Waiting for a Yes [Modern!Neji x Reader]

PART 22

The weekend flies by way too fast for Neji. He isn't ready to head back to school, nor see [Name] smooching on Gaara.

He parks his car in the student parking lot and sits there. He watches his classmates enter the school in hordes, he even sees [Name] enter with Gaara.

When they disappear into the building, he smacks his head repeatedly against the steering wheel.

"Stupid, stupid, stupid," he chants. After the tenth or eleventh smack, he stops and let's the dull pain seep into his brain.

A knock comes to his car window, and his head pops up from the wheel. Standing there is his cousin. She waves at him with a small smile, and he rolls down the window so they can talk.

"What Hinata?" He grumbles, already annoyed.

If she asks one more time about my crush, I'm gonna kill her. He thinks as she's about to respond.

"Well, I talked to Tenten not too long ago," she starts. Before she can finish, Neji interrupts.

"What?! Why?!" he sputters. "I thought I told you to leave it alone!"

Hinata visibly deflates, making Neji feel a pang of guilt.

"I just wanted you to be happy," she says. The guilt grows in his chest and the cursed emotion wraps itself around his heart, squeezing painfully.

Neji sighs, allowing his hands to go through his long hair. "I'm sorry Hinata, I didn't mean to yell," he begins. "What did Tenten say?"

Hinata perks back up again. "She said she isn't dating anyone and she likes you too."

Time slowed to a stop for Neji. His heart sinks to his stomach, allowing the corrosive acid to eat the beating flesh.

"Wh-What?" his voice is barely a whisper. Hinata doesn't see his inner turmoil and smiles brightly. "I know! Isn't it great! You had nothing to fear all along!"

Neji turns off his car, and grabs his bag. When his darling cousin sees his blank stare, she becomes worried.

"Um, Neji?" She mumbles while moving out the way so he can open his car door. "Is there something wrong?"

Neji doesn't answer, instead he closes his car door and walks to the front of the school. Hinata follows after him, trying to rise any type of reaction out of him.

"Neji? Tenten wants to meet during gym class so she can talk to you," she informs. Neji feels his stomach clench and his lungs about to give out.

His chest is tight, making it hard for him to breath. His fingers twitched, and the only thought that runs through his brain is: What'll [Name] think about this?

...

Neji enters his math class to see [Name] waving him over. He looks around to make sure she is indeed pointing to him before walking over and sitting down in front of her.

The first thing that comes out of her mouth causes his heart to drop even further. "I didn't know you liked Tenten," she says with a smile.

He furrows his eyebrows and just nods his head. He wanted to scream that he has no interest in Tenten, and that all his love is for her, but he doesn't say it.

"I could've hooked you two up, and told you that she doesn't have a boyfriend. I mean, yeah, she hangs out with Lee all the time, but they're just friends," she drones on about how she could've helped them get together.

"Yeah," is all he says.

[Name] stops, and sees the metaphorical raincloud above his head. Identical to Hinata, she tilts her head and asks, "Is there something wrong?"

"No," comes his immediate answer. His voice is lifeless, almost as if he isn't excited to have the girl of his dreams in his arms.

"Are you dreading the talk?" She asks. Neji raises a quizzical eyebrow at her, wanting her to elaborate on what she means by "the talk".

[Name] gives a sheepish smile and says, "You know, the 'Are we gonna date or not?' talk."

Neji grunts and [Name] continues to talk. Even in the times of his depressive mood, Neji still loves to hear [Name] speak. Her voice is comparable to a song, slow and mellow sounding. He remembers that jazzy sounding music is one of her favorite genres, and he finds it amusing that her voice nearly mimics it.

"So, don't worry," she concludes. It's then that Neji realizes that he's only been listening to the sound of her voice, instead of the words that roll off her tongue. "Tenten is really excited that the Neji Hyuga has a crush on her, and she really likes you too."

Their eyes meet for a moment, and [Name] sees the anguish that swirls in his lavender tinted eyes. Unconsciously, she gives him an apologetic smile, almost as if she's apologizing for something she has done unknowingly.

"You'll be fine."

...

A/N: It's shorter than usual, but I don't know how to make it long without fucking it up. SO thank you for reading, and (for those that have commented and voted) thank you for commenting and voting. I appreciate it.

Love you buh bai!!!