So I came back, even though my exams already started ;P Good luck to everyone, who is in the middle of exams! And here is a new chapter, enjoy!
Three, two, one… she smiled when the loud voice of professor announced that class is over and they all can go home. Apart from students of third year, people from the first year will have their midterms only after a week and they had simple classes now. Tenten leaned on the wall, looking at the door that opened. In the same time quiet corridor just burst with loud voices, laugh and screams. She narrowed her eyes, trying to see the person for who she came here.
''No way, I'm not up for it, no! This is horrible!'' Ino shouted, talking to her friend. ''I swear this had to be the most-'' she stopped, noticing Tenten. ''.. horrible idea ever. You go, I'll be right back, okay?''
Her friend nodded and went away, while Ino came closer to Tenten. Awkward silence came along with her and Ten cleared her throat. They stared at each other for a few minutes and then both shifted to their places. To be in a fight was something new to them, so they didn't know how to behave themselves. Ino and Tenten were one of those rare best friends that actually never argued and just get along very well.
''You okay?'' Tenten finally asked. ''I wanted to talk.''
''To talk about what? Your talk with famous model Neji Hyuuga or about the moment that he somehow had your camera with him? Or, maybe, you finally decided to tell me what happened that day when you came with all your clothes dirty?'' Ino asked, crossing her arms over her chest. ''Start from the last one, please.''
Tenten furrowed her eyebrows. She really hoped that this theme wouldn't be brought up again. She still wasn't thinking of any lie that could somehow cover this up and right now her mind was just buzzing with millions of ideas of how she get her clothes all dirty. If only she could tell the truth…
''Actually, wait. Tell me first about the fact that you know this model and I, I'', she said, putting strong emphasis on ''I'' and narrowing her eyes. ''I learn about it along with others, but not first. I mean, when I started to go out with Nara, you learned the first about it.''
Tenten bite her lip so she won't chuckle on what she just heard. Ino raised her eyebrow and then rolled her eyes, chuckling. She smiled and Tenten smiled back. Ino handed her hand to her friend and they both went to their buffet, sitting on the little sofa next to the huge window.
''I bumped into him on the streets and I took his bag and he took mine. I am just lucky that he decided to give me my camera back'', she said, looking at her friend. ''I am as surprised as you, Ino. Don't look at me like that, I'm telling the truth!''
''How did he find you? You told him where do you study?''
''No, it's actually a long story'', Tenten mumbled, taking sips of her drink. ''What? You want to hear it?''
''You're not lying to me, right?'' Ino asked, leaning back.
Tenten's eyes widened just a bit and she swallowed. Slowly nodding, she noticed how Ino, just for a second, narrowed her eyes, and then she smiled. She doesn't believe me.Tenten knew it for sure. Even though Ino smiled and start talking about her upcoming exams and seemed so careless, she knew that her friend didn't believe in a single word that she said. Ino basically was giving Tenten a chance to say the truth. She couldn't lie and anyone who knows her would easily tell that she's not telling the truth.
''… And well, everyone was talking just about Neji and I mostly heard how sexy he is and you know, stuff like that'', Ino mumbled, mimicking the girls who were telling her this.
''You don't agree?'' Tenten asked, raising her head. ''I mean, do you agree with what they say about Neji?''
''That he's sexy?'' Ino asked and then rolled her eyes. ''No, gosh. I don't find him sexy, but I admit that he had amazing shades and he looked good yesterday. But if to take off his shades… no, he's not sexy. I mean, look at Shikamaru. His definite type of the guy that I find sexy.''
For some reason Tenten didn't like this answer. She knew that this is really childish to get offended on that but she somehow didn't feel good after this. Ino, however, was continuing her speech.
''You know, Tom Ford listed 15 things that every man should have and the number ten is perfect shades. Or number twelve. It doesn't matter, really. Anyway, Hyuuga has perfect shades. But that doesn't matter; I wanted to talk about… ugh. Your personal security is on the way.''
Tenten raised her eyebrow and then noticed that Ino was looking somewhere above her head. She saw Shino and Lee coming to her. Shino waved to her and Lee did so too, but when he noticed Ino, he rolled his eyes.
''Hey girls'', Shino said, sitting next to Ino. ''How it's going?''
''Before you two came around everything was brilliant, wasn't it, Ten?''
Tenten rolled her eyes, not wanting to get into another argument. She could never get why those three hated each other. Not like a proper hate, but they couldn't bear company of each other. Lee sit near her and winked. The girl smiled back but she knew this smile that ended up not looking real and Lee raised his eyebrow at that.
''Oh please she spends most of her life with you two and-''
''Stop being jealous'', Shino let out, taking sips of her coffee.
''You had just drank my- get out of here!'' Ino screamed loudly. ''You didn't hear me? Ten, tell them to get out, we were having a talk.''
''Don't put me into this'', Tenten said, raising her hands. ''But yes, we indeed were having a talk.''
''Our talk is more important, it's about midterms'', the guys said in unison.
Tenten stared at Ino and made apologetic smile. Midterms were important for her. Ino, seeing this, gripped her teeth and stared at smiling guys. Huffing and making it very obvious that she's offended, girl gripped her bag and stormed out of the buffet, not forgetting to put cash on the table for the coffee. Tenten sighed and closed her eyes. Shino and Lee winked to each other and Lee sit to Shino, so they both could be facing Tenten. The girl opened her eyes and stared at them, waiting for an explanation.
''So what about midterms?'' She finally asked, looking at the guys. ''Be quick, please.''
''About what midterms? We won't be talking bout midterms'', Shino mumbled.
Tenten opened her mouth and then groaned, standing up. She got really angry about boys and they quickly gripped her hands, making her sit down. Lee opened his mouth to say something, but then his phone rang. His face changed and he quickly excused himself, standing up.
''Tenten, c'mon, don't be angry'', Sam said and then smiled. ''We wanted to talk about upcoming ball.''
''I am not interested in this'', Tenten said through gripping teeth and stand up. ''Ino already was offended at me and now this.''
She walked out, not listening to what Shino was shouting behind her. Opening the door and getting out of the buffet, she saw Lee, who was leaning on the wall and still talking on the phone. Thinking that she should say to him what she said to Shino, Tenten came closer and then stopped on her tracks, listening to the conversation he was having with another person on the phone.
''No, listen… I don't know how they found the body, I swear to god! Shino doesn't know too. No, we… I swear we did everything as you said and no one was there.''
''Who are you talking to?'' Tenten asked loudly, coming closer.
Lee jumped and turning to her, quickly cancelled the call, putting the phone back in the pocket of his jeans. He smiled and messed his hair, looking at her. Her senses were screaming that something is wrong, but when he came closer and hugged her tight, she let it go.
''Who was it?'' Tenten asked quietly again. ''What body you were talking about?''
''It was another guy from our boxing group. A few days ago we all got tired of one dog that always has been barking out loud and we just took her and … well, you won't like the ending'', Lee mumbled, ruffling her hair. ''Basically we wanted to get rid of the dog but I guess it didn't work out.''
''But you said body'', Tenten said, raising her head. ''And this is horrible that you wanted to get rid of the dog.''
''Body is a name of the dog, Ten. You should have seen her, this dog is so huge!'' Lee said and then let go of her. ''And hey, don't blame us, that dog really got me angry.''
She smiled and nodded. Shino walked out of the buffet and she sighed. She should have said that she got offended on Alex, not hug him. Waving to the guys, she went to the exit, not listening to Shino's ''aha, so you got offended on me, but not on Lee?''. With force opening the door, Tenten finally get on the street. She looked around and gripped her bag. An exam in sociology is going to be in two days, so she should get ready. Nodding to the guards, she walked out of the university's territory.
''Took you long enough to get out of here.''
She slowly raised her head and her eyes widened. Neji Hyuuga was leaning on his car with his arms crossed over his chest. Her mouth opened and she looked around, hoping that no one else apart from the guard saw them together. Neji furrowed his eyebrows on how scared she looked. He wanted to just grip her shoulders, shake her furiously and scream in her face that she should choose her friends wiser and not have good relationships with the killers. But of course, he didn't say any of this. Hyuuga cleared his throat and opened his car. With a gesture, he motioned Tenten to get in. The girl took a step back, narrowing her eyes on him. A million questions were running through her head, starting from ''What he is doing here?'' and ending up with ''Should I sit or not?''. Biting her lower lip and looking at him, she didn't move. Neji rolled his eyes. He's trying here for her and she doesn't want to sit? What a troublemaker.The man coughed and again motioned to get in the car.
''Why?'' Tenten asked, looking at him. ''I don't want to sit in the car with you.''
''Am I asking here what you want?'' Neji asked, arching his eyebrow.
''I'm not sitting'', the girl answered, getting angry for how he answered. ''You can drive away from here.''
With saying this, she turned around and went to the other side, being sure that he would just leave it like that. But she didn't know Neji good enough. Hyuuga rolled his eyes and closed the door of his car, locking it. Not waiting long, he followed her and soon her wrist was caught in his tight grip. Tenten turned around and Neji got a bit taken back by how angry she looked right now. It looked like it's just a matter of time when her eyes will start to let out lightning. But he didn't let her go, merely because this will look stupid if he would do so. Waking up early, he spent more than forty minutes in front of his closet, picking what he needed to wear for meeting with this girl and she's running away? Really?
''We need to talk'', he said, containing anger in his voice. ''It's important.''
''I don't want to'', Tenten said, violently trying to make him let go of her wrist. ''Are you deaf? Let me go, I don't want to talk with you!''
Neji had two options: option number one was to do what all men in movies do: shut her up with a kiss; and option number two was to just drag her into the car, not listening to her screams and shouts. The sudden realization that he really wants to follow option number one made him almost let her go. And the girl was quick. Tenten quickly pushed him away and started running away, which was hard to do on heels and with a heavy bag. Just for a few seconds Neji admired the way her hair was flipping from one side to another while she was running and he thought that it suits her so much better when she doesn't do those buns. In the next moment he was running after her.
''You really, really thought that you'd run away from me with your heels?'' He asked after catching her waist in his arms and spinning her around so she could face him. ''You know, this is rather adorable, how naïve you are.''
''Let go'', she hissed, trying to kick him with her leg. ''I said let go.''
''And I said get into the car, but you are not following orders, are you?'' Neji asked, pulling her closer to him.
''I will scream if you don't let me go'', she whimpered and stared right into his eyes. ''What people would think if they see famous Neji Hyuuga holding the screaming girl in his arms?''
''They will think that I'm pleasuring her and she likes it'', he answered and chuckled when the girl blushed. ''One more move and you won't learn anything about the police and that pit.''
Tenten wanted to kick him but she freeze, hearing what he said. She raised her head and narrowed her eyes. She honestly thought that he would forget about it and they will never see each other again. Neji looked around and slowly let her go, not liking how heat of her body left him. He stared at the girl and tried to understand what she has that makes him want to do all of this. Hell, he ran after her. Neji Hyuuga ran after the girl, who is not from model agency. This is just ridiculous. He pointed at the car and raised his eyebrow. Tenten sighed. If it weren't important he most definitely would never come to her. She nodded and motioned him to go first. Neji chuckled and walked to his car, enjoying her groans and hisses from behind. Tenten stared at his back and couldn't help but smile. She suddenly thought of how comical they probably looked and grinned. Even if she's angry, there is no need in denying that she is happy to see him. If only he weren't that rude, she thought to herself and then shrugged. He opened the door for her and she get in the car, making sure that no one sees them. Neji drove away from the university and stopped a car near some shop. He turned to Tenten and smiled. She was playing with a ring on her finger, being in a deep thought and not noticing his gaze. She was not just a magnet for troubles. She was a magnet for him. Neji was man enough to admit that he got attracted to a girl, but he wasn't man enough to let her know that. And what exactly made her run through his mind all night? Why did he even care about what's going to be with her? They met few days, he doesn't know anything about her apart from basic information and yet, she's on his mind constantly. Tenten raised her head and stared at him.
''What? Something on my face?'' She asked, furrowing her eyebrows.
''Yes. Thousand of molles'', Neji answered and tried not to smile. ''Anyway, I made a call to the police station and they found a body in that pit.''
Tenten stared at him like he had two heads. She couldn't believe what he had said. As ridiculous as it sounded, but she kinda forgot about the body in that pit.
''Do you even watch the news? So they opened whole case and it happened to be just like I said: that pit was just a show, nothing should have been be built there'', Neji continue on talking.
Tenten couldn't hide her admiration and surprise in her gaze. Right now she was seeing his different side. He could forget about it just like she did, but no, he called to the police station. The girl smiled when he threw away his vibrating phone. It was nice to know that he finds this talk that important that he doesn't want to get interrupted by calls.
''I heard voices of those two men'', he said, finally getting to the most important part.
''Really?'' Tenten asked, leaning closer. ''Did you tell that to the police?''
''Tenten, listen… I didn't tell police about everything'', he whispered and tensed up, when she noticed how her eyebrows furrowed. ''I didn't tell them that you were there. All they know is that while I was attacked by paparazzi, my phone fell down in the pit and when I got alone, I went down to the phone and found the body. This is what they think is true.''
Neji watched carefully her reaction. When he called to the police station, he already knew that he wouldn't say a thing about her. Why? He didn't want her to be involved in this. He was sure that with this he's keeping her safe. Hyuuga swallowed, when the girl didn't say anything for a long time. With hesitation, he looked down and took her hand in his. To his surprise, her hands were cold and he looked up at her.
''You are cold?'' He asked in shock.
Before he could think of his actions, Neji gripped her hands in his and raised them to his face. Tenten stared in shock how man started to blow on her hands, gripping them and trying to make them warm. The truth is she always had cold hands even in the hottest days, but no one ever paid that much attention on that. She leaned closer, smiling.
''Better?'' He asked, raising his head.
Their faces were a few inches apart and he looked down at her lips and then back in her eyes. Tenten did the same and by impulse, they both leaned closer, sealing their lips together. A sigh escaped from her lips when her tongue met with hers. Neji shivered and he let go of her hands, putting his hand on the back of her neck, pulling her even closer. He wanted this to happen and when it did, it was better than he would ever imagine. He leaned back, opening his eyes. Tenten blushed under his stern gaze. Her brown eyes were shining and Neji smiled, leaving a small kiss on her forehead. She leaned back, smiling and fixing her hair.
''Thanks for not saying about me to the police'', she mumbled, not knowing what to say else.
''That's not all'', Neji said, concentrating on what he's going to say. ''When I went to get your phone, I was standing close to those two men. I heard their voices, I heard their conversation. And…''
How many times he thought in his head of how he's going to say this to her, but right now he just can't let it out. This was strange but he knew that she wouldn't believe him. Feeling that something important is about to come up, Tenten tensed up.
''Those two guys who were next to you when I gave you a camera…'', he started.
''Lee and Shino, my best friends'', Tenten said. ''Why?''
''Well, I'm pretty sure that they are those two men from the pit that left the body there'', he let out and stared at Tenten waiting for her reaction.
''What?''
The girl arched her eyebrow and then chuckled. What a nonsense.Tenten shook her head and looked at Neji. He was damn serious and her, just for a second, got confused. He said he was close to them, of course he remembers their voices clearly. But he's not a robot, he can simply be not right. She sighed and looked at Neji.
''This cannot be true'', she said quietly.
''Why? Because they are your friends?'' Neji asked, arching his eyebrow.
''Because on that day they were in the boxing tournament'', she answered, getting slightly annoyed by his tone. ''You saw how bruised they were, right? Well, this is because-''
''-I beat them up'', Neji finished for her.
Tenten arched her eyebrow. She was getting confused in this. There is no way that lean and tall Neji would beat up two broad-shouldered and strong guys. Neji looked like he was so serious but she couldn't take him serious in this question. She leaned on the seat, crossing her arms over her chest.
''One of them can't walk properly because I kicked him in the leg with all my might'', he said, looking at her. ''And another one has one part of his face red, because I pushed him on the ground and he fell to that side on it. Their voices and even injures – everything is telling that they are those two men.''
Neji knew what she was feeling right now. They are her best friends and she thinks she knows them better than anyone, she believes them, or better, she wantsto believe them. And he didn't judge her for that: of course she wouldn't agree on what he's saying immediately. He needs to have proves, not just words.
''They were on the tournament'', she repeated, swallowing. ''They wouldn't lie to me.''
''We can always check if it's true or not'', he suggested. ''I'm not asking you to believe me right here and now. I'm asking you to help me with this. Before going to the police and telling them that I found those two men, I want to be sure in everything. In news nothing was said about me. Police presented it like an anonymous call. Tenten, I need your help.''
Tenten didn't answer. She was staring at her hands, not saying anything. Would Lee and Shino lie to her? Of course they could, but she thought that they would never do that. Part of her didn't believe to Neji at all. This part was saying that she knows those two guys for ages and this model is saying some nonsense about them, when he doesn't even know those guys. But another part was screaming that this is logical and what he's saying can be true. Just check. If he's right, then they will get their punishment and if he's not, then you would just be sure that your friends are not killers.
''You want me to stalk them?'' She asked in a tired tone.
Neji smiled. Right choice, buns-girl.
''No, this is my part. I just want you to be more careful with them, okay?''
''This is not the way it works, Hyuuga'', she said sternly and sit up straight, looking very serious. ''We're going to do everything together. I will try to learn everything about their boxing stuff and then we will go together and check it. They are my friends and you had just accused them in a murder-''
''-or just association with murder. They can be just involved, I didn't say that they killed anyone'', Neji corrected her.
''- or that. Anyway, you're accusing them in something that can make them go to the prison, so I'm not standing on the side'', Tenten finished, looking at him.
''I don't want you to be involved'', Neji said with a sigh.
''And am I asking you what you want?'' Girl asked, copying him.
He chuckled and shook his head. This girl has character. Tenten shrugged and he smiled wider. She handed him her hand and he shook it. Deal is deal. Sitting more comfortably, she put her legs on the seat, pulling her shoes off. Neji got surprised by the simplicity of it. Usually girls try to look as great as they only can when he's around: they have amazing make-up, amazing hair, perfect outfit and just look like dolls. But Tenten, with her brown hair, little nose and brown eyes, was not like that. He finally understood what was that ''something'' in her. Her simplicity. She was not pretending, she was who she was and this gets him. What a childish gesture it is, to pull shoes off and sit on your legs and yet, this gesture captured his heart with it's purest and carelessness.
''Give me your number, when I will learn anything, I will call you'', she said, looking at her phone.
Hyuuga blinked a few times and took her phone, saving his number there. He didn't want to look up, because he knew she was watching him right now and was very close. Maybe there should be some awkwardness because they had kissed, but he doesn't feel it.
''Here'', he mumbled, giving her phone back. ''So, I have planned.''
Tenten looked up and nodded. The plan was quite simple: they both will check if there was a real tournament and then maybe stalk guys to see where they are going and then go to the police and… Neji looked at Tenten, saying his last part. Prison is not a place in which you want to see your friends. However, the girl only nodded. She sighed and closed her eyes. Too much information in one hour. She was sure that her head got bigger in this short amount of time.
''I will drive you home'', Neji broke the silence. ''Tell me address.''
Tenten told him the address and turned her head to the window, closing her eyes. The ride was silent and Neji tapped her shoulder, when he parked his car in front of her house. Her eyelids fluttered and she opened her eyes, focusing her gaze on his face. Tenten made a small smile and sit up straight, pulling her shoes on.
''Thank you'', she said, turning to Neji.
''Tenten'', he called, when she opened the door. ''Wait.''
The girl turned around and his lips touched hers. She kissed him back, enjoying the feeling of shivers running down her spine, that kiss gave her. They both leaned back and she smiled, blushing a bit and walking out of the car.
''Call me tomorrow'', he said and she nodded. ''Bye.''
''Bye'', she whispered, closing the door and watching his car disappearing in the turn.
Tenten turned around and went to her flat, not being able to wipe the smile off her face. Gripping her phone in her hands, she looked at the brand new contact. ''Neji''. She smiled wider and put out the keys from her bag, going to her flat.
A/N: Hello there! What are your thoughts of this chapter? Let me know in reviews? Do you think Lee and Shino can really be the killers? ;p - Nizza. xx