CHAPTER SEVEN
- Paparazzi -
I was having such a nice dream. Ya know, the ones that make you feel all dizzy when you wake up, and then you want to go back to sleep to finish it. But you can't go back to sleep. And then that dream is gone forever.
Yeah.
I was kind of having one of those dreams (don't ask what it involved, I can't remember anymore… sad face.) when all of a sudden, this ridiculous light shone like, through my eyelids. I groaned and dug myself under my cream-and-mocha duvet.
I mean, what complete idiot wakes Kari Tenatai up on a Saturday during such a nice dream? Well, it's someone who's suicidal, for a start.
"KARI TENATAI! WAKE UP THIS SECOND!" Eewh, Mom? Go away…
"Sleeping." I muttered.
"Kari." I heard the crazy lady inhale and exhale, "Would you please explain to me why there is a group of journalists and photographers asking to see you this early in the morning?" My mother almost shrieked. I sat up, rubbing my sleep boogered eyes (I know, ew.), and stared at the blurred brunette woman.
"What time izzit?" I mumbled, rolling out from under the covers and looking out of the window, "Oh shit, who are they?" I asked, blinking down at the small crowd gathering on the driveway.
"I don't know, but they're requesting to see you. And it's eight a.m. Get dressed and go… ask them what the hell they want!" My grouchy parent stormed out of the room, hitting the white painted door on her way. I blinked, my vision slowly coming together.
Jeez. These people better have a good reason for being here. Because if they don't… I'm going to crush them.
My walls are a light, mocha brown. They're usually very calming and make me sleepy, or feel at home. But right now? Right now I was pissed. And not even the walls could calm me down. I yanked my closet door open and rifled through a few drawers. I took a cold shower and brushed my teeth; lined my eyes with kohl and mascara and light dashes of dark brown eye shadow on the corners of my eyelids; tucked my hair up into a messy bun with my fringe falling through; and then rummaged some more for clothes. I found some clean underwear, a blue T-shirt with a picture of that giant cat with the stripy hat saying:
'Everything I know, I learned from Dr. Seuss.'
Daddy bought it for me. From Hot Topic. I love him. I scrambled into a pair of plain, black, denim shorts and pastel yellow flats. It wasn't exactly a perfect combination, but whatever. I was only gonna talk to some weirdo's on my doorstep.
I trudged downstairs and opened my door, smiling, as you do when greeting someone politely. I was blinded by three flashing cameras and deafened by journalists pushing their Dictaphones in my face and asking questions.
Well, I was already peeved and so I yelled at them.
"ONE AT A TIME, PLEASE!" I inhaled through my nose, "Now, could you please tell me why you're at my doorstep?"
"Is it true that you slept with Sasuke Uchiha?"
"WHAT? NO!" I stared at the woman who had asked the question and tried to understand what she was talking about. Sasuke Uchiha? Oh yeah. Dreamy grin. My 'boyfriend'.
"Is it also true that you're pregnant?" Woah, man. Woah.
"No, it is not true. I'm FIFTEEN for Christ's sake!"
"You're not? We heard from a close source to the Uchiha's that you were…"
"Well, your 'source' is totally wrong." I glared.
"Is it true that you're dating Sasuke Uchiha?" Another of the journalists spoke up. Woah, okay, this is the big one.
"Yes."
"But did you not only meet him yesterday at Konoha's Academy for Gifted Students."
Oh, shit.
"…It was love at first sight?" I wanted to stab myself in the eye and die right there. Who says that? Who actually goes and tells a bunch of journalists THAT sentence? Wow. I needed therapy. Give me therapy, I'm a walking travesty…
"Thank you for your time, miss." The cameras flashed a few more times with clicking noises. I smiled and waved before tottering back indoors and slamming the front door shut. It was then that I realised I was shaking.
Sasuke hadn't been kidding when he said that the paparazzi were brutal. Holy shit, dude.
I literally ran up to my bedroom on the third floor of the house and threw myself into the chair at my desk at such a speed that it almost toppled over. I flipped my laptop screen up and logged onto msn. Karin wasn't online. Pfft. Of course she wasn't. It was half past eight in the friggin' morning! God. I texted her quickly.
To: Karin
From: Kari
KARIN! PLZPLZPLZ COME ONLINE. NEED 2 SPK TO U. URGENTTTTT.
I waited patiently (that translates as continuously checked that my phone had signal and that the message had sent and if she had replied and what not), checking e-mails and—
Buzz.
To: Kari
From: Karin
It had better be good.
Karin's scary in the morning. Even through text… I was terrified. Her name flipped up on the IM screen.
K.A.R.I Says: Karin. Sorry for waking you up so early butbutbut, liek. There were these guys at my door, with cameras. And Dictaphone-things. And they asked me if I was pregnant. And I said no. And now I'm SCARED.
Karin… Sui(L)…x Says: Already? Wow. News travels fast.
K.A.R.I Says: Yes. Please help me?
Karin… Sui(L)…x Says: What do you want me to do? I'm sure you did fine! …tell me what they asked you.
K.A.R.I Says: mmflrpg. Fine! okay, so I went out the door and they were like standing there and askin' loadsa questions and so I was like for fucks sake. STFU. And they were like M'key but did you sleep with Sasuke. WTF? And I was like NO!.
Karin… Sui(L)…x Says: OMG. LOL.
K.A.R.I Says: asjkfl? ZOMG I was so freaked! Yeah so anyways then they go are you pregnant and I was like. NO. I'M FIFTEEN. WAHA. :'(
Karin… Sui(L)…x Says: Hahaha... sorry Kari but that is soooooo funny.
K.A.R.I Says: Yeah? Well it's about to get seriously hilarious…
Karin… Sui(L)…x Says: OMG… what happened?
K.A.R.I Says: Well for some reason they knew I only met him yesterday and were like 'so are you dating?' and I was like… yes. Coz that's what we're supposed to b doing raaiitttt? And then they were like: but didn't you only know him for a day? I was like. FML.
Karin… Sui(L)…x Says: Woah. Shit. What did u tell them?
K.A.R.I Says: I said… 'it was love at first sight?' Kill me, quickly please?
Karin… Sui(L)…x Says: LOL. HAHAHA, KARI, YOU MADE ME LOL. AT TWENTY TO NINE IN THE MORNING. ON A SATURDAY. You did not seriously say that?
K.A.R.I Says: *hangs head in shame* :S
Karin… Sui(L)…x Says: Hahaha, aw, it was cute. Go on Google and search 'KARI TENATAI AND SASUKE UCHIHA' – there's an article up already. Wtf. Lol.
K.A.R.I Says: Awh shit.
I quickly Googled mine and Sasuke's names and clicked on the first link I could find.
SASUKE UCHIHA: "…I've always liked short girls, nothing else to it."
"Yesterday afternoon the son of the infamous Fugaku Uchiha, Sasuke Uchiha was seen out with one young Miss. Kari Tenatai – Daughter of the well known businessman Don Tenatai.
"The pair were seen holding hands walking out of their school gates (see left.)."
To the left of the article was a photo of Sasuke and I as we walked to the Bentley yesterday. What the… how did they even get that photo? What the hell?
"Sasuke attends the Konoha Academy for Gifted Students with his brother Itachi. They both were awarded with the schools' famed Sports Honours ties for their excellent performances in the schools Martial Arts tournaments in their first years."
Well of course, you just have to look at their eyes and you know that they can fight. Duh.
"Last night, Sasuke confirmed that he and Kari were now together. When asked what he thought of her he told a reporter: "Hn. Kari's the smallest…" he searched for a word before continuing "Sweetest… little thing. I've always liked short girls, nothing else to it.""
I stared at the computer. That jerk. How dare he. He… he basically confessed to the media that he was only going out with me because I am small. What the fuck.
"When I spoke to Kari earlier this morning, she skipped out of the door wearing a smile on her face. She was completely flustered by the cameras, of course, but answered all of our questions with a polite etiquette."
I snorted. I thought I'd been particularly rude to them to be honest, but someone out there likes me. Yay.
"Kari denies rumours about any intimacy involved in the relationship she's sharing with Sasuke and was shocked by anything that was asked in that direction."
Again, thank you! I loved this reporter. But still. What the hell. Where did the whole 'intimacy' thing come from? I'm FIFTEEN. Yikes…
"When asked about Sasuke, Kari's mood was lifted even higher. She smiled and confirmed that her and Sasuke were now an item. "It was love at first sight." She claimed, before turning and going back into her three-story home in a private sector of Konoha."
It wasn't the most professionally written article, but at least the photos were flattering. At the bottom of the page there was a little section about my outfit. What the fuck? Fame was weird.
Sasuke signed in.
Sasuke SIGNED IN. Yay.
_Sasuke Says: That article is wrong.
Aww, hello boyfriend! Yeah, I slept well thank you. Missed you too, lots and lots! ...Karin must have told him. About the article I mean. I glared at the computer, as if he would feel the coldness through the computer screen.
K.A.R.I Says: The parts about moi are all correct.
_Sasuke Says: Yeah, but the part about me is so, so wrong. I didn't speak to anyone last night, except for Kisame when he dropped me off to pick Itachi up. And Kisame wouldn't leak such utter bullshit.
K.A.R.I Says: That's kinda harsh, since I thought what 'you' said was really… cute. Lol.
_Sasuke Says: Hn. You wanna go out today?
YES.
K.A.R.I Says: Depends, where to?
_Sasuke Says: I dunno. Out. For like. A walk.
K.A.R.I Says: Tenten was right. You're a total emo. LOL JOKE SORRY I LOVE YOU REALLY.
Really?
_Sasuke Says: Well sorry but ^_^ isn't really my style.
K.A.R.I Says: Okay, yes I will come for a 'walk' with u today. Where should I meet you…?
_Sasuke IS NOW OFFLINE.
Well.
Well.
Awh, Sasuke! You suck eggs.
I didn't like his virtual personality. It was way too cold… I went to my closet, took a black, leather jacket out, and placed it on my bed. Then I returned to my conversation with Karin.
K.A.R.I Says: So, apparently I'm going out with Sasuke today.
Karin… Sui(L)…x Says: Oh cool. We'll meet you guys in town.
K.A.R.I Says: Okay?
Karin… Sui(L)…x IS NOW OFFLINE.
WHAT THE FUCK? How do these people know how to do everything? They must have been like, ninjas in a past life or something. My phone buzzed.
To: Kari
From: Sasuke
Yeah, so where do you live again? x
I smiled at his idiocy. And then noticed something. He put an 'x'. Sasuke Uchiha texted me and put an 'x' on the end of it. I texted him back my address (but I didn't put a kiss. Because I'm just too cool for that shit.), and lay down for a bit, just smiling.
I realized that now that I was supposedly 'linked' with a celebrity (a very desirable celebrity at that.) I was going to have to watch my back. I mean, you heard those girls yesterday. The ones who called me a slut. They were going to cut my face open and tear my eyeballs out if Sasuke, like, touched me!
Twenty minutes later, the door bell rang. I crept down the stairs, wanting to know what my mom thought of him. Because, like, if mom doesn't like you… then there's no point in even talking to me.
"Hello! And who might you be?"
"Mrs. Tenatai? I'm Sasuke. I was wondering if I could speak to Kari for a moment." Wow… polite and cute-looking in a black-and-white striped polo T-shirt, skinny jeans (…visible white and black striped boxers…), a silver-studded belt, and red Converses. Red!
"Well of course you can, Sasuke! …You're not one of those psychos with the cameras are you?" She whispered, peering outside the door. I cringed. Sasuke grinned, shook his head. His pretty hair swished as he did so.
"No ma'am." Aw, I like Sasuke when he's talking to my mom. He's so nice.
"Ah, well that's good." A slight pause as my mother turned around, "Do you want to come in for a sec while I go find her?"
"Um, if it's no imposition..." Sasuke smiled his devastating smile. Jeez. Show-off.
"No imposition at all, sweetie. Go on, the kitchens just through there. Kari like, lives in there." Thanks mom. Thanks a mother laughed, and ushered him through the door. He slipped his (red) Converses off and thanked that embarrassing woman.
"Kari?" I waited for the second call before answering. "Kari!" She found me walking down the stairs, "Who is that handsome young man in my kitchen?" she was smiling, holding onto my shoulders and looking down into my eyes. So… she liked him… great! I grinned back.
"…Woah mom, back off. He's like. Fifteen."
"So, is he your like, boyfriend?" …I hate my life.
"Um, yes?
"…I thought you only started school yesterday." She had a confused look on her face as she looked over her shoulder.
"…It was love at first sight." I muttered. "I'm going out. Bye." I mumbled skipping down the stairs. Well, at least she didn't think he was a creep. I just had to watch that she didn't get too attached to him. Like she had Kankuro. Wow that was creepy.
Sasuke was standing in the kitchen in all of his black and white glory (because he left the red converses in the hall… boo…). I smiled at him. He smirked.
"He-ey!" I pulled my jacket on and stood with my hand on my hip, waiting for him to respond.
"Hey." He said in a monotone. My smile faltered.
"So, where are we going?" I asked him as we walked to the door. Sasuke was obviously eyeing the staircase to see if my mother was listening. Which she definitely was.
"I thought I'd show you around town… meet up with Karin and Sui later… Juugo's gone to see Temari in Suna."
"Awh, how nice of you." I grinned, elbowing him as he stepped into his red converses.
Oh, in case you hadn't guessed… I have a fixation with red shoes.
"Yeah," He stood up, glaring at me and rubbing his ribcage, "let's go. Thank you Mrs. Temari!" He yelled up the stairs. My mother answered by sticking her head over the banister.
"Have fun, kids!" Urgh. She was so embarrassing. I grimaced and pushed Sasuke out of the door.
I shut the door and walked with him down the drive. I didn't miss the photographers standing at the bottom of the driveway and murmured my worry.
"Sorry. They're gonna be, like, eating your air now."
"That's a charming thought, Sasuke." I glanced at him sideways to see him chuckling at my sarcasm. I huffed and carried on walking. As we neared the paparazzi, Sasuke took on a more relaxed look. They shouted his name and mine, calling out for us to look their way. They parted a path for us as we continued to walk. Sasuke told me to pretend that they're not even there. I glared up at him briefly.
"That's kind of hard to do when I'm being blinded, here."
"Hn."
"…You suck."
"You love me." He was so cute.
I giggled and clasped his arm like the cute, adorable, short girlfriend that I was known to be and flashed a smile to the cameras over my shoulder. That was going to be such a nice photograph. I hoped they posted it.
"Show-off." He muttered as we crossed the road, getting away from the cameras.
"Or you're just jealous of how much the world loves me."
"Hush, small person."
"I can't help being short, okay?"
"You wore flats on purpose."
"You… have red shoes."
"Noted."
And just so you all know: that was indeed the weirdest conversation I have ever shared with a boy to this day.
Okay, hi. I'm cutting it there, because that's where the part about the paparazzi ends basically.
I love Kari's mom! She's really funny. I think she scared Sasuke. Poor Sasuke.
Thanks a lot for the reviews! I'm sorry that this chapter was so short – it's about 400 words shorter than I usually write but… whatever. I hope you liked it. Personally, I thought this chapter was a little more crack-ish than usual. I'm relaxing [READ: Getting lazier] more and more as I write, so if there's anything wrong here – advise me.
Please review!
-YourChemicalRomancex
