Summer Heat

Chapter 1: The Party

I edited this story by taking out the chapter everyone hated and adjusted the next one accordingly.  Enjoy!

Thank you so much to every reader who enjoyed this, commented, voted, or followed!  Love you all so much!  

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Chapter One:  The Party

6:30, and the first guest is already there. Naruto smiles, pleased with the early company. He answers his door, and lets Shikamaru in. "I know I'm a little early, Naruto...I hope you don't mind. I just had a lot to do before I came, and when I was finished, I came straight over to make sure I wasn't late."

"Early, what? You're right on time!" Naruto smiles at his former classmate. Then Naruto seats Shikamaru to the far left of his couch. "I'll be just a minute. If everyone I invited shows up, we'll need more chairs. I can bring some from the kitchen. Don't go anywhere!"

"This is such a drag," Shikamaru remarks jokingly, a smile on his face. Naruto laughs and heads for the kitchen.

Momentarily, Naruto returns with three kitchen chairs and places them in a circle facing the couch.

"So tell me, Naruto, how many people did you invite tonight?"

"Let's see...you, Hinata, Sakura, Sai, and Sasuke. That makes six of us. I would have invited more, but I just don't have the room. I'll have to get together with the others later. But three of us can fit on the couch and three in chairs. There's plenty of space with just this many, don't you worry about that."

Shikamaru looks up at Naruto in seeming disinterest. "Who says I'm worried?"

Naruto chuckles. Then, another knock at his door. "Wow, is everyone going to show up early tonight? I told everyone seven...not that I mind."

He answers the door to find Hinata and Sakura waiting outside. "Please, come in!" he offers. Sakura enters first, commenting on how clean and spacious the place looks now. Hinata follows behind, greeting Naruto softly, barely able to keep her head up in front of him.

"Have a seat, ladies!" Naruto says as he sits on the couch at the opposite end of Shikamaru. Sakura settles into the the middle seat of the kitchen-chair set-up. Hinata looks back and forth between the chairs where Sakura is seated and the couch where Naruto is. She wants to sit by him, but she's not sure she should. Would that seem weird, or even forward? she wonders.

Naruto, seeing Hinata's hesitation in choosing a seat, pats the space next to him on the couch. "Come, Hinata, sit down! You can't stand UP the whole time you're here, ya know! This is a party!" He grins at her.

Hinata can't help but mirror his expression. She makes her way to the seat Naruto "reserved" for her, and takes her place there—all too aware of the close proximity of his body.

At that time, another knock comes to the door. Naruto rises again to answer it, finding Sai on the other side. "Welcome, Sai! Please join us!"

"I-I've never been to a party before. Please forgive me if I behave improperly. But I've read a lot of books on social etiquette at parties!"

"Sai, would you just relax and forget about your stupid books for once? Go sit next to Sakura!"

Sai complies as the last knock echoes in the room. Naruto opens the door to allow his final guest in.

"Oi, Sasuke! Thanks for coming! You can sit right over there!" He motions to the last available chair, right next to Sakura. Sasuke silently ambles over and plops down, crossing his arms in front of him and looking typically expressionless. Naruto retakes his seat next to Hinata on the couch.