Wrong Side of the Tracks Ch 11
Kisame stared wide eyed at Itachi as he tried to comprehend what the Uchiha had said.
"You need my help?" He asked not really sure he had heard right. Itachi nodded and looked at the ground.
"We were driving down the road and ran over something. The tire is flat and I don't know how to change it." Itachi said, embarrassment creeping up on his face. Kisame grinned at the aspect of a rich kid like one of the Uchiha's changing a tire. He slid forward on his bike and motioned Itachi over.
"Climb on, I will take you back to your car and change the tire. Why didn't you call your parents or someone?" Kisame asked curiously.
"Because I didn't want to bother them with this and you were the only other person I could think of." Itachi said softly.
"What makes you think that I know how to change a tire?" Kisame asked.
"I don't know, I just hoped you did." Itachi said as he climbed onto the bike behind Kisame. He had never ridden one of these and he only hoped that Kisame was a good driver. Kisame started the bike once more and pulled back out onto the street. Itachi placed his hands on Kisame's waist holding onto his jacket lightly.
"Where is your car?" Kisame asked glancing back over his shoulder to Itachi.
"It's about two miles from the railroad tracks maybe two blocks from the movie theater." Itachi said. Kisame nodded and went back to watching the road. It only took ten minutes to get to the car and Itachi climbed off the bike and opened the trunk. Five pairs of eyes stared at Itachi as if he had lost his mind as he helped Kisame get the jack and tire.
Kisame ignored the odd stares he was receiving from inside the vehicle. He jacked up the car and began loosening the lug nuts. Itachi looked at his friends and he shook his head at them in disapproval. They looked at him with concern but then dropped their gazes. Kisame pulled the flat tire off and picked up the spare.
He placed the spare onto the lug bolts and began to bolt it down. Itachi watched in silence as Kisame took the car off the jack.
"There you go. Good as new." Kisame said.
"What do I owe you?" Itachi asked. Kisame looked at Itachi and almost made a comment about rich boys and their money. He simply smiled and put the jack and tire back in the trunk, closing the lid as he turned to his bike. He turned to look at Itachi as he climbed on his bike and started it.
"Just a thanks will do." He said as he turned his bike around to leave. Itachi looked skeptical at fist and then stepped over to Kisame.
"Are you sure?" Itachi asked. Kisame nodded and waved as he was about to leave. "Well thank you." Itachi said.
"You're welcome." Kisame said with a smile. He nodded at to the other boys in the car and rode off on his bike headed back home. Itachi opened the door and got into the car. Accusing eyes all looked his way.
"What? He helped us didn't he?" Itachi said as he pulled out onto the road.
"Why was he here helping US?" Sasuke asked.
"Because I asked him to." Itachi said calmly.
"How do you even know him?" Deidara asked.
"I gave him a ride home a few weeks ago." Itachi said making a turn onto the street they needed to get home. Now all of his friends had shocked and angry looks on their faces.
"Why in the world would you do that? Don't you know how dangerous that is? You could have been hurt." Sasuke said, shaking his head furiously.
"Oh please, do you know how condescending that sounds? You act like we are royals who can't be bothered with the peasants." Itachi scoffed.
"I'm just saying that mom and dad would flip if they knew you were becoming friendly with the low life, bad boys of the school." Sasuke argued.
"Low life? How exactly do you know if he is a low life or not?" Itachi asked.
"What is wrong with you lately, Itachi? You would have never defended him before." Tobi said wistfully.
"Maybe I realized that people are people no matter where they come from." Itachi said with a shrug.
"Even if he seems nice doesn't mean that he is. Where did he get that bike for instance? He probably stole it or is up to his ears in drugs to pay for it. Not to mention he lives on the wrong side of town." Naruto said obnoxiously making Itachi grit his teeth.
"This conversation is over." Itachi said firmly.
Kisame locked his garage and headed to the second floor to his apartment. He unlocked his door and stepped inside. He kicked off his shoes and removed his jacket as he walked through the apartment to his room.
He took off his work clothes and put on some loose pants and a baggy t-shirt. He went to the kitchen and grabbed a soda then walked into the living room, plopped onto the couch and turned on the TV. The Outer Limits marathon was on and he kicked back to enjoy the rest of his day of peace and solitude.
Itachi lay on his bed thinking about Kisame and all of his friends reactions to him. He wondered himself where he had gotten the bike but he was sure deep down that it wasn't like Naruto thought. He had yet to ask Kisame about the car he had seen, he was just thinking of a way to ask without sounding like he was accusing. Now he wondered if he even had the right to ask.
