~*~*~*~*Dance Partners*~*~*~*~
A NejiTen fanfic
Tenten's P.O.V.
The weight of the crumpled paper seemed to weigh me down as I stared at the Konoha School of Dance. The best of the best. There was a reason I didn't go to this place before and that was simply because I didn't want to become a bitch who has nothing better to do than brag. It really pisses me off.
I shifted uncomfortably in my outfit.
Normally the leotard, short shorts, cami and tights we were supposed to wear didn't bring me down, but today I felt ridiculous and didn't know why but for some reason I felt as if I didn't belong, but tried to ignore that fact and make something better of it. Like the fact I was actually accepted to such a school.
The new place towered over me, almost over me. God this was going to be scary.
So, I went in.
The place was literally littered with paintings and insane decor. It looked like a designers studio. If I didn't know that this was a dance center I would have probably guessed it was just that.
Shaking off the weird and strange feelings, I nervously searched for a front desk.
I finally found it and scooted over, trying not to look confused.
There was a woman with short, cropped black hair. She smiled sweetly. "Hi," she greeted. "I'm Shizune, can I help you?"
"Yes," I answered. "I'm trying out for a competition line,"
"Your name?" Shizune asked, staring at her computer screen.
"Tenten," I replied.
"You're already on one," the woman informed me.
"What?" I questioned.
"You're partner dancing right? You automatically make a line then," She told me.
"What?!" I demanded louder. "H-How?"
"It's what you were signed up for," Shizune explained.
"Mary," I murmured under my breath, trying to make it as inaudible as possible.
"Thanks," I grumbled, walking away.
"Wait!" Shizune called. "Don't you want to know what line you're on so you know where to go?"
I stopped in my tracks. She had a point.
"Yeah," I remarked. "What one?"
"You're on the Moonstones," the woman said.
"Are they good?" I inquired, feeling slightly rude.
"You have no idea what you're getting into," Shizune warned. "They're the best of the best of the best,"
"Great,"
"Plus, you're dancing as a partner with the best dancer in this studio, making your pair the best couple here," Shizune added.
"Wow,"
"You won't be saying that after this," Shizune said with a laugh.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"You'll be too tired,"
My eye twitched. Just my luck.
"You should probably find your classroom now," Shizune advised.
"Yeah," I remarked. "Probably,"
Reluctantly, I searched around trying to found my destination. Finally, I arrived at a room with a fancy metal sign that read in cursive letters, Moonstones.
I gulped slowly as I turned the door handle.
Click!
Everyone glared at me as I entered the room.
"Who are you?" a rather annoyed blonde asked.
She was obviously the teacher.
A few of the student giggled.
"T-Tenten," Why the hell am I stuttering.
"So you're Ami's replacement?"
There were some more laughs.
"Um, yeah," I replied.
"Just to make sure, can you do a triple pirouette?" She inquired.
"Yes," I answered.
"Good, that's what we're working on,"
"If you can do it, than do it now," a girl challenged.
Anger boiled in my system. Did she honestly have the heart to say that?!
"Fine," I grumbled. "If you want me to,"
I stepped into a preparation and furiously spun.
One, two, three, four, five,
I was going a bit faster than my own counts of eight. Why couldn't I stop. I was on my fifth turn and couldn't stop!
Seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, twel-
I finally let out early to make sure I would fall, then I glared at the girl, impassively.
"Beat that," I hissed.
She stared. "But you come from that-"
"Enough girls," the teacher mumbled. "No drama please,"
"Sorry," I murmured.
"That was very impressive, Te-" she was cut off.
"I can beat that," a cold voice said.
I turn and faced a boy with pale lavender eyes and long coffee colored hair that reached his length. It was tied in a low ponytail. He glared at me icily.
"Go for it," I sarcastically encourage. Stupid, cocky, emotionless, bastard of a jerk.
He barely even went into a preparation. The boy spun, fast too.
One, two, three, four, five, six...he kept going!
Nine, ten, eleven, twelve, thirteen! Holy shit! He's good!
He finally let out and glared at me once more.
"Gay," I muttered. It was the only explanation. Dancing is for girls. Ha! Loser.
"What did you say?" he hissed between gritted teeth.
"I said-"
"Now we don't want you two fighting," the blonde woman interrupted again. "You two are dance partners,"
"What?!" we both cried, shooting nasty glares at each other.
Anger boiled in my stomach. I had my fists clenched to my sides, shaking dangerously. I hoped I wouldn't actually punch anyone.
I'd never actually danced with a partner. It really bothers me, always has. I mean, not only do I have to dance with someone, it's an arrogant little bastard that thinks he's cooler than everyone else plus is gay and won't admit because guys aren't supposed to have perfect posé (1).
"Let's start our warm up," The golden haired woman announced. "Tenten right? I'm Tsunade,"
I nodded. Oh god. My life is ruined. The only thing going through my mind now was dancing with that jerk I don't even think-
"5, 6, 7, 8!" Tsunade cried. "One down, two down,"
We were doing jumping jacks. Tsunade grabbed a remote and blared music.
"Seventy three down, seventy four, down, seventy five down!"
I gasped for breath and stared around the room. Everyone was obviously tired but they weren't showing it. Wait a second. I glanced at Mr. Cold. He didn't even break a sweat.
"Alright, heads down and up," Tsunade ordered, rolling her neck.
After a harsh stretching session, Tsunade began to teach us the dance.
"Alright," the blonde said, clapping her hands together. "I would like Neji and Tenten, to come out first but we'll do the opening last in learning this routine,"
Neji and I shot each other evil glances. Great. I'm stuck with him again that cocky little-
"I'll read off the positions. Just as always you will start out on the small dots."
We all nodded except Neji, who obviously had done this for years.
Okay, dots, just like the last studio...
"But of course on the competition stage there won't be any dots," Tsunade continued.
I winced. No dots. I never looked down and checked where I was when I danced, but I liked having them there just in case I messed up.
Neji noticed my slight uneasiness and smirked. I stuck out my tongue, but quickly turned to my instructor, hoping to avoid any conflict to put me in trouble on my first day.
"Now, I'm going to name off the dots," Tsunade announced. "These will be your main positions through out the chorus that you will always return to,"
"What dance is this for?" A girl with pink hair interrupted.
"Jazz," Tsunade answered. "I haven't figure out ballet or tap yet,"
The pinkette nodded.
"In line four..." she named off all of the girls in the line.
"Line three..." she named off more girls.
"Line two..." some more that weren't me.
"Line one, starting from the left, Karin, Tayuya, Hinata Hyuuga, Temari, Sakura Haruno, Ino Yamanaka, Tenten, Neji Hyuuga, Kin..." Then there were some more names, making me realize Neji and I were center. That really made me pissed knowing I was next to him. Wait a sec! If She had already created these positions, that must mean that she knew ahead of time I was gonna be here...Mary that traitor.
I suddenly thought back to the names...Hinata Hyuuga. I pondered over that. Was she related to Neji?
"All right," Tsunade grumbled. "Hurry up,"
I scooted to my directed spot and waited calmly for the next instruction, not wanting to aggravate her more in any way.
"Lines one and three start with a chasse to the right, arms extended into a T, slightly in front of their body. Just those lines now. Five, Six, Seven, Eight,"
I mimicked her exactly but she was quicker with her directions because right as we were finished with that she called out.
"Ball change, left pivot turn, jazz walk, hold two three four, jump clap, jump clap, pivot turn, triplet, triplet, step prepare, turn turn, jump out it, pose left, pose right!"
I blinked, being able to keep up but forgetting mostly what I just did.
"Got that?"
We nodded but mine was very hesitant.
"Lines two and four do the same in opposite directions. So a left chasse, ball change, right pivot turn...get it?"
The others nodded and I tried to remember what the heck she just said.
"Alright," Tsunade finally called out. "Five, Six, Seven, Eight!"
After about an hour I gasped for breath. Tsunade worked us very hard. I couldn't believe how fast paced this dance was. At first it didn't seem that bad when she was walking through it with us, but when she added the music, I learned how fast the counts of eight were and dang it was hard to keep up with just learning the dance. I really felt like I didn't belong because everyone seemed to get used to it. They broke a sweat of course but didn't mind.
"You may get a drink," Tsunade informed us.
We shuffled out the door. I followed everyone else but they all had water bottles so I went in search of a drinking fountain.
Finally, I found one and bent my head over, wondering what I was getting myself into.
Uncontrollably I gulped the water down, consuming as much as I could.
"Can't afford a water bottle?"
I whipped my head around, wiping the water that dribbled from my lips.
"If I couldn't afford a water bottle wouldn't be here, dumbass," I hissed at my dance partner.
Neji had an eyebrow raised.
"Have fun adjusting to our ways," He muttered coldly back.
"Your ways?" I demanded. "What does that mean?"
"It means, before you went to a cheap, useless studio. You're now going to Konoha's Finest," Neji retorted.
"More like Konoha's gayest," I argued.
"What makes you think so strongly that I'm gay?" Neji inquired, icily.
"You're dancing," I replied.
"I wouldn't insult the people who can hurt you," Neji remarked, bitterly.
"You wouldn't dare," I raised my fist and got closer, glaring at him.
"If I'm gay then, you shouldn't mind if I hit a girl," Neji said, stepping closer too.
I took a step back now. Okay, maybe he had a point. I'm a little freaked out.
"Um, you're only the gay that um-"
"That's what I thought," Neji mumbled, turning around.
My eye twitched. This was my dance partner?
"Idiot," I muttered as he slowly started walked back to the classsroom.
Neji, hearing what I said, turned his head slightly but not all the way around.
"Hn," what does that mean?? "You're pathetic,"
"Yeah well..." I thought for a good comeback. "You hn away because you have no emotion,"
The boy walked away, leaving me alone by the drinking fountain. I silently cursed to myself, strutting after him.
I mean, who does he think he is? Walking around the studio like he owns this place. Yeah so maybe he's good and can do thirteen turns and I can barely do twelve. He's a cocky bastard that's mean and selfish and doesn't care about anything. Yes. That is my description of him.
I thought of all this triumphantly as I strolled in the door, last.
Tsunade began describing the perfect way to go into releve.
I sighed boredly. It was obvious everyone knew about this so we watched in dismay.
A girl poked me in the elbow. It was the one with pink hair.
"Hey," she whispered.
"Um, hi," I answered quietly.
"I'm Sakura," she introduced herself.
"Tenten,"
"So how's it been going with Neji?" the girl inquired.
"Terrible," I remarked honestly.
"Yeah," Sakura agreed. "No one has ever been able to get along with him. Tsunade was actually searching for a partner,"
"Hmm," I mumbled. "Great. I get him now,"
"If you soften him up I swear I'll give you three hundred yen," Sakura teased.
I giggled softly. "You're on,"
"Ladies," Tsunade warned. "Do you want to do push ups?"
"No ma'am," we replied, smirking slightly at each other.
I ambled through the doorway, barely alive.
"How was it?" My mother asked from the kitchen.
"Tired," I replied, exhausted.
"Was it fun?" Drew asked, not looking up from the newspaper, but still had interest in his voice.
"Yeah," I told him.
"What's the doubt in your voice?" Hannah asked, throwing a pan in the dishwasher.
It stuck me like a boulder. Crap! Maybe I should just tell them...or not. Or maybe. I pondered over this. My dad would possible go all overprotective, but then again my mom might squeal in delight thinking it was going to be cute. I decided now or never.
"It's just that...I have to do a partner dance," I explained calmly.
"Really?" Hannah asked. "That will be adorable,"
"Yeah," I answered, half heartedly.
My dad didn't seem to like the idea but asked, "Is that what's bothering you?"
"Erm, not really anymore," I replied.
"What is it?"
"The guys a cocky, jerk," I grumbled, clenching my fist.
There. I just told them. Now where's the nice motherly advice and daddy's little girl protection?
"Hm," my mother commented. "I bet after this time you have to spend with him three times a week, you'll warm up to each other,"
"I doubt it," I remarked, ignoring them as I climbed up the steps in pain, still aching.
"He'll notice you're just as good sooner or later," Drew put in as I was at the top of the steps.
"I hope," I whispered, stopping before I walked into my room.
I really did. It bothered me that Neji was cold and mean. It really did. I wanted nothing more than a different partner. Heck I didn't even want a partner, but you can't always get what you want I guess. So what was I gonna do? There had got to be some way to loosen up this arrogant bastard.
Slowly, I crawled into the sheets, too sore to even bother brushing my teeth or hair, and change out of my sweaty dance outfit.
This was going to be a hard feat trying to get Neji to become nicer.
A/N I know this chapter isn't very long but I'm just trying to build up the story line here. Yep so I've got a lot of ideas but need to get the characters settled in and stuff so you feel the setting...that came out weird. Anyways, thanks for reading and please review:)
