Author's Note: Hello Everyone! I hope you liked the last chapter. I didn't get as many reviews as I normally do, and that's fine, I was just wondering if maybe you guys didn't like it? If you don't like something about a chapter please feel free to tell me! I may not change it, but it may affect later chapters. Likewise, if you do like a chapter, please let me know! I want to make sure you guys are enjoying it as well! As always, the more responses I get the faster the chapters will come out usually. Also, it occurred to me that I don't really leave off chapters with cliff hangers. Do you guys think that's good or bad? Would you like cliff hangers? Or do you prefer having a closed end for the chapter? It doesn't matter either way. I end my chapters where I feel they should naturally end, but it's good to know. ANYWAY, enough of my questions and babbling, time for the story! As always, please Follow, Favorite, and Review! Enjoy!


The next week was torture for Naruto. Not only were classes awful, but his relationship with Hinata was extremely strained. He couldn't bring himself to be alone with her for long, and she was starting to notice. He was making it pretty obvious, so he couldn't blame her. Whenever she tried to invite him to her room for movies he gave her excuses, and always invited one of the others along whenever they were going to go out. He just felt so uncomfortable. Naruto still really liked Hinata. She was cute, and sweet, and strong, and everything he thought he ever wanted, but Naruto couldn't stop the tremors in his body whenever he thought about doing anything remotely romantic. Was he afraid of being in a relationship? Or was it really because of the whole Sasuke thing? Naruto couldn't help the dreaded feeling that it was the latter.

She hadn't even spoken to him since yesterday and it was now Friday night once again. Naruto felt awful, first because of the Sasuke thing, now because of how he's been treating Hinata, and there is nothing he can do about it. At least nothing he can think of. Maybe he really did need to talk to someone? Ino? No, she had a big mouth and couldn't be subtle. Naruto gazed through the living room window at the house across the street. Sasuke was over there hanging out with Karin, Suigetsu, and Jugo. Poor Gaara, he was probably losing his mind. Wait! He could talk to Gaara, couldn't he? After all, he didn't really know Sasuke or Hinata, and he was the best at keeping secrets.

"Where's my phone?" Naruto searched around him for a minute before finding his phone and sending Gaara a text.

'You wanna come hang out over here? I could use the company.' SEND.

Gaara: 'Yes! These idiots are driving me nuts. I'm about to kill someone. Be there in 5.'

"Well I guess I should figure out what I'm going to say," Naruto mumbled, going to their kitchen cabinets and pulling out a bottle of whiskey. He knew it was going to be a long night, so he might as well get started. He didn't think anyone was in the house but him. Neji had gone out with Hinata somewhere, Sakura was having dinner with Ino and her parents, and Kiba was next door hanging out with Shikamaru and Choji. Perfect. Naruto unscrewed the cap and took a big, burning gulp.

It was thirty minutes later when Gaara finally showed up and Naruto had become a mess. He was a quarter of the way done with the whisky and was watching a cheesy horror flick.

"Sorry I'm late, I got caught up with-" Gaara cut himself off when he saw Naruto cradling the whisky bottle to his chest and jumping at a cheesy ghost prop on TV. "Naruto?" He asked.

"Gaara!" Naruto suddenly turned and leapt to his friend, nearly knocking them over. "I got so bored waiting for you, and I was so nervous, I had a few shots," Naruto said, and then giggled as he held up the bottle.

"A few," Gaara deadpanned. "Come on, let's go to your room before you pass out."

"I'm not gonna pass out. This is nothing!" Naruto called as he was dragged to his room. "Oh, here, you should have some too! I don't think this is a sober conversation." Gaara looked at Naruto for a moment, intending to refuse, but he saw a look in Naruto's eyes that was serious, and so he accepted, taking a swig from the bottle.

"So, what is it you wanted to talk about?" Gaara asked. Naruto shook his head and pushed the bottle back towards his mouth.

"Nuh-uh. You need to catch up. In the meantime, what's going on at your place?" Naruto asked. Gaara sighed and took another drink before speaking.

"Well, because Sasuke is over Karin insisted on cooking. Temari offered to help, but she refused. The kitchen was a complete mess when you texted me. Just as I was about to leave the damn kitchen caught on fire. That girl is an idiot and I'm going to kill her if she doesn't get us all killed first." Throughout the small rant Gaara had taken a few more gulps of whiskey. Naruto guessed he needed it just as much as him. Not just for the conversation Naruto wanted to have, but for his own trouble back at his dorm.

"What did Sasuke do?" Naruto asked. Gaara glared.

"Nothing, he just sat there." Gaara refocused his gaze on Naruto, setting the bottle down. He was smaller than Naruto, and didn't drink as much, so it wouldn't take as much for him to reach Naruto's level, and Naruto was already seeing his eyes fog over slightly. "Now, what did you want to talk about?"

Naruto looked at Gaara before grabbing the whiskey and taking a large gulp. "Give me a minute." Gaara waited patiently, watching as Naruto took deep breaths and fiddled with the blanket on his bed.

"So, remember how I said I was having issues with my roommate?" Gaara nodded. "I assume you already know it's Sasuke." Gaara nodded once more. Naruto sighed, wishing Gaara would somehow derail the conversation like any other drunk person would.

"Well, I guess it started back when I first started dating Hinata at the beginning of the year…no," Naruto paused and shook his head. "Really it probably starts from back when we were still brats at the orphanage." Gaara stared blankly at Naruto, though confusion did glimmer for a moment.

"Remember that candy store we used to always go to? The one with the really nice lady who didn't yell at us?" Gaara nodded. Although he hadn't been quite as adventurous as the other kids, he had gone with Naruto a few times to that candy shop. "Well remember the owner? She was really pretty. Raven hair, porcelain skin, dark, warm eyes?" Gaara nodded slowly. Naruto laughed. "I used to have a huge crush on her. Even as a kid, I thought I was going to marry her. She was the only one in town who was kind to us. Even when I tried to steal a piece of candy, she didn't get mad." Naruto knew he was beating around the bush, but what a lovely bush it was.

"Do you think that's normal? For a kid to be so infatuated with an adult?" Naruto asked Gaara. Gaara was silent for a moment and Naruto took the opportunity to drink more whiskey.

"I don't think it is too strange, especially considering our situation. Not many people cared for us, so of course you would get attached to the one person who did."

"Yeah, right? I mean, she was great. I saw a picture of her recently and even now I still think she's beautiful." An image of Sasuke flashed before Naruto's eyes and he cringed, looking up at Gaara.

"I think I still love her, even after all this time." Naruto looked down.

"What does that have to do with Sasuke?" Gaara asked, and Naruto groaned.

"Do you really remember what that woman looked like? I mean really, really remember? Because if you did, you wouldn't be asking me that."

"Naruto, just spit it out," Gaara demanded. He was getting irritated. Naruto shoved the bottle at Gaara.

"And now Hinata is mad at me too because I keep avoiding her. I don't mean to, but I just feel so uncomfortable around her, especially when we are alone. Yesterday she tried to kiss me and I actually cringed. Cringed! She hasn't spoken to me since." Naruto felt tears pricking his eyes. No. He wouldn't cry. He was a man damnit!

"I mean, we're dating. I was the one who asked her out, and now I can't even kiss her. Of course she would be mad. She has every right to be."

"I still don't understand what this has to do with-" This time Naruto cut him off.

"That woman from the shop is Sasuke's mom," Naruto finally blurted out. Gaara's eyes widened.

"Really?"

"Yeah. And now, I can't even think about being romantic with Hinata without getting uncomfortable."

"I don't get it. Are you saying you like Sasuke?" Gaara asked, clearly trying to wrap his head around Naruto's unfinished explanations.

"Yes, I mean no—not really, I don't think so." Naruto tried to organize the whirlwind of thoughts in his mind. "I didn't like him before, but then suddenly I realized he was that lady's son, and they look so much alike, it's scary. And now, whenever I look at Sasuke, their images blur together. Now I have all of these weird feelings towards Sasuke, even though I know he's a guy." Naruto finally confessed. It was the best he could do. "And now I can't have a normal relationship with Hinata, and I feel like my head is full of too many thoughts and feelings and I feel like I'm going to explode." Naruto took a breath and a swig of whiskey. It was almost gone. "I nearly kissed Sasuke last Sunday, just to see if it would make the feelings go away. If I could just force my brain to recognize that he is a guy and not like his mom, maybe they will go away." Gaara stayed quiet, seemingly absorbing all that Naruto had just thrown at him.

"Have you ever considered the idea that you might just be gay? That your mind isn't tricking you into liking Sasuke because of his mom, but that you are forcing a female persona onto him so you can deny your sexuality?" Naruto was silent. It took him an extra few seconds to understand what Gaara was saying.

"But I didn't like him before. Not until I knew he was related to her," Naruto asserted. "Besides, I've never been attracted to guys before, why would I suddenly be gay now?"

Gaara shrugged. "Maybe you're a late bloomer? Maybe you were just really good at denying it to yourself? Really there is only one way to know. You need to kiss Sasuke."

"No!" Naruto cried out. "No way! I can't do that. I mean, what if I'm not gay? He is, Gaara! He might take it the wrong way." Naruto's heart pounded and Gaara thought for a moment.

"Then kiss me."

"What?" Naruto asked in complete shock. Kiss Gaara? But he was his childhood friend. Would that even work? Wouldn't it feel like kissing a brother?

"Kiss me. Even if you aren't attracted to me, you should at least feel something if you are gay, right? I mean, I am a guy. Just think of Sasuke." Naruto stared at his friend. Gaara was completely serious, and Naruto wondered if he was even drunk enough for this. He looked up at the ceiling and watched as it spun in dizzying circles. Yeah, he probably was. If it doesn't work, they probably won't remember it anyway, so, what's the harm?

Naruto turned to Gaara and closed his eyes. "I can't do it, you do it."

Gaara sighed and shook his head, smiling fondly at his friend. "Fine. You're such a baby." And then Naruto felt two soft lips touch his own. He had to admit, he had expected them to be much rougher. He supposed it wasn't bad, but it didn't feel much different from Hinata's. Then, he felt a hand on his cheek in the same manner Hinata had done it, all those nights back. Only this hand was much larger, and stronger, and masculine. Naruto jumped at first, but held strong, testing out the sudden feeling in his stomach. It felt twisted and warm. An image of Sasuke popped into Naruto's head and he gasped when a sudden shot of arousal went through him. He didn't break the kiss though. Somehow in his frazzled mind, Naruto began to enjoy it. Without thinking, he reached up his own hand and place it on Gaara's cheek. Gaara seemed surprised by this, but before either of them could react, a loud gasp was heard in the doorway.

Naruto jumped back and looked up towards the door. There, with the lights of the hallway lighting her from behind and blanketing her front in shadow, stood Hinata's small frame, her mouth open and eyes wide. Naruto could swear he saw tears forming and he felt his heart break. It was only when she turned to leave that Naruto noticed the other figure in the doorway. It was Neji. In the blink of an eye he had the front of Naruto's shirt in his grasp and he was lifting him off the bed. Gaara jumped up and tried to help, but there was nothing he could do.

"How dare you! You think just because it's with a guy it's okay? You think you can kiss other people as long as it's in the dark where no one can see? It's still cheating! How dare you do this to her?" Neji screamed, and Naruto was only vaguely aware of the front door opening and people rushing in. Neji tossed Naruto through the doorway and onto the floor of the hall. In the split second between Naruto looking up and Neji punching him, Naruto saw a shock of red hair. That must be Karin, but why is she here? Oh, Gaara must have called them. Naruto felt his head bounce off the floor, vaguely wondering who else was here to watch him get his ass beat. He wasn't going to fight back. He didn't have the heart to. Neji was right. It was still cheating, and he had hurt Hinata. He deserved this.

"Neji stop!" Naruto heard a voice but the ringing in his ear after the last punch left him unable to distinguish who's it was.

"Get the fuck off of me! I'm gonna kill him!" Neji yelled, apparently struggling against whoever was holding him back and away from Naruto. Honestly, Naruto wished they would just let Neji go. Naruto deserved this. Just a few more punches and maybe the pain in his chest would hurt less.

"Yeah you are! Now calm the fuck down. Karin, you and Suigetsu take Naruto over to your place. Gaara, go with them." The voice was definitely a man's. Sasuke? Naruto tried to open his eyes but his head was pounding too hard. He could hear Neji screaming though.

"Never speak to her again you hear me? Fucking faggot!" That word. Oh god it hurt so bad. Was that what he was? Naruto forced his eyes open just enough to see Sasuke punch Neji before being carried out of the house and across the street. Naruto wanted to sob, but his face hurt too much and instead he just passed out.

He must have woken up only a few moments later because his head was still pounding and there was a light shining in his eyes. He groaned, and tried to roll over, but he was being held down tightly.

"It doesn't look like he has a concussion, but I'm not a licensed doctor. We should try and keep him awake for the next few hours just in case," Naruto heard a voice say, and he glimpsed red hair, so that must be Karin.

"I'm gonna be sick," Naruto choked out before coughing and rolling onto his side. A bucket was placed on the floor next to whatever he was laying on and he quickly grabbed it and threw up into it.

"Naruto? Can you hear me?" Karin said. Naruto nodded, keeping his face near the bucket. "I need you to open your eyes and look at me. Is your vision blurry? Do you see any black spots?" Naruto forced himself to look up and open his eyes. It only lasted for a second before he was back at the bucket throwing up. He shook his head when she repeated her question.

"Where's Neji?" Naruto muttered, trying to look around the room. Where was he?

"Neji is in his room cooling down. I called Kiba to go keep an eye on him." That was a voice Naruto recognized. Sasuke. Naruto coughed again.

"I'm sorry Sasuke," Naruto chocked out.

"For what?" Sasuke asked, confusion clear in his voice. Naruto wished he could see his face.

"Neji is gonna be mad at you. You set me and Hinata up," Naruto chocked out before another fit of coughs. They were seriously making his head hurt even worse.

"Don't worry about Neji, I'll straighten him out," Sasuke said with reassurance. Another voice popped up then, and finally Naruto managed to open his eyes.

"Can you tell us what happened? Gaara won't say anything," Temari said. Naruto looked around. He was laying on the couch at Gaara's with everyone standing around him. He could see Gaara sitting silently in the dining room, his stare cold.

"I-" Naruto tried, but his voice caught. "We-" He tried again but failed. With each attempt, he felt his chest growing tighter. "They…Hinata…and Neji-" A sob filled his chest and Naruto couldn't finish. This was all his fault. Why did this have to happen? Why couldn't he have just kept his mouth shut and suffered in silence? "Damnit!" Naruto turned and punched the ground, feeling as the hard wood collided with his knuckles and bruised them. It wasn't enough. Naruto rolled onto the floor and started punching it.

"Damnit, damnit, damnit!"

"Naruto stop!" He felt Temari try and grab him but he shoved her off.

"Get off of me!" He punched the floor a few more times before Suigetsu and Jugo were able to get a hold of him. They set him back on the couch, holding tightly to his arms as Karin quickly bandaged his hands.

They sat in silence after that, Naruto just sitting there limply with his hands bandaged while everyone stared.

"Just leave me alone," Naruto muttered, his voice broken. Slowly and hesitantly everyone left. All except for Gaara and Sasuke.

"Naruto-"

"Don't apologize," Naruto interrupted. "It's not your fault. I made the choice. This is my problem." Gaara stared at Naruto a moment before standing up and leaving for his room. Now only Sasuke remained with Naruto in the living room.

"Sasuke leave me alone," Naruto finally said, looking up at the man who started it all. This time there was no blur or image of Sasuke's mother. It was just him, and oh how that made Naruto's heart tighten until he wanted to rip it out.

"I can't do that Naruto."

"I said leave me the fuck alone!" Naruto screamed as he tried to stand and punch Sasuke, only to become dizzy and instantly fall over. Sasuke caught him and set him back down on the couch.

"There are two reasons I can't do that. One, you are clearly not mentally stable right now. Two, you could have a concussion and someone needs to make sure you don't fall asleep." Naruto scoffed and turned away.

"Unstable. This whole God damned situation is unstable. How the hell did this happen? Why?" Naruto dropped his head into his hands and could feel the tears starting to fall. No, go the hell back up there!

"Naruto, what happened? If you tell me, I can help," Sasuke asked again, now kneeling down to be level with Naruto.

"Help? It's all because of you, damnit!" Naruto looked up, glaring at Sasuke. "I was fine. Everything was fine until you came along. I could have been happy with Hinata, blissfully unaware." Naruto gave up and let the tears fall freely. "Why did you have to do this?"

"Naruto, unaware of what? What did I do?"

"You came along with that pretty face of yours. You made jokes, and you helped me, and you flirted with me. So much, how could I not have noticed before? You couldn't help yourself, could you? I hate you…" Naruto's voice broke into sobs and he once again dropped his head into his arms. There was silence for a few minutes as Sasuke listened to Naruto's sobs and contemplated what he had said.

"Naruto. Are you upset because-"

"Don't."

"You realized that you're-"

"Don't say it.

"That you're gay?" Sasuke finished and Naruto shoved Sasuke onto the ground.

"I said don't say it! Why couldn't you just let me be?" Naruto yelled down at Sasuke. He was sure the others could hear him, but at this point he didn't care.

"Naruto, I know you're upset, but this isn't my fault. I didn't do anything. You were born this way."

"I wasn't gay until meeting you!" Naruto countered.

"You also told me you'd never met a gay man before me," Sasuke shot back, a look of determination on his face.

"That doesn't matter!" Naruto sobbed. His anger was fading and all he was left with was sadness and self-loathing.

"Naruto, this is who you are, whether I was here or not. Someday, someone would have come along and you would have been forced to face it."

"But Hinata, and Neji…"

"Don't worry about Neji, he's an idiot," Sasuke said with clear anger.

"No, he was right. What he called me," Naruto said, remembering Neji's words. "A fucking faggot," Naruto repeated, the words cutting just as deep as before, maybe worse as they came from his own mouth. Even Sasuke flinched from their ferocity. "I did this to Hinata. I cheated on her with a guy! I can't imagine how she must feel. I'm a terrible person." Naruto looked up to Sasuke, wanting some sort of reassurance that it wasn't his fault and he wasn't a bad person, but Sasuke's eyes didn't hold reassurance, they held sympathy and pain.

"I won't say cheating on her was okay, but it doesn't make it worse just because you found out you're gay. It's not as though you were stringing her along, right?" Naruto shook his head. "I'm sure she will understand once she calms down and you explain it to her. Hinata isn't the type of person to hate someone so easily." There it was, the reassurance. Naruto nodded and sighed, trying to get his tears under control.

"God, I must look like a mess right now," Naruto laughed. Sasuke chuckled.

"No more than usual." Sasuke smirked and Naruto rolled his eyes, looking down at his hands.

"So, you kissed Gaara, huh?" Sasuke asked raising an eyebrow.

"Uh, yeah," Naruto answered, feeling a bit awkward.

"How come, aren't you guys childhood friends?"

"He offered. I told him how I was feeling, and he told me to kiss him, then I'd know. I guess he was right." Naruto attempted to crack a smile.

"Why didn't you come to me? I probably could have been a bit more help," Sasuke asked with a genuine look of curiosity. Naruto fidgeted in his seat before looking back at Sasuke.

"Why does it matter? Were you jealous?" Naruto snipped, falling back into the comfortable rhythm of teasing the other.

"And if I was?" Sasuke replied, his curiosity turning into a smirk and his eyes lighting up with unconcealed flirtation. Naruto tensed as he realized that what was once harmless teasing amongst friends was no longer harmless.

"I…can't do this. It's late. I just want to go to sleep." Sasuke sighed but nodded.

"Well, just stay up one more hour, then you can. Karin said if you go to sleep too soon you could go into a coma or something." Naruto's eyes widened but he nodded. He supposed one more hour wouldn't kill him.