SO I started these 5 months ago when I started working at a smoothie bar when I splattered super ripe tomato seeds alllllll over myself and I was inspired.

Well since then I've had to leave the best job due to horrid management and I noticed I had 23 pages of a simple one-shot. Oops? So here is the first part that I broke up. I didn't mean to start a new story, I didn't! Yet here we are y'all. I have a plot line and no end in sight of my ability to transfer it down into words. The everlasting curse of a writer!

Started June 2015


"It'll be right up sir!"

I reached behind me, grabbing the handle of the empty blending jar. Scooping the corresponding fruit amounts for the fruit punch smoothie, I skipped the sugar and put in the proteins the older yet buff gentleman had asked for. I twirled around, grabbing the ice cup; every smoothie needed two cups of the pellet ice or else it didn't blend right, I had learned. Smoothies were easy to make and highly amusing. It was a very colorful job, yet slippery, with that much ice and fruit juices being slung around. It made for a slimy floor. I used it to my advantage to slip back and forth from the fruit counter to the wall behind it that held the blenders and cups. Closing the lid to the blender, I heard the too familiar ding that chimed as a new customer opened the door of the cafe.

"Hey, one second, and I'll be right with you!"

I grabbed the 24 ounce cup and a spare lid & straw combo as the 16 second blender came to an end. Jerking the lid up and shaking the jar I poured the perfectly blended smoothie into the cup. No matter what I made, seeing a perfectly cultivated smoothie cascade into the cup was endlessly gratifying. I slapped the lid and twirled towards to the counter, to hand the finished result to the gentleman, who seemed to barely fit into his sweaty and tight tank top. He nodded his head in appreciation and waddled out to, probably go hit the beach. I placed the dirty blender container into the sink, and faced the cash register with a smile for the new customer.

My smile was matched by... a sweaty one. I noticed the intensity of the smile, surrounded by a tan face and adorable dimples. Sparkling blue topaz eyes, they matched the nearby beach waters perfectly. Even matching the tan skin was sun kissed blonde hair that spiked like a halo his face, perfect beach bod to complete it all. He probably also came from the gym down the street; it wasn't uncommon for peanut butter smoothies with whey proteins to sell in the morning for post work outs. I tried to not linger on the cut white tank top that had rings on dampness, showing it hadn't been an easy work out. I glanced back up, so embarrassed about how obviously I had been checking the guy out.

"One Morning Sunrise, add peaches and whey protein please, girly." I punched the according buttons.

"That actually sounds good with peaches. Might have to steal an extra to see if you know what you're talking about, if you don't mind." I flashed him a smile as I reached across the counter to accept his credit card. He let out a light laugh and nodded.

"Is the name… Naruto good for the order?" I read the name imprinted on the credit card as I flashed to the screen that asked for a name for the order. Not that it mattered, it was only myself working the front, and Kiba acting as a cook before the lunch rush and Ino came in. Nobody else was in the lobby to even call out, but it didn't hurt to ask, so I was prepared for the busier times.

"Yeah, perfect." Of course this guy would have an orange sunset on the beach as his credit card background. It was just as loud as he was. He accepted his card back and put it in his worn out froggy wallet. He stepped to the side of the bar while checking his phone. I started working on the fruity concoction, mixing the orange juice and the mangos in the blender's container. Add a splash of yogurt, some strawberries…

The door chimed and I looked up letting go an obligatory "Welcome!" slip through to almost drop the jar as I saw the handsome man who came in. In his own black sweaty tank, he walked towards Naruto with a quiet question I couldn't hear. I turned to hide my embarrassed self. What was wrong with me today?! I was used to gym members coming to a healthy smoothie bar yet as two almost Gods come in, I'm a stumbling mess. I started the mixing blender and grabbed a cup writing the name down. With perfect accuracy the blender ended as I reached for it, and poured the coral mix into the styrofoam cup. With the little extra I poured in a tester cup for myself to try later. Setting that down, I walked back to the bar to hand Naruto his drink.

"Hey thanks! I have a question though, if you don't mind."

"Sure, what is it?" I bit my lip waiting for Naruto to continue.

"Do you recommend the coffee chocolate smoothie with whey as an okay one to have after a workout?" I don't know what exactly I was wishing he would have asked, but I didn't let any disappointment over the boring question show on my face.

"I would suppose it would be okay for every once and a while, but if you're a coffee lover I'm sure it wouldn't matter anyways! I'd still recommend other fruit ones first, based on the amount of sugar and calories in the Cocoa Craze." I smiled and tilted my head. Naruto did NOT seem like the type to go for coffee.

"Oh, you hear that Sasuke? I told you!" Naruto whipped around pointing.

I peered around Naruto's head to focus on the darker God- er, customer behind him. Sasuke huh? Sasuke rolled his eyes and looked at me.

"I'll try it anyways." I gulped. That couldn't seriously be his voice, no human should be able to sound so damn sexy.

"Regular coffee or decaf?"

"I'll be with him for the day, so regular please." Oh God it was the actual sound of his voice.

"HEY! That's rude, I'm not going to pay for your smoothie anymore, asshole." Naruto shook his fist in the air in protest.

"Hn. Yeah right, you never actually fall through when it comes to paying for other people."

"That is so not… well maybe sometimes. Only with you because you're an asshole."

"Whatever."

I giggled at their banter and pressed the corresponding buttons on the register.

"Did you still want to add Whey sir?"

"Actually let's do the pea protein."

"Since you're adding more power to an almost all powder smoothie, do you want extra pumps of yogurt to let it blend better? If not I'll just add extra water."

"If you think it makes it better."

"Honestly, I do."

"Fine."

I finished ringing the order up and hit total, adding the gym discount.

Before I could even say the amount I had a slate blue card handed to me. I connected eyes to make sure he wanted me to take it and he just raised an eyebrow. Oh, okay, get it together Sakura. Not everybody is as poor as yourself and doesn't care about spending almost 7 dollars for a drink. I accepted the card and ran it. I was surprised to look up and hear change being dropped in the tip jar. I looked up and smiled, wrapping the receipt around the card.

"Here's your card back Sasuke. Your order will be right up!" I tried to not frown as he didn't look as he took his card back and kept chatting with Naruto. What were you thinking girl? He'd be as mesmerized as you and want to keep looking at this mug of a face? Huffing, I wiped my forehead and readjusted the obligatory visor we had to wear with the Smoothie Shack's logo. It matched the logo across my neon blue shirt. We had a few shirts in all different neon shades to made sure we stood out as employees. At least they relaxed on the shorts, no booty shorts and they had to be either blues or blacks. Everything else got too dirty too fast even with an apron on. I didn't have it on at the moment based on hot it was. Kiba had to keep his on being the cook though. Speaking of, he walked out the entrance to the kitchen untying his said apron.

"Hey Sakura, you all good?" I nodded. "I'm going to head to the bathroom real quick."

I walked over pouring, scooping, and pumping all the needed ingredients before I put the brown sludge on the counter to add ice. Setting the cup down on the blender I took a sip of Naruto's smoothie from the tester cup. Holy shit.

"You know what you're talking about! Peaches are so simple, but so perfectly delicious!" I stared at the cup as if it radiated gold. It really was delicious. Naruto laughed yelling out an 'I told you so!' I sat the now empty tester cup down as the blender stopped. I wrote Sasuke's name on his cup before pouring and walking out onto the floor, to hand him the smoothie. The two guys had taken the seats at one of the smaller tables in the cafe. Sasuke looked up to grab it, uttering a thanks in my direction. The pair stood up and pushed in their chairs as Naruto clapped me on the shoulder. Dang, if that's how he simple pats a person's shoulder in thanks, I'm scared to know what he did to those gym weights!

"Well thanks for the smoothies, girl. They taste great. Bastard over here didn't even say anything, but since he didn't complain right away, that's a compliment in itself!"

"Well thanks for stopping in guys, and see you another time!"

"Definitely, tasted better than the protein shakes the gym has. Gross!" Naruto shook his head in disgust. I laughed and waved.

"Have a good day!"

I watched them exit and Sasuke push Naruto's shoulder. Probably something teasing… Oh I might need to go fan myself with some menus.

"Calm down Sakura, they're just some meatheads." I looked over to see Kiba walking from the bathrooms, still wiping his hands clean on some paper towels.

"Kiba! That is not nice! They were actually very nice. Better than yourself, you're always being a bully and teasing me!" I peered into the tip jar. I was excited to see a new 5 dollar bill in there with a few shiny coins, and pulled it out. I poked my tongue out at Kiba.

"I'm taking their tip straight out if you're going to be rude about them, and you didn't even do anything to earn it!"

"Okay Sakura, whatever you say. Let's get the rest of the food prep done already, you weirdo." I laughed and put the bill back in the jar.

Going to the back, I helped cut up the rest of the produce; onions, scallions, tomatoes, lettuce, kale, and even celery. The celery didn't even go on food, it was for smoothies. Celery was possibly the most disgusting thing to do to a smoothie. It's mostly water and tastes like dirty water at that. Ruined any single smoothie in my opinion. Yet, I still reel in horror as I watch select customers ask for it in their drinks. Sometimes even repeating customers - that's right. They tasted it and thought it was delicious and worth trying again! No way, I'll stick to fruits thankyouverymuch.

Lunch rush came and went. When Ino and TenTen came in, I was relieved to switch and leave. I clocked out and punched in my own free employee meal of chicken tacos, with the same Morning Sunrise add peaches as Naruto had ordered earlier. I even make the girls try it too; their agreement matched on how perfect it was. Sitting down at the side of the bar to eat I gazed off, thinking about how hot Sasuke was. Not even going to lie, I was that petty to spend my free time wondering about such a hot bod. Maybe I needed a gym membership to spy, I jokingly thought. I looked down at my own skin and poked the non existent muscle on my right bicep area. While I knew everybody technically does have a muscle there, I knew mine wasn't built up to really count. I should probably focus on myself before I just oggled away at a guy's muscles. I knew my calves were good from being on my feet nonstop and the occasional morning jogs I would do every week.

"Sakura, what on Earth are you doing?"

Ino had her hands on her hips and head tilted in wonderment of how I was just poking myself. How embarrassing Sakura. Get a grip!

"Sorry, I'm a little distracted."

"I can tell, I put your favorite tacos in front of you, and you haven't even as much looked at them."

Holy macaroni she had, and the delicious smell hit my nose. I picked one up and took a bite; oh yes I couldn't get over the house made pico de gio we made every morning. The secret was the small amount of lime we pumped from the smoothie bar's concentrates to make it so tangy. I gulped and sighed, finally ready to truly answer Ino.

"Two super hot guys came in, and I seriously cannot get over it. They were possibly gods, Ino. Gods, I tell you."

"One of them the guy that told you about adding the peaches?"

"Oh yeah. They were like day and night. Hopefully they come in again while I'm here and I can show you the world Ino. They. Were. Perfection."

"They better be if you won't shut up about them. Now eat and go home, you stink, forehead."

"Pig, you'd stink too after working with the AC barely working during the lunch rush!"

"Nonsense, I'm flawless."

"Uh-huh, lying isn't a flattering trait, honey."

"Bitch, please. Eat your shit and get out of here while I clean your mess."

"Excuse me?! This smoothie bar is spotless and fully stocked for you, don't even try!"

"Jesus, both of you two shut up or I'm throwing these cutting knives at you!" TenTen snuck around the corner from the kitchen, shaking knives in the air. Oh shit, I already know she had mad aim with those, based on Kiba getting too handsy when she had first started and nobody was none the wiser. He lost some hairs that day and the wall gained a hole.

"Yes ma'am." Ino and I both chimed in. TenTen shook her head and popped back into the kitchen area. I let a giggle escape and finished eating my tacos, as Ino filled me in on her morning date out with a local artist that wouldn't stop complimenting how beautiful she was. Like the woman needed any bigger of an airhead to be honest. I love the girl, but Ino could tap into her inner vain self too easily and this guy wasn't helping. I rolled my eyes as I stood up to throw away the paper lining in the reusable metal trays we used, and picked my keys off the counter. Pushing in the stool, I did my mental check of having all my belongings before I headed to the door. Finally, I was on my way home. Tossing farewells over my shoulder I walked to my older college girl allowance- a silver Toyota sedan. Ino's perfect purple Jeep - yes, just like the Barbie toy - and TenTen's old, slick B&W she slaved over. It was well loved and had even more miles than mine, yet looked spotless. Kiba's own red Ford Explorer was long gone. No surprise, he never stuck around when it was all girls left in the restaurant. Too much bitchiness for him to handle and he had enough bitches in his life. While it was funny the first time he said it, since he worked with dogs on the side, it got old fast to be called bitches everyday. Only person I'd take that abuse from daily was Ino, and that's because her and I are practically glued at the hip. I could take anything she could cook up, since I've heard it all before. When she was full out nice to me, something was wrong - she either wanted a favor or I wasn't doing well.

After driving and fighting traffic, I finally arrived home to my shitty apartment. I threw my keys in their dish by the door; I was so very guilty of losing them like loose change. I walked to the bathroom to shower, before heading to the couch to watch Netflix because cable was too expensive. I couldn't focus on the shows, daydreaming about those two Gods coming in my store again. I could only hope I looked better than I did today with my awful bun I had thrown up in protest of the hot air. I grimaced, noting that I looked worse than people coming in from their sweaty work outs in the gym. That's pretty bad. Oh well, another day will always come, no matter what. I finally grew restless of the TV and crawled my way to bed, ready for sleep and to wake up and open the store to make more smoothies for another day.


AN: Thanks for reading and please! Tell me what you think!

Especially if you have some favorite fruits or smoothie horror stories in time for Halloween!

Posted October 26, 2015