We're A Wreck

15

Naruto sighed, relaxing into his bed. He's put in his two week noticed at his second workplace the moment he was settled in with Sasuke, so now he felt much more carefree and burdenless.

For the first time in a while, Naruto had a Saturday off.

It had been a couple of days since he had seen Sakura in the store, and since then he hasn't said a word to her. Not that he would know what to say. What type of conversation would he strike up?

And how did he bring up the fact he wished to bring back the old friendship they once had?

Groaning, Naruto slid off the side of his bed, landing in the floor, and sat up. What was he to do?

Sasuke appeared in his doorway, a laundry basket tucked beneath his left arm, resting on his hip. "Hey, you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm just....I want advice."

"Alright, come with."

Naruto stood and rushed to follow Sasuke into the latter's room. The curtains were open, revealing the bare walls and dark sheets. A bookshelf sat opposite if his bed, filled with varying genres.

Taking his usual seat on the bed, Naruto watched Sasuke set his clothing basket on his desk and begin taking clothes out, one by one, and folding them.

This was tradition. Whenever Sasuke needed something done and Naruto wanted company, the two sat like such, Sasuke working and Naruto ranting.

The newest rant began like so: "I want to be friends with Sakura again."

To this, Sasuke's head snapped around, his eyes wide. "What?"

Sighing, Naruto began to explain. "Listen, I know we broke up, but I don't want our relationship to just end there. I want a friendship with her. Like the one we used to have. Although, I do know it will never be the same, I'm hoping that old fondness will remain between us. I....I just want my friend back, okay?"

"That's understandable, in all honesty, and I see where you are coming from, but are you sure this is what you want?"

"Yes. But I don't know how to go about it."

Sasuke seemed to think for a moment, folding a pair of jeans. "Hm, well, you could initiate conversation about a common class you have as an opening into it. You can start waving or smiling or even nodding at her in the hallway, acknowledging her presence, and beging to open yourself up to the fact you don't need to flinch any time anyone says her name."

"Oh. That makes sense." Naruto pondered this, biting his bottom lip in thought. "Okay, so I need to reopen the line of communication first, then begin to open myself back up to her in a friendly way, right?"

"Precisely."

•••

As Naruto passed Sakura in the hallway on Monday, he nodded to her. She seemed surprised by this, but smiled and waved back.

When Naruto arrived to his first period, he immediately rushed to Sasuke.

"I did it."

"Huh?" Sasuke looked up from his phone and Naruto sat his stuff down next to Sasuke. Their desks where side-by-side. "What did you do?"

"I nodded at Sakura and she smiled and waved back!" Naruto was excited that his mission was accomplished.

Sasuke nodded. "Okay. That's good. Now, keep that up occasionally and allow her to get used to you greeting her whenever you're in the same vicinity."

"Got it!"

A few hours later, heading to lunch, Naruto saw Sakura and Ino walking together, arms swinging in sync.

He waved to them and they both waved back. Then, he went to the roof with Sasuke, where the two often sat during breaks.

The wind blew his hair, a gentle breeze pawing at his nose. Sasuke sat with his back to the railing, his eyes focused on the food in front of him. Naruto sat beside him, the cold tile beneath him an oddly comforting feeling. Familiarity was settling in and creating an easy environment for Naruto.

"So, how has your day been?" Naruto asked, leaning his head against Sasuke's shoulder. He wasn't sure why he did it, just that he was tired and wished to lean against the man.

Sasuke leaned back against him, sighing and putting down his chopsticks. "Okay, I guess. I had a test in physics today that sucked."

"Mmm...."

"How was yours?"

"Okay. I've been making progress in Algebra two. But it's boring."

Sasuke snorted. "At least you're beginning to get somewhere." He brushed his fingers along the holes I'm Naruto's jeans, right at his knee, then he began to fiddle with the strings.

"Yeah. True."

Naruto was content to stay where he was, pressed against his best friend, who smelt of coffee and chocolate, two lovely fragrances.

There was a sense of peace surrounding them, covering the land beneath their feet and clouding the sky with sunlight.

Smiling, Naruto felt more at home than he had in a long time.