Kazu: Here’s chapter 3. Sorry for the long wait, our finals are coming and I really have to study. Plus, I need to pass all those damn requirements. The next chapter might come late. Maybe in March… enjoy!

DISCLAIMER: Don’t own…

---

Chapter 3 – Fortune Cookie

---

RIIIIINNNGGGG!!

“Let’s practice the song later before you go home” said their band leader, Neji. His eyes were focusing on Tenten who was mentally absent at that moment. She was the only girl in their band, so her male band-mates treat her like a fragile glass. Though she was a renowned tomboy in the whole campus, she was no exception. Let’s just say her band-mates were ‘gentlemen’. Something like it anyway.

“Tenten, did you hear what I said?” Neji asked coldly

“Huh?” Tenten snapped back to reality, though she really didn’t know what was going on

“Ten-chan!” Sakura, Hinata, Ino, and Temari was outside the classroom

“C’mon Ten, you’re gonna be late for class” Temari, the girl with four ponytails (?) said. She was older than her by two years and her classroom was in the next building. What was her reason for tagging along with Tenten? She just found Tenten’s reaction amusing when they were doubted to be in a lesbian relationship. It wasn’t true, of course.

“Ja ne, Neji-san” she grabbed her notebooks and rushed off

“Stupid girl” Neji murmured

---

After class, Tenten, Sakura, Hinata, Ino, and Temari met at the lawn. They were going to eat out that day and discuss topics. By topics, I mean, girl issues. Crushes, love, obsession, boys, blah, blah. Of course, Tenten had no interest in those stuff, but being a good friend, it was mandatory that she should come.

It was decided that they were going to eat in a Chinese restaurant . It’s not that fancy but the foods were excellent, according to Tenten who recommended the restaurant.

---

“Where is Tenten?” Neji muttered his words. He glared at his band-mates. The whole band waited 20 minutes for her to come but still nothing. ‘I knew that girl wasn’t listening’

“Anyway, let’s start the practice without her. It’ll be useless to wait for someone who isn’t going to come” his words were seemingly calm. Though, he murmured a long string of curses.

---

“Achhoo!” Tenten sneezed in the middle of eating

“Ten, Mind your manners!” Temari scolded her in a ‘motherly’ way

“Hai, hai”

‘Someone’s talking about me’ she assumed. She tasted the Szechwan Soup which her mother, a true blooded Chinese, recommended. “Hmn… not bad…” Tenten stated calmly, though, she admitted it was tasty and delicious, just like her mother said.

“Ne, Hinata-chan, did Neji-san mention anything about our Tenten-chan?” Sakura gave Tenten a sly smile. She just loves teasing Tenten

Tenten nearly choked with that question. ‘Oh shit…’

Hinata pondered for a few moments. Then, she replied, “Hai, once. I heard him say when I was passing by his room ‘Ten…ten’ once. That’s the only time, I guess” Hinata replied. She wasn’t stuttering, just like when Naruto is with her. She feels comfortable with her friends, so she can speak normally.

“Excuse me, would you like to get a fortune cookie?” the waitress asked. The girls all got a fortune cookie. Excited to see what’s inside, they opened it.

A few moments of silence, then, they looked at each other. Temari spoke first “So… here’s what my fortune cookie says… ‘Who do you run to when the only person in the world who can make you stop crying, is exactly the one who is making you cry?’ Well, it’s pretty weird. I don’t understand it at all” she read the little piece of paper again trying to find what it’s telling her

Sakura then read aloud what the little piece of paper says “Two are born to cross their paths, their lives, and their hearts. If by chance, one turns away, are they forever lost?”

"Hold onto love ...or it might let you go. Take not your faith for granted, it must be practiced to remain worthwhile. So, too, with love. In loving someone, you cannot admit it often enough." Hinata blushed as a memory of a blonde-haired boy replayed in her mind.

"Open your eyes 'cause what you don't see might be exactly what you're looking for." Tenten re-read it. When she read it for the 3rd time, the image of Neji popped to her mind. Tenten’s cheeks were faint pink at that time. She shook her head, trying to remove that blush. She didn’t know if the girls realized it. Probably they had. She’s been shaking her head like a dog for about a minute and a half, now!

And all of a sudden, like it was planned for, a song plays, which somehow hit Tenten

---

What am I feeling?

Now that in my mind you never seem to disappear,

Stunned, I don’t know what I’m going to do and...

What am I feeling?

Now that you’re here by my side,

Stunned, I don’t know what I’m going to do

Ooh…

---

Tenten listened to every word from that song. She was blushing crimson red when the song was through. Snapping back to reality, she realized that her friends left her. She was all alone in their table. Her cheeks reddened because of fury as she stomped towards them. They were giggling at the expression of her face. Tenten had her lips pouted, her cheeks were light pink, and her eyes were shiny as if she was going to cry any moment.

“What am I feeling?

Now that you’re here by my side,

Stunned, I don’t know what I’m going to do” Temari smirked at the now chibi Tenten, who was crying waterfall tears.

The four girls laughed at Tenten, which soon Tenten joined in. It was a nice day for Tenten and her friends. Tenten just wished she could laugh and joke with Neji just as she did with her friends.

TBC

---

Kazu: Yeah… I know it kinda sucks. I was writing while doing my assignments and projects and while taking a bite every now and then on my burger. Anyway, just so you know, the events in this fanfic is based on the experience of my close friend. But some events are fiction.

Belated Happy V-Day!!