You Wanna Bet? Chapter 1

I jumped out of my bed as soon as my uncle's car pulled out of the driveway. The relatives were finally gone! I scratched my cat, Levi Strauss, on the head and made my way out of my room. I hurried down the last few stairs to see my dad waiting at the bottom, his arms crossed.

"Hi, papa!" I squealed, giving him a hug. He snorted and gave me a pat on the head. "Hiding from your uncle again, are we?"

I rolled my eyes. "Come on, Dad. You know that he scares the living bazooka out of me." He laughed and unblocked the path to the kitchen. "Come on, he's a really nice man. He even brought you a beautiful painting to have as a gift. Why don't you go look later on?"

All of my relatives work in the art business. My uncle Danny, loves to bring over his abtsract paintings that he thinks I love. I let out a small groan, and tried to go into the kitchen without letting what he said sink in. His giantic arm blocked the doorway. "I mean it, Esther. It's down in the garage."

I sighed and went under his arm. I heard him grumbling about me being a rude girl and blah blah blah. That's all I ever hear in this rat hole.

I grabbed a snack and a Coke and sat down in the kitchen. The weather was foggy and dreary, which meant no jogging. Great jumping kangaroos, everything was against me!

I threw away my trash and went down to the den, where my brothers where engulfed in a video game. I pushed the vacant chair out of the way , into the tv screen. They groaned and mentioned what a pain and butt-head I was. Oh joy.

I just ignored their comments and walked a little way to the garage door. I pulled my black hoodie closer to me, since the garage was as cold as an ice box. I found the light switch and the dreary garage turned into a bright room, but it was still just as dreary.

I saw the art stand was covered up by a cover, so I yanked it off, thinking that it was another ballistic one eye shape thingy painting. But it wasn't.

The painting was a forest like surrounding at the part closest to you, but it looked like a desert off in the distance. The painting was mesmerizing, I couldn't help staring at it. It reminded me of Gaara and the whole Naruto show.

Before I knew it, the scenery in the painting started to spread around me. The garage seemed to disappear, and I was soon above the scenery in the painting. As soon as I sighed, I felt myself falling. I closed my eyes and hit the ground with a thud.

I opened my eyes and spat out the grass that was in my mouth. I sat up and looked around. Where in the name of Boggy Jones was I?

There was a pain coming from my chest, and I fell to the ground. "Owch! I must have landed on my boobs too hard! What an awesome day I'm having!" I thought out loud. There was soon some laughter coming somewhere from the forest surrounding the small meadow I luckily landed in. It sounded like.. Kankuro!

"I know you're out there, stupid. Just show yourself. " I growled. Sure enough, cat man stepped out of the forest, carrying his puppet. "Sorry. I didn't know anyone else was here in the forest." He replied.

Hold on one smokin minute.. He actually responded to me? What was going on?! "You can see me?" I asked, getting up. He looked at me like I was crazy. "Yeah. You sure you're okay?"

I completely ignored him and went right up to him. I put my hand on his shoulder and sure enough, I could feel it.

Oh my skittles, I was in the world of Naruto!! I jumped and danced around like a hyperactive squirrel. "Yes! Ha!" I squealed, totally forgetting that Kankuro was standing right next to me.

He cleared his throat, which totally stopped me in my tracks. I froze, and turned to face him. He had this weird look on his face. Pull yourself together, Esther!

"I'm sorry. I've had a rough trip and I just fell out of that tree." I lied, pointing to a tree on the other side of the meadow. He peered at me and smiled. "How would you like to come to the Sand Village with me? I live there and they can make sure that you're okay."

I nearly fainted. Gaara live in th Sand Village. Stupid! Gaara was Kankuro's BROTHER!! I nodded. "That seems fair. I always wanted to go there." I said, trying to sound casual.

He nodded. "Cool. I'm Kankuro. You are?" I smiled back. "Esther. Nice to me ya!"