[Thread] I'm Not That Girl [Naruto, Tenten] [Closed]

[heavenly_notes]

The sound coming out of Practice Room 1 that afternoon was manic. Tenten had always been taught that a musician could best argue with themselves via their music. Her fingers tumbled over the keys, stirring up feelings of I shouldn’t have and I must. Lately, she’d been an absolute Chinese Ninja in the two classes she shared with Naruto. Dodging in

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[orange_epiphone]

Every day that passed had Naruto feeling more and more that they should never have come back to the city. No matter where it turned, it seemed, things were blowing up in his face, and he was already struggling to keep his balance as it was. Sasuke was depressed, Obito wasn't there, he and Sakura were apparently up for some deeply ominous-sounding 'Talks', Obito wasn't there, and Tenten was...avoiding him.

Which was disturbing, hurtful, and incredibly puzzling.

He couldn't even put a finger on when things had gone down this path, let alone have a clue about why she was doing this; Tenten was sending him more mixed signals than even Sakura ever had, and he privately (so, so privately) thought that was a bit of an accomplishment. She didn't dislike him all of sudden - she was still warm, just distant, like the last rays of the sun stretching out for his face even as they sunk below the embrace of the horizon. It just didn't make sense."Afternoon..." Naruto's bare feet padded quietly on the wooden floor as he wandered into the

[heavenly_notes]

Tenten's stomach plunged somewhere into her knees, and she couldn't stop the sudden nervous tremble in her hands. He was late, but he was here. "Hi," she replied and at once wanted to smack herself in the forehead. You didn't start a potentially damaging talk with someone by starting with 'hi'. Oh well, it was already in the past, and the seconds were ticking away. Tenten straddled the piano bench and patted the spot in front of her.

Be direct. You can totally do this with as little pain possible, she told herself. Unconsciously, Tenten's hands clenched and unclenched in preparation. "Come and sit next to me." It will be easier for you to punch me in the forehead for being an idiot.

Now, to get past the banal pleasantries. Tenten bit her lip slightly, trying to think of how to say what she wanted to and not burst into useless, selfish tears.

[orange_epiphone]

"Sure." Naruto continued over, carefully leaning the case containing Ella (his newest musical acquisition, a slightly second-hand five-string bass) against the companionship of the piano before seating himself. He gave Tenten a thoughtful look, wondering if there was something he needed to say to get this rolling. If there was, he wished somebody would tell him. It was like everybody expected him to automatically just know what was going on, which totally wasn't fair. He got the feeling that Sakura was mildly annoyed with him about this, too, which was doubly frustrating.

He had no problems owning up to a fault, but he at least liked to know what it was first.

Sitting with the soles of his feet touching in the middle of the piano stool and his forearms resting lightly on his thighs, Naruto tried to give her a (hoepfully) encouraging look, tainted though it was by the wistfulness in his eyes. "So! What's up, darlin'?"

[heavenly_notes]

Tenten ran the tip of her tongue against her suddenly dry lips and took another deep breath. It shuddered her small frame. Now or never, she had to get it all out in one quick blast.

"You're going to have to forgive me, Naruto, first for being a totally nasty and selfish idiot and then because I was stupid and managed to fall in love with you. I am so, so, so, so sorry, I didn't want to, because, because of a lot of things and..." The stream of words was near rapid fire. There were so many more things to say, so many more. "But, after I talked it over with Sakura and she was awesome with it, let me tell you, I found out you were seeing Anko or something." Tenten hung her head and took another breath.

"And if you want to punch me in the forehead for being a total bitch, go for it," she finished. Tenten was afraid to look at Naruto, afraid of the confusion she might see there. Her stomach sloshed it's way into her foot.

[orange_epiphone]

He blinked at her in consternation as all the words settled into his brain, mouth half-open as if to speak but for once he'd managed to stop himself before realising he had no idea what he was saying. Tenten was in love with him?!?! When had that happened?! Why hadn't she said something?!

And why the hell would she assume he'd want to punch her?!

Naruto tried to rally his flailing wits in order to form a mildly-coherent sentence, but ended up with "You- wait, what?" instead. He shook his head slightly, a futile attempt to visually erase a verbal scribble, feeling incredibly guilty for not noticing this. He was such an idiot!!

(But a sad, realistic part of him pointed out that it wouldn't have done Tenten any good, anyway. He'd finally made his bed and worked up the courage to sleep in it.)