Sign.

A/N: Hello Every body... This didn't take nearly as much time as the last one, did it? Last chapter's title, because I forgot to say this there, is from "Face to Face" by Sevendust. All of you who asked me for the picture...the e-mail addresses aren't loading on the pages, and if you wrote it in the review, it deleted the part that said what sight it was at...mine is riotfox311 yahoo. Com. I'm hoping with the spaces, it won't delete it, and if you want the picture, will you e-mail me? I'm sorry y'all, I wish would be more cooperative. Glad y'all liked the last chapter. And I guess I'll thank all those lovely people who reviewed! Wahh! Dirty Worms just came on the radio! -Does happy dance- Okay, now I'll thank the lovely reviewers. Today's treat is Starbucks Cinnamon Scones...those are so tasty.

MeLaiya: Yay! I'm glad you enjoyed this chapter, and as for the picture, as I explained the author's note, is a crappy ho of a page. Please e-mail me so I can reply with the pic. I wrote my address in the A/N...in case you didn't read it. I know I ramble on a lot in them, so I guess...never mind, that train of thought made no sense. Ignore me. Anyways, glad you liked. Here is your scone!

chibi-sasuke309: Okay, since I can't see your address anyways, I might as well take this opportunity to clear up the confusion I had. Do you want the pic of the shirt or the schoolgirl outfit? I could send you both if you like...that's what I was gonna do anyways. Just e-mail me (address, with spaces so it won't be deleted in the Author's Note) I'm glad you like this (at least I think you do) and sorry for the picture inconvenience. Damn ! Anyways, here's your scone.

cheeseboi Glad to make you smile, yet again. It makes me feel good to know I make people smile when I want them to! I thought the note passing was kinds cute too, I was hoping everybody else would like it too! Glad you did. Here's your scone. Enjoy!

Red Rose: Pink as in the hottest of pinks. It's an awesome shirt! I don't know what old Mr. Wick would do if he caught someone passing notes...hmmm. About the picture, like I said in the author's note, is a turd site (how mature am I?) and I can't see your entire address, so if you could just e-mail me at the address in the note, I'll send you the picture... Glad you like, here is your scone!

WaterBookLover: Hey, glad you're enjoying this. I just love getting new reviewers. You are new, right? There're so many of you I have trouble remembering. Well, if you're not, I love getting repeat reviewers too, so, yeah! As for the pic...like I said in the author's note...I can't see the whole address, so if you could just e-mail me at the address in the note, I'll reply to you with the pic. Thankies, sorry for the trouble, and here is your scone!

miss.maniac: Hey, I think I have confused you. I didn't actually draw the picture, I found it on a sasunaru fan site, and it inspired me to put Sasuke's dream in there. If you still want it, I need you to e-mail me at the address in the author's note so I can e-mail you back with the pic. I'm glad you like the story, and it's nice to know you've been reading from the beginning! You should review more often. –Puppy Eyes- I love reviews! Anyways, here's your scone. Enjoy.

Youma-hime: Yes it is a lovely little step in a very lovely little direction, isn't it? Yes oh yes. At my school we have the same schedule on Mondays and Wednesdays, but it's different the other three days, so that's what I was going for, but then I ignored it, so I guess that's just not such an important part of the plot that I want to work really hard to fix it, you know? I might write a lime...in a dream...and then maybe a lemon in later chapters. I'm not sure. Oh well. Thanks for the review. Here is your scone!

KShindou25: Glad you enjoyed the cake and the chapter...and I sure hope you had a bucket nearby, what with all that drooling you were doing. I must say...the shirt is what really got me...with the skirt, I was too busy being jealous of Naruto's sexy legs to drool! Whoever drew it was surely trying to bring down my self esteem! Oh well. Thanks for the review! Here is your scone!

Shadow Eclipse: Glad you liked. I can't really think of anything else to say. So, here is your scone!

Queen of the Paperclips: Wow, that's a lot of yummys. I take it you liked it then...since you agree with me on the tastiness of our lovely boys in their respective outfits. If you read the author's note, then you know about my little problem with the e-mail addresses, so if you could just e-mail me at the address I put in the note, I will gladly send you the pic. Glad you enjoyed, here is your scone.

Kasey: Glad you're enjoying the story, and I'm glad you signed with your e-mail attached. There're like a grand total of two of you who I can e-mail. When I e-mailed you, you were the only one, though. I hope you got the pic, and I hope you enjoy! Here is your scone.

Kaijuu-Ed / BigBlackDog: Glad you're enjoying this, glad to know I can make people giggle! I actually didn't plan on having him tell Naruto about the dream, but it just kind of happened. I dunno how. Oh well. I though tit turned out okay. Thanks for the review. Here is your scone!

ewon: Well, I'm glad I had such nice timing! I know I love it when that happens. I personally agree with you on the gay thing, but we all know about the large populous of dickwads who are little hating fuckers, so there kinda has to be a little anxiety, doesn't there? I wish my uncle could cook...I'm so jealous. Oh well. As for the picture, I've addressed my problem in my author's note, if you could e-mail me at that address, without the spaces, I'll send you the picture. Thanks for reviewing. Here is your scone.

Third Degree Run: I'm glad you're laughing. I thought it was funny as well! I sure hope they don't take you away...then I wouldn't get lovely reviews from you! I doubt they will though. Really. As for teachers with weird names...my third grade music teacher was named Mrs. Lazar. That's the weirdest name any of my teachers have had. Anyways, glad you enjoyed this chappie so much. Here is a scone for you to enjoy as well!

Yaoilover S: Yay! You're the only one who thought to put your e-mail in with spaces! Have you had the problem I'm having before? It's not really a yaoi pic...as you'll see when you get it in your e-mail...but it's light, light shounen ai. Anyways. Glad you enjoyed the chapter! Here is your scone.

Ari: I agree...and there's nothing wrong with a gay man fetish. I have one too...and I thoroughly enjoy it! I read books in one sitting occasionally...but not as often as I do with fics. Hmm... Oh well. Anyways, thanks or the review. Here is your scone! Enjoy.

YoungSasuke: Yeah...I'm not sure what was going on in Sasuke's subconscious to produce such a dream...but people seem to be enjoying it, so I won't say anything else. I though the prospect of Naruto in a skirt was pretty hot, but I was really just busy being jealous of his legs in the picture. Heh. Oh well. Thanks for the review! Here is your scone.

AlterEthereal: No, Naruto didn't actually say he was bi...he's in a bit of denial, sort of. He knows he is, but doesn't realize it I guess. He just knows he's liked guys before...does that make any sense? Oh never mind. That sucks about the amv's. Poo...too bad. It's fine that you asked for the piccie in a review, but I'm having a slight glitch like I said in the author's note, so if you could please just e-mail that address, I would be happy to send it to you. Thanks for the review. Here is your scone.

Macy: Deviantart is my Lord and Saviour, though I didn't actually find this pic on there, I found it on a Japanese sight called Zig Zag. Apparently multiple think the idea of Naruto in a skirt is hot! I'm glad you love me too...I feel so...loved! ;) I've only met one other person in my life that's heard of Brand New, so I like to know I'm not the only one who likes them...yay for another fan! Glad you liked the chapter, and here is a scone for you.

Puppy Kicker: I'm glad you don't think I'm lame, and it's even better with Sasuke in pink, because the guy on the shirt is extremely sexy. I drool every time I see a picture of him. Ville Valo rocks my world! Hahahahahahaha! Ahem, sorry. I would love to see the piccie of Sasuke in the maid outfit...my e-mail address is on my profile, or in my author's note. (YAY!) I must say, I appreciate your willingness to wait for a chapter, but unfortunately, I have a friend who I see every day ready to kill me if I haven't updated by Monday. (She's a bit psycho...) Thanks for the nice review, here is scone.

ElizabethMarieRose: I used to pass notes like that all the time, although I haven't done it but once this year...or twice. I have physics first period on Mondays and Wednesdays and second on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. It sucks ass. About the picture, like I said in the author's note, I'm having a few glitches in the system, so if you could e-mail from whatever address you wish to have the picture go to, that would be lovely. Thankies thankies for the lovely review. Here is your scone.

Izumi: I know, I know, but the picture isn't as dirty as many people seem to think it was. Hmm...maybe next time I'll put Naruto in a thong...who knows? Anyways, thanks for reviewing. Here is a scone.

SilverLook: Yeah...it wasn't really a ploy for reviews, since I said you could e-mail to ask for them too, didn't I? Hmmm...well now I am, because, as I said, I'm having problems with seeing e-mail addresses. Oh well, this is not a ploy for e-mails. I promise. E-mail me at my account please, if you feel like putting that much effort into getting the piccie. Thanks. Here is your scone.

Amei: Glad you thought it was funny, and hopefully, since you attached your address to the review, you should have the pic by the time I post this. Glad you liked. Here is your scone.

Tenshi-no-Yokai: Is my spelling really that bad? I try so hard not to have typos, but apparently I just suck...gah! I'm glad you like it other than the spelling...I'm glad you didn't send your ninjas, because if you did they would all be hopping around with bunny ears and fox tails, due to my special security system. Heh. Thanks for reviewing. Here is your scone.

Aurum: Yay! New reviewer! I'm glad you liked, and thought the skirt thing was funny. About the picture, like I said in my author's note, I am having problems with the e-mail address viewage, so I would appreciate if you would e-mail me at that address, so I can send it to you. Thanks! Here is your scone.

Okay. That was everybody, I think. Thanks to everyone...especially today, since it is through this chapter's reviews that I broke 200, and not a single flame. I know most people have more by chapter 25, but I don't mind...I'm actually quite excited about breaking 200. Thanks to everyone. And without further ado...chapter 25.

But Home Is Nowhere...: Please Be Careful With Me

At lunch, Sasuke was torn away from Naruto once again, literally. He was struggling violently against the seemingly hundreds of hands that accosted him as he attempted to sneak to the corner table with the blonde, but unfortunately for him, Ino and her allies were quite determined to break him. He gave Naruto a pleading look, but the blonde just stared helplessly after him, apparently at a loss for ideas of how to free him. Thus Sasuke was forced to resign himself to a lunch table overstocked with ditzy girls attempting to catch his eye, while bringing Sakura, his supposed girlfriend, down.

Five minutes later, said "girlfriend" walked in, and the horde was forced to clear a space on Sasuke's right as they glared almost respectfully at her. Sakura just smiled happily. "Hey, sweetie, how are you?" Her voice was sugary sweet, and Sasuke almost wanted to vomit. She was definitely enjoying this façade too much. He just wanted to leave. He frowned at her.

"How do you think?" His voice was harsh, and he almost regret his tone when a flash of hurt shot through Sakura's features, but then she leaned forward and kissed him quickly, causing his nausea to return. She was smiling far too brightly when she pulled back.

"What do you say we get out of here, then?" She stood, straightening her skirt, which was far too short in his opinion, and grabbing him. He was forced to pretend to want to go with her as she dragged him from the cafeteria.

As they were walking out the door, Sasuke caught sight of a pair of bright blue eyes, staring at him with a betrayed look in them. Then the door was shut, and Sakura was smiling triumphantly at him. He hated her for it, and his voice was shaking with his effort not to yell as he spoke, "Don't EVER do that again."

Sakura looked confused, and a little hurt, and Sasuke felt a new wave of anger wash over him. He didn't know why he was so offended, because it wasn't as if Sakura was really doing anything completely wrong, but he just felt as if he'd done something wrong. It wasn't even a real kiss, and it still felt terrible. He didn't feel bad at all when her voice trembled, though. "What do you mean, Sasuke? Those girls were all over you. I was just-"

"Just what? People saw that! God dammit! What possessed you to think I wanted you to do that? Did I put off some sort of signal that I was unaware of? Please, tell me, I need to know!" His voice was becoming louder with every word, and he was almost yelling when he finished. Almost.

Sakura scowled at him. ""I don't know why you're so angry! I got you out of eating with that horde of ogling girls, didn't I? God! You would think you would be grateful, so what if I kissed you? It's not like I have rabies or something."

Sasuke frowned at her, Naruto's confused, hurt eyes flashing through his head. He sank to the floor in defeat, drawing his knees to his chest, back to the wall. He looked up at Sakura, defeated, "But, shit...did you have to kiss me?" His voice was small, betraying his emotions, and he found himself unable to care. His chest was hurting again, like it had every other time Naruto showed any signs of pain (1), and it was an even sharper stab now that it was his fault the blonde had that look in his eyes.

Sakura was giving him a questioning look now as she dropped to the floor in front of him, confused by his sudden change in tone. "What's wrong, Sasuke? Why is it so bad?"

Sasuke shook his head at her. "Because, he won't trust me anymore. He'll think I lied to him, just like everybody else does." He dropped his head into his arms, and curled further in on himself. His mind was taking him down every single path possible, as that betrayed look flashed through his head like a video.

Sakura touched his arm and he flinched away. "Who are you talking about Sasuke?"

Sasuke was silent for a moment before he said quietly, "No one. You wouldn't care."

He could almost hear Sakura frowning as she spoke again, "What do you mean by that? You're my friend, of course I care! I want to make things right...whoever it is, if they've got you so worked up about them not trusting you, I want them to know that was all me."

Sasuke looked up at her, his eyes harsh, "I'm not going to cause him undue pain by fording him to talk to someone whose never been anything but cruel to him, and I'm not going to hide behind you! That would just be telling him that I don't care!" He stood slowly, dusting off his jeans and storming down the hallway, not even looking to see what Sakura's reaction to that comment was.

'God, why the hell am I so angry? I don't get it. I feel so horrible, and I keep on snapping. She didn't really deserve that, did she?' Sasuke was standing in front of his locker now, twisting the knob and clicking it open. 'But she's so horrible to him, just like everybody else. She's nice to everyone but him...she wouldn't help if her life depended on it. No one would.' Sasuke took his English book from his locker and slammed it shut, resting his forehead on the cool metal. "Except me."

His voice was nothing more than a whisper, but it echoed through the empty halls. 'I would do anything. I've known him for a week and I would do anything for him...' He frowned at this revelation, and his heart seemed to be throbbing now, his desire to make sure Naruto still trusted him overwhelming, but his fear that the blonde would hate him overpowering. That look of hurt in those perfect eyes was something that hurt more than anything he'd ever experienced. He slammed his fist against the locker and growled, "This sucks!"

He was surprised when a voice answered softly, "What sucks?" He whirled around to find Mr. Kakashi standing across the hall from him, watching him. Sasuke frowned.

"How long have you been here?"

The teacher smiled a lilting smile and answered, "Long enough to see that something is troubling you." Sasuke was silent, not knowing what to say. "Would you like to talk about it? I might be able to help...I like to think I have a bit of life experience."

Sasuke frowned, Mr. Kakashi was still smiling. His voice was quiet when he finally did answer, "I think I hurt someone, but I'm scared to explain myself because I can't secede if hurts more having them hurt or me hurt, it that makes any sense."

Sasuke's eyes were on the ground, so he couldn't see the light in Mr. Kakashi's eyes as he spoke again, "So, you think someone might be feeling betrayed by you, but you're afraid if you confront them, they won't listen, and you're not sure if it hurts more for them to hate you or for them to be hurting because of you? I once had the exact same problem."

Sasuke shuffled his feet. "So, what did you do?" He hated asking for help, but Mr. Kakashi seemed like a pretty wise person, despite all of his little quirks. Sasuke liked him.

"Well, I spent two weeks agonizing over it, and I put both of us through mounds of unnecessary pain before I became too wimpy to handle it and confronted them. We talked, and explained ourselves, and realized how stupid we both were. I recommend talking to this person now, if they care for you as much as I'm guessing you do for them, they'll understand."

Sasuke looked up then, smiling a little. "I guess you're right. Thanks, Mr. Kakashi." The teacher smiled at him as he pushed off the locker, and he was just about at the end of the hallway when he heard Mr. Kakashi shout his name.

He looked over his shoulder and the man smiled, "Is it Naruto?"

Sasuke nodded, giving a quiet, "Yeah." And turning down the hall to find his friend.

TBC...

I was gonna keep going, but then I realized it was midnight, and I'm really tired, so I figured I was gonna switch POV's here anyways, so I could just do Naruto next chapter. Heh...this is the epitome of laziness, isn't it? Oh well... This chapter's title is from "Everyday Angles" by Jewel. Hope y'all liked, and one last time, if you want the picture of Naruto in the schoolgirl outfit, could you please just e-mail me, since I'm having page loading problems again. Thanks.

I'm Out!

ISAN

1. It is at this point that I realize I've completely neglected Naruto's shin...gah! I was so busy with the emotional pain that I forgot that I'd done this to him...sorry guys. Pretend it healed miraculously, okay? Sorry!