Babysitted by the Uchiha Avenger

Chapter ELEVEN. DUNDUNDUN.

Shikamaru's mouth hung open as I muttered the words, "Check mate."

But hey, I guess he wasn't the only one. Sasuke, Naruto and Kiba were gawking at me too. There was a small silence where everyone kind of just stared at the chess board, then someone was hugging me from behind and laughing loudly.

"Whoa, Shika! She kicked your ass!" Kiba guffawed. I felt myself go red as I met Shikamaru's eye. He was red, too.

"Uh, sorry," I mumbled quickly. Naruto laughed. "Why are you apologizing? It's not your fault Shikamaru sucks at chess."

"Naruto, you can't even spell chess," Sasuke stated.

"SHUT UP, YOU BASTARD!"

"Then don't be an ass."

"I wasn't being an ass!"

"Yeah, you kind of were..." I sighed. "But I appreciate you supporting my win."

Everyone was silent again. Shikamaru's eyebrows raised, "Whoa. How did a girl like you end up on a date with Naruto of all goddam people? You're so..."

Sasuke's jaw was set. I felt myself go pinker than pink. "W-we're not on a date..."

Naruto shuffled closer to me. "Maybe we should make it a date!"

I blinked, "What."

"Yeah! So go fuck yourself with a cactus, Shika!"

Shikamaru laughed, all disappointment from losing gone. "Dude, it's not a date unless she actually agrees to be stuck with you for the night..."

"You saying she won't agree?"

"Let's fucking hope not," Sasuke sighed, resting his face on one palm. His posture was non-chalant, but for some reason, he seemed really pissed. I studied his face curiously.

Kiba tapped my shoulder. "Hey, would you help me get some more drinks for everybody?" He smiled.

I really liked Kiba's smile. It was so goofy and childish and innocent and genuine. He was startling puppy-like. I smiled right back.

"Of course."

He led me to the counter and rested against it. "What do you think? Hot chocolate?"

"You think Sasuke would drink someting that sweet?" I asked, doubtfully. Kiba chuckled.

"You'd be surprised, actually. And anyway, Ayame makes amazing hot chocolates, you've gotta try one."

He ordered one for each of us, plus two extra. I raised an eyebrow, "Just how much does Sasuke like this hot chocolate?"

Kiba burst out laughing, "Hell, you're funny. No, Ino and Hinata are due any minute." He smiled at the ground. "I wonder how they'll react when they see who's back..."

I sighed to myself. Sure, I wanted to meet Hinata and Ino, but...

I mean, how would they react? Badly? I didn't really want to find out.

I decided to turn the conversation around. "This may sound weird, but...you know, I always thought you and Hinata would make a cute couple."

Kiba's cheeks went red. "Wh—" He looked to me, then the ground, then the counter. My mouth fell open.

"You like her!"

"SHHHH. Sh." He glanced around before nodding slightly. I squealed.

"Does she know? Are you going out?"

Kiba chuckled at my eagerness. "No, no, she doesn't know. But I was going to ask her out tonight, actually...I've just built up the nerve."

I almost hugged him. "It's going to be so frickin cute, remember, she's shy, so—"

I stopped. WHOAWHOAWHOA. She liked Naruto, didn't she? Then she probably wouldn't...

"So...don't scare her! You know, don't pressure her." I finished, my face smiling outside, my heart breaking inside.

Poor Kiba.

He grinned. "Got it. Thanks, Luce."

Ayame put our (fucking awesome) hot chocolates on the counter. I tried to balance them in my arms when a timid voice piped up,

"D-do...you need help with that?"

I blinked, "Oh! Hinata!"