There was one more day before the school trip ended.
Everyone was packing their things in their rooms, being careful with fragile souvenirs or finding lost homework. Or some doing neither and using this trip as an excuse for no homework for the next three assignments.
It was silent as Hinata and Deidara packed their things. Hinata had told him to explain things later, when they were back at the hotel, but neither said anything. Deidara felt nervous under the silent pressure and began speaking.
"So, half the things I told you about me and Sasori were big fat lies."
What an opening line.
Hinata stopped packing for a minute to look at him. "What parts?" she inquired. Deidara thought a moment. "Oh, the 'wanting to be teachers' bit, the 'children are monsters'... I know there was more, but I don't remember. But the part about my unruly class and the quitting teacher was relatively real." he zipped up his bag and kicked it to the side, then jumped onto the bed. Hinata continued packing.
More silence.
Hinata stopped moving for a minute, and he stared at her, puzzled. "I still can't believe you're only Nineteen." she sighed, staring into space. Deidara rolled the other way on the bed, away from her. "I still can't believe you know." he muttered.
"Why are you a teacher? You should be a student, like me." She threw her bag on top of Deidara's and sat next to him on the bed. He didn't know if he should hug her or not. "You're so young, Deidara-sensei. Why?" she looked at him with concern. He shrugged. "My life wasn't the easiest." he said softly. Hinata slipped her hand into his. "Tell me." She whispered.
Deidara bit his lip. A pained look crossed his face, revealing another flash of emotion from deep inside him. Despite this, he told her his story.
"I was abandoned when I was young." he began. "I figured it was because they couldn't take care of me anymore, but something always told me it was something else." He rolled so that he was facing Hinata again. "I was a smart kid. I knew that if I wanted to survive, I'd need money. So immediately, at seven years old, I started looking for a job. I always hung out at a Newspaper Stand in town, reading the newspapers and looking at the books in bookstores in that area. I got food from the Newspaper Stand Guy, who always had enough to spare." Deidara had a distant look in his eye as he remembered. "I grew up there." he chuckled a bit. "Somewhere along the way, the Newspaper Stand became a place for young kids to be taken care of until... well, until they decided to leave." He paused. "Somewhere along the way, I met Sasori."
By now, Hinata had laid beside him, still holding his hand. "Sasori's Nineteen too?" she asked. Deidara nodded, then he wasn't so sure. "I think he's a little younger." he pondered over it for a little more before he continued. Hinata supressed a gasp of surprise.
"We became friends instantly. And, almost as instantly, we both found steady jobs at 15. We applied for driver's licences and by the time we were 16 we drove to our interview. It was strange, because the ad said 'Help the Needy'. We thought we were going to some shelter that paid you to help. But what it really was... was a school." Hinata almost laughed. Help the Needy. What a joke.
"The principal explained that the 'Needy' were the kids who were poor... in education." Deidara laughed. "We both thought it was a stupid idea, but work was work, and the pay was good. We got away with faking our age and experience and all that on the forms. We were hired on the spot, since to begin with they were short on staff."
Deidara paused for a long time. "And I guess that's it. That's all I have to tell you." he shrugged. Hinata sat up, looking at him. "Is that really what happened?" she whispered, as if someone else were listening. "Yeah." He looked back at her, his eyes holding a kind of vulnerability; the kind that made him look like he just told her a very painful secret. He felt exposed, but he made like he didn't.
Hinata stared deep into his eyes. He pulled her down for a short kiss. "But if my life had been any better, I might not have met you." His eyes changed to something hopeful. "You made it all worthwhile." he smiled at her. Hinata blushed darkly. He was so sweet! She closed her eyes. Deidara chuckled lightly, kissing her again. And again. And again. Suddenly she began crying. Almost panicked, he began wiping the tears away. "What happened?" He asked, surprised. When the tears wouldn't stop, he pressed her against him. She hugged him tightly. "Was it something I said?" he laughed, stroking her hair. She shook her head, holding back a small wail. "Come on, my story isn't that sad."
"B-But it was s-sad at f-f-first, right?" she said between sobs. Deidara smiled softly, kissing her hair. "Of course it was." He let her lay down on the bed when she calmed down. "Then that's why I'm crying."
-:-
"Yes, Yes, I'll tell her."
"No, I don't think she told anyone else."
"Yes, I remember."
"Uh-huh."
"Uh-huh."
Deidara took a second to glance at Hinata, who was beginning to look a bit annoyed.
"Anything else? No? Okay. Yeah. I know. Bye."
Finally, he closed his phone and continued driving, almost scared to look at Hinata.
"I--I'm sorry." he said nervously.
"It would've been nice if you didn't talk like I wasn't there." She huffed. "I didn't exactly have a choice..." Deidara defended, stopping at a red light. He turned to Hinata, who had her arms crossed and was looking out the window. "So what did Sasori-sensei want you to tell me?" she asked without looking at him. Before he could answer, the light turned green, and the car behind them honked their horn. Deidara grumbled before stepping on the gas. "Well..." he started, glaring at the car behind them, which was speeding up to cut them. He wanted so much to speed up and cut him off, but weighed his other option, which included keeping a certain girl his age safe.
"Sasori wanted me to make you swear secrecy." he chuckled lightly, taking his mind off his minor road rage. Hinata laughed a little as well, distracting him completely from his anger. "I hereby swear to keeping your secrets, Deidara-sensei." Hinata put a hand over her heart and the other in the air. "Cross your heart and hope to die." Deidara added childishly. She smiled, bringing her hand down to his. Her little finger hooked with his. Surprised, he first glanced at their hands and then her. She didn't notice him looking, but she was still smiling. He moved his hand so that it covered hers.
"I... I love you, Hinata." he said, blushing. A few seconds later, he felt her press her lips against his cheek. In another spasm of surprise, he jerked the wheel to the side, dangerously merging lanes and quickly parking at the side of the road. In this chaos, Hinata and fallen onto his lap. He was breathing heavily, and he glanced down at her. "S-Sorry." he stuttered. "Y-You surprised m-me." He parked the car and leaned back in his seat to catch his breath. Hinata, trying to get up, accidentally elbowed the horn, making them both jump. He quickly pushed her back to her seat. "Stop that." He said, laughing under his breath.
When they settled down, Hinata held his hand again. "I love you too, Deidara-sensei." He leaned over and kissed her cheek before driving again.
-:-
"Come on, Sasori. It's just a drink."
Sasori was nervous.
"Yeah, Sasori, a drink. Harmless."
Very nervous.
"It won't hurt a bit."
He was in a bar with his peers. He was nervous because, if he got drunk, he might reveal his age. His young looks was always a conversation starter, and that conversation was one that he wanted to avoid at all costs. Especially drunk.
"No, I'm fine. Thanks." he said, sliding the tempting drink away from him.
"Suit yourself." his friends said.
--
"Ahahahaha... So, 'Sori-baby, how old are you, reeeeally?"
Despite his mind's previous warnings, he had gotten drunk with his friends.
"Yeaaaahh. You've got all the girrrlllls hot fer ya with yer young looks, there, mister!"
They laughed obnoxiously at each other. Sasori laughed along with them, raising his glass in a toast.
"I'm younger th'n ya think I am!" He said daringly, slamming his cup onto the table.
"C'mon! Tell usss 'Sori-Baaaaby!"
If he weren't so drunk, he'd be disturbed at the odd nickname they gave him.
"I'm a friggen 18-year old! How 'bout that!?"
Not being able to register the information, the guys all laughed loudly.
"18 he says! Hoo boy, that explains a lot!"
"Hahahahaha yeah, you said it!"
"Hahaha... Ha..." Sasori's drunk was starting to wear off, and he had begun to register the things he said in his head
"Hahaha... I think I'm gonna go throw up outside..."
Once he was outside the door, he bolted for his car and drove off, calling Deidara immediately on his cell phone.
-:-
Oh, Sasori. You silly drunk, underage drinking, inexperienced, law-breaking 18-year old you!
(Ehehehe... Deidara only acts that nervous around Hinata, when his guard's down)