After what seemed like forever, I'm now back and steadily adding more chapters to my old stories! Hope you like!

Chapter 8 – Bittersweet Memories

Flashback

"Shikamaru, you like her too don't you?" Kiba said in a lower tone.

Shika instinctively shook his head. "No. Now shut up, Kiba before we both get in trouble again."

Kiba eyed him suspiciously. He's hiding something, I know it...

Shikamaru and Kiba

"Oh, Shikamaru! WHY?!" Kiba sobbed like a character from a soap opera.

"Kiba, I'm sorry. But seriously, shut. Up." Shikamaru growled. "I thought you were my friend. Now help me get ready. I don't want to disappoint Ino-chan."

"Oh, now you're calling her Ino-chan?!"

"It's what I called her years ago. Stop making a big deal out of it." Shika folded his arms and exhaled sharply.

"I can't get over the fact that you and my dear Ino are in love!" Kiba scowled.

"We're not in love," Shika huffed. "I just like her…I guess. I don't know how it all happened."

"So you're choosing to be with your childhood crush instead of your best friend?!"

"For the last time, she likes me. What am I supposed to do if I like her back, reject her just because my friend that she hates likes her?"

Kiba was too confused to respond.

"Exactly." Shika adjusted his hair band one last time and slapped Kiba on the back. "Thanks for helping, man," he said, his words dripping sarcasm.

"No problem."

Temari and Ino

"Goddamn it. I can't wear this!" Ino pouted, throwing her outfit onto the floor. "It reminds me of what I used to wear before….." She thought about crying but shook away the feeling. A jerk like Sasuke just wasn't worth crying over.

"But you look so sexy in it!" Temari said, trying to win Ino over. This, of course, didn't help Ino change her mind.

"That's the problem!! If guys think I'm sexy in this, and I'm with Shika-kun, they'll absolutely rip him apart!"

"No they won't. Trust me."

Ino had no choice but to trust Temari. It had been too long since she'd trusted anybody. She wasn't sure she could ever do it again. Temari would have to prove that she could be trusted.

At the dance

Temari, in the driver's seat of her sand-colored convertible, drove Ino and a couple of other people Ino didn't know right to the entrance of Konoha High's ballroom. Streamers in the school's colors—green and purple—were hung everywhere, and homemade banners covered every square inch of the walls.

Ino hardly payed attention. She was too busy texting someone. An old friend. Someone she hadn't spoken to in ages.

Temari parked the car, and Ino scurried out, not caring if she scuffed the $500 heels Temari had made her wear. She was too busy looking for someone. At that moment, she saw exactly who she wanted to see, exactly where she had hoped to see them.

"Ino!" Tenten, dressed in a simple red gown, waved to Ino from the steps.

Ino ran towards her old friend. "Tenten!" She embraced Tenten, laughing for the first time in ages. "I'm so glad you're here." She felt like all the old memories were coming back. It made her want to laugh and cry at the same time.

"I'm always here for you."

"But I thought you hated me." Ino was utterly confused.

"No. Neji-kun just hated you. He almost had me convinced that you were a total heart-breaking, slutty ice queen. That's exactly why we broke up." Tenten rolled her eyes as if it were no big deal.

"WHAT! No way." Ino felt tears coming out. "You broke up with him because of me?"

"Actually, he broke up with me because I was your friend. I pretended to hate you too, because I wanted him back. I tried to avoid you, but he would never talk to me again. And I realized that that was the biggest mistake in my life, not talking to you, because you didn't talk to me. Until now."

"Oh my god. And Neji—"

"—is in your fan club. I always knew he was a two-faced jerk. Don't feel bad Ino. I don't regret our breakup."

But Ino still couldn't shake the feeling that she had caused the cutest, most exclusive couple in Konoha to break up. If I caused Neji and Tenten's breakup, imagine how many other jerks ditched their girlfriends for me! I'll get back at them all someday.

"I feel horrible." Ino said. Tenten patted her shoulder. "Don't worry. It's all good. I'm pretty sure nobody hates you."

Just then Ino realized something important. She stared at Tenten's bright brown eyes. "Sakura," she whispered, and hot tears came again.

Tenten just nodded. "I understand. All I can say is…Sakura's not exactly fond of you. But hey," Tenten put a comforting hand on Ino's shoulder. "We can worry about that later. The dance is what's important right now! Go out and have fun with your new boooyfrieeend." She giggled.

Ino rolled her eyes and tried to smile. She saw Temari mouthing, "Let's go!" to her. She grabbed Tenten's hand and ran off to see her "acquaintance" and her "boyfriend."

But something didn't sit right with Ino. And the feeling inside her would never stop until certain things were taken care of.

Needless to say, the next chapter will be filled with a good helping of drama! I can hardly wait! ;)