Bite The Bullet

11

AN: Longest chapter yet. Who's feeling it? Dedicated to NC_Mary for kind of instigating the publishing of this chapter sooner by leaving a comment. Thank you and I hope you enjoy this!

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Attention. The regarding of someone or something as interesting and important. Taking notice of something or someone. If it were anything else, literally ANYTHING ELSE, you would have given into it without resistance. You get it – it's inevitable to draw attention; you can't hide away from people's eyes forever, and by expanding past your carelessly built loner persona as well as overestimating yourself, you can blame only yourself for it. You've made a friend, two if you count he who calls you a little girl (and you don't). You've made an enemy, two if you feel like considering she who bullies and she who glosses. You've joined a club, two if you count the room in which you're exposed to ignorance. You've proved yourself 'worthy' – for lack of a better word – to a teacher, two if you count a ruthless bastard. People know your name. People assume your story. People people people.

But is it that easy? To accept the inevitable; to embrace the losing title and drop your resistance? You're beginning to open up to one or two people, and it doesn't seem as outrageous as you once thought you did. Maybe it was you who was being outrageous. Maybe you....

Lesson Of the Month: You haven't written one in two, actually, because you're content now. Relax and enjoy the attention. Baby steps. You'll get there and hopefullyhopefullyHOPEFULLY won't regret it.

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Now that I'm trying to accept attention – not bask in it – I've been noticing the little things. Here's a list:

(1) People either hate Sakura with a passion, or fiercely love her. It's a conundrum I can't solve, so I've come to accept it (I've been doing a lot of that lately). If you're wondering; I'm nowhere near close to hating her.

(2) People are attracted to Sasuke. He's like a magnet and we're all pieces of metal, anxiously waiting for him to turn to us and pull us in with his charm. The thing is, I don't like him like that, but I'm not going to not admit that he's annoying.

(3) Nori Tanaka likes Hinata. More about this later.

(4) Sasori has caramel eyes with flecks of amber in them. I mean, who ever said only women could be called pretty needs to meet him, have a staring competition with him (I'm obliged to say he won, that jerk) and appreciate his prettiness.

(5) I believe that when he gets speechless/surprised, he moves past his only two expressions (boredom-amusement) and settles on a cold, calculating look that no word can do justice. I didn't regret calling him pretty and receiving it.

(6) Noriko Tanaka has been trying to mess with me. Shall not be addressed for self stubbornish reasons.

(7) Kakashi-sensei has been fawning lately, and I wouldn't be permitting myself to wonder why if I hadn't broken the surface and started accepting things. It's ominous.

(8) Ino wants to sleepover. It's as if she sniffed out my turning-a-new-leaf attitude. She invited Sakura too. I don't know whether they're more friends than enemies, or more enemies than friends. But hey; you know what they say – keep your friends close and your frenemies out of closure.

(9) Naruto is making a bucket list. I'm helping. So far, he plans to score the most goals in his football games, woo Sakura, steal Kakashi-sensei's books, get a strand of Madara-sensei's hair, expose Ebisu-sensei (I didn't ask), and get a tattoo on his stomach. Gutsy and stupid.