The Online Sort Of Love

Chapter 28

"He's avoiding me isn't he?" Naruto's wavering voice whispered, breaking the silence between them. 

Kiba turned from his textbook, his hazel eyes morphing into a soft look as he was met with Naruto's downcast face and imploring eyes. The brunette sighed, supporting his head from the palm of his hand. Kiba didn't want to admit it, in fear of hurting his best friend further but it was futile to lie at this point. 

It was evident that Sasuke was evading the cerulean-eyed boy.

"Yeah... he is." Kiba replied, frowning sadly at the slump of Naruto's shoulders. 

The past few weeks were difficult. Walking into school and seeing Sasuke, those onxy eyes looking back at him with no acknowledgement. His expression; expressionless. Within a second, the raven would swiftly turn and walk away and with every step, Naruto's heartache amplified. 

He knew Sasuke was avoiding him. It was crystal clear but a part of him wishfully thought it was all in his head and maybe Sasuke was busy? 

No... it was just wishful thinking. 

His hear plummeted hearing the brunette's rare, serious tone.

It hurt. 

It hurt having his suspicions confirmed. Worse that it was coming from Kiba; one of the few trust-worthy and loyal people in his life. 

The scraping of the chair beside him startled the blond out of his trance. He felt Kiba's presence next to him and he smiled softly when he felt an arm on his shoulder. Facing Kiba, he grinned. 

"I'm fine dog-breath. Don't need to worry about me." 

His reply was a disbelieving snort that sent Naruto to a fit of laughter.  The brunette began chuckling softly before erupting into full blown laughter. 

"SHHHH!"

The boys immediately stopped and looked forward to see the librarian staring back at them in a disapproving look. Naruto grinned sheepishly and ruffled the back of his head. 

"Be quiet or I'll kick you both out." She warned before walking away stiffly. 

Kiba rolled his eyes and chuckled softly. 

"We are literally the only ones here."

Naruto noticed his surroundings and laughed. "Well, she needs something to do." Kiba hummed and slid down against the back of his chair, glancing down at his watch before leaning his head against Naruto's arm.

Closing his eyes, he remembered the events that conspired yesterday. It weighed heavily on his mind whether or not to reveal it to Naruto.

'Would it help? Or will it make it worse? He needs to know right?'

Watching as Sasuke walked further away from him, something inside Kiba spurred him to stop the raven, to say something to salvage the situation. 

He needed to explain and make Sasuke understand. 

The brunette began to sprint after and when the raven was in arm's reach, he grabbed his shoulder and turned Sasuke to face him. Kiba backed away a little, seeing Sasuke's shocked and slightly outraged expression but he took in a deep breath and began to speak. 

"Look... I know what you're thinking and what you are thinking about Naruto but if it is, it's not." Kiba began, relaxing as Sasuke's rigid posture dropped minimally and his disinterested look vanished. 

"This is really something for Naruto to explain. I don't want to say shit that might make this worse. All I can say is, blondie isn't a liar and he wasn't doing anything to trick you. He is still Naruto, the same person you got to know online and in real life. He would explain this if you weren't dodging this whole situation." Kiba emphasised the last words, trying to get his message across. 

Sasuke grunted, his onxy eyes looking at anywhere but the brunette in front of him. The raven began to speak but the sharp ring of the bell interrupted him and instantly the once quiet hallway was filled with noise. Classroom doors opened and onxy eyes widened and softened. Kiba's eyebrows furrowed. He turned and smirked.

Naruto's presence still affects him. 

The blond boy was alongside Gaara, talking animatedly about something but it was clear that he wasn't as energetic or cheerful as he once was. 

When they were both friends.

Kiba faced the raven again, smirking mischievously once Sasuke looked back at him. The raven growled and turned his back on the feral boy, continuing on his way. 

"Just talk to him or let him talk to you. Do you really want to lose what you had with no explanation?"

Sasuke stopped in his tracks and looked back, seeing Kiba's determined and resolute look. He nodded rigidly and walked to his next class, glancing back occasionally to get glimpses of the blond.

"Oi Kiba!" 

Naruto jerked his shoulder, jostling Kiba's head that was leaning against his arm. The brunette looked up to see cerulean eyes staring back at him in confusion. 

"Dude, what's wrong? I've been calling your name for like 5 minutes now. Thought you fell asleep for a second." The blond grinned softly, continuing to shake his shoulder to wake the brunette up. Kiba huffed and leaned further, pushing all his bodyweight on the blond. 

"Seriously what were you thinking?" Naruto asked, his tone laced in concern. Kiba shook his head softly before sitting up. 

"I talked to Sasuke..." Kiba revealed, his eyes staring intently at Naruto's. Shining cerulean eyes widened. 

"W-what? You did?" The blond stuttered out. 

The brunette nodded and ran his fingers through his hair. An action Kiba did when he is nervous. "He um... he found out you were Kyubbi and after what he confessed... he probably freaked out." Kiba whispered out almost inaudibly. 

Naruto froze, his jaw slack open by Kiba's words. 

'What? He found out! How?!'

Naruto slumped back on his chair, his tan fingers fiddling with his sleeve. "Shit..." The blond mumbled out, his face grimaced in shock and guilt. Kiba sighed as well. 

"Yeah... I don't know how he did but he knows." 

The blond gulped. "W-what do I do? How can I explain if he's avoiding me all the time?" 

He knew this would come back to bite him in the ass later. He knew his secret would come to the surface eventually but never in a million years did he want Sasuke to find out like this. 

'If only I told sooner. If only I was just honest in the first place we wouldn't be in this mess. It feels like I broke Sasuke's trust.' 

Naruto felt a huge stab on guilt in his chest and not even Kiba's comforting side hug could make him feel better. 

"I guess... even though it's better to explain face to face, maybe you could message him? It's better than not saying anything." Kiba suggested and Naruto smiled waveringly. 

A soft 'ding' on Naruto's phone echoed through the room and Naruto immediately picked it up to silence it but his eyes caught the message notification flashing on his phone screen and he gasped. 

Sasuke:

- We need to talk. There is a lot both of us need to explain. Meet me once school's finished? I'll be at my locker.

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And done! This story is coming close to an end. Not sure how many chapters but I have an conclusion... I think. 

Anyway thanks for reading and hope you enjoy!