Paranoia || Naruto Uzumaki ||

Paranoia || Naruto Uzumaki || Chapter 14

Hello all my lovely readers! I have returned from writers block canyon and have a much needed update for you all.

I'm posting from my phone because I was so excited for this chapter to be done.

I cannot begin to explain how amazing all your comments and votes have been. Thank you so much for your patience and for reading Paranoia!

Enjoy!
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Kabuto drummed his fingers on his desk as he stared at the red circle drawn on his calendar. January 1st had come and passed. He hadn't seen Melanie since before Christmas, much to his displeasure. After Naruto had found the cameras, Kabuto had gone above and beyond to make his affection known. He would leave flowers on Melanie's doorstep, little gifts at Space Jam for her, he even wrote poetry.

None of it worked.

Naruto must have shown Melanie the footage, that much was obvious. Kabuto had watched day after day as a paranoid Melanie started to lose it. First, it was the eyes darting everywhere. Then it was any sudden movement or noise causing her to freak. The worst was when she started accusing customers of watching her every movement.

Kabuto sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. He should have been farther along in his plan by now. He knew losing the cameras was going to set him back a few steps but he never assumed something so trivial could cause such panic. Kabuto didn't understand why she was so freaked out. She should be honored. The footage of her was art. It was the only thing that had gotten him through these past weeks.

He wasn't so much surprised as he was annoyed when he showed up to Space Jam one day only to find out that Melanie had left for vacation with her parents and worst of all, Naruto. They missed the dinner Kabuto had thrown just for Melanie. She had been courteous enough to call and say they couldn't make it but wouldn't give him a clear reason why.

No matter how much he interrogated Sakura, the cotton-candy haired girl wouldn't give up anything. Undeterred, he had hacked into Melanie's parent's bank statements. They had gone up north for a white Christmas and if the itinerary was correct, they would be back late tonight.

Kabuto woke up his computer, signing into Kohona's main social networking site. He detested the website. It was poorly designed and unkempt but he couldn't deny that it served its purpose. A quick search had him on Melanie's home page. His eyes eagerly drank in the pictures she had posted since he last checked. They were almost perfect, if he could block out Naruto.

"Kabuto?" Kabuto gently shut his laptop swiveling in his chair. Caroline had woken up and was watching him.

"I didn't mean to wake you."

"Why don't you come back to bed?" She let the covers fall from her body, trying to entice him.

Kabuto gazed at Caroline feeling no desire to do so. It had been a mistake, inviting her over night after night. She had grown even more attached and had taken his insatiable desire as something to do with her. If she knew how close he came to muttering Melanie's name each and every time, he doubted she would feel the same.

Kabuto stood, grabbing his jacket from the back of his chair. "You can let yourself out."
He ignored the look of hurt on Caroline's face as he walked out of his apartment. It was her fault for assuming she was more to him than a warm body. He had never felt a need to clarify their relationship.

It should be obvious.

His breath came out in little white puffs as he hastened up the street. He settled in his usual spot from across Melanie's house. A quick glance at his watch told him he was five minutes early. The time passed quickly. He watched eagerly as a car pulled up in Melanie's driveway and parked. The headlights flickered off as the doors of the car opened. The first sight of Melanie had Kabuto's body reacting in a way Caroline never could. She stepped out of the car rubbing her gloved hands up and down her arms for warmth.