A/N: Hello, everyone. Yes, I'm updating. I know, I know. You've taken too long, you'll say. I've lost interest, you'll say. I'm sorry. Over the summer, I didn't have time, and then my computer broke. That, coupled with school and writers block has really set me back a little bit. I've had to deal with a lot of drama surrounding me and my best friend (for those of you who remember, the guy I liked), so that's kept me from writing. And then I've had tons of homework, and lots of church stuff, and drama from other friends... It's been hectic. But now that I'm done with all of my excused, I hope you'll enjoy. Chaper Four, of Ignoring Ino, has been posted. Love ya!
I sighed, holding my warm coffee mug closer to my body for warmth.
The power in our dorm went out during a snowstorm, and it's been off all day. Every student was advised to stay in the dorm rooms. Of course, the administrators had to leave their rooms to come and tell us that.
We were all living on battery powered everything. Sakura made coffee from the maker, and then left to go to Shikamaru's room. I stayed in my room, mostly because I hate snow. Rain and I are perfectly fine, you know?
But snow? Nu-uh. Ew. Ain't happening.
So unless someone comes to me, I'm good drinking coffee and reading.
Man, I really hope someone comes to my rescue here. I've resorted to reading the university newspaper.
Almost as if someone could read my mind, a knock came from the door. I jumped up, praying that it was Lee. With every step it took to get to the door, his name repeated itself.
Lee.
Lee.
Lee.
Lee.
Lee.
LEE.
I pulled open the door, smile plastered on my face, dying to see the familiar green jacket and black hair. I could almost smell him, and for a second, thought I saw him standing there, looking back at me.
"Hey Ino," Choji said. "I didn't really feel comfortable sitting the dorm with Sakura and Shikamaru, and she said you'd be here. So I came up."
Thanks a lot, Sakura. "Yeah. I'm here." Stating the obvious, much?
Choji looked uncomfortable standing in the doorway, so I stepped aside to let him in. He stood there for a second, looking at me with a confused look on his face. I rolled my eyes, guessing that he didn't understand I was inviting him in. He could be so dense sometimes.
"That means, come in Choji. I need company." He let out a small 'Oh,' and came in. I went over to the couch, and motioned for him to come and sit down next to me. He shut the door, and came over.
"So, what have you been up to all day?" Choji asked, looking for a conversation starter.
"Reading." If he didn't believe me, all it took was one look at Sakura's disheveled bookcase to realize I wasn't lying. All of the books had gaps from one to the other, and there were books lying on the floor. I didn't have a huge bookcase like hers of my own; mine was a few shelves on my desk of books that I loved. I had asked her why she had taken so many books to college, and not just the ones she really liked.
Her response? "Ino, these are the books I really like. I left tons of them at home."
I believed her.
"Seems like you've been bored, then," Choji responded, trying to make it sound like a joke.
"Poking fun at my intelligence, are we?"
"Maybe."
I shot him a patented Ino Glare, and he just laughed. I gave him a small punch in the arm, and found myself laughing, too. Even if he wasn't whom I wanted to see, Choji could pick my spirits up easily.
We started talking about the weather, which led to why I hated snow.
"Ino, you used to like in Kumogakure. They live to suffer the elements."
"But not snow. It would rain, but not snow."
"Snow is just colder than rain."
"Exactly."
He could tell that I wasn't going to give up my position on hating snow. It's not easy to give up. A hate of snow just couldn't be released after one measly conversation.
"So…"
"So," I said in response. I kind of wished I hadn't let the mug in my room so I could take a sip of something while we sat here. It was rude just to get up and walk out of a room, leaving someone alone as you got your coffee. They didn't know where you were going, and even if you told them, it would still be kind of awkward just to sit in someone else's living room by yourself. In the cold. Because of the snow.
Stupid snow.
I curled up against the armrest; also wishing I had had a blanket lying around. Choji must have noticed my futile efforts to get warm, as he looked over at me with a quizzical glance.
"What, you haven't seen a girl try and stay warm before?"
"Not when she could just get up and get a blanket or something," he responded as if it was obvious.
"It would be rude to just leave you here alone for more than a minute."
"It takes you that long to find a blanket?"
"Hey, I have to dig through layers and layers of junk to find one," I stated.
He just laughed. "Look, it wouldn't be rude."
"Yes, it would," I interrupted, much to his annoyance.
"Not any more rude than making out in the living room while someone is sitting there," Choji said, referring to Sakura and Shikamaru. Or at least, I thought he was. You never know who makes out in living rooms.
"Those darn love birds. Always ruining the couches." I snapped my fingers as though I was disappointed, and he laughed.
Which made me start to laugh, as well. Hey, what can I say? Laughter is infectious.
It was at that precise moment that a knock came at the door. I quickly excused myself, foolishly thinking that Sakura had just left her key.
Aha, yeah right. Like Ms. Genius would EVER forget her key.
I pulled open the door, and came face to face with Lee. My eyes grew a little bigger than usual. I hadn't expected to see him. Not that I was doing anything wrong, it was just. Well… We had gotten in a fight recently.
He was holding flowers.
"Hey, Ino. I was just- Oh. Hey, Choji."
Crap. Shit. Shitshitshit. Damn.
A few weeks ago, I had been talking to Lee, and he so graciously pointed out that I had been spending a lot of time with Choji recently. So what? I had asked. Choji and I were friends; I had a right to spend time with him. There was no reason that I should be kept away from friends.
True, he had responded. But just because I thought we were friends doesn't mean Choji felt the same way. He didn't feel comfortable knowing that I could be hanging around with someone who could possibly ruin our relationship. Choji might try to brainwash you, he had said. He might try and convince you I was cheating, or I was going to hurt you. Yeah right, I had responded. Choji was my best friend. He would NEVER do a thing like that.
Lee had gotten angry and told me that I didn't know what I was talking about. That I was just being stupid and naïve. He told me that maybe I was spending so much time with the fatty because I liked him.
I had ended the conversation at that, fuming over what Lee had said and the fact that he had just called my best friend a fatty. Sure, Choji was overweight. But that didn't give Lee the right to use such a derogatory term. We hadn't spoken since.
I talked to Sakura that night, and she had told me that Lee was a very jealous person. She had broken up with him because he had gotten jealous that she and Naruto were going to see a movie with some friends. When she had used to defense that he hung out with Tenten a lot, Lee had just said it was a different story. According to Lee, he was trustworthy whereas Sakura had been known to cheat.
Sakura just about slapped him in his face, she had said. I could just imagine all of her pent up rage and strength making him fly through a wall or something. It had brought a smile to my face that night. Sakura said that she had gotten it over with and broke up with him. She had one piece of advice: "It's hard for jealous people to get over their jealousy, Ino." I understood it's meaning fully.
But, here Lee was. Apologizing, or at least trying too.
"Hey, Lee," I said, smiling at him.
He glanced once again at Choji, who was watching with a puzzled expression. "Can I talk to you? Outside?"
I nodded, knowing where this was going. I could feel my legs tremble as I walked, dreading what was coming next. My insides were tight, tense, waiting for him to say it.
"Ino," he said, taking my hand. Of course. He just had to try and be the nice guy. "Ino, darling, you know that I like you. I like you a lot."
I just nodded, hoping that I didn't give anything away. Hoping that I didn't start crying before anything got out of him.
"But I just don't know if this is going to work. Can I trust you, sitting in a dorm room with only that thing?" I knew what he was referring too. I was too scared and sad to make any corrections. "I know the way he looks at you. He wants you, babe, just like I did before we started going out. I've seen the glares, and I know. But if you're not going to do anything about it, well, I think that someone else should do something. If this relationship is going to continue, I need you to stop hanging with him."
"I don't need to stop hanging out with Choji just because you say so!" I yelled, wrenching my hand free. I turned to go back to my room.
"If you don't, then it's over! You can go out with him for all I care after that. Let everyone see you with him!" I spun around, angry tears streaming down my face.
"Well, then. Goodbye, Rock Lee. I'd rather be seen making out with a FROG than standing next to you." I turned on my heel, and opened the door to my room. I got hit in the arm by a bouquet of flowers. I turned to pick them up.
No need to waste a good bouquet. They were forget-me-nots, with some purple lilies interspersed. It was a cute bouquet, although I could have done better.
Choji knew something was up when I walked though the door, tears on my face.
"What's wrong, Ino?" he asked, coming over to me.
"N-N-N-N-Nothing," I tried to say, quickly wiping my tears.
"Liar," he stated, wit a semi-smile playing on his lips.
I looked up at Choji. Was there a chance that I did like him? We hung out a lot… And people had told me we would make a cute couple. Lots of people had said that. And he was always there, always making me feel better, always making sure the people that I didn't like were also put down. When I needed a hug, he was there. When I needed a friend, he was there.
"Lee broek up with me," I said, expecting the rush of sadness. It didn't come as badly as I thought it would. Huh.
"That little idiot. He doesn't know what he's missing." Choji put a reassuring arm around me. My heartbeat picked up a little bit.
"You're my friend, you're supposed to say that."
"Who cares? It's true."
I just smiled. Even if he was lying for my benefit, it made me feel good. I camled down a bit, and the tears slowly stopped. "Thanks, Choji."
"No problem, Ino."
Could I, Ino Yamanaka, Like Choji?
No! Or…
Yes?
A/N: ANOTHER AUTHORS NOTE? They ask, screaming at the top of their lungs. You should be trying to update that other story that you have that's just been sitting there! You haven't even begun hat one, they announce, rushing at her with torches lit. Scared out of her mind, Rai Lockhart runs like hell, trying to tell them things as she goes along. For a second, they stop. But then they get bored and slightly burnt from the lit torch, and rush after her again. As she waits to be burned for heresy, also known as failure to update, Rai speaks once more: I'm sooooooo sorry. I've been busy! My computer died! Lies, they scream. With a sigh, Rai starts once again: I really have been busy. And my laptop did die, with all of my writings on it. I'm going to try and finish this story, along with the other story, soon. I've even got some ideas for some other stories! How does another ShikaSaku sound? Maybe a NaruIno? I might even write some HP fanfiction (Ahaha, maybe), or some Avatar: The Last Airbender. I even have this amazing idea for an Ouran fic! How does that sound? (Seriously, would you guys like that?) They stall for a second, contemplating their answer. Will they untie her, and let her continue to write? Or will they burn her because she has left them for so long? Either way, Rai understands what's going on in their heads. If she wants to live, she must update more often. and by more often, she means soon. Clearing her throat, Rai concludes: You guys just make some comments and decide! Don't forget to tell me who those other ideas sound, and whether you'd be interesting in reading them.