*Weeks Later*

It was the day, the day that TenTen would graduate the academy and be assigned her team. Shikamaru sighed, 'I bet she gets put in a group with Neji and eyebrow dude.' He made a face, 'Tell me again why I care, Shikamaru?' He was currently arguing with himself in the boy's restroom, it was recess time. He'd decided not to go outside because all of his year and her year were conversing with each other, or rather, they were all crowded around the "number one rookie of the year". They'd ask Hyuuga some really stupid questions, like, "What team do you think you'll be put in, Neji-san?" or "How was the final exam, Neji?" or "I hope I'm on your team, Neji-kun!". Of course, that last one wasn't a question and was typically said by females, Shikamaru was sure that if a boy had said that, the Hyuuga would've broken his nose. Shikamaru tried, with all his might, not to kill the other children in his year. 'Honestly, what's the big deal?' He pondered, 'I mean, we're all gonna graduate next year, so, why be so impressed by the fact that Neji is graduating? Lots of kids are graduating, like TenTen. TenTen's graduating...' It had just dawned on him, she wasn't going to be around anymore, this upset him a little, after the day that she, well Neji, caught him staring at her, she'd sit down next to him during recess, that is, if he was alone. When he was with his friends, TenTen would smile at him and quickly walk back to her friends. Kiba noticed the girl walking by and smiling towards them, but, being Kiba, he came to the conclusion that, and I quote, "She wants me." 'As if!' Was what the young Nara thought everytime Kiba said that TenTen "wanted" him, that conclusion was totally ridiculous and not plausible, in anyway, at all. But, of course, Shikamaru wouldn't say anything, knowing that: One, it would damage Kiba's self-esteem, and, two, his friends would pick on him for having a ..."girlfriend". He shuttered at the thought, 'girls are troublesome,' he thought about TenTen, and how it would be like if, one day, they had a romantic sort of relationship, 'especially, TenTen.'

He decided to peer out of the boy's restroom window, just to observe the other children. He shifted his eyes and saw her, TenTen. She was sitting alone, under the tree that he always sat under. She looked...sad. 'Maybe,' he thought for a while, 'I should go over there.' And, he did. The minute he walked out the door, all he could hear was constant chattering or giggling, courtesy of the fangirls squeeling at the sight of a certain Uchiha and Hyuuga giving each other death glares. He easily glided by them, hoping that no one noticed the fact that he rolled his eyes. Then, he was in front of her and he just stood there. 'Does she not notice I'm standing here?' he was confused, and a bit worried.

"Hey." he said plainly as he took a seat next to her, looking in the same direction she was.

"Hi, Shikamaru." she looked at him and smiled. He deducted that it was a fake smile. He thought back to the day they met and the "mad face" she had made, 'she needs to work on her facial expressions if she's planning on fooling anyone.'

"...How's it goin'?" he didn't even know why he cared or what to say, they'd only spoken about...twenty-eight times?

"Fine, I guess."

"I guess?" he questioned looking at her.

"Ok, ok! You got me." she smiled a little, he was cheering her up?

"I did?" 'Way to think before you speak, genius.' Thankfully, she laughed and wiped her eyes with her shirt, then looked at him and smiled.

"Can you believe it?" she asked, looking over at the Uchiha vs Hyuuga death stare match. "Those girls shouldn't be following around ice cubes all day." Shikamaru tried hard not to smile, but, he made sure she knew that he was glad that she was feeling better, so, he chuckled. He stopped a minute later, closed his eyes and furrowed his eyebrows, his breathing slowing down just a little. TenTen noticed this.

"What's wrong? What are you thinking about?" She sounded a little nervous.

"...I'm trying to figure out why," he opened his eyes and looked at her, "those two can see without having pupils." She burst out laughing. He just sat there and enjoyed the sound of her laughter, it sounded nice. Little did he know, the two ice cubes stopped once they heard TenTen laughing.

"What's so funny, TenTen?" asked the Hyuuga, 'WHAT THE HECK!' Shikamaru thought, 'when did he show up!'. She looked at Neji and smiled. He smirked in return. Then, he turned his attention to the Nara and took a seat in front of him. 'Uh, what is he doing?' Shikamaru wondered, 'why is he sitting in front of me? Don't tell me he wants to have a death glare contest, it's to troublesome...'

"What are you thinking about, kid?" Neji asked, well, more like demanded to know. TenTen looked at Shikamaru and smiled. Then, she turned her face so that she was looking at Neji.

"Judging by the face he's making," TenTen glanced at him, "it's nothing to important. But, he doesn't have to tell you, Neji. It's none of your business."

"Hn." Neji smirked, got up, and looked at Shikamaru. "Well, then, let's go find Lee, TenTen. Let's leave him to his thoughts." '...Jerk.' Shikamaru couldn't help but give the "prodigy" a look of disgust.

"You go ahead," she smiled sweetly, "I need to tell him something. Go find Lee and tell him I'll be there soon, ok?" Neji merely turned on his heel and did what he was told. 'Ha!'

"...What do you need to tell me?" Shikamaru looked at her, trying his best not to sound desperate or excited to know. She looked at him, with her warm brown eyes, and smiled. He felt his face warm up a little, 'Dammit! Look away Shikamaru!' But, he couldn't, she just looked so, so..."..cute."

"..What?" Her eyes were wide and her cheeks were pink. 'Shit...Ok, play it cool.'

"What?" he gave her his best "what-just-happened" face along with his best "I'm-to-lazy-to-pay-attention".

"Oh, nothing, I guess."

"So, what did you need to tell me?" She stood up and looked down at him.

"Nothing," he was confused. "I just wanted Neji to leave so I could say bye."

"Why'd you wanna say bye to him?" She laughed. 'Females...'

"Not to him! To you!" She grabbed his hand and forced him up. He mummbled on the way up, it was to troublesome to stand just to say goodbye.

"Well, then, bye." He said plainly, putting his hand up. She smiled and wrapped her arms around him. 'What's she doing? Why is she hugging me? We barely know each other. I said bye, she could've said bye and just walked away, it would've been easier. Am I supposed to hug her back?' he moved his arms, then stopped when he realized something, 'where do I wrap my arms?' Sadly, before he could make up his little mind, she let go.

"I hope I see you around Shikamaru," she smiled, "Bye." and, walked off.

Then he realized something else, he's never really gotten the chance to actually say goodbye, he sighed, 'Troublesome girl,' he thought, 'you never let me say bye. Now, I have to see you again.'