"I hate you... Your nothing but a loser!"

Naruto groaned and woke up, his ears ringing with the hateful words from his dream. He was on the floor... again. He got up and looked at the clock. It was 7:45am. He yawned and stretched, but then froze in that position for a moment. 7:45...

"I'm gonna be late!" He shouted, the principal's words from Friday ringing in his ears

'If your late for class one more time, Naruto-!'

Naruto hurriedly got ready, skipping his 'cup-of-ramen' breakfast and ran as fast as he could to school. Dashing through doors, running up and down stairs, he managed to get to his classroom and slam the door open

"I'm here, Iruka-sensai!" He shouted, panting.

Iruka looked at him "Naruto..." he started calmly "..fix Your UNIFORM!"
Naruto looked down and blushed slightly. His shirt wasnt buttoned up all the way and was inside out, his pants were sagging down because he forgot his belt, and he was just plain out a mess.

'What a way to start the day..' He thought

The morning seemed to drone on forever because his stomach was growling at him, demanding food. Naruto's ear twitched when he heard the words 'history project' and 'due Friday'.

"I'm assigning you to a partner, and there will be no complaining." Kakashi said

Naruto groaned and his forehead hit the desk as the teacher listed off the partners. All he could hope for, was that he was assigned to an 'A-B' student. Anyone would do, since they would most likely ignore him anyways.

'Please... anyone but just not-'

"Uzumaki Naruto, and Uchiha Sasuke"

Naruto stared at the desk, not bothering to raise his head

'-..Sasuke'

The bell rang and the teacher muttered 'Class dismissed'. When most of everyone was gone he raised his head and gathered everything at the table. He quickly walked out the door, being the last one out. Sasuke was the most popular boy in Konohagakure, and mostly around town too. Naruto was the exact opposite. He didnt have any friends, and nobody cared about him. Sasuke would treat Naruto like everyone else did, ignore him, and not even acknowledge him.

"Naruto.."
Naruto jumped a little, and dropped everything. He felt like he was frozen. He knew that smooth voice belonged to Sasuke. He quickly grabbed everything he dropped, with a shadow over him.

"Wh-what do you want S-Sasuke?" Naruto stuttered as he stood up and faced him, a rosy blush making an appearance on Naruto's cheeks.

The raven stared at the blond with an eyebrow raised slightly

'He looks so frightened...' Sasuke's mind whispered

"Meet me after school so we can start on the project..." Sasuke told him, as if he didnt notice anything

Naruto nodded slightly and ran off. One, he was hungry and it was lunch! Two, because he made a complete fool out of himself in front of Sasuke.

After Naruto scarfed down everything in sight, he sat alone at the table. Lunch would be over in a few minutes so it wouldnt last long, but Naruto was used to eating alone anyways.

He hiccuped and stared at the clock. Only 5 more minutes. Naruto's mind started to wander, eventually to stick to a certain subject. Every one thought he was a loser, and an idiot. They made that quite clear. Sasuke would only talk to him if it was to insult him, or call him names. Everyone did that, but it hurt more when it came from Sasuke. Naruto closed his eyes, fragments of his dream replaying in his head, but one thing refused to stop. The words he woke up to Sasuke screaming in his dream.

"I hate you.. Your nothing but a loser!"

Naruto shook his head, and the bell rang. Lunch was over. He reluctantly got up, and went to his next class. Only three classes left until school was over, and he had to meet with Sasuke.

'Maybe I can tell him I'm not feeling well, and run home...' He thought, as he walked down the hall '..or maybe just tell him I forgot..'

School was over, and Naruto was sitting on the stairs in front of school. Naruto started to wonder if Sasuke would even come.

"Meet me after school... hah!" He mumbled out loud, obviously upset. He stood up, and decided to head home. It had been an hour, and Sasuke didnt show up.

"Tck.. who would bother with me.."

It didnt take Naruto long to get home. He sat down on his bed, opened his history book, and started scribbling things down.

Sasuke sighed. Somehow Kakashi had coaxed him into helping him grade and correct a pile of papers that seemed endless. Of course, this wasnt the first time either. He was just glad there was only 1/4th of the pile left. He looked at the clock and his eyes widened

'4:30..? Naruto...!'

Sasuke sighed, knowing Naruto had probably left by now... and was mad he didnt show up. Sasuke could only image how Naruto felt, but knew imagining was nothing compared to feeling.

After what seemed like another hour, Sasuke finally grabbed the last paper, and looked at the name.

'Uzumaki Naruto'

He read it over, and just closed his eyes, marking 'F'. This wasnt the first time he marked Naruto with an F, and he knew it probably would not be the last...

"Mmmm..."

That gave Sasuke an idea

"Naruto's work?" Kakashi asked

Sasuke just nodded, and put the paper in his backpack when Kakashi wasnt looking.

"You should really consider doing the project yourself..." Kakashi commented, not bothering to look at the raven-haired boy. He knew he would, and did, get a dirty look from Sasuke

"I'm finished with my pile. I'll see you tomorrow.." Sasuke muttered as he stood up, slinging his backpack over a shoulder.

"You better give that to Naruto tomorrow.." Kakashi paused "...and work with Naruto and not against him..."

Sasuke looked at Kakashi with an curious look

"I paired you two together as a favor to you..." Kakashi added and continued with his paperwork.

Sasuke left, not sure if he knew or was just warning him. It was like that teacher could see everything at once. Sasuke smirked slightly.

'That would explain how he catches Choji eating in class...'

He shook his head and walked home, sighing.

'Sorry Naruto... I didnt think Kakashi was that far behind..'

Sasuke sat at his desk, waiting for Naruto to come to class. Everyone knew what would happen if Naruto was late, because everyone heard Tsunade-sama scream at him... and him screaming and crying. Naruto was late almost every day too. Sasuke sighed, only depressing himself remembering. With his elbow's on the desk, and fingers laced together by his face, he stared at the door expectantly. Sasuke didnt have to wait to long, because Naruto flew through that door just as the bell rang. Sasuke smirked slightly, and closed his eyes; amused.

'how cute..'

Sasuke opened his eyes, hearing someone slam their hand on his desk. It was Naruto, and with a quick glance down, papers.

"Here's the report..." Naruto growled at him and took his seat in the back of the classroom.

Sasuke glanced at Naruto as he passed by, then read over the report.

'He... actually did it right..' Sasuke smiled 'This is worth at least maybe a B-... Good job Naruto..'

Sasuke looked at both of their names on the report, sighed and closed his eyes. He grabbed a pen, and scratched out 'Uchiha Sasuke' from the paper. He knew he would regret that, but he didnt want to take credit for doing this. He didnt even help.

Naruto looked at Sasuke, seeing him scratch out something, and assumed Sasuke scratched out his name. Naruto sighed and fold his arms on the desk and put his head down. Sasuke was going to take all the credit for his hard work. Naruto scrunched his eyes closed. The hard work he tried to impress Sasuke with, to prove he's not a loser.

After history class, Sasuke was the last to leave the room this time. He walked up to Kakashi and handed him the report

"So, you took my advice and-" Kakashi noticed only Naruto's name was on this. He looked up at Sasuke with a look that said 'are you fucking nuts?'

Sasuke just smirked and walked out

"Actually read that one.." Sasuke said before he turned out the door, knowing Kakashi already had a pen about to mark 'F' on it.

Naruto sat at the lunch table, with his head down. He heard a chair across from him screech as it slide across the floor. He looked up to see Sasuke sitting there holding an apple by its stem, offering it to him. Sasuke had his head resting on his other hand, his elbow on the table.

Naruto blushed slightly, and put his head back down into his arms

"You have to eat something, Naruto. I know you didnt eat anything last night... or this morning" The Uchiha set the apple down in front of Naruto, and left.

Naruto peeked up, and only saw the apple. He raised his head, grabbed the apple and looked around for Sasuke. When he turned his attention back to the table, there was a folded up paper that was underneath the apple. Unfolding the paper, Naruto's eyes widened. This was the homework from the other day, with a F in red marker. Underneath the F, was a note in black pen... in Sasuke's handwriting.

I'm gonna help you whether you want me to or not.

Meet me after school at the library.

This time, I'LL be waiting

..and I'm sorry

Naruto smiled slightly, eating the apple as he read it. He blushed a little at the last sentence and folded it back up and stuffed it in his pocket.

Naruto happily walked down the sidewalk, humming softly. School was over, and he was heading out to meet Sasuke. Naruto arrived and found Sasuke reading a book at a table. The Uchiha lowered his book, and smiled slightly. Naruto sat down next to him, with an odd look on his face.

"What do you have for homework?" The Uchiha asked, and looked at Naruto.

Naruto could have sworn he saw something in Sasuke's eyes after he took out the homework that was assigned

'What.. was that..?' Naruto wondered

Sasuke, noticing Naruto's curious eyes, immediately glanced through the homework. Most of it was simple.

"Alright... get working" Sasuke muttered and continued reading the book he had when Naruto started.

After hours of making Naruto redo it, helping him understand it, and having him redo it more, Naruto had homework that was worth a B, and not a F. Almost everyday was like that. Sasuke and Naruto would meet at the library to study and/or homework, go to the other's house, or just hang out. Sasuke sat with Naruto at lunch, girls tried to ask Sasuke out occasionally, on a date or to a dance, and Sasuke would reject them. Within just a few weeks, Sasuke noticed Naruto's grades had improved... a lot, but that wasnt the only thing he saw that improved. Naruto wasnt so shy around him, and didnt blush every time he sat next to him, got to close, or when look at him, much anymore. Sasuke, being the little 'demon' he is, did little things just to provoke blond so he would blush, and stutter. Sasuke thought it was adorable. His favorite thing to do, was get close to Naruto so when they looked at each other, if not already, it was they were about to kiss. From that, Naruto would turn red, barely make a solid word, and, what was the cutest out of them all, Naruto would make small noises that sounded like whining or a 'mew' when he stopped trying to speak (only to try again, and again and so on until Sasuke changed the subject)

Sitting at a table in the cafeteria, Naruto was wondering why Sasuke even started helping him in the first place. The two where the best of friends now, but what was the reason for that? Naruto was a nobody that no one cared about, but Sasuke changed that.

'Why? Other than help me with my grades... all you've done it torture me... tease me...-'

"Naruto!" Kiba almost yelled, trying to snap the blond out of his train of thought. It worked, and he got the blond's attention

"huh?"

"The bell rang. Lunch is over" Sasuke got up

Kiba laughed "Was Naruto just thinking?"

"Hey!" Naruto yelled

Sasuke smiled slightly and shook his head "Idiots"

After school Kiba waved and left. Naruto followed Sasuke, before asking "Where are we going?"

"My house.." He replied and smirked slightly

Naruto blushed slightly "A-alright.."

They arrived at the Uchiha's house, and took their shoes off at the door. Naruto had been there before many times, but he never saw a particular person.

"So is this..?" Sasuke's older brother asked

Sasuke glared at his older sibling "Naruto.. this is Itachi, my older brother"

Naruto waved shyly, and smiled a little. Itachi glanced at Naruto then looked back at his brother

"Well I'm glad your home. I was just leaving to run some errands" Itachi smiled slightly "Have fun.." He muttered to Sasuke as he passed and closed the front door on his way out.

"Huh..?"

"Nothing..." Sasuke said softly and walked into the living, tossing his bag next to the couch "You want anything?" Sasuke looked back at Naruto who was just walking over

"No.." Naruto paused, stopping behind him "Sasuke.. why did you start helping me? I mean... you always called me names, and treated me like everyone else did"

Sasuke turned around and stared at Naruto, not saying anything. Naruto's 'famous' attitude flared after a moment of nothing.

"Answer me!" He barked, a rosy pink blush invading his cheeks "I want to know w-"

A hand lifted Naruto's chin, and soft lips were pressed against his. Naruto's eyes widened in surprise, and he stared at the Uchiha when he had pulled away.

"Because I care about you..." Whispered Sasuke