A/N: -looks surprised- Wow, that was a lot of reviews! And I think I'll also be able to update more often than I thought during the school week.
Does anybody do band besides me? Because I love it, lol. It's my favorite class next to Algebra and History. (Yes, I am a nerd, lol.)
--
Day 11
--
"Okay, I am really, really sorry about this," said Tenten.
She was at the familiar halfpipe. On one side of her stood Naruto and Lee, both holding helmets and with one foot on their skateboards, looking confused but willing to cooperate as soon as Tenten explained herself. On her left stood Hinata and Neji, both fair skinned with dark hair, Neji looking cold and Hinata looking red.
Sakura and Ino had vanished, though they had originally come along with her too. She assumed that they had gone off to seek some entertainment and left Tenten mercilessly to her doom.
"Uh…Naruto, Lee, this is Hyuuga Neji. Neji-kun, these are my two best friends, Uzumaki Naruto and Rock Lee." She swallowed, and tried to think of something else to say.
When she had come up with the bright idea to bring Neji out to meet all of her friends, (and roommates), it had seemed like a fun thing to do. It would be good for everybody to meet some new people. Now she was deeply regretting the decision. She had forgotten to foresee problems such as the fact that Hinata liked Naruto, Naruto liked Sakura, Sakura was agonizing over homicidal Sasuke. Neji was traumatized. How had she forgotten these little facts?
Oh yeah, Rock Lee had also decided to bring Maito Gai, to top off the experience.
Her sensei winked and did his famous Nice Guy pose, his white teeth flashing, (this may have been the only thing attractive about him: the white teeth. He claimed that he didn't even need a dentist).
"Tenten, our young Flower of Youth!" He slung an arm around Lee's shoulders, and Lee beamed almost disgustingly brightly. Tenten wilted. "Your friends are so quiet! We must teach them to appreciate their Springtime of Youth!"
"Yes, Gai-sensei!"
"Lee!"
"Gai-sensei!"
"Lee!"
"OKAY!" Tenten screamed. Lee and Gai both turned to look at her as though she were slightly insane, but they did stop. Naruto, oddly, was being silent. Neji and Hinata, not oddly, were also being silent.
"Uh…you guys want to skate?" Tenten suggested hopefully, sounding like she would rather die.
"No," said Neji.
"A-Ano…" said Hinata.
"Please," said Naruto rather seriously, but then he turned to wink at Tenten, and he grabbed his board to go do a few practice runs. Lee followed, and Gai sat himself down in a park bench to watch. Hinata shuffled awkwardly off to the side until she stood next to Tenten, still looking down. Neji stood completely still and in the middle of the road while passing people stared at his long hair.
"You sure you don't want to take a turn?" Tenten questioned, holding out her own board. Hinata quickly shook her head.
"Oh, I don't know h-how."
Tenten paused, a slow grin spreading across her face. Hinata, wisely, took a step back from her warily.
"Why don't we get Naruto to teach you?" said Tenten, gleefully watching Hinata's face rise in color.
"T-Tenten-san! I c-couldn't!" Hinata cried, mortified already. Tenten scuffed her toe on the ground, and did a little twirl of victory.
"Why not?" she said in a sing-song voice. Hinata mumbled something unintelligible.
"See? There's no reason for you not to," Tenten said smugly, and gave Hinata a little shove in the small of her back. She made a small "eep" sound of surprise, and stumbled forward. Tenten smiled wider. Maybe this hadn't been such a bad idea after all.
"I do not want to be here," Neji said flatly when she went over to stand by him, doing a few tricks on her skateboard. She frowned.
"What, do you have to be someplace?"
"Yes."
"Really?" she said in surprise. "Where?"
He scowled. "Anywhere but here." She frowned at him, wagging her finger, and then adjusting her helmet so that it sat snugly onto her head.
"Neji-kun, it's really, really not good for you to spend the entire day moping in your bedroom. It's seriously beneficial for your health to come out here and get some fresh air, you know!"
Neji scowled at her, and folded his arms snugly in denial.
"You'll get fat if you don't exercise," Tenten giggled, a sudden image of a monster-sized sumo wrestler Neji popping into her head. Neji's eyes narrowed almost imperceptibly at her.
"You are a child," he sneered.
She elbowed him in the ribs, perhaps much harder than necessary. "Not sure if you've noticed, but reality check? We're the same age," she reminded him, flicking him in the forehead. "Fifteen."
He flicked her back.
"Ow!" she complained, rubbing her forehead. "Hyuuga Neji, you are such a baby."
"It takes one to know one," he said indifferently, and turned back to watching the others skate. Hinata was looking rather nervous, standing completely stock still on Naruto's skateboard, her knees so stiff it looked like she was a statue. Naruto looked like he was trying to coax her into moving, but Hinata was not going anywhere anytime soon. Tenten was reminded of her first time on a skateboard, all those years ago. She hadn't moved much then either.
"Neji-kun, go skate," she commanded him, shoving her board into his toe. He winced.
"Why?"
"Well, because Hinata there looks like she needs some company. And, as stated before, you need the exercise," she explained.
"I do not want to skateboard," he said stiffly, pushing her board away from his leg. She sighed and shook her head.
"Geez, Neji-kun. You're so lazy."
"I am not lazy."
"Are too."
"I am not."
"Prove it," she said, this time shoving the board into his other big toe. He winced again, and took a smart step away from her, at the same time grabbing her board and holding it high above his head. She raised her eyebrows at him, and folded her arms.
"You know, you're supposed to stand on it," she said slowly, as if talking to a five year old. He scowled.
"I know that. I am not letting you get back in reach of this weapon," he said solemnly, holding the board still higher in the air. She burst out laughing.
"Weapon?"
"Yes," he said, still seriously. "You are dangerous."
"Dangerous to society? Yeah, I think that fits me perfectly," Tenten chortled, and reached for the board on tiptoe. Her fingertips brushed the edge. Sadly, Neji was taller than her. She jumped for it. He held it higher.
"Neji-kun, you're mean," she said.
"Yes."
"You're a crabby old man, at least on the inside."
"Hn…?"
She sighed. "Just give me my board back."
"No."
"Pleeeasse?
"No."
"I won't make you skate on it. Also, if you don't give it back, I'll start screaming that you attacked me and stole it."
Pause. Pause.
He handed the board back.
"Thank you," she said primly, and stood on top of it, gently wheeling back and forth as she watched Hinata finally go off at a slow speed. Naruto clapped enthusiastically.
"I have no balance," said Neji.
"Oh," said Tenten, surprised. "Well…you know, balance isn't really something you're born with. You can practice." She got off of the board.
"Seriously, I can help you," she said, eyeing his baleful expression.
Neji stared at the board, stared at Tenten. Stared at the board. Looked at Hinata. Gazed at the sky, counted the Canadian geese flying by. Tenten tapped her foot.
"Alright."
"You know, it's actually really good for you…wait, did you just say 'alright'?" Tenten asked incredulously.
"Hn." Neji took a step towards the board.
"Just put your feet on it."
Neji put his right foot on the board, and moved it back and forth a little. Steadied it. Put his left foot on…
The board slid back, forth, and then rolled downhill.
Tenten's eyes widened. She'd forgotten that they were on a downhill slope! "Neji-kun!" she called, starting to follow him.
Neji didn't need warning. As soon as he realized that he was moving without actually meaning to move, his white eyes widened. And then…
He flipped off of the skateboard.
Flipped.
He did a summersault in midair and landed steadily on his feet. The board kept rolling, until it got jammed into a bush. Tenten paid it no mind, staring, and gawking, openmouthed at Neji.
"You…you…" she sputtered, pointing at him.
He shrugged, and stretched his arm. "What?"
"You just flipped. Off of my skateboard. And you say you don't have balance!" she exclaimed in disbelief. "God, Neji! Just God!"
He raised his eyebrows at her. "You lack proper vocabulary."
"Damn it all, you can do flips but you can't skateboard?"
"I cannot bike, either."
"Hyuuga Neji, you're weird," she said.
"I am your therapy patient, am I not?" he said. "I should think you would have known I was not normal." He scowled.
"Who taught you that?" she demanded.
"How to be not-normal? Does anybody need to teach you that?"
"No, not being weird, how to flip!"
He paused. "I have trained for a long time."
"In martial arts?" He nodded.
"I exceed both Hinata and Hanabi greatly."
God, why was everybody Tenten meeting some kind of kung-fu genius? She shuddered. This world was so whacked up. She jogged down hill and grabbed up her skateboard, and hugged it to her chest, even though the wheels were covered in mud.
"You…you know what? I give up," she sighed. "I give up trying to understand how your mind works."
Neji smiled faintly. It had to be the first time Tenten had ever see him look remotely happy. "That is wise of you. I have a very…unique mind."
"Of course, God forbid you be normal," she rolled her eyes. Neji smiled slightly again. He reached out a hand for the skateboard. Unwillingly, she handed it over. His fingers brushed the back of her fingers. Again, a shiver ran down her back—the texture of his skin was so different. It was dry and cracked and kind of electric-ish.
He scrutinized her surprised expression. "I apologize."
"For what?"
"You dislike me to touch you," he said, gently tugging the skateboard out of her frozen fingers. "I understand. I am sorry."
"Oh…it's not that…" She faltered. Okay, so it was that. "Nevermind. Thanks," she said awkwardly. Neji smiled that small smile again.
"Tenten, you are very amusing."
O0O
"Hey."
Ino smiled at Tenten. There was a first. Tenten shrugged.
"Hi. Did you guys have fun?"
Sakura rolled her eyes, falling into step with Tenten, Hinata, and Ino, toasting them with her Jamba Juice smoothie. "Right. Like a body can enjoy herself with Little Miss Pink here." Ino shoved her playfully.
"I didn't see you complaining."
"Yeah, but I was doing it internally throughout the entire ordeal."
"Sure, Forehead-girl, sure."
"Where'd you people go anyways?" said Tenten curiously.
"Ah, to the plaza," said Ino airily. "They've got some pretty cool stuff there."
Hinata looked like she might have wanted to go with them. The whole thing with Naruto and the skateboard had pretty much used up her bravery for the day. Tenten smiled sympathetically at her. "Sorry for forcing you into hanging out with Naruto, Hinata-chan. I just thought it might be good for you." She winked. "All with how you're madly in love with him and all."
Ino and Sakura laughed while Hinata flushed so red that she looked like she had been painted that way.
"I'm ready to go back," Tenten sighed. "God, that was stressful."
"Hey, mental patient meets BFF's." Ino shrugged. "Of course it was stressful."
Tenten glared at her. "Not helping. You're going to make me bust something I shouldn't bust."
"Like…your sanity." Sakura suggested.
Hinata was looking a bit down, so Tenten nudged her. "Hinata, I don't think I've seen Naruto that happy for a while." She paused. "Well, he's almost always happy. But still, I think that you guys would be good for each other." Hinata flushed again.
"R-Really?"
I can't tell her that Naruto really likes Sakura. Tenten made the decision automatically at the hopeful expression on Hinata's face.
"Yeah," she said, wishing she could just swallow her tongue. "Yeah."
O0O
Shikamaru was waiting for them.
The first thing that they saw was his pineapple hairdo when they opened the door to the dorm. Tenten was dismayed that other people could get in without a key, but Ino wasn't daunted at all. She gave Shikamaru a hug and a peck on the cheek, though Shikamaru turned his head away for that.
"Whatcha doing here?" Ino asked.
"Oh. I was going to…" he glanced at the other three. They got the hint, and stepped back out into the hallway. Sakura sighed in annoyance when Tenten dragged her out.
"You were going to what?" Ino said, once she thought the other girls were out of earshot, (though, of course, they all had their ears pressed to the door).
"There's a party this weekend," Shikamaru explained. "I was wondering if you could come."
"Oh. Really?" Ino sounded surprised. "I didn't know anybody was holding a party."
"Well…it was kind of a last minute thing," Shikamaru said uncomfortably. There was a pause, and then Ino snorted.
"Temari's hosting it, isn't she." She didn't bother to make it sound like a question.
"Yeah." Shikamaru scuffed his toe. "Look, you don't have to come if you don't want to."
"I do," Ino said in a menacing voice. Shikamaru sounded like he was regretting telling Ino about the party by now. Tenten and Sakura exchanged a look. Hinata looked at both of them, and all three knew that trouble was coming.
"Great. Uh. I'll call," Shikamaru said hurriedly. Tenten, Sakura, and Hinata hurriedly jumped back from the door just in time for Shikamaru to scurry through it and down the steps, looking like he had Hades himself on his tail. They crept back into the room warily.
Ino was sitting on the bed, having yanked out her ponytail messily. Her white-blonde hair pooled around her shoulders in a mini-afro. Her face was in her hands.
"Ino…?"
"Leave me alone," she muttered.
Tenten sighed. "You're so stupid. Isn't it obvious what you should do?"
Ino glared at her. "Like you're an expert on guys."
"I'm not," Tenten said calmly. "But if he's your friend, then you should talk to him. Go to the party and enjoy yourself. He thought to invite you at least, didn't he?"
"Yeah, but it's not like he asked me to go with him," Ino muttered.
"Yes, because he has a girlfriend!" Tenten shouted, exasperated. "If you're too busy wallowing in self-pity to actually let him know that you're hurt, then be my guest!"
Sakura laughed. "Wow. I never knew you had the angry-pep-talk speech in you, Tenten! I always thought that was more my thing."
"Yes, well, living with you has got to rub off on me somehow," Tenten snapped. Sakura laughed again.
"You know…I think she's right," the pink-haired girl said slowly, a smile spreading on her face. "And we could go with you."
"Say what?" said Ino.
"S-Sakura-san is right," Hinata said. "You'll f-feel better if you're n-not alone, right, Ino-san?"
"Well…"
Ino hesitated.
"Hey, if we help you get your guy, it's not like you can complain," Sakura smirked.
"You know, you're the spitting image of the Uchiha baby when you do that," Ino remarked. Sakura's confident expression changed to one of immediate surprise. She reached up to touch her mouth.
"Seriously?"
"Yeah. Really, you guys really resemble each other sometimes." Ino paused. "You know that thing they say about married couples growing to look like each other over the years…?"
"We're not married," Sakura said stiffly, her cheerful mood instantly gone.
"You will be," Ino said matter-of-factly.
And since Sakura couldn't actually prove her wrong about this one, (even the pink-haired smart mouth couldn't see the future, and maybe just a little, a very, very little, she wanted it to happen), she did not deny it.
--
A/N: Yay! Please review!