Inspired from a song entitled Oklahoma by Billy Gilman from the album One Voice. This is an AU fic. So no shinobis, no kunais, no jutsus and stuffs. They're living in a city and goes to high school. That's all I'm telling for now. Enjoy!

Disclaimer : I don't own Naruto. Don't sue me. I'm broke! Naruto © Kishimoto Masashi

The Boy in the Picture

Chapter 1 : Lunch and Bento

© eiirisa

Suitcase packed with all his things

Car pulls up, the doorbell rings

He don't want to go

He thought he'd found his home...

"Isn't granny coming out?" his voice was hopeful. There were sorrows trailing from his voice as he turned his head to look at the black Benz he just came out from. He couldn't see her inside. All the windows were tinted dark. But he was sure that she was watching him.

"You know she hates goodbyes," whispered the middle aged man who carried the boy's luggage as he pats his shoulder. His eyes spelt sadness. I hate goodbyes too.

"Isn't she's the one to deal this hand over stuffs?" the man can tell that the boy was hurt. He was very close to granny but now they'll go their separate ways, lead their own separate lives, probably can never see each other again.

"Why isn't she's coming out yet?" he was hopeful, eyes still on the Benz. She won't step out of the car.

"C'mon, now," the man gestured him to the doorstep. "They're anxious to see you."

"Well, not me!" he drew back and sulked. He's fifteen and sulking never suited him, but today he deserved to sulk, after what had been taken away from him. "You guys just want to get rid of me!"

"Hey, it's not like that," with caring tone, the man knelt and held his shoulders. "We want you to be with us all the time. We really wanted you to stay. But our job is getting you a better life, not sending you away."

"This is hard for us, as much as it is hard for you," he continued. "But we've all worked our best to find them, right? You've always wondered who they were, what are they like... You even dreamed about them, remember?"

He couldn't seem to comfort him. The boy was still sulking with eyes staring down at his shoes. He knew how he feels. He'd gone through such feelings too, only the difference is, this boy was lucky because he still have them. He wished he could convince the boy how important today is for him. And for them too.

"Personally, I hated it when the news came," the man let out a heavy sigh. He didn't know what to say anymore.

The boy was deep in thought. This man had always been the one who soothed his feelings when he's down, but now, it didn't help changing the situation he's about to face. Yes, these peoples meant good. He knew they loved him as much as he do. He knew them too well to know that if they can choose, they'll never let him go. And he didn't want to go but he had no choice.

When the news came, he had to leave the place he called home. The place he loved so much. The place he felt belong. He wanted to be angry, he wanted to blame somebody for the things that had happened, and what's about to happen. But he can't find anyone to blame. It was nobody's fault after all.

"Cheer up, okay?" the man stood up to ring the doorbell. He wasn't cheering up either.

"No," the boy stopped him and looked him in the eye. "Don't do it."

"Naruto, we really need to do this," he reasoned. "It's for your own future."

"No, we're not we anymore," he had put aside his sulky mood. He's taking control of his feelings, like he used to. He wanted to take charge of his fate. He wanted to take charge of his destiny.

He knew he was on his own now. So he's going to make his own decisions.

The man beside him was getting more worried. He fidgeted in his shirt and sighed as he glanced behind him at the Benz. Yes, she's not going to get out at all. If she was out here, maybe the boy would listen.

"It's only me now," he took a step forward. "I will ring the bell."

5 days ago.

As the school bell rang, the deserted hallway of Konoha High was once again filled with crowds of students relieved to know that class is over and that its time for lunch. And time to catch up on things with friends from another class. Time to checkout the notice boards for interesting events. Time to get some nap before the next class starts. Time to chill.

Some students would stay in their classroom; some would relax on the roof, and girls on diet can always be found touching up their complexions in the washroom. More often than not, they would exchange new gossips about boyfriends, new kid, magazine models, latest fads and accessories... and the Uchiha boy.

"I heard he rejected another girl," someone would just start the key line topic and the washroom would turn into a lively forum. Such line always has its way to be associated with the Uchiha boy, one way or another. He's handsome, drop-dead gorgeous and even single!

Uchiha Sasuke was known as the most wanted hot guy in Konoha High and everything about him is just perfect. He's everything in a guy a girl could dream about. His eyes, his hair, his voice, his body, his hands, his coolness, his intelligence, and the list goes on. They can come up with something new to adore about him all the time without fail. He was a topic compulsory to be made into discussions every recess, five times a week.

Lots of girls would compete with each other like it's the end of the world, and he's the only guy alive. Girls don't just crave for him, they'd die for him. They'd do anything in the world to get him. If anyone knew that some girl was going to tell him her feelings, someone would approach him first. It was a race. This had occurred several times but his answer was always devastating.

"You're not my type," he would say to the gutsy girls who came up to him. No 'sorry', no 'we can be friends'. Nothing. Just rejection. And soon, girls started to think that he don't like gutsy girls, so they'd be shy, soft-spoken, humble and anything close to down to earth. But still, their plans never succeed.

While the gossipers were briefed with the same unchanging news that seem to get juicier and juicier as the numbers of rejection grows, two girls who were never part of the forum, left the washroom after they're satisfied with their flawless touch ups.

"Always crazy over Sasuke," the long haired blonde rolled her sky blue eyes as she wiped her wet hands on her hankie. Her hair was tied into a high pony and among all other girls, she wore the shortest skirt.

"Were we like that before?" her pink haired best friend muttered. Different from the blonde, her hair was short. Finely trimmed above her shoulder and she was among the few girls who prefer not to have sleeves on their uniform. "I mean, why were we like that before?"

"Believe me, I don't know!" she ducked closer to her friend and they both broke into little giggles of the memories they shared about what happened a long time ago.

"Back then, we'd waited forever for him," the pink haired girl chuckled as she recalled. Her emerald eyes looked up to the ceiling as if their past were written there. "Right, miss rival?"

"But now," the blonde tucked the hankie in her pockets. "We're both taken and he's waiting forever for yo –"

"Oi, what were you girls giggling about?" a lazy voice greeted them from behind. It was a lean boy whose hair was black and tied up with a thin rubber band. He didn't tuck his shirt in and there was no evidence of whether he took his tie off, or he had left it at home. Besides the slack appearance, there was something about it that makes him looked neat.

"Ah, Shikamaru!" the blonde straightaway wrapped her hands around his. The dark haired boy who had his hands shoved into his pockets, kept his slouching posture. "I thought you left without me?"

"Tch, do you intend to forgive me if I do, Ino?" he looked down at her who was still chuckling. "Troublesome..."

"Hey, let's get to the café already," said a chubby guy who followed behind Shikamaru. He had some chip crisps left on his lips and he still looked hungry. He was beaming about something. "It's roast beef this week!"

"Roast beef or not, you'll always drag me to come with you," the slouching guy snorted. Suddenly he was starting to lose his balance. "And don't you realize, you're about to drag me down to the floor, Ino?"

But his complains fell on deaf ears.

"Chouji, you can use some diet," Ino poked her finger into his round belly. He could barely button his jacket. "Sakura, do you want to come with us?"

"No, you guys go ahead," the said friend replied. "I brought bento with me."

"Aww, sweet," Ino tighten her wrap around her boyfriend's arm. She leaned her head on the edge of his shoulders. "We should do that sometime, ne? Shikamaru?"

"Yeah, Shikamaru, we should," Chouji agreed more. He usually aware that he's always bugging his two friends' romantic time together. It's not like he wanted to, but its Shikamaru and Ino who told him to be a good lamppost. It wasn't an insult but rather a compliment; an appreciation, he's proud of. "Does your mom still make teriyakis?"

"That's right, Shikamaru," she got more excited. "And I can make some tempura too!"

"Let's go now," he groaned, quickly ignoring the bento topic. But secretly, he thought it wasn't a bad idea too. This shows when he scratched the back of his neck. That's a sign that he might consider things even if it was too troublesome.

"See ya, Sakura!" Chouji was the only one who bade her. Sakura waved them and later went back to her class to fetch her bentos.

As she carried them with her, she strode off to the last class at the end of the floor. When she got in, there were a few students who seemed to skip lunch; chatting away with each other or either stuck in a book.

"Hello, Sakura, I thought you'll never come," a boy with black hair greeted her as he cleaned the blackboard. He has a sharp feature and dressed neatly than other boys do. Hair groomed, shirt tucked in, jacket seamed well and buttoned, tie in place, pants ironed to the line, and black shoes shined. He was the intellectual type. "Let me finish this first before we find somewhere nice to have lunch."

"Forget it," her manner was aloof. She always thought he's bad at pickup lines. "Where's Naruto?"

"When lovers have problems, they tend to find their own space and avoid each other," he smilingly said. "That's what I read in a –"

"Shut it, Sai!" she snapped. She wasn't having any problems with Naruto at all. She didn't like the way Sai was making fun of her. "You read too much unnecessary stuffs. Now, have you seen him or not?"

"He complained about how he's unable to breathe when you're around," he wiped the upper side of the board. "Maybe he went to somewhere he can take some air. You know, breathe."

"Let me guess, was that from a book too?" she was getting fed up by now.

"No," he was done wiping and started to dust off the chalks from his hands. "He told me you made him lose his breath... or something like that."

"It's called 'take my breath away', genius," she blushed when she said this. What's up with Naruto telling someone about this? Especially to Sai!

"Oh, yeah," he nodded without expressions. "That's how he said it."

"Spill it, I don't have a lifetime!" she was getting impatient.

"He went to the washroom in the middle of class," he informed. It wasn't defeat, he was going to tell her anyway. "But he never returned. Iruka-sensei was displeased, you know?"

"Well, figures," she went out, pleased enough with his reply. "Thanks, anyway!"

"Anytime, hag."

Suddenly, a slap resounded in the class and distracted everyone from their activity. They all fix their eyes on the Class Rep, and his already swollen cheek. Sai did it again. Why were they not surprised?

To be continued...

Thanks for reading. I haven't brought you to the plot yet but trust me, this is going to get better and better. Plus, something's coming up on the next chapter and I have to blame Manga Chap 347 for that. Arghh! Kishi-sama, what have you done?!!