This one-shot is based on the song The only Exception by Paramore. Listen to it while you read for a better understanding of the one-shot. Enjoy.

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Love.

It had always been a foreign concept to her. Something unbelievable. Something that did not exist. It was unimaginable for her, that people would consider themselves in love, when they clearly were not.

After seeing her parents bicker, fight and make each other miserable for 10 years before finally getting divorced, hurting themselves and her in the process, she vowed she'd never fall in love.

She'd never make herself that vulnerable and hurt. Never. She would not get herself, or anyone else hurt just because she was incapable of love.

She didn't heckle or call out hate on people who claimed to be in 'love'. No. She just didn't believe in it herself. She didn't sing of it herself. Because she was sure, so sure, that it did not exist.

Everything had been going smoothly until he came along.

And ruined everything in her perception until he was all she could see.

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When I was younger, I saw my daddy cry and cruse at the wind

He broke his own heart and I watched

As he tried to reassemble it

And my mama swore that she would,

Never let herself forget

And that was the day that I promised

I'd never sing of love, if it does not exist

"Take care Hinata." Hinata heard her father say to her as she hoisted her bag pack over her shoulder. She shook her head microscopically to herself before turning to face him.

"I will dad; it's only for two months."

Her father nodded and turned away, his expression somehow bitter despite his best attempts to stay neutral. Hinata sighed.

She knew how much he hated her going to stay with her mother. She knew how much he hated this arrangement. How bitter he still was about the divorce with his once beloved.

How he still missed her, despite his best attempts to hide it. How much he was still hurting despite it having been 6 years since the divorce.

She was also aware of how much her mother despised her father and blamed him for everything that had transpired between them. How she swore she would never forget the end to their supposed "fairy tale."

Hinata knew all this, despite her parent's best attempts to hide it. But it was written on their faces, clearly. At least to her.

Her father embraced her before she walked out the door, where a driver was waiting to take her to her mother's house. She sighed and sat inside the car, content to look out the window.

Her parent's still lived in the same town of course, having divided the assets both had made equally. They both lived in big houses with servants and rich materials.

Hinata had never cared for things like that, and still did not. Her parent's divorce had changed her completely from the shy, stuttering girl she had been.

She was still quiet but she was not hesitant to speak up anymore. It was the least she could do for herself. She owed that much to herself.

It was bad enough that her only friend at school was her cousin Neji, a year older than her. He lived with her and her father since the death of his own parents.

She got out of the car quietly when the car stopped in front of her mother's house. Her mother was waiting at the foyer for her, her dark blue hair glinting in the light.

"Hinata." She smiled. Hinata smiled back as she walked inside. She loved both her parents equally but their separation did provide her with a lot of problems. And their joint custody of her...

"Are you tired?" she asked.

"Mom, dad lives 30 minutes from here." Hinata said "I'm not tired." She smiled. Her mother hugged her tightly.

"Hina...I'm sorry. I know this is hard for you but..."

Hinata shook her head, indifferent to it by now. "Mom, it's been 6 years. I'm over it." Her mother looked at her sadly before nodding and letting her only child inside.

But you are the only exception

You are the only exception

You are the only exception

You are the only exception

The first time she met the Uchiha boy, she hated him. He was such an asshole, she thought to herself. And she knew he probably felt the same damn way about her.

She didn't care.

The Uchihas lived across her mother's house; the rich part of Konoha; naturally. Hinata had met them for the first time 3 years ago, when she was 14, and had cared enough to actually get out of her mother's house and come to know the neighbors.

The younger one was probably a year older than her while the other one was probably 6-7 years older than her.

The younger one, Sasuke, was a complete jerk to her whenever she came to live at her mother's house, making it one of the reasons she hated coming to stay with her mother at first.

He'd annoy her completely, teasing her about her parent's divorce, her stupid hair style and her weird eyes.

"Hey-what's wrong with your eyes?" he'd say with his stupid smirk adorning his face.

She completely ignored him when he followed her to the park. He didn't have any friends living nearby at the time, so he used almost all his time making her life hell.

She'd been 15 when she'd grown tired of him already. He ambushed her with her friends one day in the park, where she was busy reading a book contentedly.

"Hyuga-why do you come to the park? To scare others with your eyes?" he smirked. His brown haired friend and blonde friend had laughed out.

"At least I don't have a feminine face like yours." She'd said, still not removing her eyes from her book. Which annoyed him pretty bad.

His friend had screamed with laughter even more loudly, making him splutter in anger as she'd walked away. Maybe there was more to Hinata then he'd thought initially.

At 15, she'd started high school, only 10 minutes away from her mother's house while 20 minutes away from her father's.

Unfortunately, Uchiha went to the same high school and despite being a year older than her, she was in mostly the same classes than him. Since they both took AP classes, as instructed by their respective fathers.

As of now, Hinata was 17 and a junior in high school but she was taking all the senior classes along with Sasuke, a senior.

Summer break was here now and as Hinata walked to the park at the moment to enjoy the evening, she was highly hopeful he had left somewhere fancy with his parents and she would be in peace.

She opened her newest book, a gift from her close friend Kiba (she'd befriended Naruto and Kiba in High school)

She was engrossed in the thrilling chapter, where the book was reaching its climax when she heard a familiar drawl.

"Hyuga...you again." She heard Sasuke Uchiha say. She willed herself not to pay attention to him as she kept on reading determinedly.

"Did your father finally make you deaf with his yelling?" he teased.

Hinata did not answer, her hands clutching the book tighter to hold her tongue. She'd come to the conclusion last time she came to stay with her mom. She'd simple ignore the idiotic neighbor she had.

Sasuke realized what she was doing and somehow-it pissed him off to no end. How dare she do that when she was the only girl he willingly paid attention to?

Why didn't she open up to him? Why didn't she like him back? Why didn't she pay him attention like she did to Kiba and Naruto?

He'd been there longer dammit.

And now she was paying the goddamn book more attention? Unacceptabale!

He vaguely recognized the emotion that overcame him. Jealousy. As he snatched the book from her, making her utter a cry of protest and surprise.

He saw her eyes lift to her and he felt utter satisfaction. "What are you-?"

"Why are you ignoring me?" he asked her. He saw her eyes widen at his blunt statement which proved he cared she was ignoring him

"Because I hate you!" she yelled out.

He stood there, shocked. "Because you ridicule me, make fun of me everywhere. I don't know what I've done to make you hate me! Leave me alone."

Sasuke stood there, dread filling him. He needed to clear this right now. He didn't hate her. He was just mad she didn't like him. He actually really-

His eyes hardened suddenly, anger taking over. He'd show her hate. He forced a smirk on his face as he gripped the book with both hands.

Hinata watched with utter stillness as he tore her book apart. That'd teach her not to ignore him. That would surely gauge an angry reaction from her.

He'd make her yell at him. Talk to him. Instead, her eyes filled with horror and-

And tears. His heart stopped as she looked at him with tear filled eyes.

He felt his heart sink at her face and he regretted doing what he had done instantly. She looked at him once more before turning and running away.

Maybe I know somewhere, deep in my soul

That love never lasts

And we've got to find other ways to make it alone

And keep a straight face

And I've always lived like this

Keeping a comfortable distance

Because none of it was ever worth a risk

Hinata swiped at the tears gathering in her eyes furiously as she sat in the garden at night. Her mother had guessed something had upset her but left the issue alone for now.

Just what had she ever done to make him hate her So. Damn. Much?

She'd even liked him a little at their formal visits, before he'd started being a jerk to her. Why did he want to torture her?

Wasn't it enough, she thought to herself?

She was the weirdo, the outcast at school. The one who never spoke. The one who had no friends except her cousin.

The one with weird eyes.

The one who was socially inward.

The one who never ever was wanted. Anywhere.

The one who would find love and would always be alone.

She didn't complain. Didn't deserve to feel sorry for herself, because there were people with worse circumstances out there.

But she could wish, couldn't she?

She just wished Sasuke would leave her the hell alone!

She wiped the tears again, but they just wouldn't stop coming. She felt more like a failure then ever in her life.

"Stop crying." A husky voice instructed her in her ear. She jumped up, startled. Sasuke was sitting on the grass besides her in the garden.

"I jumped over the fence." He said proudly. She bet he had with that 6 ft. 3 height of his. She turned away from him.

"Hinata-I'm sorry."

She was surprised to hear him say her name but didn't comment on it, scooting away from him. He touched her upper arm and she slapped his hand away.

"Get away."

"Hinata. I'm really sorry. And...you were wrong. I don't-I've never hated you."

She looked at him with tears shining in her eyes. His heart gave a great leap. She was willing to hear him out. At least.

"I know I've always been-aw how do I-okay."

He took a deep breath before speaking again. "I've always liked you. I'm sorry I teased you all these years. I just-wanted your attention."

He mumbled the last part hurriedly. When he looked up after a few moments, she was looking at him with her mouth open and her expression shocked.

Sasuke chuckled at that, before wiping her tears. "Forgive me?" he asked, presenting her with a new copy of the book he'd torn that evening.

She looked at him again before taking the book in her hands. Sasuke watched her look at it before she put it away and turned to him.

"I-forgive you." she told him, a hint of smile on her face. At least he wouldn't be a problem anymore. He took her hand and pressed their hands together.

His hand was so big while her was so small. He held it tightly.

Maybe-she thought-she'd found her first real friend.

You are the only exception

You are the only exception

"Sasuke, will you be my date for prom?!"

"No he's going to go with me!"

"Please come to the prom with me."

Sasuke's fan girls continued asking him for the prom, which Sasuke ignored with expertise, having years of experience.

Hinata laughed as he held on tight to her hand and walked out of the school building. They'd become used to this routine now, they'd always walk home together whenever she was staying with her mother.

"Hinata?"

"Hm?" she asked as they walked on.

"Do my fangirls bother you?"

"Not really." She told him. They'd been a bother when Sasuke had publically claimed her as his friend at first, but they'd backed off soon enough.

"I'm glad." He said before they continued walking, holding hands. It had occurred to her that this was something couples did. But surely Sasuke did not like her so-

"Who're you going to the prom with anyways?" he asked her suddenly.

"I don't know. Naruto asked, so did Kiba. but I didn't say yes to anyone."

She noticed how his grip on her hand became tighter as he knit his brows together. "Then, do you have anyone specific in mind?" he asked.

She looked at him quizzically-her heart racing suddenly for some strange reason. "No. Do you?"

"I do." He said, as he stopped walking and looked at her intensely. She felt her heart beat go erratic in her chest.

She looked at him, willing him to answer. "I want to go to the prom with you Hinata. Will you come with me?" he asked her hopefully.

"Sasuke..." she said, taken aback.

And then he kissed her. Her mind went blank as he kissed her softly on the lips. He was tentative, unsure, she realized.

She kissed him back, without thinking about it. His hands tightened on her arms. She liked this, she thought.

Then, all of a sudden, images of her parents flashed in her mind. Their happiness, then their fights and their separation. Their bitterness.

"Hinata?" Sasuke asked as she pulled away suddenly.

"No..." she whispered.

"What?"

"I can't do this." She told him, backing away slowly.

"Hinata what's wrong?" he asked, obviously worried. "Tell me. Please."

"I-Sasuke no!" she said, her voice getting caught in her throat.

"Hinata, I can't help if you won't let me in."

She looked at his perplexed face before she turned and started running towards her home. "Hinata!" she heard Sasuke's voice call her name as she ran off.

She didn't stop. She was better off alone.

I've got a tight grip on reality

But I can't

Let go of what's in front of me here

I know you'll leave me in the morning when I wake up

Leave me with some kind of proof it's not a dream

You are the only exception

You are the only exception

You are the only exception

It was prom night and Sasuke was laying on the sofa in front of the television, eating crisps while watching Sherlock Holmes.

"Sasuke-why aren't you ready for Prom yet?" his mother asked, walking inside the room. Sasuke sighed before turning to look at her.

"Because I'm not going." He told her, turning back to the screen.

"Is something wrong?" she asked. He shook his head.

"Just don't feel like it." He said, thinking of the blue haired girl who'd broken his heart. She had rejected him and he couldn't face her tonight. Not when she'd look so beautiful.

Why didn't she let him in? Why didn't she reciprocate his feelings? He couldn't force her, he knew, but it still hurt.

Mikoto sighed and walked back to her room, letting her son sulk on his own. Sasuke thanked the stars his mother had left him alone when someone rang the bell.

"Go away!" he yelled.

Again, the bell rang. He ignored it but the person wouldn't stop ringing the bell damn it. He sighed as he got up to open the door, ready to snarl at whoever it was.

Probably Naruto, trying to convince him to change his mind.

He opened the door to snarl when the person in front of him made him stop. Hinata stood there, dressed in a beautiful lavender mini dress which took his breath away.

"Hinata?" it came out as a question.

He was suddenly tackled in a fierce hug. "I'm so, so sorry for running off like that and ignoring you for the past week.

"What are you doing here?" he asked, dumbly.

"I came to tell you...I'm sorry and that, I love you."

He couldn't believe his ears when she said that so he shook his head. "I'm sorry-could you repeat that?"

"I. Love. You."

"But you..."

"After what happened to my parents, I've always been closed off. I've never let anyone come close. Anyone except you. I freaked out because I realized I loved you and..."

"And you didn't want to hurt me or yourself if things turned bad?" he guessed. She nodded and he sighed before moving a hand through his hair.

"Hinata-bad things happen sometimes. But it doesn't mean all experiences will be bad. Maybe you'll be glad you took the chance."

She smiled and nodded. "You're not going to prom?" she asked.

"Well the girl I asked rejected me so..." he said with a small smile.

She kissed him then and Sasuke felt like he was swimming in heaven. He didn't know how they both walked to the couch, still making out. All he could feel was her hands in his hair and the taste of her.

Hinata smiled, thinking maybe this was worth it. Maybe love did exist.

Maybe she'd like her happy middle even if it turned out to be a disastrous end.

And I'm on my way to believing

Oh and I'm on my way to believing it

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