I gasp, and pulled my body up from my bed.

I woke up from that same dream again. I didn't dare cry, because if I do, I know that it's affecting me. So I try not to cry, to let myself know that I'm not affected by it.

I look at my alarm clock. I sighed, 4:23.

I didn't want to get up from my bed, but I also didn't want to get sucked up in that dream again.

'I guess I could lie here all day.'

Then, my beautiful thoughts were interrupted, by the sound of knocking, once again, at my door. I lazily got up, and hurried up to put on the wig and carefully placed the eye contacts in each eye.

Knock Knock

I went to the door and as soon as I twisted the doorknob, it was kicked open by Whiskers.

"WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU!?" I shouted at him.

Everyone stepped inside and their eyes widened. I even heard a few faint gasps. Well I couldn't blame them. My apartment was empty. I didn't bother to buy anything for it, because it was only for short use anyways. I didn't know how long I was staying, so why waste my money on furniture? Especially if I didn't want to spend the very little money I had left.

"Hina, why-" Sakura was about to say something, but I stopped her.

"I don't need your pity. I'm perfectly fine. I didn't want to spend any money on useless shit like that. I bought a bed, clothes, food, kitchen utensils, and bathroom items for when I take a shower. That's all I need to survive."

"Wow, talk about 'nice and simple'." Kiba said.

"Is there a reason to why you guys are here, or did you just come to bug me? And how did you get my address anyways?"

"We wanted to know if you were okay. I mean, you were gone for a whole week." Temari stated.

"And we got your address from you boss." Whiskers told me

"More like, Naruto threatened him for it." Sakura corrected him.

"Why?"

"He was really worried, we all were." TenTen stated.

I looked at Whiskers, then at everyone. I can't believe they went through all the trouble to threaten my boss to get my address, just so they could check up on me. I was happy to know that, but I couldn't get too happy.

I smirked in my head. If that was the case, maybe they can even threaten him to change my uniform. But I hate using people, it makes me feel ashamed about myself. I'm independent, I don't need their help.

"Now that you know I'm perfectly fine, can you leave now?"

"Not so fast. You need an interrogation." Ino said as she pointed a finger at me.

"No. I'm not getting interrogated."

"Then how about we play a game?" Chouji asked.

"What game?" I lifted an eyebrow at them.

Everyone looked at each other and nodded, like they were reading each other's mind. Then their eyes were focused on me again.

"21 questions." They all said in sync.

"Isn't that the same damn thing?" I said irritated.

"Hinata, I don't remember you cussing so much when we were kids. You have such a foul mouth." Sasuke teased.

"Shut the hell up Sasuke! I'm not a fucking kid anymore. And don't call me Hinata!"

"Okay, okay."

"Anyways, we will each ask you a question, and you have to answer them truthfully. And no half assed answers. We promise not to make them too personal, just tell us if it is." Ino told me.

"If I do this, will you guys leave?"

"Troublesome, but yeah."

"Fine." I said in defeat.

We all sat down in a circle on my living room floor. At least it was made out of soft carpet. I don't think I would be able to sit on the hard, cold ground.

1) "Why didn't you come to school all week?" Sakura went first.

"Wasn't feeling up to it."

"C'mon! I said truthfully." Ino reminded me.

"Fine. Um.. I kept sleeping past my alarm. And that's the truth."

2) "Why didn't you let us in yesterday?" Ino asked.

"I was depressed, I didn't have it in me to talk to anyone yesterday."

3) "Why were you depressed." Sasuke asked next.

"I had trouble sleeping, so I was tired and stressed out."

4) "Why couldn't you sleep?" TenTen asked concerned.

"Nightmares."

5) "What kind of nightmares?" Lee asked after.

"Personal."

6) "Why don't you tell us about yourself?" Kiba asked next.

"I'm not so big on the trust side."

7) "Okay... Why don't you trust people?" Shino spoke.

"Just cautious."

8) "Cautious of what?" Shikamaru said.

"Of being hurt."

9) "How do you feel about trusting us?" Temari asked

I hesitated. How do I feel about them? From what I know, is that they care about someone they don't even know, which was me, but that doesn't stop them from trying to be my friend. But..

"I don't know." I answered truthfully.

I mean yeah, I was getting used to them, but to actually say I trust them, was too much to ask.

Everyone stared at me, and some just sighed.

10) "If you don't know, then does that mean that you will still give us a chance?" Sai asked me, wanting to know if I will accept them or not.

"It's not like I can get rid of you guys." I said irritatingly.

11) "Why don't you want to tell us about your eyes and wig?" Whiskers asked seriously.

Damnit! Can't they just respect my privacy?!

'It's not like I can say "Oh yeah sorry, I'm in hiding because I murdered somebody.'

"It's personal."

12) "Why is it so personal?"

I glared at him.

"This isn't part of the deal, you guys said-"

"We didn't say we couldn't ask why they were personal." Sasuke pointed out seriously.

These bastards! They fucking tricked me! Why do they want to know so badly?

"And you guys wonder why I don't trust people." I said quietly as I looked to the ground.

They all looked at each other then back at me with softened faces.

"Fine. Nevermind." Sasuke said.

That's what I thought.

"But then question 11 and 12 doesn't count."

Damnit.

11) "Do you at least cover your eyes because you used to get bullied about them?" Whiskers asked a different question.

"How do you guys know about that?" I asked coldly, and stared deadly at TenTen and Sasuke.

"Um, we kinda, uh.. told them." TenTen said.

I sighed in irritation then looked at Whiskers again.

"No, it's not because of that." I answered truthfully.

12) "What made you decide to come here?" Chouji asked, while munching on some chips.

My eyes stared at the wall in a complete daze, the memories now flowing back to me again. Even though his question meant no harm, it was an important question I had to keep a secret. I didn't really know what to say at this point. I faced my head towards the floor, completely regretting them for ever talking me into this.

"Hina wh-?"

"It's nothing, I came to get away from some people." I snapped the first thing that came to my mind as an excuse, but it was half true, although I didn't want them to know that.

13) "Who hurt you?" Sasuke asked seriously again.

"Why do you want to know that?" I asked eyeing him.

"Because of what you just said, and plus, I like the old Hinata better. I want to know what happened to her.." he said as he shrugged his shoulders.

"Well, my father of course, some people I thought were my friends in my old middle school, and. . . ." I trailed off, as my eyes went dark. My mind held only one person who hurt me the most. That one guy, who made me the way I am today. The guy who got me running away, and hiding in the shadows. I looked down, and I fought back the tears that threatened to fall from my eyes.

"Hinata? And who else?" Sasuke called my name.

I escaped from the dark trance I was in, and looked back up to face him.

"Oh, um I was thinking of some more people, but that was it." I lied.

14) "What's the craziest thing you've ever done?" Temari asked.

'Killing someone.'

"Almost killing myself."

Killing myself was a close second to my original answer, so I'm not really lying to them...

It went quiet for a moment. Sasuke and TenTen had the most concern looks on their faces.

I guess they wanted to get the intense questions out of the way, but maybe I ruined it.

15) "You're joking right?" Kiba asked nervously, like it was a joke or something.

"No. And imma count that as one of the questions."

16) "When did you try to?" TenTen asked full of more concern.

"Yesterday, a few minutes before you guys got here."

Everyone gasped.

"Calm down. I said almost okay. I didn't do anything."

17) "O-okay, um.. who was your first kiss?" Sakura asked.

"No one."

18) "Do you have a crush on anybody yet?" Ino asked as her eyes sparkled with curiosity.

"No."

19) "What's your favorite food?" Shino asked.

"Cinnamon rolls, and almost any kind of sweets and desserts." I said a little too quickly for my liking.

20) "Do you have any siblings." Shikamaru lazily asked.

"Yes, a sister."

21) "Um . . . how's Neji doing?" TenTen asked, and my head shot straight into her direction. She held a deep red blush on her face. And everyone looked at her confused, except Sasuke of course.

"Does our little TenTen have a crush on somebody? I didn't think it was possible. I need to meet him, who is he!" Ino said teasingly and excitedly.

"I knew it! You're lucky I've never told him you liked him. And Neji is my cousin. As for your question, before I left, he was doing just fine. He told me he missed you." I smirked and winked at the last part. She had the biggest blush on her face.

"I d-don't like him! I was just concerned for an old friend, that's all." she tried to deny it.

I jumped up and pointed an accusing finger at her with a knowing smile on my face.

"Yeah right Tenny! I've known you liked him since you first laid your eyes on him! If only he was here right now, then I would be happy for you two!" I jumped up and down, screamed and squealed like a little fan girl. Before I knew it, I realized what was happening: The old me is leaking out of my system. I was becoming myself again, little by little.

I quickly sat back down with a bright blush, but I didn't realize the wig had loosened from the jumping I did, and it fell off my head.

Everyone gasped and seconds later they had smiles on their faces. I fumbled with the wig in my hands.

"It's too late now Hinata. You might as well take off the wig cap too." Sasuke smirked, and I just glared at him.

'No!!' My mind shouted at me.

But then again, what's the harm in showing them, right?

"Fine." I mumbled. He was right anyways. They can see parts of my real hair sticking out. Damit! I'm so careless.

"And while your at it, you should take off the contacts too. PLEASE. Just this once." TenTen pleaded.

'What am I doing?! I can't risk anything, remember!'

I faced my head towards the ground and started with the eye contacts, then closed my eyes.

'STOP!'

I wasn't listening. Even after all the claims and reminders I told myself, I still didn't listen.

Then, I took the wig cap off.

I let my hair loosely fall to my back and whipped my head back and forth a little bit and ran my hands through my hair, my eyes still closed.

'This is it. I'm such an idiot!'

Whatever happens now, it's all going to be my fault . . . But, maybe this is a good thing.. right?

I looked up, and slowly opened my eyes.

Everyone stared at me wide eyed, and I held a red blush on my cheeks.

"Wow." Whiskers said.

I looked at him.

"W-what?" I asked, nervously and scared at all the gazes everyone was giving me, and my blushed darkened. I quickly looked to the floor again, then I rushed and put the wig and eyes back on.

"Hina! You're super pretty! And the real you is cute. I like this side of you better." Ino said in an assuring voice. With the wig and eyes successfully back on, I looked up again, and everyone had reassuring smiles on their faces.

"Really?" My voice softened. It wasn't dark and cold anymore, it was my voice: the shy, Hinata voice. Everyone nodded. I smiled at them, a real smile. The kind of smile I haven't done in what felt like forever. And to think, I just told them that I didn't know if I could trust them.

'I think that I'm getting too close to them.. but I like it.'

I like this side of me too. I'm tired of trying to convince myself that I'm not worth anything, that I don't need people in my life because all I do is get hurt. I don't know if what I'm really looking for is to start fresh, or just new people to start fresh with. Maybe it's finally time for me to hit that refresh button, instead of always hitting try again.

I need to realize that there are going to be some obstacles that will get in my way. That there will be people that are going to bring me down.

But I need to know that there are also going to be times that I will make it through those obstacles. That there will people there to bring me up instead.

Maybe... just maybe, The world doesn't hate me after all.

I don't know if it's just me being naive again, but maybe, I think I can trust them. These are the people I really needed in my life, and finally. . . .

I found them.