Disclaimer: Don't own anything.

Her Troublesome Ways

Chapter 12

"Shikamaru. I'm eating." Of course. "But I'll listen. What did you say?"

Shikamaru can still hear chips munching. "I said, I might be in love with this girl."

Then he heard Chouji choked. "What? You? In love?"

"Yes, Chouji. Now I am only telling you this because you're my bestfriend and I need your help," Shikamaru sighed. "And because I know you're not going to tell Ino."

He heard the chewing and munching stop. "I thought Ino's the girl? Since you know, you guys are dating."

Taking a seat on the corner of his bed, he tried to explain it to Chouji. "Well, that's where the helping part comes in. You see, she's… uh, well," Shikamaru paused. He was actually feeling nervous for the first time ever. He trusts Chouji. But the words won't exactly come out of his mouth. What if someone realizes it? What if somebody already suspected something? Thoughts started filling his head. Suddenly, he couldn't continue talking anymore.

"Shikamaru." Chouji interrupted. "You can always tell me everything. We trust each other, alright?" He reminded him.

He smiled to himself. He actually picked a really good bestfriend. "Thanks Chouji." He inhaled before continuing. "The girl's… Temari."

There was silence.

"Temari-sensei?" Chouji was the one who spoke up first.

"Yes."

"How?"

"I don't know. It just, kinda went in my brain, you know?" Shikamaru groaned. This is so hard to explain. Her voice was bugging him. Can Chouji really get that? Her face was flickering every once in a while in his head. God, he must've gone insane. "I just started to realize that I love her. And I don't know why, Chouji. I just freaking saw her on Monday. That's impossible right? You can't possibly love someone that you knew for 6, 5 days right? Maybe I've just gone crazy. Or maybe it was the food that I ate with her! Yeah – "

"You ate together and you didn't even tell me?"

"That's not the point. It's just that – "

"You ate and you didn't even tell me?" Chouji once again said, emphasizing the ate and didn't.

"Okay, okay. We're going to Sasaki's tomorrow." Shikamaru offered. "My treat."

"Alright!" He said happily. "But you know, stuff like that happens Shikamaru. Sometimes it's just meant to be."

"So you're saying I'm meant to be with her? That's my destiny?" He lay down on the bed, remembering what Temari said tonight.

I think fate or whatever's fucking with us.

I think it actually is. He thought to himself.

"You're the one who's responsible choosing your own destiny, Shikamaru." Chouji said. "Think about what's the right thing to do.

The right thing to do. He gripped the phone til his knuckles turned white. He closed his eyes, and tried to think. Temari was still stuck in his head. But Ino was too. He was with her just because he doesn't want Ino to get hurt when he rejects her. In short, he pitied her. Even he was stupid to do that. Temari was right. She will just get hurt if he started loving someone else.

"Even from the start, it was not the right thing."

It never was.

"You love him." Matsuri cooed.

No. No. No. No. No. HELL TO THE FUCKING NO. "Never." Temari was on the couch, eating the last of Gaara's chocolate ice cream while watching reruns of Family Guy. His brothers left an hour ago, after driving her home. "He's a fucking kid."

"So?"

"He's lazy." She said, harshly.

"So?"

She rolled her eyes. After she told Matsuri what happened in the restaurant with Shikamaru, she just started blabbing about how she's supposed to be in love with him, blah blah blah. "As if that would happen."

"What?"

"Us. Me and my student." She gagged at the thought. Ew.

"Temari. You're so dense."

"What?" She yelled at the phone. Nobody calls her dense. First, she's not stupid. Second, she's a fucking strong woman and could take out anyone who calls her dense. Third, she's the fucking heiress of Suna's biggest company, for God's sake. Well, was. But still, who the hell dared to insult her?

"You are so jealous." Matsuri giggled. Jealous about what?

"Huh?"

"You were yapping about it a while ago. Ino, was it?" Her eyes widened. She did not tell Matsuri she was jealous about Ino, did she?

"…"

"I suggest you tell him."

"Are you out of your mind? He'll think I'm a fucking cougar." Her face turned into a disgusted expression when she thought about how Shikamaru will handle it. "He'll think I'm weird. He's not going to talk to me ever again."

"See? The thought of him hating you bothered you, right? You wanna see him and be with him, even though you know it's just not right." She paused. "That's how you tell its love."

Temari was speechless. She had read her mind. How does she know all these love stuff? She's 2 years older than her. Wasn't she supposed to have more experience? "But, I'm older!" She tried to argue again.

"Oh God, Temari. Stop denying the fact that you love him."

"I am not denying things. I am just stating what is obvious." She crossed her legs. "It just can't happen. It's too wrong."

"Nothing's too wrong with love." Matsuri simply stated.

"Monday mornings is such a rush." Temari sighed as she got out of bed. She stared at nothing for another 3 minutes, while sitting on the bed. She was wearing a big t-shirt that Kankuro received as a gift from one of her girlfriends. He said it was too small for him and gave it to Temari. He could've given it to Gaara but when he saw what the shirt says, he silently shook his head. Suck for a Buck?* Temari herself thought it was really funny and Kankuro would've keep it, but it was 2 sizes small for him. She's still wondering up until now why the girl doesn't know Kankuro's right shirt size. Temari stood up walking – well, dragging her feet – to the bathroom as she opened the sink and grabbed her toothbrush, her eyes still half open. She was watching a movie last night called a walk to remember and much to her surprise, she actually liked all those girly love stuff. She even cried in the end. Matsuri was the one who suggested it and told her that she might learn something. Like she doesn't know stuff already, sheesh. Closing the faucet, she walked back in her room, grabbing a gray skirt, purple horizontal-striped shirt and a black cardigan, and paired it up with black tights. All she has to do now was eat breakfast. But her thoughts of having a good breakfast was replaced with thoughts of irritation and haste as she glanced at her clock which says 7:57 a.m. Groaning, Temari grabbed her black heels and rushed to open her apartment door. I'll just have to stop by coffee later on.

She arrived at school just before the bell rings. A contented expression displayed on her face as she entered the teacher's lounge. "Morning." She said, nodding at no one but knowing that everyone heard her.

"Morning, Temari-chan." Anko said, a woman who has light brown eyes and dyed purple hair. Why? Temari always asks herself everytime she sees Anko's purple locks. It was a good color. Not for your own hair. "Did you get 4-A's attendance sheet yet?"

Cocking her head to the side, she remembered that she was the one who's going to be responsible for Shikamaru's class until Yamato comes back. She was actually pretty excited last time, but after conversing with Matsuri about the whole issue, not anymore. "No." She simply said. "Yamato-san's not back yet?"

"Probably not for another week." Anko shrugged. "I heard it was a really serious matter."

"Hm." She walked over to her small desk and put her things on the corner table. "Where are the sheets?"

"Over there." She pointed at Yamato's empty desk.

"Thank you." She grabbed the papers and walked out of the door, pacing slowly to the classroom. She heard voices and laughter 2 doors down and suddenly felt anxious.

As she opened the classroom door, everybody turned silent, looking at her. The first person her eyes landed on was Ino who was sitting on Shikamaru's desk, her hands brushing his jet black hair that was tied up into a ponytail, yet again. She felt a small squeeze in her chest as she walked to the front desk, eyes away from the two of them. Looking back at Ino, she tried to say in her own normal voice, "Please no PDA in the classroom." The blonde girl huffed and leaned in to kiss him quickly on his cheeks before walking back to her seat. "I said, no PDA." She almost hissed at the blonde girl.

"Yes, sensei." She sat down, still glancing at Shikamaru who was now watching the clouds. He looked bored as usual. His features were actually hard – like a man. She turned around, blushing as she realized what she thought about him. She was looking at him in a whole new point of view now. She was looking at him like he was a man. Which he is. No. Scratch that. Not yet.

"Knowing that Yamato isn't here, I'm going to be your adviser for the time being. You all know my name already so no need for introductions." She told the whole class. There were looks of relief, disbelief and some other she couldn't quite figure out what. "Take your reading books out and turn to page 57. Read the first paragraph silently then we'll read the rest."

Everybody took their books out and started reading. She sat down crossing her legs as she herself read her own book. She actually borrowed this one from Kakashi since he was telling everyone that it was a good read. Anko, Genma and her was the only people who have actually taken an interest in it. It was smutty but well, she's 20. She can read whatever she wants.

"Sensei." She looked up at Shikamaru who was lowering his eyes as her glance met his. Stupid idiot. Now he wouldn't even look at me. "We're all done."

She nodded at him and his attention was turned back to the book. "Inuzuka, Kiba. You read the second paragraph." She opened her own book now, "Except the 'A nod was the answer.'"

"Mr. Lockwood, your new tenant, sir. I do myself the honour of calling as soon as possible after my arrival, to express the hope that I have not inconvenienced you by my perseverance in soliciting the occupation of Thrushcross Grange: I heard yesterday you had had some thoughts – "

"Yamanaka." She glowered at the name. "Ino."

"Thrushcross Grange is my own, sir, he interrupted, wincing. I should not allow any one to inconvenience me, if I could hinder it - walk in!"

The class continued, everyone getting each of their paragraphs until they heard the bell ring, signaling for the second subject to begin.

"What are you going to do?" Chouji asked Shikamaru out of nowhere during P.E. class on Wednesday. Both of them hated the subject, so instead of participating, here they are cloud gazing. Chouji eating his barbecue flavored chips, of course.

"I don't know." Shikamaru knows perfectly well what he was talking about. "I can't even look at her in the eyes, now."

"Maybe you should go talk to her." Chouji chewed, "It'll probably help you overcome that nervousness of yours."

Shikamaru didn't respond. He was thinking about what to tell her and how.

As the other subjects passed like a blur, Shikamaru steadied his pace as he reached the rooftop. Opening the door, he quietly walked to his spot waiting for Temari. He sat down, looking up at the sky, but thinking about her. As soon as he heard the door handle creaked, he shot up, turning around to face the person that was entering the little garden on the rooftop.

She looked up at him, something in her eyes – he couldn't determine what – as she walked to one of the plant boxes, checking the flowers that they planted there, about a week ago. "I thought I said I can handle this?" She said, still not looking at him.

"I wanted to talk, actually." He mumbled, slowly walking to the chairs where they first ate lunch together. He missed those days, when they can actually converse without being awkward. Now that he realized that he has feelings for her, he probably couldn't talk to her without that uncomfortable silence.

"About what?" Temari didn't move or bulged. She was still looking at the seeds. But actually thinking about how she can get away from this situation. Wow. How unlikely of me, actually wanting to get out of a situation and it's not even a fight – nor deadly. What did this boy do to her?

"Temari." He breathed. Why the hell does he look like he's going to faint?

"Yes?"

Shikamaru looked away as a blush appeared on his cheeks. What the hell is he doing? And again, WHY? Chouji's fault.

Go walk over to her.

Why?

Just listen to me.

Sometimes I wonder if my Mother gave birth to me normally.

Shikamaru walked over to where she was standing, leaning against the boxes like what he told him to do.

"Yes?" She looked up at him, now. She furrowed her eyebrows in confusion as she looked intently at him, figuring him out.

He looked away, once more, feeling another stupid annoying un-Shikamaru-like blush.

Stop being such a coward and look at her.

He did.

Now, tell her what you truly feel.

He exhaled and inhaled a couple of times.

"Stop hyperventilating, Nara and tell me what's wrong with you."

Haha! She thought you were hyperventilating!

I actually was.

Wow. You really are scared.

No shit. She's a teacher!

Quit being a baby and tell her!

"Temari," He breathed. "I think I might have feelings for you."

Temari froze. He what?

A/N:

Ok, I don't actually have a good excuse for updating so late except for the fact that my school kills me.

I'm really really sorry; you cannot imagine the regret I am feeling right now. -_-

*I actually saw a person wearing that shirt. It was so funny that I had to write about it.

The book they were reading is Withering Heights, by the way. By Emily Bronte. Not mine. Or yours. It's hers.

Again, I'm sorry for being so late and grammatical errors.

Because of too much homeworks and projects, I can't even write a paragraph.

I'm actually thinking of discontinuing it but at the same time, I'd hate to do that.

I'm sorry if you hate the chapter, or anything. I was just really tired when I wrote this.

Gah, here I go again with my lame excuses.

I'm really seriously sorry! :( & I'll try to write the next soon!