Warnings: There will be definite boyxboy action later in this story.
Disclaimer: I'd make it my New Year's Resolution to actually own Naruto, but, since it'll never happen...-sighs- I like my resolutions to be achievable, and sadly, I don't think that this one would be...grrr...
Chapter One: An Unexpected Resolution
"Hn. Even an idiot like him wouldn't forget something like this."
"I heard that, bastard!" I yelled, bursting through the door and pointing at him. Uchiha Sasuke, that is. Bane of my existence and best friend. Yeah, I never figured out the combination, either. He just rolled his eyes at me. I was just about to go set his ass straight when I heard a sound that made my blood freeze.
"Uzumaki Naruto, where the hell have you been!?" I yelped and made a dash for Sasuke, putting him in between me and the source of my current terror, Yamanaka Ino. She was petite, blond-haired, blue-eyed, and the only person I was actually afraid of. I'd take on the teme before I'd take on her every time.
Sasuke glared down (yes, down, damnit, because he had somehow managed to gain three inches on me) at me while I tried to hide behind him. Actually, his taller stature came in handy in this situation. "I-Ino, I can explain! I was...I was...doing homework! Yeah, I was doing homework, and I lost track of time!"
"Naruto, you are such a horrible liar! You never do homework unless Sasuke rides your ass about it. You forgot!" I cringed and ducked further behind the teme.
"I-I'm sorry!" I then proceeded to play a game of ring-around-the-bastard with Ino, until said bastard intervened.
"Dobe." He grabbed my shirt and jerked me to a halt, turning his attention to Ino. "Were you going to hit him in the head?"
She blinked, obviously as surprised as I was that he spoke a sentence longer than five words. "Well, yeah."
"You shouldn't. He can't afford the lost brain cells."
"Hey!" I yanked myself free and glared at him. He snorted and glanced to my left, where my genius (read as lazy) friend Nara Shikamaru was standing.
"I retract my previous statement. It appears the dobe was idiotic enough to forget." I bristled, but decided to let that one go, because, sadly, it was true. I had to admit, forgetting Ino's party was one of the most idiotic things a person could do.
Huffing, I turned away to see who else was here. Although, if even Shikamaru had beat me here, there was almost no chance anyone else was missing. Blinking, I realized Ino had really gone all-out on the decorating, although I was positive Sakura had helped, since the party was being held in her and Ino's dorm. I smiled thinking about the two.
It was hilarious how they had ended up best friends, because at first they were determined to kill each other. Freshman year, they had been unwilling roommates ready to gouge each other's eyes out, and now, sophomore year, they had practically begged to stay together.
Shikamaru shared a room with Kiba, my partner in crime, who was snuggled suspiciously close to a tomato-red Hyuuga Hinata on the other side of the room. Her cousin, Hyuuga Neji, was watching with narrowed eyes, while his best friend Rock Lee stood beside him, shouting about youth and love. I was surprised he wasn't following Sakura around like a lost puppy...wait. Where was Sakura?
"Ino!" I shouted, forgetting for a moment she was very unhappy with me.
"What?" She snapped back, glaring. I was completely unaffected, though. I had lived through Uchiha glares too many times to be bothered by hers.
"Where's Sakura?" Seriously, I knew she wasn't here. It was hard to miss all the pink hair. Plus, she would have mauled me for being late, too. I was less intimidated by her than Ino, though. Sakura's bark was worse than her bite, which was pretty much the opposite of Ino. If Ino ever started really getting worked up, I prepared for the apocalypse. Note to self: NEVER tell them you compared them to dogs. Second note to self: Remind Kiba I knew why his nickname was dog-breath.
Ino's voice yanked me back to the conversation at hand. "I think she went to get more ice. She'll be back." Ino's voice was much less snappish now. Phew. I had barely avoided death.
Suddenly something heavy landed on my back, sending me sprawling. Damnit, I had trained in karate with Sasuke. Where the hell were my reflexes at? Said weight removed itself from my back and laughed at me, because said weight was Kiba. "Dude, what the hell happened to all that karate?" I flipped him the bird. "Anyway, how the hell did you manage to forget a New Year's Eve party? Especially one held by Ino?" I growled and risked a glance at said blond to see if she heard.
"Can it, dog-breath. I just barely avoided that massacre." Grinning, he slung an arm around my shoulder. Suddenly, an idea struck me and I smirked at him. Seeing my look, his eyes narrowed. "So...how's Hinata?" I asked innocently. Instantly he began to blush,
"Shut up." He glanced across the room and looked at Hinata. "Actually, I need to, um, go for a walk."
"A walk across the room to a certain Hyuuga?"
"Shut up!" He smacked me on the head and walked away. Rubbing at my sore spot, I glared after him. What was it, pick on Naruto night? If it was, it was a pity that the champion wasn't getting in on it. I shot the teme a glare. Of course, he HAD to be looking at me at this particular moment. He arched one eyebrow, and I stuck my tongue out at him. His eye roll just screamed the word 'childish' at me. Giving him one final glare, I turned away, watching everyone chat and fool around.
Thinking about it, it was odd that we had all become friends with each other. It was something that didn't happen a lot. Of course, we had a little help in that some of us already knew each other. Like, of course Hinata and Neji were already close. And Shikamaru, Ino, and Chouji, whom I noticed snacking in a corner, had formed their own group before blending into the larger one we had now. That was helped by the fact that Ino and Shikamaru had known each other since the day they were born, literally.
And of course, there was the duo that was Sasuke and I. We had been rivals since we were little, always trying to outdo each other with everything. When Sasuke started karate, of course I had to learn it, too. We had way outclassed all the other students, and were the only challenging opponents for each other. We still sparred, actually, and one of these days, we would break our damn perpetual tie. We either both collapsed, or, if one of us won, the other evened the score out the next time. I was going to beat him one of these days.
Of course, somehow that extreme rivalry translated into a close friendship. So close that we followed each other to the same college and became roommates. And of course, we both had to be going to school for art. Just another thing we competed over. Why I had to take actual classes when all I really wanted to do with my life was draw, paint, and create beautiful artwork, I had no idea. The teme, of course, had no issues with the damn workload, and was doing perfect in all his classes. Not me. Ino had been right when she said that the only time I did my homework was when Sasuke "rode my ass." Which was a lot. Sadly, he was in most of my classes, and he always knew when I had homework in those classes. And the rest too, because Kiba was in all the classes with me that Sasuke wasn't, and found it "funny" to keep the bastard informed so that he made me do my work.
Speaking of Kiba, I guess he could be considered the reason that Sasuke and I became friends with Shikamaru and their group. I use the term 'friends' lightly when describing Sasuke. He was seriously antisocial. Because Kiba was roommates with Shikamaru last year as well, and I had Kiba in a ton of my classes, we all sort of drifted together. And because Ino and Sakura were roommates, we had to listen to Ino whine about her everyday. Curiosity got the better of me, and I just had to meet her. Well, long story short, she was incorporated into our group. Alright, so everyone thought I had crushed on her. A lot. But I hadn't, really I hadn't, and we were just awesome friends. She had a thing for Sasuke though, which bugged me, and I could never figure out why. I guess it was because I was such good friends with her, and he never liked anyone, ever, period, and I felt bad that she would never get him, or something like that.
Somehow Hinata had drifted into our group (I wasn't actually sure how that had happened, and so I figure it was one of the other kids who first became friends with her), and with her came Neji and Lee, who had a major thing for Sakura. I glanced around, not spotting Tenten, but she was probably around here somewhere. She had drifted in with Neji, and I was almost positive the two had a thing going on. I KNEW Ino and Shikamaru did, but they would never admit it.
Anyway, somehow, even though we were all from different groups, we had all clicked, for the most part. Almost everyone in this room was friends with everyone else. Well, the teme I wasn't so sure about, but he went where I went for the most part, and vice-versa, so he had to deal.
I felt something knock against my head, and I jumped, startled out of my thoughts. Damn, where the hell were the reflexes at? Did they take a night off?
Glancing up, I saw it was the teme himself. Well, speak of the devil. Literally. "Don't think so much, dobe. You'll hurt yourself." I glared at him. "Sakura's looking for you." I broke away from my glare and glanced around, easily picking out her pink hair.
"Sakura!" I shouted, and all heads turned to face me. Beside me, the teme shifted and stared at me in a way that in knew meant, 'loudmouth.' I narrowed my eyes at him. "Shut up."
"I didn't say anything."
"You were thinking something."
"Unlike you." I growled, but was distracted when I felt a tug on my sleeve.
"Will you two quit it? This is a party, not a debate." I grinned and looked down at Sakura.
"Hey, I have something for you!" I shouted, carefully navigating my way to the door. Triumphantly, I grabbed what I had left outside and carried it back in, watching as everyone eyed it curiously. I couldn't blame them. It WAS a really big rectangle covered by cloth. Making my way back to Sakura, I carefully held it up. "Happy New Year's!"
She reached up carefully and pulled on the cloth, revealing the painting underneath. I was suitably rewarded when her breath hitched. The teme stepped back to look at it, too, and I knew he deemed it acceptable when his eyes lingered instead of just glancing. It was a painting of cherry-blossom trees in full bloom.
Sakura and I were always doing this type of thing. We gave each other little presents all the time. Ok, so this one wasn't little, and it had taken a hell of a long time, but it was worth it to see the look on her face. Plus, it suited her, what with her name and all. "I love it," she breathed, and I grinned from ear to ear.
Usually, I didn't give my paintings as presents, so everyone knew when I gave them one, it was special. Even Kiba had hung the one I made for him in his dorm, and it was meant to tease, because it was a painting of the dog we had gotten him to french kiss while drunk (hence dog-breath). Shikamaru had one of cumulus clouds, which he had also hung, and Ino had a painting of a cute baby boar (which had almost gotten me killed, but the baby boar WAS cute, and she liked it, so I survived). They had all been gifts for birthdays or special occasions, and I guess the start of a new year meant Sakura's qualified as one too. Within seconds, everyone had swarmed around, and was complimenting the picture. Hinata even commented to Sakura that she was jealous, and I made a note to paint her something soon. Still, I noticed that, even with all the people jostling around, Sasuke hadn't moved. He was still staring at the painting, and, for one second, his stoic mask slipped, and I was almost positive he looked troubled.
Suddenly, his head rose and he met my gaze. Our eyes locked, and he nodded curtly before breaking the eye contact and moving away. I was shocked. Had Sasuke...actually just given me real approval?
The moment was broken when the door banged open and a whole bunch of kids we didn't know filtered into room. Well, the party had officially been crashed. Delicately, Sakura took the painting from me and settled it into the closet to keep it safe from the party.
Smiling, she came back over to me and glanced over to the other side of the room, looking irritated. I followed her gaze and understood why. All the girls had congregated on the other side of the room, surrounding, you guessed it, Sasuke. Damn teme, he got all the girls all the time! I had no idea why they like him. He was cold, and made it very clear he had no interest in any of them. Apparently, that just made him hotter or some crap. I felt my eye start to twitch. I heard Kiba laugh beside me.
"Jealous?"
"Damn right I'm jealous!"
"Why? Can't share your boyfriend?"
"Exact-wait, what!? Kiba, are you drunk?!" He broke out into hysterical laughter while my eye continued to twitch. "Kiba, I have no idea what you're on, but I'm jealous because the teme gets all the girls without trying, not because I like the teme!"
"Ooookay, Suuuure, Naruto. That's it."
"It is!"
"Naruto, you have to admit, you two are pretty close." I gasped. Sakura had turned traitor, and after I just gave her that awesome painting.
"Sakura, how could you? And after all the painting I did?" I pouted, and she instantly looked guilty. Yes, I could pout, look adorable, and make girls guilty. And I looked damn good doing it. I grinned, and she swatted me on the arm.
"It's not nice to make me feel guilty, idiot!" Suddenly, Ino popped up beside me and scared me enough to make me jolt a little. I had given up on my reflexes. Obviously, they had decided to abandon me and leave me defenseless. I hated them, and I would tell them so should they ever return.
"Sakura, what's your New Year's Resolution?"
"I want to lose five pounds." I snorted. Girls and their weight. She didn't need to lose five pounds. "How about you?"
Ino's eyes betrayed her and darted over to Shikamaru, who, somehow, had managed to doze off during a party on Ino's bed. "I...want to draw more attention to myself, and get noticed." Both of them suddenly focused on me.
"What about you, Naruto?" Hmm, a good question. Well, last year I had resolved to finally beat the teme, and that didn't really work out. Plus, I didn't want to repeat myself. That would just be boring. I could resolve to do better with my art, but I was always trying to do that, so that wasn't really anything new.
"I guess I don't really have one."
"Well, that's boring!"
"Yeah, you need to have a resolution!"
I scratched the back of my head, thinking, but nothing came to mind. "Sorry guys, I just can't think of one. Maybe something will come to me."
I glanced over at the time and jumped. "Hey, look! Turn on the t.v. or we'll miss the ball drop!" Sakura flicked the television on and the ball came on screen. Since all of our group had gathered to see the painting, almost everyone was in a position to see the ball, except... "Hey, teme, get your ass over here! You'll miss the ball!" He scoffed, but complied and came to stand beside me.
"Ten, nine, eight, seven, six..." Just then, someone (probably one of the damn party crashers) shoved me hard trying to see the screen, and I went toppling over, crashing into Sasuke. Apparently, his reflexes had deserted him for the evening too, because he went down with me. A look of shock flashed across his eyes as we landed hard on the floor, and, just as everyone shouted "happy new year!" our lips collided.
We both froze. Suddenly heat sparked up out of nowhere and I felt warmth bubbling in the pit of my stomach. Shocked, I jerked my head back and stared down at him. For once, his mask wasn't in place, and I'm pretty sure his face was the mirror image of my own. Slowly, I delicately hoisted myself off of him, and he followed me up.
"Um...hehe....sorry. One of the annoying party crashers shoved me, and...yeah...."
"Hn." And he walked away. Slowly, I brought my fingers up and touched my lips. New year's resolution: Figure out what the hell just happened.
A/N: Yep, inspired by it being the new year and all. Please tell me what you think! I probably won't continue with this if the response isn't good, because I'm as lazy as Shikamaru and don't see the point in continuing a story no one likes. Oh, and I try my best to eliminate all typos, but if you find one, please let me know!