Hi! I'm back for another chapter again! Hehe. I hope someone will like this one!

To Rj/FAN OF U (guest reviewer), hellooo! Thank you so much for your reviews at three of my stories, "Battling With A Hot Guy," "Certified Player" and "Unlikely." WOW. You really made me happy! *tears of joy* see? Hehe. Anyway, I dedicate this chapter to you! I hope to read your reviews again! THANK YOU SOOO MUUUCH! Hugs and kisses!

Credits to Yves_Liong (writer from Wattpad) and Masashi Kishimoto (owner of Naruto).

Warning: OOC-ness

-Itachi's Queen

Battling With A Hot Guy

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45

As patiently as I could, I tried to wait for the Uchiha until the bell rang for my first class. There was still no sign of him, and although I would usually feel happy when things like this happen, I am actually worried right now. After all, even if Uchiha Sasuke could be sensitive and a real jerk sometimes, being the Hinata I am, I felt guilty for hurting his feelings, assuming I did when I asked him to just leave me alone for my second birthday. I couldn't even concentrate at class.

As the lunch bell rang, I took out Sasuke's cellphone and was about to call mine since it is in Sasuke's possession when someone suddenly approached me. "Hey, someone asked me to give this to you." A girl who does not belong to our class told me and handed me a folded note.

"Who is it?" I asked, contemplating on whether it is Sasuke or not. If this is one of his 'your present is coming soon' letters, I am really going to attack him with complaints and demand gifts when I see him.

She smiled. "Sorry, he said not to tell you. Maybe he just wants to surprise you."

I took the letter from her and said my thanks. When she was gone, I slowly opened the note, ready for Sasuke's prank. But instead what was written was "Hey, I prepared something for you. Meet me inside THAT abandoned room."

Did I just read the note right? Uchiha Sasuke, the most cold-blooded jerk I know, actually prepared something for me? Unbelievable! But then he stood me up earlier today so that must be the reason why. He was probably too busy preparing that he lost track of time. Wait. Why am I justifying his actions?

I shook my head. It is my "birthday" so maybe he really is making an effort. Feeling excited for my first ever present from Uchiha Sasuke, I quickly shoved the note in my pocket and started packing my things.

Sakura seeing my hastiness, looked at me with a raised brow. "Why are you in a hurry? Do you have plans today that you didn't tell me?" She asked.

"Yeah, I'm meeting Sasuke right now. He said he prepared something for me." I responded trying to hide my excitement as I finish fixing my things.

Her expression changed into a happy one. "You're excited about something Sasuke-kun related? Now that's something new. I won't tease you today since it's your special day. Don't forget to give me an update though, okay?"

I nodded as I started walking towards the door. "I always do anyway." I waved at my bestfriend and walked out of the room.

Once I was out of the room, I rushed towards the room where Sasuke is. The same room where a lot of things happened where he and I are involved. But when I reached it, I hesitated before I held the doorknob and entered. What if he was planning to lock me inside the room again like he did on Valentine's? But then again, if that was the case, he wouldn't have taken so long to prepare, wouldn't he?

Turning the knob and walking inside the room, the sound of a guitar suddenly filled my ears and was followed by the angelic voice I once heard when I met up with Sai about meeting Ino-chan.

There in the middle Sat Sabaku Gaara, singing the song, "One Last Chance."

For a moment, I just stood there, mesmerized by his voice. Even though I was truly amazed by his song, I wasn't getting the message he is giving me through the song. Somehow, my heart wasn't racing like how it should be if I claimed I liked him. Did this mean I don't like him the way I thought I did?

As his song ended, he extened a hand, holding out a small box wrapped in a fancy way. "Happy birthday, Hinata." He said, smiling a bit, unlike the other day when he gave me his lunchbox.

Knowing that if I take his present, it would mean I am giving him another chance. And knowing now that I wasn't in love with him at all, and also a small part of me thinks Sasuke will find out about this and punish me again, I shook my head no. "I'm sorry, Gaara-san." I said, now realizing that it wasn't that I couldn't forgive him these past few weeks. It was that I couldn't accept him.

"Why? You aren't doing anything wrong. Please take this." He replied, pretending not to understand what I meant when I apologized. But his hurt expression and eyes showed that he did understand.

"Gaara... I... really can't accept it." I responded.

He shook his head. "No, you have to. I'm really sorry for making you look like a fool. I was stupid then, I didn't know any better. But don't I deserve another chance?" He remarked, his voice somewhat faltering.

"It's not because of what you did before. I'm not angry about that anymore. In fact, I think somehow, I already forgave you. It's just that... I really can't accept it." I explained as gently as I could, all the while thinking about Uchiha Sasuke finding out and getting furious. "I don't think I... like you."

He fell silent for a moment. "Is that so?" His head down, smiling bitterly. He looked at me in the eyes and I knew for sure I don't feeling anything for him. "I'm sorry for forcing you to like me. I thought you might have felt the same way as I did, seeing how mad you were when you found out I decieved you. I guess I was wrong."

"Don't apologize. You didn't do anything wrong. I also thought I liked you since it really upset me but I realized now that it wasn't like that. Maybe because I liked you being my friend. And even thought I won't ask what you owe Karin to make you decieve me, I understand now." I told him honestly. "Now that we've figured this out, I really hope we could be real friends this time."

He looked like he contemplated at it for a moment before finally answering. "I don't really have a choice, do I?" He joked and then nodded.

Upon hearing his response, I couldn't help but feel glad. "Thank you."

Gaara and I ate lunch together after that. He actually cooked for me and bought me a cheesecake bigger than the cake he gave me back then. But even thought I am actually happy being friends with Sabaku Gaara now, I still can't help but be worried about Sasuke. From time to time, I check my cellphone to see if he called or sent a message. But there was none.

You're supposed to be happy he's not bothering you on your special day. I told myself as I try to concentrate on Calculus class but I just couldn't help but feel guilty for hurting his feelings. Maybe I should call him. Raising my hand, I asked permission to go to the comfort room. When I got there, I immediately dialed his, or my, number. However, he just wouldn't pick up. After the 10th call, I finally gave up. At the back of my mind, he's probably in class so he couldn't answer my call.

I must have looked really upset when I got back to class that Sakura asked me what was wrong. "What's up with you? A few hours ago, you look like the happiest person in the world. Now you look like the saddest person in the world. Did you get into a fight with Sasuke-kun again?" She whispered as the teacher wrote on the board.

Seeing no point in telling her the entire story, I decided to answer her with a nod. "Yeah, but I didn't mean to hurt his feelings. Now he's ignoring me." I also whipered back.

"Then apologize to him." She adviced. "He's probably ignoring you because he wants you to apologize first."

I was surprised that she wasn't mad at me after telling I fought with Sasuke. But is she crazy? Why would I apologize for simply saying something offending when he always did that to me without an apology? That sounded really unfair. I didn't say that to Sakura though, I just nodded at her suggestion and turned back to the teacher.

After class, Sakura and I walked out of the room together. She was going over with how I was supposed to apologize to Sasuke even if I absolutely no plan on doing it. Luckily, Naruto-kun appeared at the end of the hallway and waved at us when he saw us.

I thought he was going to approach Sakura-chan but instead he faced me. "Hinata-chan, did you had a fight with Teme?" He asked, his face completely serious. Okay... Uzumaki Naruto, serious?

"Y-Yes, why?"

"During lunch period, I remember that we have this exam after that Sasuke couldn't miss. So I called him in your number, knowing you two traded phones. But he wouldn't come to school. When I asked him why, he said it has something to do with you." He explained curiously. "I don't like butting in on Teme's business but this time, I need to. He is a smartass but that exam is fifty percent of the grade and he might fail because he missed it. Please call him up and ask to come right now. He can still catch up with the teacher and ask her for a chance."

I frowned at him. "He's not answering my calls."

"He will if you apologize. Send him a text first." Sakura-chan decided to intervene.

"No." I immediately replied. Then I turned away from him. "I'm sorry, Sakura-chan. I need to go to the comfort room."

As I walk away from the two of them, my conscience is eating me alive. And so giving up, I took out his cellphone and called him as I enter the girls's comfort room. For the first time today, he actually picked up my call.

"Sasuke!" I exclaimed as soon as he accepted my call. "You're mad at me, aren't you? I'm sorry about what I said yesterday, okay?"

"Where are you?" He didn't even say anything about what I said.

"I'm really sorry, okay? So please come to school now." I must look like a complete desperate right now.

"I am already here." He answered.

I let out a sigh of relief. "Stop fooling around. I'll wait for you at the school gates, okay?" I said, hanging up. Then I walked out of the comfort room.

I walked towards the school gate as I realize what I just did. This is not how I would normally act if Uchiha Sasuke is mad at me. It is also starting to confuse me for real. What is going on? Why is he stirring mixed emotions from me just by his absence.

Suddenly, I was standing face to face with Sasuke who had a precious, familiar figurine clasped in his hands.