Sorry for the late update.

Chapter Fifteen.

Romeo and Juliet.

I can't help it but stare in awe. The auditorium looks amazing. The juniors really did outdo themselves today.

To the left of the stage was this balcony, elevated maybe four or five feet. The vines crawling on to its marble railings were so realistic, there were no obvious signs that they're made of plastic. A backdrop of the night sky was hung. Dark blue with shining stars embedded on.

"Soooo, what do you think?", Sakura's voice startled me slightly. I swear, one more time she comes up to me from behind like that, things are sure to get ugly.

"Stop doing that!", I said. She immediately backs off while giggling.

"Sorry! I forgot how caught up in the moment you get when it comes to Romeo and Juliet.", she laughed. I hate to admit it, but she was right. Romeo and Juliet is probably one of the very few works of art I appreciate. Actually, appreciate is an understatement. I love everything about it, not that I'd tell anyone.

"The set looks amazing.", I said, she then takes my hand and then pulls me to God-knows-where. It wasn't long until we were on the set's balcony.

"Cool eh?", she said. "The plants here was my idea by the way. And the-", she was then interrupted by her phone's K-Pop ringtone. I have no idea what the song was called. "Wait, I gotta take this.", she then made her way off the stage. Getting off the stage, I'd understand, what I didn't really get was why'd she had to leave the auditorium. It's not like I'm the eavesdropping type. I'd have to say, I'm pretty offended. Kidding.

I moved closer towards the balcony's railings. As silly as it sounds, standing here on this very spot, I sort of feel like I'm Juliet. Oh, what the hell am I talking about. This 'girly-girl' side of me really annoys me sometimes.

"But soft! What light through yonder window breaks?". a familiar voice suddenly calls out. I looked over to the source of the voice and then found myself smiling. "It is the East, and Juliet is the sun!", he continued. Neji sure knows how to make an entrance.

"What are you doing here, Romeo?", I asked jokingly. He was at the other end of the theater, just in front of the entrance.

And instead of answering me, he went on, delivering the lines with emotion. It was hard to believe that the captain of the basketball team could might as well be an excellent actor. "Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon, who is already sick and pale with grief. That thou her maid art far more fair than she."

"Okay, fine, show me what you've got!", I yelled out. He smirked and then started walking across the aisle that would eventually end at the stage's front.

"Mind if we skip a few lines, Juliet?", he asked with that angelic smile of his. I nodded. I couldn't help it but laugh. What's he planning on doing, anyway?

Out of nowhere, I started reciting these lines. I don't even know what's gotten in to me. "O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?", Neji's smile widened as he continued to walk towards the stage. "Deny thy father and refuse thy name. Or if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love, and I'll no longer be a Capulet. Tis but thy name that is mine enemy"

"Call me but love, and I'll be new baptized. Henceforth I never will be Romeo.", he said, halfway there. And then after a few more exchanges, he was finally on stage, just a few feet below from where I was standing.

" I have night's cloak to hide me from their eyes. And but thou love me, let them find me here; My life were better ended by their hate, than death prorogued, wanting of thy love.", he finally says with a smirk. "Not bad, huh?"

"You'd make a pretty decent actor, Hyuga.", I answered. "Come on up here, Romeo.", later on he was beside me on the so-called balcony.

"Hey." He was on my right, leaning on the railings just as I was.

"Hey.", I answered with a slight smile. "You still haven't answered me. What are you doing here?"

"I figured I'd find you here, a typical closet-fan of Romeo and Juliet.", he smirked. I wasn't able to resist the urge to hit him. He quickly blocked my fist. "Violence is never the answer, Tenten.", he said laughing.

"Like you're not a fan. I never thought you knew those lines, Mr. My-Life's-All-About-Basketball.", I teased.

"My life isn't really all about basketball now. I mean, it used to be, but not anymore.", he faced me and then looked at me with those tantalizing eyes of his.

" Why?", was all I managed to say. It was so hard trying to keep sane with those eyes staring at you.

"You know better than anyone else.", he inched closer. "Ever since you came..", he trailed off. I gave him a playful push.

"I'm not gonna fall for that again, Neji!", I said and then stuck my tongue out. He smiled, though I expected him to laugh at this remark of mine.

"Then why don't you fall for me instead?"

What? What did he just say?

"I'm not playing tricks, I'm done with that foolishness, Tenten.", he said as he ran his hands through his hair. "I-I mean.. You.. You are something else."

My head was starting to spin. My heart was pounding. What.. what is happening?

"Wh-what are you saying?", I asked with a slight shake in my voice. He back away.

"What I'm saying is that.. My life's starting to be all about you..", he never took his eyes from me. He paused for a while, and then closed in on me again.

Thump. Thump. Thump. At this rate, I think my heart's gonna explode any moment now. I'm finding it hard to breathe.

"I think I'm in love with you, Tenten." He took my hand out of nowhere and placed it on his chest. I could feel his heart beating, pounding, rather, like mine was. "I've never been in love before. Is this how it feels like?"

"I-I don't know. I've never been in love too.", my body was now acting on its own. I was starting to move closer to him. Even my mouth wasn't following my brain's instructions. "Not until.."

"Tenten!", Sakura's voice dragged me out of the moment. "The theater's supposed to be closed now, I think you guys better get going.", she said with a smile from the entrance, and then left.

"Let's go.", I told him. Neji's face was blank. We didn't speak as we made our way out the theater.

"I'd be going then. Bye, Neji.", I said the moment we reached the exit, and then ran for it, leaving him standing there. Not even waiting for his response.

Not until I met you. I wanted to say, if only I wasn't such a damn coward.