Sasukec: As promised, here is chapter 2 of this trilogy! I hope to be putting out these chapters on an every 1 to 2 week basis. If I'm a little late on a chapter, please excuse it as it's all due to school taking up much of my time. Hopefully I'll be able to please you all! Enjoy!

On another note, the iPhone is used quite a lot in this chapter, and basically throughout the entirety of this trilogy. Every use is in loving memory and respect of Steve Jobs, the creator of Apple. May he rest in peace and live on forever through his advancing technology!


After a few failed calls, a message left behind, and finally an empty dorm room really began to worry Naruto. Adding to the fact that Sasuke had set his own side of the dorm as well as the blonde's, it gave him a weary happiness; the kind that allowed him to be just grateful enough, but still creeped him out at the same time. With all due cause, of course. Naruto knew that when Sasuke was angry, he'd get an opposite response out of the brunette. Naruto had learned after some trial and error that when it came to expressing emotions through actions, left was right and up was down, and vice versa respectively. As the blonde set down his things on his neatly-set bed, he felt the calm that came before the storm suddenly around him.

Wow, I hope Sasuke isn't too peeved about me being late. I was just doing my work with Sai…

Afraid to let his mind wander about that subject, he focused on what he should do now. Naruto flopped onto the twin-sized mattress, putting his iPhone out in front of him. He clicked the home button, watching the screen light up with a picture he'd snuck in of Sasuke with his cocky half-smile and his perfect pale features as his wallpaper. Naruto had somewhat hoped that he would see that one alert he may have not heard, for one reason or another, filling up the middle of the screen. But, as he should have known, there was nothing but the picture of Sasuke before him and the time indicating the minutes that continued to pass by.

The blonde sighed lightly as the screen went dark, revealing his blue eyes reflected off the glossy screen.

Well…, Naruto finally thought to himself. What now? I guess I'll just wait for Sasuke to get back. So, until then…

Naruto then remembered that he forgot to bring in the TV he'd brought, along with his PS3 and laptop. The blonde smiled happily to himself, joyful that he'd now have something to occupy his free time. The blonde quickly jumped up from his bed, grabbed his keys, and made his way out of the dorm building. Naruto spotted his white truck instantly as it easily stood out in size compared to all the others.

The blonde took his car key out just as he reached the driver's side, unlocked the door, and grabbed the black backpack that held both his PS3 and laptop. He threw the backpack onto his back before locking his door and closing it once more. Naruto was about to go around to the bed of his truck to retrieve the small TV, when he heard a car pull up beside him. That was an engine he'd never forget.

As the black Camaro came to a stop, Naruto waved, waiting for the engine to cut. Moments later, the roar of the engine died, and Naruto saw a brunette head pop out of the driver's side.

"Yo, Sasuke," Naruto began as he reached into the bed of his truck for the TV, "Where'd you go? I tried to call back and even left you a message."

Naruto's question went unanswered for a moment as the Uchiha reached for something in his car. After Sasuke stood back out of his car and closed the door, he came around to the front of his Camaro, holding two white sacks.

"Where were you?"

Sasuke's brusque question slightly startled the blonde, threatening his hands to fumble the TV. Sasuke stood there at the front of his Camaro, waiting for an answer. Naruto began to walk back to the dorms, answering his question, "I was at the library, finishing my Trig homework. Homework on the first day, retarded, right?"

The blonde could feel the heavy atmosphere Sasuke had brought with him begin to lift before Sasuke asked another question.

"For over an hour?"

Naruto replied calmly as they entered the double doors, "You know I suck at math!"

The blonde could tell Sasuke was satisfied with the answer he'd received as he chuckled. Naruto decided to expand on it.

"So, what's with the sacks? Are those for the remains of the children you devour?"

"No," the Uchiha retorted as they reached their room, "It's Chinese, you idiot."

"You're moving on to Chinese children? That's nearly racist, man!"

Naruto laughed at his own joke as he set his small flat-screen on the elongated nightstand that was between his own bed and Sasuke's.

Sasuke snorted, "Oh, I'm sorry that I got food for you. I should have known your ego would be big enough to keep you full for a lifetime."

"Ouch, Sasuke! You know I was just kidding…"

Sasuke turned a smile onto Naruto.

"So I was I, Naruto."

Naruto and Sasuke shared a comfortable silence thereafter as Naruto hooked up his gaming system and flat-screen as he saw fit, and Sasuke distributing the hot food evenly onto paper plates. Naruto hadn't known the full reason as to why he excluded Sai from his explanation of where he'd been for an hour. Or even why he hadn't noticed that they spent an hour talking. The blonde tried to ignore it, even if it may not have been the best solution.


"Woo! I'm stuffed!"

Naruto patted his stomach, trying to make it seem as though it was physically full when, really, it was still quite flat. The Uchiha was still picking at his food while Naruto had finished the whole plate in nearly one sweep.

"I don't know how you manage to not get fat eating so much."

Naruto lay back onto his bed, keeping both his hands on his stomach.

"I'm just special! Thanks for the food, Sasuke. I really appreciate it."

"Don't worry about it."

The Uchiha still hadn't looked up from his food as Naruto sat up, scratching his head.

"You aren't mad at me for not telling you before I went, are you…?"

The Uchiha finally looked away from his food to see Naruto sitting up with a genuinely apologetic expression. Sasuke sighed, "No, not really. It made me curious, more than anything."

Naruto's expression lit up somewhat, happy to know that he wasn't in any trouble and wouldn't have to expect any consequences. With a now clear mind, he jumped up and began rummaging through his bag of clothes. Sasuke raised an eyebrow at the sudden movement.

"Looking for something?"

Naruto replied, "A clean pair of boxers…"

Sasuke could feel his face become warm as dirty thoughts flooded his mind. It was only natural for his mind to bring out those kinds of thoughts when the two hadn't been "active" for over a month. Sasuke swallowed and questioned, "What for?"

"A shower, silly. It's been a long-ass day."

Sasuke's growing excitement had come to an anti-climactic ending as he nodded, internally disappointed and equally worried.

Of course he wouldn't suggest that… Stupid me.

It wasn't long before Naruto said his short-term goodbyes and exited the room for the dorm showers. Now Sasuke felt too emotionally deprived to want to finish his dinner. He pushed the food away from him and rubbed his face.

Damn, is this what just happens with long-term relationships? They shouldn't die out like this one is.

The Uchiha's eyes widened as he suddenly came to a realization that he'd never admitted to himself until now. He could now feel that their relationship was fading out.

Oh my God… That can't be true.

Moments later, the sound of a text alert went off. Sasuke realized that was from Naruto's iPhone.

I guess he didn't see any point in taking his phone…

Sasuke's conscious told him not to take a look at his personal texts, but he couldn't resist it either. The temptation was higher than was his conscious. The Uchiha got up and walked to Naruto's side of the room, picking up the phone that was on his bed. Sasuke took a moment more deliberating on whether he should continue now or just put it back down.

It would be the right thing to do… But… Just a look won't hurt.

Sasuke pressed the home button and watched as the screen lit up, showing that he'd received a text from an unfamiliar name: Sai.

'Great meeting you today, Naruto! Glad I was able to help you with your Trig and learn a bit about you in the process. Just let me know if you have any more trouble, and we'll meet up again.'

Sasuke didn't know what confused or worried him more; the fact that Naruto hadn't told him about meeting Sai or the fact that he wasn't alone at the library. Sasuke hadn't heard one word from the blonde about meeting this Sai. It only continued to add to his reasons of suspicion for their growing distance.

Sasuke let the phone drop back down to Naruto's bed before he sat back down on his own bed. Sasuke didn't know where to begin or end his thoughts. They all felt jumbled, not even able to function as they should.

It's just someone else… Someone that I shouldn't care about. He's still with me… Nothing's changed. Nothing's changed…


Sasuke's mind continued to wander and dance about the thoughts of just why Naruto hadn't told him about who he met. He then contradicted that with other thoughts of how he didn't even bother to ask the blonde about his day. He found that all the while Naruto was taking his shower, his time was filled with an internal battle that made him sick to his stomach. Finally, he gave up thinking at all as he realized that it wouldn't be too much longer before Naruto got back.

As if on cue, the blonde entered the room with just a towel around his waist, his hair only just ineffectively towel dried. Sasuke looked up to Naruto as he closed the door behind him and met his gaze. Naruto froze and looked from side to side as he was in a considerable amount of confusion from the Uchiha's stare.

"Umm… You… Okay, Sasuke?"

The Uchiha slowly stood up, following just one command, just one logic that he felt needed to be filled. He didn't know if it would solve the problem or even further them toward a solution, but he sure as hell wanted it. Wanted Naruto.

Naruto backed up slowly as Sasuke approached him, his eyes never once wavering from Naruto's blue ones.

"Sasuke, what're you doing? Hello?"

The blonde tried to grab his attention with words that floated to one of Sasuke's ears and then out of the other, not registering to his already set mind. It wasn't long before Naruto's back was up against the door and both of Sasuke's hands were planted on the door on each side of Naruto. Sasuke had effectively pinned Naruto between the door and his own body as he continued to stare into Naruto's eyes. The blonde looked up to the now noticeably taller Sasuke, confusion running throughout his eyes.

"Look, I know I'm irresistibly sexy with just this towel on, but-"

"Naruto… I…"

Sasuke's mouth moved faster than what his mind did as he took a moment to gather his thoughts. The blonde patiently waited, obviously seeing that he was being serious.

"Naruto. I want you… Now."

Naruto was quiet for a moment as he let this information soak in before he spoke once more, this time more serious.

"Not tonight, Sasuke… I need to get some sleep. We need to get some sleep. We have things we need to do tomorrow morning and it's already getting late."

Sasuke fought off the beginnings of tears that consisted of rejection as he slowly let his hands fall back to his own sides, freeing Naruto. Without another word, the blonde moved around Sasuke and went about his business. The rest of their night was filled with silence as Sasuke went straight to bed, covering up and turning his back to Naruto. Sasuke didn't know how Naruto really felt about their silence, but Sasuke knew that his growing worries became silently confirmed. The two were growing apart and without any attention to the problem, it would solve itself. However, the natural solution would only result in separation and the loss of the one person in Sasuke's life that he trusted the most and loved even more.


Sasukec: Well, I know it could have been so much longer, but I thought it was a perfect place to end it! I plan to bring everyone on an emotional roller coaster this time around. So, will you hold on tight enough to make it to the end? I certainly hope so :)

Reviews are lovely!