Chapter 18

Hinata's POV

Earlier this morning Naruto drove me to my house and I changed and took all the books I need for today's classes.

"Um...Naruto?" I said while he was driving to school.

"Anything wrong, princess?" He asked taking a quick look at me.

"Not at all, just..." I spoke. "Let's not put a label on it." I murmured.

"Can you repeat, please?"

"Let's keep it fun." I muttered again.

"You know you can tell me everything, Hinata!" Naruto encouraged me to speak.

"I- well, let's not put a label on it. On us." I said louder.

"Is it that you don't want to be my girlfriend or..." He looked at me insecurely.

"NO! Nothing like that!" I reassured him. "It's just that it's all happened so fast. I mean, only yesterday I was with Kiba, and now...you know, us." I explained.

"I respect that." Naruto turned to me because it was a red light. "Tell me when you're ready and whenever something is bothering you. Please communicate with me if something feels off, Hinata." He squeezed my hand in his to emphasize his words.

"Same goes here. If something's wrong let's talk it out." We smiled at each other.

Peaceful silence.

"But-" I spoke two minutes after.

"But?"

"Yeah, no, nothing." I quickly answered.

"Hinata?"

"I- um, don't want you to be my 'boyfriend' and don't want me to be your 'girlfriend'. However, this doesn't mean I don't want to be yours and the other way around but simply put, I don't want to lose my independence and freedom."

"It's...okay. I understand. Sorry, that sounded lame, anyway, wanna talk about it?" His voice was full of concern.

"Can you just listen?" I asked.

"Of course, baby." He cooed.

"Baby? That's new." I observed.

"It just felt right." Naruto shrugged his shoulders.

"Cringe."

"Fine fine, I'll just go back with 'princess', milady." He laughed.

"I believe I didn't tell you to stop." I teased him and a smirk appeared on his face. "I'm scared!" I blurted out.

"I'm not driving that fast."

"No, silly. I'm scared of depending on someone other than myself." I spoke hesitantly but continued anyways. "I don't understand how people give the key to their happiness to another person or how they rely on them. I am scared that at some point everyone leaves and my 'relationship' with Kiba is proving it I guess. That's exactly why I don't want to be called your 'girlfriend'. I don't want to say I love you. I don't want you to go." My voice cracked and tears filled in my eyes so I shut them. "Almost everyone I have ever told I love you to is gone! My mom is gone. I am bad luck, I don't want anything bad happening to you. I don't want you to leave me. I don't want to lose you. I can't." I started shaking in my seat.

Naruto pulled me into a hug, stroke my hair, and rubbed my back.

"Naruto, the car!" I whispered thinking we're still on the road.

"I pulled off, don't worry."

"Oh, okay. I think I have commitment issues, don't you think." I buried my head in his chest still sobbing. "Look at me. I don't even know why I'm sharing all that with you. I'm pathetic!"

"Just breathe now. I heard you out, now it's your turn to listen." He began. "First of all I. Am. Not. Leaving. You. You heard that right, I am not leaving! Second, don't you dare speak like that again. We won't put labels on it, it's fine with me. I understand you and I won't judge, okay? As long as I'm yours and you're mine we're okay." Naruto kissed me on my head and we stayed like that for a few good moments.

"Damn it, we're gonna be late!" I pulled back from his arms.

"Shss." He didn't let me go. "We left really early, we still have time." Naruto assured me.

"No, I have to be there earlier. Jolene texted me that she wants to meet me before school starts. Can we go now? Please!" I looked at him with my puppy dog face.

"If that's the case then we have to hurry." He let go and started driving again.

'Hey Hinata, I'm a bit tardy but I'll be in front of the school's main gate in 5 minutes. See you there! :) - Jolene'

"Are we near school?" I questioned.

"10 minutes more." Naruto answered.

"Can we make that 5?" I asked.

"I think a kiss will be a fair trade." He smirked.

"Just drive, foxy." I rejected him but he accelerated anyway.

'It's no problem, don't worry! I'm just arriving.' I responded to her.

"Thank you for the ride, baby!" I winked at him then pecked his cheek when we arrived.

I ran to the school's door and looked for Jolene.

"Hinata!" She waved at me. "Hi!"

"Hello! Sorry, I'm late!"

"No, no, we're both just in time." She said. "Only if it's okay I will take and treat you to a coffee because I have something very important to discuss with you."

"I don't think we have the time to go to a coffee shop, classes start ten minutes from now..."

"Yes, about that. I talked with the principal and she said that it won't be a big deal for you to miss a day since you're one of the top students in your class."

"She said that?" I scratched the back of my neck nervously smiling. Jolene nodded in response.

"So? Are we going?" She questioned with an amused smile after one minute of me standing there staring at her like the fool I am.

"Right, yeah! Let's go!" I finally answered and we left.

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Shortie compared to the previous chapter but it is what it is ;)

(this chapter's sadly, disapprovingly, and anxiously sounding according to Grammarly lol)

<3