Chapter Five

I was a little disappointed when Jiraiya told me we had no plans for Thanksgiving. He would be busy and had no money to send me to Konoha so I was stuck at home with no plans. Luckily, that morning, Sasuke blew up my phone until I answered to invite me over to his place. I was reluctant to go because of his dad, plus I had never met any of his family and didn't know how well I would handle it.

I arrived to their place after all the food had been served and I was glad to have missed any formalities. To my surprise, there were no people there that I didn't already know. Lee and a handful of neighbors were there and I was curious why these people weren't in their own homes.

Lee and I joined Sasuke in his room with our plates full. They played games while I sat on the bed eating. Everything felt so weird.

"Sasuke?"

"Hm?"

"How come no one is eating at the table?"

"Why would they?"

"Well, isn't this supposed to be a family thing?"

"My dad doesn't like doing that."

"Is that why your family isn't here?"

"I don't have family."

I was completely shocked. I looked over at Lee, who seemed to be ignoring our conversation, before asking more questions.

"None at all?"

"Some. But we don't talk to them."

"Why?"

He shrugged and I took that as a signal to stop questioning him. I ate in silence the rest of the time, my head filled with thoughts of what a strange Thanksgiving this was.

I was probably only there for about two and half hours before Sasuke's dad came in and told Lee and I to go home. He spared no niceties. I didn't even bother getting upset over it. I'd become used to the rude things his dad did, and I was just glad to have not spent the day alone and with lack of turkey.

When I got home, I called Sasuke and once I confirmed his privacy, I picked up our last conversation.

"So, what's the deal with your family? Are your parents divorced?"

"No. My mom died."

Crap.

"Sorry. We don't have to talk about this."

"No, it's fine. But no one really comes over anymore since then. I don't really want them to anyway."

"Why?"

"I don't like them."

"But it's family."

"So?"

Things got awkward, and I took it upon myself to change the direction of the conversation. As we talked, I couldn't help wondering about his mother. What was she like? Would she have also hated me the way his dad did?


School started up again and Sasuke and I took every chance we could to do it. Most of the time, he never got to finish since he would just keep going until I was satisfied. By then, I didn't want anymore and would have him stop. I never really paid it any mind since he never complained.

Sasuke was great in bed. I was always satisfied and tired to the point that I wanted nothing but to sleep afterwards. With how big he was, it never took long for me to tire out from him. I often found myself desperate to tell someone of how big Sasuke was and I couldn't believe how weird I was being. I knew no one cared about our sex life, why did I feel the need to talk about it?

Things seemed perfect with him. The only thing we ever argued about was his dad and that was easily forgotten once we kissed and made up. I found I couldn't go a minute without thinking of him and it was even harder to deal with being away from him. School became just the best excuse to see Sasuke rather than a place to learn. I was deliriously happy with him.

Whenever I couldn't talk to Sasuke, I'd try to talk to one of my friends about him. He was all I could think of. When I couldn't talk to anyone about him, I'd listen to old voicemails from him. If it was desperate, I didn't notice. All I knew was I was hopelessly in love with him and needed more and more of him.

Despite Sasuke and I spending most of our free time together, we had never actually been on a date. He didn't receive any sort of allowance from his dad and I never wanted to ask Jiraiya for money since he was doing me a favor in letting me live with him. I didn't even know if Jiraiya had any extra cash to give. So, it was with anticipation that I greeted my sixteenth birthday.

I didn't get to spend the day with Sasuke but he did call me in the afternoon to wish me a happy birthday. Jiraiya surprised me with a visit to any restaurant of my choice. We spent the remainder of the day with me trying to show him to play video games and just talking. All in all, it was a relaxing, chilled out day.

I spent the week following my birthday in search of a job. I took every bus route close to our apartment looking for anyplace convenient that might be hiring. I'd had zero luck, but almost exactly a week later while waiting for a bus home, I was shown some good luck. I'd been sitting on the stop bench, leaning against the back lazily and resting my feet from all my walking around. The stop was located between a McDonald's and Taco Bell. I figured it couldn't hurt to check out McDonald's since most teens' first jobs are usually fast food. As I walked closer to McDonald's, I noticed a sign on Taco Bell that said Now Hiring.

Although I would have preferred McDonald's, this place was actually looking so I walked in there instead. I asked a lady at the counter for an application, and to my surprise, she introduced herself as the manager and asked if I had time for an interview right then and there.

I couldn't believe it. This place was right inbetween Sasuke's place and Suna High. It was ridiculously convenient. She gave me the interview and hired me on the spot, informing me I just needed to come in a few days later for training in the appropriate attire. Afterwards, I trudged back to the stop and had trouble containing my excitement as I waited for the bus.


As soon as I got home, I called Sasuke then Jiraiya to tell them of my new job. Jiraiya was, oddly, seemingly proud while Sasuke seemed confused as to why I wanted a job. I didn't bother to explain anything to him and simply told him of how fun it would be to actually go out and buy my own things. He didn't argue against it but didn't really approve either. I didn't care either way.

There isn't much to say about my job. I was just cashier at a fast food joint. I worked after school until 10pm when the lobby closed but the drive thru remained open. It wasn't too many hours nor was it hard work at all. In some ways I felt relieved that I had something keeping me busy from thinking about Sasuke all day.

I started talking to my new friends a little more now that I had this job. I felt a little more free from Sasuke and allowed myself to interact more with other people. I hadn't realized how much I'd isolated myself.

I'd started spending more time with Shikamaru and Ino. The rest of the group seemed to not really care for me much and I didn't bother trying to force a friendship there. It also seemed to me like Shikamaru only hung out with them during lunch because Ino had a different lunch block and he was too lazy to find people he actually enjoyed being around. Shika had even began accompanying me to work after school sometimes whenever Sasuke had other things to attend to.

I began actually calling and returning Kiba's calls more often and even gathered the nerve to have conversations with Sakura at times. I'd even made my relationship with Kankuro in speech less awkward and made him see that no matter what strange thing he felt towards Sasuke, it wouldn't affect our friendship. I slowly began making changes to my life for the better and Sasuke didn't seem to mind at all. Everything was going smoothly. I had a super hot, amazing boyfriend, good friends, a great home life, and a job that didn't make me nuts. Unfortunately, these kinds of things never seem to last, as I would soon find out.


While at work, I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket and I responded by feigning interest in how clean the restrooms were. Once locked in the male room, I checked my phone to see a missed call from Sasuke's place. Pressing call back, I held the phone to my ear and waited.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Sasuke. You called?"

"Oh, yeah. Are you at work?"

"Mhm. I'm in the restroom."

"Oh. I'll call you later then."

"It's ok. I have some time now."

"No, it's fine. Bye."

I heard a click and that was it. He never said much on the phone but I couldn't help the strange feeling I was getting. I tried to ignore it as I left the restroom and went back to work. I couldn't decide whether I wanted my shift to end or not. Of course, I couldn't wait to go home and relax, but I really wanted to know what Sasuke had to tell me. At the same time, I was afraid. I couldn't shake this uneasy feeling I was having and I couldn't help thinking something awful was going to happen when I called him back. The rest of my shift was spent in inner agony and restlessness.

After my shift ended, I sat at the stop waiting for the last bus of the night so I could go home. It felt wrong, sitting there just waiting and so I stood and briskly made my way down the street to Sasuke's house. All the lights were off when I arrived and I decided against knocking on the door or calling, instead throwing pebbles at Sasuke's window until he showed himself. He opened the curtain with a confused look on his face and I signaled him to come outside then made my way to the front door.

He came outside and none too kindly asked what I was doing there, all the while blocking my path to the door. It hurt. He was being different, distant, and I knew what was going to happen.

"I just got out of work."

"Okay."

"What did you want to talk about?"

He looked at me with the coldest eyes I'd ever seen. My heart sank and I held my breath subconsciously.

"I think you know."

I shook my head rapidly as though denying it would make it less real.

"No, I don't."

"Yes, you do."

My breath came harshly and I fought desperately to hold back the tears welling up, blurring my vision.

"Why?"

I didn't dare move as he answered. All I wanted to hear was, "Sorry, I don't mean it." Instead he said, "I don't love you."

My tears fell rapidly and I felt my body begin to harden as though protecting itself from Sasuke's harmful words. My voice lowered to a whisper.

"Yes, you do."

He glared at me angrily in a way I'd never seen before.

"No, I don't. It's over."

I shook my head some more and searched my brain desperately for something I could say to turn everything back to normal. But I just couldn't believe it. Sasuke loved me. He loves me. Why would he say he doesn't? He's lying. He loves me. It's all lies.

I returned at angry look at him and began to shout.

"You do love me!"

He responded louder as though this were a competition. His loud voiced shook my insides but I tried my best to stand firm.

"No! You need to go home, now."

"Why are you lying? What's wrong, Sasuke?"

"Nothing's wrong. I just don't want to be with you anymore."

He turned away to walk back inside and instantly, I grabbed his arm and turned him back towards me. He eyes were red and he had a few tears dripping slowly down his cheeks. I knew it was a lie.

"You're crying. I knew you were lying."

"I'm crying because I'm so frustrated that you won't listen to me and just leave."

"Liar! You want me! You're happy with me! I've seen how miserable you are around everyone else, why are you doing this?"

"Go home, Naruto."

And he left. He went inside and left me to cry on his porch. I felt my body go back to normal and suddenly the weariness from standing at work and racing here caught up to me and I felt ridiculously tired and weak. I attempted to calm my breathing down to a normal rate and slowly walked towards my apartment while fumbling around my backpack for my phone.

I managed to suppress my tears while I called Jiraiya, wanting to avoid telling him about what had just happened. With the phone pressed to my ear, I waited for him to pick him. However, there was no answer even after I dialed him several more times. I tried not to pity myself as I decided I'd have to walk all the way back home just thinking about Sasuke and how he didn't care it was the middle of night and I was alone. He didn't care that I was already exhausted from work and now had to strain my body some more. Why did he stop caring? It couldn't be true. As I walked, my tears took over my face once more and I had to repeatedly wipe my face in order to safely walk beside the road.

I'd passed the school and I noticed there were several homeless people sort of hanging out and sleeping under a large tree. They all glued their eyes to me as I walked past them and the uneasy feeling I gathered from their stares almost scared me. I wanted to walk faster and leave them out of sight, but I was afraid of what they might do if I showed fear.

Soon enough, I'd reached my block and by then, the night air had dried up my tears enough so that I wouldn't look too terrible. I walked quickly to our complex and noticed a crowd of people gathered around our front door. Great. I put on the straightest face I could and proceeded to break through the group. No one stopped me and I reached the door which was unlocked. Jiraiya greeted me with a huge smile on the other side and I felt angry yet soothed by the sight of him.

"Hey! There you are, I called you when your shift was over but your phone was off. We're barbequing with the neighbors."

He walked towards the door with a tray full of plates and forks.

"Sounds cool. I'm just gonna go to bed."

He gave me a strange look. "What's your deal?" Did something happen?"

"Yeah. Sasuke..."

"Oh. There's chicken outside."

And we didn't say anything else. He knew what I meant and that I just needed to be alone. For that much I was grateful. I didn't stay up crying too long as the exhaustion from the break up and walking home after work caught up with me and I was soon passed out in bed.