"Really Naruto, it's not that big of a deal." Melanie sighed into the phone. Naruto could tell she was trying to balance it against her shoulder. He pictured her standing in front of a mirror trying on different outfits. Did she go through this much effort when she hung out with him?

"You don't understand Melanie, Kabuto isn't a good guy."

"Why not?"

"He just isn't!" Naruto insisted. They had, had this conversation multiple times since Kabuto asked Melanie out. Each conversation ended in a heated argument with one of them mad at the other.

"That's not a reason," Melanie said, growing increasingly irritated.

"I have my reasons."

"Then tell me them!" Melanie practically begged. She was met with silence. "It's about that girl isn't it; the one from Shikamaru's party? I saw the way you looked at her."

Naruto closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose, silently counting to ten. He wasn't surprised Melanie noticed his reaction to Caroline. He had just hoped it would never come up. He wanted to tell her everything, to finally expose how bad of a guy Kabuto is, but every time he opened his mouth something else came out. "Just trust me."

"Look, Naruto you know I like you but you haven't given me any reason not to hang out with Kabuto. It's not like it's a date."

Naruto's heart fluttered in his chest from her confession. "Why can't you come hang out with me? Isn't that reason enough?"

"Why, though?" Melanie pressed. Naruto knew what she wanted; what she needed him to say. He wanted to tell her that a mere text from her could send his heart into a frenzy. He wanted to tell her of all the times he wanted to lean in and kiss her or to hold her hand.

He wanted to tell her that he liked her.

"Because I'm cool," Naruto answered lamely, shoulders slumping in disappointment. Everyone talks about how you can't say the "L" word before your ready but why does no one talk about telling a girl you like her when you already know she likes you back?

"I have to get ready. I'll talk to you later okay?"

Naruto threw his phone, letting out a huff of frustration. Realizing what he had done, Naruto rushed to where his phone landed. Picking it up he rubbed the smooth surface in a silent apology. He flopped backwards onto his bed knowing he should text Melanie or call her back; do something other than argue with her about how bad of a guy Kabuto is.

Naruto knew he was acting like a jealous boyfriend and they weren't even dating. He let out a groan. Why haven't I ask her out already? Naruto thought then I wouldn't have to worry about Kabuto.

Except that he would.

Naruto would always be worried about Kabuto. He knew Melanie was different than Caroline. That was obvious but he had trusted Caroline, he had loved her and look where it got him. It wasn't a matter of not trusting Melanie; it was the cold, hard fact that he didn't trust Kabuto.

Kabuto was a sleaze and everyone knew it. Everyone but Melanie. She didn't know about how Kabuto purposefully courted Caroline while she was dating Naruto. She didn't know that Kabuto had promised Caroline a relationship only to use her for cheap, meaningless sex. She didn't know that Kabuto only saw Caroline as a prize to be won. Heck, that's probably all he saw Melanie as.

Naruto had the power to change that and still he said noting. A part of him, the part that held him back, was afraid Melanie wouldn't believe him. Even though Melanie had just begged Naruto to tell her, he still feared her rejection.

That's the stupidest excuse you could come up with Uzumaki Naruto scolded himself.

His stomach rumbled compelling him to get up and grab his jacket. He called Sasuke asking him to meet at Ichiraku's Ramen shop. There wasn't much that a good bowl of ramen couldn't cure for Naruto. And maybe, just maybe his stoic best friend would have some advice for him.

"You look like a lost puppy," Sasuke said as a greeting, sliding onto a counter stool. Naruto ignored him trying to decide which flavor he wanted. Truth be told, he wanted to order it all. He wanted to drown the hollow ache in his stomach with ramen.

"Stop being a girl and tell me what's wrong," Sasuke took the menu out of Naruto's hands glaring as the knucklehead turned towards him.

"She went out with Kabuto tonight."

"You idiot," Sasuke knew Naruto could be blonde but this was ridiculous. "Tell me why you aren't dating Melanie?"

"What if Kabuto-" Naruto was cut off as a menu came flying at his face.

"Don't be stupid," Sasuke said before giving his order to the waitress. "If you like the girl, go for it. It's that simple."

"Wow Sasuke you sound just like a fortune cookie." Naruto snickered, earning a swat to the back of the head. Sasuke was right though. When Melanie got back tonight he was going to tell her and they would just have to go day by day from there.

Naruto was half way through his third bowl of ramen, he really had ordered the entire menu, when his phone rang. He frowned in confusion as Melanie's name flashed across his screen. It wasn't as if he wasn't happy to hear from her, but his gut told him something was off.

"Hello?" Naruto said, although it was more of a question.

"Naruto?" Melanie's voice came through the receiver softly as if she was trying to whisper. "What are you doing right now?"

"Eating ramen with Sasuke. Why? Is everything okay?"

In the background noise coming from Melanie's end he could hear Kabuto calling for her. "Shoot, how did he find me so soon?"

"Melanie what's going on?" Now Naruto was worried. He was answered with the sound of her breathing heavily into the phone. Was she running?

"There," Melanie said in-between breaths. "I think I lost him."

"Melanie where are you?"

"At Old Man Jenkins's farm. Kabuto took me here to go horseback riding but I'm allergic to horses, and hay, so we decided to go through the corn maze."

Naruto could feel the tension leaving his body. "How's the date been?" Naruto asked unable to keep the sarcasm from his voice.

"I think you were right. I think this was a date." Melanie admitted. "He tried to kiss me."

Naruto couldn't believe his ears. "He what?"

"I'll tell you the details later. Can you come get me? I don't want to be here anymore."

"Just keep hiding in the maze. I'll call you when I get there."

Naruto hung up asking the waitress for the rest of his food to go. He signaled to Sasuke that it was time to leave. He filled Sasuke in on his conversation with Melanie as they walked outside. They stopped next to the poll where Naruto had placed his bike. To get to Old Man Jenkins's Farm from Ichiraku's it would be at least a twenty-minute ride.

Naruto fumbled with the lock on his bike. His fingers felt clumsy and the combination seemed to escape him. "Will you take this to my place?" Naruto asked handing Sasuke the to-go bag of ramen.

Naruto peddled as fast as he could, leaning low over his handles. He zoomed through traffic narrowly missing a car as he went through a red light. The closer he got to Old Man Jenkins the heavier traffic became. He cursed as a car pulled out in front of him, nearly hitting him. He was forced onto the sidewalk calling out apologies to the people who jumped out of his way.

When he finally made it to the farm he placed his bike in the rack with the others. He secured the bike not wanting his get away vehicle to be stolen. When he called Melanie to let her know he had finally arrived, her phone went straight to voicemail. His pulse roared in his ears as he tried her cell again. They had probably been trying to call each other at the same time.

The call went straight to voicemail.

Shoving his phone into his pocket Naruto found the corn maze. He followed a rather large, not to mention incredibly slow, group entering into it. The corn stalks had to be at least ten feet high. They were nearing time of harvest and Naruto could see the places people had picked at the corn. The maze was crowded and poorly lit but he didn't want to call out for Melanie in case Kabuto was nearby.

Going through the maze was frustrating, to say the least. Every wrong turn and dead end was time spent retracing his steps. A couple of times Naruto tried to push his way through the corn stalks but an employee would always yell at him to stay on the path. As he rounded a corner he caught a glimpse of unmistakable silver hair. Luckily for Naruto, Melanie wasn't with him. Naruto chose a group at random, pushing his way into the center, as coverage for passing by Kabuto. Once he was sure the creep was out of sight he continued his search.

Naruto tried Melanie's phone for the eighth time since entering the maze but no luck. He wasn't going to stop moving until he found her. Now he was jogging through the maze. Just how big was it? As he slowed to catch his breath a hand grabbed his elbow causing him to jump forward and let out a shout.

"Sorry!" Melanie said breaking into a fit of laughter.

"You scared me. For a split second I thought you were Kabuto."

That sobered Melanie. "I was hiding in the corn stalk and saw you run by. I didn't want to call out so I followed you."

"It's okay. I'm just glad I found you. I must have called you a hundred times."

"My phone died. Kabuto kept calling me. I told him we were going to play a game of hide and go seek and he had to find me." And then she was in his arms. Melanie moved so fast Naruto barely registered what happened as her arms slid around his waist. Her hair tickled his nose as she buried her face in his chest. "I'm so glad you came."

Naruto wrapped his arms around Melanie pulling her close. "Of course I did."

"I was worried you'd be mad at me for going in the first place." Melanie kept her face hidden not wanting to see Naruto's I told you so expression.

Instead he pulled back and lifted her chin. "I was never mad at you. Just concerned." He quickly kissed her forehead before grabbing her hand. "Let's get out of here before Kabuto finds us."

"Tell me," an amused voice asked from behind them. "What would be so bad about me finding you?"