Chapter Two:
As sleep starts to slowly wash away, my eyes settle on my phone dock, currently playing the morning news. Letting out a long yawn from within the confines of my warm plush duvet I emerge. Stepping out of bed I stretch my arms far above my head letting out another long tired yawn feeling the blood flow smoothly through my muscles after sleeping curled up for so long. After stretching I walk over to the blind that cover my door to my balcony.
"Today's forecast will be cool paired with dense cloud cover, with expected rain later in the week," the radio spoke as I simultaneously twisted and pulled to open my blinds. It was so peaceful this time of day. "The time is 5:54am -" till I changed the radio to play my phones music instead. To shuffle my morning playlist, starting off with 'Colourblind by: The Art of Sleeping'. While getting ready it would shuffle between them 'Lydia', and 'The 1975'. When I was done I grabbed my bag that contained my everyday necessities. Laptop, Sketchbook, Pencils, Charcoals, and Wallet containing my Bus Card, etc, before snagging my phone off its dock, plugging in the earphones and shoving it in my back pocket.
I walked downstairs to find my brother already gone. He leaves for the office far earlier than I do. Walking into the kitchen I find my thermos with coffee in it. Itachi always knew when woke up which wasn't long after he leaves the house for the work.
When I made it onto the bus is was 6:32am. I settle for a seat in the middle of the bus and going for the window seat. See, on the buses you're not allowed to have beverages on them. So, from where I am I can take a long sip of the creamy hot beverage go down my throat and warm my body. I take intermediate sips of my coffee for the rest of the bus ride.
Today I opted for not really trying to look all that presentable. I had stayed up late finishing a few sketches that weren't due till next week but wanted to get them done early, along with a paper for business. Going for black skinny jeans, my self-made wifebeater 'Daryl Riot' shirt, my dark blue and green flannel on top, my slouchy blue beanie to hide my hair that was beyond help this morning and my prescription raybans. Complete with my flannel inner-lined military style jacket and black doc martens.
The bus dropped me a block from the bookstore that I worked at. After passing a few stores I sidestep to go up an alleyway to a door that takes me the back door of the store. Before entering I knock a couple of times and turn the knob to open the door and going inside.
"Kakashi? I'm here!" I yell into the store from the back. The back had been converted into a employee section, but mostly a book storage area. Not seeing him I walking into the main store. "Kakashi!" I yell into the store. No answer, typical, he's probably got his earphones in his ears whilst organizing the shelves. I walk over to the register and set my bag on the seat adjacent to mine and continue to look for my boss. Sure enough there he was, listening to music while the newly ordered books to the shelves. Making my way down the aisle he takes notice and reaches to pull out his earphones.
"Oh Sasuke! How long have you been here?" He says looking at his watch.
"It's ok, I just got in. You didn't respond when I called out so I figured you were putting books away," I say turning my attention to the bookshelf that was now almost completely restocked. "And I was right."
"On time as always, if only my other employees were as punctual as you are. That being said, how's school goin' for you?" He asked me with concern before his mind went back to putting the last of the books on the shelves. Kakashi was a great manager, the best that I have ever had. "You just look like shit. If you need the day off say no more I can manage." he says with a chuckle as to puts the book in his hand in its place. I had told him all about my stressful schooling and he was always completely understanding.
"Ha ha, no. Just felt like dressing down today." Earning a questioning look from him. "What?" I draw out with a smirk, " I can't have one lazy work outfit day?" I chuckle out.
"I guess so, even the royals must look commoner." he retorts.
"Ha ha, fuck you." I say with a smile and small laugh.
"It amazes me that you still haven't found someone Sasuke." Kakashi says more to the bookshelf than to my face itself. "Your well educated, your sociable, in your own way, your down to earth and your attractive for your age." I have been working here for almost 2 years now. When there wasn't the usual sarcastic retort from my end he turned and looked at me. Only I was praying to whatever greater power there was that there was no blush on my face.
"Ohh, is there something you need to tell me Uchiha?" he says as he leans on the now full shelf. I could only stay mute, my best defence at this moment. " Spill it." Not seeing much of an option, being that he would pester me for the unforeseeable future, and no, that is not an over exaggeration. Kakashi is extremely determined. Looking around hastily I could see that the "closed" sign was still up. As I look back up to meet his eyes a smirk came on his face, 'yeah he's never going to let this down'.
"So, I," 'god this is so embarassing' "may, or may not have...possibly...met someone." Ok, now I was definitely blushing profusely. Adjusting my glasses on the the bridge of my nose, Kakashi learns against the bookshelf and lifts up his eyebrows in a gesture for me to continue explaining. "He came into the store yesterday, while you were out." This tidbit of information gained what little part of his attention that was not solely directed on me. "He, um, came in while I was finishing stacking books." I now looked down to the dark carpeted floor of the shop, not daring to look up at the shit eating smirk that was probably plastered on his face. "He looked through the store, mostly looking at the fiction novels-" I said the last bit under my breath but Kakashi heard it.
"Hm, stalking a customer while their browsing? He must've been quite a sight. Especially if he's got you this frazzled. Well at least you're in this little place and not in an office." that brought my eyes up and by the snicker that passes his lips, yes, I was very much blushing, profusely. Shit. As I was about to retort he waved his hand and apologized.
"This is why I shouldn't have said anything." I say bitterly, shoving my hand in my pockets.
"Though, I am happy that you had a good experience. If only for once. This makes me happier that I opened this shop, that is after leaving the company." He said with a genuine smile, he had started a company with one of his old superiors, only to sell off his share to said superior. Especially when the company started to branch out so much. With the growing popularity Kakashi had less and less time to do the things he loved, like taking care of his bookstore. He left with a overly generous sum that he kept in a savings. He lived a simple life. I admired this about him. He had money, but was still extremely grounded. At this point, the conversation would most definitely be over if it weren't for the fact that I stayed completely silent and froze. "Sasuke?" it reeked with the tone of knowing that there was more I wasn't telling him. Looking up to try and defend, what little I had left of my honor in this situation, I saw the look. 'Oh shit, he knows.'
"I should probably open up the store." I state franticly. Praying that the conversation would just drop already. But no, I should have known.
"Oh no you don't, get your ass back here." Cursing under my breath I turn around and look at him. Almost as if to way out the options of telling him the whole story or just lying. The truth would get him off my back instantly, though based on what happened, probably not. And if I were to lie, he would know and keep pestering me until I told him the truth. Either way, there was no winning.
"Fine." He looked at me with the full intent of listening to everything I had to say. "After my shift I cut through the park and went to that coffee, cafe place down a few blocks," he was still listening to me ever so intently, not wanting to miss a single detail, "I got there ordered coffee and thought that I would get in a couple of hours of studying before I went to class." As I was explain all of this a smile formed on my face as I remembered every detail of the day. "While I was studying, very intently I might add, he came into the cafe. I had my mind and face so buried in my studies I didn't notice him." This was typical me. Studying and not paying attention.
"He came up to me and asked if he could sit, because there were no other chairs available, so, I lent him the seat opposite me and we just started talking. He was really nice. He had gone in for business himself. We just started talking about a few school things. I showed him my art and, he...really liked it." I hadn't had someone, other than my mother and Itachi, look so amazed by my art. "After we left the cafe when we were about to go our separate ways," I couldn't help but blush at the moment I remembered him holding my hand, "he asked if he could walk with me to my college, and, I said yes." Kakashi seemed a swirl of emotion, but in a good way. Confused as to how I trusted a random stranger so soon, which I don't blame him and happy that I had a great time. "We walked through the park there. Talking about this and that. He was like no one else, like a breath of fresh air, you know? As if while you're in a bad place there that one person that seems to shine, not just themselves but, they help you shine more. Brighter than you ever thought you could. That, feeling you get in your stomach and whole being that, you can release a bit of the person that you truly are."
It's always so hard trying to explain the happy things in your life. Its easier to explain the dark because the feelings are so much easier to describe because in the sad moment our bodies and mind are mulling over everything with a fine toothed comb. But with the happy, you're so taken back and in the moment you don't have time to write it down or document it, because you're too busy being out there living it. Because when you think about the bad stuff, it festers and it's all that your mind is able to think about in that moment all you can dwell on is the bad. But not the good.
I looked up to meet his eyes that were filled with wonder with a small smile, "You know that feeling you get when you're around that person you like? The feeling of butterflies in your stomach and your lungs. You try everything you can to keep their attention on you. When their close your heart starts to race and you want to look them in the eyes to show them all of that."
"Yeah, I do." he said with a sound to his voice that was full of subtle happiness. I look up to see his eyes half closed with the sincere smile on his face. He really was happy for me. "I hope you get to see him again Sasuke." he pats my shoulder and goes to open the shop.
"That makes two of us." I reply with a nervous laugh. My heart was still pounding so much I could hear it in my ears, my palms were a bit sweaty and I bet I still had that pathetic blush on my cheeks. I went to the bathroom while Kakashi started opening the shop. I washed my handed to get rid of my clammy hands, after I removed my glasses to splash some cool water on my face to calm down my blush. Reaching for the paper towels I pat my face dry. Looking at myself in the mirror and smiling. Picking up my glasses to place them back on my face.
Most of my morning shift was spent with myself at the register sketching the bookshelves, people outside through the old windows, which then turn to my pulling my laptop out and plugging in till a customer came to purchase something. A few people came up and I rang them up. A small group of about four sixteen year olds came in and went to the teen section only to keep peeking around the corner to squeal and turn back to the books, as an excuse to look me up. Typical, it happened every once in a while. This then got slow, this always happened, about 45 minutes before my shift ended at noon. Browsing online I was looking about from art supplies to band tours. Only when a hand waved as if to get my attention. I sighed, pausing the video I was watching to slowly remove the earbuds from my ears and look up to the customer only to freeze completely.
"You are working today! Hooray!" He said with a large smile and glimmering blue eyes. My eyes looked at him in shock, 'speak you shit! speak!'
"N-Naruto, what are you doing here?" I asked, which was a stupid question being that he had just said it. In one way or another. He gave a deep throaty laugh.
"I came to see you. I wanted to know if you were free for lunch." he said as he leaned his elbows on the register table and looked at me that smile that could stop a truck. "If you can't that is completely ok, I just thought that I would ask." he finished, bending one of his forearms to scratch his neck. Barely breaking eye contact.
'H-He's, asking me out?' "Um, s-sure, I get off in about 40 minutes, if you can preoccupy yourself till then?" He nodes and points over to the books off to the side of me.
"I just browse till you're off."
"Ok, cool." I am pretty sure I am blushing again. For a while he browsed about the books, taking his time to let his eyes travel over ever title. Occasionally picking up one to flip it open to read the summary inside. It only dawned on me that I was staring when I did not sense Kakashi's presents.
"Whatcha' lookin' at?" He said in a hushed tone nearly knocking myself over at the close proximity and that he was starting to look the direction that I had been. At this I panicked and started to pretend that I my phone was all of a sudden oh so interesting. "Are you checking out customers again?". At that my face flushed in a dark red trying to bury myself in my beanie. "No. Don't tell me that's the guy that hit on you yesterday?! The one you like?!"
"Shut up! Could you be any louder?" I hushed him. He snickered. Shit. "Don't. Do. Anything." Kakashi simply smiled and straightened himself up to turn towards Naruto.
"Hello!" Naruto paused from reading a book that seemed to peak his interest.
"Hello." He stood sort of awkward, thinking he had done something wrong.
"I'm Kakashi I own this book store. If you need anything don't hesitate to ask myself or lovely Sasuke over here". Looking relieved that he hadn't done anything wrong he smiled back.
"Thank you very much, I will." He finished and went back to reading. Within the time that it took Kakashi to to turn to Naruto and then back to me I had already thought of 15 ways I wanted to kill him. He eventually returned to the back of the store. About an hour passed and Naruto had surprisingly finished browsing through all of the books.
"Hey." I was caught off guard, one earphone in whilst drawing some sketches for my art class.
"Hey," I stared at him for a moment, "what's up?"
"I kind of finished looking and relooking. So umm," he pulled his arm behind his hair and scratched the back of his head, a habit apparently, "would it be cool if I hung out behind the register with you till you're off?"
Stunned I tried to keep my voice leveled in response, it failed. "Umm, y-yeah. One sec." I quickly got up from my chair and moving over to the chair had all my stuff settled on it. Once getting resettled I offered him the seat. "Is that ok?" a hint of worry slipped its way into my voice, which he picked up on.
"Oh, yeah. Thank you," he said taking a seat, "sorry for the trouble. I didn't know if I was allowed back here or if it was just for employees only." He gave a sheepish smile. God that smile was going to be the death of me.
"Really, it's no problem at all. The morning shift is barely active at all, plus being a saturday, its extra dead." I say with a sort of drone, showing my boredom.
"Gets that slow huh?" I give a nod. "So what do you do to fill up the abundance of time that you have?" He asks, leaning his elbow of the table and propping his cheek in his palm.
"Sketch, go online, listen to music, pretty much anything to keep my mind occupied really." It was strange how much of my nervousness was actually nonpresent.
"Oh, what music do you listen to?" He asked, genuinely curious.
"Umm, I don't know really, its sort of a weird my music library." I say in full honesty.
"Well, let's have a listen." He says. At this I laugh only to find that he is serious when rolls closer to me and reaches a hand out for me to hand him a earphone. I freeze for a second only to scramble back to my senses to switch earphones around and give him my left one and continue what I was listening to before which was 'Breathe and Winter by: Matt Corby', only to start it from the beginning, for him. Being the polite thing to do.
It starts off with a subtle guitar and a soothing undertone in the background.
"Speed stretches fallen rain.
Skin lines on the window pane.
It blurs until I'm blind.
Can't see the other side.
I took the long way home,
Through November's undertone.
Sharp eyes sifting through to find
Moments rare and purified.
I didn't know where I was,
Or where i was running to.
I didn't know where I was,
I don't know where I'm running to.
Fear is needless, seize.
Air is fearless, breathe."
The song had a lulling way to it that instantly put you at ease. I turned my head slightly when there was slight tug of the earphone cord. Naruto had leaned his back and head against the wall behind him and closed his eyes. The air coming evenly with each inhale and exhale. His face looked so serene.
"So far from the ocean's thrall,
I was homesick inside city walls.
The seasons were upside down,
I was lost in hope that I won't be found."
I didn't know where I was,
Or where i was running to.
I didn't know where I was,
I don't know where I'm running to.
Fear is needless, seize.
Air is fearless, breathe"
There were freckles that gathered from the bridge of his nose and faded into his cheeks. I quietly picked my sketchbook up from the table along with a pencil and began. Starting with the soft strokes of the outline. Eching in the details, hair, nose. Ears, that to my surprise were pierced. I could imagine him with a pair of simple pierced ears, but there were several that went up the side of his ear cartilage indicating room for another couple studs and a labret.
"Hmm." I hummed to myself. Continuing to look over his soft complexion, I found out several other things. While sketching in the details of his nose and eyebrows I found peircing marks as well. The left nostril had a small visible sign of a hole. At this I took a moment to look over his face and tried to imagine Naruto with all the piercing in their places. As my eyes traveled over his face, he not only had ears, nose but a right eyebrow and what looked to be old snake bites.
"The winter is coming
Way too soon
Winter is coming
Way too soon"
"Oh winter is coming
Way too soon
Oh winter is coming
Way too soon"
"Oh summer we party
Way too soon
Oh summer we party,
oh Way too soon"
As the details were in place, the shading started. His clear complexion, strong jawline, ruffled bed hair that seemed to stand up and fall giving me a good challenge. Finishing the details of his face I worked my way out, only to realize I had pretty much used the entire page just on his face alone. Whilst completing the sketch, I quietly put the sketchbook away in my bag along with my pencil. I turned the music volume down a bit just at a low enough so that you would be able to hear it, but not loud enough to be disruptive. The quiet chime of "Midnight by Coldplay" flowed through the earphones and into my ear.
"In the darkness before the dawn
In the swirling of the storm
When I'm rolling with the punches and hope is gone
Leave a light a light on"
For a moment I turned and leaned back as Naruto was and let my gaze rest on him.
"Millions of miles from home In the swirling swimming on
When I'm rolling with the thunder
But bleed from thorns
Leave a light a light on
Leave a light a light on"
He was the essence of bright and positive. Good hearted, kind, looked out for others. One that had many friends. Never talked badly of people.
"Leave a light a light on
Leave a light a light on"
He gave off a warm glow, that seemed to not only brighten up a room but also have the ability to warm whoever encountered him. Maybe it was this ball of warm, positive energy that drew me to him, and maybe him to me.
"In the darkness before the dawn
In the darkness before the dawn
Leave a light a light on
Leave a light a light on"
But who was I kidding. How could someone so much the opposite of myself, have any inkling of interest towards me. I'm cold, shy, defensive, unloveable. Haven't been able to have a stable relationship if my life depended on it. All ending with the other saying the same line, "Why do you shut me out? Don't you love me, or like me at all?" 'Be the Song by Foy Vance" started with its soft guitar intro.
"When nightmares come,
keep you awake,
baby close your eyes,
I'll take the weight,
but I won't speak
I will refrain and be the song,
just be the song.
when inner scars,
show on your face,
and darkness hides,
your sense of place,
well I won't speak,
I will refrain and be the song,
just be the song.
flow down all my mountains,
darlin' fill my valleys,
flow down all my mountains,
darlin' fill my valleys,
flow down all my mountains,
darlin' fill my valleys,"
He's probably never had to deal with people like me, guarded. Afraid of getting too attached to someone that you truely like. Because, when it ends. Its less painful. When you've attached yourself to someones to the point that they, have almost become part of yourself. And when they leave, its harder, and more painful to have to give them up. Its as if you have to tear them from your very being.
and when you run
far from my eyes,
then I will come,
in dead of night,
but I won't speak,
till mornin' light,
I'll be the song,
just be the song.
flow down all my mountains,
darlin' fill my valleys,
flow down all my mountains,
darlin' fill my valleys,
flow down all my mountains,
darlin' fill my valleys"
Sure I had friends, but were they really my close friends? Did I tell them everything? I never had that one person that I was able to open up to. Not even my therapist. Years of putting up walls that I didn't even know I'd built. Now staring at Naruto. There was this feeling that I could tell him everything. Maybe it was the fact of not having any past connection to him, a clean slate. A chance to be a good person, someone like him. Carefree, caught whatever life threw at him with a heart melting smile. Maybe I could be more like that.
After a moment I realized that there was no longer any music going through my earphones, 'guess the playlist is over'. I looked back over at Naruto's peaceful face, he could really sleep anywhere huh, he had a darkness, but very subtle, under his eyes. I hope he's sleeping well. Now that I remember he did say that he worked for his dads company. Knowing full well how much stress that put Itachi under I knew full well that it was equally stressful for Naruto as well. Taking a brief look away to see over the counter I nearly jumped at seeing Kakashi standing in front of the desk. With is finger up to his lips, and nodding towards Naruto. I looked over and gently took my earphone out of my ear and leaned forward without disturbing him.
"So, is this him?" Kakashi gave him the once over, "man, I envy you." He finished with a smirk and started to walk towards the back. "By the way," I meet his eyes, "you're off now about an hour ago, take your boyfriends and go do what you kids do nowadays." moving his eyebrows in a suggestive manner and a smirk. My face grew warm with the flush that grew faster by the second. The moment Kakashi was out of sight I heard a groan behind me and swung my head around, almost hurting myself in the process. Naruto looked to be just coming to. His eyes blinking the sleep away as he stood up and towered over me and stretched his arms above his head and yawned. For a brief moment my eyes caught sight of the waistband of his Calvin Klein boxer briefs that rested tightly against well defined v-line and abs. Making my blood temp and heart rate skyrocket. Shooting my head away I took a few deep breaths whilst looking at anything but him, or I would have a serious problem on my hands.
Completely oblivious Naruto looks over at me with a confused look. Dismissing it he looks to his watch and an aura of excitement seems to flow off of him. "Oh hey, sorry to fall asleep on you."
"It's no problem. Really." surprised that it didn't come out as a stammer.
"Wow, haven't napped that well in a long time." He says, ending the sentence with another yawn.
At a loss for words I simply nod. Taking a brief look at my watch I see that I am actually 15 minutes over my shift. "Hey, I'm off." Not wanting to continue any further just in case.
"Oh really? Awesome! So you hungry?" He ask as he re-organizes himself. I am still in a daze at what has happened and what is happening.
"Yeah, just give me a sec." I turn and pick up all of my things and slip them into my bag, followed by grabbing my jacket and heading out with Naruto once I gave him the nod that I was ready.
We went to a sandwich shop that was close by and just sat and talked. In more detail about what were were doing. How he was working for his father's big company that brings his stress level up a bit but, manageable. I could see that it did get to him. I could see it in his eyes. There was stuff he was leaving out. A question came to mind. He had talked about his family and friends, yet, not about his mother. I was about to regret that.
"Sound like you have a lot of people around you huh?" I say, finishing off my cola.
"Yeah, when you realize the value of all life, you dwell less on what is past and concentrate more on the preservation of the future." He says with a smile, already having stuffed his face with food.
"So, um, what about your mother?" I say with genuine curiosity. There was a sudden stop, as if time stood still for a moment. Naruto face paused for only what was a fraction of a second before holding itself back up.
"I don't see her very often. She's, very busy. To be honest both of my parents are very busy." He ends with a chuckle. with a faint smile. I lean forward crossing my arms on the table.
"Eccedentesiast." I simply state.
"Huh?" Is his only response while his face twists into confusion.
"Eccedentesiast. Is the term used for someone who hides their pain and misery behind a fake smile." He doesn't know what to say I assume. A blush come up as I realize the random bit of information that I just said, "I took a semester of Psychology and also have a therapist that tells me I do the same thing." I said cautiously, wondering if I had crossed a line. Which I felt I had in fact crossed. Naruto looked back with a bit of shock on his face, probably because I called out his bluff.
"You're not wrong, but, you know," leaning his cheek on his hand and stares peacefully out the window, before breaking contact and looking me in the eyes with a crooked smile, "family's complicated."
As we continue to talk to each other the sky starts to darken with clouds and before we knew it it was raining quite heavily outside. Only noticing when he mudders "ah crap.." under his breathe. Looking up at him, then to the window. 'Shit' I then go to my phone to check the time and I have long missed my bus, next one not for a few hours or tomorrow. 'how the hell am I going to get home?'
Naruto seemed to see my distressing look and broke the silence, "Don't suppose you live close by?" he said back to me with a half smile.
"No, I live about two buses out of the city." I sigh at the window.
After another few moments of silence and running ideas through my head. Naruto seem to be waiting for my attention.
"Hey," he says while scratching the back of his neck nervously, "this may sound really weird and if you're uncomfortable with it than you can say no."
I perk up, yet am still cautious, "Yeah?"
"I live about two and a half blocks from here, you're more than welcome to come up if you need and figure out your next step. Like if someone can pick you up. I can even give you a ride."
The blush comes back more than full fledged this time, "u-umm..", is all that I am able to make out at the moment and I can see it on his face.
"Yeah that totally sounded weird, I'm sorry if I creeped you out" He started to ramble nervously, only to be cut off my me.
"No it's ok, that actually the best thing so far that I can think of." I say adjusting my glasses and my jacket. Can we go now before it gets too late?"
"Yeah sure! Follow me." Finishing with a heart melting smile.
Turned out that the restaurant carried a couple extra umbrella's this time of year. After Naruto gets one ready to step foot outside. I reach to one when he said 'Why take two when we can both fit under one?' this made my heart stop. Literally. Being that close to him, I froze when he held my hand I almost had a heart attack. When he fell asleep so close to me today at work. All I could do was nod, because I did not trust my vocal cords at this moment.
Yeah this was the best and the worst thing ever. We made it outside and I bundled up. The rain had made the air brisk and cold.
"Ok, Let's go. This way." He wraps his arm around wait and grabs my forearm and hugs me close to him so that I am pulled right up against his side. "There you'll be warmer and under the umbrella so you won't get soaked."
All I am able to do is nod, which with the close proximity to him practically rub my face into his jacketed arm, which, only makes my blush deepen and find something else to look at. I watch the cars driving through the heavy rain, water splashing from the wheels splattering against parked cars beside us. The abundance of people walking through the streets with umbrella's keeping them clear of the imminent downpour from above. The ever changing colors of the car likes and the traffic signals. But I have always, in a childish way found the visibility of my breath in cold weather incredibly interesting and distracting. Making small breaths and long sighs a burst of fog pools from my mouth into the air.
"That has to be one of my favorite things about cold air," I hear Naruto say and feel him chuckle from the closeness. "I would pretend to be a beast when I was little, like a dragon or something."
"Yeah." I agree quietly, he then nudges me to get my attention, looking up at him he takes a large breath and lets it all out in one big cloud of fog that disappears in the air as the wind starts to hike up. Unintentionally I snuggled up closer to Naruto for more of his warmth.
"We are almost there, just up this street." I look up only to see beautiful large windowed apartments. 'What?'.
A light switch is flipped and the home is illuminated. If I could have a house designed for myself to live in, this would be the place. There is a circle around a dark wood coffee table of cozy chairs and a couch. The kitchen is fit for the finest chef. But I don't take Naruto for really being the a cook.
"Here let me get your hoodie, I can throw it in the dryer for you? It will be done in about, 10 to 15 minutes then it will be all warm and dry." He asks. I take a few milliseconds in my mind to know, I've never had genuine people in my life. My mother and brother are an exception of course. But even in school I managed to get in with a, not so good crowd. Yeah they were smart and had their priorities about what they would do in the future were on point and took their school education very seriously. "So how are they bad?" A few of you may be asking.
They had pessimistic outlooks on people and believed the same thing that my father always believes. Work yourself to your highest point and you'll unlock greatness. Those that can not take high pressure, fall to the bottom. When you're around people like this. Your thoughts, change. You act, different. You start to grow the same thoughts and beliefs that they do. Which, is how you end up how I did a not that far back. Sanity hanging by a thread while you push your mind miles passed the breaking point. Forgetting what made you, happy. Eating slowly became less of a priority, and studying became more important than sleep.
Luckily I had my brother to help me with this. I can say for certain that, without him, I wouldn't be here. Right now. I would have been working in the bookstore that I met Naruto. I would be here, in his house.
Was after I remembered all of this that I heard finger snap in front of my face. Breaking me from my brains mulling thoughts.
"You hear me," he lets out a deep chuckle sending goosebumps to run down my neck, "I asked if you wanted anything to eat or drink?" I took a double take from where I was sitting back up to his eyes. A faint rumble was heard down the hall. Aparently in my brain conversing with itself, I had handed him my jacket and was now sitting at the bar staring into the kitchen.
"u-umm," 'nice stutter', "now that i think about it, some hot soup sound good. Sorry, it's what I think about on rainy days like this". I finish as I stare out the enormous slightly fogged windows that have a breathtaking view of the dark rainclouds and the city streets bustling in trails of red and white glowing lights.
"You actually read my mind." I quickly blink then turn my head to Naruto who has his forearms supporting him as he leans. "Times like this make me think about my mom, she used to make me homemade soup whenever it rained like this. Something about it is so, comforting. Eating something warm on a cold day."
"Yeah," smiling to myself as I play with the bottom with the ends of my flannel, "my mom does the same for me."
"Must be a mom thing." He chuckles again, "ok, soup it is. You mind Miso Ramen?" He his eyes smile as he smiles.
"No that sounds perfect, but, the order might take a while to get here, given the traffic." At this his face scrunches as if trying to contain laughter but it breaks when I give a wide eyed confused face.
"Sasuke, I'm cooking it." A couple of throaty chuckles make their way out and its making me fall even more for him. "It will take about 25 minutes, can you wait?" he asks, still giggling.
"I-I'm sorry. I just didn't peg you as a person that cooks really."
"No, its ok, really. No offense taken. My mother taught me at an early age. I also took several cooking classes through high school and into college".
I simply stared at him, everything he was saying to me was true, I knew it. After listening to my therapist multiple times telling me how he could tell you were hiding or lying proved it. 'Can the floor just swallow me up?' I just rest my arms on the counter and lay my head in them with my forehead and glasses uncomfortably against the marble. Which seems to only amuse Naruto more.
"Sasuke, what are you doing?" he giggles out.
"Waiting for the floor to swallow me up." I muff out to him.
"Haha, really?" A moment later I feel a hand land on my head and attempt to ruffle my hair under my beanie.
"Nooo." I muffle pulling my blue beanie completely over my head in an attempt to hide. But, Naruto yanks it off. "noooo" I muffle, pulling my arms in to hide my face. Which is probably, bright pink. But he just lets out a sigh and I feel the hand on my head again ruffling my hair. "ugh, my hair's a mess today," I continue to muffle, slowly revealing my eyes and tilted glasses. My breath catches in my lungs, Naruto is wearing my beanie. 'God fucking dammit, why does this guy have to do this.' I think as he looks in the mirror that is by the stove as he adjusts it so that his fringe hangs out in front and the back slouches pair that with his jean button up and those pants. 'why, why me?'.
"How do I look?" he asks while giving me a smirk.
"Like someone that snagged my hat on my bad hair day."
"Sasuke your hair looks fine, the beanie actually made it really cool looking, one last touch." he laughs, as he reaches over the counter and ruffles my hair in the back and a little on one side. "There, now thats the rocker look for you." He smiles. "Oh! Let me get my apron and i'll start food, sorry for drifting." He finishes after he's out of sight, to the hallway closet or something. I take this time to pull out my phone and check my reflection in the glass screen. 'Woah, he's right.' the had flattened the back of my hair. Which was now ruffled with it giving a really cool, almost as if I usually combed my hair to the front, mixed with my choppy bangs, glasses and outfit. I was looking awesome. I heard humming come out of the hallway closet and I continued to curse myself when he returns. "Ok, sorry about that I get carried away sometimes. Just really sociable is all, I really enjoy conversation."
He finishes his sentence as he walks over to the fridge tying the apron on nice and fitted. He exchanged the denim button up for a plain black tee shirt that shows off his lean, fit figure. All while, still wearing my beanie which just finishes the look. The cruel thing that my brain does to me is puts all the piercings that I saw in the bookshop and visualize them is they were there. Does he know what he's doing? He must know. All I know is that, I definitely, definitely crazy for this guy.
