Chapter 5

THE BOYS

A pain. A huge throbbing pain that hurt his head all over. And nausea.

Shikamaru tried to sit up, but there was a weight on his chest. Blinking his eyes open, he saw a blonde head under his chin. He gasped sharply. Nervously, he put a hand on the head, patting it gently.

The head turned and a pair of blue eyes looked up at him. "G'morning," Naruto uttered, nuzzling into his chest.

Shikamaru felt like he was about to puke. He rolled Naruto off him before getting up.

On the other side of him, a huge snore erupted. Larger than life and heavier than a baby elephant, Choji laid next to him bundled in all the blankets. Shikamaru used both his hands and shoved him away. "You took all the blankets again, Choji."

To which Choji swung an arm back, knocking Shikamaru and Naruto off Naruto's bed double bed.

Shikamaru pushed himself off the floor and went to the bathroom, while Naruto grabbed a pile of books to use as a pillow.

As childhood best friends, Naruto, Choji and Shikamaru had gone through everything together. There were plenty of nights out which usually ended up with Shikamaru waking up cuddled in Naruto's arms as Choji hogged all the blankets.

As he showered, he tried to recall what happened. And from the way the contents of his stomach swirled, it must have been a doozy of a night.

Going in reverse, he recalled the rounds of barbecue and drinks they had after a game of basketball. Before that was the student council meeting and there were all those lectures with the troublesome teachers… he groaned remembering the amount of reading he had to do this week. And was there some kind of report he needed to write up over the weekend? Troublesome…

He exited the shower, and wiped the fog off the mirror. He took a good look at his reflection, counting the damage from last night. His long dark hair was limp, in need of a trim. The grey under his eyes clearly visible, making him look like a raccoon and - was that a bruise on his neck?!

He leaned over the sink to take a closer look. An oval reddish mark on the front of his neck, near his collar bone. He rubbed it to see if it would come off. It didn't. Instead, it was a little tender to the touch.

His eyes narrowed. "Naruto!" He stormed out of the bathroom in his towel.

Naruto was lying on the ground, curled up like some blonde tabby cat. Shikamaru nudged him with his foot.

"It's too early, Shikamaru…" Naruto groaned, turning over to his other side. Shikamaru felt his eyes twitch in annoyance and he unceremoniously kicked Naruto a little harder.

"Ow ow! What's your problem, ya know?!" Naruto shouted back. He got up and looked at Shikamaru, "Hey- you're going to get my floor wet! It's a hazard, someone might trip over, ya know!"

"What did you do?" Shikamaru exclaimed, pointing to the mark on his neck.

Naruto squinted, "Hey, whoa- I'm an affectionate guy, ya know but you're not really my type Shikamaru…"

"He's totally your type... long dark hair, pretty eyes... remind you of anyone?" Choji mumbled, with his eyes closed.

Naruto didn't say anything, tousling his hair as his cheeks turned pink.

Shikamaru felt his eye twitch again. He put a hand over his forehead, feeling his head throb from dehydration - and the overwhelming stupidity in the room.

"Oh his eye is starting to do that thing," Naruto said to Choji.

"Come back to bed, Shikamaru. You can be little spoon if you want," Choji said, pulling back the blankets to invite Shikamaru to bed.

Naruto got up with a yawn, stretching his arms over his head and patted Shikamaru on the shoulder. "Alright, i'mma get in there before Choji ruins my plumbing again." Then he rushed to the bathroom.

Annoyed at how they were just overlooking his mini-panic attack, Shikamaru went to get his clothes out of his gym bag. Rummaging through his basketball gear, he put on yesterday's outfit - a pair of jeans and shirt but couldn't find his sweater. His favourite soft grey cashmere sweater. He grunted, trying to remember if he left it at the gym after their basketball game. It wasn't in his nature to misplace things... but it was in his friends' nature to take his stuff. "Which one of you took my hoodie?" He called out.

"Wasn't me!" Naruto shouted through the bathroom doors.

Shikamaru turned to Chouji.

"I can't fit your baby clothes, man," Choji said plainly, deciding it was now time to get out of bed. The bed groaned as he moved.

"I swear if i find it crumpled on the floor..." Shikamaru grumbled.

"Maybe you should ask your girlfriend," Choji said sneakily, .

Ooohh!" Naruto cheered from behind the shut bathroom doors.

Shikamaru's heart jumped along with his stomach. Scowling, he asked, "What are you talking about?"

"I told you your tiny body couldn't handle all that beer," Chouji told him, shaking his head. He was now in Naruto's ramen stash, deciding if he should take two or just one instant ramen cup.

Naruto continued to shout through the bathroom, "That new class schedule you have must have tired you out." The toilet flushed and Naruto walked out, noticing the dumbfounded look on Shikamaru's face. "So you were wasted wasted, last night, huh?"

Shikamaru looked at both of them, feeling like he was trying to drive in the midst of a fog and all he had were two stupid headlights that didn't want to work.

Changing their expressions, the two other boys pulled their faces into a frown and furrowed their brows. Clearing his throat, Chouji went first with his best Shikamaru imitation, "These hardass teachers give too much reading for the first week of term."

Naruto took his turn, "I should get a break for staying awake through the entire lecture."

"That troublesome woman had no problem though, making it look easy," Choji added.

"Can you believe she runs before the sun rises? Everyday!" Naruto exclaimed, shaking his head.

"And she's so mean to me. I pretend to hate it but it's really hot," Choji said, taking a big slurp from his ramen cup. "She doesn't remind me of my mom at all."

"It's okay cause she's got the blondest hair and the prettiest green eyes," Naruto jokingly clasped his hands together.

"I want to kiss her all day."

"Oh Shikamaru…" This time, Naruto made his voice higher.

"Oh troublesome mean lady. I want you to have my super smart genius babies," exclaimed Choji.

And the two boys pursed their lips at each other, making smooching noises at each other.

As the two boys burst out in laughter, Shikamaru just stood there, thinking that if he killed them both right now, the biggest issue would be where to hide Choji's body.

He did remember vaguely the fluorescent lights of the campus convenience store, holding a chilled can to the nape of her neck… then there was kissing… and then he remembered falling onto the floor outside Naruto's dorm door.

Shikamaru felt a boulder of shame fall upon him. If he could dig a hole and bury himself, he would. Or maybe he'd just ask Choji to slap him. The last time Choji slapped him, they were kids and Shikamaru was knocked out on his back for a full minute. Or maybe Naruto could kick him in the head.

"Oh he's got that look on his face again - the one when he's contemplating death," Choji whispered to Naruto, drinking the soup of the ramen cup.

"Aw cheer up, Shikamaru. I think she likes you back," Naruto told him, sniffing the shirt he was about to put on, then discarding it aside. "She did escort you back here." He started on his own ramen cup breakfast.

Choji slurped the last of his instant ramen cup. "Pretty chivalrous of her," Choji added, nodding his head in approval. He reached over to take Naruto's breakfast.

"I will kill both of you and then myself, I swear."

"There's nothing a big hearty breakfast can't solve," Chouji said, licking his lips as she peeled open Naruto's ramen cup. "Where shall we eat after this?" Naruto voiced his protest, "Hey! No! Bad Choji" He was now climbing onto Choji to take it back but Chouji held him back with one arm.

Then there was a knock at the door.