"Does everybody understand the plan?" Sharrkan asked the group before him.
"Yes, for the hundredth time." Jafar said, unamused. "What I don't understand is why you rearranged the papers in my office." He wore a white and green tracksuit that looked just as distressed as he was.
"As much as I would like to make this about me, we are here for our friend Yamuraiha." Sharrkan poked Jafar in the nose. Masrur put his hand up. "Yes?" He pointed to his bulky, tall friend.
"I don't understand why we're doing this." he said.
"Because you idiot, we need to make her remember!" Pisti elbowed him. "It was partially our fault she lost her memory before."
"I also don't understand why you're wearing a ski mask." Masrur said flatly.
"I'm going to be wearing one too!" Sharrkan pulled a black ski mask out of his jacket and stretched it onto his face. "Makes the mission more real."
"Great, now you can both scare her to death." Jafar rolled his eyes.
"I don't know, I think they look cool." Sinbad added and swung his arm around Jafar's neck. "I want one too!" He wasn't very happy that he arrived in bulky coat and jeans. He needed style.
"You don't get a say in this." Jafar snapped. "The fact that you convinced me to come to this soon to be midnight kidnapping attempt is a miracle. So please try to seem like a normal adult."
Sinbad crossed his arms. "We never do anything fun. You never take me places." he complained.
"You want to do this right now?! In front of everybody?!" Jafar yelled.
"If you're going to be complaining can you do it at home?" Sharrkan said. "You didn't have to come. Hinahoho, Drakon, and Spartos didn't agree." He slung his backpack onto the decorative rock outside Yamuraiha's house.
Jafar stomped. "I'm already here aren't I? My feet are soaked. I just know one of you will do something stupid and I will probably have to clean it up."
"You know it mom." Pisti winked at him.
"Pisti you're like 12 I don't even know how you're allowed to be out this late."
"I'm 16!" Pisti yelled.
"Uh guys-" Sharrkan interrupted them. "I mean I know you want to brawl- or something, but I would really appreciate it if you didn't scream so Matal would hear us."
"Oh right, her dad hates you." Masrur said, almost smiling.
"Most dads hate him." Pisti added. "He's like almost every dad's worst fear."
"Thank you Pisti. That's really great of you to say." Sharrkan said sarcastically. "Now if someone could please take a small rubber duck from my backpack so we could throw it at her window and get her attention- that would be great."
"Why ducks?" Jafar asked when he picked one up.
"I thought of throwing rocks, but that would probably break her window."
"Wow Sharrkan, that's actually responsible of you. " Jafar beamed.
"I guess you rubbed off on me." he smirked.
They all pitched a throw at her window. All of them hit. The good thing about using the ducks was that they would bounce off and they could use them again if she didn't see it on the first try. Luckily, they didn't need to.
Surprised, and a little bit scared, Yamuraiha cautiously approached the window and looked out. A group of people she didn't know stood below, all smiling at her. Two were in ski masks. She tugged at her baby blue robe to cover up her low cut nightgown. "Are you trying to break in?" she asked. "If you don't leave right now I'm calling my dad!" she yelled.
"Sharrkan you didn't tell me she got hot and had a huge rack!" Pisti nudged him. "She still has nothing on my contour though."
Sharrkan rolled his eyes."You're ridiculous, but this is why I love you." he whispered to Pisti. He took off his ski mask. "Hey! It's me!" He called out to Yamuraiha. "Can you please just come down?"
"I should've known it was you!" Yamuraiha crossed her arms. "Why are you even here?"
"Yamuraiha, it's me Jafar!" Jafar cupped his hands so his voice would project better. "Do you remember me? Sorry we're bothering you, aren't we? This was Sharrkan's idea."
"Sorry I don't remember you- I feel a little sad I don't you seem like a nice guy!"
"Hey Yamu! Yamu! Do you remember me?!" Pisti waved her arms frantically. "I'm your best friend!"
"Sorry person in the ski mask, I don't know who you are either."
"What about me?" Sinbad wiggled his eyebrows. "I'm sure I haven't left your thoughts." He winked at her.
"You're creeping me out." Yamuraiha said.
Sinbad slumped down. "Jafar you don't think I'm creepy do you?" He held the strings on his tracksuit. "You still think I'm handsome, don't you?"
"I'm sure she didn't mean it you old man."
"I'm not old!"
"Well, if you'll excuse me-" Yamuraiha pushed down on the window to close it.
"Wait!" Sharrkan stopped her. "Come with us! I know that you're frustrated because you don't remember any of us- and truthfully speaking some of us are a little creepy," he side eyed Sinbad. "But you have to go with us, we're your friends we want you to remember!"
"Sorry. I don't want to." she said frankly.
"See I told you guys she wouldn't be up for it." Sharrkan began.
"What are you talking about this was your idea-" Sharrkan covered Jafar's mouth before he could finish his sentence.
"Use reverse psychology it always worked on her before." he whispered to them, to which they all silently agreed to. "She's too uptight and boring to go on a night adventure. But it's okay because she would have ruined things anyways." He loudly said.
"Is that even what reverse psychology means?"
"Huh?" Yamuraiha opened up her window more. "What was that?!" she asked.
"We're just talking about how bland and boring you are!" Pisti yelled.
"Yeah, this is not the Yamuraiha I knew." Sinbad pretended to be disappointed.
"Come on Masrur, Jafar, you also have to say something." Sharrkan whispered to them.
"Yamuraiha don't come down here." Masrur said. It wasn't as convincing as Sinbad or Pisti- well, it wasn't convincing at all, but he did his best and that was all that mattered.
"Yeah it's okay if you don't go." Jafar said. "Because we are going to have soooo much fun." His sarcasm seeped through his performance.
"I'm not boring!" she defended herself. "I'm one of the most fun people I know!"
"Well, why don't you prove it?" Sharrkan taunted. "You definitely can tell me all about how fun you are, but I don't believe it unless you show me."
"I will!" she exclaimed. "Give me five minutes to get ready!" She closed her window and turned the light on in her room.
"And that's how to catch an uptight hothead." Sharrkan said proudly.
Jafar rolled his eyes. "You seriously should become some kind of manipulative mastermind when you're older."
"That's the plan."
Yamuraiha went down the hallway and passed her dad's room where he softly snored as quietly as she possibly could have. She tiptoed down the stairs only creaking a few of the floorboards and then ran out the door hoping it was all done well.
"Hey so she made it!" Pisti gleamed. "Isn't it much nicer out than in at this time?"
"More like cold." Yamuraiha said. She could see her breath before her and it was quite troubling as she dressed lightly in an old gray crew neck and matching sweatpants. "So what adventure are you taking me on?"
"We're going to get burgers and fries." Sharrkan revealed.
Yamuraiha blinked. "I'm sorry what?" She scratched her head. "You're telling me that I almost risked getting in HUGE trouble to go on a late night snack hunt?! No. No. I'm done."
"Come on Yamu! You gotta stay!" Pisti stopped her from walking away. "If you don't I'll be heartbroken."
"Fine." she reluctantly agreed. "The food better be good."
"It's mediocre at best." Sharrkan admitted.
"So I got dressed for mediocre food. Great. Just what I needed."
"But it's bonding time with us!" Sinbad approached Yamuraiha to give her a hug, which she dodged.
"Ah, forgive him please Yamuraiha he's had a few drinks." Jafar pulled him back by his ear. "You're embarrassing us." he said in a strict tone.
"Yeah- I kind of figured that out. Anyways, are we walking to the place or-?"
"No we're taking Sinbad's SUV. Seven seats. Great for large groups." Sharrkan answered.
"So the drunk guy is driving?" She raised an eyebrow. "Well my childhood friends seem to have made good choices."
"I'm driving." Jafar said. "I always drive." He glared at Sinbad while saying so.
The car was parked just on the road a few meters away from Yamuraiha's house. Wind blew in their face and it had begun to snow. Walking through the tall grass didn't help much either.
"It's just a twenty minute drive from here." Jafar reassured Yamuraiha. He started up the engine and they began to move.
She was sitting in between Pisti and Sharrkan. The ride was going to feel longer than a twenty minute one, she already knew that. Sharrkan kept moving around and Pisti chirped in her ear all about how much fun she was going to have.
"Could you please stop moving around so much?" she asked him nicely.
"No." He stuck out his tongue. "Get used to it."
"Stop wiggling or else I'm going to take of Pisti's high heel boot and lodge it in your eye." she threatened.
"At least do me the favour of taking both of my eyes out so I don't have to look at your face." he shot back.
"Woo!" Pisti clapped. "This is just like when we were kids."
"No it's not!" Sharrkan and Yamuraiha said in unison. They turned away from one another.
"It's snowing a lot isn't it?" Pisti tried to lighten the mood. "Look at how much there is outside."
"Yeah lots." Sharrkan said.
"I really don't want snow." Yamuraiha added.
"Is there anything you do want?" he asked her.
"For you to be quiet."
"You know what?"
"Guys don't fight back there." Jafar turned his head quickly. "Do you have a phone or something to entertain you?"
Yamuraiha's heart skipped a beat. "My phone! What if something happens?! I don't have it! Jafar turn back now!" She sunk her fingers into Jafar's seat.
"Yamuraiha we're almost there, can't you tough it out?"
"No no no!" she exclaimed. "I really don't feel comfortable without it!"
"Here." Sharrkan passed her a cellphone. "You can have mine if that makes you feel any better. Feel free to unlock it and add in your emergency contacts." He didn't look at her once while he said that.
She calmed down. "Wh- what's the password?"
"4,2,0,6,9." he answered her, silently laughing to himself.
She rolled her eyes. "Of course," she punched in the numbers. She clicked on the contacts icon. "I'm just adding my dad's number- you can delete it later, but he's a good guy and will help if you need anything." Message notifications showed up on the top of the screen. The name Priscilla with a 'hey'. "Oh your friend is texting you."
Pisti grabbed Yamuraiha's hand which held the phone to read the screen. "Oh Priscilla still talks to you huh?" She wiggled her eyebrows.
"Give me that!"
Another message notification, except this time it was from Georgi. 'I wish u were here' it read. And another one from Jei, 'what are u doing?'
"Why are so many girls texting you?" Yamuraiha asked.
"Because he's texting all of them." Pisti exclaimed. "He's very popular!"
"Ah," Yamuraiha raised an eyebrow and smirked. "So you're one of those eh?"
"Whatever- I change my mind, give me back my phone!" He reached to get it, but Yamuraiha put her palm on his face.
"Let's see what you have in your photos." she teased.
"No don't!"
"Yeah! I want to see too!" Pisti encouraged Yamuraiha.
"There pictures on there that um…" he began.
"Oh." Yamuraiha locked the phone. "NEVERMIND." She dropped it in her lap.
"I don't care I still want to see!" Pisti said. "Nothing I haven't seen last ski trip," she giggled.
"Pisti! I thought we promised not to talk about the ski trip incident!"
"Why what happened on ski trip?" Yamuraiha asked.
The car fell silent. Jafar coughed and side eyed Sinbad who was just as confused on the whole matter as he, Masrur continued to stare out the window, and Sharrkan furiously shook his head for Pisti to keep quiet and her smile just got wider and wider as he looked more and more nervous.
"Bow-"
"Pisti don't you dare!" Sharrkan was practically yelling.
"Bow chika-"
"Pisti if you say anymore I swear I will come into your house at night and break all of your stupid horse trophies."
"Bow chika wow wow." she blurted out.
"Gross." Yamuraiha said.
A vein popped on Sharrkan's neck. "Bringing you was a mistake." He pointed to Pisti who seemed to be pleased with herself.
"I didn't say anything I just made a sound!" she played it off innocently, a talent she was the master at.
"Really? Cause what else could that sound have meant?!"
"Use your imagination, it could have been anything."
"What a plot twist." Jafar rolled his eyes. "Really I didn't expect that from either of you." he said sarcastically. "Well this ride just got more awkward than it needed to be- and I'm sure that Sinbad is falling asleep as we speak, but we're here, so if anyone wants some food?"
"Food sounds good." Yamuraiha nodded. Anything to be out of that packed car. It was difficult for her to believe that these were actually her friends. Each of them seemed so out of place. Their group was a rag doll composed of the most colourful and eccentric people she had ever seen- and she'd only known them for twenty minutes.
Outside was still cold. But it was a different cold. The type of cold you feel just before you step into a new and exciting warm place. That place was the charming diner with a neon pink sign that read 'Cashmere Burgers'. The r in 'Cashmere' was burnt out and so was the e in 'Burgers'. Even so, the place seemed to be well kept and clean and there wasn't much people around.
The inside felt like an artsy cafe. Dark wooden floorboards, hanging lights, and modern paintings. Not what Yamuraiha was expecting from a place in a rural area.
"This place is actually pretty." she admitted.
"I knew you would love it." Pisti said.
"Oh and here-" Yamuraiha handed Sharrkan his phone back. "I don't think I need it really- I was just panicking in the car, cause a new place and a car full of strangers. I needed something that made me feel safe."
"A thank you would be good."
"Thank you." she said.
"Anyways should we get a table or are we all going to stand around here?" Pisti exclaimed.
The colored glass tables fit in with the rustic modern vibe. The frame of the table was metallic and seemed a bit worn, but in good shape nonetheless. It felt just like the city, but at the same time it didn't. It held a charm which was hard to come by in the city, but had similar designs to popular cafes.
"Can we get a table please?" Jafar asked the waiter walking towards them.
"Take any that you want there's no one here," they chuckled. "I'll get you all some water in the meanwhile." They ran into the back and opened a sturdy door which had the sign 'employees only' on top of it.
They took the table in the middle of the room.
Yamuraiha sighed. "So... What's good here?"
"Menu is right in front of you." Sharrkan said. "Why don't you read it?"
"Because I would loooove to hear your opinion." She put her hands on her cheeks and moved in closer to him. "So I'm listening." She blinked and her bright blue eyes twinkled.
He pushed her face back. "Please don't get so close to me." he huffed.
She laughed. "You're shy after all." She poked him in the shoulder. "I didn't expect someone who broke into my house to react like that."
"More like I like my personal space." He crossed his arms. "Just order." He pushed the menu closer to her.
Pisti snickered. "You're right you haven't changed at all." she teased Sharrkan. "Still can't say anything after all this time. Fumbling in front the people you actually have feelings for."
"Would you like to me to mention ski trip to Spartos?" Sharrkan said, a sort of confidence appeared on his face- and terror on Pisti's. "I can just message him all about that. Because you seem to like bringing up the past."
She waved her hands frantically."I'll stop- I promise never to speak of it again for as long as I live and to never ever tease you again!"
"Oh right- speaking of the past, that reminds me. Yamuraiha, I have some photos I have saved that I wanted to show you." Jafar took out a few Polaroids from his wallet. "I have pictures of us as kids if you want to see." He slid them across the table to her.
"Oh." She took a look at one with all of them posing with their hands folded. "Aw! Is that me in that big witch hat?" Her younger self had missing teeth and an eye infection. "Why do I look so busted up?"
"Maybe because you actually used to have fun." Sharrkan said.
"Well at least I didn't wear a dinosaur costume." Yamuraiha shot back. "Who is that?"
"Drakon." Sinbad answered. "And he was a dragon. Not a dinosaur."
"I'm pretty sure that's a dinosaur costume, Sin." Jafar corrected him.
"You're always against me." Sinbad huffed as he turned away from Jafar.
"You're always so emotional when you're drunk." Jafar scolded him. "You'll forget about all of this next morning."
Yamuraiha moved onto the next photo: a six year old Sharrkan holding a few flowers and crying. "Why is he crying?"
"A girl indirectly broke his heart." Masrur spoke up.
"Who was it?"
"I was six it doesn't matter." Sharrkan swiped the photo from her hand. "Maybe you should just finish going through the rest and not ask something every few seconds."
"Well maybe I just want to know about my past." She rolled her eyes. "Whatever, I won't ask anything about you." She looked through the other photos. Most of them was just them playing in the forest, but there was one that caught her attention. "What is this?" She pointed to a rope attached to a tree branch overlooking a river.
"Uh-" Jafar scratched the back of his neck. "A rope swing?" he said.
"Yeah, I know that, but I don't know- I feel like there was something else about it."
"Some people used to smoke there. That's what you're pondering about." Sharrkan took the photo from her hands.
"Pondering? Really? Did you just pull a thesaurus from somewhere?"
"My word bank is quite extensive, jay." He pinched her nose.
"Jay?"
"Your hair is blue like a blue jay, and you yell a lot and chase off anything in your territory."
"A, that is the lamest nickname ever- not only because it just doesn't have any special ring to it, but it's also a normal person's name- so it can't really be a nickname and a name all at once. And b, I am not territorial. I don't want an intruder to make me into a human jacket."
"UHM," he coughed loudly. "Wow, are you the new chairman of creating what is and isn't a nickname? Because I'm pretty sure anything can be a nickname."
"Nicknames are almost always based off of food and are usually cute or mean, jay is neither of those."
"Okay, I guess I should call you salty- or maybe toothpaste and organ juice since you're so set on having a nickname based on a gross food item."
"Uh Sharrkan-" Jafar said. "Last time I checked it was toothpaste and orange juice, not toothpaste and organ juice."
"I know what I said. Salty organ juice just has to get used to her creative new nickname."
"I think I like jay more."
"I don't know, salty organ juice has a special ring to it." Pisti added. "It's very unique."
"Thank you P," Sharrkan smirked. "See, at least someone appreciates my artistic endeavours."
"Fine call me whatever you want." Yamuraiha gave up. "The waitress is coming over here, so let's just order and go already." She propped up the menu in front of her face again and read over everything.
"Hey, guys." A pretty young girl with a slight tan walked up to them. She tucked her jet black hair behind her left ear and looked at them with her steel grey eyes from under her long eyelashes. "Is it the usual for all of you?" She clicked her pen and began to press down on the notepad.
"Hey Priscilla," Sharrkan said. "Sorry I didn't answer your texts."
She smiled in such a way that made it hard for someone to look away. "Well, I'm not used to being ignored, but I guess I can make an exception for you." She winked at him. "Is that all?"
"I didn't get to order." Yamuraiha spoke up.
"Oh," she brought her attention over to her. "Ah, sorry I didn't notice you there. What'll you like?"
"Pancakes?"
"Pancakes at night, I like this girl." She scribbled the order down onto the notepad. "You're really cute what's your name?"
Yamuraiha blushed. "Yamuraiha." she said.
"Oh I've heard of you before!" Priscilla lit up. "Yeah these guys have told me about you. Anyways, I better get this order back to the cook- if anyone needs anything else before I go?"
"Pris, I would love it if you could get an ice pack from the freezer along with my order- I'm pretty sure Sinbad will need it for the headache he's going to have while we're driving back." Jafar said.
"Sure thing." she called out as she walked back into the 'employee's only' room.
Yamuraiha continued to look through the photos. The rest were all pretty similar. Just all of them as children playing in different parts of town. She then handed back the photos to Jafar. "Thanks. Those were nice to look through."
"Anytime,"
"Hey who is Priscilla?" she asked.
"Just a girl." Sharrkan quickly answered.
"Is she your girlfriend?"
"Who mine?" Sharrkan pointed to himself. "Nope."
"Then how do you know each other so well?"
"What makes you think I know her well?" He raised an eyebrow. "She was over here for less than a minute."
Yamuraiha shrugged. "I know chemistry when I see it." She folded her hands. "I don't mean to pry, I guess I'm also curious about what you guys are up to."
"Just someone I hang out with." he said frankly. "Not that special. Also a town this small, everyone knows each other."
"Yeah, but you know some better than others." Pisti giggled.
"What does that mean?" Yamuraiha asked.
"Oh look, Priscilla is here with our food!" Sharrkan declared. "How great, let's eat."
Priscilla held two trays in each of her hands and made it look easy. "Veggie burger and cream soda for the gorgeous Pisti, just a coffee for Jafar, and cheeseburger with cola for Masrur." She set the trays down carefully. "I'll get the other orders too."
"She seriously doesn't even look human." Yamuraiha said, wide eyed. "I think that I would've fallen over if I had to carry around trays like that."
"Looks like someone has a crush." Pisti nudged her.
Yamuraiha blushed and shook her head. "W-what! No I don't really- I mean I'm not into girls like that. She just seems like someone out of a movie."
"What about me Yamuraiha?!" Sinbad looked over his shoulder and pouted. "I also have award winning looks don't I?" He was slurring his words.
"Uh- sure, you're not bad looking." She smiled uncomfortably.
The 'employees only' door swung open again and Priscilla walked out. "Okay so just another coffee for Sinbad and little bag of ice, a stack of sugary pancakes for the sweet looking Yamuraiha, and a chicken sandwich I may or may not have spit on for the big loser who can't even bother to message me back." She put the trays down.
"Why thank you," Yamuraiha chimed, reaching for her meal.
"Thanks Priscilla." Sharrkan sighed. "And I already apologized."
She pat him on the back. "It's fine, I know." She winked at him. "You know how to pick them. I approve." she whispered into his ear.
Sharrkan smiled. "Thanks." he said again.
What does that bow chika wow wow even mean? Honesty could mean anything. But look it up lol. Anyways if anything seems off or missing I apologize because I type on my phone instead of a computer and sometimes fanfiction deletes periods, commas, etc. So if anything seems off please tell me. Also review if you liked it or if you didn't- I don't mind criticism as long as it's helpful.
