~Chapter II~
~Teenagers~
The boys and girls in the clique / The awful names that they stick / You're never gonna fit in much kid / But if you're troubled and hurt / What you got under your shirt / Will make them pay for the things that they did
Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep.
A frustrated moan emerged from the tangle of bed sheets in response to the blaring alarm clock. A tan hand flopped onto the bedside table, slamming around for the off button. The teen sighed in relief at the silence following the click of said button beneath his tired hand. Naruto forced himself into a sitting position upon his messy bed, spiky blond hair tousled into an even bigger mess than originally. He let out a heavy huff, bleary eyes looking around the small apartment… for what? He did not know. Perhaps it was a reason to get out of bed.
It was Wednesday, he realized when his glazed over gaze drifted over the calendar pinned to the wall near his head. He yawned and stretched his arms over his head while he waited for it to come to him. Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday. What was so important about Wednesday? It was a weekday so…ah! That was it! He had to go to school! Fun!
Groaning in irritation at this dreadful fact, Naruto swung his legs out of bed and prepared to enter another lonely morning, overseen by the silent faces of his parents trapped in a picture frame on the table. Every time he woke up in the morning, he always saw that smiling photo (it being beside the alarm clock he always attacked), and it always reminded him why he was really getting out of bed every day.
It was on the verge of awakening from a black (unnecessary) slumber that Itachi reached for his dearest brother. Eyelids brushed open as if from blinking instead of from sleep when the eldest of the brothers did not find what he sought. He lay, still as a corpse, and listened to the miniscule sound of wind whispering tenderly through silky locks outside. A smile played fondly about his lips and he swiftly arrived to the glass door already opened up to the porch.
Sasuke did not turn to greet him, continuing to gaze out at the sunlit forests from the balcony. A silent sigh of content escaped the older man's lips as he gazed, unblinking, at the back of his brother, midnight eyes soaking in the breath-taking figure. Rays of rising sun licked fire into Sasuke's dark hair and prominently outlined his serene smile. Itachi never got sick of seeing that.
"Did you forget where the porch was?" the lyrical voice from the boy's lips asked. "That's the longest it's taken you to cross a threshold."
Itachi chuckled, making the transition from the doorway to the porch railing where his brother stood, as still and stoic as a perfectly sculpted mannequin.
"You're up awfully early," he stated, hugging the other against his chest.
"I wanted to see the sunrise," Sasuke replied with a smile, continuing to gaze at the passionately red horizon. "It would be our first one we woke up to in our new room."
"Always my sappy romantic," Itachi sighed, propping his head on top of Sasuke's to join in his sky-watching. "It is beautiful, isn't it?"
"Mmmm," Sasuke hummed in reply, entranced by the peaceful moment, the sky melting from one color to the next as the minutes started to pass by. "I'm glad we're back."
"Yeah. Me too."
It was only when he stepped onto those huge, yellow monsters that Naruto remembered why he hated buses. They were loud, hot, rocky, stinky, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera. And it was only when said vehicle pulled up in front of the school that Naruto really wished he could drive. He would be nearing that age soon. He had just turned sixteen and permit tests were already being offered.
When Naruto stepped off the bus, his thoughts about vehicles and driving instantly went out the window. He did this daily. He thought about the same things at the same time everyday. Such rambling, worthless thoughts prevented him from wallowing in his sorrow for his lost parents.
His father and mother had been in Europe when they vanished from his life six years ago. The two of them had been archaeologists and had traveled a lot, bringing Naruto along with them. He'd called many of the places they visited his home but, his birthplace had always been Konoha. He had been in this town when his parents disappeared. They had left him at behind that time, under the always wandering eye of his lecherous godfather. When the news arrived that they had vanished, he'd been abandoned to foster care until he was thirteen and escaped to live on his own. For the past five years he had been searching for clues to unravel the mystery of their disappearance.
"Naruto. Naruto? Naruto!"
The blond in question was frightened out of his remembrance. He snapped around in the suffocating hallway to face the one addressing him.
"Shikamaru! Hinata! Hey!"
"Are you out of it this morning or what?" Shikamaru laughed, good-naturedly.
"Sorry. I didn't hear you - loud hallways," Naruto half-lied, scratching the back of his head, sheepishly.
Shikamaru rolled his eyes, yawning in the process. Naruto turned to smile at the quiet girl beside his friend.
"Hey Hinata. How's it going?"
She glanced up, somewhat nervously, and gave him her standard, shy smile.
"Good morning N-Naruto. A-Are you going to the dance with us on Friday?"
"Uh, yeah! For Halloween? Of course! If there's one thing this school's good at, it's throwing a dance party! We're all going together right? The six of us?"
He'd decided yesterday to abandon his hopeless dream of getting back with Sakura, even if only for one night. It wasn't possible, he was sure of it. That didn't mean he had to miss out on Halloween though, so he'd made up his mind just to go the dance with his friends – he loved them just as much anyway.
"Seven."
Naruto stared at Shikamaru, drawing up many question marks at his correction.
"I'm pretty sure Lee's going to want to bring the new kid along."
"You mean Uchiha Sasuke?" he asked, feeling like he was missing out on some huge inside joke. "Are you serious?"
"Since yesterday," Hinata began, hesitantly. "Lee's been dragging him around, introducing him to all of us."
"It's been a while since Lee made a new friend," Shikamaru continued with a lazy shrug. "You can expect to see Sasuke around a lot more."
"Naruto, Lee hasn't introduced Sasuke to you yet?" Hinata asked when she recognized the stunned expression on her friend's face.
He shook his head, unsure of how he felt about this news. He really had no reason to dislike Sasuke aside from the envy he held in regards to him. Naruto quickly tried to suppress the green feeling, knowing full well that judging before meeting was an awful mistake.
"I'm sure he didn't forget…" Hinata put in at Naruto's silence, thinking that he was perhaps upset that Lee had failed to acquaint him with the new boy.
"Oh! I know that!" Naruto laughed off, yet again. "We barely have any classes together. I don't blame him for not catching me during the day."
"Then what's the problem?" Shikamaru drawled, intuitive as ever.
"There is no problem," Naruto insisted. "It's like I've said before. I'm sure once I meet this guy, we'll be great friends."
Both Uchihas sighed in distress when they pulled into the high school parking lot. Sasuke gazed at his brother, pleading without words to not make him go in there. Itachi's response was a smirk, stating that it wasn't his idea to act out a normal life.
"Not one of my better ideas," Sasuke voiced, shouldering his backpack and exiting the vehicle.
"I wouldn't say that," Itachi argued as he followed. "There are lots of things benefiting from our being here."
"Like?"
"Our house, our room, your friends…"
"Possible friends," Sasuke corrected, receiving a chuckle from his brother. "Speaking of, have you made any acquaintances?"
"No, and I honestly don't intend to."
"You're not lonely during the day?" Sasuke asked, this time with genuine concern.
"Nonsense, I prefer to be by myself. I have more time to think."
The look he gave Sasuke - that which was smoldering and tender - added a silent "about you" to the end of his sentence. The younger smiled at this but, was still troubled that his brother didn't seek to make any friends. They arrived at their shared locker with ease, their infatuated peers constantly making sure they had a clear path to walk.
"How were your classes yesterday?" Sasuke asked, spinning through the combination, effortlessly, before popping the door open.
"As I expected," Itachi sighed, shifting his bag around in front of him to add the textbooks required for the day.
"Any you think will be favorites?"
"Possibly Chemistry. You?"
"English, I think. Least favorite?"
"History."
They said this in unison, laughing quietly, as they continued about packing their bags for the day. Sasuke reached for a textbook on the top shelf, fingers just barely missing it. Itachi was quick to get it for him, placing it into the open bag before he could object. Sasuke smiled up at him, the stretch of lips reciprocated, softly. The warning bell for first period interrupted them. The people around them quickly broke from their social groups and hurried to class.
"I'll see you later," Itachi said, giving Sasuke's shoulder a squeeze before departing.
It killed Sasuke inside that they couldn't kiss hello or good-bye like they always did. They had to be careful in such a place where they were already so well known as brothers. The young Uchiha sighed at the sudden loneliness he felt with his companion's departure. Softly closing the locker door, Sasuke ventured back into the sea of people, solemnly making his way to his first class of the day.
Naruto's mind usually wandered during class but, never as much as it did today. He wasn't really sure what he was thinking about. He assumed it was a hodge-podge of mixed thoughts about his past and his future. For some reason, he had been feeling haunted lately: by the mystery of his parents' disappearance, his bizarre feelings about Sakura, and his friendships. He focused more intently on the present when his dwelling thoughts on the past were beginning to depress him.
It all came zoned in on the new kid, Sasuke. Naruto wasn't going to lie to himself, he had it bad for Sakura and he was admittedly jealous that she was after Sasuke. Also, he felt uneasy about how Lee was allegedly getting along with him. He didn't buy it. Lee had been getting pushed around by the heartthrobs for a while. It was an unfortunate impulse Naruto had developed to be wary of such people, just by appearance.
Naruto didn't like the way his mind kept reeling about the Uchihas. He had always tried so hard to be accepting of everyone that came his way. Now, he felt that he was proving himself to be a hypocrite. He was judging the brothers before he even met them and, the worst part was, he was fully aware of it.
Naruto milled over all of his contradicting thoughts all through the first half of the day, up until lunch came around. He slid into his seat, greeting his assembled friends in turn.
"What's up? Where's Lee?"
"I'm sure he's not far," Shikamaru yawned, laying his head down at the table, preferring a nap in lunch over a meal.
The blond glanced at Kiba beside him for further clarification. The brunette chuckled to himself, shaking his head at some ridiculous joke it seemed, and it irritated Naruto that he wasn't in on it. He turned to Hinata across the table, seeking her wise guidance. She bit her lip and shrugged her shoulders, distressed that she couldn't give him an answer. He then proceeded to turn to his last resort. Choji sat near the end of the table, scarfing down all sorts of snacks and crap. Naruto abandoned the thought, immediately. Choji was the last person who would know anything about anyone.
"Well, someone's got to know where he is!"
No sooner had he voiced his irritation, did the wide-eyed boy appear in the cafeteria doorway. However, he was not alone. He had, gripped in his hand, the arm of the high school superstar himself, Uchiha Sasuke. A brief hush fell over the babbling students. Naruto could feel the atmosphere around him electrify with excitement and then, dull to confusion. He knew what they were thinking and he was wondering the same thing himself: What was a geek like Lee doing with someone as revered as Sasuke?
Oblivious to the stares and murmurs - as always - Lee pranced into the room, dragging an at ease Uchiha along with him.
"Hi guys!" he greeted the small group when he and Sasuke arrived at the table. "You've all met Sasuke right?"
Naruto's friends nodded, giving Sasuke greeting smiles and a few shy murmurs. Naruto instantly felt out of place, subconsciously shrinking into his seat.
"Let's see if I can remember names," Sasuke chuckled, the dark, liquid velvet sound sending tingles down Naruto's spine. "Kiba, Shikamaru…Hinata, Choji, and…"
The dark newcomer named each individual correctly and flawlessly until his striking gaze fell upon Naruto. He glanced up at Sasuke, who stared at him intently, making him feel even more uneasy. Once again, like the day prior, Naruto was entranced by those shocking black eyes. Again, there was a swarm of emotions swirling in the dark depths as he pondered the name.
"Oh my gosh!" Lee shouted, breaking the eye contact and pulling Sasuke around the table, seating him across from Naruto. "I can't believe I haven't introduced you yet! Sasuke, this is my very best friend, Uzumaki Naruto. Naruto, this is -"
"Uchiha Sasuke. I know."
A peculiar silence fell over the table at Naruto's curt interruption, his friends sending him worried glances as he gave a scrutinizing look to Sasuke. Noticeably, the Uchiha didn't seem to catch onto his abrupt tone. His pleasant smile remained in place and his posture remained lax but, Naruto picked up on the guarded look in his eyes all of a sudden. He mentally punched himself, repeatedly, at his present conduct. It wasn't right. Sasuke didn't deserve to be burdened with his disordered feelings. Thinking on his feet, Naruto quickly saved the introduction and his chance at getting to know Sasuke.
"Your reputation precedes you," he said, donning a clever smile.
"I have a reputation?" Sasuke laughed, easily, in return.
"You haven't been to this school. People make up rumors and they spread like wildfire. Be careful what you say. You might get burned with it later."
A breath of relief washed over the table as the two laughed at this. They went into their separate conversations with each other soon afterward, subconsciously leaving Naruto and Sasuke to get acquainted on their own.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Naruto."
"Likewise. So, what's it like being the new kid? You and your brother became awfully popular awfully fast."
"I can't imagine why," Sasuke chortled. "There's really nothing fascinating about me or Itachi. Sure, Itachi's smarter than most people his age but, otherwise, we're pretty average."
"You call moving into the most expensive and haunted house in Konoha average?"
Naruto asked it without any malice, simply fueling the light-hearted conversation, but, Sasuke's brow rose up in question.
"Haunted, you say?"
"Well, yeah. People have been calling the old Sarutobi place the 'Haunted Mansion on Raiden Hill' for decades! I mean, have you seen the place?"
"Yes."
A pause passed between the two and Naruto wasn't sure if he was waiting for Sasuke to elaborate or Sasuke was waiting for him to add something. Naruto did, however, get the impression that, perhaps, Sasuke knew more about the mansion than he was letting him believe…Or, it was the paranoia getting to him.
"Anyway," the blond went on. "Everyone in this town has their superstitions about the place. It's a lot different than most buildings around here. What's it like living there? Is it as creepy inside as it is outside?"
"It's not creepy," Sasuke defended, not snapping the words out but, not mincing them either. "It's a beautiful house. There's a lot of history behind it and it's an architectural masterpiece. I'm grateful to be staying in a house of such majesty."
It was here that Naruto could understand why Lee got along with this kid so well. They both loved that house. Naruto placed all of his unjustified suspicions aside, now more curious than anything else about the mysterious boy. He didn't get to open his mouth for another question though.
"Enjoying the lowlife dorks?"
Zaku and his partners in crime, Dosu and Kin, approached their table. It made Naruto's teeth clench how they always barged in, targeting them with their misplaced angst all the time. Ever since seventh grade, the three of them always beat them up and teased them. Zaku slammed his hand on the table, making some heads turn at the loud sound.
"What do you want?" Kiba asked, stiff in his seat as he glared at the older boy.
"I want a snack," Zaku hissed back, grabbing a recently opened bag of potato chips out of Choji's hands.
"Hey! That's mine!"
"Not any more," Zaku barked, munching on a chip. "Besides, it's not like you need it. You can't get much bigger."
"Watch it Zaku!" Shikamaru interjected, leaping to his feet in Choji's defense.
Naruto was beginning to get nervous. Choji and Shikamaru had been friends long before he had met them. It was only when Choji was targeted that Shikamaru "woke up." When he was "awake," it was hard to keep him from picking a fight.
"What are you going to do about it lazy ass?" Zaku retorted, handing the prized potato chips to Kin and getting up in Shikamaru's face.
Naruto felt the buzz of nervousness and thrill washing through the hushed cafeteria as everyone turned their attention to the inevitable fight.
"Shikamaru," he spoke up, hoping to dissuade him out of stooping to Zaku's level.
No one seemed to hear him because no one was paying attention to him. Everyone was focused on the two boys on their feet.
"Well? You gonna do anything lazy ass?" Zaku continued to taunt Shikamaru.
He pushed him back, roughly, making Kiba and Naruto rise to step in. Imagine their surprise when they found Sasuke, already on his feet, standing between the two.
"That's enough," he said to Zaku, eyes sharp and voice firm.
"Out of my way pretty boy!"
The older boy pushed Sasuke back, the latter stumbling against the table. The impact moved the table a little, the screeching of the legs on the floor making the gesture seem more than it was. A ripple of gasps went through the many spectators at how Zaku dared to go against their object of obsession. Sasuke remained on his feet, one hand clenching the table edge and making Naruto afraid of how he may respond. There was silence for a few moments, Sasuke's eyes closing in what seemed to be contemplation. What he was contemplating about, Naruto could not tell. It was not long before Sasuke reopened his eyes and stepped towards Zaku, looking much taller than he really was.
"It's time for you to go," the dark Uchiha said, the sound of his voice, so menacing and evil, turning Naruto's blood to ice.
"Who's gonna make me? You think you stand a chance pretty boy?"
Zaku raised his hand to make a move against Sasuke. However, before it could even form into a fist, Zaku's wrist was trapped in Sasuke's pale hand.
"What the hell? Let go of me you son of a bitch!"
Zaku tried to pull himself free but, the Uchiha stood rock solid, his gaze and grip not faltering in the slightest. His icy eyes pierced into Zaku's and Naruto watched as the boy's haughtiness ebbed away into fear.
"I said, it's time for you to go."
The tension in the air was smothering and no one could take their eyes off of Sasuke. If a look could kill, Naruto was sure the one Sasuke was giving Zaku would have left the bully mutilated. The blond wasn't sure how to describe the scene before him. The only thing he could remotely compare it to was a predator and its prey.
It didn't take long at all for the antagonist to succumb to the terror striking through him beneath the Uchiha's glare. He nodded his head, repeatedly, shaking all over and unable to speak. Sasuke released him and he scurried away, leaving his companions behind as he fled the cafeteria. Sasuke directed his frosty attention to Dosu and Kin. He stretched out his hand, making Kin flinch back in fright.
His midnight eyes bore into hers, the girl trembling like a leaf, face flushed pink in a blush formed out of excitement and horror. Sasuke didn't ask anything of her, but she obviously knew what he wanted. She shoved the bag of potato chips into his waiting hand and ran off, the silent Dosu not far behind. Sasuke didn't move until they were out of sight. When he did make a move, he turned to Choji who gazed up at the Uchiha, mouth agape.
"Here," Sasuke said, handing the chubby boy the acquired bag.
Moving robotically, Choji accepted his returned snack, his shocked facial expression not changing, even as the foreboding boy turned to Shikamaru.
"You're alright?" he asked the stunned boy, who nodded, slowly, in reply.
Sasuke nodded once in understanding before his black gaze swept over the table. The other people in the cafeteria began to whisper, always sending the Uchiha mixed glances. He turned away from the table and began to walk away but, not before Naruto noticed a hint of disappointment in his eyes.
"Hey! Where are you going?"
Naruto didn't realize it was his voice that rang out after Sasuke until said raven-haired boy turned back and fixed his grief-ridden gaze on him.
"You don't seem to want me to remain," he stated softly, all the previous malice replaced with sadness.
"Are you kidding?"
All eyes turned to Kiba, a thrilled smile upon his face as he looked to Sasuke.
"That was amazing! Do you know how difficult it was for us to get those jerks off our backs? We owe you big time!"
Agreements arose from the table before Lee tackled the unsuspecting Uchiha in a teary glomp.
"That was beautiful that you stood up for us misfits like that!" he exclaimed, dramatically. "No one's ever done that before!"
Naruto resumed his seat, not realizing how much his legs were shaking from the excitement. Lee continued to sob in joy, hugging Sasuke to the point where Naruto was afraid he'd choke the Uchiha. The blond noticed the confused look in Sasuke's eyes as he gazed past Lee's waterfall of joyful tears at the welcoming faces at the table. A smile tweaked his lips afterwards and his mood instantly shifted to that of relief as Lee dragged him back to his seat.
"I'm sorry if I scared you," he apologized as he disentangled himself from the weeping boy attached to him. "I just hate people like that guy."
"Who doesn't?" Kiba snorted, scooting closer down to Sasuke's side of the table. "I've never seen Zaku so scared! What did you do?"
"Intimidation, I guess," Sasuke replied, shrugging. "I hope the chips were worth it."
He smiled down at Choji, who was still staring at him. The boy quickly extended the bag in offer to him. Chuckling, Sasuke waved his hand in rejection before turning down to Shikamaru.
"I hope you don't mind that I intervened. Did you want to take him on your own?"
Still slowly, Shikamaru shook his head, clearly in shock.
"S-Sasuke?"
Said Uchiha turned to Hinata, expectantly, as did Naruto. She had remained quiet throughout the whole ordeal. Naruto knew she got upset over fights and he hadn't paid much attention to her like he usually did during that one. He was surprised when she appeared to be fine, gazing at Sasuke in wonder and reverence.
"W-Will you join us on Friday night for the Halloween dance?"
Sasuke blinked once, leaning back in his chair as he thought about it.
"I wouldn't want to intrude…"
"Who's intruding?" Naruto interrupted, beaming at Sasuke. "As far as I'm concerned, you're a part of the group now! It would be wrong not to have you with us on Friday."
Sasuke smiled in gratitude at Naruto, his onyx eyes warm and happy. It was official. Naruto really liked Uchiha Sasuke.
Teenagers scare the living shit out of me / They could care less as long a someone'll bleed / So darken your clothes or strike a violent pose / Maybe they'll leave you alone but not me
