A/N: So I got this idea during English class and had to resist the urge to scribble it down on the edge of my paper.
Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.
…..
Her scent, oh gods her scent. It was the first sentence that registered in his mind when he picked her up. She was waiting on the front porch, leaning against the wooden beam, her purse clutched tightly in her hands, and her weight nervously shifting from one foot to the other. She bounded down the steps at the sight of him, curving her arms around his waist in a hug. He caught a whiff of that glorious perfume as he buried his face in her soft brown hair, a wonderfully feminine floral scent that teased his nostrils even now as he sat in the passenger seat of her car, full from a wholesome dinner.
It was a strange, though not unwelcome feeling to be driven by his date, more so in her car rather than his own. She had insisted because somewhere in her mind, she had conjured the notion she could equal out the cost of dinner (which he paid) with the price of the gasoline she was using. Tenten was trying not to be a burden, a brat like all the other girls he had dated. The Hyuuga thought it was unnecessary for her to worry and be so considerate. The fact that she could keep her mouth shut for five minutes without it being totally awkward was enough to convince him to ask for a second date.
He glanced at the female from the corner of his eye when they stopped at a red light. She was dressed in a simple black dress (he remembered her telling him on the first day of freshman year that she loathed dresses. Though they were older now and Tenten would beg to differ, she hadn't changed much. But the dress? He was obviously that special) with his blazer thrown around her shoulders. She had her gaze fixed on the steering wheel and her teeth were gnawing on her bottom lip.
"Ten?"
Her eyes, oh gods her eyes. The way she was looking at him now from underneath those beautiful thick lashes made his heart pound at a frantic pace. So much so that he forgot his train of thought and stared like an idiot, watching her cheeks slowly tint red.
"Neji?"
"The light's green." Her eyes widened and she snapped her head in the direction of the road. Mumbling a soft (disappointed) "oh" she hit the accelerator, effectively ending all conversation.
He was an idiot. He had never felt like a complete dunce around the other girls, but that was probably because he had never actually fallen in love with them before. But honestly, it was so damn hard to talk to Tenten without getting lost, so much that he would spend nights awake in frustration. Three words, that's it. Just those God forsaken three words and she would be his forever. But every time her scent wafted his way or her gaze caught his, he felt like a fish out of water.
Tenten was obviously that special.
"We're here," she whispered softly, and Neji reluctantly took his eyes off her to take in her "surprise." It wasn't much: just a field overrun with wild flowers and a clear view of the night sky. He gazed up at the stars as he climbed out of the car and followed her.
She spread out his blazer on the grass and sat down. He took the spot next to her and stretched out on the ground, his hands underneath his head.
"So…" Tenten started, picking at some dandelions. Ten minutes of silence followed.
"So…" Neji repeated. When she didn't make any attempt at further conversation, the Hyuuga tilted his head to look at her. "We're graduating this year."
After a moment, Tenten responded with a breathy "yeah". She was fixated on the flowers in her hands, weaving their stems together, plucking the petals away, desperately trying to fight back the blush that threatened to mar her features. She had been somewhat surprised when Neji had asked her out last Monday afterschool, running up to her half crazed, out of breath, grabbing her hand the minute he was within arm's reach, only to awkwardly drop it and struggle with forming a coherent sentence. It was cute really, and though they weren't the closest friends, she had always sort of, kind of had a small crush on him. Then earlier this evening, that girly side of her took over and before she knew it, she had found herself twirling around in the only dress she owned, dreaming about Neji and her together.
She heard a soft chuckle and then callused, but gentle fingers pried the mess of weeds out of her hands. Neji sat up and plucked a fresh dandelion, and slowly, pushing a strand of hair away from her face, he tucked the flower behind her ear. He flashed her a boyish grin watching as, much to Tenten's mortification, her complexion took on the shade of a tomato. "You look pretty," he told her quietly after a moment, avoiding her gaze. She let out a nervous borderline giddy laugh, her hands becoming sweaty. He said I was pretty.
"Um… we should probably get going. You know… finals and all starting tomorrow," Neji said, standing up and brushing off his pants. He lent her a hand and scooped up his blazer, slinging it over his shoulder as he followed her back to the main road.
"I remember you told me that you hated borrowing money from others. And then you got a job at the café a block from that old park, but got fired after the smoothie disaster," Neji said conversationally. He really didn't know why he was being so chatty. It's because it's Tenten. That's why.
"Oh shut up," she laughed, grinning up at him, "That was all Lee's fault." Lee, the only reason Tenten ever met Neji was because of that oaf. But Lee was like her brother, her best childhood friend. He was like a lovable teddy bear. So even if he got her fired from at least three different jobs, she still kept him around.
Neji stuffed his hands into his pockets, feeling positively euphoric. She had laughed and smiled at something he said. "So, did you buy this car by yourself?" he asked, as they approached the cherry red vehicle.
"Yeah. She's my baby," Tenten said proudly, running her hand on the hood. "She's not much, but she's the first thing that's ever really been mine." When she turned to look at him, her breath caught in her throat. Neji was so close, his lips less than three inches from hers, and his eyes, oh gods his eyes, looking at her and only her like she was the only thing that mattered to him. He was struggling to form a sentence, but his mouth just looked mesmerizing and oh so kissable; Tenten fought hard to keep a pleasant haze from settling over her mind.
Then he finally whispered shyly, coming just a smidgen closer, "If this car is the first thing that's ever been yours, let me be the second."
It felt like an eternity passed before Tenten replied, her doe like eyes wide, "O-okay." But it didn't come out as an agreement: it was more of that tone she used with Lee when he said something incredibly weird. Neji's heart sank.
"Okay," he repeated quietly. To Tenten he sounded like a kicked puppy. So before he could turn around, she grabbed him by the collar and kissed him- hard.
"Okay," she said again, more confidently before letting out a giggle (because this all felt so silly yet so right) and burying her face in his shoulder. Neji breathed deeply, inhaling her intoxicating scent once again, feeling so light, so free, like a bird ready to take flight.
Tenten was obviously that special.
…..
A/N: I've always wanted to write a NejiTen high school fic (like multi-chaptered fic). One of these days, I'll get around to it.
Thank you for reading and please review!
~M.I.