Chapter 3: Subtle Changes
I waved goodbye to Sara with Sean as we left H&M for the day and she continued on with two other ladies. Sean and myself went down the street towards the Subway on the corner and grabbed some subs. He always got roast beef while I got chicken salad. We sat at the window seat and ate our sandwiches while we talked about life, Sean was talking about his troubles with Nate who he was trying to ask out(Nate and Sean are gay by the way) and it all came down to Nate getting the guts to ask the boy out. I gave him his own advice and he rolled his eyes and said "I guess I should really take my own advice." He got up suddenly and with a brave smile said that he was going to do it. I congratulate him and then he rushed off, leaving me to feel bittersweet about still being single.
Night was beginning to fall over the city as I walked back to my apartment listening to Avril Lavinge and looking ahead thinking about things with Kiba. Kiba was perfect to me, he had brown hair and eyes that made me melt, he was sweet, goofy, smart and wise, not to mention cut. He was passionate about animals and biology which made his aptitude in the sciences practical, but above all he was compassionate. I sighed at the thought of how perfect he was, refusing to acknowledge that I was head over heels, and I rode the elevator up to my apartment. I fell into my bed like all life had left me and closed my eyes, I was just tired of this infatuation with Kiba, I really wish that I could just get real and accept we will never be together.
I was sitting on the couch with a bowl of popcorn in my lap, Kurama next to me and the film Eat, Pray, Love going. I loved this movie and how smart the messages were, it made me feel very at peace and powerful when watching it. Who else to disturb that peace with a text than Kiba, who texted me:
K: Hey, Naruto! What's up?
N: Watching a movie, you?
K: Not much, you seemed a bit off at H&M today, is something the matter?
I laughed internally that he asked that since he was the matter and responded:
N: Nothing, I was just tired, thanks for asking tho. Ttyl.
And with this I put my phone on airplane mode so he could not bother me, I was done with him for the day.
I awoke to Complicated by Avril playing on my phone as an alarm, I quietly stretched and looked at the sunbeams streaming into my room. I got showered and then dressed in black jeans, black boots with studs, a purple/blue jean vest with a hood over a black long sleeve shirt. I grabbed my back pack and stuffed my Macbook air, a snack, my water bottle, and my Nintendo DS into my bag. I crouched doen to Kurama and patted him before I left for the day. I plugged into my phone and set it on shuffle, starting my day with The Dog Days Are Over and a smile. I got down to the front door and was blinded by the brilliance of the sun pouring down the street on this crisp winter morning. I put my sunglasses on and walked to the substation and rode to school in the farthest and least populated section of the train. I walked down the side walk to school and went in, making my way to the library where I could be left in peace until my first class. I sat in my favorite corner of the library alone, enjoying the quiet peace. To be honest I loved the solitude, it was simpler and didn't provide any complications.
He was awakened from his trance in the novel Wuthering Heights by a tapping on the table in front of his book by a tan hand that he unfortunately recognized. He was greeted with a heartbreakingly sweet smile from his clueless best friend and responded with a weak and fake attempt of a "Good Morning." to Kiba. Kiba rolled his eyes as he sat down across from his friend and inquired "What's up with you lately, you seem a bit more stressed than usual." Naruto looked at him for a fleeting moment of honesty then put on a face of unawareness towards Kiba's claims. He said "I'm fine Kiba, really. What made you think I wasn't?" lying through his teeth while smiling at Kiba. The response was "You seem distant and I can't help but notice that you have been looking very glum, and sighing a lot." he said with a look of concern. Naruto simply said "I am fine, but I am glad you were so concerned. It is very kind of you," Kiba seemed a bit irritated with this statement rebutting with "Well did you expect me not to? I'm your best friend for Pete's sake." And with that Kiba got up and left, leaving Naruto stunned in Kiba's sudden interest in his wellbeing and the drama of it all. He huffed and then simply continued to read, not willing to respond to Kiba's long late concern for him.