OH MY FREAKING GOD!!!! THIS TOOK FOREVER...AGAIN. OKAY SO THIS IS EITHER GOING TO BE A REALLY GREAT CHAPTER OR A HORRIBLE ONE. HORRIBLE BECAUSE I DON'T USUALLY WRITE THIS KIND OF SCENE ( not a sex scene or anything ) WELL, USUALLY BECAUSE I DON'T USUALLY GET FAR ENOUGH IN A STORY TO REACH THIS POINT. ANYWAYS, IF ITS BAD I WILL REWRITE IT LATER, WHEN I RE-POST IT.
A LOT OF THIS WAS REALLY UNEXPECTED, UNPLANNED, AND SUDDENLY DECIDED LATE AT NIGHT WHILE TYPING OUT OF BOREDOM. SORRY I TOOK SO LONG, BUT I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF MOVING. NOT A BIG MOVE OR ANYTHING, JUST TO A DIFFERENT HOUSE NOT TOO FAR FROM MY OLD ONE. IT'S MUCH BETTER THOUGH AND I AM SERIOUSLY IN LOVE WITH IT.
I REALLY NEED YOU TO READ MY AUTHORS NOTE AT THE END OF THE CHAPTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Chapter 6
Hinata bit her lip, staring into the mirror. She'd slept on and off all night, unable to clear her mind enough to get a good night's rest. She'd finally just surrendered sometime around 4:00 AM, grabbing a book. She hadn't, however, had much luck with that either, her mind swirling through the previous day's events and refusing to absorb any of the story.
Resisting the urge to chuck the book at the wall, she tossed it to the foot of her bed and leaned against the wall, hugging her pillow to her chest, and trying to figure out what the hell to do.
~*~*~*~ YEA!!! A REALLY IMPORTANT FLASHBACK!!!!! ~*~*~*~
Hinata slipped inside, shutting and locking her front door, before she allowed herself to fall back against it weakly. What the hell had just happened.
Shaken, she brought a hand to her mouth touching her lips. She could still feel the presence of Kiba's there, hot and desperate and seeking for something, though what she didn't know. Something she didn't think she could give.
But what was it?
It was her first kiss,that's what. And it was gone. She could never have it back.
She chewed her lower lip, wishing them to return to normal, wishing her heart rate to decelerate and forcing her mind to replay the event. To try and search for the warm tingles, the happy butterflies, the light-headed dizziness she'd always imagined would come with her first kiss. She closed her eyes, hoping, wishing, trying with all her might, to summon up the pleasantries she'd anticipated.
And yet she couldn't. All she could see in her mind's eyes was the slightly hungry look in his eyes. The way his lips had crashed down on her's, leaving them feeling scorched, bruised. The way his tongue had traced the lines of her lip seeking entrance she hadn't offered, wasn't prepared for.
No, this wasn't what she'd expected at all. Wasn't what she'd spent hours upon hours dreaming about, anticipating.
And now she'd never have it: Her imagined first kiss.
She squeezed her eyes shut, screwing them closed against the liquid heat she could feel building behind them.
"Hinata?"
Snapping her head up with a small, surprised gasp, to find her sister staring at her from the foot of the stairs. She was already dressed for bed, looking as cute as ever in her small, blue, cotton shorts, her long black hair hanging loose around her shoulders falling naturally into place.
Some girls just got all the luck, and it was stupid of her to have thought for a moment that she was one of them.
"Um, yeah?" She replied, wiping furiously at her burning eyes, willing them dry. "W-what is it?"
Hanabi frowned, looking her sister over.
"What are you doing home so early?" She cocked her head to the side. " And why are you wet?"
Hinata bit her lip, trying to force the happy smile of a girl just returning from her first date. She was sure the result was mediocre, but it was the best she could muster, given the situation.
"A-am I really h-home um...early?"
Hanabi raised one eyebrow, pointing to the clock on the wall. She followed her little sister's finger. Apparently she'd been gone for an hour. Was that early? Were dates supposed to last longer than that? She didn't know, having never been on one before. It hadn't seemed that quick...
Probably because, if she'd been honest with herself, she'd been counting the minutes until it was over.
Her sister focused her attention back on her sister. " So what did you do anyways? You're drenched. You might not want to let Dad see you like that."
Hinata shifted nervously, her eyes fixed on her slightly damp shoes.
"I-I'm not that wet..." She mumbled, her voice low, heat spreading across her cheeks, willing her sister away, leaving her alone with her shattered fantasies.
Hanabi was quiet for a while,her eyes searching over her sister until Hinata was sure the conversation was over. Then she spoke up once more.
"You might want to change, before you meet that Naruto guy."
She felt like she'd been punched in the gut.
How could she have forgotten? She was set to meet Naruto in...um...
She glanced up towards the clock once more.
5 minutes ago.
Great.
Dashing upstairs she ran into the bathroom, splashing water on her face, trying to tell herself that she didn't need a shower. The stickiness would wear off...wouldn't it?
Lifting her face, she stared in the mirror. The whole from of her shirt and her pants, even though the bathroom mirror only showed to her waist, were stained brown from the soda and were damp and chilled. Her hair was dripping and smelled sickly sweet, and was drying in clumps, and her eyes, pink and watery with tears threatening to spill over, seemed so blatantly, obviously, miserable.
She looked more like the recipient of a cruel practical joke than a girl returned home from her first ever date.
And that was enough to spill the tears over the edge. Sniffling, she turned so that her back was to the sink, sliding down to the floor. Sitting there, alone in her bathroom, she drew her knees up and allowed herself to cry over the disaster that was her dating life.
Standing, she hurried to her room to change into something clean, mourning the loss of her puffy jacket. Why did that have to be the one the soda spilled on? Grabbing the violet one, she shrugged into it, pulling on a pair of black jeans that were just loose enough for her to be comfortable. Pulling her hair back into a rough ponytail in a desperate attempt to hide the stiffness, she stepped into the closest pair of dry shoes and dashed out the door.
Naruto had been waiting for 15 minutes already.
Naruto frowned, casting another look at his watch. He'd been waiting for 20 minutes outside of Ichiraku's,his camera dangling from a cord around is neck, and the customers were giving him weird looks. At least three employees told him to leave, one demanded he buy something ( the soda cup that was now sitting, drained, at his feet ) and one old woman had offered him change, thinking him homeless.
He looked down at his clothes, a slightly over sized, orange, shirt and some baggy jeans with a hole in the knee. Sure these weren't his dress clothes, but seriously? Homeless? Not quite.
He sighed, looking down the street. Where was Hinata?
He shuffled his feet impatiently, his hand in his jacket pocket, curled around the egg.
She wouldn't stand him up, would she? No she didn't seem like the type.
He gave a short, humorless laugh at the thought. Standing him up? It not like this was a date or anything...
Date...She couldn't still be out with Kiba could she? He felt the familiar ball of jealousy uncurling in his chest. She probably was. She'd seemed so happy about it in the e-mail. Maybe she hadn't come out and said it, but he was sure she was. I mean, if he'd asked her out that he'd obviously found her pretty, right? That had to have made her happy.
She was so sure she wasn't.
She liked being told she was pretty. Not in a vain way, no, she was anything but vain. His words had made her happy...but probably not as happy as Kiba's. Surely Kiba had told her how pretty she was, after all, the guy wasn't blind.
His hand tightened around the egg.
He could imagine it now, her biting her lip in eager anticipation as she waited by the door, counting the minutes until he arrived. She was probably all dressed up too, like she was this morning. Hell, she'd probably done that for Kiba too... What other reason would she have? It's not like she'd done it for him, for Noodlefox.
He squeezed the egg a little harder.
He could imagine her peeking through the curtains- she was sure to have curtains- as he walked up the steps. She probably had steps too. He could imagine her leaning against the wall in that pretty violet jacket and maybe a skirt -Yeah, she'd look great in a skirt. Adorable. - to catch her breath, composing herself to answer the door. He could just imagine her, that adorable little shy look on her face as she'd opened it, probably stuttering as she greeted him, accepting the flowers he'd probably brought. The flowers a girl like her deserved on her first date. Hell, on any date.
He could just imagine Kiba being welcomed inside while she put her gorgeous flowers in a vase. He'd probably charmed her family. He knew for a fact that Kiba could behave himself when the opportunity arose, and this was definitely the right opportunity. He'd probably chatted a little with them while she sat quietly watching, smiling behind her glass and sneaking glances towards her flowers.
He didn't notice his fingernails scraping against the shell of the egg.
Kiba had probably taken her somewhere special, somewhere with soft lighting and excellent food. Somewhere where she'd been dazzled by the romantic atmosphere.
Scrape.
Or maybe to the movies, something romantic that had softened her towards his advances.
Scrape.
Or maybe a horror film, where she'd clutched at his hand, and let him put his arm around her, comforting her while she shivered in exhilarated fear.
Scrape.
He could see her with him, joking and laughing as they walked back to his jeep from wherever they'd spent their time.
He clenched his other fist, the fingernails digging into his palm.
He'd walk her to the door, both their hearts beating in nervous anticipation. He'd bid her adieu at the door before slowly brushing her hair behind her ear. She'd look up at him, her eyes wide before he'd slowly bring is lips down upon her's. She'd sigh into his mouth, going limp in his arms, twining her own around his neck before they'd part. She'd be blushing and...
He sent an angry kick at his empty cup, sending it flying off into the parking lot, ice scattering across the blacktop. He was breathing heavily, anger warring with jealousy. He stood there panting, staring blankly at the cup as it rolled to a stop before throwing himself back against the wall. He closed his eyes, breathing deeply as his senses returned to him, the ugly feelings that had exploded within him slowly creeping back into the recesses of his heart.
He sighed deeply, running a hand over his face. He could feel the pain in his palms from the small, crescent shaped cuts that were now slightly bleeding. His fingernails were sore from where he'd all but torn them off against the shell of the egg. Shoving his hand in his jacket pocket, he found that the egg was still whole and alright. Good.
He heaved a heavy sigh and stared, defeated, at the ground, watching the ice shimmer in the dark as it caught the headlights of passing cars. His chest no longer burned. Instead there was a terrible pressure, weighing down his body. His stomach felt like a rock, his heart sunken, as he came to realize what others had known all along.
Gaara anyways.
He loved her. He had for a while. Not that it mattered, Kiba had loved her for much longer, but still. It hadn't been so bad before, when she'd been single. Just that quiet girl in his class, the ones he secretly exchanged e-mails with. The one he was slowly getting to know. The one he was slowly growing to like. To love.
The one who was officially, as of tonight, dating his friend because he was too stupid to do anything. To stupid to know how he felt sooner.
Shouldn't he have known? These were his own damn feelings, he should at least know what they are and when they're there.
But...would he have done anything? Even if he had known, what would he have done? She was the girl his best friend liked, that went against every high school/best friend/guy, code there was.
No...there was no way he'd have poached his friends crush, Kiba would never have done that to him either.
But why? Why, out of the millions of girls at that damn school of his did he have to love this one? This one girl that was so horribly unavailable.
It was hell, pure and simple.
Hinata ran, her feet pinched in the shoes she'd soon realized weren't her's. She should have known better, she never left her shoes by the front door, but in all honestly she'd had a lot on her mind. She just hoped to God that they weren't anything loud or really out there.
And that Naruto was waiting for her. She wouldn't blame him if he wasn't, she was almost a half hour late. Most people would have left by now...
Then again, Naruto isn't most people.
Where the hell have you been?!
Are you kidding? No way was I going anywhere near the date from hell!
It wasn't....I mean....He....
Yeah. It was a complete and total hell-date...isn't that a T.V. Show?
No-
I'm pretty sure it is...some lame reality show...
No, not that-
Look, no matter how much I tried to escape I couldn't, I was there. Trust me. Worst. Date. Ever. Or at least somewhere in the top 10.
…
What? Not going to defend him? What kind of girlfriend are you?
Look...I know the date was bad, okay...can you not rub it in right now? Or ever? Or...just, look, I don't need the little voice in my head mocking me okay. I'm upset enough and-
Aright.
What? Just like that?
Don't get used to it.
But-
Like I said. I was there.
Um....thank you.....I guess...
She hurried along until Ichiraku's came into view. It crossed her mind that they'd never actually decided on a meeting place for tonight, but this is where they'd met last time. Praying she wasn't wrong, she peered into the dark.
She felt her heart rise a little for the first time that night as bright yellow hair caught her eye.
Naruto.
He'd waited.
Naruto blinked, as two feet came into view before him, disrupting his dejected staring. He looked up, surprised and delighted to be looking into the wide, violet, eyes of Hinata.
His eyes darted back down to the shoes.
She saw his gaze dart downward, following it, only to stare in horror. The shoes she'd prayed weren't loud were bright red, a mass of beads and sequins, made only for the most confident of girls. They were obviously Hanabi's.
He looked back up into her adorably flushed face, surprised to find her panting and out of breath. It was clear that she'd ran here...
Somehow the fact that she'd made an effort to see him, despite the reason why that effort needed to be made, brightened his sour mood. Unable to resist, he raised one eyebrow playfully, glancing back at her shoes.
"T-they're m-my sister's," she blurted, "I was in a hurry a-and..."
He grinned. "They're cute."
She blushed, not believing him for a second. She was in black pants, a purple jacket, and flashy, red, flip-flops. They just didn't go together and she knew it.
He knew it too, and found it irresistible. He wasn't sure why. Maybe it had something to do with the fact that she looked like a little girl playing dress-up in her mother's closet. Maybe it was because he found matching to be overrated and less fun. Less spontaneous.
Most likely it was the blush that was spreading across her face, turning it red until the shoes no longer looked out of place.
"Um...d-do you h-have the egg?" She asked, her voice quiet, her head down so that her bangs hid her eyes.
Naruto frowned, dipping his head a little so that he could look her in the eye.
"Hinata?"
She moved her eyes up, finding him staring into her eyes. His eyes were soft, like his tone, narrowed slightly and gently inquiring.
"Um..y-yes...?"
"Is something wrong?"
"W-what?" She exclaimed, snapping her head up, eyes wide. She shook her head so hard that he couldn't help but be concerned for her brain, her hands waving wildly in front of her, "N-no! No, nothing! I'm fine, really!"
She blushed as he stared at her, one eyebrow raised, as if trying to determine if he believed her or not. She bit her lip, wishing he'd look away. It was as if he could see right through her, see into her mind, reveal all her secrets.
How could he do that? How could he, in 5 minutes, see what Kiba hadn't noticed all night. What nobody in her family bothered to see? It was, disconcerting and made her feel exposed.
It made her wonder why no one else could see these things. Even Sakura and Ino, her best friends, still could be lied to. She hated to, but when the need arose she could paste on a smile and fake happy. She could pretend to be happy and comfortable in her own skin, as if she had few cares at all,
Somehow, standing here under Naruto's curious inspection, she felt as if all the fake smiles in the world would be pointless against those impossibly blue eyes.
And she wasn't completely sure how she felt about that.
Eager to divert his attention she attempted to change the subject.
"S-so d-d-do you h-have the e-egg?" She stumbled over the words worse than usual, wringing her hands and blushing like crazy. Why wouldn't he stop staring at her? She really needed him to stop, needed to keep her secrets concealed.
Noting her obvious discomfort he allowed the subject to be switched, instead pulling the egg from his jacket pocket.
"Yep. Baby's right here", he handed her the small white egg and she gripped it tightly, glad for something to hold. Something she could fidget with, seek small comfort from. Something to divert her attention. With a grin, he held up the ancient camera he was wearing, choosing to ignore the way her knuckles turned white as she gripped the egg. There would be time for that later.
Would there? Was it really his place? He had to wonder.
Sensing the gray cloud descending over his mood, he shook the thoughts away, focusing fully on the camera. It was an old camera of Jiraiya's, an Instamatic. The kind that most people hadn't seen since they were little, where the picture develops inside the camera and you have to shake it but then you have an instant picture. It was chunky and big compared to the sleek digital cameras of today, but it was all the old man had. Holding it up, he sent her an easy grin, the kind that made his face light up, his eyes bluer and his hair a sunnier contrast. It was amazing what one grin could do to his face and she couldn't remember ever seeing a grin do more, on anybody.
He started talking, saying something about how old this camera was and how he hadn't really asked Jiriaya – she assumed that was his guardian- for permission to take it, so he was probably going to be in some trouble, but whatever. It wasn't like the guy was using it or anything. She eventually tuned out as they walked a little to a nearby park, listening more to his voice than the words it formed. She found she liked his voice. It wasn't high-pitched an annoying, but it wasn't deep either. Not too deep.
She knew some girls like really deep voices, the way it rumbled in their chests and rolled down a girl's spine like a caress. She didn't mind deep voices and she'd heard a few singers with voices like that that she thoroughly enjoyed. They made a pleasant sound. It was nice to fall asleep to.
Naruto's voice didn't put her to sleep, not right now anyways, however, between it and his easy smiles, she found herself unreasonably relaxed.
What is this?
Voice?
Hello?
…
Fine. I hate you too.
It only figured that her inner voice would desert her now, when she actually wanted to chat.
Naruto watched her from the corner of his eye as they walked, wondering if she'd noticed he'd stopped talking. She hadn't been listening, he could tell from that faraway look in her lavender eyes, but he didn't mind. They seemed clouded when she'd first arrived, worried, or maybe upset about something. He wasn't sure what, as he tried to shake the suspicion that it was Kiba related. But what else could it be? She'd been with him most recently, and if it was something from before than surely he'd have soothed it already. Kiba was pretty good with things like that, always a great guy to talk to. He'd helped Naruto through millions of problems in the past.
The image of Kiba sitting patiently with Hinata, smoothing her hair and comforting her, made him grit his teeth, the guilt-laden anger returning viciously, like a stab to the gut. Eager to distract himself, he looked back at the girl beside him, deciding to break the silence that had fallen between them.
It was rather comfortable however and he felt a slight sense of loss at the thought.
What was she thinking about, he wondered? What was it that had put her mind as ease?
"So, this seems like a good place."
Hinata's head snapped up, pulling her back from her mind, plunging her back into reality. She gave a slightly strangled sigh as the events of the day slapped her in the face. Naruto looked down, his face full of concern.
"Are you alright?"
"U-um, y-yeah, lets j-just...um..." She motioned at the surrounding area with her hand, hoping that would suffice. Thankfully it did, because he just nodded before gesturing towards the egg in her hand.
"Do you want to go first?"
"W-what? Oh, um...yes....um..." She looked around. They were standing in a park. The night was slightly cloudy casting the park in shadows, illuminated only by faint stars and the street lights.
"Um...is it really okay?" She mumbled, her voice dropping a few degrees.
"What do you mean?"
"I-I mean, it-it's l-late a-and dark and..."
"It's okay", Naruto replied, lazily preparing the camera, "Families do stuff at night too, I guess..." His face turned thoughtful, his eyes cast upwards for a few minutes before meeting her's. "Don't they?"
"W-w-what d-d y-you m-mean?" She stammered out, the damn stuttering returning. What was wrong with her tonight that she couldn't even talk?. What was he asking, looking into her eyes like that? She felt her heartbeat speed up irregularly, irrationally. What was this?
"Well, I always assumed families did stuff together at night too, right?" He tilted his head slightly in a way that reminded her a little of a puppy. An adorable one...
With big blue eyes...
"W-well, um...I-I don't, I don't really know, um...did you...ever...?"
He blinked a little, surprised, before allowing that easy smile to settle on his face one more. "Me? Nah, but I'm not really a good example."
"W-why not?" She wondered, her sudden, inexplainable, nervousness overpowered by curiosity.
They'd momentarily forgotten their purpose, relaxing into conversation. She'd sat on a nearby bench, Naruto leaning casually against a tree.
"My family isn't exactly what you'd call...conventional."
And mine is?
"W-what do you mean?" she wondered, her voice soft, her eyes wide and curious. It was a contrast, though not a dramatic one, to the troubled look she'd had earlier and he couldn't help but wonder once more what has caused it.
No. Not now. Shaking away the thought, he replied.
"I mean", he fought to keep a straight face, "That I live with my grandfather who's 80 years old, acts like he's 60 or something and makes a living writing perverted romance novels. The same ones read by our crazy health teacher."
He tried not to laugh. He really did. But the look on her face was just too much. The grin broke free against his will, his laugh breaking into the calm night air. Hinata was taken aback by the sound, even more so than the news he'd just told her. That had received a mix of shock and slight wonder than he knew a novelist, dampened slightly by the fact that all he wrote was smut.
Smut her teacher read.
Yeah, she was sure that the look on her face was really something to laugh at. That wasn't what surprised her.
It was that free-spirited, careless way he did it. Like everything else he did, it seemed impulsive and spur-of-the-moment. The sound was cheerful and happy, crashing through the silence like it crashed through her mind, reminding her of everything she liked about him. Everything she envied.
Everything she wasn't.
Everything she longed to be...
The sadness welled up quickly, unexpectedly as she sat there. She fought it, clasping her hands together tightly until her knuckles ached and turned white, trapping her fused hands firmly between her knees. She could no longer hear his laugh, it was drowned out by the roaring in her ears, the voices repeating in her head. Her own, her father's, her sister's, everyone's.
Hinata this...
Hinata that...
Hinata, Hinata, Hinata...
"Hinata? Hinata?Hello? Hey, are you okay?"
She gasped, her eyes flying open, apparently she'd scrunched them up tight against tears. She could feel the burning pain in her hands from her she'd strained her knuckles, dug her fingernails into her palms. Slowly she became aware of his breath on her face, his own so close, his eyes worried. His hands were warm on her arms, as if holding her in place and trying to comfort at the same time. She met his eyes, reading the genuine concern there as she blushed at the close contact. How deep in her head had she been that he'd gotten this close without her noticing?
Naruto frowned down at her, worried, confused. The last he'd checked he'd been lightly teasing her, laughing at the look on her face. He'd thought for sure she'd felt better than before, at least a little. The shadows had been gone, at least for a bit. At least, he'd assumed...
Then he'd opened his eyes and seen her, pale as a sheet and hunched over as if trying to curl into herself. Her hands were wrapper together tightly, clasped between her knees, blood trickling lightly down her palm, knuckles white. Her hair was up, so he could see most of her face, though the ponytail fell down over some of one side. What he could see were her eyes, squeezed shut so tightly, trying so valiantly to prevented the tears that seeped through.
In under a minute she'd gone from normal, shy, Hinata, to this sorrowful bundle of a girl before him.
He could physically feel his heart break.
Unsure of himself he'd stepped forwards,saying her same softly, trying to draw her attention to him. When she didn't respond he felt his chest clench. He tried again, stepping closer, wrapping his hands around her upper arms. His hold was firm, but gentle as he attempted to get her attention. When at last it worked, he could have cried at the pain marring her red, tear stained eyes.
What was this, she wondered, looking up at him. He looked so worried, so truly concerned on her behalf that she wasn't sure how to feel. It was strange. Unfamiliar.
She'd had people worry over her before, a little. Sakura, Ino. But she'd never had anyone look at her like this. Like their very life depended on her well-being. Why had no one ever looked at her like that? These were people she'd know for years, people she loved. What was it with this one boy she'd really only gotten to know in the beginning of this week?
Have they ever really seen you like this?
No...
The answer came as a shock, even to herself.
No...they never have, I never let them...
The truth was bitter, and brought her no comfort.
I never told them how I felt...what was wrong. I didn't trust them with my heart... I love them but... but I never wanted them to worry...never...
Wanted them to see the ugliness? Feel ugliness in return? To hate you?
She hated her inner voice, hated the truth it spoke. She hated that she'd made it the truth. That she'd been so scared to trust them, her friends, the people she loved more than anyone else, with her deepest, darkest feelings. Her fears. All because of her biggest fear of all...
That they'd leave her. That they wouldn't like her anymore if they knew how insecure she was. How lacking she was when it came to self-confidence. That they'd find her as pathetic as she was sure her family must.
She could see Noodlefox's words before her eyes, telling her to trust them. Believe in them.
And I couldn't even do that right.
Naruto didn't know what to do as he stood there. His hands itched to do something other than touch. To stroke. To soothe. He hated this, this feeling of complete and total helplessness. The feeling that he could do nothing while the girl he'd just recently realized he loved sat there crying, pale and shaking.
What was he supposed to do? What should he do? He didn't even know what was wrong... she wouldn't talk. What was the proper way to comfort your best friends distraught girlfriend? Was there a right way? There had to be a right way! Damn it, someone really should write a book on this, and instructional manual or something!
Suddenly she gave a small, gasping sob, pushing his heart completely over the edge. Deciding that whatever wrong he did could go off and fuck itself to death, he did what he did best. He followed impulse, wrapping his arms around her, pulling her tight against him, holding her there as much for himself as for her.
She gasped again, her eyes wide with surprise. She was suddenly pressed against him, her head on his shoulder, his hold tight. She felt her blush rising.
"Na-na-" she sputtered, her face bright red, "Wha-wha-"
"Shh." He stroked her hair gently, keeping his hold with the other arm. "Just shh."
He didn't know what was going on, and a the moment he didn't care. He would soon. But right now, all that matter was her. Stopping her tears. And if that meant letting her cry them all out than he was prepared to do so. He'd had enough of his own sadness to know that hurt couldn't just be suppressed. That telling someone not to cry, while the sentiment was sweet, would help them but little.
Sometimes people just needed to cry.
Someone to be there for them when they did.
She couldn't move, found herself not wanting to. He was so warm, and he was holding her so close, so tight. Like he didn't want to let her go. Like he really wanted her there. She felt his hand pass along her hair again soothingly. He felt so safe, secure. So...good.
So good that she found herself returning the embrace, burying her face into his neck, and crying her heart out into his shirt.
And he just sat there and held her, letting her ruin his shirt without a thought. Rocking her and murmuring comforting words to her, all the while softly stroking her hair, until she she found herself, spent and drained, drifting slowly into black.
Feeling her ragged breathing settle, he sighed. Scooping her up, he cradled her gently against his chest, and carried her away, back to his house. Jiraiya was going to be out late tonight and he really should see about her hands.
And the egg sat, abandoned on the park bench, watching his retreat.
Hinata blushed, remembering the way he'd held her to him, the way he'd petted her hair until she calmed down.
Calmed down to the point of falling asleep.
Her blush deepened. How the hell could she have done that? Just fallen asleep against him. Who did that? Especially with a guy she'd only really known a week.
Well technically I've known him since kindergarten...that makes it kind of better...
Sure. Until you consider the fact that he's your boyfriend's best friend.
Boyfriend...
She sighed, hugging the pillow tighter, resisting the urge to bury her face in it. To think, she'd always thought having a boyfriend would make her happy, joyful. Give her that little fluttering feeling in her chest, as if her heart was that of a small bird's rather than her own.
Instead her heart felt like a stone, sinking to the bottom of a very cold pond.
Well, her inner voice replied in a false cheery tone. Seriously, she could just imagine the little devil version of herself – there was no way this thing was an angel – smiling like the Cheshire cat, with big teeth and little beady eyes. At least he was nice about it afterwards.
Hinata groaned, surrendering and shoving her face into the pillow, doing her best not to die of embarrassment. Especially at the scene played before her closed eyes.
She'd woken up on his living roof sofa while he was tending to her hands. It was probably the sting of peroxide that woke her. He'd blushed a little when she'd shot up, pulling her hand back in surprise, seemed a little worried, a little wary, unsure. It was strange for her to see him that way. She'd always imagined him as the poster boy for confidence.
He'd explained what had happened, blushing while he did, looking down. She'd had to fight to suppress a giggle at his embarrassment. It was so...cute...
She found herself smiling into the pillow at the memory.
There's no point in hiding it, I know you're smiling. I can see you. I can always see you. I am you.
That is...really creepy. Please don't say it like that...
It's the truth. Anyways, you know darn well thats not what I meant.
Her stupid little voice couldn't just let her forget about that... did she want to forget about it? She wasn't sure...
Very carefully he'd bandaged her hand, his touch as warm and gentle, if not a little clumsy, as it had been before when she cried. She could still feel the warmth of his hand.
She unconsciously held her left hand with her right, her thumb rubbing over her left palm, much as his had done once he was finished wrapping it. He hadn't let it go, just sat on the floor holding it.
He'd asked her what it was about, what had upset her so badly. He'd held her hand and rubbed circles on her palm, and asked, his eyes wide and so beautifully blue, staring into her own so earnestly. His previous concern for her had obviously not diminished and when he looked at her like that, so sincerely, making her feel so warm, she found she had absolutely no resistance.
She'd found herself telling him all the things she'd sworn to keep a secret. She'd spilled about her father and the therapy. About the whole Sakura-Sasuke-Ino deli ma, about the horrible date, just barely catching herself before mentioning the kiss.
She'd suddenly realized what she was saying, slapping her hands over her mouth and trying her best to disappear into the sofa cushions.
If he was surprised he didn't show it. Of course, he might have. She wouldn't haven known if he did, she wasn't really looking. She was too busy trying to will herself out of existence.
He'd touched her head then. She'd been taken completely by surprise, her eyes closed, her head down, trying not to incinerate from her blush. When she felt the pressure of his hand against her scalp. She couldn't move, could barely breathe. Then finally after a few moments he said he'd show her out, that she should be getting home soon. A look at the time, blinking on the VCR, confirmed that it was entirely too later for her to be out.
Where she should have felt a surge of worry at being caught, she instead felt disappointment at what she could only assume was a dismissal.
What had she been thinking? Dumping all her problems on him like that, much less problems concerning his friend. Refusing to let it upset her and eager for the day to end, she'd followed him as he led her to the door. Stepping out onto the welcome mat she turned to face him. He was standing in the doorway, the light bright behind him. His hands were shoved in his pockets.
"U-um...well...um..." she raised her bandaged hand, waving it around I the air awkwardly, as if using it to gesture to itself. " Well...um...thank you, for the..." She waved the hand a little more and he gave a short laugh that left him smirking.
"It's cool." He looked around her into the black of the night. The streetlights were the only things keeping the street from total darkness. "Um...do you want me to, you know, walk you home? I mean, it's kind of...really dark..."
"N-no!" she exclaimed. She may have been blushing once more but at this point she couldn't really tell where one blush faded into another. She'd just accepted that her face was probably going to remain permanently red for the remainder of her life. "I mean....um...no"Her voice was considerably softer now, almost in-audible. " I-it's really alright, um...it'd p-probably be worse with y-you, a g-guy with my dad...um...so, g-goodnight."
She started to turn away, but stopped when he said her name.
"Um...w-what is i-"
She was cut off by the sudden press of his lips to her forehead. It lasted only a moment, his touch light, but it was unbelievably sweet. Gentle, warm.
And then it was over, his lips just hovering above her skin, his breath moving her hair when he whispered. "Don't worry about it, any of it. It'll be alright, I'm positive. After all, you're the kind of girl who can do anything."
As she thought back on it, she could remember his pulling back and smiling at her, wishing her a quick goodnight before disappearing back into the house. But when it happened she didn't register anything at all. She didn't remember the walk home, though she remembered slipping into the house, being thankful that she wasn't caught coming home around midnight. She'd brushed her teeth and then fallen into bed, falling immediately asleep. Not for long, but quickly. And at the moment, shutting down was all her buzzing brain really needed.
You are seriously lucky by the way. Most people, considering this isn't some cheesy, teenage, movie, would definitely gotten caught doing that.
Ignoring her inner voice, she brought her fingers to her lips, pressing them slightly before moving them to her forehead.
He...kissed me...
It hadn't been on the lips or anything, not even a real kiss. It was maybe the kind of kiss you'd give your sister though she sensed differently. It just hadn't felt like a sisterly kiss...
Didn't it? Or do you just not want it to be?
Did she want it to be more than sisterly? She wasn't sure. It was entirely too early for this kind of logical thought.
Still, she couldn't help the unbidden memory of Kiba's kiss from invading her mind.
And comparing it to Naruto's.
His had been rough, hot, searching. It left her confused and somehow lacking, as if it was her fault he couldn't find whatever it was he was searching for.
Naruto's was...not. It was soft, barely there. It was still confusing as hell, perhaps even more so, but she didn't feel as....
Rather than searching it had seemed...giving, if that made sense. It was as if with that one action he'd tried to answer her questions, remove her pain... it wasn't anything she could explain...nor was it anything she felt like thinking about tonight.
Hugging the pillow to her she allowed herself to slide sideways down the wall, so that her back was to it on her bed. She had almost cleared it from her mind, stored in another mental file and about to try and get another hour or so of sleep, when a horrible though popped into her head.
What if he thinks I'm a slut!
Excuse me?
I barely know the guy and let him hug me...fell asleep on him...then I walked home by myself. In the dark. Late at night. What if he thinks I do things like that all the time! I must seem so...so....
Lady-of-the-night-esque?
Exactly!!!!
Of course.
I'm serious!
Sadly I realize this.
It's-
You never got those pictures did you?
What?
The pictures...the ones for the project due tomorrow. The egg thing, the whole reason you were out with him at all?
The pictures...
Come to think of it, whatever happened to the egg?
Naruto just barely resisted the urge to slam his head into the desk.
And the wall.
And that hideous Calculus book that sat, mocking him, on the desk.
Finally he just settled for flopping back onto his bed and staring at he ceiling.
What the hell had inspired him to do that? Any of that? Even talk to her?
He'd fucking kissed her!
He groaned as he remembered it, cursing himself for it. That most definitely shouldn't have happened. She was Kiba's girlfriend for God's sake! So off limits it's not even funny! And yet...
He couldn't help himself. He loved her, he'd accepted that, and she was in his house, on his couch, adorable and crying.
He felt a surge of pure rage towards her father, and towards Kiba as well, simply for having a part in this at all.
He groaned again, rolling over and pressing his face into the mattress. Why did life have to be so damn complicated? It was really too much. He slammed a fist down hard into the mattress, left unsatisfied as it bounced against the springs. It helped a little though, to relieve the building frustration that he had nothing to do with. At least, if he did, he didn't know it.
He rolled over once more, staring at the ceiling again, trying to figure out a game plan. What was he supposed to do?
The frustration he'd built up over the unfairness of it all was slowly draining out of him, replaced by guilt. What kind of friend was he? He'd done nothing wrong really, when he thought about it. He'd only met with her because of the picture, and he couldn't have just left her crying on a bunch in the park. Screw being a bad friend, that would have just made him a horrible person! Listening to her confess about her problems, that fell into the same category, and even that kiss had been very chaste. The kind of kiss you give little old ladies at church. At least, from the outside...
It was what he'd felt at the time that made everything so bad. That longing to crush her to him and never let go. How right she'd felt in his arms, all tiny and fragile. How protective he'd felt of her, how sad to see her tears, and then angry. Not so much at Sakura and Ino or even Sasuke. He hated them all, but all they'd caused her was worry. The normal worry one felt for their friends. Besides, her kindness's and concern for others was one of the things he loved about her.
No, the people he was most angry with her her father and Kiba. The latter carried with it a healthy dose of guilt. Her father was just a cold hearted bastard who needed to care more for his family than his image, and if he was wrong in that assumption than he didn't know it. He could hate him without a second thought, simply because he'd made her cry. Kiba however...
He could admit that Kiba had screwed up, Kiba screwed up a lot, on a lot of different things. This wasn't anything new. But why, just why, had he had to screw this up? Why had he had to add to everything else? Why hadn't he seen everything else anyways? It wasn't hard. One look at her and he'd know she was upset, and he couldn't stop blaming him for not seeing it himself.
He was immediately conflicted between the desire to blame and the desire to defend, each equally as strong as the other. He'd made a lot of excuses for Kiba over the years, some justifiable and some not. Either way, they were excuses born from his insane loyalty to his friends. One that was raging amiably against his love for Hinata, the desire to hate anyone who hurt her.
All in all, it was quite uncomfortable.
Life really was entirely too complicated.
To: Violeteyes24
From: Noodlefox
Hey Hinata,
I know that technically it was your turn to write but, It's just that, you looked really pretty yesterday. Even more so than usual. Kiba is a really lucky guy, and a stupid one if he didn't tell you so as well. I haven't talked to him yet, so he hasn't told me about the date, but... If it was good than I hope you're happy, and if it was bad than I hope you make whatever choice will make you happy. You're great, and you really deserve to be happy. I... I AM NARUTO UZUMAKI! I LOVE NOODLES AND FOXES AND MOST OF ALL YOU!!! I REALLY LOVE YOU AND I KNOW THAT KIBA ISNT MAKING YOU HAPPY AND I COULD! I'M SURE I COULD! I REALLY REALLY WANT TO TAKE YOU TO HOMECOMING, FOR YOU TO BE MY GIRLFRIEND. LET ME KNOW!
He sighed down at the screen, his heart cracking at the words that could never be, as his finger rested on the backspace.
...just wanted you tell you that.
Love,
Me
English class was...awkward. Though their desks weren't close, it felt to all of them that they were the only people in the room, all crammed together on one seat. The silence was deafening, despite the fact that the teacher, and many of the students, were talking. They weren't, not to each other, and that was horrible. Had never happened before.
Hinata shifted in her desk, feeling both their eyes on her. They'd been there since before he bell rang, trying to silently summon her over to their side. She wanted to go, to talk to one, but how do you choose? Her first thought was to go to Sakura, since Ino had been so obviously in the wrong, but she couldn't. She'd been there for the whole thing,watched Ino get shot down. She'd watched her face fall as Sasuke coolly called her crazy and finished his conversation, despite Neji's disapproving glare. Her cousin had tried to talk to Ino, apologize for his friend's rudeness, but she hadn't bothers to listen. Just shrugged and flipped her hair over her shoulder, as if the hurt wasn't so plainly etched on her face.
And Hinata had sat there, torn between her two friends. Finally, she's chosen Sakura, but the guilt was still there.
She was busy agonizing over it when she felt her pocket vibrate. After a quick glance at the teacher, determining the coast was clear, she checked her phone.
1 New Message
She opened it. It was from Sakura. Instinctively she turned around to face her friend, unintentionally drawing Ino's attention. Sakura resisting a smile, chewing on her bottom lip, made little hand motions, obviously encouraging her to read it.
Smiling curiously at her friend's enthusiasm, glad for whatever had caused such a big turn around in her friend's mood since yesterday, she looked down to read the text, only to have her phone vibrate with yet another message.
She had a feeling she knew who it was from. Clicking on it, her suspicions were confirmed.
Ino: How did ur date go?
Should she reply, she wondered? Would that be a betrayal against Sakura? Would she be betraying Ino if she didn't? She settled for a compromise. She'd reply to Ino, but tell Sakura all the details first.
Sakura was more sympathetic anyways.
Hinata: :(
She sent the message off before opening Sakura's. As she did she heard the teacher say something about taking notes, that they'd need them for an upcoming test, her attention divided between note taking and texting her two friends.
Sakura: Whatever happens, I NEED to talk to u!!! V. important!
Hinata: Sure. I need to talk to you too.
Ino: Ah!!! Wut happened?
Sakura: Meet me after class?
Hinata : A lot. Later
Hinata: Yes
She breathed a sigh of relief when the rapid-fire texting paused, barely restraining a groan when her phone vibrated a few minutes later.
What now?
She checked to make sure the teacher was still facing the board before flipping pen her phone once again.
Sakura: Well?
Hinata: Well what?
Sakura: R we meeting after class?
Hinata: I told u yes.
Sakura: No u didn't
Hinata: Yes I did. I texted u
Sakura: I didn't get it
Hinata frowned down at her phone. She knew she had wrote that message. She remembered that she kept messing up on the one word, typing in the definition for alliteration. Really, taking notes while texting as harder than it seemed, and was yet another skill she hadn't bothered to acquire. She quickly checked her sent messages only to see that message on the list. She smiled. She had sent the message after all.
Her face fell.
She had sent it to Kiba.
Apparently, she had a date to homecoming...
"She said yes!"
"Congratulations Mr. Inuzuka. Now go celebrate in the hall."
Kiba shot Iruka a grin, grabbing his stuff and heading out the door. He took the long way around the desks, passing Naruto and Shikamaru's on the way out.
"She said yes!", he whispered excitedly as he passed, "We're going to Homecoming!" he held out his hand for a low-five that Naruto gave, but there wasn't any feeling in it. He just did it because he always had, it was habitual. He'd never has a reason not to.
Kiba was conveniently oblivious as he all but skipped out of the room, pausing in the doorway and turning back to the class.
"I would like to announce!", he cried, grinning broadly, "That I am going to Homecoming with Hinata Hyuuga!"
The class was divided into either laughs or applause, some applauding while they laughed. There was pretty much a grand reaction from the entire class of one sort or another. If it was possible, he smiled even broader, basking in the attention, his eyes sweeping the room. He caught Iruka's heavy frown, sensing a detention in his near future, but at the moment he didn't care. She said yes.
He'd had his reservations after that disastrous attempt at a date, was certain that she'd shoot him down. He'd stressed out over asking her. He'd tried to call Shikamaru, but apparently he was now screening his calls, and Naruto would neither answer his phone nor respond to his texts. He really didn't know what was up with those two.
Speaking of which, they seemed to be the only people not making a fuss. Not congratulating him, or laughing in disbelief. They were just sitting there, occasionally looking at one another. His smile fell just a little, he thought for sure they'd be happy for him. They alone, Naruto in particular, knew how much this meant to him. So what was going on?
No, he assured him, shaking away the thought, they were happy for him. They had to be. They were his best friends after all. And Naruto had even low-fived him. That had to mean something.
He hoped it meant something...
Doing his best to shrug away his slight disappointment, he sent Iruka an elaborate salute, before turning on his heel and marching from the room.
Hinata frowned as the bell rang. Not that she was that sorry to leave class, though she liked English, but because in her desk she'd been safe. She wouldn't have to worry about choosing between friends or inevitably running into the guy who was now, somehow, her homecoming date.
Date...
Did she really want to risk another night like that? In public? Around people she knew?
God...why did technology always do this to her?
Well, it might be a good thing, and I feel the need to put extreme stress on the word might. So far Kiba hasn't inspired much confidence. But on the other hand, look at Noodlefox.
She could feel herself blush at the thought of his letter. She hadn't had time to reply to it that morning, but she had printed it out. She wasn't sure why, because the chances of her friends coming together to pry into her life like they usually did were slim to none, but still...
I just wish I knew who he was.
Sounds like you like him. Like, like like him.
Like like?
God, did you go to elementary school? Seriously...
Oh, that... it just always seemed kind of stupid to me, and I'm tired and confused and...blah....
Either way, you get my point. Way to try to avoid it though.
The sad thing is I do...and...maybe you're right...but...
But I'm right. I usually am, you've just yet to admit it.
But you can't really blame me for liking him...just a little...
She felt herself blush a deeper shade of red as she admitted it to herself.
And it's just a little! I've never met him, so it's can't be more than just a little...but, either way it's not my fault. He's...nice...he's like, the nicest guy I know.
Kind of know.
Still...
Unbidden, the memories of the previous night invaded her mind. Memories of another extremely nice guy. One she'd met, really talked to. The one who'd held her when she cried and fixed the damage she'd done to her hands.
She found herself subconsciously rubbing the bandage as she gathered her things up.
And then there'd been the kiss....
No! She didn't have time to think about this now. She had another problem to deal with at the moment. Two of them. One was pink, the other was blond, and they were both waiting for her in the hall.
Ino frowned, sending discreet glares at Sakura. They were more annoyed than angry though. She wasn't mad at her over Sasuke, she'd admit she'd handled that badly. It was more what had motivated that particular bit of unwise action. She was jealous. And that annoyed her.
As did that whole little texting war last period.
She sent a glance towards Hinata, who was still in the classroom gathering her belongings, making no obvious effort to hurry. Not that she could blame her, not really. She wouldn't want to be in her position either, it had to suck an she hated that she'd had a part in putting her there.
She also hated that there was nothing she could do about it. She refused to back down, it wasn't in her nature. She'd screwed up and jeopardized her friendship with Sakura, she refused to let Hinata slip through her fingers.
She took a deep breath, leaning back against the wall and sending another glance at Sakura. The girl didn't even seem to notice Ino standing there as she leaned against he wall on the opposite end of the door frame. She was...smiling...she had been all through class. Against her will, Ino felt the urge to cross he short distance. To throw an arm around Sakura and engage in squeaky girl talk. To ease the pull of curiosity.
I could do that...if I hadn't messed it up...
No. It was okay. She could still do that...soon. As soon as she apologized. Which she could do as soon as she talked to Hinata. It was simple. It had to be. She'd talk to Hinata, get in all the juicy details her gossip loving soul could stand – not that she'd ever spread any of it. Not about her friend. - before engaging in an equal, if no more, serious discussion about her feelings. She'd confess to her jealousy, that she felt Hinata always chose Sakura. They could work it out. And then, once that was resolved, she'd have no reason to be upset with Sakura. He could swallow her pride and apologize, and that would be that. Sakura would forgive her. After all, it wasn't as if Sasuke had agreed or anything. Sakura had to forgive her. She was positive of it. Everything would go as planned. Everything would work out.
That's what she kept telling herself.
Sakura bit her lip, peering back into the room, mentally willing Hinata to hurry. She had news, had had it all hour, and if she didn't tell someone son she was going to burst. It was as if the words were struggling in her throat, all desperate to escape and she had to extend real physical effort to force them otherwise.
She was bouncing lightly on her feet, excitement making keeping still impossible. She let the scene replay for the millionth time in her mid.
~*~*~*~HEY ANOTHER FLASHBACK! BECAUSE WE JUST DON'T HAVE ENOUGH OF THESE! ~*~*~*~
Sakura sniffled, her nose still stuffy, though it had been hours. Hours since lunch, hours since Ino's betrayal. She still couldn't believe she'd so something like this. Sure, Ino had always been a little flaky, somewhat of a wannabe,but she'd always been a good friend. So what if they fought, friends could fight, and it was never all that serious. It was more like a bonding experience, something solely between the two of them. After all, neither fought with Hinata like they did each other, nor anyone else.
She sighed as she tried to force the scene from her mind, Ino all submissive and simpering, doing that stupid little toe thing. God knows why guys always fell for it. Congrats, you could draw in the dirt. So could a kindergartener, but if you dated them you were just a pedophile.
It was after school, she'd been here in this one spot the whole time,behind the buildings way on the back of the campus. The old portables, behind even the health building, where nobody ever went. No one ever ventured behind them because there wasn't anything there. Just the bushes that separated the school from the housing development.
Actually...Lee might go back there....he did live back there after all...
She was trying to figure out a way home when she heard voices.
The football team!
Maybe, if she wasn't too puffy looking, she could flirt her way into a ride home from one of them. Yeah...that could work...except...
Except Sasuke was there. She peered around the building, watching Sasuke run across the field, seemingly oblivious to the plight he's caused. Had he said yes to Ino? Were they going to Homecoming together? Were they going to go out? Become cutest couple all through high school? Was the fact that she lost going to forever be immortalized in glossy, color, yearbook pages?
No! She shook her head frantically at the thought. No, she was over reacting.
Or was she?
Yes. Yes she was. She was over reacting just by still being here even after school was over. She should be a home, Instant Messaging Hinata or poking a very blond voo-doo doll. Maybe both. Either one would work, anything other than sulking around school.
She was headed across the campus,ready to walk home, when she heard someone call her name.
"Sakura! Look out!"
Wait...look out?
She turned, just in time to see the football plow right into her damned, over sized, forehead.
And then there was black.
Slowly the black cleared as she began lazily blinking her eyes open, returning to consciousness. And then there was black again.
Wait! What?! Was she blind?!
She breathed a sigh of relief as she opened her eyes a crack more to find that it was just hair.
Black hair...
Opening her eyes fully, she found herself in the school infirmary, laying on a rather uncomfortable excuse for a mattress, with Sasuke sitting right beside her. It was startling to say the least? And humiliating, she realized, as the memories trickled back to her. She groaned, her face darkening to match her hair, as she tried to pull the covers over her head.
"You're awake?"
"Yes"she replied, her voice small.
"Are you alright?"
His tone was flat, unconcerned, not really the way she had always imagined it would be when they finally spoke. She'd conjured up images of fireworks and fat little cupids.
This was just slightly different.
"Um..what time is it?"
He spared the clock a look, " About 5."
"You've been here the whole time?"
He felt the familiar jolt of panic scurry up his spine. This was where she got all gooey about him waiting with her and automatically assumed he was madly in love with her. No. This wasn't happening. Not this week. He'd had more than his share of psychotic, obsessive, fan girls this week.
"Coach told me to."
He watched her face fall just a little, breathing a sigh of relief that he'd nipped this in the bud. Perhaps it was just a little conceited, but really it was for his own self preservation. If he got group glomped one more time this week....
God, why him?
"Oh...well...thank you anyways."
They were quiet for a few minutes.
"Why were you even there?"
"Oh...um!" she felt her face heat up. How come, out of all the question Sasuke could be asking her, did it have to be the one she couldn't answer. After all, what was she supposed to say? 'Yeah, I was hiding behind the portables because I was upset because my best friend since grade school betrayed me. What did she do? She asked you out even though she knows I'm freakishly, madly, in love with you. Even if I don't know you middle name!'
Yeah. That'd go over real smooth.
"Um...hiding...being pathetic really. Anyways, It's late, I should go. My mom's probably freaking as we speak-"
"Hiding from what?"
He could have slapped himself for asking. How could he do that? Show the slightest interest in her life? Any girl who suspected he had some interest in her life, no matter how small it may be, always felt the need to stalk him.
Or try and seduce him.
Or try and molest him.
Or steal his gym shorts to use to make a creepy shrine in the janitors closet.
Yeah...Karin scared him...
Luckily, Sakura didn't get that sudden twinkle in her eye that indicated sure trouble. If anything she seemed sorry he'd asked.
"Um... my best friend..."
Best friend, best friend... the weird blond girl who'd tried what he supposed was an attempt to ask him out at lunch? The one who'd straight up admitted she was desperate? That wasn't flattering or alluring. It was just....desperate...and a little sad.
"You were hiding from your best friend?"
"Oh yeah....well...she did something that hurt me is all. So naturally instead of calling her on it or something I run and hide and...and I'm sure you have a million more important things to do-"
"You're really leaving?"
"What?" she seemed honestly surprised. "Well yeah. I've got to go home. Thanks again though."
She turned quickly, headed for the door. She was so ready to be gone. Any other time this would have been great, she'd have milked the opportunity to be alone with Sasuke, but.... No. Between the situation and the conversation, this was just humiliating.
He watched, slightly amazed, as she turned to leave. She was really going. No molestation, no batted eyelashes, no stupid little toe-circles. She wasn't coming on to him.
She was a nice, smart, pretty, high school girl, and she wasn't coming on to him. Maybe...just maybe...
"Do you want to go to Homecoming?"
She froze, her heart leaping into her throat. She fought to keep her voice from squeaking into inhuman octaves.
"What?"
"Do you want to go to Homecoming with me?"
"Um..what about Ino?"
"The girl from lunch? I turned her down."
"Really?"
"Yes. Now, yes? No?"
Yes?
No?
Yes?
No?
He asked her.
He turned down Ino.
So yes?
Or no?
God this would be so much easier if she could breathe!!!
"Yes!" She cringed at the volume of her voice, " I mean, yes, that'd be cool."
He allowed a grin so slide across his face. Her heart stopped. "Cool." He walked a little closer to her. "Do you have your phone on you?"
"Um..yes.."
Extracting it from her pocket, she placed it in his outstretched hand. Flipping it open, he clicked the little buttons in the slightly clumsy way of guys who don't spend their life texting. He really wasn't very good and if she wasn't currently going into heart failure she might have had to fight to suppress a giggle. The fact that he wasn't perfect seemed to make him all the hotter.
"Here." He handed it back to her. "There's my number. Call me later and we can straighten out the details."
"Okay."
"And if you sell it on E-bay, I'm going to have to kill you."
He watched as she giggled at what she thought was a joke. No, he was dead serious. Maybe not about the murder part, but still. He'd seen his phone number up for auction 3 times already.
He really hoped this wouldn't be the 4th.
It was all Sakura could do to suppress the squeak. She really hoped Hinata hurried up...
BEHOLD!!! THE LONG AWAITED END OF THE LONG AWAITED CHAPTER!!! And I really am sorry about that by the way. I had a lot going on. Besides being drowned by essays and projects and stuff I was also moving to a new house and going to this really amazing anime convention!!!!
ANYWAYS, this chapter was difficult. 1. because I had no real idea of what was going to happen. 2. because I've never really gotten far enough in any of my writing ( except my one Greek fic :) ) to get to the important romantic scene. Anyways, I hope this chapter wasn't sucky. Let me know and be prepared for chapter 7. IT'S GOING TO BE THE LAST ONE IN THE ENTIRE FIC!!! SO I'M GOING TO TY TO MAKE IT AWESOME!!!!
Stay tuned and review.
Redfaerie.