Itachi isn't the mean asshole I made him in Punctual. Just so you know.

-:-

Hinata managed to leave the lunchroom clean. She hid under the table when she saw a pack of jello fly by her head. Then, when everything calmed down, she sneaked out into the hallway, wondering where Sasori and... what's-his-name went. She nervously walked down the halls, hoping that she would bump into them or someone nice enough to show her to her next class.

Cue: Itachi Uchiha.

Tall, lean, attractive, good looking, and rich. He happened to be walking down the hallway alone, and his next class happened to be Math. He just so happened to be a nice guy, despite being the one who was rebellious enough to break away from his family and go to this lower-class school with his friends. And, his family happened to be very close with the Hyuga family.

Hinata saw him walking down the opposite end of the hall. She studied him for a little, wondering if he really was the Itachi Uchiha who used to play with her on the swings at the park when they were kids. Itachi noticed her staring at him, so he looked back. His eyes widened in surprise. "Hinata Hyuga?" He walked over to her and smiled. "Itachi..." Hinata didn't know what to say. She expected him to be back at her old high school, being good at everything and being attractive. But now he was being good at everything and being attractive here. Here, being the four-wall-and-a-roof building they call a school. She had to ask, "Um... What are you doing here?" Itachi glanced down the hall both ways, then leaned forward to tell her a secret. "I ran away from home. Now I go to school here." Hinata let out a dramatic gasp. Run away from home? She couldn't imagine doing that - leaving all her stuff and the warmth of her large mansion -

Oh wait. She didn't live there anymore. Disappointment washed over her face, and Itachi gave her a concerned look. "You alright?" He put a hand on her shoulder. "Y-Yes." She jumped when the bell rang. It was time for her next class.

Itachi looked at his watch. "Oh. I gotta get to Math. I'll talk to you later, okay, Hinata?" He was about to walk away, but Hinata reached out and grabbed his sleeve. "Wait, Math? I'm going there too." Itachi scratched his head. "I didn't know you went to school here." he said. Hinata glanced away. "I moved." she said softly. Itachi let out a small huff and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. "It's alright. You'll like it here. I'll take you to Math, alright?" Hinata nodded, and the two started walking.

-:-

Covered in ketchup, mustard, cinnamon roll icing, and various other food items, Deidara and Sasori sat outside the principal's office, carrying on their argument.

"I wish you'd stop fighting with your parents and find just one place to live! It's the worst having two beds in my room for someone who doesn't appreciate what he has!" Deidara stopped when he saw Sasori's expression. He was furious - to the point where his hair was turning redder by the minute. He hit a nerve. A big one.

"Well, sorry that my parents are materialistic bastards who don't know how to take care of their kid! I'm sorry that you and your mom are the only things I consider my family, and that the only thing I can thank my parents for is giving birth to me - which is something I don't think I should be thankful for in the first place! Deidara, you know how it is at my house, you know how much me and my parents fight, you know how much I'd like to just take a bomb and blow them to hell, and yet you went and set me off with that ridiculous comment! And now, just for that, I'm going to keep on talking to your precious Hinata, keep on making her like me, and when we're going out, I'll be sure to let you know how fun a time we have." When Sasori was angry, he went on long rants instead of letting the other side speak. He felt that his ranting sped up the process.

Deidara looked downward. What he said was insensitive on both their parts. He did know. His parents were so tight on appearance, and Sasori wasn't exactly the spitting image of a model son. Thanks to that, they hate him, and everything bad that happens is his fault. It's just awful. And truthfully, it wasn't so bad having Sasori around. He wasn't too close with his other friends. Well, they were close, but he was closer to Sasori more than anyone else. It just hurt because he was letting a girl get between them.

Biting his lip, Deidara was about to say his heartfelt apology, when the secretary said that the principal was ready to see them.

The office reeked of either cheap cologne or middle-aged testosterone. The walls were stacked high with books that the boys doubted had been read by the principal or any of the ones before him. Everything was either wood or painted a light beige; totally different from the entire school. It looked like the office of a mafia boss.

"So, boys, why the ruckus?"

The principal looked at both boys, then leaned back in his chair. Then, suddenly, Deidara and Sasori burst out talking at the same time.

"Well he was being rude!"

"He was being mean!"

"I was totally justified in knocking his tray over."

"Yeah, right! He was angry at me for talking to a girl!"

"Excessively! My mom asked me to escort her anyway!"

"She didn't ask you anything! She just walked into your house and we walked to school together!"

"Why you little-"

"And, Mr. Principal, he was totally out of line and being totally JEALOUS!"

"Jealous!? Oh, I'll show you jealous, you-"

"BOYS! Enough!" The conversation that went Deidara, Sasori, Deidara, Sasori, Deidara, Sasori, Deidara, Sasori, and Deidara was promptly interrupted when the principal started hearing about a girl. "You started this entire mess because of a girl?"

"Well, not just any girl."

"You know, the new student Hinata Hyuga. She moved in next to Deidara's house and-"

"She's not exactly used to living next to people..."

"But she's probably somewhere out there - lost - because she doesn't know anyone but us here."

"No, she only knows you because you kept sweeping her away to her next class."

"Because, because you don't have the balls to talk to her, let alone take her places."

"Dammit Sasori!"

The principal sighed. "Guys, guys. Come on. Solve your girl problems outside the lunchroom." He sent them away with two weeks' detention.

--

Deidara walked to his Math class, 30 minutes late. He never liked arriving to class late, since he drew unwanted attention to himself and the teacher always gave him a nasty look that made him want to punch him in the face. And, to add to his delight, Hinata was there, sitting next to Itachi, another one of his friends. The only empty seat was on Hinata's other side, which made things more awkward than necessary. As he walked by, he said Hi to Itachi, then glanced at Hinata. She stared at him, making him slump down in his seat.

A piece of paper fell on his desk a couple minutes later. He looked at Hinata, who gently waved at him.

You have ketchup in your hair.

-:-

Hinata found Sasori after school, a swirl of mustard on his back. She touched his arm, and at first flinched away, but after realizing who it was, relaxed. "I'm sorry about lunch, princess." He sighed, looking up and closing his eyes. Hinata slipped her arm through his. "It's perfectly fine, Sasori. I don't mind." He looked down and smiled at her. "Thank you, Hinata." She smiled back. "Now, let's go back home, shall we?" She said after a minute. Sasori hesitated a moment, looking around for his blonde friend. But then, remembering their fight, huffed and started walking. "Yes, Madame."

They didn't know that Deidara had already started walking home. What a way to start the school year. Hit it off the wrong way with your hot next door neighbor, let your friend hit it off the right way with your next door neighbor, let your next door neighbor get in between your friendship, let it crumble, and spend the rest of the day covered in salad and ketchup. Oh, and you earn two week's worth of detention. I wonder what mom will say to that... he thought bitterly, pushing open his still-lock-damaged door and hopping up to his room. He grimaced at the other bed and plopped all his stuff on his desk. Then he settled himself on his bed and stared at the ceiling until he heard footsteps walking about in the house.

"And then he said, 'That's no lunchbox, that's my wife!'" And then there was laughter. Then, suddenly, the two were bounding up the stairs. Deidara almost sat up in surprise if it hadn't been his willingness to be so bitter to them. They burst into the room, Sasori's room around Hinata's shoulder. She noticed Deidara immediately, turning away and looking at Sasori. What, did she hate him or something?

"Oh, Hello, Deidara." Sasori said in a tone that really said, Guess who's close to asking this girl out, leaving you in the dust and to mope in your own misery? NOT YOU. Deidara couldn't respond - he didn't know how to talk with his eyes. Hinata looked at him again, smiling a little. She waved at him gently, the same as in Math class. Did he have more ketchup in his hair?

"Princess Hinata and I were going to hang out here for a little. Is this okay with you? You are the owner of this house, after all." Deidara knew full well that Sasori didn't give a damn about asking permission. Hinata giggled at the 'Princess' remark. "Yeah. Sure. Whatever." he sat up, took his backpack, and walked out of the room, giving Sasori one last glare before leaving the room. Then there were giggles, and then laughing, and inside him a bubbling feeling of jealousy gathered in his stomach.

-:-

"Okay, so let me get this straight. Today, your first day of school, you and Hinata got off on the wrong foot, you started a food fight at school, you got into a fight with Sasori, and because of the last two you got two weeks of detention?" Deidara sat across from his mother at the dinner table. He stared at his plate, distraught with guilt. "Well, that's quite a first day, Deidara." she said. She didn't seem to care much. "I personally would have gone through it a little different, but hey, we're all different I suppose." There was silence for a few minutes. "I'm more concerned about your fight with Sasori. What happened?" Deidara tilted his head upward to look at her.

"Before I start, I just want to clarify that I don't like Hinata any more than my neighbor. I'd like to know her more as a friend, but..." He trailed off. His mother nodded, and he continued. "Sasori and I fought because in the morning he totally made me look bad in front of Hinata. I mean, I awkwardly introduced myself and stuff, and there he goes going 'It's an honor to be in your presence' and all that! She doesn't even remember my name because he kept pulling stunts of flattery like that all day!" Deidara huffed and crossed his arms, slouching in his seat. Deidara's mom chuckled. "Silly boys and their girl problems." Deidara turned pink. "Girl problems. Right. Now Sasori's going to ask Hinata out, and that makes me very uncomfortable!" He took his fork and stabbed the Pasta Roni on his plate. "Okay, why is it making you uncomfortable?" his mother asked. Deidara's fork twisted, making the fettuccine twirl around his fork. "I can't answer that." he sighed.

Suddenly, Sasori burst in through the door. "Melinda!" He called. Deidara's mother stood up. "Yes, honey, what is it?" she walked over to the front door. Deidara shrunk down, covering his head with his hand. He kept poking his food.

"Oh, my god. Sasori, what's that on your cheek?" She went back into the kitchen and took a bag of frozen vegetables from the freezer. "Is that a bruise?" This made Deidara raise his head. "My dad hit me." he heard Sasori say. "Oh. That's terrible, hon." Melinda, Deidara's mom, looked at the front door, then the kitchen. "Deidara, can you get me a couple paper towels to wrap around these vegetables?" Deidara was hoping to avoid Sasori while he stayed here, but after a little thought, he realized that Sasori slept in his bedroom anyway. He got the paper towels and walked into the living room, where Sasori only looked at him. No glare, no stink eye, just seeing with his eyes that he was standing there.

Melinda (Deidara's Mom) pulled Deidara into the hallway. "Well, now that he's here, you should sort things out. Talk to him." Before he could protest, she gave him the look that moms give you when they mean 'That's Final'. Sighing, Deidara let his mom walk back into the kitchen, then swung around the wall to sit next to Sasori on the couch.

It was hard looking into his eyes with that pack of vegetables on his face.

"Sorry I couldn't leave you the hell alone." Sasori said bitterly. Deidara scratched the back of his head. The bruise on Sasori's cheek reminded him of what it was like at his house. It also reminded him of how much of an asshole he was today. "Look, Sasori, I'm sorry. I overreacted. I guess I should've-" Sasori cut him off, sitting upright and turning so they could look eye-to-eye. "Overreacted? Holy shit, Deidara, holy shit!" He yelled. "If you weren't being such an asshole," he was completely right, "Then we wouldn've have gotten 10 detentions! I could have spared myself the trouble of interacting with the people I'm supposed to call parents! I wouldn't have gotten this God-Forsaken bruise on my face!" He paused. Deidara's eyes narrowed. "Well, damn, Sasori, what do you want me to do? Walk up to your dad and shit in his face?" Sasori scoffed and leaned back in the couch.

"I'm apologizing right now, and you're chewing me out! Let me explain myself!" Deidara demanded. Sasori's silence egged him on. "I guess I was looking forward to knowing Hinata, since I never really talk to girls. And when I dotalk to her, you go and make me look like a tool in front of her. How's that supposed to make me feel?" He moved so that he was looking Sasori in the eye. "Well?" It took him a moment, but Sasori apologized as well. "I guess that I got excited after watching her change last night. She just looked interesting to me, you know? And I was right, too. We talked a lot while we kicked you out of your room a couple hours ago." He leaned forward.

After a minute of silence, Sasori announced, "Me and Hinata are going out now." Deidara felt angry again. It was as if all their apologies and confessions didn't happen. "What the hell? Why?" He asked. "She's hot. I'm supposed to let her walk away?" Deidara rolled his eyes. "Well, I guess that makes sense..." When in reality it really didn't. "And since I don't exactly like her as a girlfriend, I don't have any reason to hate either of you." In the kitchen, he knew his mother was proud to hear him speaking logically. "So I'm fine with it. I guess."

When in reality, he really wasn't.

-:-

So, In conclusion:

Deidara and Sasori are friends again. (Sasori used to annoy him this much before, so he's used to it)

And Deidara's Mom's name is Melinda. Because I had to give her a better name than 'Deidara's Mom'.