Zero Hour!

(A:N) Aren’t you happy that I updated two chapters tonight?!
No talking! Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I so keep forgetting these…i don’t own anything.
Heads up: This is the same day as the whole cafeteria kissing thing. I just did some back tracking.


Chapter VI
Side Story: Gather Your Bats

At least a hundred students were standing in the hallways, all gathered around the gym. All of them were male, all of them were hyper, and all of them were staring at something. The majority of them were talking, while the less social half were closed mouthed, and waiting. They all looked impatient, some tapping their feet on the floor, some groaning, and the rest yawning.

They had been standing around for a good ten minutes by the time a tall man came out of the gym room they were all standing in front of. Every boy no matter how macho or whatever, went starry eyed. The man ignored them and tacked a piece of paper on the wall before he went back in the door, not even saying a word.

The boys pushed each other to get to the paper and see if they’re names were on the list. Ahead of everyone in the crowd was Naruto who snatched the paper off the wall and held up his hands.

“Hold up!” He shouted to get everyone’s attention. “Nobody is going to see anything if everyone has black eyes!” He cleared his throat. “Now-“ He looked down at the paper in his hands. “-everyone knows there are only ten spots on the varsity team and there are 15 on junior varsity. There’s a good bunch of us here, so to make this easy-“ He took a deep breath and smiled. “-I’ll just call off the names of the people who were on last years JV and made it to varsity. Then the rest of you guys who are just trying to make the team for the first time can pummel each other.”

And so he did, sending a whole hell of a lot of people away either mad or disappointed. Once Naruto was done he tacked the paper back on the wall and headed off, leaving the rest kids to fight for it. He didn’t care, he had other things to worry about.

“Oh! Oh! Oh! Who’s the man? Who’s the man? Uzumaki’s the man!” He chanted a little song as he walked towards the main hall and heading for his third period class. It was no surprise that people were watching him, but he didn’t care. He was in an extremely good mood and everyone needed to know. No one was going to break his spirits today! No one but-

“So they let your sorry ass on the team I see.”

Naruto stopped dead in his tracks and almost fell forward on his face, instead stumbling into the lockers. He looked behind him to see Sasuke with his head ducked in his locker. Naruto scratched his head. How in the world had he walked right by the Uchiha without even knowing?

“Who’re you callin’ sorry Uchiha? There’s no news of you making varsity for your team.” Naruto teased. Sasuke pulled his head out of his locker and tossed a few books in his bag. His shut the metal door and threw his backpack on. He shrugged and leaned against the cold steel.

“I’ve been on varsity since the summer. I didn’t have to try out, I just got promoted.” He said with his eyes on his shoes. He could almost feel Naruto getting upset and that had been his aim. However, Naruto calmed down.

“I’m going to ignore that because of my super killer good mood.” He grinned. “Anyway, if you and your ‘boyfriend’ aren’t doing anything Sunday then I kinda need you to accompany me to the big pointless dinner they have for the team every year.” Naruto gulped. That hadn’t been what he wanted to ask. He’d only needed a ride home. ‘Where the hell did that come from?’ He thought and scratched his head.

“Isn’t Iruka supposed to go with you?” Sasuke asked. “I don’t see why I would need to go.” He got off the locker and started walking down the hall.

“Well yeah he’s going but I swear it’s not fun with him crying every time I get an award or something. It’s more for moral support, Sasuke.” The blond walked next to him, he thought it was for moral support at least. It wasn’t like he could make a move on Sasuke with the redhead trying to get his revenge.

“No.” Sasuke said. “I’ve got plans, Naruto. Ask Gaara to go with you. He supports you more than I do.” His eyes remained straight ahead but he could hear the other boy beginning to whine. He knew what was coming now, the begging.

“Come on! Gaara? Go to a dinner and wear formal clothes?! Are you kidding me? He doesn’t even like putting on a shirt, let alone some slacks and a tie. He’ll never go. Besides, I’m asking you, not him. So please just go. Don’t make me beg!” Naruto dropped to his knees and starting pulling on Sasuke’s pants legs.

“You’re not helping the plan by hanging on my like that.” Sasuke kicked Naruto off him and the boy stood up. “I can’t go Naruto.” He turned the corner and grabbed the doorknob to his class. “Do you need a ride home?” He asked as he pulled the door open. Naruto nodded and stared, hoping Sasuke would change his mind. The Uchiha smirked and disappeared into the class without another word.

“Thanks for saying you’ll go.” Naruto said out loud after the door was closed. He hadn’t thought Sasuke was going to turn him down. He sighed and kept going down the hall, no good mood left to share.

-----

“Where’s Gaara?” Naruto chirped as he jumped in Sasuke’s car and closed the door. Without looking over at him the brunette started the engine.

“He has some things to take care of I guess. Neji didn’t handle the make-out session in fifth period very well. Apparently Gaara’s gone following him again.” They pulled out of the parking lot as Naruto began laughing.

“Man, that kid’s got it bad. He’s like a stalker or something. Someone needs to sit him down and tell him that’s entirely not cool.” He kept laughing but Sasuke stayed silent. “What’s got you in such a bad mood?” Naruto asked when he noticed Sasuke was more quiet than usual.

“…” Sasuke turned his eyes to Naruto for a slip second then looked back at the road. Naruto opened his mouth to say something, until he realized he didn’t have anything to say. He slouched back in the seat and leaned his head against the window.

“You took that kiss pretty well.” Sasuke finally said after they’d driven for ten minutes in pure silence.

“Huh?” Naruto shook his head, he’d nearly dozed of from the lack of speaking going on between them. He looked at Sasuke, “What’d you say?” He asked and rubbed his eyes a little.

“The kiss I gave Gaara at lunch. You took it pretty well.” Sasuke said again, still not looking at Naruto. The other was surprised that Sasuke was even going to mention it. It was obvious the boy was uncomfortable.

“Oh…that. It’s no big deal.” Naruto said leaning back down. “Looked real enough.” He added, a little aggravation in his voice. They both stopped talking after that. Naruto’s house wasn’t far off so they just remained quiet.

When they got to their destination Naruto got out quickly. The awkwardness between them was eating at him. Sasuke opened his door and stood up. Naruto looked at him liked he’d lost his mind.

“Mind if I stay for awhile? Doesn’t make since for me to go all the way home and then have to come back to pick up Gaara.” He leaned over the door and watched Naruto’s face go through about a dozen different expressions.

“Sure.” The blond finally said, walking to the door of the house. Sasuke followed after him and stopped behind Naruto as he fumbled with his things to find his keys. He dropped his gym bag and pulled his backpack to his chest so he could look inside. Sasuke didn’t say anything as he saw the key hanging from Naruto’s belt loop attached to a chain, he just reached for it without thinking.

Naruto saw his movements and didn’t know how to interpret them as he took a step back, tripping over his gym bag. Before he could fall anywhere Sasuke caught the front of his shirt and pulled him back. Still unexpected and clueless Naruto stumbled forward once he was pulled back and fell into Sasuke. The Uchiha over estimated his strength and was knocked back into the arch of the door. He was still holding onto Naruto’s shirt, as they remained dangerously close.

Neither of them even tried to move. Naruto was in shock at having not been pushed away yet and Sasuke was stunned with curiosity. His hands were starting to shake from the tight grip he had on Naruto’s shirt. He looked down and Naruto’s eyes followed his. They were so close that there was no space in between their hips. They were pushed up against each other.

Naruto raised his head slowly. He was blushing when he realized how close they were and it didn’t help that the boy in front of him was blushing just as much.

“Naruto.” Sasuke said quietly. The blond was still staring at him but he wasn’t really looking at Sasuke. He was in his own head arguing with himself to either kiss him or move the fuck of off him.

“Sasuke…?” Naruto spoke without even knowing it. He felt the hand on his shirt disappear slowly, it grabbed a hold of his face and squeezed his chin. Naruto was afraid now, he didn’t know what was going to happen next. His lips quivered and his body shook on the inside. He could feel the insides of his stomach playing tricks on him. He was hungry, he was sick, he was uneasy. His eyes unfocused and then focused so he could see black orbs in front of him clearly.

“Move.”

And then it all ended. Naruto closed his eyes and shook his head. ‘What?’ He looked at Sasuke again and this time he had a scowl on his face. It hadn’t been there two second before that, Naruto was sure. He just knew Sasuke was about to kiss him, and now he didn’t know what the hell was going on. He took a step back and moved away from Sasuke like he was told to.

“I was after your key-“ Sasuke pointed at Naruto’s waist. “-not you. The blond looked down and grabbed the key. He grinned and stuck the key in the door, so he wouldn’t have to look at Sasuke.

“Sure thing Mr. Straight.” Naruto laughed as he walked in the house, dragging his gym bag behind him. Sasuke shook his head and walked in after him, closing the door and locking it.

-----

Sasuke looked at his watch when he heard the latch to the door open. He ran a hand through his hair and looked around. He was laying against his arm on the couch in Naruto’s living room. No one was in sight but the door jiggled next to him. He watched as Iruka busted in the door with a billion things in his hands. The man didn’t seem to notice him as he walked into the kitchen and dropped his papers off on the table. Today the man had his hair down-which was rare-unless he’d taken it a-loose in the car. He was wearing a thin navy blue sweater and some black slacks.

Turning around to pull off his sweater, Iruka finally saw the boy sitting on the couch, currently flipping through the channels on the television. Sasuke must have startled him because the man squealed and grabbed his chest like he was trying to prevent a heart attack.

“Would it have killed you to say hello when I came in?” Iruka pulled a rubber band from his wrist an tied his hair up again. Sasuke looked over at him and then back at the television. For Iruka to have adopted Naruto, they sure acted a like.

“Hi.” Sasuke said, not looking over at the man. He’d always thought that Iruka didn’t really like him very much, despite what Naruto told him.

“Well it’s a little late for that.” The man looked around. “Where’s Naruto?” He put a hand on his forehead. For the first time Sasuke noticed the sound of running water. He was going to assume Naruto was in the shower. He looked at his watch again. It was passed 6:30 and there was no sign of Gaara. Sasuke was tired, he’d fallen asleep already.

He watched a whole episode of Everybody’s Love Raymond before Naruto finally sauntered back in the living room. Iruka was following him trying to apologize for something. Naruto just plugged his ears and entered the kitchen. Sasuke tried to ignore the conversation but he couldn’t help over hearing.

“Look, I’m sorry I can’t make it. I have a big conference that night and I simply can’t get out of it.” Iruka sounded a little upset.

“This is like really big for me. I’ve wanted to make varsity since I got to the stupid school. I finally make it and I’m getting recognized and look who can’t go! My own family! Why don’t you just shoot me in the chest?”

Sasuke heard the refrigerator slam and then he saw Naruto come back into the living room where he decided he would sit on the couch right next to Sasuke an involve him in the argument.

“First I ask Sasuke to go and he says no and now you’re not going either. Do I have to freaking go alone?!” Naruto opened a can of soda in his hand and drank half of its contents.

“Naruto I’m sorry but work has to come first. What do you want me to do about that?” Iruka stood in front of the television, blocking Sasuke’s view of an episode of Friends.

“Nothing.” Naruto said, slouching in the seat and pulling a SlimJim out of his pocket. Iruka sighed and started walking out of the room.

“We’ll talk about this when your company leaves.” He said, disappearing down the hall.

“We’re done talking about it. And Sasuke’s not company! He-“ Naruto just stopped talking. He was feeling depressed now. Today was supposed to be one of the happiest days he was ever going to have and it had turned out to be a loss in two, no, three ways. And just to make things a little worse, he felt the couch rise on the other side of him as Sasuke stood up. Naruto turned the saddest eyes he could conjure up towards Sasuke.

“You’re gonna leave me alone too huh?” Naruto sipped his soda but Sasuke ignored him and walked to the door. “Fine.” Naruto looked at the wall in front of him as he felt like tears would start coming.

“I’ll go to the dinner with you, Naruto.”

The blond was sure he was hearing things again. He wanted to make sure but when he turned around, Sasuke was just closing the door behind him. Naruto started to get up to go after him but he didn’t want to upset the Uchiha so he stayed where he was.

‘He’s goin with me? He must feel bad that I have to go alone.’ Naruto chuckled. ‘So Sasuke does have a heart somewhere in that black hole.” He nodded to himself. ’Good…’

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((End Chapter)) If you thought it was short or unfinished or rushed. TOO BAD! I worked my poor little brain to death. Another thing…Side Stories are purposefully to explain things that would not actually be important for me to mention in the actual chapter…for example why the hell would I spend time writing about Neji’s dream? It wouldn’t fit in the story anywhere or in any chapter really. Sorry had to make it short. I love this side story…YAY!!!! Sasuke/Naruto….i leave you guys hanging so much. I do a side story ever two chapters so chapter 9 will be a side story too and it will be the continuation to where this one ended….with the dinner. Yup…you gotta wait that long…lol.

Courteous reviews people…don’t bash for the short length(Side Storeis don't run more than 10 pages on my word Document-i decided.)
-Nik