Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto. If I did, the filler episodes would be yaoi.

Warnings: SasuNaru, Sakura-bashing, OOC-ness, sap.

A/N: Sorry for taking so long… XD

Chapter 2.5 (or is it 3? Does it matter?)

Sasuke was sitting on his bed, typing at his laptop when a timid knock sounded. He didn't bother to get up. He waited a few minutes before the door opened revealing Hinata and Kiba, still in their tennis outfits. Both of them were Naruto's friends. Kiba held the door open as Hinata entered hesitantly into the room.

"U-umm... is Naruto around?" she asked.

"No," Sasuke replied bluntly.

"Oh," Hinata said looking dejected.

Sasuke waited for her to ask where Naruto was but she only said 'T-thanks' before turning and leaving. Kiba glared at him before closing the door.

He sighed. Earlier, a couple of giggling girls had come by looking for Naruto. (Didn't they know he had a girlfriend?) Sasuke had done his best of emitting his Dark and Handsome Prince aura while telling them he had no idea where Naruto was (even if he knew he wouldn't tell them). It had worked. The two girls had stammered and blushed then proceeded to ask him his name, did he have a girlfriend, favorite color, hobbies until he had finally Sexy-Glared them into going away. Two additions to his fan club and two less from Naruto's. He could do nothing about hardcore Naruto fans like Hinata though. Wait, he could try telling Naruto to encourage Kiba to ask Hinata out. Yeah, he could do that…

Sasuke's fingers faltered on his laptop while he thought. These methods were inconsequential compared to what he should be doing. Like maybe getting rid of Sakura instead of encouraging their relationship. Or how about finally telling Naruto his feelings?

He looked up startled when the door suddenly opened and Naruto came in. Sasuke watched him warily. The blonde's face was in its normal cheerful state. He plopped down beside Sasuke, whose bed was nearest the door. Naruto looked up at Sasuke with doe eyes saying 'I'm too tired to walk three more feet to my bed so let me lie here awhile?'

Sasuke was only too willing to oblige. He felt relieved that the haunted look he had seen in Naruto's eyes earlier had disappeared. Naruto whipped out a manga and started reading it while Sasuke continued working on his paper.

Thirty minutes later, Sasuke had just about finished his paper. He sneaked a peek at Naruto and nearly laughed when he saw him sleeping and almost drooling on his precious manga. He cautiously reached out and stroked Naruto's hair. The fine golden strands felt soft. He watched fascinated as Naruto's golden eyelashes fluttered before resting peacefully on smooth tanned cheeks. He withdrew his hand regretfully and put his attention to placing finishing touches to his paper.

While Sasuke wanted to be content with the current state of things, he couldn't help but be bothered by Naruto's seeming normalcy. Was that the right way to act for someone who had just seen his best friend in bed with his girlfriend? He'd already figured out that Sakura had sneaked into his bed. He had been too tired or he'd have woken up. What he was worried about now was what position Naruto had seen them in. He'd told Sasuke that he had arrived much earlier than they thought. That didn't help at all. The truth was that the only time Sasuke remembered being near Sakura was in the morning when she was sitting on his bed hovering over him.

What Sasuke did remember was the dream: Naruto returning just when he'd thought he'd die from missing him too much; the moonlight was shining on them as they kissed. Sasuke fell into a daze. And jarred awake at the horrible thought that he might have done with Sakura the things he did in the dream. What exactly had Naruto seen? He was too afraid to ask.

A slight laugh distracted him. Naruto had woken up.

"You're so fun to watch," Naruto said with a grin. "More entertaining than this manga even."

"Only you would say that," Sasuke said flatly.

"Yeah, all those different expressions running through your face," Naruto wiggled his fingers, "and anyone else would just see a stoic look."

Sasuke didn't even try to deny it. Lately it seemed like Naruto could read his every expression which sometimes put him in awkward situations. Like now.

"What was that blush about, eh?" Naruto teased.

"You imagined it." Sasuke glared at Naruto.

"I'll let it go for now." Naruto smiled.

Silence reigned for a while as Sasuke sent his paper to his teacher by e-mail.

Naruto sat up, running both hands through his hair. Sasuke turned to look at him. He looked anxious and sad.

"Sasuke," Naruto said hesitantly, "This thing with Sakura… I gotta tell you something, a confession of sorts."

"What is it?" Sasuke replied quietly.

"I wanted to keep this all to myself but seeing you and Sakura this morning... Sasuke, you're my best friend…"

"Just tell me." Sasuke said firmly.

"Don't hate me too much." Naruto whispered softly.

Naruto had already decided what to do while he was on the rooftop.

I want to tell you everything but I can't. The only reason I'm gonna tell you a part of it is because I feel like I'm drowning. I can't breathe from all these emotions.

"Remember early this year, before classes started, when Sakura apologized to you. She said all she wanted was to be friends and that it was just a high school crush. We believed her then."

"She stopped stalking you." She stopped trying to humiliate me in front of you.

"She would even disappear for weeks at a time. We started to relax around her."

"Last week, she invited us to that party."

It was a garden party held by Sakura's cousin who was having her birthday. Lamps were strewn throughout the garden lighting up the moonless night. The smell of flowers drifted among the guests as they sat at tables listening to a band performing on a tiny stage.

"She asked me to dance first. You couldn't refuse when she asked you next. She was our friend after all."

Her hands were around your neck, your arms around her waist. She pressed closer to you and I could see you were feeling awkward but you didn't protest. I thought at first maybe you were feeling sorry for rejecting her all this time.

"You looked so good together. You're the guy every girl dreams of. She was beautiful." Even I couldn't deny she was beautiful.

"People stared at the two of you. An attractive couple dancing always draws eyes." I hated that. I hated that you looked like you belonged together.

"She whispered something in your ear."

"You laughed."

"That's when I knew." She was stealing you away.

"I couldn't let you have her." I didn't want to lose you.

"I asked her out the next day. I don't know why she said yes." Maybe she didn't know her little campaign had been successful. Maybe it was another one of her plots.

"I was happy." She was the one closest to you after me and I had managed to draw you two apart.

"And you were so good natured about it. I took her from you and you didn't say a thing."

"But I guess things have a way of sorting themselves out. Like this morning for instance."

"I don't blame you. Maybe you're meant to be together."

"I'm sorry for not telling you all this time."

"I like her." I love you so much.

"If, after I say that, I tell you that I'll break up with her, then you'll forgive me right?"

"Sasuke."

A/N: I realize that this fic is overly SasuNaru-centric, as in you hardly get to see other characters. My fault for not planning everything out in the beginning. I was kinda planning to quit this fic, if not for the reviewers... Argh, miserable… I don't even know how to end this...

Thank you all to those who reviewed... you guys keep me going.

If I edit or delete a chapter, what happens to the reviews accompanying it? Thanks to chisai1213 who answered my question about the line.