disclaimer: i own nothing.

an: just a little holiday dabble. happy new years and please review!

"Ino?" a lazy voice broke her thoughts.

The blonde turned around, vodka and coke in her red cup, and pout on full force.

"What Shikamaru?"

"Jeez, such hostility." The dark-haired boy smirked, poking her in the forehead, pulking the drink out of her hands.

"Shika!" she resorted to their childhood nicknames, and rolling her eyes when he finished it with a satisfied "pop".

"What's crawled up your ass?" Shikamaru leaned up against the wall outside, pulling out a cigarette, and lighting it.

Ino huffed once more, and flicked her hair. Shikamaru smirked, typical Ino.

But just like typical Ino she wasn't giving in that easily, and Shikamaru knew it, but still he couldn't figure out what had her so upset. At twenty-one, Ino was into parties more so than ever before, and it was New Years Eve! Not only that, Kiba had thrown literally the party of the year. It seemed like everyone from their childhood and college were attending this party. In fact last time he checked it was nearing 11:30…

Ino sighed again, and Shikamaru turned his attention towards her. It was no surprise to anyone when Ino reached her adult years she would be a beauty. As a child she was in beauty pageants, and growing up boys became even more aware, and now, in her twenties she really was a looker.

Tonight was no exception either, and really, even Shikamaru couldn't help but notice. The 5'4 blonde had her on best black heels on and adored a short red babydoll dress; her hair was curled and she held her red purse tightly in her perfectly manicured hands.

He took another puff off his cigarette before asking, "Now really, what's wrong?" now usually, Shikamaru wouldn't have been so concerned with anyone else if they didn't want to be bother with but this was Ino and well, it was Ino. And everyone knew Shikamaru was Ino's bitch.

"Sakuragothteguyagain," she mumbled under her breath, looking the other way. Shikmaru furrowed his brows, "What?"

"Sakura got the guy again!" she exclaimed, throwing up her hands, turning towards him with a sad face. "Again! Remember that cute guy in my Economics class I was telling you about? Yeah, well, I invited him, and him and Sakura hit it off! Like w-t-h! He was supposed to be my New Year Eve's kiss, and now I have no one! And I'm going to die a fat old lady with balding hair!"

Shikamaru stared at his bestfriend, blinking, taking another puff of cigarette, unaffected. He had dealt with Ino for years, and was very used to her random outbursts and rants but this was what she was really upset about?

"Ino," Shikamaru rolled his eyes, as if starting the obvious, "You're gorgeous, there's a hundred guys in there who would love to kiss you."

Ino paused in mid-rant, and stared at her childhood bestfriend—all thoughts of Sakura and the Uchiha guy far from her mind now.

"You really mean that Shikamaru?"

He finished off his cigarette, turning his head down to look into her blue eyes—when did they get so blue?—"Yeah," he said, "I do Ino, you've always been beautiful to me."

"10!"

"9!"

Shikamaru and Ino started laughing once they heard the cheers from inside.

"Thanks, Shika," Ino said, suddenly shy at how close they were. He really was cute.

"8!"

"7!"

"Welcome," he said, moving closer to her, because, wow her lips looked soft.

"5!"

"4!"

"Shikamaru," Ino said, giggling, closing her eyes.

"3!"

"2!"

"Happy New Years Ino," and with that, Shikamaru closed the space between them.

"1!"

Ino couldn't have recalled when a kiss had been so sweet.