Chaser
Ran x Roberto
Part 2
Disclaimer: Don't own it, never will.
Notes: Thanks to Leela for the Plot Bunny.
Once outside the locker area Natsu and I ran into Shoma again. He looked content like he'd just won some sort of grand prize. " What you so happy about?" Natsu asked. " Nothing. Hey why'd you leave me?" " What you thought I was just gonna wait for you to finish babbling about some stupid referee?" Shoma huffed and looked like he was going to say something when I cut him off. " So where is this victory party thing?" I asked. " It's gonna be at Montes's pizzeria, about three blocks from here. So did you get everything you need for your report?" she asked me. " Nope not yet." " Oh well Roberto should be able to tell you everything you need to know." " Hopefully." I said.
While the three of us walked the three blocks to the pizza place. Natsu and Shoma had gotten into two arguments. One about the game and the other on how she doesn't treat him right. The later was being the funnier one out of the two. I found it highly amusing to hear Natsu repeat " But you're not my boyfriend." Over and over again whenever he would say she should be nicer to him.
Once we arrived at the place I saw that it was full of the players I had seen earlier. Unlike the locker room there were now a lot of girls thrown about. For once I felt really out of place. When we walked in people I didn't know greeted Natsu and Shoma and they did the same. I could see people looking at me strangely. I seemed to be the only one who didn't play a sport and I think they could tell. I felt like prey and they were the hunters and could smell fear.
Quickly I found myself sit, took out my notepad and began jotting down the things I saw. Not long after I sat down I was deeply into my writing. I had my head down and was talking to myself as I wrote.
" The players seem to have a common respect for one another. Holding a small party at local pizza parlor for their recent victory they seem to truly enjoy what they do. No, no that doesn't sound right." I said to myself, scratching out what I'd just written down. " Mind if I sit?" " Yeah sure whatever floats your boat." I said absentmindedly. " Hmmm… I should put what the locker room was like and how those smelly men hoarded around them like vultures… Yeah!" I said to myself. " Nice to see you made it." " Huh? What?" I said looking up slightly confused. " Oh Roberto hi." I said smiling. He gave me a smile. " Why hello." " Sorry what did you say?" I asked while I closed my notepad. " I said it was nice to see that you made it." " Oh yeah wouldn't miss it." I said giving him a slight nod. " So…how about we get to that interview you promised me." " Sure let me get some of the guys for you." " I thought I'd be talking to you first." Roberto chuckled. " You will but how about we get them out of the way. So you can have me all to yourself." " Umm…yeah sure ok." I said slowly as he got up.He walked away and shortly returned with four guys. They all had on the same visor Roberto had on but only most of them had it turned backwards. Which made them look like they had flaps on the back of their head. One of them had his one backwards and turned upside down, which made it look like he had a cup attached to his head. Needless to say he looked extremely silly.
My interview of them went quickly. Them all seemed to be reading off of the same page. I think they thought that if they said something I was going to write horrible things about them. Annoyed I ended my questions quickly. I didn't know anything about soccer and they weren't making it any easier to understand it.
Once the four guys left and went back to goofing off with their friends, Roberto came back to where I was sitting. I noticed that he wasn't wearing his uniform anymore and was dressed in a pair of faded blue jeans and Red tee- shirt. Yet he still had on that visor. Making a mental note to ask him about that later I smiled as he sat down.
" Almost done yet?" "Almost. You sound like you're trying to get rid of me? Am I bothering you?" I said defensively. I couldn't help myself I was slightly annoyed at those other guys. " No." " Are you sure about that Roberto?" " Yes quite." " Alrighty then, let's get down to business. Ok, what position do you play?" " Forward and goalie." "Ah… you're the one who stands there willing while they try to hit you in the head with the ball." " You could look at it that way," he said with a small laugh. " But the goal is to stop the ball from getting into the net. Would you like something to drink?" " Yeah ok. I still don't see why you would want to stand there while someone's kicking a ball at high speed at your head but hey whatever works for you. Now why do you have two positions? Isn't it one per player? " " Yeah it is usually but I messed up my arm last year and had to take another position. So now if one guy's out I take his place." " Hey can I have something to drink?" I asked. Roberto just laughed. " What?! " " Nothing.' He said with a grin. " Hey you said you wouldn't laugh at me. That's just so not nice." I said giving him my best scowl. " Sorry, sorry it's just…" "It's just what?" I said raising my eyebrow at him. " That I just asked you if you'd like a drink and I guess you didn't hear me." " Oh…well sorry." I said, as my face burned red with embarrassment.Getting up he smiled at me. I was feeling really stupid by this point. That was twice already, I'd made a fool of myself. I decided that from this point on I was not going to make anymore mistakes.
Roberto came back with some drinks and sat down. Folding his hands in front of him he just looked at me.
" Can I ask you something?" he asked. " Yeah go ahead." " How'd you get into being a reporter?" " Well, it's fun. I like finding out new stuff and I got tired of the retards at my school writing about stupid things like latest fashions and whose sleeping with whom. Frankly I could care less that's so and so got into so and so's pants. That's their business who they feel like sticking." He laughed at me again. " Am I funny to you or something?" "Would you be upset if I said yes?" " Maybe." " Ok then I won't" " No go ahead." " It's nothing you're just funny." " How you figure?" " Well before you hit me with that cup." He said. I realized at his words that I had been clutching my cup tightly and released my death grip on it. "I think you're funny." " Why? I'm not making jokes or anything." " It's not that. It's just how you speak." My mouth dropped open at his words. How could he just say that? " Well you don't see me making fun of you and your silly hat, that might I add you still have one." I said as I grabbed my things and set for the door. I had gotten outside and was heading towards the bus stop, when someone grabbing me by my arm stopped me. " Wait I'm sorry. I didn't mean it like that." " Well you know what whatever. I'm done anyway. I got everything I need. Now if you don't mind let me go." I said annoyed and refusing to look at him. " No please just wait a second okay." " What is it?" I asked turning around. " Look Ran you took what I said the wrong way. I wasn't making fun of you." " Yeah ok whatever. Look I have to go." I said while trying to get my arm back. " NO really I wasn't I was just…I mean I was laughing because of the way you say things. I mean you just say whatever comes to mind." " Yeah and your point is?" " I like that. That's why I was laughing. I don't know anyone who speaks exactly what they're thinking." " Huh? Come again?" " Ran look you say things like you didn't give them a second thought. You don't hold anything back. " " Oh…" " So you forgive me?" he said giving me that smile again. " I dunno…" I said with a smirk. " Oh come on. You gonna make me make it up to you aren't you? Ok what do I have to do?" " Yep but first can I have my arm back now?" " Oh." he said as if he just remembered that he was holding on to me. " So what do I have to do?" " Take off your hat." " No, ok what else?" " Take off your hat." " Nope, anything else?" " No I want you to take the hat off." " No." " What is it some sort of good luck charm or something? If it is umm… you do you the games over right?" " I don't take it off." " What you sleep in the thing too?" " Hey, hey, hey getting personal aren't we?" I blushed hard at that comment. " nooooo."After that he walked me around. We talked about several things. Sports, the newspaper, people and how stupid they could be. Roberto was a nice guy and rather funny. Even if he wouldn't take off that damned visor. By the end of the day I had a new friend and a new mission in life. My mission was to get him to take it of. I wanted to see his face.
He left me about five hours later when we noticed that it was well beyond 6pm. Taking me to the bus stop he waited until the bus arrived and I was safety on it to leave. I waved like a hyper schoolgirl at him from the window as the bus pulled away.
On the ride home I could think of nothing but him. Roberto had a weird sense of humor and once I understood not to take it personally I had a great time with him. Without knowing it I had gotten all the information I needed to write a killer article and I didn't have to ask any of the routine boring string of questions. Roberto had enough colorful comments about the game and some of the players to make my article informative yet interesting.
I thought about these things as I walked back to my house. I really have to work on the paying attention to where I'm going thing. My father wasn't home when I got there but he left dinner in the microwave. Mmmmmm… I just love hot pockets.
Putting my food to heat up, I made my way upstairs. Leaving a trail of clothes and things as I made it to my room. Once I eat and showered, I did what any normal teenager would do. I turned on the TV and computer and vegetated until I feel asleep.
My dreams were filled with images of that boy I had met today. In my dream I saw millions of him. They were playing the game, bouncing that ball around or just standing here smiling at me. Only problem was when I went to take his hat off to see his face it wasn't a pleasant experience. All the faces were blank from the nose up. I was creepy.
The next day at school was spent trying to figure out an excuse to go back there. I didn't just want to show up but after my dream the night before I really had to find out what he looked like. That and he is kinda cute. From the nose down that is but funny how I even though I can see his face, I find him slightly attractive. It's go to be the mystery of not being able to see him. Either way I had to find a way to see him without looking desperate.
Throughout the day I thought about how to go about going to see him. After an array of kooky and retarded ideas, I think my best bet would be through my friends. I think it's about time me and Natsu got closer.