/Temari/
- Tem! Tema! Temari!- I hear a voice calling me, but I don't move.
- Temari! - I'm startled by the shout and open my eyes, I see Tenten with a glass of water and a pill in her hand.
- Finally! Here, it's for your headache.
- What headache?- I sit up in bed and feel everything spin around. Thank you, Ten.
- You're welcome. Tamaki and I are waiting for you for breakfast. Do you want me to call Karui to cancel the dance class? - she asks and I'm confused by so much information.
- Firstly, yes please. Secondly, why is Tamaki here?
- Don't you remember? She brought us home yesterday because we were so drunk.- she laughs at the last sentence.
- I remember almost nothing. Maybe as the days go by I'll get the memories back. From what I remember, it was a very long night.- she smiles and leaves me alone in the room. I seem to have done a lot yesterday, although I don't remember, I hope I didn't do anything embarrassing.
I go downstairs with a massive headache, but the hunger speaks louder so I go straight to the table to eat.
- I've already cancelled your lesson, but Tamaki and I are going anyway, so don't do anything you'll regret. Again.- Hina laughs at my bored face.
- I don't think I'll ever drink that much again. My head is hurting!- I say and rub the side of my head.
- At least you had fun.- Tamaki assures me.
- I hope so, because I don't remember a thing.
- Consequences of drinking. - she laughs at me - Well, please do the dishes and tidy up because we have to go. Goodbye, my love. - she kisses me on the forehead, and I give her an annoyed look.
- It won't be that kiss that makes up for it. You'll pay me back. - they say goodbye and walk out the door, leaving me alone with my thoughts.
By Sunday I'd recovered, and by Monday I was ready for school again. The exams finish this week so I have to concentrate as much as possible. Too bad my head is constantly drifting to the perfect body of someone I can't remember. Over the weekend the memories became clearer and I saw images I didn't want to. I was with someone, like with him in me, but I don't know who it was.
This is not what I wanted at the moment, I've had enough of the stress from university, I don't need a man. I just hope he doesn't spread the word among his friends that I'm being a slut, that would break me. But the sex was so fucking good that it's worth the risk of getting a bad name at school, although, with all these people, only a tenth of the university probably knows who I am, and most of them only know me by sight.
- Hi gorgeous!- Kiba brings me back down to earth as I close the locker on automatic - What's with the face?
- I'm not even telling you! I shouldn't have come to your party! I don't remember half of it, but I do remember that I was with someone. He was beautiful and the sex was marvellous, but I hope he's not saying bad things about me.
- Who knows, maybe he's like you. But if I were you, I wouldn't worry, we're young and there's no better time than now to fuck up. You had fun at the party, didn't you?- I shake my head in affirmation - Then that's what matters. Come on, I'll take you to the lounge - he puts his arm round my shoulders and we start walking.
This is going to be a busy week, I hope I survive, but first, I must survive the class on cultural importance and sociology applied to the expressive arts, a name as complicated as the subject. Dance is amazing, but the theory is too much for my young head. TenTen was already waiting for me, but she was distracted by a new student.
- Who is he?- I ask and she jumps at the shock I've given her and puts her hand over her heart.
- What a fright, woman. His name is Neji and guess what, he's also from Japan and he's hot.
- How do you know that?- I ask with a raised eyebrow.
- He went to sign up for Karui's classes on Saturday and we chatted for a while. Yeah, he likes dancing too, we're soul mates together at last. - she says passionately.
- And you're breathing the same air - I say wryly - Give me a break, Tenten, you've only known each other for two days.
- You can't get the mystery man out of your head either.
- It's different. I'm not in love, I just want to know who he is so I can get this weight off my conscience.
- Whatever, but from what you're describing something tells me you want to repeat the dose. - she laughs.
- Of course not. Now pay attention, the lesson has already started. - I shut her up and start paying attention. Wednesday is the exam for this subject, I have to concentrate.
The exams have been going strangely well. Why strangely? Because I can't get the mystery man out of my head, when I'm not studying, I'm thinking about him. Sometimes I daydream about the night we had. All those perfect muscles and the way he took me, oh gods, my body gets hot with his image. But I still don't know who he is. His face has been completely erased from my mind. But I have to concentrate, tomorrow is Friday and I have my last exam.
- Good afternoon. Are you finally going to enrol?- Konan asks when I enter the studio with Tenten.
- For the fourth time this week, No I'm not. I came to dance class. - it's been the same every day. Apparently I decided to sing at the party and now my friends won't shut up about it and how I should sign up for singing lessons.
- But you're so talented! And we need someone to do the rap part of the songs. - she makes a cute face asking me and I roll my eyes.
- I'll think about it.
- Are you really going to? – Tenten asks hopefully.
- Of course not. I told you I don't like singing in public.
- At the party you had a huge smile on your face. - Konan smiles.
- I also had an absurd amount of alcohol in my blood. Give me a break, I've already told you that me in singing lessons is never going to happen. I'm here to dance. And before you say anything else, I'm going to class and you should come too Ten! - I leave before they can answer and I'm followed by the sad-looking brunette.
- Hello girls! - Karui says cheerfully as she enters - What do you want to dance to today? - she asks the 20 people in the room.
- Can it be CNCO? - Ino asks cheerfully.
- Ino, we danced to CNCO yesterday. And the question was rhetorical, we're going to dance to Taki Taki, so we can keep the Spanish you like so much. - the older woman says with a smile.
The choreography was very catchy and we learnt the first part quickly, I'm looking forward to Cardi B's part.
- Good practice, tomorrow we'll learn the second part. - I was leaving with the girls when Karui called out to me - I want you to take the lead in Cardi's part, OK? It's your first solo and you really deserve it, I know you don't like to be seen, but you deserve it, you have a lot of talent. For dancing and singing.
- If you stop trying to get me into singing lessons, I'll take the solo. Deal? - I hold out my hand for her to shake, I remember the party and smile.
- I will. But only for a week. - I roll my eyes but we shake hands.
- Finally, free from school! - Tenten says happily when we get home.
- Good afternoon, my love. - She lifts the cat from the floor, who was waiting for us, but was frightened when Ten squeezed him.
- Poor thing! - I say in a cute voice and pet him - The evil mistress won't leave my prince alone, will she? - I ask the cat, who purrs at my affection.
- Come on, Tsuki, let's get away from her. - she turns her back and I let myself drop onto the sofa. Tsuki gets out of Tenten's embrace and comes to my side.
- Looks like he's made his choice. Accept that I'm the favourite. - the brunette looks annoyed.
- He's ungrateful, I picked him up from the adoption centre for him to be like this now! - she crosses her arms in frustration.
- Oh, don't be like that. - I lift the cat's paws - We love you! - I invent a voice for Tsuki.
- All right. I'm going to have a shower and then make dinner. - Tenten cooks better than me, so she's usually the cook.
We went upstairs together. Followed by Tsuki, I went into my room and closed the door. With no exams and after the dance class with me at the centre, I'm free with my thoughts and, unfortunately, all I can think about is him.
- When you're dancing in the club and the nights get hard, do you think of us? When the music gets too loud and the girls are all around you, do you think of us? - I verbalise my thoughts while petting the cat and sighing - Because I do, I think about you, when I'm here in my room. I need your love, I don't know what I'm going to do, my body is so hot, I'm missing you. - I get all excited by the memories and scold myself. I try to distract myself by watching a film, but to no avail. The feeling in my lower abdomen prevents me from concentrating. While Tenten is in the bath, I have no choice.
- I'm sorry Tsuki, but I really need this. - I leave the cat asleep and my hands begin to explore my body in an idiotic attempt to imitate the sensations of Saturday night, and soon they venture to my private parts. My fingers move in and out of me frantically as I massage my clitoris, with the memories of the body and the incredible sex coming like never before in a solo session. I'm glad I'm going to the bath. I grab my clothes and head for the shower. I need to find out who he is. I think I'm going to have to repeat Saturday night to forget about him. Just one night and then I'll focus on myself again.
Saturday is match day and Ino dragged us along to watch it because she wants to cheer on Sai, of course she was supported by Karui, Hinata and Sakura, who were very keen to support their loved ones. Soon the nine of us and Kiba were in the middle of the stands with a bunch of women who were crazy about the players who hadn't even taken the field yet.
When they finally enter, everyone, including me, stands up to applaud them. Ino screams at the top of her lungs and Sai throws her a heart that she pretends to keep. Ew, love is so lame. Ino's almost-boyfriend stumbles onto the pitch and gets slapped round the neck by the No9, I struggle and can see that it says NARA above the number and roll my eyes at the act of protectiveness towards his cousin. He's a cocky bloke from what I remember of our conversation at the start of the party, thankfully it was short-lived because I was much better off with the mystery man.
Shortly afterwards the match starts, and we sit down again. I don't know much about American football, so I just celebrate when the others celebrate and look at the scoreboard to see the points. The first two halves had passed and it was half-time with our team winning by five points.
- Sai is perfect down there! - Ino exclaims excitedly.
- Give me a break, Choji is doing much better! - Karui replied.
- It looks like Sasuke is clearly the MVP¹! - Sasuke says.
- Remember, they'd be nothing without their great captain! - Hinata defends her boyfriend.
- Girls, calm down. Firstly, none of you know anything about football and secondly, you're just trying to show off your boyfriends, or whatever Saino and Sasusaku have. - Kiba ends the silly little discussion.
- Saino?
- Sasusaku? - Sakura and Ino express their confusion at the same time.
- Yes, it's a couple's name, it doesn't matter. What you don't realise is that the best player on the pitch is Shikamaru. I've never seen him play like that. It must be the stress he's accumulated. - He concludes his reasoning and makes me think. He does seem to be quite aggressive, I thought he was always rougher than the others, but apparently not.
- Accumulated stress? – Tamaki asks curiously. She and Kiba have barely looked at each other and are sitting far apart, contrary to their usual practice.
- Yes, he's had a few problems this week and hopes to sort them out today. - he replies with a strange look on his face, as if he's hiding something. But before anyone could say anything, the girls shouted for the team because the third part was about to start.
I don't understand anything that's going on, but soon the opposing team kicks the ball and they start running, only to be stopped by our players. Shoulders collide and elbows are thrown, even at those who didn't need to be, and soon the ball is in our hands. I don't understand why there's so much violence; one of the things I miss most about the few years I lived in the United Arab Emirates was the peaceful games, especially cricket. Soon the team scores a touchdown, six more points for us.
Points for us, points for them and we reach the last break before the final part of the game, or so I'm told.
To compensate for my lack of interest I have the advantage of watching the comedy show that is the girls cheering on their passions and I have Tenten as lost as I am to talk to. The only ones who seem to understand anything about what's going on are Tamaki and Kiba, but they're so far away that they can't even comment on it.
A few more minutes and the end is approaching, the teams have been close in points, if the Bearcats score a touchdown they'll equalise in the final seconds. I'm clinging to Kiba with the anxiety of the play. They don't flinch and throw everything they see in front of them, getting a lot of insults from Ino when Sai falls to the ground, the player runs and they can't stop him, the touchdown is scored and we're all anxious. The scoreboard showed 10 seconds to go and it was practically impossible to score a point.
As it was our team who conceded the point, they started the play straight away. Shikamaru, as quarterback, receives the ball, but he doesn't pass it as he normally does, he simply starts running, being covered by his team-mates who knock everything and everyone over.
- He's a quarterback, not a runner.
- It seems to be working, let him run. - Tenten says.
- You don't understand anything, he's supposed to pass the ball and not run. In fact, why is everyone supporting him? - Tenten was about to hit him as I watched the play in anxiety. The world seemed to be moving in slow motion as he ran past the players and the clock ticked down to 3...2...1... and he scored, at the last second, he scored. I jumped for joy when the touchdown was confirmed, I just didn't realise that Tenten was about to hit Kiba and, as I was between the two of them, I was hit in the stomach by the brunette's arm.
- AAAHHH, Tenten, for such a small woman you have a lot of strength.
- I'm sorry… - she starts to say, but when I look up, my heart skips a beat.
It's him, the mysterious man is him, when he took off his shirt I knew for sure. Even under all that protection, I'd recognise that perfect body anywhere. He celebrates his victory with his mates. The girls and the dragster celebrate next to me while I'm still in shock. I had sex with Shikamaru Nara. Shikamaru fucking Nara. Shit, of all the people in the world it was him, I don't think I want to repeat the night after all.
- Is everything all right? - Kiba asks when he realises I'm static.
- Yes, I just... I remembered something.
- Oh no, oh no! Tell me you haven't just found out who the mystery man is. Anything but that. - he whispers worriedly through the noise of the crowd.
- I think so, - I say quietly - You knew it was him and you didn't tell me? - I ask astonished and annoyed.
- I wasn't sure, I just put two and two together and came up with this hypothesis. I'm not going to tell him, don't worry. - He hurried to justify himself and calm me down.
- Thank you! - was the only answer I could give in my state. I look back at him, who is being hugged by the cheerleaders who are distracting him from Sai and Ino's embrace. What have I got myself into, my gods?
¹ - Most Valuable Player. A player who stands out in a match by being the best on the pitch.
Psychological illnesses are very serious and shouldn't be seen as 'drama'. If you think you have a problem such as depression, anxiety, hyperactivity, etc., seek medical help. My aim with this story is never to see these problems as something normal and insignificant. If you support any story that approaches this problem in the wrong way, you can stop reading mine.