Riayu: I have an announcement to make to all of my readers. I WILL BE PUTTING THIS PIECE OF WORK ON HIATUS IF I DO NOT RECEIVE REVIEWS. I know I sound selfish and all, but seriously, this is ridiculous. I've gotten four. FOUR. Even Scars beat this. And Scars was my worst one. And you know what else; three of those four reviews were from consultants. Thank you to Tsuchi No Ankon for reviewing.
Sharin: You're being a little harsh.
Riayu: I'm speaking my mind. And for those of you who are either too lazy to sign in or don't have an account, guess what! I have the anonymous review activated! Feel free to review. And don't think "I'm sure someone else will." 'Cause I like hearing your opinions!
Psy: You're starting to beg.
Riayu: You just made it worse for yourself in the upcoming chapters. And, if you know anyone who read KABBS, please tell them that KIT is up so I don't have to PM every last one of them to let them know that KIT is up. Because I will.
Sharin: There's a threat for you.
Riayu: And for that, you're having a nervous breakdown today.
Disclaimer: Still a good thing I don't own Naruto, look at what would happen if I didn't get feedback.
Too much sex and studying makes Sasuke a sleepy boy. He was cutting it close for his algebra class, mostly because he had fallen asleep in business, which was because he was up until four in the morning 'doing his homework'. Two of those hours were sex with Naruto, another three were devoted to a date, which led up to the sex, so he had only gotten four hours of sleep before classes started. As he settled in his seat, Sasuke began to wonder if it had been smart to sign up for so many classes that he was in school until eight every night. He hardly ever had time to study, and some of his early tests were starting to reflect it.
Naruto, on the other hand, was prospering. Only the bare necessities and a cooking class, because he "wanted to make what he loved for a living". It was frustrating as hell to see a dimwit excelling when he was struggling.
Whoa there, Sasuke thought as his teacher began to lecture. No need to be so mean to Naruto. It's good that he's doing well. I should be happy for him. But what he should have been and what he was were two completely different things. Half way through the lesson, Sasuke was asleep, dreaming of getting hundreds on his tests and getting offers from other colleges to transfer. He didn't wake up until someone nudged him and told him class was over.
Right. Lunch break. He sighed and hefted his bag, walking out of the building and into the light of the day. Naruto was waiting outside.
"Hey, Sasuke. How was class, you look tired," Naruto said, smiling as he fell into step beside Sasuke.
"I am tired. I was up late doing homework, remember?" he asked, glaring at the happy blonde.
"Oh yeah, sorry about that. I fell asleep, so I wasn't much help, was I?" he rubbed the back of his head, smiling as if everything was okay.
"Hn," Sasuke grunted, anger flaring up inside of him.
"What do you want to do for lunch today?" Naruto asked, not seeming to sense Sasuke's anger. "I think I'm tired of the cafeteria food. Wanna go for ramen?"
"I don't like ramen around here very much," Sasuke lied. "You can go if you want to. I think I'll try to get some more sleep. I'm really tired."
"Okay, Sasuke. Want me to come and get you at two so you can get to your next class?" Naruto looked at the brunette, worry clear on his face.
"No, I'll set the alarm clock," Sasuke said tersely. He turned away from Naruto and walked towards the edge of campus where the apartment complex they were staying in sat. The minute his head touched the pillow, Sasuke was out like a light. His sleep was so heavy that the clock took a while to work on him, and he managed to sleep through it for five minutes before he sat up and turned it off. He quickly ran a brush through his hair and ran out the door and over to the elevator, tapping his foot impatiently as he waited for the electronic ding that announced that he was on the ground level.
He managed to stay awake for his statistics class, cruised through second business class, slept through half of his free hour, doing homework for the other half, then rushed off to his music class. He hated that they had to take some sort of cultures class for freshman year, it did nothing for him. On the way to class he got himself a can of high-caffeine soda and chugged it as he took his seat in the back of the class.
"Pop quiz!" the professor announced, smiling broadly. "Clear your desks and take out a pencil!" she sang as she walked up and down the rows, placing a paper on each student's desk. Sasuke stared down at his, panic turning his mouth to cotton as he read the paper and saw nothing but letters that blurred together in nonsensical patterns. He answered three questions, guessed on another four, and left the last three blank. He turned it in, earned a skeptical eyebrow from the teacher, and sat back down, putting his head on his desk.
Naruto was outside the building again when class ended, smiling that stupid smile again.
"Hi, Sasuke! How was class?"
"Bad." Sasuke said, already walking. Naruto had to jog to catch up.
"I'm sorry. Want me to help?" Naruto asked kindly, trying to catch Sasuke's hand in his.
"No, I'll be fine on my own. We won't be able to go out today, though." He didn't sound the least bit sorry.
"Okay, no problem. School work is important. Maybe I'll study, or I could make dinner," he smiled at the prospect and waited for Sasuke's okay.
"I'm not very hungry; I don't think I'll be eating today." Realizing that Naruto was still trying to hold his hand, Sasuke reached up and gripped the shoulder strap of his bag as if to keep it from falling off of his shoulder.
"Oh…okay then. I'll leave you alone so you can work in piece. I'll ask Psy and Gaara if they want anything. I'll need some money to get groceries."
"You know where I keep it," Sasuke said, opening the door to the building, not bothering to hold it for Naruto like he usually did. The result was that Naruto walked into the glass door, stumbled back, rubbed his nose in confusion, then opened the door and walked inside.
"Is something the matter, Sasuke?" Naruto asked, trying to catch up to the brunette, but the elevator doors were already closed, and he was left standing in the foyer alone. He pressed the up button, wiping his eyes a little as he waited, trying to banish the collecting tears.
"Naruto, that you?" The blonde turned his head to see Gaara approaching, his arms filled with books.
"Hey, Gaara," he smiled falsely and offered to help Gaara with his books.
"You okay?" Gaara asked, frowning a little as he noticed the redness at the corner of the blonde' blue eyes.
"Sasuke's a little cranky and it's making me a little depressed. Nothing to worry about," he tried to smile again, but it came out looking like a mirror that had been punched: broken and empty. "Want ramen for dinner tonight?" he asked, stepping into the elevator as the doors opened.
"Sure, is beef okay? Or would you rather make shrimp?"
"Depends on what Psy wants. She's still pretty upset, so I think we'll have what she wants."
"I think she ended up giving Zetsu a black eye today 'cause he wouldn't leave her alone." The elevator lurched to a stop and the doors opened, both of them stepping out together. Naruto allowed Gaara to get the door for him, smiling.
"I wouldn't be surprised; she's had a short temper since the incident," Gaara added.
"What incident?" Psy asked, pausing on her way to the kitchen. "Who are we talking about?"
"The art teacher. Someone spilled paint all over the floor and it got on her favorite shirt, so she was freaking out on everyone."
"Sounds like fun," Psy said, looking at Naruto. "What's up, blondie?"
"Sasuke's mad and it's a little depressing."
"I've been mad since yesterday and you weren't depressed."
"Want ramen?" Naruto asked, setting the books down on the table of the dining room.
"Sure, why not. Chicken's good with me," she smiled. "Why the hell do you have so many books with you today, Gaara?"
"I like to read and look at the pictures. They're all art books," he opened one to show a picture of the Mona Lisa. "Why're you in such a good mood today?"
"Hmm? Oh, I got to see a painter develop their picture. It's coming out really nicely, and she likes mine a lot too. Art class cheers me up a lot of the time."
"Good for you," Naruto said, going into the living room and opening a box that held three checkbooks and four credit cards. I found the one with his name on it, put it in his wallet, then tossed his light bag on the couch. "I'm going to the store to pick up stuff for dinner. What do you want for dessert?"
"Jello!" Psy shouted. "Cherry if you can find it." Naruto nodded, lifting his hand in a farewell wave before going back out into the hallway and pressing the down button on the elevator. He hummed idly as he waited, then hummed with the generic elevator music playing while he descended to the ground level. Outside the wind had picked up and he wrapped his sweatshirt tighter around him as he bustled to the main street, hailing a taxi. He was about to open the door when a pale hand reached out and did it for him.
"I figured you shouldn't go to the supermarket alone." Naruto sat in the car, scooting over to provide his companion with a seat. The minute the cab started moving they were glued at the lips, a feeling of lust and desperation filling Naruto, and slowly, steadily, guilt filtered in as well.
Sharin: Well, that was short.
Riayu: Glaring I feel bad, 'cause I'm punishing some of my friends. Sorry Rob, Nate, and Dave. You don't deserve this. Not your fault. And sorry Shawn. (these people reviewed after I started writing the chapter). Maybe I'll send you guys the next chapter early. I'll need your email, Shawn.
Psy: Don't you think you're being a little harsh?
Riayu: Yes, I do. But apparently being a hard ass is the only thing that's gonna get anything done here. So, everyone, tell anyone you know that read KABBS to read this, or tell a friend. I need feedback.
Sharin: Aren't you going to give out cookies or something?
Riayu: Cookies for Rob, Nate, Dave, Shawn, Sye216, AkcessedImagination, and Tsuchi No Ankon.
Psy: You named everyone you're giving cookies to? Jeez, you really are upset. Right, I'm going to go put her down for her nap, everyone.