Well, here is the second chapter, it was originally going to be Second and Third. So, if it seams a little odd halfway through you'll know why. This is twice as long as I planned!! Tell me if you like them longer or shorter, I can write them faster if they are shorter, but if you like them long it'll take longer. So, tell me what you want! I want to know so I can make the next one right, and maybe a bit more meaningful...

Disclaimer: I still don't own Naruto. 'Cause if I did, it would make Gravitation and Loveless completely look straight.

Stop Talking to Me

Naruto awoke with a start; woken unceremoniously by his alarm. Too busy last night, thinking about Sasuke, to bother with turning off the blaring thing, before this happened. Oh well. He hated waking up early on the weekends. But, through many a trail and error, he knew he wouldn't fall asleep this rude awakening. He whipped his warm covers off his legs as he stood, wearing only his light blue pajama pants. He would have been wearing his odd black and white sleeping cap, if he could find in the war zone he called home.

The blonde stretched lazily, making his way carefully to the small kitchen. Some people liked to have cereal for breakfast, but some people, like Naruto, ate ramen for every meal unless given a better option. And as Naruto realized in dismay, he didn't have much of an option either way. His main choices consisted of fowl smelling milk (he didn't bother tasting it) or dust. Great, he needed to buy more ramen.

So the fox-like boy sighed in resignation and went back to his wreck of a room. He traded his blue pajama bottoms for a pair of ripped jeans that had been strewn from his bed to the floor. Yawning, he pulled on a black t-shirt as he closed the door on his way out. He ruffled his messy blonde spikes back into what no one would consider 'order'. With every sound and the small city built around the school, and every person bustling past, his bright blue eyes lost more of their glassy sleepiness. The way they drifted over all of the shops and different foods, you'd be fooled into believing he was thinking about where to go for breakfast. But, in this town it was, by now, purely instinct. He closed his eyes and smiled in contentment as the smell of ramen wafted from the Ichiraku stand.

Naruto settled onto one of the many open stools in front of the counter. Ichiraku didn't often have business in the morning. The old man behind the counter nodded in Naruto's direction and began to make his usual miso ramen.

"Hey, Naruto. Haven't seen you in the mornings in while. Just run out of your own supply?" He placed the steaming bowl before the hungry teen.

"Yeah, I'm gonna have to get some more!" Naruto managed to fit in between mouthfuls of his favorite dish.

"Ha, well business isn't nearly as fun without you!" The old man laughed. Naruto slurped up the last of the noodles. Putting the bowl to his lips, he began drinking down what was left of the broth. The curtain behind him shifted, signaling a new customer had entered. Blue eyes lifted to meet bored obsidian orbs. Sasuke.

Naruto nearly choked on his soupy drink. He set his bowl back on the counter and slammed the money down. Waving goodbye to the man, and leaving hurriedly.

"That was weird. Naruto usually stays for, at least, a second helping." Sasuke's expression looked surprised, well, as surprised as Uchihas can look. He was grasping for an explanation, finally his memory flickered back to their last conversation with a smirk. The Uchiha took a seat. So, Naruto wasn't going to talk to him. It could do the blonde some good to shut up for once, in Sasuke's opinion. And as far as the dark-haired boy was concerned, he was always right.

Naruto strode through the nearby park. He'd lost most of his quick pace, now that he was a good distance from Ichiraku's. Giving him the opportunity to think about what had just happened.

Why did Sasuke have to show up? That rich jerk probably has plenty to eat at his house, and he knows I always eat there! I bet he just wants to mess with me! Fine, but I'm still not talking to that teme, whether he wants me to or not! He nodded defiantly to himself and sat comfortably down on a wooden bench he'd found on his way. Naruto was only going to the school by way of what he assumed you would call a scholarship. Not that anyone, other than himself, considered him all that smart. No, it had something to do with an inheritance from his deceased parents. He'd never met them, but he figured they must have been pretty good people to set this up for him.

Sasuke was in somewhat of the same set-up. It was what had originally gave them reason to form any bond of friendship. The only difference was Sasuke, being the sole heir to the Uchiha name, was filthy rich. It wasn't like he'd asked for it. He just let it show through his every maneuver. It hadn't annoyed Naruto until Sasuke said they shouldn't be friends anymore. He said it flat out, like some royal talking to a peasant! Or, at least, that's how Naruto saw it.

He groaned, not really wanting to recall the memory. They had been so close, it just didn't make sense to him. He laid his head back against the worn wood, enjoying the warmth of the sun on his face. He could hear some younger kids playing, the soft wind rustling both the tree and his yellow-y locks, the sun settling on his skin; it was just too perfect. He'd been denied the chance to sleep-in this morning, why not take a little nap? And before he could come up with a good enough reason not to, he drifted into a light slumber. Knowing full well, he probably looked like some hobo.

Later-

Naruto came to the conclusion that he had a knack for waking up under bad circumstances. This time with a long stick jabbing methodically into his cheek. His eyes shot open, glaring daggers at the kid holding the thin branch. He dropped the stick instantly, and giggled in the most child-like way as he ran back to his friends. They all praised him for his bravery. Naruto grumbled groggily, rubbing his abused cheek. He bolted up right, the sun was setting and a chill had settled in the air.

"Ah, man! How long was I asleep?!" He yelled at no one in particular. He scolded himself, silently now. He obviously hadn't planned on spending his Saturday like a bum on a park bench. He straightened his clothes, stomping angrily through the town. Receiving a protest from his forgotten stomach, he stopped at Ichiraku again. He sat on the same stool and murmured unhappily into his folded arms.

"Where did you run off to, Naruto?" The grey man questioned. Starting another miso for the favorite blonde customer.

"I don't want to talk about it." He subconsciously stressed the word 'talk'.

"Well, that's okay." The man chuckled at Naruto's behavior. "You know that kid that came in when you, uh left?"

"Yeah?"

"He left right after you did, smiling. I mean, I got a little laugh out of the scene. But, it was like he knew something I didn't." He gave Naruto his ramen and continued. "What was that about, anyway?"

"Nothing." He mumbled into his food. Did Sasuke find this funny?

Monday after school was the next appointed meeting time for Team 7. They were going to be in charge of the hall decorations for the Spring Festival. Surprisingly Kakashi was the first to arrive, worried about how he was going to break the news to his little 'team'. Sakura came in soon after and sat quietly waiting for the boys. When everyone was there, Kakashi told them they're assignment.

"So, we have to decorate ALL of the halls!" Sakura howled.

"Yeah. How about we choose our colors? Naruto, what do you think?" Kakashi turned to the silent blonde. Naruto was about to speak, his eyes flickered to Sasuke's smirk. "Nothing," Then he clamped his mouth shut. Using Naruto's rare restraint the raven spoke up.

"What was that, Naruto?" He practically sneered. Naruto looked away, tight-lipped and ignoring Sasuke's goading.

"I think we should do pink! That's a spring color!" Sakura tried to throw in her two-cents on the obvious spring colors. Not noticing the tension between the boys.

"Oh, but Naruto and I think it should be black and red. Right, Naruto?" The other boy pretended to be particularly interested in a mark on the desk. He refused to answer.

"For the Spring festival, Sasuke?" Kakashi pressed questioningly.

"Oh, yeah." Sasuke nodded with a smirk towards Naruto. When all he received was more silence, he spoke again. "And we can take that as a 'yes'. Unless, you would like to say otherwise, Naruto."

Naruto knew he was just trying to prove that he could break his resolve, but this was stupid. 'Oh, wow. I'm not talking to you. That is so funny.' Naruto rolled his eyes. Kakashi, sensing this wasn't going to stop anytime soon, decided the colors himself.

"Pink and orange." The girl squealed with delight, and Naruto smiled for the first timed during their meeting. Sasuke, who'd had his fun antagonizing Naruto, just 'Hn'd and settled for staring out the window until Kakashi dismissed them.

Sasuke was on his way to their usual classroom, where they met as Team 7 after school. He was considering whether or not he would make an attempt at getting Naruto to speak again. He had just come to the decision that it was much too childish for him to be doing, when he heard laughter. It lifted up out of the classroom. It wasn't Sakura's, hers was high and flinty. It was Naruto's, low and tolerantly raspy. He didn't notice the remote smile crawl across his pale face, but it was there when he stepped into the classroom. Naruto's fox-like grin dropped and his laughter cut off. He descended into what must have been his previous position in his chair. Sasuke sighed subtly, seating himself neatly. The quiet was uncomfortable with the laughter still hanging in the air. Sakura coughed, breaking the bitter silence. Kakashi appeared out of nowhere, filling the classroom with the noise of rustling paper and a few bells.

"Naruto, can you help me with this?"

"Sure, Kakashi!" He answered easily; to anyone but Sasuke.

The blonde nodded and hurried up to catch the decorations before they tumbled off the large teachers' desk. They were extensive and beautiful, Naruto noted in undirected hush. There were folded paper lanterns, streamers, and banners all orange and pink. Scattered with cherry blossoms and gold edging, even some red for Sasuke. Sakura leapt up, "Kakashi-sensei! They're gorgeous! Where did you get all of it?" She ran forward, brushing her fingers over both the ornate and simple patters on the colored paper. Naruto grinned lifting the ornaments revealing more, and more beneath.

"Oh, here and there." Kakashi answered simply. "Do you think it's going to be enough?" Sasuke walking forward, glancing momentarily at the current center of attention.

"I should hope that's all we'll need." The boy stated blandly, obviously weary of the responsibility this was going to become.

A/N: Hobo? IDK, it just came to me, and I bet Naruto thinks like that! The next chapter Sasuke might get a little annoyed by Naruto. At this point, Sasuke doesn't realise it, but he misses Naruto's voice already!

R&R, much love!

-Cookie