Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

Author's Notes: I have a final in a few hours, and should be studying.

That should let you know how important you all are. (And the extent to which I am willing to go to blame my procrastination on feelings of goodwill. :p)

oOo

"Love is the breakdown of one's mind … it is the sudden rush that occurs in your heart that leads to unusual behavior and irrational actions. It also decreases your reaction time and lowers your pace in a certain amount of degree. If this happens to you, then you've fallen for it, you're in love." -Mark Aaron

oOo

This is so stupid, Hinata thought, pressing her phone to her ear. And desperate and crazy looking. What am I doing? He's probably already asleep anyway. I'm being an idiot. I'm being such an idiot.

The phone rang once, twice, and then Naruto's voice filtered through with a cheerful, if tired, "Hi!"

"Hello," Hinata said, fisting her fingers in her coverlet. "Um… I just—I just…"

How was she supposed to tell him she just had a feeling to call him? This wasn't Star Wars! She would sound like a spaz. He probably already thought she was deranged for calling for no reason in the middle of the night.

"I'm so glad you called," Naruto said, effectively cutting off her mounting panic. "I've been sitting here trying to talk myself out of calling you because you would think I was some kind of freak."

Hinata laughed. "I've been doing the same."

"Really? How weird! Awesomely weird of course, not just, you know, weird-weird and… so whatcha doin'?"

"Nothing," Hinata said, curling up under her covers. "How about you?"

"Getting food. Sasuke had a hole blown through his stomach-"

"A what? What happened?"

"Small hole. Tiny hole. Barely there hole. He, um, got shot. Mugger, we think."

"Oh, no. How awful! Is he going to be okay?"

"Oh yeah, he'll be fine! He has a way of bouncing back. He'll be fine."

"Good," Hinata said hesitantly. He was reassuring himself, she could tell, by the unnecessary repetition. Sasuke was probably in really bad shape. "I'm so glad to hear that. At which hospital is he? I would like to visit him once-"

"Oh!" Naruto said. "I—um—hold on, I hafta order."

"Okay."

She waited patiently, feeling a little guilty that she had interrupted him right before he got his food. It was awkward to try to talk and eat at the same time. She yawned quietly, staring into the dark of her bedroom. Her dresser and nightstand were mere shadows in the half-light coming in through the window, and her shoes on the floor shone. Bright, sparkling, tiny boots with tiny buckles on the blue carpet…

"Hinata? You still there?"

Hinata jerked awake, blinking rapidly. "Yes, of course."

"Okay. So, what are still doing up?"

"Couldn't sleep," she said, shrugging. There was something important… something they had been talking about before… "Oh! Sasuke. Hospital. Sasuke? Which hospital?"

"Hmm…" there was a slurping sound as Naruto ate whatever he had gotten, Hinata was at a loss as to what that might be, before he spoke. "He's… not exactly at a hospital."

"But—but he was shot…"

"Home doctor. She has a surgery room and stuff and, um, she's taking care of him."

"Oh." Hinata had never heard of such a thing, but that certainly didn't mean they didn't exist. "Well, okay."

"Yeah, and he can't be visited for a while, but as soon as he can be I'll let you know! He's going to be fine. It's tiny, really, and we got to him in plenty of time! You could bring him like a giant teddy bear or something… that would annoy him! Ha. He'll be fine, you know, really soon."

"Of course," Hinata soothed. "He's Sasuke. He'll pull through in no time. Thanks for telling me."

"Oh. Sure, no problem."

"So," Hinata said, fiddling with a loose thread and stifling a yawn. "Um… sorry your night ended so badly."

"Yeah, well, it started out really great so…"

"Really? Good. Good."

"Yeah. Very good. Which reminds me, when are we going to get go out again?"

Hinata's heart jumped, and she blushed. He wanted to go out again. That was a good sign. "I—I'm free just about anytime. I mean, whenever you might wanna—"

"Great! So… next Friday?"

A week, Hinata thought sadly, and laughed at herself. When had she ever, even in her admittedly limited experience, been so pathetic about a man? "Sounds good. Call me about Sasuke?"

"Of course!"

Hinata couldn't stifle her yawn this time, and Naruto chuckled. "You should get some sleep. I'll talk to you later?"

"Sure," Hinata slurred, head jerking in an attempt to stay upright. "Tomorrow…"

"Good night."

"'Nigh…"

She fell asleep, phone in her hand.

oOo

Author's Notes: Some of you may find this entire chapter unlikely, silly, and, most of all, unlikely. I have only one thing to say:

STOP RAINING ON MY PARADE!

I like it, and if you do to, I would appreciate it if you left a review. (That kinda rhymed!)

Oh, yes, and Naruto was mostly lying through his teeth. Just so you know, and there's no confusion.