"Naruto seems nice."
"He is nice."
"Too nice for you."
"I don't deny that." I said laying the French toast I was making Itachi on the skillet. I hate French toast, but I figure if I butter him up a bit it will be easier to tell him about my unplanned pregnancy later.
"You've never brought anyone home before, well except for Karin, but you and I both know that wasn't going anywhere productive."
"You are correct." I said through gritted teeth, what is he getting at here?
"He wants to be your boyfriend. Do you want to be his?" I shrugged, flipping the toast.
"I'm thinking about it."
"Although he seems patient, I wouldn't take too long to mull it over, he's a catch."
"You, Itachi Uchiha, the man who has never been in a relationship in his life, is trying to push me into one? May I ask why?"
"Seems like a nice kid, and back to my original statement, you've never brought someone home before." He mused, drinking his coffee and wiggling his eyebrows at me.
"Yeah, well, time will tell." I said putting his French toast on a plate and handing it to him. He nodded gratefully and must have put a mountain of syrup on them. Ugh, all that sugar is just way too much for me. Disgusting.
"Are you feeling okay Sasuke? You look a bit puffy."
"Puffy?" As I said the word I felt my stomach drop. I had to take a step back, and put a hand to my mouth. The feeling you get when you're about to throw up was bubbling.
"Yes puffy, like in your cheeks, are you retaining water again?"
"Mmmm, its probably just stress, finals coming up and all." Don't throw up, don't throw up, don't throw up.
"Sasuke?"
"Mmmph." I couldn't hold it anymore, I sprinted to the bathroom and barely made it, puking my guts out in the toilet. Oh god, not morning sickness, not yet.
"You okay?"
"Yeah, upset stomach, give me a sec." I called, hurling again. After a few more minutes I finally pulled it together, brushed my teeth and went back out to the kitchen, still feeling nauseous.
"What was that about?" I had to come up with something convincing. A half lie maybe.
"Well if you must know... I'm getting sober." He raised his eyebrows. Wow I really just shocked Itachi. So that's what an off guard Itachi looks like.
"That's… ummm... fantastic. Really. I just... it didn't think you had that much of a problem, I knew you partied after work on the weekends, but... I mean are you doing a twelve step or anything? What brought about this?" Umm... a baby?
"Cold turkey..." May as well break some other news to him. "I umm... got fired. I guess I was out of control, if I can get sober I can get my job back in like ten months." Still not a total lie. Itachi had no idea how to react; he had to process it.
"Well... I'm glad you're getting sober." He said reluctantly.
"Thanks, and I mean, about the job, I'll make up the money... somehow."
"We'll get through it, we always have. Focus on getting sober alright? That's what is important." I nodded, cutting up a tomato and eating it. That's not what's important, we're about to go under and Itachi has no idea. I can't even get more shifts at the ramen shop because my boss has been pissed at me for not wanting to work more, now he's being cynical and not letting me work more. So now I'm really fucked.
"Naruto's gonna drive me around town later today, apply for jobs. Don't wait up, he wants me to meet his parents."
"Meet his parents? Isn't that a little quick, you're not even dating yet, and now with this sobriety stuff, don't you think it's all happening a little too fast?" No, I'm having a baby in less than seven months, that's happening a little too fast.
"You were just pushing me to date him."
"That was before I knew you lost your job and were trying to get clean."
"It's just dinner with his parents, he met you!"
"I am not your mother."
"You sure act like it."
"Whatever, I'm going to work, thanks for breakfast, congrats on being sober."
"Take your medicine!"
"Yeah, yeah."
A few hours later Naruto picked me up and we both went to apply for jobs. After making nearly three grand a week, minimum wage just didn't seem appealing. It was really frustrating, no I don't want to be a night janitor, no I don't want to answer phones or stock groceries. I want to get crossfaded and make a shit ton of money!
"You okay Sasuke? You've been quiet for the past few applications."
"I hate this."
"Well yeah, but I mean you didn't really like your old job did you?"
"I liked the money." And the orgasms.
"Yeah, but like all the strange men?"
"Careful, if you remember, you were one of them." He made a face and kept driving. I crossed my arms and looked out the window.
"How's the baby?"
"A pain, made me puke this morning."
"I'm sorry. I guess morning sickness is a real thing."
"Itachi witnessed the whole thing."
"Oh god, what did you tell him?"
"That I'm getting sober, that's why I'm puking."
"Oh..." he trailed off then started fidgeting.
"What now?"
"Are you... are you getting sober?"
"You made it seem like I have a problem."
"I just want to know, don't get mad." Ughhh... this is the last conversation I want to have right now. I pinched the bridge of my nose.
"I haven't had so much as a cigarette since I found out. But I have to warn you a lot of shit went up my nose before I knew, don't be shocked if this thing pops out all weird."
"We'll cross that bridge when we come to it. You're a smoker?"
"Pack a day since I was seventeen."
"Oh..."
"So cigarettes bother you too?"
"Bothered? I'm not bothered."
"I'm calling bullshit, pull over, I told you this wasn't gonna work."
"Hey, hey, just wait a minute! I'm sorry I felt a feeling! You can't just quit out on me!"
"You don't know what you're getting into!"
"Well I will, just give me some time, it's not like you're making it easy."
"Is it supposed to be easy?"
"No, but the constant fear of you pulling out of this is more than a little unnerving." I bit my lip. Oh how I wish you had pulled out that night.
"I'm difficult, you're going to have to get used to it. Plus I have every right to pull out of this, we don't even know if this thing is yours."
"This child, this child Sasuke. And I know it's mine, I'm positive."
"I'm not going to be with you just because a damn fox told you it was your sperm that did this."
"Then be with me because you like me, because I won you over with my charm and good looks. Come on Sasuke, what do you really have to lose?" My dignity. Which, in all honestly, is really like the only thing I have left right now.
"Hn."
We rode in silence the rest of the way to his house. It was a large house, not huge, but nice. There were like a hundred pictures of Naruto everywhere and the house smelled like cookies. This is the type of home someone would dream to have, the feeling of love just...erupted from this place. I really don't feel like I belong here.
"Naruto baby, is that you?" A woman's voice came from the kitchen.
"Yeah Mom, I brought my boyfriend for dinner, hope that's okay." Boyfriend.
"Naruto." I growled.
"What did you want me to say, the guy I'm sorta dating who might be carrying my child?" He whispered harshly.
"That would be better than boyfriend." I muttered. She came in the room, a beautiful redhead, and gave me a bone crushing hug. Uh owe?
"Mom, this is Sasuke, Sasuke, this is my mom Kushina." She pinched my cheek.
"Sasuke? Mmm you're so adorable, look at how cute you turned out to be, very handsome! Right after you were born your mom brought you over for a visit, I never would have thought that cute little baby would have turned into such a gorgeous young man! Come in come in, welcome! How's your brother? I heard he's working for Kakashi these days." God she talks a lot. Now I see where Naruto gets it from. She pulled me into the kitchen and talked my head off while she finished cooking. Naruto just sat and gazed at me lovingly while I tried to endure his hurricane of a mother.
Right when dinner was about to be ready I heard the door open and the sounds of two men laughing. I looked over and it was a tall man that Naruto got his good looks from, stunning eyes, blond hair and all, as well as a big old man with long white hair. Oh fuck. I immediately recognized him. He was at the club every night of the week, groping women and getting drunk, security has had to drag him out on more than one occasion. He generally stays in the front of the house where the girls are, but I have seen him with Haku a couple of times. I sent a silent prayer to God that he didn't recognize me. Being outed as a hooker in front of my baby daddy's parents is possibly the worst thing that could happen right now.
"Well hello hello hello, there's my wonderful wife." Minato said running to his wife and giving her a kiss.
"Oh get a room, what's for dinner?" The white haired man laughed.
"Deep fried pork chops, kimchi, and mango sticky rice for dessert." Kushina giggled, snuggling into her husband's embrace.
"And who do we have here?" Minato said, letting go of his wife and extending a hand to me.
"Dad this is Sasuke."
"Nice to meet you sir." I said taking his hand and giving him a firm shake.
"Nice to meet you as well."
"He's Naruto's boyfriend." Kushina giggled.
"Boyfriend? I thought you were never gonna date men again after the Neji disaster." The white haired man laughed, opening a beer. Neji?
"We haven't had the ex talk yet so thanks for that Jiraiya. Sasuke this is my godfather Jiraiya."
"Hello." His gaze turned to confused.
"Hey, you look real familiar... have we met?" Shit, fuck, and damn it!
"Umm... I don't think so sir."
"Well he is the youngest Uchiha Jiraiya, spitting image of his parents too, well Mikoto for sure, I swear she was the most beautiful women in all of the Five Nations, Sasuke reminds me so much of her. His mannerisms, the way he speaks, everything." Kushina said taking the food to the table, rather than standing there looking awkward while he figured it out, I helped her. I guess she knew my mother really well.
"Yeah that must be it." He said, drinking his beer and sitting at the table. I sat next to Naruto and his dad and we ate dinner. Dinner was awkward, Jiraiya kept giving me weird looks, Kushina and Naruto wouldn't shut up, Minato grilled me like any father would. The normal was very abnormal for me, but I endured. After dinner Naruto took me to his room. He was right it was a disaster. Like an earthquake, tsunami, and tornado hit. How much half eaten ramen can you leave in your room before you say you've had enough? Good grief.
"So... what did you think of them?"
"I've never seen two people more in love in my life."
"Yeah, they're pretty embarrassing." I looked down and twiddled my thumbs.
"You know your godfather closes down the club like every night right?"
"No shit! You're kidding? You don't think he recognized you did he?"
"No, but he still could."
"Jiraiya's cool, I'm sure it won't be a problem."
"And if it is?"
"We'll figure it out...together." Here he goes again with the together thing.
"Seems like you and I have a lot to figure out in the next few months."
"Yeah..." He wrapped his arms around me and kissed me on the cheek.
"Sasuke, be my boyfriend?"
"Really? After all that?"
"Nothing's changed, you met my parents and they love you! Well maybe not the lip ring..."
"Oh shit!" I said touching my lip.
"It's okay, I like it." He kissed me, it was…nice.
"I'm not the boyfriend type." I said snuggling back into him.
"I don't really care. So what do you say, can we make this thing official?" He is so persistent. And it's like there's nothing I can say to change his mind. Even introducing me to his parents, putting up with me? I mean, who does that? I'm a terrible person! And he's okay with that, or he seems that way anyways. Not many put up with my shit. And I've never really opened up to someone like this… I'm not really concerned about my feelings, so much as I am about his. I know I'm gonna fuck him up, I'm just not good enough for him; I'm not a good enough person. He has this light, this ridiculously brilliant light that just shines and makes everyone so happy…including me. What would Itachi say? Maybe you need a little bit of light in your life Sasuke. Exactly like that too. Well maybe… maybe I could listen to my, I'll be it, mentally imagined, brother for once. Maybe I could use a little light in my life.
"And you're sure? Because I'm not the most fun guy in the world to be around."
"So I've noticed, you're a delight." He said sarcastically. "But I want to make this work."
"We'd be under no obligation to stay together just because of… this." I said motioning to my stomach region.
"No obligation, but you'll stay with me because of my dazzling good looks." He winked.
"You're impossible."
"And you love it! Now can you just say yes to being my boyfriend already? I feel like a jackass." What do have to lose?
"Yeah, we can give it a try."