The family of three sat around the festive dining table, with one new addition sitting at the end of it. Naruto had been very awkwardly gestured into the seat at the head of the table, with Naomi taking to his right side, and Nobuo to his left with Momoko beside him. Naomi apologized multiple times for her father making Naruto's appearance at their Thanksgiving celebration such a fuss, but Naruto just smiled and said that he was happy to be treated like a part of the family.
The dinner didn't start out unpleasant, but Naomi didn't quite feel comfortable, even at her own dining table. Naruto had met both her dad and her sister plenty of times before, when Naruto was waiting at the door for Naomi to finish getting ready so that they could go out, or when Naruto was delivering their takeout and someone other than Naomi answered the door. But none of those occasions allowed much conversation, and nobody knew what to say. That was, until dinner was served. Naomi wasn't even sure what happened, but all of a sudden her father and Naruto were in a full blown conversation. Naomi didn't speak up much, since she knew nothing about the current topic, which was cars. She just watched Naruto talk, and admired the way that he spoke with his hands, and the way his eyes lit up when he was especially interested in something that had been said. Naomi smiled watching her friend, her best friend if she dared to say. She took her eyes off of the beautiful boy for just a moment to look her sister's way. Momoko's gaze was already set on Naomi, and when the two girls connected eyes, Momoko gave her a knowing smile, which Naomi didn't quite understand.
After dinner came dessert, and after Naruto had offered to leave for the night, thinking that he had taken up enough of their time, he was pulled back into the house for a round of monopoly. The game started off competitive, when both Naomi and Naruto wanted to be the top hat. Everyone decided that whoever won at a thumb wrestling contest would play with the top hat. Naruto won, since his thumb was twice the size of Naomi's. Naomi pouted when he triumphantly placed the hat on his pinkie finger, but giggled as he wiggled his fingers, and dropped the small metal piece in his lap. He let her be the hat.
Over two hours later the game was paused for the night. It was late out now; the sky pitch black and the late November air chilly. Naruto said goodbye to Nobuo and Momoko in the living as they worked together to reorganize the colourful money and put the box back together, while Naomi walked him to the door.
"I had fun," Naruto said, when the two of them stepped out onto the front porch. Naomi shuddered when she closed the door behind her, and a gust of November air hit her.
"I'm glad you came over. I would have felt horrible if you spent today alone at your apartment," Naomi said, and smiled warmly up at the boy.
He smiled. "Your family's really cool."
"They really seem to like you. Especially my dad. He's never been too happy about some of the guys that I've introduced him to," Naomi said, and chuckled sadly.
Naruto narrowed her eyes at her. "Why not?" he asked.
It was a simple question, with an easy answer. Because they've all turned out to be jerks. Especially my last boyfriend. But saying that would lead into the exact conversation that Naomi was trying to avoid with Naruto. The incident that happened with her ex, the reason that they moved, why the supposedly unknown number sent her that picture. It was also the reason that Naruto had wanted to become so close to Naomi. She wasn't sure if he wanted to figure out what had happened just for the motive of curiosity, or because he actually cared about her and wanted to help. She was almost certain that it was the ladder, but she still couldn't tell him. Not yet.
"I don't know, I guess he's just picky." She shrugged, and tried to laugh off the foul mood that she had put herself in.
"I know it's more than that," Naruto said, looking deeply into Naomi's uncertain eyes. "But I'm not gonna push. I know you'll tell me everything you need to when you want," he said. Naomi smiled, seeing that Naruto had seemed to memorize the phrase that she would say to him whenever he asked about her past.
"Thank you," she said. "I guess I'll see you later then. Goodnight, Naruto," Naomi said, then turned to go and walk back inside her warm home.
"Wait!" Naruto burst, causing Naomi to jump in surprise and stop in her tracks. "Heh, sorry." He chuckled, and scratched his head sheepishly.
"What is it?" Naomi asked, concerned for whatever it was that made Naruto burst out like that.
"Nothing, really," he said, and put his hands in his pockets.
"You stopped me for nothing?" Naomi asked and raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah."
"No you didn't."
"Or did I?"
"Naruto, seriously."
"Seriously what?"
"What did you want to say to me?"
"I don't know what you're talking about."
Naomi rolled her eyes, and put her hand on the door handle. "Okay then. Goodnight, Naruto," she said for the second time, and was prepared to leave the boy on her doorstep if he pulled another little stunt like that.
"Ok, seriously. Wait, Naomi," he said. Naomi sighed, and was going to just go back inside without another word. But she could hear that there was something that he actually needed to discuss with her, so she stopped.
"Yes, Naruto?" she asked, trying to hide her annoyance.
"Naomi." He breathed in, gathering his courage. "I want to go on a date."
Naomi was shocked, and had to grip the door handle to keep herself steady. Her face flushed red, she opened then closed her mouth twice, and a choppy hum brewing in her throat. "A-a date?" she asked.
Naruto chuckled. "Yes, a date."
"Um, I-I don't know, Naruto," she said.
"What's not to know?" he asked. Outside he was beaming, but on the inside his heart was beating faster than any other moment in his life. He was practically dying, and if she rejected him, he might've had a heart attack.
"Well, I mean... we're friends," she said shyly.
"And? That means you already like me." He smiled proudly.
"I like you as a friend, Naruto," she said, which crushed Naruto's heart into a million pieces. But he wouldn't let it show on the outside.
"Are you sure?" he asked, and took a step towards her so that she was almost pressed up against the door.
Her mind went blank. "Why do you even want to go out with me?" she asked.
"Because I like you?" he said, like it was the obvious answer to the question. Naomi didn't respond to that, so he sighed and tried again. "Okay, Naomi. I feel like as much effort I put into us being friends, and as much as I want to be close to you, there's just this wall between us. And maybe it's because I'm keeping my distance as a friend because that's not all I want to be, or maybe you're just not comfortable with me yet. But I do know that I like you, and I want to take you on a date."
"Naruto, really... I-"
"Naomi, I know that your ex is the reason that you're so untrusting towards people now. I know that he's the reason you're scared of a relationship. But the way I see it, you need someone to show you how a boyfriend is supposed to act to make you forget what that ass did to you, whatever it was. You've got to have some feelings towards me too, right?" he asked, sounding a little desperate as he searched Naomi's eyes with his own. She looked confused, but intrigued.
"I-I don't know, maybe," she admitted.
Naruto smiled brightly, and backed away from Naomi. She let out a breath that she hadn't realized she'd been holding in.
"Great!" he said, and when he saw that Naomi still looked uncertain of herself, he smiled reassuringly. "It's one date. If you feel it, great. But if you don't, we'll be friends and nothing changes. Okay?" he asked.
Naomi bit her lip, but nodded in agreement. Naruto smiled one more time, and leaned in quickly to peck Naomi on the cheek. Her face was completely red, and she knew it. He was walking down her porch steps just as quickly as he leaned into her. She watched him walk back down to his car, smiling like an idiot as he drove off. Naomi couldn't help but smile a little from what had just happened to her. She had a date with Naruto. Is this really the right thing to do? He's cute, and maybe things could develop between us, but... is that really what I want? Can I trust him? She debated with herself. It was too late now. He was gone, and she didn't have the heart to call and cancel. Not like she wanted to. She just hoped that she knew what she was getting into.