Midnight Summer

Two

Edited

0
00
000
00
0

A morning can go from bad to worse in only a matter of minutes. Gwyn realizes this now as she, for the umpteenth time this morning, glances back at the map in her hands with a frown marring her forehead. She can see now that she should have taken the offer to getting a ride to school. If she had then maybe, just maybe, she would not be wandering around the town. Being lazy has a few good pointers when you are new to an even newer town – less a chance of getting lost.

Her gaze flickers up to the street, scanning the road for a sign that is familiar, and groans. She spots one street sign, looks to the map, and scans. After finding it she sighs.

"Unbelievable." She mutters to herself.

The sign that she just saw is a long distance from the school. At least Granny circled their house in bright red ink, a 'Here I am' sign for her to find with ease, and she uses that as a way to retrace her steps. If she can hunt down the place where she made the wrong turn, then maybe she can get it right this time. If she is lucky, she will get to school and not get into trouble since she is the new student.

In time, she finds the street she is looking for. This time, with her last error printed in her head, she looks at the map for directions before walking across the directed intersection. As she continues down the street, a low hum of voices breaks the edge of her hearing.

Her rust-colored eyes dart up from the top of the map, take in her surroundings. She can see the school's tower, a black silhouette in the blue horizon, from where she stands. If that is anything to judge the school by, than she can assume that the school isn't going to be one floor like her old school was. In a way, it is a relief. The halls should be less crowded, at least she hopes so.

With a grin, she folds the map and stuffs it into her backpack without a second thought. She can see the building, a distant shadow it might be, but she can see it. If that as a guide, she knows that she will find it even if she gets turned around.

As she walks, she takes the time to look around. The current area appears to be a local spot if all the people milling about are any type of indication. In fact, the venders lining the street and the cafés call to her as she walks by them.

If only she didn't have to go to school. Had she stayed back in the bustling, hot home of hers near the ocean, then she would have skipped without a second thought. Here, however, in an unfamiliar place – it would best be left to a better time. A time where she actually knows what she is doing.

The closer she comes to the new school, a school that has towering mass of stones hovering over the forest that surrounds it, she can only wish that all schools looked like what she sees now. From this side of the street, she can see hints of a great, stone wall so white it shines with a brilliance of its own and the large gates that lead to it, an arched gate with black metalwork as the door, screams of wealth.

As she cuts into an alley, one that leads into another well lit street, a new sound captures her attention. She can hear yelling and laughter. Yelling that, at the moment, nearly boarders screaming and the laughter, it is sharp and humorless.

She eases closer as someone roars, "You idiot! I told you this would happen, but no, you never–" the voice is cut off by another voice, "Will you shut up!"

For a moment, Gwyn debates the idea of turning around and going the other direction. That thought is pushed to the back of her mind in seconds when they argument picks up and, from what she can tell at this point, both of them are male; neither are happy.

"You know what? Walk to school by yourself." This is the one who told the other to shut up, the one who sounded irritated by the other's ranting.

Not a moment passes as the other snarls, "Fine. I will!"

Within moments she can see the two males, one with his back to her and walking away and the other is sitting on the side of the street with his backpack next to him. Her attention is focused on the sitting one, the one with the golden hair that would easily be spotted in a large crowd.

She slows to a stop when she notices that he's talking to himself, "Why in the hell did I run my mouth off again? That stupid dobe left me behind…and I don't want to walk alone!"

He looks up. It is almost like he senses her standing there, a few feet from where he sits. Her heads to the right, in her general direction, and she sees the surprise in his azure eyes. That shining surprise turns into a blazing happiness.

Yeah, I should have turned around…

With the grace of an athlete, he bounces to his feet. He slings his backpack over his shoulder and grins. The smile on his face spreads from ear to ear; it is a look that makes him seem that he has not a care in the world.

"Ho there, friend!" he greets with an energetic wave as he closes the distance between them with large strides. She barely gets out a 'hey' when bursts out another question, "You lost? 'Cause, if you are, I can help!"

Creepy, I'd say…

She shifts the strap on her shoulder as she asks, "Lost? Not really. Anyway, is this the right way to Konoha Academy?"

She wouldn't think it possible for that smile of his to get any larger unless she saw it for herself. The look on his face, beaming like a child on Christmas, looks ready to jump off as he says, "It sure is! Are you heading that way?"

She's rather tempted to hit him for such a stupid question. If she wasn't going in that direction, would she have asked?

Inwardly, she groans. On the outside, a half-grin makes its way on her face as she settles on hand on her hip. "I am."

He grabs onto her wrist, his mouth moving a mile an hour, as he starts thundering one question after the other in no peculiar order. The only thing she can make out of the onslaught is three things: the first is that they are going to the same school. That is followed by the fact he loves roman and that they teachers are not nice.

Within the next fifteen minutes, the school gates come into view. The sight of them steals her breath away. They are far larger than she had thought they would be and they hold a certain quality. They hold a greatness that she cannot even to describe. The ancient arch of the gate and the equally old wall of white marble are inviting. She feels as if she can relax without having to worry.

As they walk past the gates, into the courtyard of the school, she looks over her shoulder at the disappearing gates. She fears that if they leave her sight they will vanish.

Her attention turns to the male who is talking nonstop and smiles. He tugs her along, towards the benches set under the blooming cherry trees, and plops down on the varnished wood seat. He pulls her down next to her as he pulls out a sheet of paper.

"What's your first hour class?" he asks a moment later.

She looks over the paper before answering, "Advanced Art."

His brows shoot up into his hairline as a low whistle escapes him. He then grins, "Honor Student?"

She shifts, uncomfortable about the change in subject, but nods. "Yeah, not my fault."

He shrugs, "So what, you're really smart. I don't think anyone cares about that."

"Anyway, I'd better get to class. See ya, got that?"

She nods and, as he goes to leave, she calls out to him. He turns, a light smile on his face.

"Yeah?"

"You never told me your name." she folds her arms across her chest as he laughs.

"The name's Uzumaki. Naruto, Uzumaki."