came from inside. I knew it was Neji.
Hanabi rolled her eyes and grumbled under her breath, "He goes telling me to tell people he's sick but he goes ruining it himself…" I wanted to laugh. Hanabi opened the door wider and said, "Come in. My dad and Nana's out, playing cards. Cuz is in his room, eating chocolates all day."
Poor Neji. He really loves chocolate like a lot of sane persons on earth, but he never eats more than one bar a day. I don't know why, but he normally doesn't.
Silently, I pushed his bedroom door open and found him on his bunk, facing the window with a bar of caramel chocolate at hand. He looked really, really miserable and I saw Yuki rolling around the place like a crazed and rabid wolverine. He actually forgot to feed Yuki?!
I dodged Yuki as he rolled out of the room in a rush. The little thing looked like he was starved for days.
Miraculously, he didn't notice me come in. Oh, come on, he can't be so dejected that he'd actually not sense me or ignore me! Unless, I'm dead and he really can't see me. Oh, gawd, I hope that's not the case!
"H-Hi…" I shyly greeted him as I stood at his bedroom doorway, staring at his back.
When he heard me, he heaved a sigh and muttered, "Look, I am so, sorry and I hope you didn't come here to slap me or—…"
"What?! No!" I screamed, giving him a sympathetic expression, "I… But I came to talk to you about… last night…"
"Yes, I was a fool last night, okay!" He yelled, donning a look of fury, "You don't have to come over here to show me how true that is!"
"I didn't come over to do that! I just want to talk!"
"Talk? Or confront?"
"I said talk! Now, shut up for a minute and let me explain first! Gawd, you're stubborn!"
Turning to the door behind me to close it, I saw Hanabi witnessing everything at the doorway. Her eyes were wide in a miniature heart attack. Nipping my lip, I muttered, "Hanabi, please…" Then, I closed the door slowly in her face and locked it.
Once again, I turned to Neji and started, "Listen, last night was great, yeah, I admit it…" I knew both of us were blushing as I said that. He stood in front of me while I stood by the door timidly, "But… I dunno…"
"You're worried about us."
He said those words like he took them away from my thoughts and said it. Yeah, I was worried about the two of us.
I nodded jadedly and went on, "It's just that I don't know how to feel, okay? I mean, do you? We're supposed to be best friends. Then, this comes up. It's complicating things and it's making things harder. And… was last night supposed to change anything? Was it supposed to change us?"
All he did was stare back at me and arch a brow. Then, he spoke up, "Honestly, Tenten, I know how I feel. But I don't know how I'm supposed to feel, yeah, but you just think it's complicating things. It actually makes things a little simpler…"
"Simpler my ass!" I screamed, furrowing my brow and clenching my fists, "If it's making your life simpler then tell me: How am I really, really, really supposed to feel towards you, huh?"
I saw his eyes widen in mild alarm and probably some misunderstanding. But, really, how am I really supposed to feel? Should I just hide and act as if nothing ever happened and just keep going on with him as friends? Or should I let go of concealing it all and just admit it that I wanted to be more? Which would be right? Which one won't break us apart?
"That's your choice, Ten, so don't be so hard on yourself." Neji said, shrugging at me.
What is he? Earlier, he was so blue on his bed, eating those calorie sticks, looking so depressed and now he looks so collected and he's even shrugging shoulders at me?! Why I oughta—…
Wait. He called me… Ten? No way.
I've found a piece of the puzzle. A big one. Someone has called me 'Ten' before... and it's not Neji.
I glared back at him and mouthed these words, "You're DemonFalcon."
He furrowed his brow and snapped, "Hey, I told you about this Falcon guy already! He's not me! I'm as clueless at knowing who he is as you! I have no idea who the hell the dork is so don't go pointing out that he's me!"
"Yeah right!" I growled. I was ready to point out the clues that gave him away, "First of all, you were with me when we saw his e-mail, right? But he sent the e-mail three hours ago before that time… when we were in the school's computer laboratory."
Neji eyed me like I didn't make sense.
"Second," I went on, "He knows a lot about me. He knew about the explosion at Desert Gale, my favorite peanut butter and chocolate waffle and how I like Sasuke! That gave too much away!"
He still had a look that made him seem innocent.
"Third," I could go on forever, "When I tried to call you up when I was chatting with DemonFalcon, the phone was busy. You said you were out the whole night, but you must've just said that to slip through. Surprised that I'm making sense?"
He appeared pissed off. I've got him.
I held out my finger, pointing at him accusingly, "And lastly: DemonFalcon told me that I should go to a close friend who has experience on date tests for help. You knew that I'd come rushing to you! You wanted that kiss (And, yes, I kinda wanted it, too.)! You admitted that you wished it was real! You planned it all along!"
"I did not!"
"With all that evidence, you can't deny it: You're DemonFalcon!"
Okay, so his face didn't look shaken, guilty or any expression that said "You caught me." He simply… is just staring back.
"I told you," He snarled, slamming his hand against the door, "I'm not that damn DemonFalcon guy! Stop caring so much for that cyber stalker! You're looking for hope at someone who doesn't really exist! DemonFalcon can never be someone you'll be close to, you know!"
His furious glare drove through me. Something really tells me that even with the evidence, Neji… isn't DemonFalcon. Or is he really just a good actor?
"N-No! Stop denying it! I've caught you!"
"Caught me doing what, huh?"
"Stop playing around with me! You're DemonFalcon! Admit it!"
"Admit it? Please." He threw me an amused look, "I wouldn't admit something that isn't true. Get real."
I'm losing my patience…
"Admit it, Neji! You can't get away from this!"
Then and there, that same old smirk came back. Yeah, the very same smirk he had on when we had that kissing lesson and he probably also wore it last night. There's something about that smirk that puts me on… and off at the same time.
Then, he whispered, "You want me to admit it? Hm…"
His expression seemed to be so inexplicable… but the smirk is definitely driving me crazy! He finished his sentence…
"…Make me."
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I hope it was worth the wait, guys. It got choppy round this bend coz I got a little case of writer's block. Seriously, I redid this chapter thrice.
Kankuro: And it still sucks
Me: -sigh- Tell me what you guys think through a review. Thank you.