A/N: School is just around the corner! T.T A couple things to note before you begin: so yeah I succumbed to the stereotypical plot where Tenten is poor and Neji is rich and they fall in love. Tenten was able to attend the expensive school on scholarship.

Also, Neji visits her on a Friday, so therefore she has to wait two days before seeing him again (you'll understand once you start reading).

Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

…..

Tenten tugged uncomfortably at her ugly homemade pleated skirt, making a face at the stiff fabric. Her grandmother had sown it together over the weekend from scraps of old dresses bought at a thrift store. (You must have something new dear, that old crab apple had claimed, happily laboring away in the ancient dirty chair by the window.)

The brunette wasn't excited about starting school, but it was much better than being trapped in that suffocating little rat hole of an apartment she was forced to call home. Shrugging on her faded red jacket and heaving her bag onto her shoulder, she stepped out of the shade of the tree and headed towards the building, the morning bell ringing in her ears.

There was a boy. Oh gods a boy!

There at the desk by the window he sat, head propped in his hands, lilac eyes nonchalantly observing his classmates. She sat in front of him and was therefore, his favorite specimen. For those forty-five minutes of class, he would glare at her head and set her heart hammering wildly in her chest. She dared not turn around, dared not meet his gaze, but there was something about him that made her knees weak.

He had that wonderful mane of black hair down his back that reminded her of a fierce horse. And his features were as fine as porcelain, like a china doll.

"You're an idiot."

Tenten looked up. It was that boy-what was his name? She'd heard it during roll call- Neji. He was staring down at her haughtily, arms crossed.

"Pardon?"

"You're an idiot."

The brunette raised an eyebrow. "What?"

His eyes narrowed in a glare, and he kicked a pebble with his shoe before stalking off, his mane swinging back and forth in step.

Tenten rolled her eyes and leaned back against the bark of the tree, angling her head upward to gaze at the sun shining between the foliage.

"Hey! What are you doing?"

"You'll get sick."

Tenten huffed and threw his jacket back at him, hitting him in square in the face.

Neji glared at her, muttering underneath his breath. "Only an idiot would sit out here with that thing (he eyed her sweater with disgust) on. You'll get sick."

Tenten felt her anger spike, and in an instant, she had lashed out and left an angry red claw mark on his arm.

He, after insulting her with his vast profane language, stomped away furious. She felt tears begin to prick her eyes as he disappeared into the school building. What had she done?

"Tenten! Get the door!"

The brunette, who had been chewing on her pencil eraser rather than completing her math homework, slowly stood up from her desk, still lost in thought.

She almost jumped in surprise when she saw their visitor.

"Hi," Neji said awkwardly, rubbing his arm (which reminded her of their previous encounter and many other unpleasant thoughts). Tenten knew she looked like a deer in the headlights and tried her best to just breathe.

"How did you know I live here?" she asked, suspiciously eyeing the basket of apples in his hand.

"Connections," came his smooth reply. "May I come in?"

"Oh! Umm… sure." To say she was embarrassed would be an understatement. Here was Neji Hyuuga, one of the richest boys at school, standing in her rat hole apartment.

"I brought these for you. I-well I see you eat them at lunch all the time so…"

"Are you trying to apologize?"

Neji turned beet red. He stammered hastily, growing frustrated, "Look, I was just trying to make sure you didn't get sick. I didn't mean to call you an idiot. It's just, well you were being an idiot." Of all the girls I could have fallen for, he thought, it had to be her.

"Well you know what? I'm sorry that I can't afford a proper jacket okay? I'm sorry that I'm not rich like you. I'm sorry that my parents died and left me to fend for my grandma and myself. You don't know a thing about hardship, pretty boy, so you better shut your trap before I do it for you." She could feel tears building in her eyes again. She clenched and unclenched her hands, prepared to claw his face this time.

Neji seemed a bit taken aback by her outburst. His eyes wandered about her face as if searching for something. Finally, he quietly set down the basket of apples and turned for the door. Before he left, he said, "I'm sorry my parents died too. "

Tenten had never moved so fast in her life, weaving in between the hoards of students cogging the hallway. She had never felt so out of place either, eyeing some of the other girls' designer clothes and shiny hairclips. She needed to get to math early so that she could talk to Neji. There was a fire that had started to burn inside of her ever since his unexpected visit two days ago. A hope that she had found a kindred soul also lost in the darkness of this world.

"I'm sorry my parents died too." His words still rang in her ears and with one final push, she heaved open the classroom door. Neji was sitting with his head propped upon one hand, gaze turned toward the window to watch the raging storm outside.

"Neji?" she called, suddenly very unsure and almost frightened. Her heart was hammering in her chest so fast she thought it would explode. He responded with a grunt and snuck a glance at her with wary eyes. Gone was that haughty twinkle that infuriated her and turned her legs to jelly at the same time. Of all the boys she could have fallen for, it had to be him.

She took a shaky step forwards, "I-I-would you like to have lunch with me?" she asked shyly, voice squeaking.

"No." He gave her an I-am-holier-than-thou look and turned his aristocratic nose up in disgust. Tenten huffed indignantly.

"Why not? Are you too embarrassed that your friends will see you with a loser like me?"

"What friends?" This sent her mind whirling.

"You don't have any friends?"

"Well neither do you," he pointed out. He jumped when she grabbed his hand.

"Then maybe this can be a start," she said quietly.

He didn't pull away.

At lunch, he kissed her. She was too dazed to care that he had thrown her half- eaten apple in the dirt and only leaned forward again, the brush of their skin sending tingles up her spine.

"Maybe this can be a start," he whispered against her lips.

She pulled back, and this time she was one who searched his face.

She smiled, satisfied, having found exactly what she was looking for.

…...

A/N: This piece was really different from what I'm used to writing. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed it!

Thank you for reading and please review!

~M.I.