I don't like opening paragraphs so I'll make this short and sweet: This fic is mature. It involves cutting, yaoi (including lemons), abuse, violence, and cussing. I want it to be angsty and pull at your heartstrings. I hope you guys enjoy it.

***This will be the last time I go through and edit this story. I am aiming to complete this story by this December. I was it to be wonderful for you guys, flow perfectly, and the chapters to be symmetrical in their format; that is why I am editing this for one last time.

Disclaimer: This is for the whole fic. I do not own any stock or share of Naruto in any way and am not receiving any currency for the production of this story.

Take Me Away

Chapter 1:

"You don't need to worry

... I don't need to be.

I'll keep slipping further

... But once I hold on, I won't let go till it bleeds."

Err… Hmm.

Errr… Yeah. I guess that's about the correct sound. Like a zipper being opened letting your dick pop out. But instead I'm opening the flesh on my thigh, and my blood is quickly mixing with the water droplets next to it.

Err… You'd think it would hurt, right? Nah. Never. Not until the next day, that is. Once the jeans or whatever fabric you put over it starts catching on the scabs… Then it stings. It stings good.

Err… The house is dark.

Err… The water's warm.

Err… Perfect.

oOoOoOoOo

Morning brings sunlight, which rips through my blinds and eyelids like Satan's spawn or something, and I know I'm late. I wonder momentarily why my alarm didn't go off, or if it did, why I didn't hear it, then realize I don't care. The thought crosses my mind to just stay home. Stay in bed and waste away. Forget that there is life outside of these walls... But I would never be able to get away with it.

But, Kami... I wish.

As it is, I drag myself put of my bed slowly and dig through the laundry on my floor. My hat fell off in my sleep again, saving me the trouble of taking it off, so I just pull some jeans on, the friction burning my thighs, and throw on my favorite orange shirt. I stalk through the house, grab my bag, and walk out the door, shoving a stick of gum from the key bowl in my mouth as I go.

It's hot as shit. Thank Kami the school is only a block away 'cause I'm already sweating by the time I reach the bottom of the flight of stairs to my apartment, and my shirt is sticking to my back and I'm so going to kill everyone because this sucks so bad. By the time I reach the school I'm seething and the smell protruding from me is horrendous, so screw signing in, I head straight to the locker room to towel off and throw on some deodorant because I can't let him see my like this or I'll die.

Him. The man who has taken a 180 from being the man of my dreams to being the demon of my nightmares. The main reason that I don't want to be anywhere near here. This place is Hell and the devil always makes his appearance. I can't even avoid him, he's just... everywhere!

"Slow start?"

The voice comes from behind me and I wince because this so can not be happening to me right now, although I don't know why I can't believe it. Think of the devil and he'll appear. There's no avoiding this, so I turn around half-way deodorized and glare.

"The hell are you doing in here?" I accuse, trying to muster as much anger into my voice and gaze as possible. "Too good for class now, too? Being better than everyone else here not good enough anymore, Uchiha?" He frowns at me deeply for this, I never address him so formally, but otherwise doesn't look even slightly put-off.

"You talk real tough, dobe. We all know you can't back it up so just save yourself the trouble."

He walk in his too-tough-and-badass-to-walk-normally bullshit way to my open locker and leans against the one next to it. I look at him for a second, expecting an answer, but when I don't get one I finish up my pampering, running my fingers through my hair a few times for good measure, trying to look all calm and collected because I certainly don't feel that way, what with my heart threatening to claw its way out of my chest with its accelerated rate. But he doesn't need to know that. Hr doesn't need to know how glad I am that I decided to swim year round for the team. Because of that choice my bare chest is chiseled and I know I'm looking hot and dying inside because, please Kami, let him think I do, too.

I try to ignore him still standing there, leaning against the locker, but the constant constricting feeling of my heart doesn't allow me that reprieve, although he hasn't said another word while I finish up. He chooses to continue to not speak until I've closed my locker and started to put my shirt on.

"So why are you late? Losing sleep over me still?"

Insert me rolling my eyes under the cover of the fabric. I grind my teeth and pop my head out of the fabric to look at him incredulously.

"Fuck no! Why the hell are you here? If you're just going to bother me then just fuck off!"

"Heh, yeah, okay then. I see right through you, dobe. Too bad." He pushes off the locker with one foot and pushes past me, his arm rubbing against mine. I close my eyes for a fleeting moment to relish this, and listen to him exit the room. Then I bury my fist in my locker.

oOoOoOoOo

"He what?" Kiba huffs, looking at me over the table. I poke my lunch unhappily, wishing something more edible to appear. Gaara's hand stalls during his math equation process. He's copying down the notes from math today in my notebook for me, like he does every day. I always grab him a tray for lunch to pay him back. It's an unspoken agreement we have. Don't ask me how it happened, I don't know, I just know that it's been the same way for the last six years.

"I was wondering why he wasn't in third period." He finishes, throwing his arm around Hinata as she sits down. He gives her a loving gaze that I divert my gaze from subtly. I don't mind them. Bu they've been together since High School started and they're just so fucking happy and in love. Why can't I have that? Why did I have to fall in love with someone who doesn't love me back? Kiba's words pull me from my misery. "Maybe he wanted to suck your dick?"

"Really Kiba?" I groan, pushing my plate away and snagging one of Gaara's fries instead. He shoots me a quick glare but I pop it in my mouth and wink at him, causing him to roll his eyes and go back to the notes. I return my attention to Kiba. "Don't even say that! I can't even think about being like that with him anymore. He makes me sick!" Yeah, he makes me sick in every way. Heart sick, love sick, mentally sick...

"Yeah, it's not okay to put ideas like that into Naruto's head!" Sakura butts in suddenly and the whole table gives her a dark look at this, except Neji and Gaara, who seem to never hear a word that comes out of her mouth. How Sasuke and I dated on and off for two whole years and she still doesn't understand that kind of freaks me out. Like, how fucking oblivious can you be? The whole school knows, not to mention the village. Then again, she may be book-smart, but she has no common sense. Zero. And people think I'm stupid...

Everyone's gazes shift back to me, but I just shrug. The conversation quickly breaks up into several different ones and I gaze around at my friends. A few years ago it was just Gaara, Kiba, and me. Now there are fourteen of us, Sakura and Ino loosely included. We all know each other inside and out. At least, I thought we did. But they don't know anything about me anymore. I'm not the same person I was. I haven't been for a long time. Every day I feel a wall between us grow thicker and wider. They don't know me... And I don't know myself either.

"I'm going for a walk." I say, standing up. I'm suffocating in the black hole of happiness swarming around me.

"Naruto…" Hinata whispers, giving me a worried look. I hold up my hand and plaster a grin on my face. I walk off before anyone can say anything, throwing my trash away in the process. Gaara will probably grab my bag. I feel a twinge in my gut for just leaving it there with them, but I ignore it and put in my head phones, letting my feet lead me off of school grounds.

oOoOoOoOo

I forgot it was hot as balls out, but at this point I just can't seem to care anymore. My feet have led me to the park back in the wood. It has a lake and waterfall in the at the back and after recognizing where I am, I have officially made this my destination. So my iPod's blasting this badass indie band and I fall into this familiar rhythm of walking, bobbing my head the beat, and quickly spiraling downwards into my depression.

I need to find a way to stop allowing him to have this effect on me, but he bashes into my mind like a human kool-aid man every time I get a moment of peace, fleeting as it may be, and it's so not okay. This has become a routine, one that I am quickly getting used to. I'm getting used to remembering the feeling of his hair under my fingers, the view of his gorgeous calves tightening as he freezes mid-step to flick his lacrosse ball into the net. It feels as though I'm still looking into those gorgeous onyx eyes, the ones that pierce my soul every time he looks at me. I can still feel his stare, as though I'm about to dive in for my lap and I can look up and see him blatantly staring at me on his way to the locker room, making me all hot. It's like it's all still happening. But it's not. It just isn't, and he needs to get out of my mind... Bastard.

I take off all of my clothes but my boxers when I make it to the edge of the lake, and wrap my iPod and cell phone up in them safely… Which reminds me why I take such good care of my iPod. It's is because he was my Secret Santa at school last year, and he totally bought me this almost two-hundred dollar iPod touch, which, by the way, breaks every rule for Secret Santa, 'cause the gifts are supposed to be cheap, and the Secret Santa is not supposed to walk up to you and hand you said gift, explaining that they are indeed your Santa. But since when does the Uchiha follow rules? Never.

The water feels amazing. Absolutely worth skipping school to do this, to get away from the people I love the most that think they love me; but they can't, because they don't know me. But for now, I can forget, and this can be enough. It's enough when I begin floating on my back, imagining the water is his arms, imagining that we're back to the good days, when he wasn't doing drugs, when he wasn't hurting me, when we were just... Us. Happy and in love. My mind betrays me. Were we ever like that? There were so little moments that... Stop. I shake my head and drift back into trying to find my happy place. I let go, and focus on the slight tingle and stinging sensation from my leg. For now, I just want to forget.

oOoOoOoOo

My homework is officially abandoned, lying uselessly on the floor by my couch, seeing as I left my bag in the lunch room. Watching Adventure Time while hanging upside down from my couch has become much more interesting and the pain in my head from the rush of blood in my ears is no longer apparent. My cell phone must have gone off at least ten times since I got home six hours ago, but I just ignore it. They'll understand.

The timer dings, signaling that my food is done, just as the commercials start and I hurl my feet over my head and haul ass to the kitchen. So of course it's just as I'm walking past the door with my mouth full of ramen that my doorbell rings. I freeze.

First thought: Definitely not going to answer.

Second thought: But who the hell could it be?

Final thought: So gonna regret this…

So of course I answer the door. And then immediately try to shut it.

"What the fuck, dobe!" Sasuke's voice echoes through the remaining crack where he managed to jam his foot.

"What the fuck, Sasuke! Why are you here?" Is he doing this on purpose? Does he seriously hate me this much that he has to keep popping up randomly?

"I just want to talk."

"Well I don't. Go the fuck away." This is bullshit! He never 'wants to talk!" Sasuke does not 'talk'.

Silence.

"Please, Naru?" My heart breaks again. I can feel it all bubbling up: the anger, sadness, and hurt. Leaning back against the door weakly I will myself to not cry, to not show any emotion. He rarely calls me that, and only, I have noticed, when he wants something from me. I breathe deeply. I know I can't refuse him, I never have been able to. Even when he hurt me I'd accept his apologies and melt back into his palm, over and over again. Just like all of the times before, I step away from the door and walk back to the living room, sitting down and setting my ramen on the coffee table.

He doesn't come in immediately, but he follows nonetheless, ignoring my silent pleas for him to not come, to just turn around and leave. What could he possibly want? Hasn't he done enough? It's already been a week since he broke up with me again. So why is he here? This is not. Normal. It never will be. I should not be this unhappy and excited that he is back in my apartment.

Even if he knows my pleas, he ignores them, locking the door. He doesn't sit down, not even in his seat, just stands in the door frame.

His seat.

Several minutes go by and I finally look at him, extremely irritated, and it all vanishes when I see the look on his face. He's wearing a wife-beater and the dark blue mesh shorts I bought him. He's also wearing my bracelet. His clothes are sticking to him, and my clock tells me he just got done with lacrosse practice, my favorite time, because he looks so delicious and he knows it. So what does he do? He shows up, looking amazing, wearing the clothing I love the most on him, looking at me like his whole world is falling apart.

And I'm falling for it. Fast. And hard.

"What could possibly be wrong, Uchiha?" I know this game. We've played it a million times. I always lose. But this time I'm not giving in without a fight.

He doesn't say anything, just looks at me. Irritating. My anger sparks again.

"What? Speak! Or are you going to just stand there looking stupid?" And sexy. But he knows that. And he still says nothing. I fly off the couch, almost knocking over my abandoned ramen, and grab his collar.

"Why. Are. You. Here?" I snarl the question and punctuate each word with a deep breath.

He says nothing, but grabs the back of my head by my hair and slams his mouth down on mine in a kiss that makes me forget about the rest of my body and dissipates my anger. Of course I melt into his arms, as always, like he didn't just break my heart, for the second time in a year, just one week ago.

His tongue is so hot, and he hasn't hit his teeth against mine even once even though he's turned me around and pushed me up against the wall and is kissing me with such ferocity that my face is going numb. I can't even remember who I am right now, and I want him so bad and he's grinding against my leg and clawing down my arms and oh, fuck! I'm so hard. This is so wrong. I know it's wrong. He's not allowed to have this control over me. I was supposed to put up a fight! At least a little one... But he knows. He knows! He knows everything, 'cause he's so fucking smart with all of his money and his six pack and happy trail that I'm running my thumbs down. He knows that I can't say no to him when he runs his tongue of the shell of my ear, and the shivers that run along my body when his fingers run along my sides as he's pulling my shirt off like right now, and I know I need to stop him. Oh please, stop because I don't have the strength to stop you myself.

Someone knocks on the door. The instant absence of his body heat against mine is both a relief and heart breaking. I'm caught in a mind trap of telling them to fuck off and punching Sasuke in the face. He saves me the energy of the debate though by giving me a quick once-over before he goes to the door, opens it and walks out, pushing past Gaara without saying anything. I'm still leaning against the wall catching my breath while he lets himself in, placing my school bag in the kitchen. I'm unaware of anything else until I feel his arms wrap around me and pull me into his chest.

I swallow in his scent, a sharp wood and soap smell. It's calming to a point that I can't even understand, and the sadness I felt and the tears that were coming drift away while we stand there, and we don't move for a while. We're silent as I indulge in these moments with him. They are few and far between, seeing as Gaara isn't a touchy-feely person. So I hold onto him for dear life, until I find myself suddenly aware of my half-dressed state and I pull back to look up at him.

Concern is stamped across his features and his sea foam green eyes bear into my soul, the dark bruising intriguing me. He pulls back slowly once the hug is broken. I don't need to thank him. Actually, that would probably just make things awkward. So we head into the living room and finish watching Adventure Time together and he helps me with my homework. After several bowls of ramen and a demo game on Mass Effect 3 I walk him to my door. He stops short on my stoop and turns around to look at me.

"I'm here when you want to talk." He says, pulling on his helmet. I'm sure his Harley is parked in my unused parking spot. I just nod as he starts down the stairs into the dark, humid night.

So there you have it. Chapter 1 of the revamped Take Me Away. Like I said, I'm fixing it up a bit, but this is my last time. I'm ready to wrap this story up. I'm working on chapter 9 right now. I know not much has changed, but the chapters will be longer, and honestly I don't want a lot of change. I like my story the way it is I just want to umph it up a bit for you guys, easier to read and understand. So, yay! Review? :D