Nerdy

Twelve

(Name) was in the library again after school. This time, not only for reading, but to get back something she had forgotten.

"Konan-sensei" she said to the librarian.

The librarian looked up from the record book at (Name) and raised an eyebrow as if asking her to continue.

"I forgot my pencil here today morning." said (Name).

Konan-sensei took out a box from under her desk. It was labeled 'Lost Items.' She kept it before (Name). (Name) looked through its contents, but could find her pencil. She returned the box the the librarian and went to her table. If she could not find her pencil, she could always get another one. It wasn't like her anyway to be obsessed about silly things like pencils.

(Name) took her usual book and started reading. She looked around her for any signs of a certain person she hated. Luckily and surprisingly, there were none. But she didn't fail to notice a ball of bright blonde sneaking up on her.

"Hey, (Name)." said Naruto, quickly sitting across (Name).

"Uzumaki Naruto." said (Name), and looked at him.

A hyperactive, happy-go-lucky, clumsy kid who was always a mess - this was what (Name) thought of Naruto. But what she saw in front of her was a very frustrated person, almost ready to pull his hair out.

Naruto was very fidgety. He was so irritated that he kept tapping his foot continuously and ruffled his hair regularly.

"I can see something is troubling you, but that does not concern me so I won't ask." said (Name), noticing Naruto's strange behavior.

Naruto banged on the desk, reaching the limits of his patience - not that he had very much. Everyone looked at Naruto. The librarian shot him a glare like a warning. 'Do this again, and I'll throw you out.' Well, being himself, Naruto was not one to be in the librarian's good books.

Naruto sat back down. His posture was terrible. He was muttering curses under his breath.

"(Name), how - just how do you do it ?" he whispered loudly and leaned across the table putting his face between (Name)'s face and her book.

She made a sour face and leaned back.

"Do what ?" she asked, pushing her glasses up her nose.

"Handle Sasuke, I mean. He's such a handful." complained Naruto, backing away.

"Ah, look who's talking." said (Name).

She closed her book and kept it in front of her. She leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms in front of her chest and examined Naruto from top to bottom. He was messier than usual. (Name) wasn't particular about cleanliness, but she disliked messy things.

Naruto angrily banged his fist on the desk - somehow, this time, it didn't make that much of noise - and leaned ahead again, glaring at (Name) in a threatening way.

"What ?" she asked nonchalantly.

"You're pissing me off." he hissed.

(Name) scoffed.

"Are you stupid ? You're the one who approached me." she said, raising her eyebrows at the weird creature in front of her.

"You're supposed to be nice to me." whined Naruto, still glaring at (Name).

"Oh, and why ?"

"....I don't know." said Naruto after giving it some thought, "I thought you would be.

"...."

Looking at him, for some reason (Name) was reminded of a helpless little pup. She remembered how he had come all the way to her house just to check if she was alright. It wouldn't hurt to just listen to him.

"Alright." said (Name), "I don't know about being 'nice', but I can hear you out."

"Sakura always keeps blabbering about Sasuke. What's so good about him ? I don't see it."

"Sakura ? You mean Haruno Sakura ? That pink-haired girl ?" asked (Name).

Naruto nodded earnestly.

"So you like her ?"

Again, Naruto nodded.

"But she likes somebody else, right ? Then, you should confront her. I thought you had a problem with Uchiha Sasuke." stated (Name).

"Well, yes, I do ! I know as a fact that he would never touch Sakura because he knows I like her, but he's been ruder than usual today."

(Name) stared at Naruto. Why was he approaching her, of all people ? Were they close enough for him to be sharing his problems with her ? Did he think she knew him and his friends well enough to help him out ?

"... I'm sorry, I can't fix that philanderer's attitude." said (Name), sighing dramatically.

"Hahaha !!"

Naruto started laughing uncontrollably. But his laughter ceased when he sensed a deadly presence behind (Name).

"... A philanderer, eh ?" said Sasuke, in a venomous tone.

Sasuke tried his best to not go to (Name). Even in a big school like Konoha, it was not hard to find someone like (Name). The number of places where she hung out were quite limited. After being around her for so many weeks, he had made a habit out of it and was having a hard time avoiding her. Knowing (Name), she probably hadn't even noticed him not being there. He had to make her notice him. But how ?

One way was hanging out with Naruto like the old days. But he had not seen Naruto the entire time, and his phone was also not reachable. It was surprising, because Naruto usually answered his calls even before one ring. After asking around, Sasuke learnt that Naruto was last seen entering the library.

Naruto's once uncontrollable laughter now turned into nervous giggles. (Name) turned behind as well.

"Oh, and I was almost celebrating my freedom from the annoying Uchiha Sasuke." she said.

Sasuke, in return, did not even look at (Name) - let alone, reply - and proceeded to speak to Naruto.

"I looked for you everywhere. Where's your phone ?" asked Sasuke.

(Name) raised a brow at being ignored. She picked her book and began reading where she had left.

Naruto ruffled his hair again.

"The battery died." said Naruto, feeling guilty under Sasuke's harsh glare even though it wasn't really his fault.

Sasuke exhaled loudly.

"Let's go." said Sasuke.

Naruto hesitated.

"Nah. I guess I'll hang around for a while." said Naruto.

"Hn. The library doesn't suit you." said Sasuke, and left.

(Name) did not even try to hide her smirk. Naruto stuck his tongue out at Sasuke's back. Even while reading, (Name) could not help listening in on the conversation, and Naruto had just rejected Sasuke - for whatever reason - and that was really amusing to her.

(Name) turned and saw Sasuke leave. He walked as he usually did - hands in his pockets, slightly slouching, with not very fast steps. To one, it seemed as if he almost dragged his feet. He already had his bag loosely hanging on one shoulder with the other strap hanging loose. Even though (Name) just saw his back, something told her he was frowning deeply and glaring.

Sasuke had not failed to noticed that smirk on (Name)'s face. As he walked, he felt her eyes on him. But that wasn't the kind of attention he wanted. She was just making fun of him. As Sasuke stepped out of the library and was sure (Name) could not see him anymore, he leaned on the wall and sighed deeply.

Well, at least he had managed to ignore her like other girls. Instead of being cold to (Name), Sasuke had been cold to everyone but her. He could only be cold to her if he met her, and he wasn't as stupid as to hope (Name) coming to him. It didn't make sense even if he approached her. You don't approach someone to be mean to them. So he thought that even though Naruto had angered him by refusing to along, in a way, he had helped Sasuke show (Name) if only a little of his usual self.