Finally an update! I've have the most horrible two and a half weeks. First Sandy came and I lost light/power and didn't get it back for 9 days then I had no Internet for another week and I've just finally got it back. I was living off school Internet for a while but that stopped working too. All of that is nothing compared to those more adversely affected by Sandy so I shouldn't really complain. Just wanted to let you know why this took so long despite getting a massive flow after Sandy.

Chapter 11

Friday afternoon Biology class was the first class for the day that Sasuke had with Hinata. However, this was not the first class Sasuke had with Sakura and it was depressing. Ever since Tuesday, when he told her no, she had been dragging around a dark cloud where ever she went. Depressing.

He walked into the classroom and immediately went to his seat beside Hinata. She smiled at him. She had a small blush that made him wonder what was up. She said nothing when he asked her so he was content to leave it at that. Watching her blush made him want to kiss her but of course he couldn't do that. She was so embarrassed at small kisses when they were alone, she'd pass out if he attempted anything public. He'd eventually get her out of that. That would mean getting her used to the idea of kissing and that would mean lots of kisses. He couldn't hide the smirk at that thought. He liked kissing and he liked Hinata. He was going to love getting her used to it.

The process had already started a few days before when he had figured out she wasn't that experienced. It was shocking considering that Naruto was kissing Ino so often and publicly it was almost disturbing. So, he had taken it as his job to expose Hinata to the wonderful world of kissing. He had to take it slow though so there was nothing too deep as yet but they came as often as he could get them without them being public. Hinata was almost permanent flustered when they were alone now and it hadn't been a complete week yet. It was good progress if you asked him. For now at least. He had yet to take her out again and frankly he probably wouldn't have much time for a few more days. He had a match to play tomorrow. Team stipulation states he has to go to the next game on Sunday to view their possible opponents. So unless he was taking her to the game on Sunday, they were going nowhere over the weekend. He'd figure something out soon enough.

He sighed softly watching but not listening as Kabuto continued his lecture on something to do with the plant. He didn't know or care particularly. He sunk into his chair sparing a glance in Hinata's direction. She looked especially nice today. The red and dark blue fit her very well. The black leather jacket just helped her look all the better.

"Sasuke?" Hinata prompted and he turned his head in her direction to look at her. She had schooled her face into a blank stare but her voice came out with a hint of shyness. "Do you like today's colours?"

He looked her in the eyes before giving her an obvious once over. "Yea. Why?"

"They were specially chosen to represent your clans colours." she said when her shyness took over and she looked away to the front of the class. He probably thought she was stupid now. This whole thing had been eating her all morning.

A small smile played on Sasuke's face at her confession. It was cute really. Her nervous but trying not to care attitude was cute and the colours were sweet. She was so adorable he wanted to kiss her. So with a quick glance at Kabuto who had his back turned, he did.

XX

The whole school was depressing as far as Sakura was concerned. So many memories of a time that wasn't coming back. She just hoped Sasuke knew he had her heart. He probably had her whole soul. She felt so empty. Everywhere she looked she remembered something else she and Sasuke shared. It didn't help that she saw I'm all around the school and she was practically invisible to him. It hurt to be unwanted. All morning was like watching the most depressing movie of the century. In one moment that depressing movie became a horror movie. She hated horror movies.

As biology class skimmed along Sakura ignored her desk partner in favour of resting her head on the desk. She made sure to position herself so that she could see Sasuke through the crook of her arm. It wasn't so hard since he sat at the back. She was always watching him. She would never admit that she was pining after him but she missed him. She missed him a whole lot more than she thought she should. He looked so out of it today, bored from what she could tell. Cute wasn't a word she used to describe Sasuke but the half lidded, half zoned out look on his face was almost cute.

She watched him snap out of it when the Hyuga beside him spoke to him. He answered. That reminded her that Sasuke wasn't even looking at her. Hinata said something else and looked away. Why would Sasuke even talk to her? To her horror, he leaned forward and kissed her. She sat up and spun in her seat to look them. Hinata looked on the verge of passing out with all the blood rushing to her head. She wasn't just pink, she was red.

Sakura spun again to look at Ino and Naruto's bench. Naruto looked just as shocked while Ino had a quizzical look. Naruto had been turned to face Ino when it happened and so had seen it. Ino on the other hand had her back to them at the time.

"What? Did I miss something?" Ino asked switching her gaze between Naruto and Sakura. They were both wearing the same shocked look. That could not be a coincidence. None of them spoke. "Is something going on?"

"Nothing to worry about Ino." Sakura said quietly with a small crooked smile. "Just something I thought I saw."

"Me too. I thought I saw Sasuke sprout horns and creepy wings." Naruto said with a shiver. It was a lie but he'd deal with it later. So would Sakura. "Was that what you saw too, Sakura?"

"No but it was just as creepy. I think I'm hallucinating." Sakura said before turning properly in her seat. She rest her head the same as before and returned to watching the bench at the back. She couldn't believe this. She had expected him to move on but not this soon or with her. Was he trying to hurt her all over again? Did that girl seduce him?

There had to be a way to fix this.

XX

Sasuke watched in amusement as Hinata struggled to stay calm and not pass out. She hadn't been expecting him to do that. She had expected something more among the lines of 'that's nice' or 'cool' or even 'why?' but not this. They were in class for crying out loud! They would have been in trouble if Kabuto saw. They were luck he hadn't seen them. And now here Sasuke was looking at her as if she was an interesting show. Why was he so amused by this? She hadn't fainted in a while and she wasn't going to do it now. She couldn't let that happen.

"Why did you do that?" she asked when she was sure she wouldn't pass out. He smirked at her.

"I felt like it." he said and her eyes widened at him. How had he not realised she was this cute before? "I felt a little happy that you went through the trouble of wearing my colours."

The smile he got for that almost made his heart stop. She may have stepped away from how close she had been to passing out but she still had a rosy blush that lit her face. Damn it, he was getting soft.

"Thanks." she said softly. Sasuke nodded in understanding and looked away. He watched her through the corners of his eyes and a smirk formed at the smile playing across her face. Maybe he should complement her more often.

"Oh right. How has your dad been with the... new you?" he asked and watched as her face coloured in embarrassment.

"He stares a lot." she answered before continuing. "It's like he's trying to figure out what to do with me and why I suddenly started dressing different."

"He hasn't asked?" Sasuke asked. He had thought that Hiashi would have asked right away. Hinata's father didn't seem like the kind of person to just accept something so sudden.

"I think he's still trying to wrap his mind around it." Hinata said with a thoughtful look. She had expected to be confronted about it already too but it had already been five days. Granted he watched her leave every morning. "I think he's trying to figure out if it's really me. It's like he's waiting for me to mess up and prove it's not me. He looks at me as if I'm a puzzle."

"That has to be annoying." Sasuke grumbled.

"It's uncomfortable. That's probably why he does it." she said before looking at him. "It feels like he's trying to see right into me. You'd hate it."

"Most likely. Are you going to tell him?"

"No. He'll eventually know but not yet." she told him then sighed. "He has ways of milking Hanabi when he wants to. She's a daddy's girl."

"When he does ask, tell me how it goes." Sasuke said and Hinata nodded. They passed the rest of class in silence with Sasuke staring off and Hinata writing. That was until class finally ended and Hinata pushed her notebook towards Sasuke.

"I figure you might need my notes." she explained.

"When are you going to get them?" he asked but took the book anyway.

"I'm going to be at the match tomorrow." she told him. He gave her a small smile. "I'll see you so I'll find you."

"You'll cheer for me?" he asked

"Yea."

"Me not the team?" he asked and she blushed. She couldn't just forget Neji; he would need her cheers too and she would cheer for him.

"You mostly." she compromised. He smirked at her.

"Maybe I should kiss you again." he teased.

"No!" she said instantly and he chuckled.

"I know Hinata." he said then got up and swung his bag over his shoulder. "Are you staying for practice or are you heading home?"

"I have some assignments so I'm going to the school library." she answered following his lead. He nodded in understanding and they parted ways when they left the class room. Hinata began her walk to the library while Sasuke headed to the locker rooms. He was almost there when Naruto pulled him away by the sleeve of his jacket.

"What do you want dobe?" Sasuke asked when Naruto finally stopped pulling him. He brushed lightly at the spot he had been pulled by as he stared blankly at the frowning blond.

"You kissed Hinata." Naruto said crossing his arms daring Sasuke to deny it. Sasuke almost sighed.

"And?" Sasuke asked boredly. He hadn't expected Naruto to have seen but he wasn't going to let his surprise show.

"How could you do that?" Naruto snapped.

"Because I can and I felt like it."

"You cannot do that." Naruto said and Sasuke raised an eyebrow at the order. "You cannot just decide you want to kiss her or you 'feel' like kissing her and kiss her. Don't mess with her like that."

"You can tell me that when you're the one dating her."

"What?" Naruto asked shocked.

"I'm dating her so drop it. It's not that big a deal." Sasuke said and walked away.

"Now you hold it right there mister." Naruto called following him.

"What?" Sasuke asked with a sigh.

"You're dating Hinata? Why? Why would you date her of all people?"

"Is something wrong with her Naruto?" Sasuke shot with a glare.

"No! It's just you date girls like Sakura and Ino." Naruto defended himself. It was truly shocking that Sasuke was dating Hinata.

"Sakura wasn't always the way she is. You of all people should remember that."

"Uh yea. But still, Hinata?"

"You make it sound like a bad thing. You dated her."

"Yea but I'm me. You're ...you." Naruto said as if it made sense.

"I'm dating Hinata. Drop it." Sasuke said getting annoyed with the conversation.

"Ok but..." Naruto stalled. He continued when Sasuke gave him an amused look. "Just watch yourself ok?"

Sasuke shook his head before continuing to the locker rooms. "We're late."

XXXXX

When Hinata was on her way to the fuels from the library she came across Naruto drinking at the water fountain. She had received a text earlier from Sasuke telling her that Naruto knew.

"Hinata." Naruto called when he saw her as she was trying to slip past unnoticed. She turned a neutral stare onto him. She couldn't just ignore him. This could actually be important. "Hey. I want to talk to you about something."

"Yea?" she asked. The blue jersey fit him so well and matched his eyes perfectly. Those were not good thoughts but she couldn't just walk away now. It was irritating that he was still attractive even if she really didn't like him anymore.

"About you dating Sasuke," he began and Hinata inwardly sighed. She crossed her arms as he continued. She already didn't like where this was going. "I don't think you should date him. He's not a very nice person. I should know, he's my friend. He will corrupt you and destroy you. He's not good Hinata."

"And so?" Hinata asked and Naruto gave her a puzzled look. How could he say those things and did he think she was an idiot? It was as if he didn't think she was stupid to just to walk in his without thinking about it first. She glared at him. "How is this any of your business?"

"What?" he asked shocked. He hasn't expected Hinata to snap at him. She never did. This was the second time in just over an hour that had him shocked like this.

"How is any of this your business?" she asked again. Her glare was not letting up. She couldn't believe this guy. "You hold no remorse for how you lied to me and how that affected me in any way. You broke my heart and you have the balls to try and tell me who to date? You have no business in this."

"But why Sasuke?" Naruto asked in a slight whining tone. That had been bugging him ever since Sasuke told him they were dating. It just didn't make sense to him.

"He didn't lie to me, what I see is what I get." she answered angrily and Naruto flinched.

"You're different." he observed and Hinata glared at him again.

"Yea? Whose fault do you think that is?" she asked angrily before stomping away. She shouldn't have lost her temper like that. Her father would be disappointed. That kind of display was not acceptable but it was bound to happen in that situation. It was beyond irritating to see your ex-boyfriend that dumped you for someone else, telling you that you shouldn't date someone. It didn't help that the whole thing still hurt her.

"Hey Hinata!" someone called from behind her. She looked behind her and blanched. There stood Sakura in her depressing garb looking at her with a thoughtful look. She was leaned against the wall and had a slight slouch. "You making a habit of ignoring people when they call you?"

"I didn't hear you. I had my own thoughts to deal with." Hinata said as an apology.

"Well start listening." Sakura told her with a glare as she pushed herself away from the wall. "I'm above you in this school so just because I'm mourning doesn't mean you should ignore me."

'Mourning? That's what you're calling this?' Hinata thought but held her tongue. She instead watched as Sakura approached her. Narrowed green eyes scanned her when Sakura was little more than a foot away from her.

"What exactly are you aiming for?" the other girl asked her. Hinata raised a brow at the question. "What exactly do you want?"

"Want with what?"

"Want with Sasuke." Sakura said and Hinata frowned. Wasn't this all just great? She knew there would be objections and some trouble but really? Right now? Right after Naruto?

"What do you mean?"

"Don't play dumb with me." Sakura snapped and Hinata flinched. If Ino was snippy, Sakura was aggressive and violent.

Where Ino would attack you psychologically, Sakura would attack you verbal and if need be physically. If Hinata was afraid of either of the two, it would be Sakura. Sakura was smart, despite everything; once she got thinking she could not be stopped. If either girls where to be the 'queen' of the school it would be Sakura but Ino was smart enough to assert herself and put Sakura where she would not be bothered by her. She was sure to keep her blind to the fact that she would be better than Ino as well.

"One doesn't date Sasuke Uchiha without wanting something." Sakura stated then began checking on her fingers. "There is money but you don't need that. Your family could possibly be richer than the Uchiha's. There is popularity but you're not the type that wants that stuff. Your new look has me confused on that one though. There is actual love but that's impossible for you: you've had a crush on Naruto for years you're not going to get over him that easily. Then there is revenge. Whether it's your revenge or his revenge, that's the only logical explanation. So you're dating Sasuke to get back at Naruto from dumping you to date Ino who is so much better than you."

Hinata had watched her all along with a frown. This was ridiculous. "You're wrong."

"Excuse me?" Sakura asked. She was not usually wrong.

"Just because you can't get over Sasuke who you have been crushing in for years does not mean I can't get over Naruto. Maybe if you had been in Sasuke's shoes you would be over him but then, you seem like the type that would let anything slide if it's him."

"What?" Sakura asked with a glare and Hinata matched her with one of her own.

"I'm not in a very good mood right now Sakura and neither are you. Let's just leave this until I don't feel like snapping everyone's head off and you aren't still 'mourning'." Hinata told her before walking away. Her day had been going good until Naruto. Why was she not surprised.

Sakura watched her leave in puzzlement. The Hinata before would not have said those things to her. What was really going on here?