Sorry, but this is another short chapter. It was going to be longer, but the scene was cut since it had a dramatic mood change. Such a large mood change that the scene created would be a bit too overwhelming. It's generally not a good idea to go from scary to campy in just a few sentences, so yeah, that's my reason for cutting the scene. Just to tell you all know.
I do not own Naruto. If I did, then I would have a twin who is always copying me. Oh my god!
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The Ugly Duckling
Chapter VII: Everything's Alright
by The Teeth Collector
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Sasuke had not shown up for school. However, it was not surprising, the boy skipped school a lot. Out of the five days week, Sasuke would only show up for two days for school. It would be surprising if he had the worst attendance the teachers ever seen. Somehow, Sasuke's absence from school eased Naruto's nerves. He simply could not face Sasuke. His conversation with Sakura said yesterday made him feel anxious. Every time he thought of Sasuke, a weird feeling washed over his body. Maybe he only felt like this, because of what Sakura said. Naruto wondered if everyone felt like this after something like this. Even so, all of this made Naruto feel good. It was weird, but he felt fantastic.
"Why are you sitting here?" someone asked Naruto in a drawl.
Naruto looked up from his deformed sculpture of an apple to see Shikamaru leering at him from across the table. "Huh?" he asked dumbly.
"Tsk, how bothersome, I'm not going to repeat myself," Shikamaru said leaning his elbows on the table.
Naruto frowned and ignored the other boy's attitude. "I don't see why you have a problem with it. This is my assigned table after all. Besides, you've never said anything to Chouji, Hinata, or even Tobi," Naruto said gesturing to Tobi who busy working on his project.
"That's because Tobi is… Tobi, but that's beside the point," Shikamaru sighed. "The teacher has already forgotten where everyone sits already. Just look around, there are so many people sitting at different tables."
"Really?"
"Are you blind?"
"Hey, table three shut up, and get back to work," Deidara shouted from across the room. "I can't hear myself think, dammit!"
Feeling awfully embarrassed, Naruto went back to fiddling with his apple, but some caught his eye. Naruto looked over at the Tobi to see the boy working on an unidentifiable four-legged lump.
"Er, Tobi," Naruto whispered. "What are you making?"
Tobi stopped what he was doing and looked up at Naruto with a confused look on his face. "It's a puppy," he merely replied.
"Tobi, that puppy looks like someone threw a brick at it's head," the words spilled out of Naruto's mouth. Naruto heard both Chouji and Shikamaru snigger as he recovered from shock. Naruto expected Tobi to be upset, but the boy just appeared to be as confused as ever.
He examined the puppy once more before asking, "It does?"
"Uh, a little, but it's not that bad," Naruto said.
Tobi looked down and examined the puppy before looking back up at Naruto. "I never saw it that way. Thank you for your critique, Brother," the boy said smiling.
Naruto laughed nervously and went back to fixing up his apple.
Shikamaru sighed. "How troublesome, this guy seriously does not know what he is doing," he said. Naruto knew right off the bat Shikamaru was referring to Deidara. "This is a load of bullshit, making us do this every single class."
"I don't mind really," Chouji said. "Just as long I don't have to draw, I'm okay. It just means that I'll have more cups."
Naruto looked over at the cup Chouji made. The plump boy has been making one every week. Naruto could not decide whether Chouji was being lazy, or if the other boy was an unlikely genius. The latter was starting to become more plausible by minute. Shikamaru on the other hand, was just plain lazy. Each week he made some sort of a bowl. The first week, it was a bowl, the next week it was an ashtray, and it a protective cup. Naruto only knew this because he asked, and he regretted ever asking. The only ones who seemed to put effort into their sculptures were, unsurprisingly, Hinata and Tobi. Tobi took on each project with gusto. He seemed to love every one of his pieces, no matter how bad the result looked. Hinata sat there quietly in the same seat each week carefully shaping the wad of clay in her hands. She never looked up at anybody nor talked. She just sat there.
Naruto sighed, maybe he should change table. This group was about as exciting as wet toilet paper, and not the kind stuck to bathroom ceiling either.
"Um," a voice squeaked. Everyone looked up at the only person who could have made the high-pitched sound, Hinata. The girl froze under everyone's gaze, and bit her lip before continuing "I- um, Tobi, I think your puppy looks very nice."
Her compliment must have please Tobi greatly, because the boy was simply beaming. "Thank you, Hinata, I like your vase!"
The girl gave Tobi a small smile before hiding her face under her bangs once more.
"Shikamaru," Chouji said. "Are you sure we didn't come to school in the twilight zone?"
"No," Shikmaru replied. "Today is just one of those days. Don't think too much about it, though. It'll make your head hurt, it sure is making mine hurt."
At that moment, the bell rung, and every stopped what they were doing.
"Alright, everyone, bring your sculptures up to the table!" Deidara shouted, pointing at the table beside him.
One-by-one, everyone put their finished and, in some cases, unfinished projects onto the table. Deidara passed over every sculpture except for one. The blond man picked up the puppy sculpture and stared at it critically. He looked at Tobi and frowned.
"So," Deidara drawled. "You're the one who keeps making these things?"
Tobi's brow furrowed. "But, their not puppies all the time- I made a bird last week."
Deidara was struck dumbfounded at Tobi's reply. "What?" the man choked out after finding his words.
Tobi's face wrinkled in confusion. "Dunno," he said.
Deidara was amused. He sighed and nodded. "Alright, this isn't funny!" he shouted angrily. "Who let the retard in?"
"How much longer do you bet Mr. Rockwood will last?" Shikamaru asked.
"Three, four weeks tops," Chouji said.
"A week," Naruto input. Chouji and Shikamaru whipped around to look at him. Noticing their questioning looks, Naruto shrugged. "Parents don't like it when you call their kids retarded."
"Can't argue with that," Shikamaru said as they left.
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The few weeks have been nothing but a huge pain in the ass for Sakon. Not only was Sasuke acting weird, but also the other boy had the nerve to threaten him! Sasuke actually threatened him for messing around with that Naruto kid! The whole thing just pissed him off. If it weren't for the fact it was Sasuke, Sakon would be shaking down Naruto at the moment. Instead he was listening to Tayuya bitch and moan over some shit he could care less about.
"And that's when I smacked that mouthy bitch… Hey are you listening to me!?" Tayuya snapped.
"Isn't obvious that I'm not?" Sakon said. "I honestly don't give a shit about what happened between you and what'sherface."
The girl's face turned beat red. He knew that his response would only provoke Tayuya, but he did not care. The girl can run her mouth for as long as she wants.
"For fuck sakes, Tayuya," Kidoumaru said before the girl could open her mouth. "Just because you think he's a fag, does not mean he cares what you have to say like one of your girlfriends. So don't be starting any shit, I'm really not in a good mood." Tayuya's face twisted up in anger. She opened her mouth to shout at Kidoumaru, but a hand quickly covered her mouth. The girl gasped and looked up at Kidoumaru. "I am really fucking serious, Tayuya. I do not want any shit today. Got it?" he asked sternly. The girl nodded and Kidoumaru released her.
Tayuya sulked in her seat next to Kidoumaru as she usually does. It has always been like this, and it simply did not faze Sakon anymore. Kidoumaru always had the balls to shut that girl up, and she usually does shut up, mainly due to Kidoumaru not being in a good mood. Not even Tayuya was stupid enough to mouth off while Kidoumaru was having a shit day.
"What's wrong with you now?" Sakon asked, testing the waters.
Kidoumaru snorted. "Nothing really," he said with a shrug. "Just pissed off at Carrie, that bitch won't return my calls. Since when did she get uppity?"
"Dunno, but you shouldn't even stressing over her. God knows how many diseases she's carrying," Sakon said.
"You're right, but she blew me off for some skinny-ass kid on Saturday! I still don't know what the fuck she was smoking that day," Kidoumaru grunted.
Sakon raised an eyebrow. "Really? Maybe he paid her to fuck him, or something. I wouldn't put it past her to give out pity fucks," the fair-haired boy said.
"Nah, it wasn't a pity fuck. She really seemed to like him. Maybe because he treated her like a lady. The kid actually had the balls to stand up to me and defend her out of all people. The kid was tiny too, and I really don't what he was thinking. I would have smashed his face in, but I didn't want to be a total shithead at the party, the last thing I want is to get police called on me. Fighting that tiny little kid would probably count as attempt murder," Kidoumaru sighed. "I think he came with Kiba."
Sakon's eyes widen. "Let me guess, he had blond hair, and a dumb look on his face?" Sakon asked.
Kidoumaru blinked. "Yeah, how did you know that?" he asked.
"I know of him," the fair-haired boy replied. "The guy's name is Naruto, I think. He got left back a year."
"Are you serious?" Kidoumaru asked laughing. "What a fucking loser."
"Is that guy the reason Sasuke had a 'talk' with you, Sakon?" Tayuya asked she had calmed down by that point.
"…," Sakon kept silent.
"Is that so," Kidoumaru said, taking Sakon's silence as a conformation. "Well, I'll tell you something interesting. Now, I maybe unsure about this (because I was drunk), but something happened between Sasuke, that Naruto kid, and Carrie. Apparently, Carrie tried to fuck the kid-"
"Awww, his poor dick- I almost feel sorry for it," Tayuya commented.
"But," Kidoumaru emphasized after being interrupted. "Sasuke wasn't having it. He, that Sakura chick, and Kiba dragged the kid away from the party. It seems your Naruto might just be Sasuke's bitch."
"What!?" Tayuya gasped. "You mean to tell me that Sasuke's a fag?"
Sakon thought for a moment. What Kidoumaru said made sense in it's own crazy way. "Do you really think that?"
The other boy shrugged. "It's just rumors. Personally, I don't think it's true. I mean, Sasuke's been with way too many girls to be gay. And if he is, he's really good at hiding it," he said.
"Yeah, but this whole thing still doesn't make any sense."
"You're right, but Sasuke is probably a fag. Anyway," Kidoumaru said licking his lips. "Can you tell me more about this Naruto kid?"
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"Hey, Naruto," Kiba said. "Are you interested in finding a girlfriend?"
Naruto choked on his drink. Sakura immediately stopped what she was doing to tap him on the back. "Wh-what!?" he croaked while Sakura shot Kiba dirty looks.
Kiba let out a hearty laugh. "Hey why are you getting so worked up? I just asked you if you wanted to meet a nice girl."
"No, it's just… that just caught me off guard a little."
"Really now," Kiba said. "Well then, just tell me if you want to meet this nice girl or not."
"No," Naruto said.
"What?"
"I said no."
"Why not?" Kiba whined. "Just give her a chance! You might like her."
"Cut it out, Kiba," Sakura said without looking up from her homework. "If he doesn't want a hookup, than don't force it on him."
"I don't know why you care. I thought Naruto was your friend. Shouldn't friends encourage each other to find love? Or is it because you're jealous?" Kiba said grinning as Sakura stared at him with a red face. "Ah-ha! You're blushing!"
"Shut up!" the girl screamed. Without a second thought, Sakura threw a muffin at the boy.
"You're just mad, because it's true," Kiba said, ducking away from the flying muffin.
"Stop teasing her, Kiba," Naruto said.
"No, I'm not going to stop unless you agree to meet Hinata," Kiba said in his own defense.
Naruto's eyes widen. "You know Hinata?" he asked.
Kiba was beaming. "Yeah, you know her, too?"
"A little, she's in my art class."
"That's great! Since you two kinda' know each other, than this will work out!"
"No, she doesn't seem all that sociable."
"Why not? Look she's really nice once she warms up to you. She's a whole lot nicer than an amazon that throws muffins at people."
Sakura glared at Kiba from across the table.
"Kiba…" Naruto said warningly.
"She threw a muffin at me!" Kiba yelled jabbing a figure at Sakura. The boy began to sniffle. "I thought we were friends, Naruto, but I guess you don't love me as much as you Sakura."
The boy hid his face in his hands and mocked crying. Naruto sighed. Kiba was stubborn to the point of being annoying. He knew the only way he could get out of it, is by forcing himself to go out on a date with Hinata, or something. However, Naruto was never one to hand over his will so easily.
"For the last time, Kiba, I don't want to go out with Hinata. She- she's just not my type! She's far from being my type. I'm sure she's nice and sweet, and any guy would go crazy over her, but I'm not one of those guys, alright! So don't force this on me, so shut up and get over it!" Naruto shouted tossing his arms into the air. "Now can we please have a nice a conversation where my sex life isn't the hot topic? 'Cause, it simply isn't any of your business, Kiba."
"Dammit, Naruto, how can you be so selfish!? You are the perfect guy for Hinata! I can't believe you won't at least get to know!" Kiba barked in anger.
A small smile played on Sakura lips. She simply could not help it, for some reason, hearing Naruto say that made her simile. Maybe the subtle change in the boy's demeanor was causing this. For some reason, Naruto seemed happy. The boy was positively beaming! She wasn't even sure if this was the same boy she knew. Her smile did not fade as Naruto's attention turned towards her. He looked confused, but returned her smile. This only made Sakura feel fuzzier, and the girl started to giggle. Sometimes, Naruto was too cute for his own good.
Naruto scratched his head in confusion. What was so funny that it made Sakura laugh? The boy began to wonder if he had something on his face…
"What's wrong with her?" Kiba asked, his anger seemly receding.
"I don't know," Naruto answered.
"I just remembered a joke," the girl said in-between laugher. "But that's beside the point, are the two of you going to the field trip? I sure am."
"No fucking way," Kiba replied. "Like hell I'm going to the fucking pumpkin patch. Do I look like I'm in second grader to you?"
"Yeah, you do," she said with a cheeky smile.
"Well, I'm going," Naruto announced. "I never got to go on field trips, so this is a first for me. I don't really care that it's a pumpkin patch or not."
Kiba and Sakura stared at him in shock. They could not believe their ears! Had Naruto really say that? "Are you serious?" the two asked in unison.
"Yeah, dead serious, I never got to go on field trips because I would always do something stupid the week before the trip. I didn't care really; I just got a free day of from school- which is way cooler than any trip to the zoo," the boy recalls nostalgically.
"So you mean to tell me that you were a total asshat last year?" Kiba asked.
Naruto nodded. "Yeah, sort of."
"God, when you thought you knew people," the other boy said disappointedly. "It would be great if we became a double trouble or something. I'm always looking for someone to drag down with me."
"Yeah right, if anything I'll be dragging you down with me. I've done some crazy things in my lifetime," Naruto proclaimed proudly.
"Oooh, you must tell!" Kiba said in glee.
Naruto felt Sakura hastily tugging at his sleeve, and looked over only to see the back of her head. The girl turned her head to meet his gaze, leaned in close and hissed, "She's coming this way." Naruto eyebrows knitted together as he looked past Sakura to Carrie heading straight towards them! All Naruto could do was gawk at vast space ahead of him.
"What the hell does she think she's doing?" Sakura whispered. "Don't tell she's still trying to get into your pants. Ah! She has less tact than I thought!"
"I honestly do not know, Sakura," Naruto said.
"Hey, what are you two talking about over there?" Kiba asked.
"I'll tell him," Sakura said. "Carrie's-" before Sakura could finished, Carrie already arrived. "- Never mind."
"Can I talk to Naruto for a minute." Carrie said, it was a more of a statement than a question.
"Honestly, what makes you think Naruto wants to talk to after Saturday?" Kiba questioned.
"Can Naruto speak for himself?" Carrie sneered.
"Kiba's right I don't want to talk to you," Naruto said without looking up at the girl.
"Hmph, fine!" Carrie walked over towards Naruto placed a fold piece of paper on the table. "Call me whenever you can," the girl said before walking past Naruto.
"I just can't believe some people," Sakura whined as Naruto picked up the note Carrie left.
"Ewww, don't tell me you're considering calling her," Kiba commented.
Naruto wrinkled his nose as if he smelled something awful. "God's no," he said as finished unfolding the note. "It's just that she wrote something else."
Naruto instantly froze when as he Carrie's message. Standing in it's full glory, written in hasty scrawl was "For your own good, stay far, far away from Sasuke." Naruto's hands clinched the notebook paper tightly. He was more angered than surprised by the vague message. Staring at those words made his chest felt tight, yet he did not know why. What gave her the right to dictate what he should do? Why would it matter to her if he talks to Sasuke or not? Naruto gritted his teeth. Carrie had no right to give him this note! She tried to fuck him while he was drunk Saturday night for god's sake! How dare she write to him like this!
"Stay away from Sasuke," Naruto mouthed to himself.
"What? What did she write, Naruto?" Sakura asked.
"Nothing," the boy replied as he shoved note into his pocket. He did not notice the concern look on Sakura's face.
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Field trips to orchids suck. I'm sure anybody who has gone on one agrees with me. Picking over ripe pumpkins, and apples and riding around in a wagon full of itchy hay is not fun. Ever.