You guys seem to love this story more than I do, so I won't delete it -_-
Even though I have limited motivation to write this… I'll try to dig some up from somewhere. Thanks for allyour support.(to those who didn't act entitled, like wtf?) Gotta love you guys–hearts-
And thank you to my stalker who called me a selfish bitch like 10 times, you made me laugh with all your retarded anonymous reviews(':
Hilarious!
I mean you're trying to bully someone from behind a keyboard… LMAO. Like really?
To FanofBellaandEdward: Aweee: aren't you sweet? Did your parents tuck you in a tin of chocolate when you were younger? *the answer is yes (;
Psst, A Single Fragile Rose… I love you too ;3
With that said—let's read some Element. (I'll keep my promise)
Element
Naruto had heard of the push pull strategy. Researched it, studied it, memorized it.
It was technique that businesses used to decide what products clients wanted the most. How exactly did that relate to him and his downward spiral?
Well, something like this: Sasuke was the client.
He was the product.
And Sakura was the business associate who was trying to sell his worth to the client… who seemed genuinely interested.
Sasuke was genuinely interested in the product.
Wait, wait. What? Sasuke was interested in him?
That had a negative connotation… He ought to rephrase that if he wanted to get through this doozy of a day.
Correction: Sasuke was interested in establishing a positive bond with him.
He wasn't interested with him like that… that was… someone else.
Realizing his thoughts were prepared to consume him like a famished lion, he hurled himself onto his liberal Queen sized bed, and tried to stop thinking so much. But he slipped up, finally recognizing the time Sasuke left last night. He didn't leave return to his apartment until sometime after three. Even though he offered to put Sasuke up for the night like a gentleman should, Sasuke politely declined and left anyway. He suppressed the urge to insist that Sasuke stay until morning broke. To avoid sounding pushy, he didn't bother voicing his opinion. He still thought that it was much too late to drive. Masking the odd disappointment, he offered to walk Sasuke to his car, an offer he did accept.
Trying to keep his oath to reframe from over thinking, he immediately snapped to an open state of mind when he heard his phone go off. He rolled to the bronze duvet, he contemplatively answered the phone.
"Hey, Naruto! Supp with you?" The feminine voice piped into the phone like Tweety bird.
Naruto effortlessly cracked a smile. "Nothing, I just got up. How about you? I'm assuming good by your chipper tone."
"Well, that's because I am," She sighed, sounding like she was stretching out an early morning knot. "Happy to be alive, Naru."
"Got laid last night?" Naruto chuckled.
She hissed her teeth, her thunderous temper already booming. "Shut up—did not… Hey, before I forget to ask."
"Yeah?" Naruto balanced up on his elbows, noting the elimination of jest in her voice. "Did you get it?"
"Uhhh," Naruto narrowed his bright blue eyes. "Did I get what?"
"Sasuke's gift!" She exclaimed.
Naruto smirked, wishing the slight blush creeping onto his cheeks would take a fucking hike. How was he supposed to concentrate if he kept thinking about how sweet a gesture it was?
"Umm, yeah. I did. He brought it over last night," Naruto informed—in recognizably fond tone. Fuck.
"Oh really? You liked the cake though, right?"
Had Sakura seen the 'peace offering' that Sasuke bought for him?
To him, it sounded like she was oblivious to the bulk of the plan. She must have only known the outskirts.
"Yeah, it was amazing," Naruto said in a low voice, knowinghe was overthinking again.
"Glad you liked it."
"Thanks, flower."
"Shut the hell up, assface," Sakura snarled. "So annoying…"
"Love youuuuuu."
"I hate you."
"Yeah well, the feeling's mutual."
Sakura laughed, sighing. "So you're not mad at Sasuke anymore…righttttt?"
Naruto rolled his eyes. "Nooo, I'm not mad but I still might castrate him though."
"Hey, that's not fa—"
"I'm kidding—we're cool."
"Excellent! Quick question though."
"Fire away," Naruto grunted, closing his eyes and rolling onto his back onto the bed outstretching his free left hand to the ceiling.
"What time did Sasuke leave your place?"
Naruto's eyes shot open like elevator door.
Was this some kind of set up or some type of trick question?
"…Why?"
"I called him at like 11 and he didn't answer. I was wondering if you knew where he was, you know?" She asked irritatedly. Did she think Sasuke had ignored her and traded her company for someone else's? Heh heh, his? "He was supposed to come over like an hour before that."
Naruto intended to hand back from rushing waters. He wasn't going to let her forge targets on his back. "I don't know where Sasuke went… He disappeared long before 11."
A little white lie couldn't hurt, right?
"Oh… Are you sure?"
Naruto bit his lip, praying Sasuke would corroborate his story. "Yeah."
"Okay… I guess he went to bed or something."
"Probably," Naruto uneasily agreed, knowing damn well that he had no business accepting Sasuke's movie offer.
Out of line.
"Mm, well you have class soon, right?"
"Unnnnnfortunately." He had nearly forgotten that he had to be somewhere around 9:30. Damn end of college lag. He couldn't wait until they handed him his diploma, so he could run right off stage and all the hell the way home. Four years of studying one stupid thing—his major—and then four years of studying one stupid thing—his minor—was becoming cumbersome. He just wanted to get this over and done with so he could move on with life. At least until he had to tackle his master. Wasn't trying to better yourself easy?
"Then you should be getting ready," Sakura melodically sang, prompting Naruto to get ready for the day.
…
Naruto finished his both his business and management class with about half an hour to spare. With midterms weeks creeping up quickly, his professors blew off class early, but not before assigning a shitload of work. Taking the small reprieve with little resolve, Naruto instantly thought about going to Sakura's to hang out like they planned about two weeks ago. He couldn't even remember the last time they exclusively spent time together. Their schedules never meshed because she was a fulltime on call waitress. He was currently submerged in his specialization classes making it difficult for them to find time for one another. Maybe today would be the day he could make up for all that by buying her something nice. Recently, he had gotten a raise at his assistant job at the Marriot downtown, which left a little wiggle room for a small gift.
Sasuke probably bought her so many gifts that she didn't have anywhere to fit them all. Even so, he wasn't going let that stop him from getting her something special from his best friend. He loved her but it was a different type of love. It was a platonic love.
Hopefully, when he came over, Sakura would be ready to go. He was down to so some store stopping; possibly bless her with a new wardrobe. He had prepared by filling his gas tank to the brim and had taken a few hundred out of the bank. They had molded over the details via text so hopefully everything would go smoothly. Tonight they would have fun, in spite of the small drift they had been experiencing in the recent months, more so in the past few weeks. They would catch Maybe they could catch up and regain lost ground.
He felt his smirk droop when he realized the driveway wasn't free but occupied with one of Sasuke's numerous cars.
Uh, why was Sasuke here?
She never said anything about Sasuke coming? Did he decide to come last minute or something?
Shrugging it off, Naruto got out and knocked on Sakura's door.
She answered with a small smile, pinching her earlobe with a dangling earring in tow. "Hey."
Naruto falsely smiled, stepping into the foyer, as the low spinning ceiling fan light illuminating Sakura's partially dressed figure. The drooping straps fell off her shoulders as she waltzed back into the house, the unzipped flap of the violet dress staying wide open as warred with her pierced earhole and the uncooperative earring.
"Hey, um, are you ready?" Naruto asked, as he advanced into the house, seeing an unperturbed Sasuke on the couch, garbed in simple white button down shirt, and black slacks. His blue eyes ate up the sliver of milky white skin visible near his collar like a ravenous monster that hadn't been fed in a matter of weeks. He wished he hadn't made his fascination so obvious.
Dark lashes that once kissed their sand white mounds, lifted, forcing blue eyes to swirl into controlling ashy grey eyes. Naruto squirmed, jittering underneath his clothes as a tangible connection formed instantly. The dark haired man sat a little taller, his interest level peaking, all the previous negativity allaying. Detained by the insidious smirk and the unflinching stare, Naruto couldn't prevent the boiling passion that felt like a fervid fire, scorch his skin.
The blond shattered the dangerous gaze in order to save himself from the brink of sanity. But it was too late.
Sakura had already regarded Sasuke's satisfied appearance with a mounting inquisitiveness. Not too long ago, Sasuke was sulking. But like a rain shower after a yearlong drought, Sasuke's attentiveness was restored by Naruto's arrival.
What was going on with him?
She'd never seen anyone look so passionate in their life, not even married couples like her parents. It was extremely alarming. She didn't know whether to feel jealous that Naruto pulled the life out of Sasuke or angry that Sasuke wasn't happy with her presence alone. She saw Naruto shed a shameful expression and she suddenly pursed her lips as a plague of envy replaced all rational thought.
Naruto slowly lifted a brow. Sakura didn't want to answer… The sucker punch was coming.
"Um, about that… Can we do that another time? Sasuke and I were planning on going to that new restaurant that opened on 4th Ave," Sakura finally explained, pushing in the stubborn earring, partially puncturing her second partially closed hole.
Naruto fumbled with his unspoken words, his mind stumbling over Sakura's detachment. She'd just canceled their friend date. "What do you mean, 'another time'? We planned this two weeks ago!"
"Sorry, Naruto," She turned from Sasuke to Naruto, no sympathy saturating her green eyes. "It just came u—"
"If it just came up, you could have called. I drove all the way here only to find out that you don't want to go." Naruto raised his voice, his nostrils flaring as his dormant temper climbed out its sealed case.
"Naruto, it's not that serious. You're always around, we can go another time," She muttered in a dismissive fashion, turning her back to Naruto, popping her second earring in.
Naruto felt a strange numbness scramble inside him as he glanced at the heels lying on their side on the carpet, and up to an uncomprehendingly empathetic Sasuke. His lips quivered like he wished to speak out in the dim room but he seemed to be adhering to the small confrontation. Naruto wanted Sasuke to support him but he seemed to be concurrently revoke him as well.
It was really happening. She was really replacing him; slowly moving Sasuke into his position until he finally disappeared into the woodwork.
Sasuke, frozen on the couch, absorbed the hurt impaled on Naruto's gorgeous face. The blond male took one last glimpse at Sakura, storming out. "Fuck this."
Sakura didn't mind the deafening slam of the front door when Sasuke followed him. she paused and turned, her pink curls caressing her shoulder blades.
"Sasuke, where are you going?" Her question went unanswered. Her only reply was the meeting of the door hinges.
Naruto raced down the cement pathway to his car, willing his legs to reach there faster.
Why the fuck was Sakura behaving this way?
What did he do to deserve that?
Feeling like he was being bombarded with too many angry questions, his mood deteriorated further as his name was called by a husky voice.
He spun around to see a concerned Sasuke close behind him. "I—"
"What did you tell her?"
"What?" Sasuke narrowed his beautiful eyes, resting his hands in his pockets. "I didn't tell her anything. Why would you think I did?"
Naruto gazed into Sasuke's eyes, setting back, shaking his head of golden spikes. "Look, just because you're Sakura's boyfriend and she trusts you, doesn't mean that I do. Because I don't," Naruto ground out, blindly forcing a sword of hurt straight into Sasuke's chest with his combative words. His blue eyes that didn't seem to believe what they were saying but he still lashed out, slicing with each word. "And don't ever expect me to."
Walking away before Sasuke could rebuff, Naruto dug out for his phone and opened a fresh message, typing, 'Hey, can I come over?' and left the contact space blank until he got into the car.
…
"Thank you for listening." Naruto sighed, nuzzled his face into a broad shoulder, melting into the heat of arms that he wished could never release him. A puddle of love pooled onto Naruto's face as he smiled, fondly rolling red strands on the pads of his fingers. His lax limbs were carelessly tangled, into the other man's as their warmth was easily swapped. "What would I do without you…?" He whispered, ghosting his fingers over the pale male's strong shoulder.
A pair of native lips tenderly traced Naruto's pulse, tickling the excited skin, obliterating the blond's temporary emotional snags along with his train of thought. Within about three seconds, his free fingers traveled to the creamy caramel skin within his reach, the curve of his arm, the small his back, and the taut abs. All pleasantries that put Naruto in a certain mood. A sensual mood.
A wispy release of air displayed Naruto's evident contentment.
He was happy he had a place of refuge when he was scared, unhappy, and angry. If he didn't have Gaara as a buffer, he wouldn't be here right now.
"However will I decide where to lick you first?" Gaara needled, unexpectedly reeling Naruto in.
He giggled as his fingers skittered on the back of Gaara's neck, seeking shelter there as he raised his beautiful lips to Gaara's ear. "Eeny, meeny, miny, moe."
"Is that your final answer?" He muttered, his deep, smoky voice effectively resonating in Naruto's head, reflecting off his skin.
"Yes, sir," Naruto purred, pulling away from Gaara, as the friction from his smoldering eyes aroused the redhead immensely. Oh, God, the things he wanted to do to him.
Naruto created his own space by liberating himself the red haired man. Then like an eager child on Christmas morning, he spotted his one true love and smiled.
Gaara trailed Naruto's endearing gape to the cold Swedish rum layered in condensation on the cocktail table. "Want the rest of the bottle?"
Naruto felt his body loosen in relief on the futon. "Aw, you know me so well."
…
Sasuke bypassed the use of the doorbell, Sasuke banged on the apartment door, feeling like it would get him a quicker response than a stupid doorbell would.
When he tried yesterday evening, he didn't get an answer. Naruto didn't seem to be home. He must have been somewhere, with someone else, doingsomething else.
Most likely, he was with that freak Gaara, doing God knows what.
Just thinking about it made him want to smash his face in. Naruto thought that this monster was the only person he could trust. And if it weren't for Sakura childishness, he wouldn't have to resort to Gaara's attention…because he already had his.
But Naruto seemed irrevocably pissed at them for what happened and he understood. He would be too if his best friend suddenly ditched him for a new boytoy. He wasn't referring, to himself as a boytoy. It was merely an expression.
It seemed that he was the one trying to march in and separate them. But that wasn't the case. Sadly, it was a misunderstanding.
Sakura had tried to blast him for not answering her call, but he quickly shut her down. He thoroughly reassured her wasn't out entertaining another femalebut at his apartment trying to get some shut eye. He explained that he made one trip to Naruto's home and then returned straight home. Without exploring the heavy details, she discontinued arguing and suggested they go out to dinner tonight irrespective of the fact she had previous plans with Naruto.
Although she was playing nice, she thought their "truth" was punctured with the simple logic that she received no reply from Naruto's phone as well.
This petty experience wasn't fruitless. He learned that Sakura was extremely jealous. From the get go he was aware of the malice Sakura exhibited. She exiled Naruto out of revenge and tried to cage him in. As a result, he left her alone, leaving company of loneliness. No dinner. No romantic time.
Her Vindictiveness wasn't attractive. Nor was it welcome, especially when it singlehandedly undid all the ground he gained with Naruto.
All he wanted to do was apologize.
If Naruto would let him, he just wanted a few seconds of his time.
He repetitiously pounded on the door again.
There was slight thudding inside the apartment. "Fuck, I said, I'm coming!"
Suddenly, the door was yanked open and Sasuke came face to face with angelic features. He saw the curious blue eyes peak from behind door's security. They roved over Sasuke's serious expression.
He huffed and pursed his lips, deciding his cynical joke would have to wait until later. Sasuke didn't seem very interested in laughing right about now.
Sasuke wedged himself into the door and strolled in without a proper invitation, friskily occupying the foyer. "Look, Naruto, I wanted to—" The door peacefully closed behind Sasuke. He turned around to Naruto's towel clad dripping wet body. Thankfully the fluffy white drying utensil obscured the most revealing parts. More of his graceful, curvaceous legs were better exposed when he laid flat against the door. He innocently made contact with Sasuke's eye contact with his lustfully demonic eyes. Water carefully slithered from every square inch of Naruto's body, creating a small pool on the slick foyer. Saturated blond strands clung to the smooth mocha treat's forehead, torturing Sasuke to no end. He gulped down what spit did lie in his parched mouth, feeling like every area but his aching cock.
Toned arms held the towel up to his chest, tilting his head, pondering Sasuke's hanging sentence.
He had something to say, right?
Stopping and trying to breath, trying to push the apology out of his mouth, Sasuke wondered why his life was so fucking difficult.
…
Heheheheheh. Heh. Heh. Don't shoot me. Bullets hurt.