New Friends?

~I could tell my life was changing
Since the minute I met you
But I would never tell you
Because I'm afraid
Afraid of falling apart~

My eye twitched, as I looked to the ground. I shouldn't have let my mom take Fang. I really really shouldn't have let her take him.

"What the hell did you do to him?"

"Oh calm down Sasuke, its only-"

"Mom! You've got pink bows on his ears." I stared down at Fang as he pawed at his ears, trying desperately to remove the objects from them. I immediately felt sorry for him, this was just torture.

"Its not so bad."

"Not bad? Mom, he's a boy, you don't put bows on a boy dog's ears." I shook my head and knelt down to pick him up.

I held him in one of my arms as I pulled the bows off of him, which I think he was grateful for his tongue hanging out and his tailing wagging was enough. "Say what you want Sasuke." I heard my mother say. "But I don't see a problem with it."

"Would you put bows in a human boys hair?" I asked her in a serious tone.

"Well no, that would be ridiculous."

"Its the same with male dogs." I held Fang to my chest, so I wouldn't drop him. "Besides he isn't some prissy Chihuahua or Shih Tzu."

My mother rolled her eyes before giggling at my words. I gave a small smirk, I knew she meant no harm; it was just a simple contest with her weird friends and when I say weird I mean WEIRD! I couldn't resist saying what I said next though.

"So, about that competition? Did you win?"

My mom laughed and hit me playfully on the arm. I had a humorous side too.

It was around four-thirty-five o'clock when I was seated at the dinner table with my parents, yes we did eat early, since my dad always had to leave at six for some business crap. I didn't know I was going to get interrogated about my life. My dad had already asked me if I found a job, and I had actually, with a local newspaper to be exact. I was just their photographer. I took the pictures of stories they were covering and other things similar to that.

I had to suppress a frustrated groan when my mom asked about my love life.

"So meet any new girls today?"

"Mom, please don't."

"Oh fine, ruin my fun why don't you?" She giggled and crossed her arms pretending to be mad. But I knew she wasn't. She never got mad at me, but my brother and my father, well...that's a different story.

After our meal was over I headed up to my room, I decided I would try to remove this damn red dye from my hair. I really don't want it to be in there anymore. I heard the doorbell ring, but I was already in my bathroom, so I let my parents get it. It was their house after all, it's not like it was my job to get it. As mean as that sounds, it was true, but I would have answered it if I was still down there anyway.

I wrapped a towel around my shoulders to avoid getting water all over my shirt. I grabbed the shampoo from the shower and put some on my hand then leaned over the sink as I switched on the water. I could have sworn I heard my mom call me but I dismissed it and continued lathering up my hair and rinsing it out repeatedly.

I heard someone approach the bathroom door, which I left open. "Hey your mom's calling you."

Having had my head turned away from the door, I couldn't see who was there. "Who's talking please?"

"Its me Naruto."

I turned to look to the door. "Oh yeah, ramen boy." I continued with what I was doing before adding, "Do you always enter strange people's bathrooms without knocking?"

"Sorry, I didn't think you'd have minded."

He suddenly came in and sat on the edge of the bathtub and rested his arms on his legs when he leaned forward, as he put in, "I'll just hang out here with you. My girlfriend said someone moved in with her neighbors and I figured it was you...So what are you doing?"

"Interpretive dance." I said sarcastically with an emotionless tone as I lifted my leg before placing my foot back on the floor, he merely shook his head. Obviously not the answer he was looking for.

"No I'm serious."

"I'm trying to remove red dye from my hair, my ex-girlfriend convinced me to dye it even though I was reluctant to."

"Why did you dye it?"

"To be different and piss some people off because I'm not afraid to be different."

"When I want to piss someone off I talk really loud and obnoxious. Though I guess I'm always like that, but I don't care I like to be different as what you said bef-"

"You know what's funny here Naruto, you keep talking to me like I'm actually listening."

"?...Oh...haha, your funny dude."

'Jeez, what's with this guy? Its like nothing phases him.'

"Whatever." I muttered when I turned the water off. I sighed with frustration when I looked in the mirror and saw that the red dye still lingered. Looks like it will take more washes to get that shit out. That just pissed me off all the more.

"So..." He drawled out through the silence

"What?"

"Wanna go hang with me and my friends, I'm sure you have nothing better to do, I mean you did just move here and all." He was a weird one, I'll admit, he doesn't even know me that well, yet he's inviting me to join him and his friends.

Honestly I was a little worried about that. If he was this annoying who knows what the people he hangs out with are like. I shook my head at the thought of there being several Naruto-like people. We only needed one Naruto and he just happened to be standing in my bathroom. Life is great isn't it....yeah not really.

"Actually I do have better things to do, I have some pictures to take." It wasn't a lie, I always went out, it was a perfect time to get some shots of nature during the day, and besides sunset would come and I'd have another to add to the galleries that are waiting for my works.

I walked out of the bathroom as I ran the towel through my hair as if were scratching my head, the blond idiot was following me, I grabbed my camera along with some extra rolls of film which I just threw in my pocket, most people would call it sophisticated, and I guess that's true since not a lot of people knew how to operate it or use the different settings for that matter.I threw the towel on the edge of my bed and fumbled with the object in my hands.

"Pictures? What for?"

"It's my job. I'm a photographer."

"Sweet, you can photograph my friends and I."

I didn't have time to respond when he suddenly grabbed my arm and dragged me from the room then down the stairs. He only let me go once we reached the living room where I saw my parents talking to two girls. One of them had dark hair and she nodded shyly at my mother's words. She wore a light blue shirt, black pants and black sandals.

The other was, wait... I recognize her; she was the girl at that club, the one that was teased by her friends. Her pink hair was all I needed to know it was her. Her red shirt and black pants went well together as well as her black flip-flops. But those green eyes of hers were...I don't know...beautiful.

Wait...what?

I think my face may have turned slightly pink after I thought that and it didn't help when she looked at me. I could have sworn I saw a blush adorn her cheeks as well. She smiled shyly and looked away in embarrassment. Probably from the last time we crossed each other.

"Sasuke." My mother addressed me, snapping me from my thoughts. "They wanted you to hang with them today."

"Oh but I-"

"Now now, don't be shy, go have some fun."

Before any of us knew it, she ushered us out of the house. She wanted me to start hanging with people; she didn't want me to be lonely so she forced me into going with them. I sighed, but I only realized Fang wasn't with me when Naruto shoved me into his car. My mom did that on purpose, very clever, she knew if Fang came, I'd be anti-social with these guys.

I sat behind Naruto in the backseat, as the pink-haired girl sat next to me with her friend in the front with Naruto. I won't lie, I am a little nervous being with these guys, I mean I don't know them, I don't know what kind of people they are, though judging from Naruto I guess they weren't so bad. Even though the blond haired boy was annoying as hell.

"Hey Sakura," Naruto said to the girl sitting next to me, "Are you going to remain silent the whole time?"

"Shut up Naruto." She pouted and crossed her arms.

They were, how do I put it, almost like siblings, the way they acted showed they really cared for each other. Even if all they did was tease each other. I figured the girl in the front was Naruto's girlfriend; the way he looked at her was proof enough for me. Her name was Hinata; I learned that bit of information when he called the girl's attention.

They started their own little chat leaving Sakura and I in an awkward position. I think she may have wanted to talk, but she hesitated, just like me. She nervously tapped her nails on her knee, apparently waiting for me to say something. When I didn't she took the liberty of starting our soon to be conversation.

"So..."

"Yeah." I drawled out as a reply, "..."

She laughed nervously, she is definitely the shy type, there was no doubt about that, which made me wonder if she's ever been around guys that weren't part of her group of friends. I really didn't know what to say to her, I wasn't much of a conversation starter. And she seemed like she could relate to that. Though she wasn't as shy as the girl in the front seat, but still close.

"Well I'm Sakura, as Naruto had said earlier." She introduced herself to me with an innocent smile.

"Sasuke."

I saw the confused look on her face since I hadn't spoke loud enough.

"My name is Sasuke."

"Oh, sorry, nice to meet you."

"Yeah, likewise."

"Um, about what happened at the bar? I'm sorry."

"Sorry for what? You didn't do anything wrong." It was my turn to be confused, "You got caught staring, so what?"

"Yeah but, aren't you mad?"

"No." I shook my head as I said this. " I only ever get mad at girls for staring at me when I'm in a relationship, or if I find them disgusting, in the way that they dress I mean."

"Was I disgusting to you?" She smiled teasingly.

"No, you and your friends uh.."

"Tenten and Ino."

"Right, you guys were dressed better than most of the girls there."

"Thanks."

My nerves were starting to calm, and it was becoming easier to talk to her. She was a good listener and she spoke like she wasn't shy at all. Maybe she just needed to get used to someone first before she becomes comfortable with them. I wanted to know an answer and it happens to be the same question I wrote on the slip of paper.

"So, are you going to answer my question?"

"What question?"

"The one I wrote on the slip of paper I handed to you."

"Oh, um that." She struggled with her words.

"Well?"

"I've never seen someone like you before."

"Someone like me? What do you mean? A goth kid? A depressed kid? A trouble-maker?"

"No. Someone who wasn't afraid to be different, no matter what they wore or how they acted. Naruto doesn't really fit in there, he's just a loud-mouthed brat."

I had to suppress a small laugh when she said that.

"I dress the way I do because I like the style, and I guess its to be different as well."

She smiled at me and I just gave a smirk. Why is it easy to talk to her? I've only ever talked seriously with Juugo, with Naruto I was a cold jerk, but that didn't seem to intimidate him. What is it about her? Maybe it was the fact that she had this aura around her that made me feel comfortable in being around her.

We arrived at our destination, it was a large park with a walkway, benches, green grass, trees, you name it, was there, well if it belonged in a park it was there. I spotted a small boy throwing a Frisbee to his dog, I just watched as the large animal jumped and caught the Frisbee in his mouth. It was one of the things I hopped to teach Fang. Of course only when he grows out of the teething stage and stops chewing the Frisbee to pieces.

And that was what I'd like to catch.

I flipped the switch which brought my camera to life, I knelt down on my right knee and held it up as I peered through the small window where I could see what I would capture. It was one of the easiest ways to make sure you were getting what you wanted and not an accidental picture. Believe me I've seen plenty.

Unlike a lot of photographers, I used film, but my camera was equipped with several of the same settings as a digital camera. Except for the whole negative, sepia and video crap that a photographer shouldn't need. Why would we need those things anyway? A camera like that was for the amateur people who didn't know how to use the real deal.

I twisted the front of the lens, which zoomed in on the dog, as soon as the boy tossed the Frisbee again, the dog didn't hesitate in jumping for it, and as soon as he did, I pressed the button that would capture it. I hit it three times to make sure I got it right, once the film was developed I would chose the one I liked best.

I was glad I had got it before I was interrupted by Naruto, he wrapped his arm around my neck as if to put me in a headlock. He dragged me over to his friends whom I guessed was why we were here. Naruto released me from his grasp as I scowled at him before straightening myself.

There were seven of them, two blondes who introduced themselves to me as Temari and Ino, Ino I remember, she was one of the girls that was at the bar with Sakura. Ino smiled slyly, she was planning something, and I knew it had something to do with me. Temari was wearing a purple shirt and blue jeans, her shoes were just plain white shoes. Ino wore a light purple shirt, her black pants had white tints to them that made them look old.

The next two I met were a couple, I assumed they were anyway. They went by the names of Neji, who shook my hand, and gestured to the girl next to him, Tenten who was the other girl at the bar, her hair was up in two buns and she wore boyish clothes like dark blue jeans and a basket ball jersey, I wondered if she played. Neji on the other hand wore a simple white shirt with black dress pants. He said that he was Hinata's cousin, I could believe that, they had some similar features.

Him and Hinata both dressed nicely, I wondered if they were raised like that or if that was just their style.

Lastly I was met with three guys, one who went by the name of Shikamaru, and just from the look of his face, I knew he was the laid back type of guy. His hair was styled into a pineapple kind of cut, and I supposed I wanted to know why he chose to have it that way, but I decided against asking. His dark green shirt went well with his black jeans, but I thought anything went well with black.

Sai, the artist, or so he told me was about the same height as I am. He loved to make jokes about Naruto and I won't even say what he joked about. His attire was black except for the red shirt he wore under his black button up one which he left open. From what I heard Sakura mumble, he was dating Ino.

The last of the last was a guy named Lee, his hair was cut strangely, let's just say it wasn't a style I would ever get. It was a bowl-shaped cut and it just didn't look right. He wore a green shirt with green camouflage pants. He mentioned something about youth and how it shouldn't be wasted, but he was talking so fast I couldn't understand anything of what he was saying.

Naruto brought them together and he suggested the idea to them about me taking their pictures so they could post it on Myspace, Facebook, or some other form of social network on the internet. They were up for it but I sweat-dropped when they started arguing over who would go first and last and stupid shit similar to it.

How any of these guys were friends was beyond me. How they even met was...a mystery. They didn't seem to have anything in common, so what the hell tied them together? I was about ready to rip my hair out since I had lost all patience with these guys, so I left. Yep that's right, I left. I had seen a beach not too far from where I was so I headed there...on foot...alone.

I wonder how long it will take them to realize I was gone.

Shrugging my shoulders I continues walking down the sidewalk, it was nice out, not too hot, but not cold either, though I guess in the fall it was supposed to be that way. And I loved the fall, so that was a plus, this time of year was a perfect time for photography.

So here I am, standing on the sand, in combat boots and black clothes and...oh well lets just say I looked strange standing on the beach. I'm not exactly in a suit for swimming. I strolled down the beach to a location that people seemed to stay away from. Why? There were small crabs buried under the sand. I guess they didn't want to sit on them, or let them bite their skin.

Staring out into the water, I saw the sun just a little ways above the ocean, night was approaching, but now was a perfect time to get that sunset picture. I knelt down, making sure I didn't smash any crabs that may have been hiding where knelt...hey the dark guys can have a gentle side too. I lifted up my camera after turning it on and peered through the small window again.

Snapping five this time, each picture had a different lighting from the way the sun went down. But when I lowered the piece of technology I saw a splash in the water. What was it? Curiosity sunk in and it made me wonder if I caught whatever it was with my camera. Now I couldn't wait to get this roll developed, it wasn't often I got excited about a picture but there were just those certain ones.

I would have jumped in surprise when I heard someone speak, but I didn't scare easy, even if someone crept up on me, so I was completely calm. Turning my head to the side I spotted Sakura from the corner of my eye. Did she follow me? I stood up and turned my camera off, I didn't want to waste the battery that allowed the flash and other features to operate.

"I'm not interrupting you am I."

"No you're not. Unlike Naruto did."

She laughed at my statment.

"Yeah he'll do that to you. It's just the way he is."

"How you guys are friends, is well weird."

"You'd would have to have been there from the start to understand."

I nodded with understanding. "Fair enough."

"So what are you doing?"

"Taking pictures."

"Oh, right." She giggled as her face turned red.

"Say, have you ever posed for a portrait before?"

Sakura merely looked at me with confusion on her face.

"No. Why?"

"Well, the galleries I sell my work to want me to have people in the pictures. But..never mind."

"No no no, go ahead and finish."

"Well, I'm not really an expert on taking portraits, so I need to practice it. So would you be willing to help me out?"

"I will, but I'm not so fond my pictures being in a gallery." There's her shy side again.

"No worries." I assured her, " I have to have the model's permission first. You can think about it, and let me know if you do or don't."

"Ok, deal." She held out her hand and I shook it.

"Quick question." I looked at her when she said this.

"Ok shoot."

"Why did you leave? We all started to get worried and began looking for you."

"Honestly, your friends were kind of pissing me off. I mean, who the hell starts an argument on who will go first. Its just a fucking picture." I covered my mouth since the cuss word slipped out of my mouth.

Sakura saw my reaction and burst out laughing, I never thought she would do that, especially in front of me.

"What?!" I scowled.

"You." She pointed to me. "Sasuke, I've heard a lot worse, what you said was nothing."

"Yeah but..."

"Don't worry about it."

"Fine." My face turned slightly red from embarrassment.

Sakura suddenly pulled out her phone, she had received a text and from what she told me, her friends were looking for us. She sent a text back, but I don't know what it said.

"Hey, do you like coffee?"

"Not particularly, I'm more of a tea kind of person, like my mom."

"Well my friends want us to meet them at a the coffee shop, they wanted to head there after they found you, but I got to you first so want to go? They have tea too."

"Fine fine, but I'd like to try a portrait first." I turned the camera back on, I think I might have to get another battery, powering it on and off can wear out the battery just as if you'd kept the camera on.

"Ok, what do you want me to do?"

She watched me as I looked around the beach, I spotted a large boulder and gestured for her to follow me. I explained what I wanted her to do, and she agreed. Sitting on the boulder, she leaned back on her hands and looked to the sky. The way the sun sat on the horizon and surrounded her with a soft red glow, made her look radiant. She was beautiful actually. I hadn't realized I had been staring at her until she spoke up, snapping me from my thoughts.

"Are you done yet?"

"Uh, just a minute?" Damn it, I can't believe I lost my cool like that. Boy I bet I looked pretty stupid just standing there.

Kneeling down again, I aimed the camera towards her at an angle. Snap once. Twice. Three times. I stood up and walked so I was in front of her and snapped a picture of her from that angle as well. I asked her to turn her head towards the horizon and she obliged. Snap again. Now that was a good one, or least I hopped it would be.

She looked at me, as I nodded my head, silently saying she could move. Standing to her feet she stretched out her arms and looked at the sun.

"Hold it there." I took one more quick picture and that was it.

She smiled at me, she seemed to be doing that a lot. But I didn't mind, her smiles were...amazing.

Sakura and I headed down the street, the coffee shop wasn't too far from where we were so we walked. Her friends offered to come get us, but we declined. It was peaceful to just walk out here. We weren't a couple in love, but just a couple of people enjoying the evening. Well I was enjoying it until my phone rang.

I sighed and reached into my pocket and pulled it out. I answered it quickly and Sakura noticed that argument I had with the person on the other line. I muttered a 'fine' and hung up on the person on the receiving end.

"Everything ok?" Sakura glanced at me.

"No, there was an accident a little ways away from here and my employer wants me to go and take pictures. He's the editor and all."

"Oh I see."

Was it just me or did she seem disappointed.

"I guess you have to leave now right?"

"Yeah, but hey we'll see each other again. I mean you're still helping me with those portraits right?"

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. I guess I'll see you late then."

"Sure." We exchanged contact numbers so we could set up the next portraits and what not.

When we parted, I had this strange feeling that we were being watched. I tried to shake that nagging but it just got worse. I couldn't help but feel something bad was gong to happen. Maybe not now, maybe not tomorrow, but soon, very soon. Something told me someone was going to get hurt but I didn't know who. I'm not talking about hurt in the emotional sense, but physically.

I arrived home utterly exhausted. Fang was waiting for me by the front door, he always did this, just to make sure I got home safe. Those damn news reporters liked to get in the way. I had gotten some good pictures and they wanted to buy them off me, which I quickly denied. I wasn't going to give away my pictures just so they could have the story.

Damn those people, I swear, if I wasn't such a calm guy, I would have seriously given them a few reasons to back off. And I'm not talking about reasons from my mouth, but with some physical reasons instead.

My parents had already gone to bed, or they were in the study, I don't know and right now, I don't care. Eh whatever, tomorrow would come and hopefully I can get my pictures uploaded to my laptop.

I sighed as I changed into a pair of black pants, I decided to go with out a shirt tonight. For some reason, it was just too hot. Besides if I got cold I had a blanket and Fang would be there too, his fur was thick he would keep me a little warm even if it was just on my back. Crawling into my bed, I helped Fang up onto it as well, I was about to fall asleep when I realized I would need to get up early to have the pictures developed.

The newspaper wanted the pictures before they sent out the paper to its customers. I sighed with frustration and fell asleep, I was just tired and wanted to get some sleep.

A/N Alright, read and review! Damn I've been on a roll lately, story after story after story...ok I'll stop.

Damn three o'clock in the morning, time for me to head to bed.

Shoot I have work tomorrow too or is it today lol. Oh well, at least I go in late haha.

Review please! I'll let you hug Fang. Hehe who could resist the little husky. =P