Shelly's Note: I own nothing, enjoy and please review
I realized I used to put quotes in some of my stories, I miss doing so, and so from here on out there probably will be a quote to go with the chapter.
Thank you to the eight of you who reviewed, it is much appreciated...if you want to see more of anything just let me know....
I've decided I probably am going to start working on a new fic I have 35 of the 42 planned chapter written so I'm going to start going through my ideas as I finish up these last chapters and see which one I want to start next
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Chapter 31: Advice
"Advice is what we ask for when we already know the answer, but wish we didn't." ~ Erica Jong
Naruto POV:
I had all my friends at my disposal. It was our weekly night out and it was the perfect time for me to ask each of them for advice, or at least the ones I had thought would be of any help at least. This Sasuke problem was really getting to me and I needed some advice, but I wasn't sure whom to turn to. I glanced at my friends all sitting at the bar with me and immediately ruled a few people out. For example, I knew Kiba was out, as he had only been having one nightstands or exceedingly short relationships ever since he and Hinata broke up. Lee was too happy of a person to ask, as he had been on cloud nine ever since he and Sakura got together. Sai was definitely out of the question, I knew he still talked with Sasuke and he'd probably just say something perverted. Gaara, is self-explanatory, it just wouldn't work because he's a good friend but lacking in the love department. Shino again wouldn't work, as he scares all the women he gets away by showing them his bug collection. Tenten and Temari would just tease me about Sasuke. I could just hear Temari mock me now, "I thought you were ignoring him."
I then let out a sigh as a realized the ignoring him plan, or "Plan A" wasn't working. I needed a new plan or maybe just new advice. I looked at the rest of my friends, seeing that it left only Sakura, Shikamaru, or Neji to talk to and I decided to try to Sakura first. I knew she usually gave good advice. I would add Ino to my list, but she wasn't there, this time, I'd have to ask Shikamaru why.
Sakura POV:
I was sitting at the bar when Naruto walked over and sat next to me. He looked more miserable than I'd seen him in a while. "What's wrong?" I asked.
"I'm working with Sasuke," he sighed.
"Nice," I smiled. "How's he doing?"
"It's not nice, it's torture," he put his head on the bar.
"Cheer up," I pat him on the back.
"I can't," he frowned as he paused. "I just can't stop thinking about him."
"You know what you need to do?" I asked, with smile on my face.
"No, what?" he mumbled as he lived his head and shifted uncomfortably.
"You need to claim your man," I declared.
"Excuse me?" he glared.
"Yeah, like I did with Lee, remember?" I grinned.
"I wish I didn't," he sighed. "I can't just claim him."
"Sure you can, it's simple, think about what I did," I said.
______________________Flashback_______________________
It was Lee's eighteenth birthday, and we were all hanging out at Sai's house. Lee was talking with some friends and I was still trying to debate in my head over what to do. I knew that I liked Lee; I'd finally admitted that much. However, it was our last year in high school and I still wanted to be popular, and even though we went to different schools, word would still get around and he wasn't the most attractive guy.
"What's the problem, you like him right?" Sai asked me.
I sighed, wishing that Lee could look more like Sai because then he would look more like my type. "Yeah, I do," I said.
"Then go for him," Sai said.
"But.."I started
"No buts, just go right up to him, and kiss him like he's never been kissed," Sai instructed me.
"He's really not my type," I frowned. "Looks wise I mean."
"Sometimes you'd be surprised who you're attracted to," Sai shrugged.
"Are you saying to give him a chance?" I asked.
"How do you know he's not your type unless you do?" he responded.
I nodded and got up and walked over to Lee, "Can I barrow him for a second?"
"We were talking," Naruto said with a sigh.
"It will only take a second," I smiled as I turned to Lee and grabbed his face and pulled him in for a kiss. It took him by surprise and didn't last long, but it got my point across. Once he was out of his shock, we were able to talk and make us official.
_____________________________End Flashback__________________________
"I really don't think I can just do what you did," Naruto said.
"But if he wants you it will work, think about it, he won't be able to resist you," I said.
"Thanks, but I think I'm going to ask Shikamaru for some advice," he sighed.
"Like that lazy man will be of any use," I rolled my eyes.
Shikamaru POV:
I wasn't sure how I was dragged to these things each week. Sure, it was nice to see my friends, but why did it have to be in a bar. I could see Naruto walking over to me he looked confused and lost. I knew he was going to ask me for advice; however, I didn't want to hear him complain, as I wasn't in the best of moods at that moment.
"What do you want?" I asked, as he sat next to me. I didn't mean to be rude, but I was having problems of my own.
"I need advice," he said.
"Great, but first, help me," I sighed.
"Help you? But you're a genius, you don't need help," he whined.
"I do when Ino is mad at me," I frowned.
"Yeah, that's true," he agreed. "What'd you do?"
"I don't even know, one minute I'm talking to Temari and everything is fine, the next I'm getting hit on the back of the head by Ino," I frowned, realizing for a genius, I know nothing about girls.
"Temari likes you and is trying to steal you from Ino, of course she's mad," Naruto shook his head. "I thought I was the dumb one."
I glared at him, "It's not like I was flirting with her."
"In jealous girl vision anything can be flirting," Naruto shrugged.
"You should know," I laughed.
He punched me in the arm, "Shut up."
"Thanks for the help, I'm going to try to get Ino to talk to me," I said, as I got up.
"But you didn't help me with my problem," he glared.
"Maybe next time," I said, hurrying off to find Ino in hopes that she would listen, even if she were so mad that she wouldn't come out for the weekly night out.
Naruto POV:
I sighed, as I was getting sick of all my friends. None of them gave good advice about what I wanted. I didn't want advice on how to get with Sasuke, I wanted advice on how to get over him, but none of them seemed to get that or care. My last hope was Neji.
"Hey Neji," I smiled.
"Do you think Tenten likes me?" he asked.
"What?" I asked, suddenly forgetting my problem.
"You talk to her every time you go into the coffee shop, do you think she likes me?" he asked.
"Do you mean as a friend or more?" I asked.
"More," he answered.
I smiled, "Yeah, I think so."
"Why?" he asked.
"She just acts like it whenever she's around you," I shrugged.
He nodded, "Do you think I should ask her out?"
"Do you like her?" I asked.
"Yeah," he smiled as he looked down at the bar.
"Well, there's your answer, I mean the worst she can do is say no," I said.
"I guess you're right, if she says no, then it wasn't meant to be," he responded.
"Exactly," I smiled.
"Thanks," he said. "I'm going to go talk to her."
"You're going to ask her now?" I asked. "She's kind of drunk."
"No, I'm just going to talk to her to see if I can confirm that she likes me," he shrugged.
"Oh, okay," I said with a nod.
As he walked away, I realized I didn't get to ask for advice. I shook my head, realizing that my friends suck. Part of me wondered if maybe I just needed better friends. However, as I looked over at my friends laughing, I just laughed it off as well and decided not to worry about it so much. Maybe it was the slight buzz talking but I decided to do, as Neji would probably have told me to do and let destiny take me where I'm supposed to be. I would just follow what feels right.
TBC...
