AN: Hey guys! Not my last chapter, there's going to be an epilogue. Hope you enjoy this chapter!

Thank you so much to KAZ K for being my 100th review! I love every single one of you that has reviewed on all of my stories, you guys really make my day!

Thank you: olivian484 for favouriting.

Thank you: Ladyintime for following.

The Project

S

Today was the day; I could either loose it all or maybe be happy again. Don't get me wrong, Naruto and Shikamaru made me extremely happy but I needed more, there were only so much energetic blonds and lazy brunets a guy could take. I sighed as I fixed my tie in the mirror, since when did I become so selfish when it came to friends?

Since you realised how great it was to have them in the first place. Don't ask questions you already know the answers to. Wow, when did I get so mean, to myself?

Shaking my head of the thoughts and quickly fixing my hair, I left my house super early once again. But no matter how early I left, Itachi was still waiting for me with breakfast ready.

"How come you're always up before me? And what happened to our parents, haven't seen them in a while?" I said as I sat across from him on the dining table.

He didn't bother look up from his book as he responded, "didn't you hear? Cruise around the Maldives, said it was something they'd never done before."

I snorted in disbelief and I buttered one slice of toast and put jam on the other, "as if, they go traveling like 3 times a month, they probably forgot about it like they do us." Itachi didn't bother giving a response or reprimand me because, despite my bitter tone, they were my parents and I loved them and was happy for them. I honestly didn't mind when they left, gave me a bit more freedom which was always a good thing.

"So, are you going to tell me your secret to waking up early?"

"What secret?" He replied flicking his eyes up to look at me for a brief second.

"Oh that secret," He shook his head in amusement, "funny story that one is, I didn't actually sleep. You see, last night was crazy, it involved a fake rocket a basketball and a scantily dressed girl who had a fetish for ropes-"

"Goodbye Itachi." I mumbled through the toast still in my mouth as I grabbed my bag and left. Shivering at both the thought of what he was going to tell me and the weather outside I walked down the road. Where to now, boyfriend's house or friend's house?

A smirk grew on my lips, "boyfriend's house, I like the sound of that."

The door was opened immediately after I knocked. I looked up at Iruka's smiling face and couldn't help but smile back, "hey Sasuke, what brings you here this early? Question about the History homework? Cause it's a bit late if that's the case."

Rolling my eyes I moved past Iruka into their living room, "very funny Iruka, it's not a crime for someone to go pick up their boyfriend for school is it?"

The only sign that Iruka showed of him acknowledging my statement was a slight pause in his steps towards the kitchen, "no, no problem at all. In fact, while you're here you can make yourself useful and wake him up."

I didn't wait for any approval of me walking up the stairs and open the door to Naruto's room slowly. I took off my bag and placed it on the floor next to his before walking to the curtains and letting a little more light into his room.

"Ngh, Iruka, too early, I thought we agreed 5 minutes to 8 was my wake up time." He murmured before turning away from the light.

I snorted at the very Naruto-esque statement, "no wonder you're always almost late to school."

He shot up in almost an instant; "Sasuke?" he squinted at me, "Could you move away from the window, the sun's kinda burning my retinas."

Chuckling lightly, I moved closer and sat on the edge of his bed, "good morning Naruto." I spoke tenderly before planting a soft kiss on his lips.

In an instant, I stood up and removed his duvet from his bed revealing him in his ramen bowl clad boxers. I laughed manically while he struggled to find something to cover up with.

"Sasuke." He pouted and crossed his arms across his chest.

"I don't care how adorable you are." I said as I threw his duvet across his room not caring about the mess I just made, "I want you downstairs ready to go in 20 minutes or I'm leaving without you."

"20 minutes, who do you think I am Kiba? I actually care about how I look now that I have a super prissy super stylish boyfriend."

I smiled at him sweetly, "do I hear 15?"

"No, no, 20 is good." He shook his head frantically and I clapped my hands together in delight, "great, 10 it is!"

His jaw dropped and I went to pick up my bag and walk out of the room, "tick tock, darling."

As I was closing the door, I heard a mumble of, "just like Itachi."

"What's that?" I called with an evil smirk, "did I hear 5?"

"No!" I snickered happily at the agonising scream that travelled down the corridor.

N

Waking up to Sasuke was something I thought could only happen in my dreams. But reality was even better. Yeah sure, he was a bit of a tyrant, but that smile, that whisper of good morning, that kiss. It was all more than worth it if I got that.

Smiling happily, I rushed my shower, put on my clothes sloppily, grabbed my bag and went downstairs all under 5 minutes just in case Sasuke decided to leave early. I walked into the kitchen to see Sasuke, beautiful, amazing Sasuke, cooking breakfast. Cooking badly but cooking for me none the less.

I smiled goofily as I went behind him and snaked my arms around his waist, he stiffened at first before I put my head on his shoulder, "what're you making?"

"We're trying to make pancakes." Iruka, who had been standing next to Sasuke the whole time, answered, "But Sasuke keeps burning them."

My little Uchiha crossed his arms and huffed, "I told you I'd be no help, cooking isn't my forte."

I gasped dramatically, "Sasuke Uchiha is admitting to not being good at something? Someone call the police."

He elbowed me in the stomach and tried to pry my arms from around his waist but I just held on tighter, "we'll be in the living room if you need us Iruka."

He just waved his hand in dismissal, "yeah, yeah just no sex, it's too early for that."

I was 100 percent sure both mine and Sasuke's faces were bright red as we quickly scurried out of the kitchen. Flopping onto the couch, I pulled Sasuke down with me so he was sitting in my lap. It didn't last long because in an instant he was elbowing me till I let go of him.

Sighing, I released him and watched as he shuffled over to the other side of the couch. "So, why are we leaving so early? School isn't for another hour or two, even Iruka's not ready yet."

"We're going over to Shikamaru's house first." He answered simply.

I couldn't help the frown that formed on my face; Sasuke and Shikamaru were unsettlingly close. They were together nearly all day yesterday with their heads bent together whispering or thrown back in laughter. Only I could make Sasuke laugh like that, well I used to be the only one.

"What's wrong?" Sasuke scooted closer to me and placed his hand on my leg.

"How close are you and Shikamaru?" I asked hesitantly.

His brows furrowed together cutely, "are you jealous?"

"No!" My answer was a bit too quick.

"You have no reason to be jealous Naruto." He cupped my face with his hand as he whispered to me soothingly. It was as if I was in a hypnotic trance, "I only like you. Shikamaru just happened to be the only one I could talk to these last couple of days since everyone else was still angry at me."

It made sense I guess. The only people he had ever gone to talk to before where his family and his friends and since his amount of friends diminished to one, it made sense he was the only one he would talk to. It didn't mean I liked it though.

As if sensing my thoughts, Sasuke sighed before sliding back into my lap and resting his head on my shoulder, "think of it like this, if the others forgive me today, I'll go back to talking to them. Of course I'll still talk to Shikamaru, he's one of my best friends but we won't talk as often since I have other people to go to now. And anyways, you're Naruto, you and Nara will be best friends in no time, it's what you do."

Sasuke had convinced me thoroughly and it wasn't just because him sitting in my lap was distracting me from thinking of a good enough counter argument. But he did smell good and his hair was so soft and he was so light, I was pretty sure I could just pick him u-

"Pancakes are ready!" Sasuke stood from my lap immediately and walked into the kitchen. I sighed, knew it was too good to be true.

"Are you coming idiot?" Sasuke asked as he held his hand out towards me.

A grin grew on my face as I took his soft hand in mine and let him pull me too my feet, definitely better than a dream.

S

Shikamaru's house again, for the third time in a row. This time he was the one who opened the door instead of his mother. When he saw my smirk and Naruto's grin, he sighed acceptingly before grudgingly letting us in.

No words were spoken as Shikamaru led us up into his room. I took a seat on his bed and moved his resting cat into my lap, "how come you didn't offer me breakfast this time?"

"Do I really have to explain my thought process? We both know I'm a genius so let's leave it at that." I snorted at his reply but didn't respond. I instead watched Naruto as he stood in the middle of the room. I felt bad at how awkward he must've felt considering he and Shikamaru weren't really friends.

"Shikamaru," He looked up at me from where he was leaning backwards out of his window, "since you guys haven't formally met yet, I'll introduce you, this is Naruto, my boyfriend."

My blond smiled brightly and moved closer into the room. Shikamaru gave him a lazy nod and idle smile, "I'm Shikamaru Nara, Sasuke has spoken so much about you I feel like I know you already so sorry for not introducing myself earlier."

My eyebrows rose at his manners, I guess he was raised as a functioning human. "And that," he looked in the direction of the cat, "is my cat that still doesn't have a name and currently responds to the word cat so she's probably going to be called cat forever."

A soft chuckle left Naruto's lips as he shuffled closer and softly petted the cat's head, "she's cute, when did you get her?"

I smirked as the lazy teen smiled, "yes Shikamaru, when did you get her? Do tell."

With a soft mutter of 'troublesome' Shikamaru began recounting the tale again for Naruto who eventually took a seat next to me on the bed. I took his hand in mine and intertwined our fingers as his laughter rang in my ears, this is what I wanted.

Surprisingly, we got to school late. Naruto called it early, Shikamaru called it on time and I called it only having ten minutes before first lessons started. I silently prayed as I exchanged my books in my locker that the day would go faster than yesterday. I couldn't wait for History, just so I could find out how the rest of my school life would pan out. I scowled at the thought, I really hated waiting.

"You alright Sasuke?" Naruto asked as he used his finger to rub out the crease between my eyebrows.

I nodded silently before looking around him hoping to catch sight of Shikamaru, "if you're looking for Shika, Ino caught him and dragged him off somewhere so he said he would probably see us at lunch."

I rolled my eyes at how easily Naruto and Shikamaru had become friends when just that morning he was jealous of how much time I was spending with Nara. Taking his larger hands into mine, I dragged him towards our first lesson, I was not going to be late, again.

I had made it, I had survived till lunch but it felt like a week had gone by. This time I didn't see anyone but Naruto. Maybe his existence was blocking out everyone else or the others just weren't in my classes but I was kind of glad; I didn't want their expressions to give away their decisions. I still had some glimmer of hope, you know?

This time, I decided to not make the same mistake I made yesterday and decided eating outside would be the best course of action. Luckily Shikamaru and I weren't hungry so we sat outside and cloud watched. Naruto stayed inside and ate with the other which I was more than ok with, just because they weren't friends with me anymore didn't mean he couldn't be friends with them.

"You nervous?" Shikamaru asked from where he lay beside me. I shrugged even though he probably couldn't see it.

"More like ready for the wait to be over. This is the most stressful thing I've ever done." I couldn't see him either but I could tell there was eye roll to accompany his scoff.

"You wouldn't have to wait like this if you just demanded an answer from them the moment you apologised." His patronising tone made me want to slap him silly.

"They needed time to really think about what I said and realise that I was genuinely sorry and forgive me." My tone portrayed confidence but I was so insecure. I hated feeling like that, it just wasn't me.

"Or the time you gave them could've made them realise how much they actually hated you, because that was honestly such a dick move."

"You don't even know what I did!" I sat up exasperatedly and shot the laughing boy a glare.

He grabbed my arm and pulled me back into a lying position, "I know Sasuke; I'm just winding you up so you'd chill a little bit. You're too stressed man."

In a huff, I crossed my arms over my chest, it wasn't funny. This was a serious thing. But it sounded so stupid when you thought about it. I was getting all worked up because I was scared my friends were going to leave me, how old was I, 7?

"You're right, I do need to chill, I'm blowing this a bit out of proportion." I said finally with an assuring nod.

Oddly, he sighed. Was there no pleasing this guy? "No Sasuke, I didn't mean chill like that. Don't put you or what you feel is important, down. There's no such thing as childish when it comes to your feelings because, news flash, you're still a kid."

He sat up and looked down at me; I squinted my eyes and put a hand over my face to block the sun, "don't think so little of yourself man, it's so troublesome when I have to say stuff like that."

I pursed my lips, I didn't like talking about this stuff either, "ok I won't thanks."

Shikamaru lay back down and we gazed in silence for what felt like hours. It wasn't awkward or anything, it was a comfortable silence. Everything that needed to be said had been said, Shikamaru had successfully calmed me down and now it was just peaceful.

But all good things come to an end and the ringing of the bell broke our peaceful silence. I kept my eyes closed as the world began to pass me by. I felt sick, I didn't want to do this anymore. I opened my eyes as something was blocking the sun.

There stood Shikamaru leaning over me with his hand out. A small smile appeared on my face for a brief second before I took his hand into mine and stood up. He patted my shoulder in a friendly gesture, "I'll go to the classroom first."

I didn't bother opening my mouth to question as Shikamaru tuned me around by my shoulders to face the school before heading towards it himself. In the distance, I could see a mop of bright blond hair standing by the door staring right at me. Strolling towards him casually was a hard thing to do considering I wanted to run to him.

My face obviously betrayed my cool façade because a grin broke out on Naruto's face as I came closer. He took my hand in his and held it gently, I watched as he intertwined our fingers as if it was the most normal thing to do. I still couldn't believe we were together, together sometimes.

"You ready?" He eventually began tugging me through the door after the majority of the crowed walked by us.

Tightening my fingers around his I bent my head down and watched the floor instead of the world that wouldn't fucking slow down, "no I'm not, and it's such a useless thing to be nervous or upset about. Shikamaru told me that there was nothing wrong with it but I just feel so stupid sometimes." The words came out as a harsh whisper, I didn't want anyone to hear the words, not even myself. I didn't like feeling so weak.

We were outside the classroom when Naruto pulled me aside. I was going to be the last one in there but all my worries flew from my head when he grabbed my shirt and kissed me passionately.

"You'll be fine, I promise. No matter what happens, we'll get over it, together. High school isn't forever Sasuke." He reassured me as he turned me around by my shoulders just like Nara did and hugged me. It was unexpected but welcomed.

I was sent into the classroom with a soft shove on my back and a kick to the butt. I scowled at the entire class and nodded at Iruka before moving to take my saved seat at the back next to Shikamaru.

"So guys, today we're going to be starting a project." Iruka looked over to me and raised his eyebrows. Despite all the confidence I was getting from Naruto and Shikamaru, I just couldn't bring myself to nod so just shrugged instead.

My head fell to my desk as my eyes closed, I let Iruka's words just wash over me. Why listen when I knew what he's going to say? I still didn't understand why I cared so much about this or why it seemed to be affecting me so much. Like Naruto said, high school doesn't last forever and it wasn't like me to care so much about what was happening in the world around me.

Yeah, they had changed me, I told them they did. But maybe I changed myself too. Maybe, I had realised how miserable I actually was; despite all the sneers and deliberately pushing people away, I actually wanted at least one person to want me. But now I had two, so why was I so desperate to have more?

"There needs to be a minimum of 4 people in your group, maximum of 6 and you all have to do some work! No pushing your work onto others because we'll have a presentation at the end and I can tell when you haven't pulled your own weight." I tilted my head to look towards him Iruka was coming to the end of his explanation.

"I've decided to be nice this time and let you choose your groups but no leaving others out, everyone needs to be in a group." Iruka gave me another pointed look and I met his gaze blankly.

Ah that's right, I would've joined a group anyways, it was compulsory. Then why did Iruka feel the need to tell me about it before hand? Because he knew what kind of person you were and how fussy you would be about who you were grouped with.

I glanced up to the front of the classroom where Gaara, Hinata and Shino sat not even sparing me a glance throughout the speech. There was no need to use them like I did; I would've gotten a grade anyways. I felt my heart clench at the thought of them hating me even more, I didn't use them to get the grade but for my own sick pleasure.

But it wasn't like that… was it?

Iruka clapped his hands together happily as he finished giving the instructions, "ok, I'm going to give you 5 minutes and I want you all to have been separated into groups and have a project idea by then."

Immediately the class broke into noise as people talked and moved around. My eyes were focused on the three at the front who made barely any movements as they shuffled their desks closer to each other and bent their heads together to talk. All without glancing back at me.

They snickered together, wrote notes down, shared a textbook, without once, looking at me. I clenched my teeth to keep the scream of pure frustration at bay. I dropped my head back down onto my arms as Shikamaru placed a comforting hand on my shoulder despite Ino's annoying calls for him to join their group. He didn't leave me though, which was a reassuring thought.

I felt an odd prickling in my eyes as I snuck another glance in their direction. They didn't forgive me; they didn't want anything to do with me. I had committed a sin in their eyes and honestly, was it that big of a deal? Why did they care so much? Why did they care about me so much?

I let out a frustrated huff through my nose. That's all I felt, frustration, no anger, some sadness but mostly frustration. Why couldn't they understand what they were doing to me? Could they not see?

I closed my eyes as they began to sting. Ah I see. I was so nervous and upset and frustrated because I cared too much to let them go. I thought it was just Naruto but, all of them had gained my love. It hurt to lose that but it hurt even more to realise why I was hurting.

Shikamaru's hand rubbed at my shoulder soothingly, "are you ok?"

I didn't have the strength to lift my face from between my arms but I still glared at him, "why on earth would I be ok?"

"Because there are only 3 of them." He spoke as if it was the most obvious thing in the world but I had no idea what he was talking about.

Before I could open my mouth to question him, Iruka finally spoke up. "Your 5 minutes are up! Why are Sasuke and Shikamaru not in groups yet?"

I looked up slowly as to not let tears fall and opened my mouth to answer but no words could come out, what could I say? Despite his early warning, all his effort, I had still failed him.

"They're just too lazy to come over here Sensei. You know Sasuke, thinks the whole world revolves around him." My jaw fell in shock as Shino spoke up for me.

I didn't register Iruka's grateful smile or any of his following words as Shikamaru grabbed me by the arm, dragged me towards the front of the classroom and sat me down on a chair that Gaara had pulled out for me.

"I-I thou-" My words refused to come out as my heart rate finally began to calm.

"Shut your mouth Uchiha, we were just messing with you a bit, of course we forgive you." Gaara spoke up and surprisingly shot me a smile which looked more like a grimace.

My mouth still hung wide and wet spots began appearing on my cheeks, was it raining? Hinata was the first to speak despite her shock ridden expression, "are you… crying?"

Rubbing at my face furiously I fought back an embarrassed blush, "no."

There was a moment of silence before the three of them broke into their own different little laughs, "always the dramatic I see, Uchiha." Gaara commented with a smirk.

"Glad to have you back Sasuke." Shino looked over and ruffled my hair softly and I couldn't help smile back despite the tears still running down my cheeks.

"I told you," Shikamaru whispered into my ear as the others got back into the work, "there were only 3 of them, and Iruka said minimum of 4, how could you even doubt that they wouldn't forgive you." He shook his head in disappointment at my apparent stupidity and I couldn't help but laugh, louder than I ever had before. Even with the looks I was getting, I didn't care. I had my friends back and that's all I needed.

Review Replies:

Uzumaki Naho: I agree, 19 is such an odd number, i'll add one more. I'm so glad you feel so passionately about them, it means i didn't disappoint your expectations ;)

KAZ K: Thank you for being my 100th reviewer, you get 100 cookies! Not gonna lie, i'd be laughing too. It was very cheesy but i love it. XD

AN: Thank you guys so so much for reading, i hope you enjoyed the chapter, please fav, follow and review of you haven't already. If you've got anything to say to me that you haven't already that you want me to reply to, now's the time to do it until i start another story which should be soon. For those of you who are readers of my other discontinued works, i'm really sorry, i don't feel any motivation to finish any of them at this moment in time. Hopefully someday i do but it's not right now but i do hope you can support me and read the other stories i may upload in the close future. I'm really into one-shots right now so look out for those if you're interested.

Byeee xx