Paranoia || Naruto Uzumaki ||

Paranoia || Naruto Uzumaki || Chapter 18

I'm posting this from my phone because I'm so excited to get this chapter out. I'm excited to see what you think!

Comment, vote, enjoy ~
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Melanie laid on her stomach next to Sakura. Her eyes trained on the laptop screen in front of them. They were watching one of Sakura's favorite anime's. The name of it Melanie had forgotten and honestly she couldn't pronounce it but she was hooked. Even as she tried to keep up with the subtitles on the bottom of the screen the storyline captivated her.

Melanie let out a sigh as the episode came to an end. Sakura shut the screen, letting out a big yawn.

"Can't we watch another episode?" Melanie asked.

"It's already two in the morning." Sakura stood up, stretching her arms above her head.

"Who needs sleep? I need to know what happens! You left me at a cliff hanger!"

Sakura rolled her eyes. "Quit being dramatic."

Melanie rolled on her back. "Can I join an anime?"

Sakura crawled back on the bed. "As long as you join as the main girl."

"Of course. I'd be an awesome main girl with a hot male lead!"

Sakura snorted. "Don't let Naruto hear you say that."

Melanie's smile faded from her face and her heart sped up in fear. "Maybe I'd be the character who ends up with the villain."

Out of the corner of her eye Melanie could see Sakura giving her a concerned look. "Why do you think that?"

Melanie forced a laugh. "I'd be such a clueless protagonist. I'd probably trip into his arms or something."

Sakura laughed with her. "Way to be cliché."

Their conversation drifted off as the two girls got lost in thought. Melanie tried to keep her thoughts light and positive. The once magical anime world she imagined kept turning into a dark nightmare. Her hot leading male turned into a sinister villain with beautiful silver hair.

Melanie snorted at the thought of Kabuto with his hair down, blowing in the wind. She couldn't remember him ever wearing it down. She looked towards Sakura to ask her about it but her friend was already asleep. Melanie envied her. She envied the peaceful look Sakura had while she slept.

It had been three days since Kabuto had been in her room. She couldn't close her eyes without images of what happened destroying her with guilt. Her body felt wrong, dirty in a way she couldn't explain. No amount of soap could wash away the wrongness Kabuto had left behind.

Melanie hadn't been home since that night. She made excuses to stay at Sakura's house. She knew eventually she'd have to go home before someone became suspicious. Naruto was back and begging to see her but she felt like Kabuto had stolen something from her that night. She wasn't sure she could keep the happy façade up around Naruto.

Kabuto was the one watching her. Kabuto was the one who invaded her privacy. Kabuto was the one who used her as his entertainment. She knew about his crush but it was harmless. Or so she had thought. Melanie assumed that once she figured out who was behind the camera's she would have closure and a sense of relief. She felt everything but relief. She couldn't get Kabuto's warning about Naruto out of her head.

"We don't want Naruto finding out and coming between us. I will kill him if he gets in my way."

Melanie sat up, hugging her knees to her chest. The room spun and she struggled to breathe. Her pulse raced as her eyes darted around the room waiting for Kabuto to appear. Her paranoia had amounted to something real. She could put a face to the force that had plagued for so long.

She lunged out of the bed earning a groan from Sakura. She dug for her phone as Sakura settled back into sleep. She had to dial Naruto's number three times before she got it right.

It went straight to voicemail.

Melanie's mind went into hyper drive.

Why wasn't Naruto's phone on?

What could he possibly be doing?

Had Kabuto made good on his promise?

The last thought had Melanie on her feet. She was out of Sakura's door in the blink of an eye barely stopping to put her boots on. She sprinted to Nartuo's apartment. The cold barely registered as she forged her way through the fresh snow. She took two at a time getting up the stairs to Naruto's apartment. She pounded on the door not giving a care if she woke others up.

On her fifth insistent knock the door flew open. Melanie launched forward wrapping her arms around Naruto's bare waist.

"Melanie?" Naruto asked bringing his arms up around her. "What's going on?"

"You didn't answer you phone."

Naruto maneuvered Melanie farther inside shutting the door behind him. "I left my charger with Gaara."

Melanie held on tighter. "Thank goodness."

"Melanie, is everything okay?" Naruto held her at arm's length, searching her face.

Melanie forced herself to make eye contact. "I just really missed you." She leaned up to kiss him. Naruto, still being half asleep, took a moment but responded when she became insistent.

"I missed you too," Naruto said when they broke apart.

Melanie kissed him again pushing him back towards the bedroom. She pushed him on the bed.

"Not that I mind but what's gotten into you?"

Melanie blushed but moved so she was straddling his waist. It was true that she was never this forward with Naruto. In the moment she thought Kabuto had gotten to Naruto she realized she didn't want to waste any more time.

"I love you." Naruto stilled beneath her gazing at her with wide eyes. "I love you. I need you."
Melanie had no doubt that Kabuto would come for her. She wasn't naïve enough to believe he would disappear and leave her alone. She refused to let him take from her something she only wanted to share with Naruto. She waited for Naruto to say something back but he continued to stare at her.

She grew restless. She made to move but his hands shot to her waist holding her there. "I think I've loved you since the day your bike broke."

"Way to be corny," Melanie whispered. Her chest tightened in a way she couldn't describe. It drove away the paranoia leaving behind a feeling of safety.

"I love you, believe it."

Naruto flipped them so he was on top capturing Melanie's lips in a passionate kiss. His hands trailed up her shirt lingering on her stomach. She found herself desperate to feel more of his touch. Desperate for him to remove the stains Kabuto left behind. She encouraged his touch causing him to pull away.

"Are you sure?"

Melanie smiled at his concern. "Please."

She sounded promiscuous, downright needy. She didn't care. She was determined to make this memory with Naruto. She kissed him, once more encouraging his movement. His hands were gentle causing sensations throughout her body; ones she never felt that night with Kabuto.

This was how it was supposed to feel.
She couldn't help the sighs escaping her mouth as things progressed. She wrapped her legs around his waist pulling him close. She loved the feel of him against her, the warmth of his body. She loved the feeling in her chest. She loved him.

"I love you," Naruto whispered in her ear as their bodies moved together.

Time ceased to exist. All that mattered was cherishing the time she spent with Naruto. Kabuto would come for her. She was scared but she refused to let him take Naruto away from her.

She refused to let Kabuto win.