"Talk to me!" I shout over the (LOUD) music in the background. Escape the Fate is blasting through my stereo, which may or may not recover from this over-exuberant maximum volume rendition of "Situations," soon to be closely followed by Taking Back Sunday's "One-Eighty by Summer." I surprisingly can't hear the little voice on the phone over the song, so I, rather reluctantly, turn the music down.

"Okay, NOW talk to me!" I say, slightly irritated. I can still barely make out the voice over the ringing in my ears, but I can tell what's being said. Anika is saying something about a stupid family holiday thing. I can't blame her.

"I mean, really, it's ONLY the fourth of July! Why do I have to spend it with my family?"

"I agree! And I have a solution! Since your family gets every other holiday with you and I claim joint custody, I get you on Saturday! We are going to find something to do! And I know JUST what we are going to do!" I holler. I know I don't have to yell, but hey, I feel like I'm underwater from lack of sound.

"And just WHAT are you planning, Aria?" Anika asks. "And stop grinning maniacally."

"How do you know I'm grinning maniacally?" I ask, peering out each window in turn.

"I can practically HEAR it!"

"Okay, then YOU have to stop, too, Anika," I say.

"Fine."

"And I can't tell you what I'm planning yet. I'll see you Saturday at my house around seven. Sound good? That way your family has you for the processed meat products and I get you for the rest of the night! Agreed?"

"You're a genius! See you Saturday!"

I hang up the phone with Anika and immediately go into frenzied-dialing mode. I pull a number out of the convenient and random phone book with access to any and every number you have never wanted (until now)! I feel like I'm waiting for hours before I hear an answer after four rings.

"Why do we even have a phone, un?" A slight pause occurs. "What do you want, yeah?"

"Best buddy Deidara, how ARE you?!" I squeal into the phone.

"Aria? How'd you get this number, un?"

"It's good to hear from you, too," I say sarcastically.

"Sorry, I was just surprised is all. So, you need me to blow someone up, yeah?"

"No, I just want to know if you have plans on Saturday around seven?"

"Not that I can think of, un. Why?"

"Wrong! Now you do! You're coming to my house, and make sure you bring PLENTY of ammunition!"

"You're grinning maniacally again, aren't you?"

"But of course."

"And why?"

"Because it's our favorite holiday! Why else? And there's kidnapping involved!"

"Awesome, un! And who are we kidnapping and why, yeah?" Deidara sounds excited now.

"Anika from a totally LAME family get together with processed pork and various other products of DOOM!! And you'll bring a good boy with you!"

"I'll bring Tobi with me? Why, un?"

"Because you just said you would! And Tobi's a good boy and is lots of fun! Plus, imagine HIM with a sparkler dancing around a bunch of highly explosive things in the middle of the night. Can you say boom?" I start cracking up from the mental image I've just created.

"You're right, yeah. I'll see you Saturday," Deidara says, "with Tobi, un."

I hear a squishing followed by voices in the background (indicated by italics).

"Deidara-sempai, Tobi is a good boy! Tobi brought your clay!"

"Thanks Tobi. Wait, where did you get this clay? I didn't have this much in my bags, un."

"Tobi smashed Aria so sempai would have more to give to Tobi to play with!"

"Damn you Tobi! You are NOT a good boy, un!"

There's a brief scuffle, a loud crash, and a long pause as Deidara picks up the phone again. "If I don't kill him first, yeah."

"Deidara, what did Tobi mean when he said he smashed me?"

"Umm…. GottogoseeyouSaturdayAriabye!" The line went dead. Shaking my head, I pull out my normal phonebook. I flip to the N's and dial a number. The phone is answered, but the only thing resembling a greeting is a brief, low-pitched grunt.

"Hey, you officially have no plans on Saturday at five. You're coming to my house, so spend the rest of the day sleeping, okay Shikamaru?"

"Whatever."

"Good. Now go back to sleep. Love yous!"

I hang up the phone, knowing that if I had told him to be there by seven, he'd have been about two hours late. Smart, right? I toss the phonebook aside, since I have the next two numbers memorized. The phone starts ringing, and there are many noises in the background as the phone is answered. The loudest – other than barking – is of a woman yelling, presumably at the male who answer the phone.

"WHAT?!"

"Geeze, Kiba, never mind!" I say, about to hang up the phone.

"Aww, no, I'm sorry, Aria. Onii-chan's on my tail about picking up Akamaru's chew toys when he's done chewing, plus the slobber, you know? Anyway, what can I do for you?"

"Well, Kibbles, I want to know if you have plans Saturday night?"

"N… Well, of course I do! But for you, I can cancel them! What's going on?"

"Nothing much," I say. I can tell he didn't have plans, but I'll play along. He's in love with me, but he won't admit it. Actually, I think he's the ONLY one who doesn't know that I know he's totally in love with me. Poor boy. I guess it's going to be like Hinata finding out that Naruto knew she loved him all along and just went along with it, pretending he didn't know. Except Naruto actually IS just that dense. "I just wondered if you'd want to do something with me around seven?"

"Sure, baby! Where are we going?" He sounds excited now. Stifling laughter at his Naruto-like enthusiasm, I answer him.

"My place. Make sure you bring Akamaru, okay, cutie?" Since I told him to bring Akamaru, I had to stroke his ego a little, right?

"Sure thing!" He pauses. "Are you sure you don't want me sooner? You know, like an hour, or a day or two?"

"Kibaaaa! I have to get everything ready first, silly!" Man, I'm SO good at hitting his nerves! I can practically hear him panting now! And there goes his leg, thumping away! "Tell Hana-chan and casa-san I said hello!"

"Sure thing!" A dull but loud thud rings through the phone's speaker. "Aaawoooo! Hana-chan! That hurt!"

"I said get off the phone," Hana yells, "and clean up Akamaru's slobber!"

"Arf ruff, bark bark bark!"

"What? Some of it's Kiba's? From WHAT?!" She yells, clearly exasperated. "What could possibly make Kiba drool…."

"Bark bark, arf!"

"What? He was drooling over a picture of Ari-oof!" You heard a war cry followed by what sounded like Kiba tackling Hana and Akamaru. Another brief scuffle is heard before Kiba speaks again.

"Heh, sorry about that, Aria," he says, emphasizing my name.

"No problem! ANYway, see you Saturday, Kibbles!"

"Yeah, see you."

I hang up the phone, cracking up when I know he can't hear me anymore. Of course, I live next door, so he can probably hear me anyway, since I'm probably laughing loudly enough. I put my fingers to my lips and whistle for Akamaru, too high-pitched for Kiba to hear. A few minutes pass, and he comes bounding in through my doggy door – installed especially for him AND Kiba! (*grins*)

"Hey, Akamaru!" I receive a "woof" in response. I can understand most of what he says, since my bloodline has traces of wolf ancestors in it. I have fangs for canines and heightened senses, and my eyes turn a golden color in the winter. Any other time, they're a cerulean blue. My strawberry-blonde hair – the highlights ARE natural – sheds a lot in the summer but stays extremely thick in the winter. I also have an uncanny wolf-like elegance and grace when I walk and fight… until I, inevitably, make a clumsy fool out of myself and fall flat on my face and/or rump. Yeah, I'm more accident-prone than Archie Andrews.

"So, you were telling me and Hana-chan what before Kiba rudely interrupted your tattling?" I say, grinning. "Was it REALLY a picture of me, buddy?"

Akamaru sneezes, a sure sign for a "yes." I grin.

"I KNEW it. So, Saturday isn't a date. Deidara, Tobi, and I are kidnapping Anika-" I begin before Akamaru interrupts me fitfully.

"I KNOW they're the bad guys, but come one! It's the fourth of July, and who better do you know for pyrotechnics than Deidara, the explosion king himself? Am I right? Plus, imagine TOBI with a sparkler dancing around a bunch of highly explosive things in the middle of the night. Can you say boom?" I start cracking up again, and Akamaru coughs his barking laughter.

"Anyway, we're kidnapping Anika from processed pork products of DOOM and her family at the annual get-together, and we're dragging Shikamaru, Kiba, and hopefully Kankuro, Gaara, and Temari. That reminds me! I still have to call them! So, you better go get Kiba out of trouble, right?"

Akamaru whines, and I laugh. "Of course, of course. I KNOW you don't drool when you play with your chew toys, buddy. Anyway, leave this under Kiba's kunai pouch tonight, okay?"

I chuckle lightly and hand Akamaru a picture of myself from the last time Anika, the whole Konoha and Suna crew, and I went down to the beach. It's an action shot of Anika, Kiba, Kankuro, and me having a two-on-two volleyball tournament in the sand. Gaara, being unbiased, was nice enough to referee for us. Besides, no one dared to argue with his calls! This is one of my favorite pictures, especially since Kankuro and I were kicking Anika and Kiba's rumps! I have to admit, I look REALLY good in that shot in my one-piece and cutoffs. I have an extra copy, so I hand it over to Akamaru.

"Just don't tell him I'm the one giving you all these photos to leave laying around, okay?" I wink and chuckle more as Akamaru wags his tail and takes off. I shake my head and smirk as I pick up the phone and dial Kankuro's number. The phone rings three times before someone answers it.

"Yes?" The impatient voice of everyone's favorite Kazekage comes across the line. I muse that he's in the middle of a huge pile of paperwork and has been interrupted one too many times today.

"Hey Gaara, love. Do you want me to call back later?"

"Aria!" He sounds utterly relieved to hear my voice. "Just what I needed! Please, talk! What can I do for you?"

"Good to hear your voice, too," I chuckle. "Actually, from what I can hear, you need a vacation. Am I right, or am I right?"

"Depends. What kind of 'vacation' do you have in mind?" He asks, also chuckling. The last time he and I took a "vacation," we ended up having to pull a half-nude (aka pant-less! *squeal!* -lol-) Kankuro out of the fourth Hokage's nose in Konoha. That's a LONG story! He had on the boxers I special-ordered for him with paw prints and my favorite flowers (sunflowers) on them. That's an even LONGER story!

"This time, I figured you, Tem, and Kanky could come to my house by Saturday at seven. I'm celebrating the fourth of July!"

"Why? What's so special about that day?"

"Well, I hear people in America blow things up on that day, and I want in on the deal!" Gaara laughs after I give my explanation. "So, are you coming or what?!"

"Of course Aria, love. We'll be there. Who else is coming?"

"Deidara, Tobi, and I are kidnapping Anika from processed pork products of DOOM and her family at their annual get-together, and I've told Shikamaru, Kiba, and Akamaru to also make an appearance. I told Shikamaru to be there by five, so he should be right on time. And Deidara's the best when it comes to explosions, and can you imagine TOBI with a sparkler dancing around a bunch of highly explosive things in the middle of the night. Can you say boom?" I crack up laughing and am pleased to hear Gaara laughing with me.

"You're right, Aria. We'll be there a couple of hours early to help you finish setting up and to make sure Deidara and Tobi actually make it into the village. Sound good?"

"Definitely! You're the best, love!"

"Was there ever a doubt?"

"Not as long as I've known you, Gaara-bear! You've never let me down, and I thank you for that! Anyway, meet Deidara and Tobi at… the fork in the road around five, okay?"

"Will do. Do you want to talk to Kankuro or Temari?"

"Are they busy?"

"Temari's cooking and Kankuro's cleaning his puppets. Who do you want to bother?"

"Hmm… just tell Temari I said hi, since she's cooking, and can you teleport the phone into Black Ant's belly?" I grin widely, knowing that I'll be able to really freak Kankuro out. I hear Gaara chuckle again.

"Of course. See you later, Aria."

"See you, love."

I hear a sifting sound that I identify as sand wrapping around the phone. Soon, I hear a light, muffled squeaking. Knowing that the teleportation has been a success, I sigh loudly.

"I know you get off on these sex games, but isn't it about time you let me out of here Kankuro?!" I yell as loudly as I can into the mouthpiece and hear Kankuro jump in fright.

"Aria?! What the hell?! Where are you?" He sounds frantic.

"Still stuck in your freaking puppet, you piece of crap! You better not have hidden my underwear again!" I hear him pause, probably confused, as he carefully opens the chamber and peeks inside. I start laughing uncontrollably, as I can only imagine the priceless look on his face upon his discovery.

"Aria," he says.

"Yes, my dear?" I ask, panting heavily from laughter.

"You suck." This revelation gets me started again.

"Poor Kankuro! You thought I was SERIOUS, didn't you?!" I exclaim as I laugh; I can only imagine the embarrassed look on his face right about now….

"Aria, can you hurry? I'm in the middle of something here!"

"What? Polishing precious Crow?! FINE! I didn't want to talk to you anyway! I'll just call Kiba again and talk to HIM some more instead." I grumble loudly, carefully moving the mouthpiece away so it sounds as if I'm about to hang up.

"Wait a second, Ria!"

*Bingo!* I think. "What, Kankuro?"

"I'm sorry," he sighs. "It's been a long day, and I got into a fight with some Ninja, leaving Crow and Black Ant in bad shape. I was trying to fix them before Temari finishes dinner."

"So, you lost, didn't you?"

"Shut up! I didn't LOSE! I just… didn't… win."

"Yeeeeaaah. Next time, just call me like you used to, okay? I'll beat 'em up for ya! 'Cuz I wove my wittle cwanky kitty, isn't dat wight, Kanky-kun?" I stifle a giggle as I imagine the multiple anime veins popping out all over his head.

"You're so funny."

"And that's why you wove me! Anyway, talk to Gaara about your Saturday night plans, and I'll see you then, okay?"

"Okay, whatever." He sighs as I continue to chuckle under my breath.

"Love you, Kankuro!"

"Yeah, yeah, love you, too, Ria."

I hang up the phone and rub my hands together. I turn up my music a little and am pleased to realize that the song playing is none other than "Toxicity" by System of a Down. After grabbing a conveniently placed pen and small, spiral notebook with variously-sized horizontal stripes in chocolate, light brown, tan, light blue, and white on one side and quarter-sized chocolate, light brown, tan, and white circles on a light blue background on the other, I begin to plan Saturday evening. I left Deidara in charge of explosives, so I plan to go buy more tomorrow. I make a list of ingredients to get in order to make Anika's favorite foods and a couple of my own. I plan out some music and make a note to buy more matches, since I used the last one just now lighting a white grapefruit scented candle. As I finish making my list, "Sticking with You" by Addison Road comes on my stereo. I crank it up as loud as it will go, and I start jumping/dancing around my living room like a crazy person, enjoying living solo, not for the first time tonight. For now, I'm enjoying the bachelorette life, but maybe one day I'll get a roommate. Maybe. I sing along with the chorus as I notice Kiba's silhouette in the window. I refrain from smirking and hold out the final chord; I am pleased when I hear "Control" by MuteMath come on after Addison Road. Grinning widely, I begin to sing and dance around again. I make a lap around the entire room. As I pass the window where Kiba's peeping in at me, I yank the curtain entirely open and wave madly at Kiba, still grinning, and motion for him to come in through the front door. I turn down the music so that it's just background noise, and hear the door open to a red-faced Kiba.

"Hellooooo Kibbles! What did you drop outside my window earlier today that you just remembered and had to go looking for this late at night?" I grin as I see his blush deepen. He tries to play it off every time I catch him watching me in the evenings, which is surprisingly often, all things considered.

"I just… wanted to know why the music was so loud. That's all, Aria." He says, looking at the ground and shuffling his feet, obviously embarrassed.

"You couldn't have called?" I ask pointedly.

"You… you didn't answer. The music must have been too loud," he defends himself. I turn to look at the phone holder with a surprised look on my face.

"You're right. There's no way I could have heard it, Kibbles. I'm sorry I doubted you, and I'm so glad I can trust you and that there are NO secrets between us AT ALL!" I exclaim excitedly. I play along again. He still hasn't figured out that there's a light on the phone holder that lights up when I've missed a call. And right now, the light's still dark. He turns red again at my words and starts muttering his agreement. Akamaru is behind him, laughing in his merry and barking way.

"Woof, arf arf, bark!"

"Of course she… shouldn't listen to her music that loud, Akamaru! But I'm sure she knows that!" Kiba says nervously. I have to hide a grin and smother my laughter because Akamaru plainly told me that Kiba only wanted to come over here to watch me jump around like a lunatic because he loves me. But I've never told Kiba that I can understand Akamaru and the rest of his dogs just as well as he, Hana, and his mother can. It's just never come up in conversation. And even though he knows I'm part wolf like he's part dog, I guess it's never occurred to him to wonder if I share all of his traits.

"I know my music's loud, Akamaru," I wink at him, sharing our secret, "but I happen to like it that way. Besides, I LOVE this song!"

"When It Rains" by Paramore comes on, and after turning up the music, I grab Kiba by his wrists, pulling him into awkward and wild dancing patterns, leading him in circles around my living room. He turns as red as Hinata when Naruto speaks to her, so I'm surprised that he doesn't faint. A rap song I don't know comes on, but I recognize it as one that Kankuro added the last time he got his hands on my Zune. Shrugging slightly and turning around so my back's to Kiba, I smirk at Akamaru as I begin to grind backwards. I grab Kiba's hands and place them lightly on my hips while throwing mine up in the air with my eyes closed. He dances with me, and soon he's panting heavily. I love the feel of his jeans sliding across my deep grey-blue yoga pants, which I only wear because they're lighter but as comfortable as sweats. Plus, they show off my ass. I can feel a bulge growing in his pants, but he hasn't seemed to notice it yet. Smirking more widely, I start grinding harder into his pelvis and over-exaggerate my motions. His hands caress my hips lightly and pull me closer to him. I hate to admit it, but I'm really starting to enjoy myself. I realize that I'm no longer doing this just to tease him as "Follow (1st Movement of the Odyssey)" by Incubus comes on, and I continue my motions, losing myself in the music and in enjoyment. Just as I'm about to spin around and face him to continue dancing so I can see the look on his face and in his eyes, he backs away suddenly, looking embarrassed. I stop dancing and look around at him confused, panting slightly. He has a wild look in his eye, like a deer caught in the headlights. Akamaru's barking laughter is heard across the room, and Kiba mutters for him to shut up.

"Kiba, wha-"

"I'm sorry, Aria, I um… have to go. Well, uh, good night! See you tomorrow!" He says all of this as he's rushing out the door, trying to hide his arousal. I smirk and curl my finger at Akamaru, who pads over. I stroke his head and ask him a question.

"Was it something I did?"

Akamaru sneezes and informs me that I just seriously turned Kiba on. I laugh a little, relieved that I didn't just run him off. Akamaru looks at me questioningly, and I sigh. I scratch behind his ears and shake my head.

"I don't think I'm just messing with him anymore, buddy." I lean closer and whisper so that no one could overhear by chance. "Don't tell him, but I think I'm falling in love with him, too. But I, unlike him, will tell him Saturday. Promise. Just as long as you don't tell anyone, okay, Kama?"

I use my special nickname for him, and he softly woofs his agreement. Smiling and scratching under his chin a little, I hug him goodnight. I tell him that I'll see him and Kiba tomorrow and to tell Kiba I said goodnight before shutting off the stereo and heading up the stairs and down the hallway to my room. I know I should get some sleep since it's almost eleven and I have to shop tomorrow. I smile to myself as I lay under the fuzzy blanket Kankuro got me for Christmas three years ago. I decide to make my party a sleepover and can't wait to tell everyone. Smirking, I pick up the phone and call Deidara. I pull on my pajamas as I wait for him to answer: a plain white tank top with flannel pajama bottoms. The black pants have paw prints and the Inuzuka clan's facial marks all over them. The butt of them reads, "Kiba was here." He got them for me for my last birthday, and I absolutely love them. Akamaru had asked me what I wanted, and I mentioned I could use a new pair of flannel pajama pants. He also asked what color, and I had told him to surprise me. I was really surprised at my party, and I've worn them every night since then.

"It's late, and what do you want, yeah? I have half a mind to blow you up, un!"

"Hey Deidara, it's just me again."

"Oh, sorry about that, Aria. What do you need?"

"I've decided that my party's going to be a sleepover, unless you don't want to stay. So, you and Tobi have to bring pajamas! The Suna crew's coming, too, and here's how you're going to get into the village undetected: You're to meet Gaara, Kankuro, and Temari at the fork in the road before Konoha at five. Gaara will teleport you to my house when you get closer to the village gate, and don't try to blow them up, okay? And don't tick Gaara off. I'll kill you. He needs a break, so this is going to be a NICE weekend, got it?"

"Whatever you say, Aria, yeah. That all, un?"

"Yep."

"Going to wear those pajamas dog boy got you last year, yeah?"

"Yep."

"See you then." He hung up snickering. Sighing, I dial Gaara's number again. The phone rings twice before the further-frazzled voice comes over the line.

"What NOW could you POSSIBLY want?!"

"…"

"WELL?! What the HELL do you want?! I'm waiting!"

"… I love you, Gaara."

"Aria?" He drops the phone and scrambles to pick it back up. "Aria! Thank Jashin it's you! I have a question!"

"Of course you're welcome to come now, love. You're always welcome at my house, expected or otherwise. Anything else?"

"No, and thank you! I'm about to kill someone here! And what can I do for you, love?"

"Well, just make sure to bring pajamas and not to get a hotel. You are all staying with me! It's a… wait for it… sleepover, yeah!"

"Sounds good. We're leaving NOW."

"Are the other two still going to go with you to meet Dei and Tobi?"

"Nah. No point. You can come with me, though."

"Okay. See you in two days! And stay as long as you like! Love you!"

"Love you, too. Goodbye, Aria."

"See you, Gaara."

I hang up the phone, shaking my head, knowing that Gaara will absolutely refuse to stop for sleeping. I decide to make up their bedrooms while I'm thinking about it. I head down the hallway and open the closet. I pull out eight blankets, a mixture of quilts, unfitted sheets, and comforters, knowing the Suna kids will use the sheets, Deidara and Tobi will use the heavy comforters, and Kiba, Shikamaru, and Anika will use the quilts, like I do. I lay two sheets, two quilts, and the two comforters in the master bedroom, and I take the other sheet and quilt to my second guest bedroom. Conveniently enough for me, my parents had died in an ANBU mission after paying off the house. I'll probably be living here for the rest of my life. I pull out extra pillows on my second trip to the large closet and toss six in the first room and two into the second. My third, fourth, and fifth trips consist of me dragging three sleeping mats to the first room, three more to the same, and three to the second. My sixth and final trip consists of me grabbing eight pillowcases and shutting the closet door. I toss six into the first room and two into the second. Heading back into the first room, I lay out the six mats with comfortable space in-between them, pull on the sheets, stuff the pillows inside of cases, and toss them unceremoniously onto the makeshift beds. I leave the blankets stacked up, figuring the guests can choose their own beds. I go to the second room and repeat the process. I'll use my own blanket and pillow Saturday night, but for now, I'll use my own bed, too. I snuggle down under my blanket and am asleep before midnight.

***I generally hate time-skips most of the time, but short ones are okay as long as they're not weeks or something. This is only until I wake up! What?! Did you WANT to hear about me sleeping for seven hours?  Zzz. That's about it. Now, on with the story! Which will continue in Part B! -grins widely-***