Deidara cooked ramen for dinner.
"Sorry. I don't have anything too fancy to cook for you." he sat across from her, his bowl of ramen sitting to cool. Hinata started eating, staring at anything but Deidara. Pretty soon she ran out of things to look at, so she glanced briefly in his direction before settling for her food. He was looking at her. He wasn't even eating. His head was resting on his hand and was staring dreamily at her. She shifted awkwardly under his gaze, as she did many times before. She bit her lip and looked up at him. "Is there something on my face...?" she asked meekly, shrinking a little in her seat.
"Why, yes, my dear, there are many things on your face." He said smoothly, making her blush. "I see a pair of beautiful eyes with a cute button nose just above two lips I enjoy kissing so much." he recited as if her features were a beautiful poem. She just looked away. He stepped out of his seat and pulled her face up. "I see a girl who yearns to love me." He leaned down to kiss her, but she turned again so that it landed on her cheek. He sighed, then kissed her cheek again. "I guess I'll take you home. Wait here, I'll get my keys." he walked out of the room, leaving her to her thoughts.
Meet him halfway, meet him halfway... she told herself over and over.
She heard him in the hallway. Meet him halfway. She walked to him, forgetting all the doubts she had in her head for this moment. Meet him halfway."Hinata? Haha, I guess you really want to go home." He laughed lightly. "Deidara-sensei..." she stopped him mid-step, fiddling with the string on her coat. He reached out to touch her arm, but decided against it. His hand ended up resting on the side table close to Hinata's hip. "Yes?" he asked, getting ready to kiss her. Just before their lips touched, he could have sworn that she stepped up to kiss him herself. His eyes opened a little to see her face. Her eyes were closed and her cheeks were red. He smiled against her lips and pressed a little more, wrapping his arms around her waist.
When they pulled away, Deidara couldn't help the smirk forming on his face. She blushed furiously, straightening up the collar she messed up during their kiss. "Why the change of heart?" he asked, stroking a wisp of her hair. He brushed his lips against it, looking for her reaction. She quickly withdrew her hair, petting it like a cat. "U-Um... Th... That was a th-thank you for... the dinner." she stuttered, shyly poking her fingers together. Deidara studied her for a few minutes before nodding. "Well, you're very welcome. How about I take you home now?" he said, taking her hand and leading her out the door to his car. They drove in silence the whole way until they reached her house.
"Thank you for the ride, Deidara-sensei." she said, hurriedly stepping out of the car. He was already waiting for her by the gate. She stood awkwardly in front of him.
"Thank you, Hinata, for meeting me halfway." She stared at him with wide eyes. He laughed.
-:-
The students who were paired with teachers had to ride in the teacher's car. The rest were on a bus that headed to the historic town that was dubbed 'Old Konoha'. It was an hour and a half drive, and Hinata fell asleep in the car. Deidara gently woke her up when they arrived, helping her with her bags. Apparently, they were the last of the students (and teachers) to arrive, so all the rooms for two were taken. My, how convenient. Deidara hummed happily in his head.
"I'm sorry for the inconvenience." the manager said. "We could bring up an extra bed if you wish." Deidara shook his head. "I'm sure we'll manage. Right, Hinata?" he looked at Hinata, who was still half asleep. "Yeah, sure, whatever." she said passively. "Okay. So your room is..." Deidara took care of the room preparations while Hinata sat at the nearby bench. When he returned, he picked Hinata up bridal style and carried her to the elevator. She gladly leaned against him, eagerly awaiting the comfort of the bed in their room.
She sighed happily as she hopped onto the bed, bouncing a bit to turn over. She looked around the room, noting that there was only one bed.
"Deidara-sensei?" She called to Deidara, who was in the bathroom changing his clothes. "Where are you going to sleep?" she asked. He poked his head out of the bathroom to smirk at her, then returned to brush his teeth. She stared at the bathroom door in disbelief. "B-But w-wouldn't that mean..." she turned a dark red, adjusting her short uniform skirt self-consciously.
"I'm afraid the hotel ran out of extra beds, so we'll have to share." he lied. Hinata groaned. "Are you serious?" She plopped back down on the bed, arms and legs spread wide. "You should change into your PJs. It's late." Deidara said, walking out of the bathroom. Hinata squeaked and turned away. "What?" he asked, looking himself over. He was in his pajamas. "Y-You're not..." Hinata muttered. Deidara looked himself over again then smirked deviously. "Honey, you're lucky I'm wearing this to bed." he said, sitting at the side, placing an arm on her back. "Are you serious!?" She squeaked angrily. "Well, would you rather I take it off?" He leaned over her to kiss her head. "Or do youwant to?" Hinata snapped her head up, hitting Deidara's nose. "Ow!" he yelped. "I-I-I'm gonna change now!" She hopped up and ran to the bathroom.
Shoot! I should have packed better pajamas! He's gonna stare at me all night! Or worse... She shivered. All she had were short shorts and a tank top that made her breasts more than they really were. Oh! Stupid hotel and their No-Extra-Bed! She brushed her teeth and stepped slowly out of the bathroom. He seemed to be asleep already, so she cautiously set herself up on the other side of the bed. Happy to feel the comfort of a pillow under her head, she closed her eyes and...
...felt an arm wrap around her waist.
I should have expected this, she thought, annoyed. I mean, we're sleeping in the same bed, alone in a hotel room where no one can hear you scream...
"And you said I wasn't wearing anything." he said teasingly. Hinata, in a sudden rush of anger, elbowed him hard in the gut. He grunted, rolling back to his side of the bed. "If you try anything, I'm going to sleep on the floor." she threatened. He didn't respond, but he sure as hell got the idea.
--
I didn't come here to argue with you.
I love you.
If you want me, you'll have to meet me halfway.
Clack, Clack, Clack.
This is wrong.
We can't...
Meet him halfway.
-Verizon Wireless Ring tone-
Beep, Beep, Beep.
Hinata...
Deidara-sensei...
Hinata jolted herself awake. She felt Deidara's hand stroke her head absently as he texted on his phone. "Did I wake you?" he asked, closing his phone and tossing it beside him. She shook her head. "You were dreaming. Everything's okay now." He carefully wrapped an arm around her shoulders. He didn't want her to elbow him again. "I wasn't having a nightmare, Deidara-sensei." she whispered, sitting up. He leaned on his arm, which was behind her waist. "Well, that's good. You should go back to sleep." He moved away so that she could lay down again. She stayed upright. "I don't want to. Not yet." She said.
Deidara looked at her, then shrugged. "You slept in the car, so I guess it's alright." he looked at her. She was rubbing her eyes cutely, yawning a bit. She was so irresistible. He just had to kiss her. "Who are you texting?" She asked, turning to look at his phone. He was leaning toward her, his arm wrapping around her waist. He tilted her head up, their lips growing closer and closer until...
-Verizon Wireless Ring tone-
"Uh... Its Sasori. He wants to know if we made it or not." he quickly pulled away from her. She felt disappointed. Usually he was more persistent than that.
She's awake. Brb.
"Are you sleepy yet?" he asked, stretching. Hinata shook her head. He noticed how disappointed she looked. "Did you want me to kiss you?" he asked. She opened her mouth to protest, but stopped. She slowly nodded. "Well, you're not getting one." He said strictly. She looked hurt now. Deidara absently rubbed his cheek. "I kiss you, you hate it, you kiss me, you hate it. You're teasing me, Hinata." he dropped his hand. "It hurts a lot more than what I show you." he let himself show the hurt he felt inside for a brief moment before turning away. Hinata reached out to touch his hand, but he pulled away. "I'm going to sleep now. You too, if you like." he turned off his phone, then the lamp beside him, and went to sleep.
--
Hinata thought long and hard. About Deidara, about their relationship, and about what she really wanted. Was she really this opposed to him? She couldn't deny that she wanted him to kiss her. Not only then, but every time before that. Even before that night in the Nurse's office. She had always been attracted to him. The way he smiled at her - and only her - when they made eye contact, the way he wrote little notes on her paper telling her what a great job she did, the way he talked to her after class... Everything about him seemed to make her sparkle inside.
She heard something vibrate on Deidara's bedside table. His cell phone. Hinata carefully reached over him and grabbed it. It was a text message from Sasori.
Well?? What happened? Is she still awake?
Hinata bit her lip. She gripped the phone tightly. She went back to sleep. she replied. She went back to his messages and read his Inbox and Outbox.
What room are you guys in? I'm in 324.
We're in 321. :D
Cool! You guys made it last, y'know.
I know. They told us that they had no more rooms for two. IYKWIM. (If you know what I mean)
Haha. Don't scare her, Dei. You'll only push her away.
I told her that the hotel had no extra beds (blatant lie haha) is that considered scary?
I call that clever ;) so what are you doing now, up so late?
Im watching her sleep. Shes beautiful, have you ever noticed?
I'm sure you have haha.
She's awake. Brb.
The phone was snatched from her hands. She gasped, looking over at who took the phone. "What are you doing!?" Deidara yelled, looking angry. Hinata shrunk down into the sheets, guilty. He looked at his phone, at the messages from Sasori. "How much did you read?" he demanded, looking at her. She felt a tear fall down her cheek. "All of it." She said with a shaky voice. There was a lump in her throat and more tears fell. Deidara gave a rusty sigh and threw his phone at the foot of the bed. He ran a hand through his hair. Hinata glanced at him and noticed that his face was bright red.
She reached for the phone and held it tightly in her hand. "I guess you can order an extra bed, since you despise me so much." He grunted, handing her the hotel's phone. "You watched me sleep." she whispered. "Yes, yes, you're better than daytime television." He waved the phone at her. "You think I'm beautiful." she looked at him. "More beautiful than a sunset." He muttered impatiently, waving the phone more angrily at her. "You lied about the hotel running out of beds." she let the cell phone slip through her hands.
"Okay, okay! I get it, I'm a stupid guy for falling in love with the most amazing girl in the entire known universe and beyond. Now are you gonna call the lobby or am I gonna do it for you?" He poked her shoulder with the phone.
Hinata wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him as hard as she could.
-:-
Of course, the text messages are in chat speak.