Chapter Seven –The Redheaded Strangers-
Two hours and seventeen minutes.
That had to rate as the longest conversation Hinata ever had to anyone aside from Neji. It was long not because Hinata and Sasuke hit it off, but because there were so many things to be remembered and talked. It was awkward for her, now that she'd known every single facts of Sasuke –his family was an exception, though, he wanted to keep it private- in just two hours straight. She didn't remember if she had anyone she knew that much.
"So, who's my favorite person?" he asked, bringing her back from her reverie.
She bit her lower lip as she tried to remember. "Your mother..?"
A small smile appeared on his lips, meaning that her answer was correct.
"Yes, and you." he said.
Hinata blushed. Hadn't she known he was acting; she must had collapsed hearing that. Sasuke could be charming if he wanted to, and Hinata was so sure that he was capable to dazzle every normal female if he tried. Too bad he chose to be a cold, intimidating guy.
"Would you mind adding me to your favorite person list too? Just in case when my family asks you." he said, his face showed his uneasiness requesting that to her. "I… don't like the idea looking pathetic in front of them."
She almost didn't believe what she just heard. The word Sasuke and Pathetic should be the worst match in the whole universe. Aside from his weird attitude and his albinism, Sasuke was nearing to the point of perfect. He was smart, gorgeous, and even when Hinata hadn't witnessed Sasuke's in P.E, she could guess that he was an athlete. If anything, it was she who looked pathetic.
A rueful smile was on her lips as she nodded shyly. "S-sure.."
His nods joined her. "Great." He muttered, then lifted his hand to order some drinks again. The red-headed servant was the one who sauntered to him, as always, and she still tried to flirted to him. Sometimes he played her game by giving her a few suggestive remarks, but in most times he simply ignored her and only looked at Hinata wistfully, as if he wanted her to do something to the woman.
This time, Hinata saw, Sasuke decided to throw himself at her game.
"What you'd like to drink?" she asked, her lips curved into a smile with unnecessary warmth.
He clasped his hands and rested his pointed chin on it, his smile was inviting. "Anything made by you is okay."
This was the best respond Sasuke ever gave to her in the past two hours, and her face was shining upon hearing that. Hinata could read the unspoken 'can I be on your bed tonight?' in her face as she played with her hair.
"Oh, that's so sweet of you.." she purred.
"I'm always sweet."
She giggled cattily, and for some unreasonable reasons, Hinata almost felt irritated.
Almost.
"So, since I don't know your name can I call you Mr. Handsome?" she sang in an abnormally high-pitched voice.
"That'd be okay. And since I also don't know your name—" Hinata saw Sasuke quickly took a glance at her before he tossed another dazzling smile to the servant. "—Can I call you Ms. Stunning?"
Hinata noticed that Sasuke's eyes were lingering on the waitress' lips, and the red-head noticed it too.
She giggled again. "Oh, you're so sweet… any girl would be happy having you as a boyfriend…"
You always shout at this kind of girls at school! Hinata wanted to cry out. Why don't you do it now? I know she already gets on your nerves!
For a second, Sasuke's face became whiter as his red-black orbs black blazed. And when Hinata looked at his hands, those were already clenched hard. She cheered inwardly, Sasuke always looked like this before he exploded and shouted, and maybe this time he also would shove this girl off.
Her expectation didn't come true, though.
"Including you?" he asked instead, his voice alluringly husky.
"Awwww…." She giggled again, and Hinata almost swore if she did that again, she'd likely scratch her right in face.
"Of course, including me, you jest.." she said in a catty voice.
Another waitress approached her and after nodding to Hinata and Sasuke and ogled him briefly, she whispered something to the red-head. Her expression was abrasive.
The bithcy waitress pouted to her, then smiled again to Sasuke. "Your order would be ready in a few minutes, Mr. Handsome."
"Right, don't forget to make it by your own hand, Ms. Stunning." He replied lightly, clearly enjoying the flirting season.
After both women were nowhere in sight again, Sasuke's former merry face suddenly turned into grim-looking. He exhaled deeply and shook his head in disbelief as he looked at Hinata.
"It's either you're abnormal or you're the worst actress."
She blinked at him. "What?"
"Your boyfriend is flirting to another girl, and yet you still stay passive? That's frustrating, really." He said, there were deep furrows on his brow.
Hinata needed a good thirty seconds to shut her gaping mouth up. It was unbelievable! He seemed so real when he did that, she almost thought that Sasuke was really into her. The way his eyes tried to strip that woman naked, the way his voice became that husky, he seemed turned on that time.
"That's.. that's only an acting?" she gasped.
Sasuke tipped his chin with his forefinger. "Although I couldn't deny that she's a bombshell."
Her lips turned into a thin line as her eyes glared at him through her bangs. "I..I d-don't like her."
He shrugged. "Ditto. Too clingy."
Oh God, he infuriated her. "If y-you don't like her…" she said, there were implicit vague venom was in her tone. "—why did you f-flirt with her?"
And "I want to see your reaction." was his suave answer.
That was enough to surprise the Hyuuga heiress, though.
"W-what do y—"
"You noticed how I always come to blows with your cousin? How I always try to protect you from the girls? How I always act like a boyfriend?" he cut her off. Eyes were impenetrable when he stared at her. It was hard to avert from his intent gaze, so she played with her fingers, but he took her hand and enclosed it with his so the only thing that was in her focus was him.
"I—I'
"I know I'm not Naruto, and this' only a pure sham." He cut off again. "But, please, Hinata. Be a girlfriend." It wasn't a question nor a statement. It was a request.
It took every ounce of her power to reply. "I-I'll try.."
He relaxed as he released his stare from her. "Good."
Another awkward silence began to linger again before Sasuke broke it.
"Now, onto the next topic."
She nodded groggily. "Okay."
His lower lips caught between his teeth for a moment, then he leaned slightly into her. His face was serious. "How did I confess to you?"
And just suddenly, Hinata remembered all the romantic things that she always dreamed at night. That at midnight Naruto would appear to her balcony, brining a big flower bouquet and recited poetry for her. And after he'd done, he kissed her and confessed his undying love to her. It was corny, but she couldn't help liking the idea.
Sasuke blinked. "Hinata? You're red, you okay?"
He reached out to touch her forehead, but that only made Hinata felt more catastrophic. It was so easy to imagine that Sasuke's hand was Naruto's, and his low voice –in her ears- suddenly changed into Naruto's childlike one, for a moment there, Hinata almost thought that the guy before her was her blonde knight.
"Naruto…" she absently moaned.
Sasuke could feel his face creased as the name escaped her lips. Was she imagining that he was the dumblonde?
Ew, just ew.
He'd never know the reason why this girl was so attracted to that guy. He had been studying Naruto, and he couldn't find anything plus from him. He was loud, stupid, unmannered, and more importantly-
-Naruto had already smitten with another girl.
He heard Hinata moaned the blonde's name again, and he reflexively pulled her hand away.
"I'm Sasuke." he reminded.
She seemed perplexed for about a minute, and he repeated his name again.
"Sasuke. S-A-S-U-K-E."
Just in instant, she blushed, and now her blush even reached her hand. Sasuke couldn't help but feel amused, he'd been liking seeing her blushing. Besides, it was extremely rare to find a girl who was capable on blushing deeply like that.
"Are you out of your reverie now?" he asked.
She hyperventilated. "Don't.. d-don't tease me again.."
"You're a rare girl." He told her before he knew what he was doing. "I'm glad I chose you."
A pause started to fell as they suddenly clamped their mouth shut.
"So how did I confess to you? Have a plan?" he quickly changed to subject
"I-I.. I already have…" she admitted, then blushed again, though wasn't as deep as before –to his disappointment-. "B-but.. it's totally, utterly" –she shook her head in this rate- "—stupid."
How it was hard not to tease her again. "Was it how you imagined Naruto confessed to you?"
"U-Uchiha !"
He held up his hands. "Okay, okay.. no need to unleash your animosity." He said, then folded his hand on the table as he leaned into her again. "What is it?"
She sounded excited. "So..at night, n-no.. at midnight.."
He usually not into this kind of thing, but he was so in good mood that he was amused to hear her story. "Yes?"
She froze, as if she just realized what she'd been doing. "F-forget it…y-you'd only laugh.."
"Hey!" he sounded more disappointed that he supposed to be. "Come on. I won't laugh."
She only took a peek at him. "Promise?"
"Nope." He saw her face fell, and with a suppressed grin he put a hand on his chest. "Swear."
She chuckled a little, then intertwined her fingers. As her head gazed upward longingly, he could see red color suffused on her skin. Then she abruptly stared at him again, and this time, the blush had gone. Her long, lustrous hair framed her pale face as a small smile tugged on her lips.
That time, Sasuke almost thought that she was pretty.
Almost.
"Okay… y-you swore…" she said.
It was kinda hard to let out another witty statement when he had his own dilemma fighting the blush that tried to creep on his cheeks, so he only nodded. "Go on."
Surprisingly, she almost didn't stammer when she spoke. "I've.. been wanting someone.. to come at my balcony at midnight, bringing me a bouquet of flower and.. recites his own poetry to me… and then, " her face flushed as she murmured. "—he kisses me gently.. before he confesses his love.." she sighed wistfully. "It's just romantic…"
"Yeah.. you should considering living through writing novels." He commented. He remembered his mother often complained how unromantic Sasuke's father was, and she once told him that she wanted her husband to do the exact thing like Hinata'd explained.
It made him smiled.
"You've got a pretty creative mind." He said.
"Ah.. not at all.." she seemed pleased but embarrassed at the same time. Sasuke pursed his lips, it seemed that the girl's self-esteem was really low. She always tensed whenever he said a good thing about her, as if she didn't have anything good in herself.
The hair on his nape went up and he sensed something wicked was approaching them. His instinct was just right, the red-headed bitch was strutting into their table, in her hand was glass with orange juice in it. Her face only showed an excessive proud, making Sasuke concluded that the drink was made by herself.
"Hinata." He called her.
She only nodded. But he could see her anxiousness, for her neck was covered by her sweat. She had never fought anyone, and right now, for a stranger's sake, she needed to fight an overly confident-girl. In all sudden, Sasuke felt bad for her.
"Don't push yourself too hard." He instructed.
"Here you are, enjoy..!" those catty voice boomed into his ears. "I made it by myself, as you requested."
It was so easy to attack her with words, he betted that this girl was easy to break into tears. But he relented as he remembered that he already gave Hinata an opportunity to attack her, and only tossed on of his most charming smile.
"Oh, thanks, I'm sure I'd love it."
There, he'd done his Good Samaritan duty, now it's Hinata's turn to be the cruel guy,
He blew an air to his bangs, satisfied that he sounded pretty convincing. The waitress smiled to him as she carefully put the glass to their table.
He made a slow motion to take the glass, half of him wanting him to stop, in case she'd put some love-potion or whatever poison in it. Half of him wanting Hinata to stop his movement and drink the glass for him instead.
His second anticipation became true, as Hinata quickly took the glass before his fingers made contact with it, and finished the drink in three gulps.
Of course, the waitress had a look of disapproval on her face. "I-I'm sorry miss, but Mr. Handsome was the one who ordered the drink…"
Hinata only gave her an innocent look. "Does it matter?" she said softly, but indisputably. It made the red-head flinched to see the intensity on her white eyes.
Sasuke could feel his respect grow for this raven-haired girl.
The bitch seemed couldn't hold her anger no more, she openly threw Hinata an insulting look. "Yes, it does matter. Like I want to make a drink for you, Miss."
Sasuke took a glance at his 'girlfriend' and saw her wincing. He had feeling that this red-headed girl could do more hurting mockery, and thus, he wanted to stop the fight. But before he had chance to speak, Hinata had already on her feet, speaking boldly.
"He's my boyfriend. U—"
'Oh, shit… Call me by my first name!"
She shook her head. "Sasuke-kun wouldn't mind if we share drink, would he?"
Both heads turned into the only guy around.
"Oh." Sasuke just realized that it's not only Hinata and the faceless' girl eyes were on him, but also the rest of patrons were also looking at him.
He smirked as he realized that it was already his turn.
"Of course, sweetheart." he winked at the hyperventilating Hinata.
"Oh, God, please forgive me, Oh, God, please forgive me, Oh, God, please forgive me..!" Hinata couldn't stop muttering those things all the way Sasuke rode her home. She really didn't mean to have the poor lady fired with no respect like that..! She only wanted to practice to be a good girlfriend..!
"Oh, Jesus… I'm a bad person…" she finally muttered.
"Oh, no, you're not." Sasuke said, his face still looked amused. If anything, he looked really happy to see the poor lady cried while exiting the restaurant. "She's the bad person."
Hinata glowered at him. "You're.. mean…"
"She's a bitch. She called you a slut." Was Sasuke's retort.
"But…" she pleaded. "That's b-because she liked you!"
"Well.." he removed a hand from the steer and replaced it in the back of his neck, scratching it lightly as he thought for the correct answer. "It's her fault to have a crush on a taken guy."
She licked her lips as she felt her cheek became hot. "You're.. you're not exactly taken, y-you know.."
He growled. "Even when I'm single I won't want her. She's not my type."
She gaped at him. That girl was one of the most perfect girl she'd ever seen, maybe she was in the same merit as Sakura and Ino. Beautiful, intimidating, and bold. If such a perfection didn't attract Sasuke, then what else could make him down to his knee? A Goddess?
"T-then.. what's your type?"
He didn't answer and only smiled clandestinely at her. "Thank you, by the way. You were very cool that time."
She knew he didn't want to talk about it and dropped the subject. She was already tired, anyway. The sun had set down, and it was raining heavily outside. Sasuke drove his car quietly to her home, and sometimes still shot her some questions. Then he told her to remember all the things about him, for he also would do the same.
At the middle of the trip, Sasuke's cellphone chirped and he stopped the car at the edge of the road, as he talked to the faceless person at the other end, Hinata tried her best not to eavesdropping and stared outside the window. The rain brought the haze to stick on the window, so it was hard to see through. She blew the window and rubbed it with her hand…- there, the view's better now—
-for she could see a red-headed guy was parking his bike right beside Sasuke's car. He was still on his bike, but he didn't ride. Instead, he tilted his head up, his eyes closed as he let the water to hit his face.
No matter how much Hinata wanted to turn her head away, she couldn't do it. The subject was too attractive to be missed. He was kind of guy who could make girls drooled with only a sigh, very much a resemblance of Sasuke. Though, he looked wilder…
…And had this sexy bad-boy persona.
Hinata studied his frame, he wore his hair a little bit too short, but it looked really good on him. There were three piercing on his ears, and there was a Japanese tattoo on his left forehead. His face, she didn't feel the need to explain. It was plain gorgeous. His cheekbone was high, his skin was clear, and even though he had black purplish shadow under his eyes, it only added his sexiness.
The guy abruptly awoke, then shook his head wildly, letting the water to squirt from his short red-hair. He parted his lips, his breathes were slow and steady. Oh, Hinata swore she could see him for hours… she absently glued her face to the window—
-and suddenly, he looked at her.
She gasped and averted his gaze. She looked at Sasuke, hoping that he had already done talking and quickly pulled the car out. But it seemed that he was in the middle of complicated argument with the person, and she couldn't do anything but wait.
She could feel that the stranger was looking at her, and when she took a quick glance to him, he was still staring at her, the heavy rain seemed wasn't a match for him, he even acted like it wasn't raining at all. Under the dim of traffic light, Hinata couldn't decide his color, but she was fairly positive that he was pale, if not yellowish, and had a pairs of piercing pale green eyes.
And his mouth was so damn perfect. It was lined perfectly, it had the perfect color –a combination of pink and pearl-, and it was pouted perfectly.
And the lips were mouthing something to her.
This time, Hinata couldn't avert his gazes anymore; he was clearly mouthing something to her, his eyes never left hers. She gave him a look that she didn't catch it, and he sighed. Then he leaned into the window, bringing his Adonis-like face closer to her.
But the haze disturbed her sight again. Hinata quickly blew the window again, and rubbed it with her hand. Nah, now it was clear—
He was rubbing his hand against the window too.
She gulped and quickly pulled her hand away, but he only chuckled. Too bad Hinata couldn't hear his voice because they were separated by the window.
He parted his lips and made a thick fog on the window by blowing air into it, making it blurry. Hinata wanted to protest, but his hand gestured her to stop.
Then he used his forefinger to write something on it. His face was mischievously cute.
U
He scribbled on the window.
R
C
U
T
E
Hinata felt her jaw dropped and quickly covered her mouth with her hands. He only laughed, and blew again. This time, his eyes stared her enthusiastically as he smirked.
G
A
A
R
A
She titled her head, not knowing what the meaning of 'Gaara' was. He caught her confusion quickly and shoved his finger to his broad chest. 'Me' he mouthed. Hinata quickly shut her eyes to plant the name in her brain.
This time, he took out his cellphone, then pointed it to Hinata. She quickly took her cellphone too and chose the Address Book section, sensing that he would give her his phone number right now.
Her prediction was right; he wrote only numbers this time.
But before he finished writing –and Hinata even hadn't take a note of any single number- Sasuke shouted so loudly to his phone and tossed it to the backseat, then he immediately drove again like a maniac.
Feeling disappointment was overwhelming in her body, she looked over her shoulder and saw him was still looking at her. A few seconds later, Gaara's figure was out of her sight, as Sasuke drove even faster than before.
"Uchiha …"
He didn't reply, and that meant he was in a bad mood. Hinata decided to give up and rested her head on the seat. Wondering if she could meet this red-headed boy again.
With Sasuke's maniac speed at driving, his scintillating BMW only needed a few minutes to reach Hinata and Neji's current house. Sure, Sasuke was still uncharacteristically quiet through the ride. His cell also kept ringing nonstop, but he ignored it deliberately. In fact, it looked as if he didn't hear the noisy voice at all. Hinata felt a bit disturbed at first, but being a pretty good adjuster she was, it didn't take a long time before she could feel comfortable with the situation.
Besides, she couldn't really concentrate on anything when her mind was still in that faceless redheaded guy.
It was strange, especially for her. Usually, not many people could intrigue her that fast, and more specifically, that easily. But this Gaara guy, she only needed to close her eyes and already she could see him through and through, as if her eyes had his head-to-toe portrait.
He was almost as good-looking as Naruto…
…
Oh, she was completely fucked up.
"We've arrived." Sasuke announced when he reached Hinata's front gate. His icy tone gave Hinata the picture of his messed mood, but he ushered her to the small porch anyway. Right before Hinata pressed the doorbell, the door flung open and a dark, sturdy man stalked off her house, letting out some deliberated insulting-statements as he approached his car that was parked not so far away from Sasuke's, which was –surprisingly- a standard police car.
"There are polices in your house." Sasuke spoke up her mind.
She grounded her teeth and looked up to Sasuke only to share a worried look with the albino, before simultaneously hurried to enter her house. On the entrance hall, Neji was slouching at the smallest sofa, his hand was on his temple, and eyes stared at his feet as he shook his head rather frantically. It was peculiar to Hinata's eyes to see his cousin showed her a picture of him capitulating. He always seemed so strong, so tough.
"Neji-nii!" Hinata called. "I-is everything alright..?"
Noticing her voice, her bodyguard turned his head to her, a second later, his eyes widened as his pale mouth slowly opened.
"Hinata …" there was a hint of disbelief in his voice.
"Yep, she's home." Sasuke said, which lead him to be Neji's attention.
The long-haired guy tremblingly got up from his sitting, and gazed at the other male. His eyes calculating, as if he was contemplating whether if he was seeing ghost or a real body and flesh of human.
"Uchiha." He finally said, but still looked unconvinced.
Sasuke rolled his eyes.
An almost inaudible sigh escaped Hinata's mouth after she had browsed around and found nothing strange. She smiled at Neji and asked. "Is.. is there s-something happened, Neji-nii?"
"I…" Neji hesitated. "-I had this ridiculous delusion that you were missing."
"I told you that we're going to a date." Sasuke retorted quickly. "I gave you a letter."
The other guy contemplated his answer before he replied. "True." He snorted a short, UNamused laugh. "—And I still can not believe that I was stupid enough for not believed it."
Was that sarcasm Hinata noticed in Neji's words?
Sasuke noticed it too and tapped her back, when she gazed up to him, he had this commiserating look in his black-reddish eyes.
So it was sarcasm.
"Neji-nii…" she called again, her voice pleading. "Please.. l-let me explain…"
For the first time, he didn't comply with her request and only bowed a little to the 'couple'. "I am so sorry for the inconvenience. I am going up now, in case you two need some time for privacy."
He didn't wait for Hinata's confirmation and took the stairs to story two. Hinata bit her lips when she gazed upward, she could see Neji walking to his room and stopped for a while to murmur some incoherent things, then he gazed down to them repentantly and quietly entered his room instead of slamming it like she'd been expecting.
Hinata shut her eyes and shook her head, she had never liked it when Neji be silent like that.
"'I have embarrassed myself'" Sasuke's voice heard.
She flinched as she got snapped back to the reality. "Excuse me?"
"'I have embarrassed myself.'" he repeated, his eyes never left Neji's door-room. "He said that before he went into his sanctuary, I read his mouth-movement."
She brought her hand before her lips, creases appeared on her forehead. Then she made a move to the stairs, she just needed to sooth her cousin!
"Wait." Sasuke caught her by the elbow. "Don't go, he'll feel worse if you follow him."
Her eyes showed an utter disapproval for his option. "But—"
"Spare him his last-dignities, will you?"
"Uchiha ….." her eyes burnt with tears, and she rubbed it with her other hand, finally giving up as she realized that leaving Neji alone was the best option available. Sensing that the girl wouldn't be able to reach the nearest seat alone, Sasuke wrapped an arm around her waist and helped her to stagger to the coach. Hinata flopped onto it carelessly, her eyes shut as she thanked him quietly.
She just made the nicest person in the world hurt. After all the sacrifices he had done to her, and she made him hurt.
"I-I've been a very, very bad pe-person…" she said ruefully.
There wasn't any reply from Sasuke.
Saturdays had always been Hinata's favorite days, despite the fact she couldn't see Naruto on weekends. At least, in the same time, she didn't need to undergo the necessity of coming to school and becoming the girls' jealousy target due to her 'relationship' with the new kid. But this Saturday, however, willy-nilly she had to go to school in order to accomplish her three-hour detention.
She took a rubber-band and pulled her hair back to make a simple ponytail. After got unsatisfied on how she looked in the mirror (Why I always look this bad?.!), she stalked down the stairs and found that his cousin was already waiting for her. She shyly flashed him a smile, and he returned her greeting by bowing a little.
"Good morning, Hinata . How was your sleep?" he asked like usual, although his tone was implicitly different and his smile was… forced, if she may say. She actually saw his lower lip was becoming tremulous when he obliged his mouth to curve up.
Now Hinata knew why Sasuke absolutely hated it when she forced a smile to him.
She murmured her answer and they went to the school, after arrived there at nine, Principal Tsunade met with them in the front gate. Sasuke was glowering beside her, and surprisingly, there was also Ino and Sakura in either sides of him. They were glaring to each other, as always, and Hinata almost giggled when she noticed that both girls –again- had an identical skimpy clothes on.
Tsunade didn't give them time to talk and immediately walked them to the library, assigning them an almost unbelievable task by wanting them to rearrange one-fourth of the books in there. Of curse, it was devastating, especially after knowing that Konoha High's library had an enormous amount of books listed.
"You're crazy…" Sasuke breathed, eyes wide as he tried his best not to throw the blonde-woman his infamous mocks.
Tsunade smiled wickedly. "Yes, and I can be insane if each of you don't shelf at least a hundred books today."
"That's an indirect felony action!" Sakura shouted, she was Tsunade's niece, and their closeness had been the school's public secret. "What if I break my arms? Can't you see that these books are so goddamn heavy, auntie?"
The older woman merely poked Sakura's forehead. "Don't call me auntie inside school, Ms. Haruno, you know the detention if you address the Principal improperly."
"This is torture, you know?" Ino pointed out.
Tsunade opened her mouth to answer, but then she clamped it shut again and only waved her hand to them. "Good day, everyone! Professor Ibiki is right here to watch you all, so don't ever think to escape."
She turned her back and walked to the exit door, but when she only touched the knob a little, the door had flew open, nearly from hitting her nose.
Naruto sauntered in, waving his hand to the pink haired girl, a bottle of cranberry juice was in his other hand.
"I've got it, Sakura!" he announced. "I've got your favorite juice!"
Sakura didn't answered and turned her head, an exasperated expression on her face as she tapped her foot continuously on the floor.
Naruto raised a quizzical brow, but then gasped when he noticed that the Principal was standing right beside him, consistently giving him dagger glares.
"A hundred and twenty five books for you, Mr. Uzumaki." She said calmly before she exited the room, leaving the poor Naruto dumbfounded.
"What happened?" he asked, though no one answered.
"You're…" Sakura sighed, not bothering to hide her disgust. "…unbelievably stupid…"
If anything, Naruto only chuckled coyly, scratching his nape with his free hand as he handed the juice to Sakura. "Ne, people always do stupid things when they're in love, no?"
Sakura waved her hand. "Oh, shut up, moron."
'Precisely….' Hinata said to herself.
She felt a little squeeze on her arm and realized that it was Sasuke. His face, however, wasn't as icy as she expected. In fact, the look on his face was sympathetic, almost soothing.
"Let's do it now." He said inaudibly. "We're going to Sakura's party this night, right?"
To tell the truth, Hinata almost forgot about it, she even didn't feel the enthusiasm on going there. She was almost positive that she'd know no one in the party, and she wouldn't get accepted there. She was an outcast, anyway.
"Should w-we go there, Uchiha ?" she asked, half hoping that he would reconsider it.
He saw disapproval. "Of course. It'll be our first public display of affection."
She could feel her heart sank. "A-affection..? Y-you mean like..—"
"Kissing? Maybe." He shrugged in ease, as if he had no trouble doing that at all. He glanced at her and noticed her hyperventilating; a sigh escaped his mouth as a respond before he spoke nonchalantly. "Don't worry, if we'll really do that, I'll keep my tongue in my mouth.."
Hinata wanted to smile to him, but failed miserably, making Sasuke sighed once again. "-and no roaming hands either, of course." He said.
It was so sweet of him, Hinata knew. She often saw guys who had tendencies of molesting girls in their kissing, leaving some big bruises and even cuts in the females' mouth and some body parts. Also, views of people kissing hungrily always disturbed her greatly, although seeing passionate and loveless kisses would make her sighed wistfully.
But still—
She didn't want to be kissed yet
At least.. not by Sasuke.
She would say it now. She should.
"U-Uchiha …"
He seemed pissed now. "God, Hinata. I promise."
He didn't understand.. he didn't understand it… Hinata thought, sweats started to cover her body. The image of him kissing her made her heart raced, but she knew it was from the anxiousness. She absently wetted her lips and glanced to Sasuke's mouth. It was pale, like the rest of his body, only it had some pink tints on it. Personally, Hinata liked on how his lips lined, unfortunately, the lips weren't Naruto's.
"It's.. it's not that, Uchiha …" she tried to explain.
"You think that we're really going to kiss? I told you that it's just a probability." He bared his teeth, clearly looked furious from her repetitive denials. Hinata noticed that he didn't wear his contacts right now, so his red-eyes looked as if it was burning. It was so scary the view that she didn't dare to look at his face.
"I..I'm sorry…" she stammered.
Prof. Ibiki approached the teens group, face had never looked this happy before. "Now, we're going to work now!" he barked. "You and you, go there!" he pointed his hand to Neji and Ino. "You two, get away from each other already!" he yelled to Sasuke and Hinata. Hinata just noticed that they were standing too closely to each other because they were backing away after Ibiki shouted to them. Then the big man ordered Sasuke and Sakura to go to the east, while Hinata was paired with Naruto to the south. Neji and Ino, however, they re-arrange the books in the center.
"I'm going to do your parts too." Sasuke whispered to Hinata's ears before Hinata went to the south wing.
Hinata frowned. "D-don't joke ag-again, Uchiha ."
"I wasn't joking. It's a good training for my muscles." He retorted, his eyes went to his upper arm, his lips absently twitched into a small smile when he looked how well-built he was.
Hinata found it quiet amusing and giggled. When Sasuke heard her voice, he cleared his throat to get her attention and spoke. "Anyway, I'll do your part, and you need to memorize everything about me. Sounds fair?"
"N-not really." She admitted. "Since you h-have more tasks th-than me…"
His mouth twitched again. "You're a one weird girl."
Sakura pouted to them, but didn't make any remarks; she only strutted to Sasuke and flirtatiously linked their arms. "You mind if I borrow your guy, Hinata?" she asked sweetly.
She shook her head timidly. "No, I don't…"
"But I mind to be borrowed." Sasuke suddenly cut in. He took Sakura's hand to off his, then glared at her icily. "I'm not a property, remember that."
He went away to the designated place, even didn't bother to look over his shoulder again. Sakura looked astonished with his respond, her eyes narrowed and some lines appeared on her face. But still she looked pretty that way. Sometimes Hinata admired Sakura's ability to always look good anywhere anytime.
"He's unbelievable! He even didn't check out my racks!" she pointed out. Hinata blinked and looked at Sakura's breasts, and a second later, her jaw dropped automatically. Sakura's chest really did looked bigger than before. It's either Sakura had a new and extremely good push-up bra or she just went through some silicon surgeries.
"Sasuke's… Sasuke's kind of weird…" Hinata said.
The other girl glanced at Hinata sardonically, scrutinizing her from head to toe, then a smirk plastered on her lips before she snorted in a ladylike way. "You're right, he's weird." Sakura tossed her hair, then put her hand on her hip. "I mean, look at me—" she pointed at her perfect body and perfect face. "—And look at you…" now she looked at Hinata's nondescripts features impertinently.
Hinata tried her best not to drop any tears when she realized what Sakura had been implied.
"Why did he choose you, honestly?" Sakura said that indifferently, like Hinata wasn't standing next to her. "You know his reason, Hinata?"
Afraid that her voice would broke, Hinata only shook her head weakly. "I-I have n-no idea, Sakura…"
"Oh, okay.." Sakura tossed her hair again. "I'll find out eventually. Your secret."
Somehow Hinata gulped to see how serious Sakura's face was.
The pink haired girl smiled to the shorter one, then walked to Sasuke's place. Hinata too, quietly made her way to the south, where Naruto had already started his work.
Chapter seven ended
Thank you for everyone who have loyally read and reviewed the chapters. :D
As for a reviewer : Oh My: I'm sorry but you didn't leave me your email. :D I think the first five chapters were edited heavily by me and a few beta-readers before (like, 2-3 years ago). But after that, I didn't get to edit anything (and I'm really sorry to say that most of the chapters from chapter six and up are not proof-read). I'm sorry if my grammar annoyed you. It was about 5-6 years ago when I wrote this (now I'm 20) and I'm not a native so grammar and vocab and such has always been a pain for me.
On the side note, if anyone wants to be a beta-reader, then I'll be uber-happy! :D