Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto… it belongs to Kishimoto… and I don't own the plot… though I did make some changes to it… the plot belongs to my favorite author R.L. Stine. So please my fans, credit all goes to these two wonderful authors of great stories.
Hey dudes! Just like I promised! One biiiiggg chapter!
And you are all in for a prank if you don't read this soo… if you don't read… you should find a real good surprise at the bottom… if you read this then you were saved. Hahaha I can see your faces. All shocked… I dont mean anything I say below... so dont worry...
And if you felt for it... Bwahaha! RD laughs in your face! Lol just kidding... hope you enjoy the chapter
Well… enjoy the chapter my faithful fans… and may the horror be with you!
Enjoy! And Review if you will…
The Sitter
Chapter 2 Part 9
I dropped the box to the table. The flowers weren't roses. They were carnations and lilies, I think. And they were spray-painted black.
The blossoms were withered… shriveled… and crawling with bugs.
"Ohhh-cockroaches!" I cried.
Anko hurried over. "What's wrong?"
Cockroaches-dozens of them swarmed over the black flowers. Swarms of buys began crawling over the sides of the box.
"Oh , my goodness!" Anko let out a cry. "Who-? Who-?"
"I don't know," I said. My stomach lurched. I felt sick. I slammed the lid back on the box. Too late. Cockroaches were scrambling over the kitchen table, darting over and under the straw place mats.
Anko ran to the sink, grabbed a roll of paper towels. She tore off some sheets and began slapping at the slithering cockroaches. "Sick," she muttered. "Sick…sick…"
I grabbed up the flower box. My arms prickled as roaches slid onto my skin. They poured out of the box. The back of my neck itched. My hair itched.
Were they crawling though my hair?
"Oh, help." I slapped the back of my neck and felt a warm wet squish. "Anko, where is the trash?"
She swung a place mat off the table and slapped it at a fleeing roach. "In the back. Under the deck. Hurry. Get it out of here!" Roaches scattered over the floor. Anko did a wild dance, stomping them under her sandals.
Clamping the box shut with both hands, I hurried out of the kitchen door, down the deck stairs, and to the ground. I found 4 metal trash cans near the driveway and shoved the box into one of them.
"Oh, gross." Gritting my teeth, I frantically brushed cockroaches off my arms, off the front of my T-shirt, out of my hair. Did I get them all? I couldn't tell. My whole body tingled and itched. I could still feel their prickly legs all over my skin.
By the time I returned to the kitchen, Anko seemed to have everything under control. She stood behind the table her arms crossed tightly in front of her.
I shuddered. I rubbed my arms, the back of my neck. I could still feel those fat bugs. "Im so sorry," I muttered.
"What was that about?" Anko asked. "Was it a joke? Who would send such a horrible thing? Your boyfriend Naruto?"
"N-No way… and he is not my boyfriend." I let out a sigh. And dropped back into my chair. A cockroach floated belly-up in my mint tea.
"Then who?" Anko asked.
"Probably my ex-boyfriend, Kiba. Im really sorry, Anko. He-he's been acting like a total jerk. I broke up with him in the city before I cam out here, and he-well-he can't seem to take a hint."
"What kind of guy sends buy-infested black flowers? Is he crazy?"
I tugged at my hair with both hands. "Agggh. I don't know. He's been acting crazy. I think he's very angry. He just won't take a no."
She crossed the room and stepped up close beside me. "Is he dangerous? Can I help you call the police about him, Hinata? I'd be happy to help call. If you think it would do any good."
I hesitated. "I don't really-"
A cry from upstairs. Ami. I jumped up.
Anko pushed me back down. "No. I'll go. Asuma is up there with them. He probably fell asleep. You sit for a while and get yourself together." She hurried down the hall.
I sat for a long moment, staring at the dancing dots of sunlight on the kitchen counter beneath the window. I shut my eyes, and I saw those disgusting shriveled flowers and the fat roaches scrambling, scrambling over the flowers, over the table, over me.
I pictured Kiba's pup doggy face, the chubby, pink cheeks, the round, dark eyes under the furry eyebrows. Did he really think this was the way to win me back?
Or had he given up?
Was this his crude, angry way of saying good-bye? Did he hate me that much?
Well… maybe it means Im rid of him, I thought.
Way to go, Hinata. Always look on the bright side.
And then, another scene with flowers flashed through my mind. Another time when flowers made me want to cry…
A dance recital at Miss Shizune's, the dance studio on Henry Street in Madison that my sister and I faithfully attended every Saturday morning. Hanabi was eight and I was eleven. I was so exited about the recital because I knew I was a better dancer than Hanabi. Our grandparents were going to come, and I'd have a rare chance of show off in front of them.
I was so nervous; I sweated right through my tutu. But I danced wonderfully. At least, I thought I had. I can still remember the applause, the feeling of exhilaration. And then there came my grandparents, leading my father into the dressing room, everyone beaming, so many big smiles.
Arms outstretched, I ran to them- and then stopped. I saw that my grandmother held a bouquet of flowers- yellow roses – in her hands.
A bouquet she started to hand to Hanabi.
"Oh, goodness, Hinata," Grandma said. "We completely forgot you dance, too!" I saw her cheeks blush red. She lowered her eyes to the bouquet- my sister's bouquet- pulled out a single yellow rose, and handed it to me. Then she gave the bouquet to Hanabi.
I held myself in. I didn't cry. I think I might've even thanked Grandma.
But later in my room, I ripped the petals off the rose one by one, and I said a dirty worth for each petal.
Hanabi kept her flowers in a vase in her room. She asked me several times if I wanted to come in and smell them.
Whoa. Amazing how memories jump back to you.
The card that came with the black flowers sat in a puddle of spilled tea. I grabbed it and ripped it in two. Then jumped to my feet and carried my teacup to the sink.
I poured the cockroach down the sink and washed the cup clean. Then I held my hands under the faucet and just let the hot water pour over them.
I was still standing there, leaning over the sink, when I heard someone come up quietly from behind me. Then I felt a hand caress the shoulder of my T-shirt.
Thinking it was Anko comforting me again, I turned. And there stood Asuma, with his crooked, sleazy grin.
"Oh. Sorry. Didn't mean to startle you," he said.
"I… I didn't hear you. I didn't know you were home," I lied, taking a step to the side, drying my hands on a dish towel.
His eyes flashed. "I can be quiet as a mouse when I want to be," he whispered.
I let out an awkward laugh. "You missed all the excitement. I-"
"Check this out," he said, showing off the hip-length brown leather jacket he was wearing. "I just bought it. In Easthampton. Like it?" He spun around, modeling it for me.
"Sure. Very cool," I said.
"Its Armani. The leather is not to be believed. Made from virgin calves or something. Here, Feel it."
I hesitated. Virgin calves? He was joking, yes?
"Go ahead, Hinata. Feel it. You'll fall in love, no kidding." He stuck out his arm.
I ran my fingers down the jacket sleeve. "Really soft leather," I said. That's what I was supposed to say, right?
"I put it on and I couldn't take it off. I just had to have it. A total impulse thing." He brought his face close to mine and whispered again: "You ever do anything just on an impulse?"
The question hung in the air between us for a moment. When he didn't get an answer, he changed the subject. "How about a drink, Hinata? It's almost late afternoon. And who's counting right? Im going to have a vodka tonic. Nice and summery, I think. What can I get you? We could go out on the deck and chat. You know. Get acquainted."
Down, boy! Down!
"Well-"
"Hey, I really like that swimsuit. I saw you down on the beach with the kids. You look great in it."
I straightened my long shirt. "Thanks, Asuma… but…"
I heard Anko talking to Ami. Does Anko know what Asuma is like? Would she be surprised to know that he's coming on to me while she's just down the hall?
"Uh…no drink for me right now. Thanks," I said stiffly.
His eyes went dull.
"Id better change and help out with the kids," I said.
I brushed past him and started toward the stairs.
"Maybe later," he called. I sounded more like a threat than an invitation.
Late that night, I was in bed, thumbing through a stack of magazines I had dragged out my apartment mostly dance magazines and ballet journals. Fantasy time for me.
Even after the humiliating incident at Miss Shizune's recital when I was eleven, I continued to dance. In fact, I took ballet lessons up to my senior year in high school- until the day the real world stopped the music for me.
It was hard work, and my leg muscles ached just about every day of my life. I but I loved the feeling of floating in the air, turning and moving with such precision and beauty and grace.
Another reason I loved it: I was good at it, and Hanabi was a klutz.
I wanted to be a ballet dancer in New York. I danced in my dreams and in my daydreams. I doodled dancing figures on all my notebooks instead of taking notes in class.
Then, after that night with Kakashi, after I stopped dancing forever, the dreams ended. But I never gave up my subscriptions to all the dance magazines. I never stopped studying the wonderful photos of dances frozen in beauty, defying gravity.
Yes, I guess that was my unconscious ambition – to defy gravity. To dance on air. To dance in the mirrors on the ceiling.
Ha.
A little after midnight, I shoved the magazines under my bed and called Naruto on my cell.
"Im not calling to late, am I? I know you're a working guy."
Naruto sighed. "Don't remind me… But I have to, how else will I pay for college… and for the apartment Im on right now? I cant wait to get to the beach this weekend. How's it going, Hinata?"
"Not great."
"Like, how not great?"
"Kiba did the most disgusting thing yet," I said. "He sent me a box of wilted flowers painted black."
"No sh(i)t? Don't worry Hinata, I'll get him"
"N-no don't… and I haven't finished. They were crawling with cockroaches"
"Oh, gross. I don't believe it. The cockroaches were probably other members of his family."
"Easy for you to make jokes," I said. "The roaches got out of the box and were crawling all over me and all over Anko's spotless kitchen."
"Did she freak? Did she lose her turn when she saw them?"
"No. She was okay about it. She's been really nice to me."
"Well, that's a good thing."
It was my turn to sigh. "Naruto, I think I have the job from hell. I really do."
"Hinata, give me a break. You're living two steps from the ocean in a gorgeous summer house and-"
"The kid is a total psycho maniac," I interrupted. "I mean, he's like right out of Bride of Chucky or something. And his father keeps starring at my breasts, telling me how great I look in a bathing suit, offering me drinks as soon his wife is out of the room."
"W-what?!" I heard Naruto practically scream.
"N-Naruto?" silence.
"So… dad is a slut?"
"Dad is a slut."
"Jesus, Hinata. He better not do anything to you. You're not going to sleep with him are you?" said Naruto in an angry tone.
"Shut up Naruto. That is not funny!" I remarked angrily.
"Come on, Hinata. Im only worried about you. You just started the job and you already sound like a total wreck. Are you going to stay there?"
"I don't know. I guess. I mean, do I have a choice?"
"Well-"
"I have to stay here," I insisted. "Can you hear my father if I tell him I've quit another job? Could I live through another lecture from him about what a quitter I am and how Im aiming less and juvenile, and it's time for me to start my life for real, and how I should use my sister's fiancé, Neji, the saver, Hanabi the soon to-be-millionaire, as an example? I don't think so."
"Okay. So you're definitely staying. Excellent I'll be out Friday night. Saturday night, we'll hit the clubs."
"You mean, have actually fun?"
"Actual fun. I promise, Hinata."
I said good night to Naruto and clicked off my phone. I placed it on the bed table and slid under the quilt. "Actual fun," I murmured, yawning. I suddenly felt so weary, that aching kind of sleepy where your eyelids feel heavy and even your hair hurts.
I yawned again. Pressed my head into the pillow.
And heard footsteps downstairs.
Rapid, heavy footsteps in the room below mine.
Was it Asuma? Yes, the heavy thuds sounded like Asuma. Packing back and forth, back and forth, pacing furiously. I glanced at the clock. After twelve-thirty.
What was his problem?
There! Biggest Chapter yet!
Now there is big news guys! Im going to quit writing for at least 2 months. I don't really feel like writing since none of you guys review.
Five thousand hits… and 47 reviews… that's so low… well… I wont write anymore… until I have tons of reviews? What do you guys think? Im not writing until I have about a hundred.
You wanna say anything?
Well… onto the reviews… see ya in 2 months.
Review Section
Amaya-Keiko2005: Hiya Amaya-chan!... Oh no!!! You are older than me… by 2 days! Curses…. Well… no matter… I hope you enjoy the chapter. Sure…(grins) I'll take my time alright.
niwichan2468: Here is the chapter dude! Hope you like it.
Alfred120: Thanks dude. Hope you enjoy the chapter. And thanks for adding to…well… everything! Lol. I appreciate it.
Lovelyanime: Lol You'll probably make 2 thousand easy!
What? You wouldn't! No!!! Turn it off!! Tobi help! (Tobi still unconscious) Darn you!!!
(Faints)
Do I feel okay after what Brock did to me? (Thinks back) falling over 20 feet In the air… while being injured... ) Yep! I definitely feel great! Cant you see it LA-chan!(screams RD with a sarcastic tone on his voice)
You think we should stop pranking? Well sure… em (Barney CD playing again) Ah!! No!!! Oh So that's how you want to play heh! I'll get you LA-chan just you wait! I'll make the most embarrassing prank ever!(runs away grinning like a mad man)
How do you feel about the story so far LA-chan? Remember that box that contained cockroaches? Well… I brought it here specially for you! (opens it and runs away) And that is not! My! Prank!
Hahaha!