Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto
Chapter 23
Shikamaru could do nothing but watch for a while.
So the rumors were true. He thought grimly. Not that he hadn't already suspected they were true. It was just….
It was sad, He thought looking at Sasuke. Sad because they shouldn't have found out this way and Sasuke wasn't dealing with it well.
Naruto was kissing Tammy and suddenly nothing in the world seemed right because it was obvious from the way Sasuke clenched his teeth and looked away with a look of pain contorting his usually composed features that he really loved Naruto.
Naruto who wouldn't ever be in a committed relationship. Naruto who was perfect in every sense of the word. Unreachable and unforgettable…..
So gathering his wits he placed a firm and reassuring hand on the back of Sasuke's shoulder and shook him.
"Sasuke calm down." He said firmly.
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Kiba didn't know what to think. He like the rest of the school had always suspected this was going on.
It was something people speculated about. Because Naruto was always leaving with Tammy.
But it was easy to dismiss rumors like this because there were millions of rumors about them. Each more scandalous than the rest.
He should of said something to Sasuke. Raced across his mind as suddenly he wasn't looking at Tammy and Naruto but the look on Sasuke's face as he continued to watch them.
It was silly that he was feeling this unexpected guilt. He felt responsible. Because he had been the first one to really see that Sasuke was falling for Naruto.
He should of told him, that some of the rumors were true. That not all rumors were simply just rumors.
Now it was simply too late.
Some friend he was, He thought as Shikamaru calmly lay a hand to Sasuke's back to bring him back.
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It was like my heart was being torn in two. Sasuke thought idly.
He'd never actually believed it when people in his old school told them of broken hearts. He'd usually just give them a look and tell them to get over it.
Because people got over it. They did all the time.
And he used to laugh in his mind incredulously when people described love at first sight. He used to think that that was a loud of bullshit.
And now here he was.
Yes here he was.
His heart breaking and his fist clenching. He'd never felt so numb.
He couldn't afford to think this way right now. Tammy and Naruto were just breaking apart from their kiss.
How long had he been out of it? A second? A minute? It felt like forever before he registered the hand on his shoulder.
He glanced up and met Shikamaru's strangely strong gaze. Sasuke smiled slightly at him in gratitude at the unexpected concern in his eyes.
Kiba was standing close by as well. A apologetic look on his usually animated face.
Sasuke mentally berated himself. What had he been doing? Worrying his first real friends that's what.
"I'm okay." He finally said quietly.
They didn't believe him, he could tell but they turned their attention back to the sight before them. Sasuke steeled himself for anything else he might hear or see.
He still wanted to know more of Naruto. What he just saw wouldn't hold him back.
So with that decision firmly set in mind he turned to look at Tammy and Naruto.
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It was great relief to them that Naruto soon pulled away from her. If anything he looked disgusted with her and strangely…himself.
It was like he didn't really love her.
Sasuke couldn't help but cling to these words.
Tammy was talking again. It seemed she was put off that Naruto was pulling himself away.
"Are you going to class Naruto kun?" Tammy asked sweetly. "Because if your not we could always go out and do things together."
"And I'll even excuse you free of charge. I miss spending time with you," she pouted and tried to embrace him again but he backed up. She pouted again.
Sasuke felt his breath catch in his throat. Beside him Kiba and Shikamaru also tensed.
Naruto had promised he would meet them. That he would tell them some of the truth of what was happening.
He wouldn't break his promise right…?
Naruto answered coldly. "No Tammy. I have things to do. You should know by now that I always have better things to do than hang out with you."
Sasuke and the guys immediately felt whatever doubts they had leave them. So he hadn't lied to them….he really was gonna meet up with them and keep to his promise.
Tammy didn't look very happy and in the next second whatever happiness she had achieved when she had kissed Naruto was soured.
"Well Naruto kun who is it this time?"
Naruto looked bored at the sight of her rage. Calm and composed "What are you talking about?"
"I mean who's the little whore this time?" Tammy hissed and she slammed her hands on either side of his head.
"What are you talking about?" Naruto asked his voice betraying his calm countenance.
"Which little slut are you meeting after this!? You never refuse me unless you have someone you're meeting besides me! Why are you doing this?! She won't love you like I do! You know that!"
Sasuke bristled from where he hid. So just because Naruto had said he wasn't spending time with her she immediately assumed he was meeting another girl? That was stupid.
Unnoticed to Sasuke, Kiba and Shikamaru exchanged glances.
Naruto also seemed annoyed at the accusation but strangely used to it. That worried Sasuke.
"I'm not meeting anyone," Naruto denied. And suddenly Sasuke wasn't worried about the strange way Naruto handled the accusation.
Suddenly he wondered how just one statement could tear him apart.
It was strange because after seeing Naruto kiss Tammy he was sure that his heart had broken but it seemed like Naruto had just added salt to a bleeding wound.
Weren't they supposed to be friends? Weren't they important? Were they….nothing in Naruto's eyes?
Kiba had become strangely silent and his face was pale and pinched. It was like Naruto had just punched each of them in the gut.
But then Naruto was speaking again. " Well my friends but that has little to do with you now doesn't it Tammy?"
Shikamaru sighed from his place. It was like being on an emotional roller coaster, He thought with a bit of irritation. But he was relieved all the same.
Tammy stared at Naruto for a second then suddenly chuckled. It was not a nice chuckle.
Full of derision and mockery. Her once pretty face, no longer so pretty but dangerous.
"You expect me to believe that Naruto kun? That's a horrible lie for you to tell. We both know you don't let people close to you not after that time. Friends please."
Naruto hardly missed a beat and shot back with a cold calmness that rivaled here derision.
"Think what you will .I could care less if you believe my words or not. I have to go now, class will be starting soon."
Then without so much a look at Tammy he pushed off the wall and walked away.
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Sasuke, Shikamaru, and Kiba didn't wait for the whatever Tammy's reaction was gonna be to that last statement. They just high tailed it out of there.
If they hurried they would be in there desks long before Naruto.
It was a quiet journey back to their desks however when they finished their long and arduous journey. (1)
They hadn't spoken a word. Sasuke was lost in his own thoughts and Kiba and Shikamaru lost in their own as well.
They didn't even register the hopeful looks they received when they opened the door. Then they were faintly crushed when they realized Naruto was not among them.
Sasuke glared menacingly when a few girls still continued to look his way and they were quickly disposed of.
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He decided that right now it wouldn't be so nice to think of Naruto. He decided to actually take a look at his classmates for what felt like the first time. Which it probably was.
Naruto just had this irritating way of capturing you and….he caught himself and shook his head.
No. No thinking of Naruto of right now. He let his eyes roam the class with boredom. They were all just so dull in comparison to Naruto.
He wanted to chuckle. It was funny. Naruto who was usually such a stick in the mud was so much more enjoyable to be with. He practically smelled the irony.
And then his eyes fell on a small shy blue haired girl. It was strange she looked vaguely familiar. But how? He'd only been here for a few days. Strange.
He nudged Kiba in the shoulder. He had just engaged Shikamaru into a conversation. It seemed there was a limit he could actually stand and be quiet for periods of time. Such a shame.
"Hey Kiba who's that?" Sasuke asked.
Kiba ,who had been laughing at a crude joke he had just been telling Shikamaru, looked around with interest before his eyes landed on the girl as well.
Then something strange happened. Kiba's grin slid right off his face. Shikamaru also looked up and sighed as he caught sight of the girl.
"That's Hinata, Sasuke. " Shikamaru informed him his voice lowered.
Sasuke felt his eyes widen minutely before mutely turning and staring at the girl. So it was her ?
This was Naruto's ex. And Neji's beloved cousin. Strange how things were just all starting to weave together like a puzzle.
She was pretty. Sasuke thought begrudgingly. In a weird fragile sort of way. Not Naruto's type at all.
Well not anymore at least.
He had really not expected her to be so pretty though. It made him wonder….if Naruto could break up with such a nice pretty looking girl…would he ever..?
Sasuke didn't even try to deny it anymore. Because after today how could he? How could he have ever thought that these strange feeling were anything but love?
It really was like love at first sight.
It made him feel stupid, for even thinking like that. It sounded so…ugh cliché.
But Naruto was always just so Naruto.
And he was hopelessly entranced by everything Naruto did.
The way his lips curved to pull those stupid infuriating goddamn smirks across his face.
It made him want to kiss him breathlessly as they temped him so innocently and yet not.
The way his eyes twinkled with sort of light when he was amused.
The way his eyes would soften gently.
The way his lips would pull up into those awkward half smiles that meant so much more to him than those fake one's he presented his Fan Girls.
And was he really thinking all of this?
Yes….Yes he was.
Because why wouldn't he think about it unless he believed them?
It was just suddenly that everything was brought to light.
He….
I….
Really…
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Shikamaru drummed his fingers against them desk boredly. How lame. And he couldn't even sleep with the chatter around him.
Why in the hells name had they decide to come early anyway? There was still ten minutes left in Lunch for fucks sake.
Kiba was trying to keep things going. It seemed he was still digesting the truth as well.
Sasuke looked like he was doing more of the thinking than the both of them however. He felt it best to leave at times like this. Though strictly speaking this was really a first….
So he didn't notice that Sasuke was stealing himself until suddenly Kiba's voice wasn't grating annoyingly in his ears.
Yeah he loved Kiba like a brother but man there's only so much ear abuse he can get before he snaps and goes deaf.
"What up?" He muttered lazily his head now propped on his elbows.
"I…" Sasuke began and then stopped.
However before they, really Kiba, could wrestle the truth out of him he uttered a sentence that left all three in silence even as the sounds of their classmates continued to be around them.
"I think I'm in love with Naruto."
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TBC…..
