Sticky Notes

(A/N: pointing out that I did not go by the Japaense school system which is 3 years of high school. I went by the American structure.~POG)

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For some reason, it had began when they entered high school. Perhaps it was because their schedules were now nowhere near identical except for their free period just after lunch. They were so used to seeing each other everyday, multiple times a day, and even after school. But now, they rarely see each other in the hallway; even weekends ahwere difficult. He began to do something about it their freshmen year of high school. Now, in the middle of their Junior year, he continued what he had started.

Neji always was the first to school with Lee tracking his heel. She was lucky enough to have first period free, so she didn't have to be in school until the second bell.

"I have to prepare for the martial arts tournament. I feel as though...maybe this time I will be able to prove myself worthy to be picked up by a well known dojo." The bowl cut teen said as they walked down the halls.

"You've been training regularly. It could happen." Neji replied as he turned a corner.

Rock Lee stopped in his tracks. The Hyuga looked at him in question.

"Your locker is not that way." Lee stated.

"I'm taking a detour over to Tenten's locker first."

Lee shrugged and followed his best friend down the hallway, past the cafeteria, toward the science department. Her locker was on the top row, three lockers down from the left.

"What is that?"

Lee asked pointing to a folded piece of paper Neji had taken out of his bag.

"Something for Tenten." Was all he said as he slipped the paper in between the slots of the metal door.

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The bun head let out a yawn as she walked into the building. She had her bag slung on one shoulder and dragged herself over to her locker. Setting her bag on the ground, she twisted the lock and pulled it open. A piece of folded paper fluttered out from the door. Tenten, snatched it up swiftly before it hit the ground. She unfolded it and read its contents.

"Good morning, beautiful."

A small smile crept to her lips as she read the note in Neji's hand writing. She loved getting these pieces of paper in her locker from him; he always knew how to brighten her morning. Putting the folded greeting into a small jewelry box, she took a posted from her sticky pack and scribbled down a rely. Tenten shoved her bag into the locker, took out her five subject notebook and locked it. Glancing at the clock, the bun head quickly shuffled down the hall to Neji's locker and folded the posted. She smashed it in-between the slots before half running to her first class. He wouldn't see it before lunch which was in another hour and a half anyway, but she had a better chance with his locker than running into him in the hallway.

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Neji nodded a farewell to his underclassman shadow, Shikamaru Nara, and walked over to his locker. A slightly crumpled sticky note was laying on one of his books. Unfolding it carefully, he read the containments.

"Afternoon, handsome. I expect that chocolate tart to be waiting for me when I see you at the usual spot."

He fought a grin that tried to sprout itself into his face. Placing the sticky into a small jar, he grabbed his lunch. Scribbling on a piece of scrap paper, he closed his locker and quickly shuffled across the floor to hers; swiftly sliding it in-between slots before heading off to lunch.

In the lunch room, Tenten sat with her underclassmen shadows, Neji's cousin and Sasuke Uchiha. As expected, Hinata began to talk about her encounters with her crush-Sasuke's best friend. The Uchiha rolled his eyes, but didn't comment when the Hyuga girl babbled on. His eyes kept drifting to a pink haired girl who resided in his science class.

"So," Tenten put down her carton of juice. "Have you spoken to her yet?"

Sasuke's eyes snapped to her.

"Yes."

"Like a full sentence or a word?" The upperclassmen cocked an eyebrow.

Sasuke grunted. The girls laughed. Tenten glanced at her phone. The period was almost over and she had to change into her cheer uniform before meeting up with Neji. She bid her shadows farewell and ran to the lockers.

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It was an unusual place to meet. However, the only people really allowed on the field were those whom belonged to sport clubs and official school teams. Luckily, both fit into that requirement. Neji sat with his track bag with a small box on his lap. He did show up a big early from his lunch, but he wanted to get there first. He heard shuffling to his left. Turning his head a small smile crept onto his face. There she was; uniform and all. Her bow was planted right on top of her head and bounced as she sat down next to him.

"So, what payment to I owe you...since you said I owed you something for this?" Tenten said pulling out the sticky note she had found in her locker from him.

Neji leaned in and planted a peck on her lips. Handing her the box, a smirk came to his face.

"Just that."

Tenten grinned and opened the box. The sweet treat was sitting in it with a spoon. Munching on her snack, the cheerleader sighed.

"Hey," she said after a while.

"Hm?"

"Have you ever though about what will happen after we graduate?"

Neji looked at her. Of course, many times. He wanted to be a doctor. Tenten shook her head, knowing she wasn't that specific as she wanted to be.

"I mean about us."

The Hyuga blinked. Oh, he thought.

"Well, what do you wish to do?"

Tenten bit on the spoon. She didn't know. She didn't want to end it with him, but the thought of being away made her feel uneasy. He'd definitely get into the best private university and probably spend all his time with his books than with her. It wasn't to be rude...that's just how he was. Neji always put his work above everything...she was just lucky that she was on the same level as his studies when it came to importance.

"I dunno." Came her reply.

Neji reached over and pulled the spoon from her mouth. He got where she was coming from, and he decided to leave it all up to her.

"Whatever you decide, I'd understand, you know." He said softly.

Tenten pursed her lips together. Before she could say anything, the bell rang and she had to run. The Hyuga kissed her before she grabbed her bag and sprinted back to the school building.

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She definitely wasn't getting home until much later. Practice was hell, her hair was a mess, her feet were throbbing. But, it was finally over. She had changed into her street clothes and headed to her locker to grab some books for her homework that weekend.

"What are you still doing here?"

Neji stood by her locker.

"It is kind of late. You weren't answering your phone so I guessed you were still at practice. Guess I was correct." He replied moving aside.

Tenten grabbed her books and shut the door to her locker.

The weekend was waiting for her.

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The next Monday, Tenten opened her locker to a small box sitting at the base of it. She hadn't put anything in there on Friday so, how did this get in here? On top of the box was a little bundle of sticky notes as well as some on the inner door of the locker.

She picked them off and began to read them:

"I don't know about you, but hopefully you'd decide to stick with me."

Next note.

"I knew this was bugging you for a while, I admit I too have thought about it. But, I isn't want to bring it up."

Next note.

"You've probably already noticed the box. Open it."

Tenten blinked. She reached down and opened the box. A simple ring with a red jewel. She gasped. What the hell was he pulling? She noticed a folded piece of paper under the sponge that held the ring in place.

"Now, don't jump to conclusions; I know how you get; this was supposed to be a birthday gift, but I felt as though I should give it to you now. Let's just say I don't plan on separating from you anytime soon. No matter what universities we get into; that's all on the future. We have one more solid year of high school together and I want to enjoy it...By the way, this isn't an engagement ring (don't roll your eyes). Think of this as a promise ring, if you will. I find the idea of a engagement ring to promise only marriage. I feel as though a promise ring will hold some more significance that I want to spend the rest of my life with you; married or otherwise."

Tenten choked. What got her was that he was dead serious. The Hyuga never joked about his feelings. She slipped the ring onto her finger. It was a the slightest bit loose on her ring finger, but not loose enough to slip off without a light tug.

"See you at the usual spot." The note had finished.

Tenten nearly let a weird noise escape her throat. Too bad she can't broadcast this to the entire school; Hyuga Neji actually has a heart. Chuckling to herself, she scribbled down something on a fresh sticky and trotted over to his locker.

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"Why do you look so happy?" Sasuke asked at lunch.

"What do you mean?" Tenten asked.

The Uchiha hummed.

"You're having strawberry milk."

"Weirdo, I like strawberry milk." Tenten retorted.

"I...I think he means it's out of the ordinary since you usually get juice." Hinata stated.

Tenten blinked. Wow, now she knows why these two don't really speak to other students...but she loves them anyway.

"Neji also seemed to be a bit on edge when he came over this weekend." The Hyuga girl continued.

"Oh?"

Sasuke picked at his salad.

"Out of your other friends, I find Neji to be the most tolerable."

"Is that your way of saying he's cool?" Tenten smirked.

Sasuke rolled his eyes. The girls laughed. The Uchiha never really cared for such labels. Tenten wiped her bangs from her face. Sasuke grabbed her wrist and made her jump.

"What the hell," he squinted. "Is that? Are you engaged?"

Tenten pulled her hand away.

"A gift, Mr. You're not my older brother."

Hinata looked at her finger. She hummed quietly to herself, but it didn't go unnoticed by the Uchiha.

"You gave it to her?"

"Nope. But I was there when I was bought." Hinata explained sipping at her water.

"Oh."

Tenten grinned. How protective, she thought. Hopefully, he'll find that someone to fawn over like that. The bell rang and she bid farewell to her shadows.

Neji sat on the stands with another small box in his hand. Having seen her note, he had to use his lunch break to go off campus to get today's snack. Luckily, the tea cafe down the block had butter cookies already made and he didn't have to wait.

"Hey." Tenten sat down next to him.

The Hyuga handed over the box and leaned back. The bun head looked at him. What? She squinted. No, kiss? No form of "payment"? Neji noticed her staring and he cocked an eyebrow at her.

"What?" He asked.

"I was expecting your usual 'I'll take my payment now' and a kiss." She replied.

Smirking, he reached over and gently grabbed her cheeks. He pulled her face over and planted one right on her lips. Tenten smiled, she loved when he did that.

"It fits you nicely." He whispered.

Tenten grinned.

"Well, if I'm stuck with you forever, I guess I'll have to get used to wearing it."

Neji laughed.

"I'm guessing the underlings noticed?"

"Oh yeah..."

They sighed in unison.

"Forever is a long time." Tenten murmured.

"I believe since fate has allowed us to last as long as we did...then we are meant to be together forever."

Tenten's cheeks flushed pink.

"That's a cute pick up line, babe. You already got me, don't start getting all cheesy."

The Hyuga kissed her knuckles and looked out into the field.