Waiting for a Yes [Modern!Neji x Reader]

PART 27

"I love... Gaara," [Name] says, with a raised eyebrow. The tone is clearly uncertain, the words shaky and dragged out. There's a pause, and it's full of tension.

Finally, Matsuri scoffs. "What's with the hesitation? You love him or not?"

[Name] shifts uncomfortably under the intense gaze of her interrogators. "I just said I love him, what are you getting at Matsuri?"

[Name] never had any bad blood between Matsuri before, so the snide and condescending hiss in her voice sets off the blaring alarms in [Name's] head. Though she pushes it all away, believing it's her overactive, excited brain that's causing the nervousness.

Sari gives a dismissive snort and a roll of her eyes. "You're obviously lying. You've been dating for a couple of weeks now, right? Love doesn't bloom that fast."

"Yeah, it takes months, even years, to build a solid foundation of your true love!" Matsuri adds on with a dreamy look in her eyes.

"Look," [Name] huffs. "Can we move on from my boyfriend? He's not even here. It's rude to talk about someone who isn't here."

"You came to a party without your boyfriend?" Sari raises an eyebrow at [Name]. "Won't he think you're cheating?"

[Name's] mood turns sour. She feels her face muscles tense, showing how disinterested and tiring this conversation has become. With a curt shrug, she says, "Gaara has complete and utter trust in me. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'll be going."

She stands and briskly leaves the room. Neji watches and scrambles to his feet to chase after her. Once he's caught up to her, he grabs her arm and spins her around.

"Hey, you okay?" He speaks softly, but loud enough, so the music doesn't drown out his voice. [Name] gives him a nod, but her stern expression from before melted away into something bitter and forlorn.

"Why would they say something like that?" [Name] mumbles. "They were really rude, and---I don't know why their words got to me like that."

Neji shakes his head. "Your reaction was valid. I would've said the same thing. Heh, most people would've probably attacked them. And also they're questions were so out of line! Who asks another person if their affections for their significant other is fake?! I mean---"

It's at this point Neji realizes he's rambling and shuts his mouth. He glances at [Name] to see her smile, her eyes holding a gentle warmth. She giggles, leaning her head on his shoulder for a brief moment. "Thanks, Neji, you really cheered me up."

His mood skyrockets and explodes like fireworks. He made her happy. He did. Not anyone else.

"It's no problem," he says. "A girl as pretty as you should never be unhappy."

This makes [Name] burst into giggles. "A girl as pretty as me? Did someone spike your drink Neji?"

 Neji laughs along with her, although his words held some sincerity in them.  He never wants to see [Name] upset. "I hope so. This party is a little lame."

[Name] scoffs. "Yeah, and loud. Let's head outside."

Neji nods, following [Name] back down into the fray of teenage bodies, grinding, partying, and drinking. [Name] finds the backdoor, which leads to a pool filled with people. The music which pounded in their ears before becomes muffled by the walls and the gentle wind.

They both have the same idea and slip off their shoes to stick their feet in. They sit close together, thighs, and shoulders touching. It does nothing for [Name], but Neji is on cloud nine.

"So, why didn't Gaara come?" Neji asks, starting a conversation with her like usual.

[Name] shrugs, sipping the drink in her hands. "Well, he said that Matsuri and Sari freak him out. I see why now."

He chuckles. "Yeah, they're obsessed with your boyfriend."

The word physically hurts Neji, but at some point, he has to admit that Gaara and [Name] are still in a relationship despite him praying to any deity for them to break up.

"Yeah, I see that." [Name] slouches to bring her hand to the water. The breeze whips up small waves that touch her fingertips. "Did Tenten come?"

He nods, watching two people splash each other on the other side of the pool. "I saw her earlier. Don't know where she went."

"I thought as her boyfriend, you'd be more worried," [Name] quips with a smirk. "You don't even look bothered."

"Tenten can handle herself."

She looks up, spotting a couple kiss sloppily, hands touching everywhere, and she wants to yell at them to get a room, but she doesn't. Instead, she points it out to Neji. "Look at them. So gross."

Neji looks in the direction she's pointing and grimaces. "I am not a fan of PDA, but Tenten is. I wish I could explain it to her, but I feel like I can't tell her anything."

[Name] gapes, looking at Neji with disbelief in her eyes. "You two are having couple troubles already?"

Neji scoffs and kicks up some water. "Like you and Gaara don't have problems."

"I mean, we disagree, but we always confide in one another." [Name] kicks some water back at him. "You, on the other hand, are literally telling me that you can't tell your girlfriend, someone you love, that you don't like something."

He doesn't know if it was the fact that he's so comfortable around [Name], or if perhaps someone did spike his drink, but Neji says, "I don't love her."

[Name] perks up at this. "You what?"

Neji isn't one to back down or retract his statements, so he repeats it. He looks [Name] in the eyes and says, "I'm not in love with your best friend. I like her, yes, but now that I'm with her, she's too much. I committed before ever getting to know her. I just don't want to break her heart. I don't want her to think I used her because I didn't. It was just a silly crush now that I think about it. I admire her, but I don't love her."

Most people would freak out if someone told them this, especially if it was about a close friend. But [Name] was never one to be irrational and blow up due to emotions. [Name] nodded and sighed, "I understand, Neji."

He combs through his long hair with his fingers and looks up at the stars in the sky. "I wanted to go slow with her so that maybe I could fall in love with her, but she went so fast. She was so happy to be with me. I think she even asked to have sex not too long ago."

He shudders at the idea, now gazing at his lap. [Name] pats his thigh, reassuring him that it's okay. "We're teenagers, anyways! Our brains won't be fully developed until we're in our late twenties. Until then, we'll be making so many mistakes, and strong emotions like infatuation will cause us to do stupid stuff. I get it Neji, it's okay."

Giving his thigh a squeeze, [Name] continues, "With that being said, Tenten is a sensitive girl. Strong-willed, but will crack easily with too much emotional pressure. So please, Neji, please let her down gently. Explain to her like you explained to me."

Maybe because he felt comfortable around her, or maybe someone really did spike the punch, but Neji takes one glimpse of her lips and leans in.

...

A/N: whoops, I did it again!
I completely forgot this story existed!