A/N: I don't have a Beta but I try to minimize the mistakes. Thank you for reading. Review if you like. [Credits to original creator for cover image art.]

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or any relative characters. They're property of Masashi Kishimoto.

Warning: Slash. D-bag Sasuke. IDK. You no Like, You No Read!

Chapter 5~ Apastron.

Naruto pedalled fast, using more and more force until he realised he had passed his block street. He pressed hard on the brakes until his knuckles turned pale. He whispered comfort to his heart, alone on that deserted street. It was close to midnight by now and he looked at the palm of his hands in the light shed by a flickering lamppost above. Desperately trying to hold back the emotions threatening to overflow, he buried his face in his hands.

When the blond had consoled himself that wailing or whining over it won't make it any better he pedalled straight to home. When he got home, he walked with sluggish steps and sat softly on the sofa, his back still hurt a little. He sat there thinking what exactly was up with Sasuke. What he saw back then, it couldn't be…he was too afraid to admit it. Right then, all his anxieties were rearing their ugly heads and he didn't have the strength to send them back.

Naruto sat there with hunched shoulders, in his jacket. He knew he shouldn't jump to conclusions but he couldn't allow himself to be made fun of this way. He wasn't stupid. He finally got up and decided to take action. First, he went to the mirror in his washroom and looked at his reflection. Weary blue eyes constricted by his glasses stared back at him. He took off his glasses and placed them near the sink, carefully and shrugged off his jacket. He splashed cold water on his frowning face and licked his ruddy chapped lips. He tried to form a smile; it was something he did even in the hardest of times.

After a couple desperate tries Naruto ended up with a sneer and broke into a genuine chortle at the silly face he was making. He calmed down a few seconds later and stared back at his eyes that were swirling with mixed emotions. He brought one hand underneath the water flowing from the somewhat rusted tap and used the water cupped in his palm to swipe back his hair from his forehead. He hadn't had a haircut in months; his bangs overshadowed his eyes if his glasses did not.

He smiled again; his hand fell to his side. A few bangs escaped from his hair swipe and fell over his forehead. He looked back to the painful smile he was stretching on his lips and idly scratched the nape of his neck. A few droplets of water trickling on his face, he sighed. "Not gonna work, huh." He exhaled quietly and lifted his flimsy t shirt to reveal some tan skin marked by hickeys that Sasuke gave him. He pouted sideways and picked up his jacket ruffling his hair back to their usual unkempt.

That night, he slept restlessly. He kept tossing and turning and ended up sitting by his window to watch the night sky. He hated cold nights like these. Even blankets were no comfort.

…

On his way to school Monday morning, Naruto slung his bag across his shoulder and dialled Itachi's number. Once he had assured him that he was safe and apologized for his rude behaviour he felt much more at ease.

He walked down the familiar hallways of his school building. The noiseless chatter droning around him drowned out his solitary footsteps. Suddenly, he was tackled to near death, he raised his head laughing good naturedly and straightened his shoulders greeting Kiba. His heart was being wrenched every moment he didn't see Sasuke but he kept it on a leash. He couldn't let himself be led too far by his feelings.

Kiba was by his side talking animatedly about this girl he had taken a liking to and Naruto could tell he was totally crushing on her. He was glad and elbowed him to ask her name. "I don't know yet." Naruto was amazed; Kiba was being shy about something.

"Can't say I'm not disappointed Inzuka..." He drawled on with a mocking sneer. "Quit being a wuss and at least talk to her." Blue eyes stared at him pointedly and Kiba gulped, pumping one fist filled with enthusiasm. Naruto paused and focused on the faces in the crowds. He thought he saw raven hair. The blond tried going in that direction with Kiba following behind closely but the bell had rung announcing the first period and people were filling inside classes. They walked alongside to their class.

Shino joined them later in history and they were given detention because Kiba couldn't keep quiet about a lot of things. Naruto sighed, mentally checking a list of errands he had to run at home. His godfather, the perverted guardian was returning soon too.

It was weird; he couldn't bring himself to smile. Whether it was just sneaking glances at the Uchiha who was surely avoiding him. Every time he tried to confront him, he either lost him in the crowd or he magically disappeared somehow. By the end of the Tuesday, he was baffled. He had agreed against using his phone because he wanted to talk face-to-face. He felt pretty confident but whenever he got close to the Uchiha his knees started buckling.

…

It was after gym class and Naruto stood leaning against a cold wall. He was waiting for Sasuke to exit the locker room and confront him there and then. But, his throat felt parched and he pulled out a can of cold drink he had stashed there for later but it as he fished it out of his bag he dropped it and watched it roll out of his reach. When he followed it, it had stopped against someone's feet in purple flats. She was clad in a lavender summer dress that hugged her waist and flowed freely down to her knees. The girl bent down and picked up the can offering it to him with blinking pale eyes.

Naruto was momentarily entranced by how breathtakingly beautiful she was. Most of the girls at his school put on way too much make-up. But she was a natural beauty with her pale smooth skin and a tight-lipped smile. He looked down and saw her outstretched hands and broke out of his reverie. "Oh, right, thanks. Sorry." The blond took the can smiling in return and turned his head away.

"It's okay." Her voice was like a soft whisper to his straining ears and very delicate. Naruto whipped his head back up from where he was busy staring at his shoes. He registered her voice but his mind was taking time. Of course he had to be an idiot at such a time.

"Huh!?" Blue eyes stared wide eyed at pale ones and flush stained her cheeks.

She slightly leaned forward her hands clasped behind her back. "It's okay, Naruto." Her blunt bangs swished with the movement and a few locks came forward to frame her face as she stood straight.

"How do you know my name?" Naruto was confused but she smiled sheepishly. "I mean I don't know yours, it's only fair if you…"

He was wildly gesturing with his hands when she replied. "I'm Hinata. We have a couple of classes together."

"Oh, well." His scratched his temple nervously pressing the cold can to his cheek. "Nice to meet you. See you in class, cause, uh…" He was slowly retreating but Hinata kept on smiling and raised her hand to wave. He backed away with his footsteps until he had turned a corner and bumped into someone. "Ouch. Hey, Sorry." He rubbed his head and stared back at his friend's surprised stare.

"Naruto, what're you doing here? You don't take P.E., right?" Kiba then gasped in mock shock. "Don't tell me! You're planning to go for the try-outs?" Naruto was frozen in spot, he couldn't blurt that he was about to catch Sasuke. Kiba didn't even know how close they were. Actually, Kiba didn't know much about his relation with the Uchiha who felt so high out of reach for him each passing day. He could feel them drifting apart. Even if he casually replied to his texts, Sasuke didn't even invite him over anymore.

But pushing that aside, he was being crunched in Kiba's grasp and before Naruto could say anything despite his initial yelp of surprise, he was being dragged to the locker room. Naruto raised his eyebrows and steeled himself for any worst case scenarios. When he opened his scrunched eyes he was standing aside Kiba and he was talking to his coach who was a crazy built guy but he was wearing funny green clothing and he practically had what you would refer to as a bowl haircut. Jokes and fun aside, there was no way he was trying out for the soccer team.

"So what do you think, coach?" Kiba smirked and waggled his eyebrows at a fearful Naruto who was sweating buckets by now. The 6 foot guy took in his appearance. The blond was wearing his usual orange zipper hoodie and denims with white sneakers. He knew very well he wasn't exactly the athletic type, he preferred to stay indoors except for his routines. The coach gave him a once over and leaned dangerously close, his eyes as if staring into Naruto's soul. "Hmm…" Naruto held on to dear life and leaned back slightly, looking sideways.

The Coach inhaled deeply and his voice boomed in his ears. "It's the springtime of Youth! Every day!" Naruto stood rooted to his spot and watched Kiba keel over in laughter and shot him an evil look. "You can join in a month, but you can practice with us anytime. As long as you're willing, we'll welcome the fire of youth with open arms." He gave him thumbs up and flashed a thousand watt smile. Naruto smiled back uncertainly, his glasses saving him from the blinding light. The coach heavily patted his back and pushed him stumbling towards Kiba who was still bent over laughing.

Naruto watched the coach go about the locker room giving a few guys personal pep talk. He didn't seem all that bad. He punched Kiba playfully and told him to get his bag so they could leave. He looked around briefly searching fearfully for a raven-haired Uchiha. He found none. 'Did he leave early?' Never mind that, he had more issues to deal with now. As they both marched to the exit, the blond could feel the judging stares he received from the people inside the locker room. He could tell, fixing his glasses upright that they thought he didn't fit in. He couldn't agree more with them.

Walking down the hallway, they never noticed a girl with pale eyes watching them leave.

Naruto went home and checked his emails to find he had received one from his Godfather who was still touring after his book release. He smiled affectionately at the screen and typed a reply. He'd be coming a bit later than expected. And that was something to be expected. He checked his phone from the table, a frown marring his face. There were still no replies from Sasuke. He was too busy to hang out that's what he perceived from his previous texts. He slept that night with knots in his stomach.

…

It was another school day, another boring week. Another day of miserable suffering until he got home or eventually the weekend arrived. He was thankful for the days Kiba crashed at his home and they would play games or just plain hang out.

Meanwhile, in school, he was simply pretending. He was pretending he didn't notice Sasuke. When he passed him by, when he was standing by the locker. When she would lean over him and whisper things close to his ear. Sasuke would smack her inappropriate hands away that weaved gestures unknowingly offending Naruto's feeble heart. He was hurting. He wanted to talk to Sasuke but why he wasn't giving him a chance, it was beyond his understanding. He had half a mind to just pull him by his shoulders in the hallway and scream out all he wanted to but he couldn't pluck up the courage to do so.

He watched them silently over Kiba's back as he stood jabbering about planning practice routines to get him pumped for the try outs. Naruto wasn't the least bit interested. He was fixated on her hand that slid down his arm, even in the crowded hallway; he couldn't look away. She was leaning close to his ear and her gaze shifted sideways. Naruto quickly turned away, avoiding her sudden gaze. 'Did she notice?'

School went by, like usual. It was Thursday and he was feeling remorse because of his lack of courage. On solitary nights he lied awake gathering his courage and thinking of scenarios where it would've gone better. Distraction hardly worked anymore, not even ramen would get his mind off Sasuke. Naruto was lying on his bed, with his arm over his closed eyes trying to block out the outside world.

The blond was thinking it had been enough already. It was wrong of Sasuke to leave him hanging. He wanted answers as much as he still wanted his company. Thinking so, he sat up in his bed, deciding to call him now. It was still early in the evening. Whether it had been a week or a couple of days, he was stuck in a cycle he wanted to break out of. He would drag him by his collar if he had to. Normally, he would've called Itachi but he was out of town for a while and there was no way he was going to see Sasuke alone. He was too afraid he'd see worse things. Things he wouldn't be able to get over.

It was too frightening to imagine. He sat up and put on his glasses from his nightstand and putting his arms through his sweatshirt, he pulled it over his head. He forgot that to put on his glasses after and as always they got tangled and ended up on the floor. Cursing his bad habits, he picked them up, checking for scratches and walked barefoot in his boxers to reach for the kitchen phone. He glanced once at the clock as the call rang. It was time.

Naruto twirled the cord of the receiver nervously and dropped it altogether when a familiar baritone voice spoke. "Naruto?"

Well, that was obvious. He didn't always use the landline to make calls. "Sasuke? Can you come over? Now?" There was clear hesitance in his voice. Something even the Uchiha sensed.

"Uh…yeah." There was a short pause. "Okay, I'll be there in 10." Sasuke ended the call, thanking the gods for a chance and hoping he wouldn't screw this one up. He had to break up with Naruto.

A/N: Apastron - The point of greatest separation of two stars, such as in a binary star system. Until the Next one. Stay Curious folks.