A/N: So there's been a lot going on with school starting and all. So, here's a quick little story I came up with. I know it's still choppy despite my three-hour effort of fixing it.

Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

…

Love was a funny thing, Tenten decided, as she gingerly took a sip of her coffee. Love always found a way to be unexpected. She shifted in her seat, tugging her olive green jacket tighter around her body, brushing the back of her hand underneath her dripping nostrils. It was a dreary Monday evening in September, more specifically, open mic night at the Konoha Café. The brunette shifted again, chocolate eyes glazed over, deep in thought. Lazily she flicked open an abandoned newspaper strewn across the table in front of her, scanning the headlines with only half a mind.

Why had she given in to Sakura's constant pestering? This was a perfect waste of her time (and then there was that annoying reminder in the back of her head telling her the deadline on her article was coming up. She was assigned to write about freelance performers in the area, part of the reason she was in this mess). Gawd, no one has even gotten on stage in the hour I've been here.

Tenten sighed, pushing the paper away, and throwing a glance over her shoulder. Sakura was standing at a table nearby, hastily scribbling down the order of a very familiar man. She felt a jolt. Shit, shit, shit. He just had to be here. As the Haruno tucked the menu under her arm, her eyes darted towards the brunette female, sending her a sort of feeble, desperate smile. Please stay.

Damn that woman, Tenten thought, though her eyes lingered on the man. He was still as strikingly gorgeous as she remembered, with a nice structured jaw and a mane of jet-black hair. She knew what it felt like to run her fingers through those tresses, the feel of his skin under her lips. It had been six months since she'd last seen him, six months since they'd fought. He looked so out of place in his dressy black business suit when all she had on were jeans and a T-shirt. That was just like him, completely socially awkward. Always commanding her attention even if he didn't realize it.

And after nearly half a year apart, she was still obsessing over him. Damn it all.

However, she wasn't too shocked to see him here of all places; after all, he was a freelance performer. He was observing the crowd with mild interest, eyes scrutinizing his surroundings. And then his gaze landed on her, cutting into her, dissecting her like a worm. He knew that she knew he was there, and she knew that he knew she still missed him. Tenten cursed at herself for being so pathetic. But what she and- she inhaled sharply at the thought of his name- Neji had was so special, too good to be true. And when it had ended in screaming, tears, and flames, it wasn't at all surprising.

It was never meant to be, and she just couldn't wrap her head around the fact.

She bit her lip, turning to stare out the window, determined not to look at him (because that was just what he wanted her to do and she was tired of giving him what he wanted).

After fifteen minutes, she could still feel the weight of his prodding stare, critically eyeing her like she was a specimen under a microscope. And when she couldn't stand it any longer, she hastily gathered her things, making a B-line for the exit. She would be getting a phone call from Sakura about this later, but she figured she'd deal with it somehow.

Heck, she probably wouldn't even pick up.

However, just as she pushed open the door, all the white noise clouding her mind was replaced by the ringing of a deep baritone voice in her ears.

"This is a self composed piece I'd like to play for a very special woman tonight."

I hate you. I hate you. I hate you. Tenten felt angry tears prick at the corners of her eyes. How dare you.

And just as the first few bars echoed throughout the café (the first bars of a song he'd played when they'd first met), she fled.

When she heard the doorbell ring in the middle of the night, she knew it was him. And when he shoved a bouquet of roses in her arms, facial expression pained, she expected that too. But when he pushed her against the wall, kissing her anywhere and everywhere, she was rendered speechless.

"I was stupid. I was so stupid."

Yes you were you bastard.

"I'm sorry."

You should be.

"I love you."

You better.

"I'll never let you go."

You liar.

"Baby we're forever."

I know.

The ones that you love are the ones you hurt the most.

Love was a funny thing.

…..

A/N: I have an infatuation with pretty one-liners. XD

So, I hope you enjoyed it. Thank you for reading and please review!

~M.I.