Chapter 2:

literally still going crazy

I could tell he was sneaking glances my way from across the waiting room. I just kept hiding the bottom half of my face behind magazines while my mom shook her head wondering just where she went wrong with me. I ask myself the same question sometimes.

He moved around in his seat, trying to find a comfortable spot for his injured foot, and simply stared. I just wished for the nurse or doctor to call my name, but no; it seemed the hospital was extra busy this morning.

"Hinata? Is that you?" He breaks the silence in the waiting room and the tension that was once balled up in the pit of my stomach became a huge wave of acid. I felt sick, I gagged a little, I wondered where I went wrong, and the only thing that I could think of to make the situation any better was praying to God that things didn't worsen from here on.

"Um, yeah. What of it?" I spoke from behind the magazine.

"Is he a friend from school?" My mother chimed in. She was giddy, probably thinking that I had some sort of love interest. She needed to stop or else I would suffer from a heart attack.

"Mother, don't." I simply said to her.

"Oh, alright. You're always so grumpy, you know that?"

"She really is, Mrs. Hyuga." Naruto smirked. I looked at both of them, slowly going insane by this image, and was too distracted to realize I had put the magazine down on my lap. My cheeks were available for his gaze to take advantage of. I was at my most vulnerable before him, with the most ridiculous allergic reaction in my seventeen years of life.

"How is that even possible?" Naruto questions, still looking down at the worksheet we had to finish together.

"I don't know, okay? I simply woke up like this…"

"You look cute, like a chipmunk." He smiled and I felt my heart skip a beat, as cheesy as it is. I was suddenly blushing, even though I didn't want to.

"Wow, thank you." I replied sarcastically.

We were back in chemistry, standing side by side at our lab table.

"Just keep pressing ice on it and the swelling will go away. My foot is feeling pretty great after wrapping it with ice." He looked down at it and stuck his foot out for me to see it as well. He was only wearing a shoe on his good foot, so I could see his toes wiggling around and the round bulge that was sticking out around the ankle of his injured one.

"It doesn't look that great to me," I scoffed, "how did you even hurt it that badly?"

"Football practice. They went a little too hard on me." He cocked his head gingerly and leaned forward on the table.

"A little." I repeated to myself in disbelief that such an injury would be considered as little. But another thing that had surprised me, was that he was part of the football team. I was never a sports person, but it only excited me more to know he was an athletic guy. I wonder what he looks like sweating during practice-NO, I must control myself!

"Are you okay?" He asked with a slight laugh, it seemed like he asked me that question a lot.

"N-no, why?"

"Your face is really red. Are you catching a fever?"

"So let me get this straight," Kiba struggled to speak with pocky sticking out of his mouth, "you and Naruto were at the hospital at the same exact time? How is that even possible?"

"I admit it was a weird coincidence, but for some reason it didn't feel off. In fact, he insisted on driving me to school after we finished at the hospital."

"Your mom didn't say anything?"

"My mom insisted."

"Wow." He didn't look very surprised. "So what happened on the way to school? You guys were alone, right?"

"We didn't really talk. It was awkward sitting alone in a car with him, almost like in that 80s movie where the guy tells the girl they can't be friends because sex will one way or another get in the way." I sighed, resting my head on one hand. I wished we would have hit that subject.

"That kind of thing would be expected from Naruto. But, for some reason, I'm starting to root for you." He smirked, stuffing his mouth with more pocky.

I rolled my eyes, "I'm starting to think this isn't going to go anywhere."

"Why? Because of Sakura?"

"Yes, and no. I found out he's in the football team, and those guys usually have a reputation to uphold, and if that's the case then I'm definitely not his type. He'll probably play with me and throw me away when he gets tired of me."

Kiba gave me a solemn look and silently finished his pocky. I might've been too hard on myself, but if Kiba doesn't protest, I don't think I can think of this positively.

The next couple of days my face deflated back to its normal state. The doctors said it was an allergic reaction to the change of weather, which I seriously doubt because it's just ridiculous. I had to put up with Naruto teasing me about my face during that time, and for that reason I was sad when I was back to normal. He no longer had an excuse to throw paper balls at me during class, teasing me with childish names. I loved it. It felt like he was constantly watching over me, looking to speak to me, even if it wasn't in a romantic way. I felt special.

But now, I sat through one of those long lectures our teacher gives when she's too into the subject, wondering why he hasn't poked me with his pencil or thrown a paper ball. It felt quiet. After another half hour of chemistry, the teacher decided to do something horrible to me.

"Now that we are nearing the end of class, I would like for you guys to get into groups of two or more and work on this project that is due…"

She wanted us to make a model of an element, which I would gladly do on my own, but the thought of having to pair up with someone stumped me. I wasn't going to ask Naruto. That was the first thing that I thought when she mentioned a group project. I could easily just ask to work alone, but no, life just isn't on my side because the idiot was already at my desk giving me a smile.

"It goes without question that we are partners."

I wanted to protest, even bring up Sakura, but what good would that do? It would only prove more that I was somewhat interested and things between us wouldn't be the same. I only nodded and shyly smiled, waiting for the teacher to come by and hand us the instructions and rubric of the project.

"So when should we start?" He asked.

"Someone's a little eager." I raised an eyebrow, "The project isn't due for another two weeks. We have time." Thankfully I didn't have to say anything more because the bell rang. I gathered my belongings without stopping to chat with him like we usually did (yes, things had gone that far) and simply ran off to my next class.

"Hey! Hyuga!" I stopped in my tracks, knowing well that no one other than him called my my last name. Probably because he's the only one who cared to know my last name, other than Kiba.

"What? What do you want?" I snapped. Not sure why I was so irritated if this was something that would only happen in one of my weird daydreams.

"Whoa, hey, calm down." He put his hands on my shoulders, lowering himself to match my height and look into my eyes, "I know you're eager to get to class, but did I do something wrong?"

I stared wide eyed, "No...why?"

"Because I love talking to you, I think chemistry is my favorite class now just 'cause of all the fun we have."

It would be an understatement to say I was shocked, but still under a daze I can't think of any better word to describe the warmth that his statement spurred inside of me.

"Naruto I…" I thought about what I was going to say to him. I didn't want him to know about my true feelings.

"Hey Naruto!" Another female voice struck my ears and left a very subtle ring that was definitely familiar.

It was Sakura. In all her pink glory.

"Bye." Was all I could mutter before I ran off as fast as I could. All I remember was her confused look, her arms around his neck, and Naruto looking at me as if he didn't want me to keep running away from him. Maybe I really am driving myself crazy over him.