Temptation (NEW)

Chapter Fifteen

The following week was the same as the previous. I think I would have preferred the fighting if it meant that Sasuke would actually look at me. God, I missed him. His voice. His touch. His presence. He's just completely withdrawn from me and the world completely.

I don't have any time to sulk now, though. My apartment is busting at the seams with people. Shikamaru's girlfriend, Temari, came to town for the weekend. She brought along her two younger brothers, as well. They all go to a university a couple of hours away. We had all went to high school together, so I know them fairly well. Shikamaru and Temari are high school sweethearts. They started dating around his junior year and her senior year.

"Is this what it's going to be like when we are married?" Temari was walking around the apartment, picking up the remnants of trash we missed when we speed-cleaned a few hours before they arrived. "You are too lazy to ever pick up after yourself, Shikamaru."

"Obviously not," Shikamaru smirked, relaxing further into the couch. "I'll have you to give me hell all the time."

He yanked her into his lap, planting a kiss on her cheek. Somehow he could soften her abrasiveness within seconds. She just melted into him, forgetting that she was mad in the first place.

Watching their affection made me realize I did have time to sulk. It sent a shock of pain right into my heart. Obviously, Sasuke and I were never this affectionate, but I like to think we could have ended up that way. In a perfect world, at least.

"How'd you break your hand, Naruto?"

I turned away from the lovebirds and found Gaara, the youngest sibling of the bunch, looking at me from the recliner.

"I'm surprised you don't know," I half-laughed. "It's been the talk of the town."

"I barely keep up with anything that happens around here nowadays," he explained. "Did you get into a fight or something?"

"Yeah, with no one other than Sasuke." I imitated a punch with my hand through the air. "I broke it by punching him him the face."

"I could have guessed that was who it was with," he chuckled.

Unfortunately, every fight I've ever been in was with Sasuke. Since we went to high school together, the siblings all saw a bunch of those fights.

"It must have been one hell of a punch," he added with a slight grin. "I'm sure the asshole deserved it."

It's weird hearing that. If it had been a few months ago, I would have been agreeing. My friend group always shit-talked Sasuke and his crew. I used to hate him for what he had become over the years. Everyone could agree that he was a jerk. But now, I don't feel right joining in on the hate. My heart is in an entirely different place.

"Isn't there a football game tonight?" Kankuro, the other brother, spoke up at just the right time.

"Tch, don't make me go to one of those damn games," Shikamaru groaned.

"It could be fun, Shika," Temari beamed, batting her eyelashes at him. "Our school sucks so it'd be nice to see a winning team."

"Plus, we can get drunk," Kankuro added with a grin.

The mention of alcohol made my stomach churn. I haven't touched any since the fight. I think I've swore off alcohol forever. You won't catch me acting like a fool again. For now, at least.

"You cool with it, Naruto?" Shikamaru was looking at me with a hint of concern in his eye. He knows how sulky I've been this past week.

"Yeah, I can call up Choji and he can join us," I answered with a smile.