AN/ Okay, I updated this story so that it's Naruto-based. Hope you like it! It's a SasuSaku story, modernized. Some characters may be OOC, but I'll try to change them into their normal personalities. Anywho, enjoy!
E! TRUE HOLLYWOOD STORY: BEHIND THE SCENES
CHAPTER 1
If you ever thought that being a celebrity is all fun and games, think again. I mean, balancing movie and TV shoots, music recordings, press conferences, interviews, autograph signings, movie premieres, award ceremonies, and visits to the local hospitals and orphanages; while trying to fit in parties, sleepovers and clubbing, as well as spa days, shopping sprees, and the old 'hanging out with friends', in the already-crammed-and-busy schedule, you would be lucky enough to even catch AT LEAST 5 hours of sleep! Not to mention the pressure reporters and photographers put on you 24/7!
I'm not complaining about being one of the most successful celebrities in Tokyo, Japan like my parents ... but DAMN! Can't a girl get any privacy?! There are cameras everywhere; waiting for the day a famous star makes a small mistake. Half the time, I think about how lucky and blessed I am, and the rest of that time, I wish I was born in a NORMAL family.
Thud.
Yell.
Crash.
Yell.
Stomp.
Slam.
A girl can dream can't she? But then again, being born in a wealthy family is anything BUT normal.
Deciding to leave the beautiful comforts of my room, I made my way down the carpeted marble stairs, only to be greeted by my adopted older brother, Naruto, half way down, and he stomping his way up to his room. Is it me, or were there blood stains on his shirt?
Taking a bite out of the apple I recently grabbed when I entered the kitchen, I took in my parents' weary faces and disheveled appearances, and realized that they look more exhausted than usual. Oh Lord, what did Naruto do now?
As if my mom could read my mind when she took a look at me, she said, "Your brother just got bailed out of jail for picking a few fights when he snuck out of the house to go to a club a few hours ago."
Oh.
She continued, "Talk to him. It seems that you're the only one who he would listen to now-a-days. Get some sense back into that brain of his."
I nodded wordlessly and left the room. Barging into his room without knocking, I slumped onto his messy bed, taking another bite of my half-finished apple. I watched him exit his personal bathroom, dressed in formal attire. Where the heck is this man going now? I noticed that the very same frown that I've seen earlier was still etched on his face.
"I'm not talking."
I made myself more comfortable on his bed, making sure that he got the hint that I'm not leaving until he tells me something. Rolling his eyes, he turned on his stereo to full blast, and lay down on his black sofa at the other side of his room. Not even a few minutes passed before he snapped, and suddenly shut his stereo off. I smirked inwardly, knowing that I won ... again.
"You really wanna know why I did what I did?"
I finally spoke for the first time since I woke up.
"DUH. Why do you think I'm here? To stare at the millions of posters you hung on your walls?"
"Remember Deidara from the Akatsuki?"
How can I NOT?! That's the idiot who went out with me and cheated me for my own best friend! I nodded stiffly, waiting for him to continue.
"Yeah, well, he was bad-mouthing our family again, mostly 'bout you, though."
My hands curled to angry fists.
"You know me, I don't start stuff unless someone really ticks me off."
True, true.
"He was saying how he wished he could've screwed you before he went for Ino."
Was that a nerve that just snapped?
"Then, I lost it. Beat the guy to a bloody pulp. Man thinks he's tough, but he acts like a wuss!"
I smiled. He got in trouble for defending me. Hey, truth be told, if Naruto was in the same position as me, I would've done the same thing. I've been told that I have a killer right hook. Heck, even a left hook!
"Thanks."
He smiled.
"No prob."
As I made my way towards the door, I was stopped by a statement he said.
"I'm sorry. I tried to convince him, but he wouldn't listen. He never does."
I turned to look at his face: sad, angry, and filled with pity and regret. What is he talking about? Beginning to voice my thought aloud, I didn't notice that he had lightly pushed me out of his room, and slammed the door in my face. Nice, eh? I can definitely feel the love and connection. I glared at the door, as if it would melt and let me back into his room, but I never had that kind of luck since I was born. Soon, I was interrupted by our family butler, saying how my parents are waiting in the living room and that the family would leave soon to go out.
Huh ... weird. They never wait for anything, let alone go out as a family.
"Miss, why aren't you ready yet?"
I turned again, and ended up facing my personal maid. Ready? For what?
"Ugh, don't tell me you're planning to go to a new, exclusive restaurant wearing that, are you?"
Well, you could very well tell where she picked up her attitude from. Of course, yours truly. I looked at my outfit: a white tank top, where the 'French Connection' logo (FCUK) is written across the chest area, baggy, black pants, and 'Baby Phat' black, flat boots. What's wrong with wearing this for ... a ... family ... dinner ...?
"What family dinner?!"
I swear, the words family and dinner should never, EVER go in the same sentence! It only means one thing: TROUBLE. Last time we had a family dinner, it was when my parents announced that we were moving to a different city, 3 years ago. We lived in Osaka, Japan back then. I was forced to leave my school, my friends, and my (now an 'ex') boyfriend, just because my parents' newly created family business was booming. Then, another time was when they said how my favorite grandparents died. I cried for days! In other words, family dinners only meant disaster.
I heard my maid say something along the lines of, "... Stupid interns ... Can't even do a simple task of passing down a damn memo to a person ..."
Grabbing my arm, she led me back to my room, and began to rummage through my walk-in closet. Well, it's not really a closet; more like another room attached to the main one, and it's overflowing with clothes. Literally. A few minutes later, she came back out with a bundle in her arms, dumped it in my own awaiting hands, and all but shoved me into the washroom. Freaking abusive ...
Taking a look at the clothes she gave me, I froze: a red tank top, with small frills for straps and adorned with white floral designs, and a white, silk skirt that stopped just above the knees, trimmed with red designs at the edges of the skirt.
Oh. like. HELL. I'm. wearing. THAT!
"Are you done changing yet?" Margareta was banging on the door.
I guess she took my silence as a 'no', because she began to threaten me about calling Naruto over and making me change instead.
"You WOULDN'T!!"
The slam of my bedroom door only assured me that she would. Confused? Well, to enlighten you: I'm not really a skirt / dress type. Sure, I've been commented on how 'pretty' my legs are and how beautiful I look, but I don't really believe them. I mean, for all I know, they're only saying that to be polite! I never wear skirts unless it's an absolute MUST; meaning only for photo shoots, movie and t.v. shoots, movie premieres and award ceremonies. Other than that, I stick to designer capris or pants. Hey, I never said that I'm a girly-girl you know, and that's all thanks to Naruto and his boyish attitude towards me since we were very young.
Soon, I noticed that my maid came back to my room and stood on the other side of the bathroom door, accompanied with my one and only brother.
"We're leaving soon; you only have 5 minutes left." Warning #1.
"Don't make me come in there." Warning #2.
"I swear! For the love of God, Sakura! GET DRESSED!!" Warning #3.
After some shuffling around, screaming, yelling, punches, kicks, and re-adjusting here and there, Naruto and I were finally making our way down the stairs. We met our parents and soon left the mansion for this so-called exclusive and extravagant new restaurant everyone's been talking about.
The ride was short, but somehow, it felt ... tense. Mom kept fiddling with her fingers, and if not her fingers, the golden bracelet she wore around her wrist; Daddy kept a stoic glare at Naruto; Naruto plastered an annoyed look on his face the entire time; and I ... well, I just looked out the window. Finally arriving at the restaurant, I then realized why it was called extravagant and exclusive. It's like a freaking palace! I even think that it's bigger than my own damn mansion!!
Being showed to our table personally by a maitre d', I looked around at the other tables, seeing if I knew anyone here. And to my luck, I found none. Argh. That sucks. Taking a seat, my manners clicked into place, and I placed my once-folded napkin onto my lap. Then, tension rose once again into the air.
A few minutes later, my parents began to order food, so Naruto and I followed suit. I heard Naruto mutter, "Don't they have ramen here?" I sighed, and silence resumed once again. Oh, God. Are they planning on talking or what?
Half-way through our dinner, I finally snapped. Patience was never my thing.
"Why are we here?"
The clinking of forks, knives and spoons stopped.
"What? Can't a family eat dinner together for once?" asked Daddy, beginning to cut his stake once again. Naruto and I glanced at each other before answering bluntly at the same time.
"No."
Mom was stiffling a laugh at our childish behaviour, before catching the serious look my father was passing to her (oh yeah, I noticed). She coughed to regain her posture before placing her hands neatly on her lap.
"Sakura," uh-oh. Something's definitely wrong here, "You're father has something to say, and all I ask you right now would be to listen patiently and don't yell or scream, okay, sweetie?"
Sweetie? Since when did she call me sweetie?
"...Sure..." I answered hesitantly. Daddy cleared his throat.
"I have realized that you are having a few problems with ... relationships."
Oh, my GOD.
"...And, your mother and I decided that we would step in to help you."
You've got to be KIDDING me!
"So, we've arranged a marriage for you: this way, you can earn your inheritance responsibly, as well as take over the family business."
THUD.
Funny, really. That's the last thing I heard before I saw black.
TO BE CONTINUED ...
AN/ Well, that's it. For now. Please, R&R and tell me if you like it or not.
