It's been so long since I updated this. To all my readers, I'm very sorry for the delay. It's just that I've been so busy with school and such. Well, here goes.

Chapter Fourteen.

The Promise.

Tenten.

Sixteen seconds left. Neji had the ball on his right hand, dribbling it in a relatively slow pace. The look on his face told me one thing. This game was definitely over. With a smirk, he went for the basket.

I found myself smiling upon seeing the looks on the other team's faces. It was as if they had no idea of what was coming, when clearly, they were going to lose.

Nine seconds left. I couldn't help it but stare in awe at his movements. Without any effort whatsoever, Neji had already made it past everyone on his way. And just when you think that he'd go for the shot, he threw the ball to Uchiha Sasuke who was barely beyond the three point line.

Three seconds left. And with one swift movement, Sasuke added another three points to our team's amazing 38-point lead. That makes 41. 105-64.

"Nice shot Teme!", Naruto greeted Sasuke with a high-five. "Who knew you had it in you.", he added with a laugh.

"Hn. Shut up, Baka.", Sasuke was laughing too.

I was probably too occupied with their conversation that I didn't notice Neji, who was now sitting beside me on the team's bench.

"Naruto and Sasuke are really something else, huh.", He said and then downed the remaining contents of his water bottle.

"Yeah, I can't really imagine how they ended up being best of friends when they're barely alike.", I answered and then handed him another bottle from the cooler. "Great game, by the way. 41-point lead."

"Would've been 50 if Gaara entered the game earlier. Not to mention that I was holding back.", and with this remark of his, I didn't resist the urge to hit him in the arm.

"Cocky bastard.", I muttered, making him smirk.

"Says the girl who was staring at me throughout the whole game.", oh, so he had to bring that up. Now this is where I draw the line.

"Shut up.", I said and then hit him again.

He started chuckling, "I'm kidding. I'm kidding."

So this is what's been going on. We've gotten really close over the past week, which is really surprising by the way. I don't really know why, but I feel as if he's not just a friend right now. He's sort-of my best guy-friend. I've learned so much about him ever since we decided to settle our issues.

For starters, he wasn't really an ice cube. He had this sense of humor that somewhat fits perfectly with mine. Well, it's not just his sense of humor. Call me crazy, but there's this something about him that makes me think that he might be my other half.. oh what the hell.

This is Neji we are talking about. Hyuga Neji. Forget it.

He put the bottle down and then wiped his forehead with a white towel. "So, do you have any plans this afternoon?", he asked, not facing me.

"I've got nothing to do.", I answered jokingly. "Why, you gonna buy me dinner?"

He frowned. "Now who gave you the idea that I would want to eat dinner with you? I was hoping you'd help me sort out the stuff in the gym."

I stared at him blankly, trying to hide my embarrassment. He stared back.

"Kidding.", he whispered and then started laughing again.

"You aren't really a nice person huh?", I told him and then stood up. As I was about to leave, he grabbed on to my hand.

"And you aren't really that mad, right?", I felt him get up too. Soon, he was there in front of me. He then gave me that angelic smile of his. The same one from the night he went to my apartment. "Of course I was hoping to buy you dinner."

"Great! I'm starving!", Naruto's voice startled me and I saw Neji's eyes widen a little too. Who wouldn't be, anyway? The overwhelming volume doesn't really help.

"Hn. Naruto..", Neji's face twisted into a frown once again.

But Naruto didn't seem to notice captain's expression. "GUYS! CAPTAIN'S BUYING DINNER!"

And with that, the whole team started cheering. Looks like Neji's gotten himself into a situation. No matter, it's not like Hyuga Neji couldn't afford dinner for the whole team.

"Oh, man. I'm so full.", Naruto said as he leaned back on his chair. "Nothing beats a meal like this after a game, huh Sasuke?"

"Hn.", Sasuke answered as he wiped the corner of his lips with a table napkin.

"Aw, You've gotta admit, everything was delicious!", again, I had to stop myself from covering my ears. Naruto could really have a built in megaphone somewhere in that throat of his.

"Keep it down.", Gaara muttered with a slight frown. "Too noisy."

"I'm not that loud, aren't I? It's just that you guys are too quiet.", crossing his arms, Naruto stood up and started walking away. "I'll be right back."

"Where's he going?", I asked.

"Can't hold it in anymore, I suppose.", Neji smirked, everyone started laughing.

"There really are some things that can't be held in, huh, captain?", Shikamaru's tone sort-of surprised me. It was somewhat teasing, I never really heard him speak in that way.

"Hn. What the hell are you talking about, Nara?", Hyuga answered in a stern voice.

"What going on between you and Tenten?", Shikamaru raised an eyebrow while holding a cup of sake. Between us? What was he talking about?

Neji smirked, "What the hell are you talking about?"

"Come on, Captain, it's obvious there's something!", apparently, Choji had already finished eating too and decided to join the conversation.

"You guys are crazy. We get along fine, that's all.", I interrupted.

"Why so defensive then?", Kiba added with a smile. I could only bow my head to hide the blush that was coming on. Why was I blushing anyway? There was absolutely no reason

"Hn. You guys really are crazy.", Neji poured himself a cup of sake and then took a sip. "What made you think that there's something between us?"

I don't really understand why, but I'm sort-of feeling a stabbing pain in my chest.

Sasuke smirked, "Denial gets you nowhere Captain."

With that, Neji drank the last of his sake. "Senseless interrogation gets you nowhere too.", he smirked. He raised his hand and gestured for the waitress to come. "Get me another round of sake over here."

"Oh, you have got to be kidding me", I couldn't help blurting out. "This is going to be a long night."

"Trust me, you'll get home alive.", Neji whispered to my ear. His breath tickled me, for some strange reason, I started laughing. No matter how ridiculous this situation may be, I'd have to admit, I do trust him.

After a while, the waitress arrived with several cups and a two bottles.

"So, you planning on answering now, Captain?", Shikamaru asked as he took a sip from his cup.

"Hn. Tell you what, drink first, I'll answer later.", Neji smirked, and the others started drinking.

For the next hour or so, the guys talked about random stuff, mostly about basketball though. I kept myself busy, watching them lose consciousness one by one.

And soon, the bottles were empty. The two of us the only ones awake.

"Let's go.", Neji smirked. It was amazing how so much alcohol had so little effect on him. He took out his wallet and then left a hefty sum of money on the table.

He stood up and then took my hand, and then made our way towards the door. We could hear Naruto yelling out profanities from behind, but we couldn't care less. We left the restaurant, both of us laughing.

Neji.

There were no clouds in sight, only stars filled the night sky. I've never seen so many stars.

"You think they'll be fine?", Tenten asked me, still laughing. As cheesy as it sounds, the twinkle in her eyes puts the stars to shame.

"They'll manage.", I tell her. "Come on, let's get you home."

We walked silently, side-by-side for quite a while. It was only when we reached her apartment that she broke the silence.

"Hey, thanks. I had a great time.", she said with a smile. And once again, I'd have to put on some extra effort on restraining myself.

"Welcome.", I answered evenly and then looked away. Staring at those brown eyes of hers would lead to nothing but trouble.

"Good night, Neji.", she smiled once again and then started walking towards her apartment. She was already halfway there when she stopped and faced me. "Uhm, hey."

"What?", I asked.

"I-I've never really had a friend like you before.. I mean, there's something about you..", she looked as if she was nervous. But why? What was making her uneasy?

"What is it about me?", I'd have to admit, I'm getting extremely curious.

"It's...", she looked away for a split-second. "Oh, never mind. Just promise me one thing."

"Hn. Fine. What is it?", I said. She stared at me with those eyes of hers.

"Nothing important.", she started fiddling with her fingers. "Promise me that things would never change between us. I mean, I've lost so many friends before. I really don't want you to be one of them. You're like my, you know, best friend..", she trailed off.

Honestly, I didn't really know how to respond to what she had just said. It was not really like Tenten to talk about feelings and such. She wasn't the emotional type. She took me by surprise.

Silence.

"Oh, what am I saying?", she said with a bit of laughter. "Never mind what I said. Good night Neji.", she gave me that sparkling smile of hers and then took off.

It took me a few seconds to fully comprehend what had just happened, what she had just said.

Promise me that things would never change between us.

Of course, I'd be willing to promise anything for her. Hell, I'd do anything for Tenten. But maybe, just maybe, this is one thing that I couldn't possibly guarantee.

She wanted us to stay like this. As friends.

What if I can't stand being "just friends" any longer?