Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, nor do I gain any profit from this.
. . . Clarity. . .
Frozen Waves
"How sad," It ruptures Naruto's ears as he passes the people down the hall. The thick over sight of crowds of people creating a path so that he may move forward and be talked about by them. They all stare and point, hiding their mouths as if Naruto cannot hear it, but he can, and he just avoids it. "He's with the Haruno girl again."
Simply exquisite, or is it truly just sad. It has not even been five minutes since Naruto has entered the school, and yet there are already rumors. Or more like truths. Since they are true, slightly.
There is no room for coming up with a story as if to explain. 'It just happened' has fallen from Naruto's lips so many times that he really starts to believe that it just in fact happened. He really can't say the truth, he can't say he went crawling back, and he can't say she accepted him. But he has no better option and so he heads to his locker.
Maybe it's the hickey that has been recklessly placed by his other hickey. He winces at that. Sakura was always controlling. But seriously by his other 'birthmark'? That was taking it a bit too far. Maybe that's why the old man gave him a knowing smile last night.
He doesn't want to think about it.
It's not been five minutes since he's entered this school, not even four he believes, that his single status is now known as taken. He doesn't know if he should be happy that he got the girl of his dreams back, or ashamed that he got her back in such an animalistic way. She didn't mind though, did she?
He sighs and grabs his books, heading for class on auto pilot. He already knows what awaits him when he turns the corner of the fine arts building…
"Naru-kun!" It's shrill and high pitched, making him wince on the inside as he smiles softly on the outside. Bright green eyes meet baby blue and Naruto can't help but give a large grin in return even if he's smothered by the pinkettes closeness.
"Ah, Sakura-chan." It isn't as enthusiastic but it plays out well in his favor since it seems she's overloaded in her own glee. Her smile broadens and her face just brightens with an overall glow of happiness. And Naruto instantly frowns.
She doesn't see him frown though, she doesn't see him draw in a ragged breath she doesn't see him do anything to dim her mood because he hides it from her. She just clutches to his arm in a death grip and walks on down the hallway. And Naruto can think just one thing.
Sasuke.
Two months earlier
"Finally school is out!" Naruto shouts it out to the sky as he stretches his arms out high above his head. The air is warm and the sun is bright, there seems to be nothing but brightness ahead. And Naruto revels in it.
"You mean Finally one more year." Hinata says softly behind him, smiling her own small smile. Naruto grins and cracks his knuckles.
"Well that too." He intones. The year, Junior year, had gone by not too smoothly. He had been on the edge of failing his Algebra two class and had barely been able to keep his eyes open in anatomy. How he even survived his weight lifting class was beyond him.
They both walk out to the parking lot where a good majority of the juniors and seniors are. They are all cluttered in their own little group. Chatting away idly to each other, some crying since a good majority were not to see each other in a long while and others just giving brief hugs and promises of seeing each other during the summer.
However only three figures in the distance catch their gazes as they chat to each other. "Yo, Lee, Sasuke. Kiba." Naruto bites out the last name in a bitter tone for he wasn't too keen on the guy. Kiba only waves him off and walks over towards Hinata, throwing an arm around her shoulder.
Naruto fights the urge to push him off the shy Hyuga but only frowns at the action. "I guess I'll see you later Hina-chan?" The pale girl was blushing wildly and that made the dog just smirk as he turned them both around.
"Ah, goodbye you three!" Hinata shouts from over her shoulder, and Kiba just gives them a slight salute.
"Ah, their love is so youthful!" Lee says, with tears brimming in his eyes, and Sasuke only rolls his eyes.
"They've only been going out for what- three months?" Sasuke reveals. "I sure it will end once Kiba has-"
Naruto does even let Sasuke finish that sentence. "Kiba won't do that." And Naruto himself isn't sure if he's trying to make Kiba seem like a good person or enforce a threat. Either way Sasuke agrees and all three of them hop in his bright navy blue Jeep. Naruto in the middle.
They don't talk about it further but it is no doubt in Naruto's mind that he is worried. Hinata is sweet and innocent and doesn't exactly like the extremities that relationships can cause (which was a reason why Naruto and her had broken up). She usually likes to keep herself occupied with a good book (which was a reason why Sasuke and her got along) but she was not aloof and was a total optimistic (which was the reason why Lee had told her to go for it when Kiba asked her out). However it was no secret to any of the boys that Kiba wasn't the most trustworthy in relationships.
Naruto hardly worried about Hinata since her overprotective cousin was stalking every corner to make sure she was okay, but he was graduating this year and so that meant that the three boys would have to keep an eye on her. Which meant spying in Sasuke case and protecting in Lee's.
Naruto turns his head to the boy with the bowl cut and snickers slightly to himself. He truly can't believe Lee went that far as to look like his idol Guy sensei, the guy in all the workout videos for Lee's fitness classes.
Since middle school Lee looked up to the guy, and Naruto had slightly envied that Lee had met him. And since that day Lee insisted in looking just like the guy. Which sadly for Sasuke, meant that Lee wore a green spandex suit to every fitness class, and good for Naruto since he wasn't in fitness.
"Hey Naruto?" Lee asks and Naruto blinks, since he has been caught staring.
"Hmm?" He tries to hold down his blush.
"What exactly happened with you Sakura-chan?"
Naruto feels Sasuke tense to his left but ignores it. It always happens. "We broke up. Why?"
Lee blushes slightly and looks down at his jeans. "Ah, forgive me for asking. It's of no importance. I was just curious since you were not with her after school. That's all." And Naruto nods in understanding.
His and Sakura's relationship could be confusing for people who didn't know him. They were the definition of 'off again on again couples'. It was odd why they couldn't stick to their relationship. Sakura was usually the one to break up with him, Naruto was usually the one who'd come crawling back, and for some odd reason she'd accept him. Not that he minded.
Sasuke huffs out a breath and thrust his hand into the compartment glove of his Jeep, taking out a box of cigarettes.
"That is not youthful!" Lee whines his hand already coming to cover his nose. Naruto smiles softly at the scene and patts Lee arm, possibly with a little too much vigor since it sends the bowl cut boy tumbling to the front where the fan lay.
Sasuke scoffs and lights the cigarette, of course, before they are even off campus and Naruto can't help but give a glare to the ravenette. Yet the cold look Sasuke gives him is a lot more coaxing and Naruto silences himself before he can chide his best friend. However Sasuke does let Lee go off on how toxic cigarettes are. But every time Naruto nods in agreement, Sasuke elbows him.
In short, Sasuke is in a good mood.
As they leave the campus barely anybody says anything about the suspicious smoke wavering from Sasuke car. Yet everyone stares. And once they leave the campus Sasuke turns on the radio, indicating that he does not want to hear Lee list off any more 'unyouthful' things, that the boy in the bowl cut seems to be reading off of on a mental list in his head.
The music that plays is pop and Lee is dancing as best he can in the small space that is provided for him the Jeep. Naruto notices that he especially feels like dancing when remixes and dubstep comes on. And Naruto tries to join in but Sasuke stops him.
'I'm driving and I won't die because of you dancing.' So Naruto frowns and stops but doesn't hesitate to sing some lyrics of the songs he does know. It irks Sasuke to no end when Naruto does that. And it seems that Naruto has encouraged Lee to do so too.
Even if the bowl cut boy sings out of tune and mumbles most of the words because Lee doesn't listen to pop, it doesn't stop him from going all out.
Soon they are having a party in Sasuke's Jeep, and Sasuke is surprisingly singing along with them; albeit quietly.
When they drop off Lee he is quick to bow and wave and thank Sasuke for giving him the opportunity to join such a wonderful car ride - those are his exact words. And Sasuke nods, waiting until Lee is inside to drive off.
"So, are we headed to the arcade?" Naruto asks when he notices Sasuke doesn't takes the main road to Naruto's house.
However Naruto is ignored for a good few minutes, the pop music is now turned on low so that you can only really just hear the bass.
"Are you going to get together again?" Sasuke's voice is steely and dry and Naruto doesn't like that. Naruto has already slipped into the passenger seat so he doesn't have the luxury of seeing any subtle hints at anger or frustration. Those are usually the emotions that are in Sasuke's eyes- if only for a brief second- when he talks of Sakura.
Naruto sighs. "Yes-No, I don't know." He rest his cheek on his palm and looks out the window.
"I guess what I mean is are you going to ask her out...again."
"Maybe."
Naruto doesn't catch the way Sasuke's lips twitch down into a frown for only a half second.
"But not right now...I think I'll just hang out with the buddies." And Naruto hopes to sound sincere he really does, and just to add to he grins; sheepishly he suspects but it is still a grin.
And Naruto sticks to that. For the rest of the week Naruto is plunged into activities with Lee and Sasuke and even Hinata, with Kiba tagging along at times. They all reside to going to the arcade or the fair. Sasuke even suggests a camping trip; guys only.
For that whole week Naruto spends his time with Sasuke mostly. For that whole week they are inseparable. And it is for the rest of that week that Sasuke is in a good mood.
On Sunday when Naruto says he is going to speak with Sakura, Sasuke's mood falters.