The Online Sort Of Love

Chapter 17

The cafeteria was bustling with noise from hushed whispers to boisterous shouts, shuffling of footsteps against the yellow tiled floor to the scraping of chairs. In the far corner of the room, a usually ignored table sat the trio, Kiba animatedly exclaiming about life and Akamaru's antics while Gaara snorted, his jade eyes exhibiting mild amusement and finally Naruto who just... sat there, zoning out from the world, completely encased in his own thoughts. 

Cerulean eyes occasionally darted around the room as if he was searching for something... or someone. 

'Where is he? I didn't see him at all today...' Naruto downheartedly thought, his eyes dimming slightly. 

"Foxy, stop day dreaming about your man." Kiba smirked, Gaara chuckling under his breath as he leaned his crimson head against the palm of his hand. 

"You're still pining like a loser?" Gaara's deep voice teased, laughing again as the blond shot a menacing glare. 

"You guys are the fucking worst." Naruto grumbled, not denying his friend's claims before his face morphed into a sad expression. The brunette sighed. 

"Did you tell him?" Kiba asked, his hazel eyes looking intently at Naruto's. Gaara raised a nonexistent eyebrow, his head turned to look at the squirming blond. 

"Tell him what?" The red head asked questioningly. The blond sighed, turning around again to see if the Uchiha has arrived but alas... he had not. 

"Lover boy over here apparently freaked out online when they were playing Perfect World and typed a fake name. Now he wants to reverse his mistake." Kiba chuckled, his tan hand reaching out to ruffle Naruto's blond hair patronisingly. Naruto grumbled. 

"I fucked up okay! I freaked out and now royally fucked up and now I don't know what to do..." Naruto complained, finally turning and addressing his friends before slumping his head on the plastic table top. Suddenly he heard sliding of two chairs and a deep, unforgettable voice spoke up. 

"What's your deal dobe?" 

Naruto immediately sat up, his cerulean eyes darting to see Sasuke sitting on his right, looking at him in amusement. Looking forward he also saw Shikamaru sitting beside Kiba, discussing about something with the brunette. Turning back to face the pale boy, the blond grinned. 

"It's nothing! I'm good!" Naruto exclaimed, his pearly teeth shining as he grinned widely at the confused raven. Sasuke leaned back against his chair, arms crossed and stared at the blond skeptically.

"Are you trying to convince me or yourself?" The raven asked, his voice revealing his evident skepticism. Naruto scowled and exhaled a little "hmmpf" at Sasuke. Kiba laughed and leaned over a little to grab Naruto's whiskered cheek. 

"Awww foxyyy. Don't scowl. It's not that convincing." The brunette winked and laughed louder as the blond smacked his hand away. 

"God you guys are troublesome to deal with." Shikamaru droned while the red head just nodded. 

"And you've only been here for 10 minutes." The red head continued. Naruto grinned sheepishly and continued to bicker with Kiba, unaware of the burning glare onxy eyes were projecting onto Kiba. 

Sasuke witnessed the interaction between the two friends and couldn't help emitting a small growl when Kiba pinched Naruto's cheek, his chest swelling his envy as the blond's attention was now on Kiba. 

'Why... Why am I feeling like this? It's just Naruto but why do I feel so angry?' Sasuke thought, his dark eyes still glaring at the boys. A mellifluous laugh erupted, startling Sasuke out of his thoughts and his eyes flew up to see...

Naruto... his head turned to the side as the brunette was tickling his fingers against the column of his neck, his eyes scrunched up with the slight appearance of tiny tears forming in the corners of his eyes, hands coming up to push Kiba away as lips upturned into his signature addicting smile and at that moment the raven couldn't help but think...

'Damn... he's gorgeous.'

As quickly as that thought popped up into his mind, the raven panicked and swiftly got up, stumbling from his seat, grabbing the attention of everyone sitting at the table. 

"Sasuke?" Naruto huffed out, panting a little. 

The ebony haired boy avoided Naruto's gaze, trying to hide his warm face from the view from everyone. 

"I-I got to go." 

With that, Sasuke grabbed his bag and walked in a fast pace to exit the cafeteria, leaving everyone baffled and confused. Naruto turned to look at his friends. 

"What's his deal?" The whiskered boy asked, his voice laced with worry. Shikamaru shrugged, his narrow eyes had followed Sasuke's movements and expression the whole time. The genius sighed before getting up. 

"Troublesome." The boy stretched and mumbled, nodding towards the trio before leaving to see where Sasuke went. 

'What the fuck... what the actual fuck?!' Sasuke internally panicked, as his footsteps frantically scurried to his locker. Leaning against the cold, metal surface, the raven dropped his bag and banged his head, a metal clang resonating through the hallway. Rubbing his face in fatigue, he sighed and tried to get his mind in order. 

'Maybe that's why I was so interested in him...and now that I'm closer to him...' 

Pale fingers ran through the ruffled ebony locks as he turned to stare at the cafeteria doors. 

"I like him. More than a friend." Sasuke mumbled to himself. Closing his eyes, thoughts of Naruto ran through his mind, each one making the raven feel happier and warmer than the last. 

His lovely laugh

His addicting smile

His loud but endearing voice

His exquisite eyes

His warm touch

"I'm fucked." Sasuke whispered into nothingness, the emptiness of the hallways echoing his voice, cementing his feelings into his mind. 

Being so invested into his thoughts, the raven didn't hear the sounds of footsteps coming his way. As it got louder and louder, Sasuke turned to see Shikamaru walking up to him, hands stuffed in his pant pockets, a bored but inquisitive look on his face. He stopped once he reached the contemplative boy leaning against the locker doors. 

"What's up with the stunt you pulled there?" Shikamaru asked, his eyes roving across the pale, handsome face, trying to analyse what he was thinking of. The raven sighed again before peeling himself off the locker door and turning  to open his. 

"Just made a self realisation." Sasuke mumbled, avoiding Shikamaru's eyes. 

"That you like Naruto?" 

SLAM

"W-what?" 

Sasuke's eyes dilated, looking at the inside of his locker in surprise. 

Shikamaru snorted. 

"If the glaring didn't show it maybe your constant in love smile that you have when you look at Naruto shows it." 

Sasuke softly chuckled. 

"It's that obvious?" He asked slowly, the silence stretching between the two boys. 

"Yeah... yeah it is." 

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Aaaaaaand done! Sorry for the late update. Life's been busy. 

Thanks for reading! Hope you enjoy the chapter!