Author's Note:
omg. short chappie. I should go kill myself.
Dedication:
my teachers, who want to suffocate me with extra work because i'm a good student.
Disclaimer:
i don't own anything.
I couldn't sleep, and it wasn't the fact that I wasn't trying, either. There was no doubt in my mind that even if I tried, I still wouldn't be able to fall asleep. The light drone of my radio attempted to lull me to sleep, and failed miserably. I just couldn't stop thinking about something.
Or a certain someone, to be exact.
Sasuke's behavior definitely was questionable. I still had no idea about what he meant by 'it's not safe.' for me. What wasn't safe? I know I'm a klutz, but I don't think I'm going to die anytime soon because of my clumsiness. So what was it?
The other thing that had been bugging me was that morning. I could have sworn that I was in plain sight when the car almost hit me. And how the heck did Sasuke see the car and react so fast? I've never seen anyone move so quickly. In fact, I didn't even see him move. There really wasn't an answer for any of it.
I swore under my breath and pulled myself from my sprawled position on my bed. It was 3 AM, way too early to get up but way too late to go to sleep. There was little hope that I was going to get to sleep, though.
I studied my room, looking for anything that might magically hand me the answer. The TV definitely wouldn't, neither would the bathroom, or the curtains, or my alarm clock. I flopped down onto my bed with a defeated sigh. This was all so stupid.
Only two more hours and I'd wake up, go to school, and demand answers from Sasuke. My plan was set. The only thing that worried me were Sasuke's reactions and the fact that I might not be able to actually stay awake long enough to make it through the day.
With an angered growl I pushed my alarm clock off of the nightstand. At least I didn't have to worry about time anymore. My hands groped the nightstand for my water bottle. Instead, I felt the leather bindings of a book. It was my mom's book.
Curiosity prickled my fingertips. Maybe the weird book would have answers. At least it was a better use of my time than laying here.
I snatched the book with excitement and jumped off my bed to switch on the lights. Like a little girl getting ready to be read a bedtime story, I jumped back on my bed and propped myself with pillows. I opened to the page I had left off at with anticipation.
Chapter Two:
Supernatural Beings..
There are certain things you need to notice when spotting a supernatural being. The easy things to base your assumptions on are physical traits. Most of the supernatural have heightened abilities, such as incredible speed, agility, and strength. If you notice this, though, do not jump straight to conclusions. There are many normal humans who work for, or inherit, abilities like these..
I paused. Incredible speed, agility, and strength? My stomach churned as my thoughts drifted to Sasuke. Despite my nausea, I continued with eagerness. Maybe I was going to get my answer.
Other physical characteristics include magnified senses. If the person is sensitive to smell, or light, it's normal. But with the supernatural, these sensitives go to a whole new level. If you see someone react to the smallest of smells-sometimes you may not smell it yourself-or the tiniest amount of light, it is safe to assume something is different about the person.
Another common thing you will see with a supernatural being is the ability to seemingly pop out of nowhere. An air of mystery usually shrouds them, and they tend to act slightly strange. Normally, they are in small groups to conceal themselves or as individuals. Solitude is habitual to them and they may not have great social skills if they haven't adapted as well.
All these traits are for the general immortal being. They do not all apply to every kind. The rest of this book catalogs the majority of immortal beings and their characteristics.
My stomach jumbled around like mixing pot of different emotions.. From nervous to excited, from scared to happy for some answers, I just couldn't decided. Fear and happiness feel terrifyingly the same. Shakily, I turned the page.
Chapter Three:
Vampires
"Like Dracula?" I asked aloud to myself. The urge to stop pulled at my eyes. I ripped my eyes away from the page and shut it abruptly. Even if this stupid book was real, there was no way that Sasuke, or Ino, or everyone else was a monster.
I chucked the book across the room, metaphorically creating distance between myself and my fears. What if I had read on? What if the description of a vampire fit someone I knew?
Those questions ran marathons in my head until my heavy eyelids closed themselves.
&
"Sakura? Sakura?" My whole body shook.
"What?" I murmured through the covers, too tired to get up.
"You're going to be late for school." Mom urged. I groaned.
"I'm not feeling very well," I lied, though it was true. Last nights nausea still hadn't worn off, "I feel nauseous."
Mom pulled the covers off of my face to feel my forehead, "Oh my gosh, you're burning up!" She peeped. Sudden hope built within me. What if last night was just a bad dream because of my fever..
"Ugh," I moaned, faking sickness, "I just hope I don't have to miss school."
It was hard not to smile. I'd told that lie many times. What parent would doubt at their child's sickness when they said they didn't want to miss school?
"Well, you get some rest then," She started, "I'll call the school to get your homework. Sleep tight."
On cue, I buried myself under the covers with a huge smile, deciding it was time for a good nap.
When I awoke, light was prominently streaming into my room. Groggily, I stumbled my way to my door, half-blinded by the bright lights. Blindly, I groped my way down the spiraling stairs. Because our house was littered with windows, I found it almost impossible to open my eyes to the light.
Finally, somehow, I'd managed to make it to the kitchen. It was Thursday, so the maids had their day off. I figured that they were out, or in theguesthouse if I needed them. My eyes slowly acclimated to the brightness, but I still had to squint. There was a note on the island.
Sakura-
I have an all-day book signing and a conference with my editor. There's some canned soup in the pantry and ice cream in the freezer. I hope you feel better soon!
-Love,
Mom
The house was eerily quiet without the bustling maids. I hid in the library, the room with the most light, with a huge bucket of chocolate ice cream in fear of anything that might attack me. I had an uncontrollable fear of silence.
As I surfed the web on my laptop while absentmindedly shoveling ice cream into my mouth, I couldn't repress the repining feeling I had to read the rest of the book. It tugged at the back of my mind, urging me to go upstairs and read. But, my fear kept me rooted in the library, surrounded by light and happy thoughts. Where nothing could attack me without me seeing it first. There were no hidden crevices here, where scary things could hide, everything was open in the light.
I found myself belting 'Stay Away' by Paramore as an unconscious warning to any scary thing in my house, or anything from that 'book' for that matter.
School would be over about now. I fiddled with my car keys. My car was still there, too. I couldn't just walk to get it. Plus, Sasuke was probably pissed that I didn't show up this morning.
The doorbell rang.
I set my keys on the table by my chair. Apprehensively, I rose. Slowly, cautiously, and quietly, I crept to the door, opening it just to peak.
"Hi, Sakura!" Naruto, clad in blinding orange yelled. Ino, Kiba, and Shikamaru stood behind him.
"Hi, Naruto?" I said with an edge of inquiry. Weren't they on a trip?
"Well, are you going to make us stand on your doorstep all day," Ino asked, laughing, "Or can we come in?"
Startled, I threw open the door, "Sure, sure. Come in!"
"I love your house!" Ino squealed as she pushed past me into the foyer.
"And your pajamas." Kiba added, eyeing me up.
I blushed in realization that I was still wearing my pajamas: Plaid pants and a midriff bearing tank top, since it was so hot in my room, "Sorry," I muttered, still rosy. "So why are you guys here?"
"We brought your homework," Shikamaru explained and walked past me into the house, "and your car."
"How? I have the keys." I asked while closing the door and bolting it tight. There was still a chance that something could attack me.
"No you don't, you left them in the car." Ino explained while twirling around my house.
"But I could have sworn-" I started while walking past the library. The chair-side table that I had placed my keys on before getting up to open the door was now clear, "Oh."
Hallucinations? Again?
"It's okay Sakura," I jumped a foot in the air when Ino suddenly patted me on the back. "We all forget things."
But I didn't forget.
"They were right here, though!" I insisted.
"Silly Sakura. It's okay, you probably had another set of keys and thought they were yours." Ino giggled. I sighed, that was a reasonable excuse.
"Okay." My agreement was weak, but it was the best I could do.
&
We sat in my kitchen. I offered what was left of the ice cream. Naruto and Kiba finished it in a minute flat.
"So, Sakura," Naruto said when I joined them at the table, "tomorrow, since we don't have school, we were wondering if you wanted to go with us down to the beach?"
"Wait, we don't have school?" I asked while scooping out the remnants of ice cream from the empty carton, "Since when?"
"Since forever, do-do," Ino pointed out.
I mused for a second. What if Sasuke was there? It would be totally awkward then.
"Sure," I replied finally, "I haven't been to the beach in ages."
"Cool." Kiba said and stood up.
"We'll pick you up at seven," Shikamaru stated in his usual monotone while getting up, "Bring some camping gear, we might camp out."
"Okay...?" I said, before following them to my front door.
A chorus of 'See you tomorrow's were heard before I bolted the door shut. I sighed before going back to the kitchen to tidy up.
