Sorry for the delay but my internet hasn't been working for two weeks, but it's back now. Anyways, I'm not sure if you noticed but I replaced the author's note in ch.10 with an actual chapter of the story so if you haven't already, you might want to read that chapter before you read this one. Anyways, on with the story. Oh by the way, this chapter is a filler since they're on the road.
I don't own Naruto
"Hey does anyone wanna turn on the radio?" Naruto asked with a bored sigh from his seat in the back.
"NO!" Came the response from everyone. After the Paris Hilton song we were all a little wary about what we would find if we turned on the radio. Because seriously! Paris Hilton!? Her songs are like rape to the ears! It's horrible! But anyways I knew where Naruto was coming from-the boredom was eating us alive. The adrenaline that we had back in Tallahassee was starting to fade and was beginning to be replaced by extreme boredom-or to find a cooler word for it: ennui. Isn't that a chronically ill word? I've actually never even heard of it before till this very moment, but now that I know what it means, I feel oh so smart!
I looked around at my friends. Ino was picking at her nails, Shikamaru was taking a nap in the corner, Neji was in deep thought it seemed while Tenten placed her head on his outstretched legs and lay down, Hinata was twiddling her thumbs, and Naruto and Kiba were just staring at everyone with a blank face on. Sasuke was of course driving and I was sitting shot gun and was just as bored as everyone else. The ennui(Ha! The kick-butt-awesome-ly word reigns supreme once more!) was killing us slowly. "How about we play I spy?" I said lazily, trying to end the boredom.
"I spy?" Ino said with contempt. "What are we? Five years old?"
"What? You wanna risk the radio again?" I challenged. I could see Ino-God bless her-trying to work up an argument in her head, but she gave in eventually. All my friends know that I am a stubborn ass and once I make up my mind, that's it.
"Fine. Whatever." Ino mumbled.
"Good." I huffed. "Besides, I rather like playing I Spy. So anyways, who wants to go first?"
"I do, I do!" Naruto yelled, his hand shooting up like an eager school student bouncing up and down in his seat, anxious to answer the question.
"Uh, okay then. Naruto you go first then."
"Great!" Naruto said getting up from his seat in the ground and coming up to the front of the truck where Sasuke and I were. "I need to look out the window." He said to me.
"Hold on, let me move." I said as I got out of the seat and took Naruto's vacated seat in the back of the truck.
"Um…." Naruto trailed off as he stuck his head out the open window. "Got it!" He said happily as he brought his head back inside the truck. "Okay! I spy with my little eye something red!"
"Sakura's sneakers?" Hinata guessed.
"Nope!" Naruto said as he sat down in the passenger's seat.
"My nail-polish?" Ino said lazily.
Naruto shook his head.
"The red writing outside the truck?" Sasuke said, joining the game.
"My shirt?" I guessed while looking around the truck looking for red objects.
"No. Do you guys want a clue?" Naruto asked.
"Sure. Why not?" Shikamaru said, waking up suddenly.
"Okay let me think…Got it! It's red and it went fast." Naruto said.
I was stumped. And by the looks on everyone else's faces, they were too. "I give up." Neji said suddenly.
"Me too." Tenten added.
"Does everyone else give up?" Naruto asked.
Sasuke, Hinata, Shikamaru, Ino, Kiba and I all nodded. "The red Lexus that was next to us!" Naruto exclaimed. "I win!"
"Now wait one second!" Ino said irritably. "How were we supposed to know that there was a red Lexus next to us? It's not as if we can see outside Naruto."
"Oh yeah!" Naruto said sheepishly. "Sorry. I forgot you guys can't see the road next to us."
A sort of awkward silence fell over us for like…a minute. "Well that sucks." I said breaking the silence. "We can't all ride shot gun.
"Wait!" Kiba said out of nowhere. "Why don't we open the back door? " He looked around at us as if it was the smartest plan in the world. It wasn't.
"Um…isn't that slightly dangerous?" Hinata asked quietly.
"Yeah! And a bit stupid as well?" Tenten piped.
Kiba shrugged.
"Well I think it's pure genius!" Naruto praised. "I mean seriously guys! That's the only way we'll all be able to see outside."
"And I repeat Hinata and Tenten's question: Isn't that slightly dangerous and a bit stupid as well!?" Ino said shrilly.
"Not if you stay away from the door it isn't." Kiba argued.
"Uh okay." Ino started. "That might take care of the dangerous part but now we move on to the stupid part of the question."
Naruto and Kiba blinked. Ino smirked and folded her arms. "I rest my case."
"Well what do you think Sakura? This is your road trip." Naruto said.
I sighed. Of course I had to make the decision. Well if I'm gonna say anything might as well say it as a pompous ass. "Well…having analyzed the situation at hand, I have come to the conclusion that it is indeed both dangerous and stupid to open the door in the back of the truck. Not to mention completely foolhardy and incredibly reckless." Naruto and Kiba looked downtrodden. "But," I stated with an afterthought, " I think that it would be the only way for all of us to see the world outside of us most easily and therefore I think we should open the backdoor."
The boys whooped. The girls however were less ecstatic. "A bit impulsive don't you think Sakura?" Hinata said.
I shrugged. Hey, you only live once and since Naruto and Kiba's escapades in Tallahassee I've begun to see what a…sheltered life I've lead. "Impulsive!?" Ino bellowed. "Crazy is more like it!"
"I mean, have you lost your marbles or something?" Tenten asked.
"No I haven't lost my marbles and I know that this decision is very unlike me," I started to say," but I think it'll be kinda fun guys. I mean sure I wasn't so crazy about the spray paint thing but now as I look back, I think it's kinda funny actually. So don't you guys wanna look back years from now and say, 'Man wasn't that road trip we took in the summer of 2007 completely awesome and wild! I'm glad I took the risk and opened up that back door of our stupid truck.' Well I do. How about you guys?"
My friends all stared at me like I was retarded. And yes I know, that would have to be the gayest speech I have(and hopefully will ) ever made in my entire life. But sometimes it's the gayness of what you've said that sparks interest in your listeners. "Wow." Shikamaru said slowly. "That was gay."
We all laughed. "I know I know. Whatever. Just open pull over Sasuke so we can open the door."
"Right." Sasuke said as he pulled over again and turned the engine off.
One by one we all got out of the truck through the driver's and passenger's seat. We all stood there at the back of the truck and man! What a sight we must have been. Nine bedraggled teenagers who haven't slept in two days, standing at the edge of the highway by a large delivery truck, while cars whizzed by.
"So Sasuke, Naruto…do you guys have the key?" I asked placing my hands on my hips.
"Uh…" Naruto trailed.
"What key?" Sasuke questioned still at the side of the truck.
"Umm, the key to the padlock?" I said pointing to the large padlock that was hung between two metal bars at the bottom of the door, preventing it from being opened.
"Oh…that key." Naruto said sheepishly. "We uh…didn't have the time to err…get it." He finished lamely.
"Well that sucks." Tenten said in monotone.
"Yeah, nice going guys!" Ino said sarcastically.
"It wasn't my fault!" Sasuke defended. "I was the one who had to play dead in the middle of the road. Blame Blondie here-not me."
Naruto looked affronted. Whether from being called "Blondie" or because Sasuke was playing the blame game I'll never know. "Listen, arguing with each other isn't going to get us anywhere." I said, trying to calm everyone down. "We don't have to play I Spy."
"We could." Hinata said in a tiny voice. Everyone turned to look at her. "Well you see…I can…um…pick locks?" She explained, turning red and twiddling her thumbs.
"Really?" I asked.
She nodded. "Wow. Um…okay then. Hinata work your magic." I said stepping aside.
I watched in awe and surprise as Hinata took a bobby-pin out of her hair and jimmied the lock. In all my years of knowing Hinata, I would've never guessed that she'd be able to do something like picking a lock. Well that just shows how much of a friend I am. The lock clicked and gave way. "Nice work!" I said. It was followed by rounds of "yeah"s and "great"s and even some light applause if I do say so myself. Hinata just stood there all quiet like and blushed ruby-red. Yep, that's my girl Hinata-always modest. Naruto also had a look of admiration upon his face as he stared at Hinata causing her to blush even more.
Kiba pulled the lock out and pushed the metal door upwards until it clicked. "Alright!" He said happily. "Everyone in the truck!"
Everyone rushed into the truck. Sasuke got back in the driver's seat and began to drive once more. "Okay, okay! Who's first?" Kiba asked enthusiastically.
"I think Hinata should go first!" Naruto replied.
Everyone nodded. "Uh…okay." Hinata said shyly. "I spy with my little eye…something blue!"
We all looked outside. Right behind us was a blue Audi with a big-haired woman talking on her cell phone animatedly, in the passenger's side, while a younger, teenage boy-her son it seemed- drove. The
two of them stared at us with bemused expressions and the boy even pointed at us. They obviously were talking about us. "The blue car behind us?" Neji guessed.
Hinata shook her head. After a couple of guesses-all of them being wrong-we all gave up. "Alright," I said," what was it?"
Hinata giggled. "The boy who was pointing at us? Well his fingernails were painted blue."
"Oh. Did not even notice that." Tenten said, smacking her forehead.
The blue Audi made a turn at the exit while we stayed on the highway. Replacing the Audi was a red mustang with the hood down, carrying four rowdy, very good looking teenage guys, who looked to be about 18. There were McDonald wrappers all over the dash-board. "They are H.O.T. hawt!" Ino gushed waving at the boys. The boys, surprisingly waved back. "Hey hottie!" The driver yelled at Ino. Ino pushed her way to the edge of the truck.
"Ino." Neji said warningly.
"I won't fall out don't worry!" Ino said with a dismal wave. "Yeah?" she called to the guys.
"What's your name?" The blonde guy in back called.
"Ino! What's yours hot stuff?" Ino coed while batting her eyelashes and licking her lips seductively.
I rolled my eyes. She was turning on the charm that she always used to pick up hot guys. Ino was and will always be the biggest flirt I have and will probably ever know.
"Drake!" The blond cried. "The driver is Mitch! This is Quentin!"- he pointed at the shaggy red-head sitting shot-gun, lazily chugging down a beer. "And this-" he pointed to the dark-haired guy sitting next him, "-is Paul!"
"How old are you?" Quentin asked, throwing bottle haphazardly out the window.
Ugh! Oh how I hate litterers! "Ugh…17!" Ino lied, "but I'll be 18 in…2 days!" In actuality, Ino's birthday had yet to come and she was currently only 15. "How 'bout you guys?"
Drake answered. "Well all of us are 19 except Paul here who turns 19 in two months!"
"Cool. So boys!" Ino yelled. "You wanna meet my equally hot girlfriends?"
"What! No!" I yelled, a blush creeping up my neck, contrasting disgustingly with my pink hair. While Ino may be a total hottie, and Tenten was an "alluring" beauty, and even Hinata was fairly pretty, I was just…plain. I mean I'm not exactly the worst-looking girl in the world, but compared to my friends I'm not much to look at. The only comments regarding my looks I got were all about my abnormal hair color.
"Yeah! Bring 'em to the front so we can get a good look!" Paul yelled while sniggering to his friends.
"Pft!" The guys-our guys I mean-said. Some of them didn't want other guys-especially, older guys-checking out their how you say? Women. I sighed and shook my head sadly. Boy's can be so possessive some times.
"Alright girls!" Ino said turning to us. "Come on!"
"No thanks." Tenten said lazily with a hint of sarcasm, "I wouldn't want to give Neji here any reason's to be jealous."
"And I'm afraid of falling out." Hinata said, while quickly looking in Naruto's direction.
Ino faced me. "Uh...ditto." I said, wringing my hands.
Ino pouted and turned back to the guys. "They're being party poopers and don't want to come up front!"
"That's okay baby!" Mitch said. "We can all share you-if you know what I mean."
Ino giggled, but I raised my eyebrows. Was there some hidden innuendo in that last comment?
"Uh Ino…" I trailed off cautiously.
"Bump!" Sasuke called from up front, a bit oblivious to what was going on back here.
Ino didn't quite catch the warning and when Sasuke hit the bump, Ino fell out of the truck and landed on the hood of the mustang. "Whoa!" Mitch said, losing his grip on the steering wheel and swerving to the left a little. Ino screamed.
Everyone in the truck was gaping at Ino and trying not to laugh as she flailed around on the hood of the car. Shikamaru had even whipped out the camcorder and begun to shoot. "Stop flailing!" Mitch commanded, all the messing around gone his voice. "I can't see!"
It was true-he couldn't see and so he accidentally bumped into us. "Watch it!" Kiba cried.
"It's not us!" Quentin yelled. "It's her!"
"Yeah! Get her off our car!" Paul screamed.
"If you guys would stop we could!" I yelled.
"No way!" Mitch cried. "We had problems starting the car up in the first place! If we stop now we might not be able to start up again! Besides, if we did stop we'd be holding up everyone!"
Neji cursed."He's right about the traffic thing." Tenten said, panic edging into her usually calm voice. "Plus if we stop and let Ino get off she might get hit by an oncoming car."
This was bad. Ino was going to get hurt and if the boys wouldn't stop for her then she would have to jump off of a moving car and into the truck. "Oh shit." I said to myself, coming to the edge of the truck
myself. "Ino! Stop moving and listen. You're not going to like this but you'll have to jump off the car and into the truck…okay?"
"Okay? Okay!? Of course it's not okay! Are you fucking insane!?" Ino yelled as a slew of curses came flying out her mouth. She had a tendency to curse a lot when she was angry or scared.
"Dirty mouth?" Drake said, the hint of joke coming on. He seemed to be the only one unaffected by this. "Clean it up with new Orbit gum!" He said, quoting the commercial and laughing at his own joke. No one else laughed. Ino glared at him.
"Ino! You have to jump off the car! Now!" I yelled, looking behind me. Traffic was easing up even more, 6 cars ahead and if we wanted to keep up with the speed, Ino had to move fast before the gap became too wide for her to jump.
"Oh holy fucking shit Sakura!" Ino screamed as she shakily got on her knees. Then she stood up slowly on the hood of the car.
"Now I really can't see." Mitch mumbled as he ungraciously honked his horn, making Ino jump and lose her footing.
"Ino!" Kiba cried.
"It's okay!" She yelled, wobbling as she regained her balance. She poised herself for the jump and looked positively frightened. We breathed a sigh of relief even though the worst was yet to come.
"It's okay." I said to her. "We'll catch you."
"You guys better or else my parents are suing." Ino yelled. "Count to three." She demanded.
"Alright," I said calmly, knowing better than to argue with her at a time like this, even though I knew with every second we were getting farther and farther apart. "1…2…3! Jump!"
Ino closed her eyes and jumped. "No!" I yelled. "Don't close your eyes!" It was too late. I'd like to say that the jump was in slow motion, like in the movies. But this was nothing like the movies and the jump was in real time. This was real and extremely dangerous. Ino's feet landed miraculously on the very edge of the truck. But she wobbled again and this time she actually fell off before anyone could catch her. I'd also like to say that the mustang was close enough to catch her once more…but it wasn't. Instead, Ino collided head-first with the hot asphalt and lay there unconscious. "STOP!!" We screamed to both Sasuke and Mitch. Sasuke stopped abruptly and thankfully, so did Mitch.
"Oh fuck, oh fuck, oh fuck!" Mitch said jumping out of the car and running over to Ino's crumpled form. Everyone in the truck ran out as well, followed by the boys in the mustang. No one cared that we were holding up traffic.
Shikamaru ran over to Ino and cradled her head in his arms-it was bloody mess. Silent tears were running down everyone's faces-even Drake, Mitch, Quentin, and Paul's. But Shikamaru was crying the hardest. Everyone knew that the two of them liked each other-they just never said anything about it.
"Someone call an ambulance!" He screamed through his choked sobs stuck in his throat, still cradling Ino's head.
"I'm on it." Paul said quietly whipping out his cell phone.
Soon enough people started parking their cars on the side of the highway and rushing over to us. They could clearly see that there had been an accident. People flocked around us not saying a word, sometimes offering a word of sympathy and then getting back in their cars and driving off. But lots of people were total jackasses and honked their horns at us.
The ambulance came quickly enough. The paramedics loaded Ino onto a stretcher and drove to the nearest hospital off of the nearest exit. All of us-including the boys from the mustang" followed in the truck. We were mostly quiet except for the occasional, 'I hope she's alright." Of course the bigger question on everyone's mind was, "Will she live?" but of course no one dared ask it.
And even though he didn't say anything, Shikamaru kept shoot accusatory looks at me, as if it were my fault that Ino was seriously injured. Strangely enough, I believed him.
Well, the chapter took an unexpected twist. I wasn't actually planning on making Ino fall a second time but it just happened to come out that way. The whole opening the door in the back thing is a bit unrealistic, but that's how this story is going to be: pretty unrealistic. But oh well. That's just the way the cookie crumbles. Anyways, read and review. Will Ino survive this terrible encounter? Tune in next chapter (whenever that may be) to find out! Ciao!
P.S.,
As I have now realized, this chapter can't really be a filler anymore since you can't exactly ignore the fact that Ino is hurt, so I suppose it'll have to be a real chapter then.
