Hey guys! Okay, I know it's been a long time, and for that I apologize! This chapter isn't very long but I hope you enjoy it. I was reading the comments and someone was happy for the songs I put into my story so I will list the songs I listened to to write this and what was used today. ^^ So first is the song actually used in the story and that is Devendra Bandhart - At The Hop, I really love this song! Next is some songs I listened to while writing. So that is Demi Lovato - Games and her other song Smoke and Mirrors. Now, I started writing this and then over half way through I got distracted by YouTube and I watched Demi Lovato's Documentary and it inspired the later half of this story, some of you may be able to tell. Or not. But I recommend the documentary cause it was really good. But anyway, this story may seemed rushed and I have no explanation but things are gonna start getting better and more interesting from now on (I hope). I have big plans for the other chapters. So enjoy reading and I'm very thankful for all who read and those who also comment. Your reviews are very much welcomed; good or bad or advising for my writing, I love reading them all! Thank you!
The Christmas trip went by without too many incidents, Sasuke hung out with Shikamaru the whole time but he would occasionally see Naruto and Kirie, even sometimes walk past them and Naruto barely acknowledged them, causing Sasuke to feel depressed again and Shikamaru to help pick up the pieces. But, other than those moments, Sasuke had a pretty good time with Shikamaru and his family and then before he knew it, the trip came to an end and Sasuke rode home with Shikamaru.
That was over two weeks ago, and Sasuke and Naruto keep drifting apart with ever second that passes. Naruto is just as happy, Kirei seems to be all he needs, while Sasuke watches from afar, feeling like he just keeps falling into the darkest of pits.
Sasuke had continued to try to hang out with Naruto, to keep his attention on him, but nothing seemed to work anymore, causing Sasuke to wonder if they are drifting away to a point where they won't be able reconcile anymore, but Sasuke doesn't want to give up so easily.
"Hey Naruto!" Sasuke runs up to Naruto with a bright but slightly sad smile.
Naruto turns and gives a smile in return, "Hey Sasuke."
"Tonight is our movie night and it's your turn to pick the movie." Sasuke catches his breath, never losing his hopeful smile.
Naruto's eyes grow wide, "Oh right! I totally forgot!"
Sasuke's smile drops a little.
"Hmm, let's watch..." Naruto looks up, his hand resting on his chin as he searches his mind for a movie suggestion.
Sasuke's smile returns but just a little brighter than before with realization that Naruto is coming over.
Naruto smiles with an idea, " Okay, let's start the New Years off with a bang, let's watch Pretty In Pink!"
Sasuke lets out a loud laugh with his answer, "Okay, whatever you want, dobe."
Sasuke smiles warmly, his expression filled with love.
Naruto smiles back, "Teme."
"Okay, I'll see you at...?" Sasuke looks at Naruto for the answer.
"Hmm...how about...around 5?" Naruto looks at Sasuke questionally.
Sasuke nods, "Sounds good! I'll see you then!"
They smile towards each other before separating and going to their classes.
After school Sasuke rushes home with a smile still stuck onto his face, and starts preparing for the sleepover tonight, he gets out snacks and gets their little setup ready, blankets and pillows all in a nice pile on the floor where the boys will sit and watch movies.
After he finishes working, he looks towards the clock, excited as it read four forty-two.
Sasuke's phone then rings.
He walks over to it and sees Naruto's name, excited, he answers quickly.
"Hey Naruto! I got ever-"
"Sorry Sasuke!" Naruto interrupts, "I won't be able to make it to movie night tonight. Kirie is over and is wanting to have dinner with me and my parents, so it'll have to wait to next time. I'll make it up to you, I promise! Got to go. Bye!"
The phone then goes silent.
Sasuke stares without removing the phone from against his ear, a tear escapes his eyes before he roughly rubs his face with the back of his sweater-clad arm.
He throws the phone onto his bed, and he just stares at his setup, sad and angry but no more tears break loose, he doesn't wanna cry anymore.
Instead, he sighs and lies on his bed, staring at the ceiling. What does he do now?
Sasuke turns his head and spots his MP3, he shrugs and leans over to grab it, popping his headphones in and he begins his search for a song, he sees Devendra Banhart's At the Hop and clicks it, instantly closing his eyes as he lets the music flow, hoping this will brighten his day a little.
"Put me in your suitcase
Let me help you pack
'Cause you're never coming back
No, you're never coming back"
Sasuke takes in a deep breath and then sighs.
"Cook me in your breakfast
And put me on your plate
'Cause you know I taste great
Yeah, you know I taste great"
Sasuke smiles with amusement at the lyrics.
"At the hop, it's greaseball heaven
With candy pants and Archie too
Put me in your dry dream
Or put me in your wet
If you haven't yet
No, if you haven't yet"
Sasuke begins to move his foot and his head, bobbing them to the beat, even though the lyrics are a little sad.
"Light me with your candle
And watch the flames grow high
No, it doesn't hurt to try
It doesn't hurt to try"
Sasuke nods, agreeing with the lyrics.
"Well, I won't stop all of my pretending
That you'll come home
You'll be coming home someday soon"
Sasuke starts dancing his pointer fingers around in circles.
"Put me in your blue skies
Or put me in your grey
There's gotta be some way
There's gotta be some way"
Sasuke's whole body begins to move with the music.
"Put me in your tongue tie
Make it hard to say
That you ain't gonna stay
That you ain't gonna stay"
Sasuke lets out a deep sad sigh.
Wrap me in your marrow
Stuff me in your bones
Sing a mending moan
A song to bring you home"
He opens his eyes, hoping that maybe Naruto will come back to him, back home. When the song finished, Sasuke put it on replay, listening to the song over and over again, until an hour goes by without notice.
Sasuke then gets an idea as he removes his headphones and grabs his phone, dialing up a number and putting the phone to his ear.
"Hello?" A voice answers on the other line.
"Hey Shikamaru, wanna come stay at my house tonight?" Sasuke waits, not wanting to get his hopes up again.
"Yeah, sure. Be over in ten." The phone clicks off.
Sasuke laughs but then feels guilt in the pit of his stomach, he should've chosen Shikamaru from the beginning, the one person who has been there for him through most of this Naruto stuff, he debates whether he should even tell him about this, he doesn't wanna make him feel like he is just the second pick.
And as Shikamaru said, he was over in ten minutes, Sasuke opens the door with a smile and welcomes him in his home, guiding him upstairs to his room.
Shikamaru laughs upon seeing Sasuke's sleepover-prepared room.
"Really Sasuke?" Shikamaru asks, his voice playful.
Sasuke pouts, "What? I like making my room all comfy for a sleepover."
Shikamaru pats his shoulder and then throws his hands up as if he is being arrested, "No judgments here, buddy."
He walks forward and sets his things down next to the TV and then crashes onto the little setup in the floor and stretches out.
"This is actually quite comfy." Shikamaru looks at Sasuke and gives a small smile.
"Of course it is! I made it!" Sasuke laughs and sits down next to Shikamaru.
"What's the plan?" Shikamaru asks curiously.
"Well, we can watch a movie or anything really."
"Hmm...why don't you tell me about you and Naruto?" Shikamaru gives a knowing look towards Sasuke.
Sasuke blushes and looks down in shame.
Shikamaru reaches out and rubs his head for reassurance.
"Well, he has been ignoring me lately, basically. And.." Sasuke continues to look down, twiddling his thumbs.
"You don't have to talk if you don't wanna but it could help and I'll help you anytime."
When Sasuke gave a glance upwards, he saw Shikamaru smiling brightly at him, and Sasuke realized that Shikamaru was a very caring person, underneath his intimidating knowledge and hard-to-approach personality.
Sasuke smiles, feeling safe and happy with Shikamaru, he knows they will become very good friends, so for once, since this whole losing Naruto thing happened, he is truly grateful. Grateful that he has a friend, and a brother to help him through, he knows he will get through this, even though it hurts, even though it can be agonizing, even though it may take a while for the pain to end, if it ever does, but he knows he will make it, he will survive it.
Sasuke is determined to become the person he wants to be, someone not desperate for a love, but someone who accepts himself and his situation, someone who can survive anything, someone strong, he wants to become a warrior.
He knows it might take a while to become that person but it starts now; it starts by welcoming in more people, and to quit crying and quit being sad, this is partly his fault too after all, by not confessing, so he needs to take responsibility. He will tell Naruto, because what can he lose? Naruto is willing to push him away for a girl anyway so he can't lose a friendship if it's lost already. Sasuke will tell him Graduation Day.
With new found confidence, he answered Shikamaru, his eyes changed.
Shikamaru notices the difference in Sasuke and smiles.
"I plan on telling Naruto on Graduation Day, that I love him." Sasuke smiles and blushes.
Shikamaru nods, "I'll stand by your side, whichever way it turns."
Sasuke's eyes water but he pushes the tears back, "Thanks, Shikamaru."
Shikamaru rubs his head once again, "No problem."
Sasuke smiles with his whole face.
And so does Shikamaru.
The months continue to pass, Sasuke spending more time with Shikamaru and less time with Naruto. Sasuke continues on the path he wants, but he sometimes can't help the lingering of his eyes on Naruto, his chest would feel with immense love and sadness and yet, hope.
Shikamaru has become an important person in Sasuke's life, at first Itachi was worried because he no longer saw Naruto around and Sasuke couldn't explain too much to him so he told him that Naruto chose Kirie and Itachi understood and had no trouble accepting Shikamaru. Sasuke was grateful to him for that.
Over the passing months, as Graduation Day gradually got closer and closer; Naruto and Sasuke hung out less and less, barely even speaking much anymore. Sometimes when Kirie wasn't around, he'd talk to Sasuke or hang out with him and Shikamaru for the time being before running off to be with Kirie once again, leaving Sasuke feeling broken all over again.
This ended up causing Shikamaru to resent Naruto a little bit.
But Sasuke was trying to not cry, trying to not let him continue to hurt him again and again.
Sasuke got to a point where Naruto wouldn't cross his mind too often anymore, when he used to think of him every day, all day. Now, he is slowly but surely getting him off his mind and with each day, he becomes a little more happy.
And then Graduation Day comes.
So...? Did you like it? Even a little? I hope! This chapter didn't have much going on but I hope you liked it anyway. Please leave a review too! I love them! So, I suppose I'll see y'all in the next chapter! Have a bless day! ^^