Chaser
Ran x Roberto
Part 3
Disclaimer: Don't own it, never will.
Notes: Thanks to Leela for the Plot Bunny.
Knowing it was not the best reason to go visit a friend, I did it anyway. Not like I was actually gonna tell her why I'd gone to see her, that's just a little something I'll keep to myself and my journal.
That Friday day after school I hopped on the bus and paid Natsu a visit. It was Friday so I knew she would be at practice. How I knew this? She always complained about it when I spoke to her on the weekends. ' Oh my arm hurts. That old bat is just trying to kill me cause she knows I'm better than she ever was. That creepy Shoma showed up to walk me home and that stupid Momo twerp showed so he ditched me. Yeah so what if he was running form her again. I should have knocked them both in the head but my arm hurt. I would have too.' All weekend she'd be like that too.
Making sure I paid attention on the bus, I tried to think of things I could say as a reason for my unannounced visit. When I reached the school I was still working out ideas. Standing in front of the gym door I made last minute revisions to my story. Unfortunately I also have a tendency to talk to myself.
" Ok so I'm doing a story. Since I did one on soccer, I'm gonna do one on volleyball too. Yeah that's gonna be it and since she's my friend and a player. Who better to ask? Yeah that sounds right. Yep Ran you got a good one here." I said to my self, shaking my head in approval.
" Excuse me?" a voice, said from behind me.
" Huh? I said turning my head. In front of my stood a rather large boy in a dirty blue shirt and shorts. "Yes can I help you?" I asked eyeing his clothing. He had dirt smeared all over him, especially on his face. Looked like someone used him to dig a hole in the ground. He was just a big brown spot with two white spots for his eyes.
" Yeah, you the girl whose doing those interviews right?"
" Yeah."
" Well I was wondering if like if you could interview me and all."
" Sorry dude I finished my interviews a while ago. The article and stuff is already done."
Cursing he swung his arms out. " See I told him you wouldn't do it."
" Who told you what?" I said leaning back so he didn't hit me.
" The goalie, man."
"Roberto?"
" Yeah, he said if I asked you'd put me in your article since the other guys were being assholes about it before."
If this were a cartoon you would have been able to see the little light bulb appear over my head and flicker on and off. This was perfect; I could do this for this kid and not have to make up something to my friend. "Life is good man."
" Yeah it is." He said.
" What is?"
" You just said life is good and I was agreeing with you. Well look sorry to bother you, thanks anyway."
Ok now I have two things to work on, my attention span and that talking out loud thing.
" No, no, no wait! You know what you're right. Those guys kinda sucked. I'll be willing to use you in my article if you promise not to act like I'm from some sort of sleazy tabloid magazine."
" Really?!"
"Ah-uh, but I warn you now. You pull that crap on me like they did and I will be force to kick you in the shin or if that don't work hit you with something heavy."
The boy looked at me like I was some sort of nutcase and agreed, all the while laughing.
I followed Skie back towards the field. There seemed to be a practice going on which explained why he was so dirty. Good thing was he didn't smell, then again I didn't plan on getting close enough to be able to notice. While he ran over and talked to the other guys who were just as dirty, I made myself comfortable on the bleachers and snapped a few shots. Never hurts to have more than you need. Spotting Roberto through my lens I took a few shots of him too. I am a girl you know and even if I couldn't see his face, his body was nice to admire. It was also a great way to look and not be noticed.
Skie came back and began to talk. He wanted to be in the paper so he could show his parents who were away for some reason or another. It was kind of hard to give him my full attention when visor boy was running around all sweaty and stuff. Yet he gave me a really good scoop, even if I wasn't paying that much attention to him and then had to leave because this huge man. Dressed in a green and red striped shirt, black shorts and green socks that looked like they reached his neck came by and started to scold the players.
I sat there just watching for a while. That is until that big man screamed at me. He thought I was spying on them.
" Hey you, what you think you doing here! Get off my field! "
Looking around I pointed at myself." Who me?"
" Yeah you girly get the hell off my field. I don't take kindly to spies!"
" Spies…where? I'm no spy." I screamed back.
Walking up to me looking like there was steam coming out of his ears he screamed at me again. " Look girly I don't know who sent you here but you're leaving now!"
" Look mister I'm a reporter from Taiyo High. I'm doing a story on the players. "
" Ah-HA I knew it a spy!" he said as he reached me and grabbed my camera. Now there's something you never do. You never touch my camera. It's a no-no.
Reaching out for my most prized possession I screamed for him to give it back.
This large man whose body mass seemed to outweigh his brain mass then; while I jumped to get it; opened the back and ripped out the film.
" No don't!"
" There! Teach you to be spying on my team. Now go tell that cocksucker Hoshi his plan failed!" he said then getting ready to throw my camera on the ground.
I was in shock and about ready to kill. All common sense left my body and I kicked him dead in the groin. " I said give it BACK!!!"
Hunching over from the pain he cursed me. Then without thought I hit him with my camera. " DON'T YOU EVER TOUCH MY THINGS AGAIN! I'M NOT A DAMN SPY YOU FREAKING MORON! I'M A DAMNED REPORTER STUPID!" I screamed at him as he lay on the floor holding his valuables.
After my anger subsided I looked around and noticed that I was being stared at. The entire team was just standing there in pure shock. Not that I blame them; there I was little 5'3", 103 pound Ran; was standing over a man twice maybe three times my size screaming at him. I would be standing there in shock too.
I was too angry to be embarrassed, so I just picked up the pieces to my camera that had broken off when I hit the big idiot. Mumbling obscenities as I tried to find all of the pieces. I noticed another hand helping me. Looking up I saw it was Roberto.
" I got it." I said dryly.
" No I'll help. Are you okay?"
" Yeah just peachy."
" Sorry about the coach. He's a bit rude sometimes."
" A bit! If that's a bit, then I'm a boy."
Roberto laughed. " That freaking son of a whore! Look at this, it's broken. I can't fix this. I should make him buy me a new one. Then kick him again. I hope something hits him, something really big like a piano. I hope it falls on his head. Might make him smarter. ARGH!! All my pictures gone! OH this sucks!!!!"
"Calm down."
" You see this." I said hold up the remains of what was once a camera. " I value this more than his life. "
Roberto gave me this look of sympathy. " Come on I think you need to cool off a bit. Do something to get your mind off of this." He said as he grabbed my shoulders stopping me from kicking the coach again.
" Just once. He's out cold he won't feel it. Come on just once!" I cried as he dragged me away.
" What's the sense in that?"
" It'll feel good."
" But like you said he's out cold he won't feel it."
" Good point." I said raising my finger in the air." I'll come back tomorrow and do it. Just so he don't forget."
Roberto gave me a concerned look and began to laugh again.
"You know something, I like you. You're just too cute."
I stopped and just looked at him." Are you okay?" I asked.
" Yeah, you're just too cute. You look so angry yet say the funniest things. I almost believed you when you said you'd comeback just to kick him."
" I am. Just watch I'm gonna come back dressed like you and kick him right in the nuts…then run like hell." I said smiling at him.
Roberto thought this was hilarious and was still laughing when we got to the ice cream place and were already sited. I had to kick him under the table to get him to stop.
" Owww!"
" Then stop already. People are starring at you like there's something wrong with you."
Rubbing his leg he just looked at me and gave me this cheesy grin. "Fine then, so what would you like oh fierce warrior?"
" You buying? Seeing as I have to buy a whole new camera because of YOUR stinky coach."
" Yes I'm buying."
" Good then I'd like a double fudge sundae minus the fudge."
" Okay…doesn't that make it just a double sundae?"
" Nope, If you ask for a regular sundae they don't put the nuts and stuff on it. Besides I want caramel instead." I said with big grin on my face.
He ordered a simple double scoop of strawberry ice cream with chocolate on it. While we waited for our order we talked. He gave me a play by play of my little outburst and informed me about how funny it was to see his coach fall over like a sack of wet rice.
" So what brings you all the way over here?"
" I was coming to see Natsu…oh crap! I forgot about her."
" She'll understand and here I thought you were coming to see me."
" You funny." I said while my ice cream was set in front of him. He went to take a taste and I popped him in the hand with my little spoon. " Oh no you don't buddy. That's mine."
" Oi! " he said as I pushed his in front of him and took a spoon full of mine. " I hope you're that possessive about your boyfriend." He said rubbing his hand.
" I don't have a boyfriend and if I did he'd know to stay off the ice cream."
" Why?"
" Dunno I just don't."
" That's not good. A pretty girl like you…"
" You see men require too much attention in my opinion."
" No they don't."
" Yes they do. They want to call them and tell them where you are, who you're with and all that." I said waving around the spoon.
" We do not. Well I don't."
"Yeah okay Robbie." I said raising an eyebrow while I put more ice cream in my mouth.
" You know I'm not gonna even argue that, at least you didn't say we are all dogs."
" You're not. Only some of you men are, the rests of you are like puppies. Cute until you grow up."
" So what am I a dog or a puppy?"
" Definitely a puppy."
" So you think I'm cute, huh?"
" Yeah you're not bad looking, that is if you'd take off that hat." my eyes widened as I quickly noticed what I had just said and I buried my head in what was left of my ice cream. After a long silence I changed the subject. I asked him about Natsu and Shoma.
"They're dating." He said without hesitation.
" They are? She never told me. No wonder they always arguing." I said amazed.
" No they're not really but damn it they should be."
It was my turn to giggle now. He looked like if they didn't start he would find a way to make them start. Which was exactly what he said right after that.
" Can I ask you something since we I gather friends now?" I asked as we walked from the ice cream place.
"Yeah sure."
" Why do you wear this," I said tugging on his visor. " all the time?"
" Habit I guess." He stated as he pulled away from my hand.
"Oh is it special or something. I mean it's kinda strange you know that you always seem to have it on. Kinda like you're really ugly under there and trying to hide it. So are you really ugly under there or what?"
" Yes it's special to me and no I'm not a ugly little troll under there."
" Ok Robbie then why it's so special that you have to have it on all the time."
" My grandfather gave it to me."
" Oh…"
" He gave it to me when I was really little and it kinda reminds me of him. Don't you have something special that reminds you of someone?"
" Yeah I do but I'd look really silly running around with a figurine taped to my head. I can see the headlines now…Deranged girl walks with statue taped to her head parades around town. See page 4. Oh yeah that'd be fun. My retarded behind on new cover across the nation."
" I'd buy a few copies."
" You would."
" I bet you'd look just adorable."
" Yeah, yeah deranged would be more like it but ok. Anyway where are you taking me?"
" Taking you? I was following you."
" Come on stop playing, where are you going?"
" I'm following you," he said again.
"Well since I guess we're lost. Let's find something to do. I vote the park."
" That park?" he questioned me. " To do what? Oh I know you're not only a fierce coach beater but you wanna get the kiddies too. "
" Oh you funny. You wanna play huh? Fine." I said right before I jumped on his back.
" Since I'm the fierce warrior you're gonna be my sidekick. Carry me. "
" Oh you honor me." Roberto laughed.
"Onward trust yet faulty sidekick. Onward hither to yonder…umm…oh just got to the park."
" Faulty?! I'll sow you faulty." He said as he began to try and shake me off.
" OH! HEY STOP! I'MA FALL! STOP! OKAY, OKAY YOU'RE NOT FAULTY! COME ON I'M SLIPPING!" I screamed as I tried my best to keep my grip on his neck.
"Say I'm not faulty. Or I drop you."
" You wouldn't."
" You sure about that?" he said as he began to pry my hands from around his neck.
" Okay, fine you're not faulty just a bit slow."
I knew I shouldn't have said that but I couldn't help it. Fortunately he didn't drop me. He did however grabbed me by my leg and leaned back. Needless to say I panicked and nearly choked him to death.
Roberto quickly leaned to the side and we ended up in a big heap on the floor. Luckily he didn't land on me or I think I would have died. There was a crowd of people just starring at us, some of them were even whispering. Standing up I dusted myself off and just laughed. I had just fell in the middle of the street. Roberto and I looked at each other and busted into a fit of laughter.
" You dropped me!"
" You were choked the hell out of me and I fell too you know."
" Yeah and it was funny. Some sidekick you turned out to be. Wonder if I can still get my money back on you."
After he chased me down two blocks, caught me, picked me up and carried me like a sack of potato's all the way to the park. He said it was my punishment for being a bad warrior. When I tried to protest that that was just wrong, he told me that I said that I was to be carried. And being that he was gonna be a good sidekick he was going to carry me all the way there, no matter what I said.
At the park we had a nice time. That is after I explained the joys of being at a park at our age. I don't think he completely got it. However I did get him on the swings and the titter totter. It was extremely amusing to see him sitting on the titter totter, playing tag and attempting to climb the jingle gym to catch me.
We played around, eat more ice cream, made fun of the couples in the park and an assortment of other things. By the time the sun mea it's timely decent from the sky, we were both tried out and lying on the grass.
" This is the most fun I've had in a long time."
" Then we should do this again some time. But without the whole you dropping me on my butt thing."
" Ah you know you liked it."
" Oh yeah you know it baby. I've always wanted to be dropped on my rear by a boy."
" See I told you." he said as we laughed.
" Ran can I ask you something?"
" Yeah shoot."
" Would you like to go out some time?"
" I already said we'd do this again."
" Yeah I know but not like that."
" Huh? What are you talking about? Hey next time let's bring Natsu along and I could bring Hinata with me. That would be really fun"
" Ran I mean would you like to go out with me, alone. "
" Why Robbie are you asking me out?"
" Trying to."
" Yeah I guess so. That'd be cool. When?"
" How about next Saturday?"
" Okay." I said not knowing what else to say. I had never been asked out before.
Not knowing what else to say I looked at my watch. Saying I had to get home before my father lost his mind, we began our walk towards the bus stop. Once again he waited until I was on the bus and it was leaving before he would leave.
The ride home was rather boring and I starred out the window replying what had just happened to me. I didn't know what to make of it. Since I'd never been asked out before by anyone that wasn't icky and a total geek. I had never been on a date either and the one I had for the middle school prom so does not count. I didn't even know what I was going to wear or what I was going to do.
When I got home my father was surprisingly sitting on the couch waiting for me.
" Where have you been? Do you know what time it is? School let out hours ago." he asked as he stood up. My dad was a rather large man. He used to be some sort of fighter or something like that. I prefer not to ask him much about it since he gets all nostalgic and rambles on for hours.
" I was out with some friends and no?"
" Don't these friends have homes?"
" Yeah dad, they do. I had to take the bus and I missed the stop again. Sorry I'm late and stuff. Can I go to my room now?"
" Yeah but you have to start paying more attention to things Ran."
" Yeah daddy I'm working on it."
Running up the stairs to my room I could hear him telling me about how I need to stop leaving my clothes and stuff around. Something about sitting on a camera and now having a picture of his butt. After telling him I'd clean it tomorrow I closed myself up in my room. After a quick shower I threw myself on my bed and picked up the phone. I dialed Hinata's number and began to tell my friend about Roberto and how he asked me out. Hinata was one of my few girlfriends and I needed some advice.
Hinata and I talked for about an hour before she told me she was beginning to drool on the phone from exhaustion.