Sakura's Dream
Chapter 5 Sakura's First Pizza Party
The reddish backdoor opened as Sakura entered her house happily after she had ran into Tim in the Square. The house was part of the Twin Lilies shop. The front door led customers into the shop itself, and the backdoor in their backyard was what Sakura, Haruna, and Ryo entered to get inside their house. A middle door on the inside connected the two, and this is where the family would enter through to greet eager customers. As Sakura entered she immediately noticed that the house was silent. No squeals or exclamations from her goofy parents filled the comfy residence as she slipped off her shoes and padded along the wood floor into the kitchen.
"Neither is here? That's odd..." the lone girl thought. Suddenly, she noticed a pink sticky note stuck to the refrigerator. Sakura walked over to it and read the fancy handwriting of her mother:
Sakura – Your father and I were invited to an adults-only dinner party with the Mayor and his wife. We will probably be back around midnight, so order a pizza for yourself. All my love, Mom.
"So they just leave me here? Loving parents..." Sakura rolled her eyes, taking the twenty dollar bill for the pizza which was attached to the note. She sat down at a stool and propped her arms up on the kitchen counter, looking out the window at the huge surrounding Green Mountain range. "I think the Ann's Inn makes pizzas...I'll have to stop by there," Sakura thought blankly. "Gee...eating a pizza by myself. That sounds lonely. Oh, maybe I could invite Popuri and some of the other girls over?" she said aloud, a excited smile coming over her face. She looked up at the clock, which read 5:02. "Okay, I have enough time to have a little pizza party/get- together before mom and dad get home. Hm...lets see...Popuri, Elli, Ann, Mary, and Shellie. Not Karen, of course," Sakura decided, thinking back a few days when she saw Karen throwing up on her boyfriend Rick after drinking seven glasses of rum. She jumped off the stool and ran to the cordless phone. Her first call was the Inn.
"Hi...Inn...here. What...get...you...?" gurgled a slurred, drunken voice.
"Er...is this Ann?" Sakura asked confused.
"Karen! What are you doing! Get off the line!" screamed another voice on the other line which sounded like Ann's.
"Gugghh...la...la...uuhhh...PLOUGHhhh..." the drunken voice groaned.
"EEEEEW! GROSS!" shrieked the voice that sounded like Ann's. A few minutes of silence followed, and then the voice that sounded like Ann's came on. She sounded very stressed and a bit shaken.
"Hello, this is the Inn. What can I do for you?"
"Ann? Is this you?"
"O-Oh! Sakura! Karen was as drunk as a doornail and was the one who picked up the phone."
"Oh, okay. But why were you screaming?" Sakura asked. There was an awkward pause before Ann answered.
"When I screamed at Karen and told her to get off the line, she fell off her chair and started throwing up all over the floor," Ann muttered, still grossed out.
"Ew! That's disgusting!" Sakura gasped, grossed out and glad she decided not to have invited Karen over.
"Yeah, I know. Anyway, what can I get you?" sighed the waitress.
"Oh, yeah. I'd like to order one cheese pizza for pickup, please. Also, I was wondering if you'd life to come over to my house tonight. I was thinking of inviting Popuri, Elli, Mary, Shellie, and you," explained Sakura.
"Oh, sorry, but I don't think Dad'll let me off early tonight. With both of us doing it, it'll still take a few hours getting the smell of vomit out of the floorboards. And OK, your pizza will be ready in a half hour," Ann told her, sounding quite disappointed. After hanging up with Ann Sakura called Popuri, Elli, Mary and Shellie. Mary had to go to a special church sermon that she was scheduled to provide music for, being a trained organist, but the others all agreed to coming. Before she picked up the pizza Sakura stopped by Popuri's house. Together, the two best friends headed for the Inn. Screams and shouts could be heard from outside as they walked up the friendly cobblestone pathway.
"Huh? I wonder what all the uproar is about?" Popuri asked, not expecting any answer. Sakura shuddered, having a vague idea of who everyone was yelling at. She soon found out she was right as the two entered. The first thing they saw was the immediate sight of drunken Karen. She was lying on the floor amidst a clump of tables, throwing up continuously. The smell of vomit had filled the room as the two girls watched horrified. Rick was kneeling down next to her, obviously grossed out at the throw up that covered her face. Other bar-goers were yelling angrily at how stupid she was to drink so much. Ann hastily rushed over to them and quickly gave them Sakura's pizza, took the twenty dollar bill, and ran off, quickly muttering "Have a good day," with the little breathe that she had left. Sakura and Popuri exchanged worried glances before leaving. Back outside, cool night air rushed to greet them as a cricket chirped happily. Sakura looked down at the pizza box, which radiated warmly. From the streetlights light outside the Inn she could see the box read "Inn Pizza! For a good meal and clean atmosphere." Sakura couldn't help from laughing at the box's claim.
"What's so funny?" Popuri asked, clutching her stomach and feeling as if she herself might barf. Sakura looked over at her and smiled, pointing to the false claim of the box.
"Well, it says 'For a good meal and clean atmosphere' on the box, but I didn't think the atmosphere was that clean, personally," Sakura grinned slyly. Popuri giggled at her sarcastic comment.
"I can't quite put my finger on it, but something was a bit...unclean," backed up Popuri as they both laughed at the "clean" pool of vomit on the floor and in the cracks of the wooden paneling. After returning home the two girls placed the pizza on the counter and opened the cardboard box. Immediately following the revealing of its contents, warmth wafted from the delicious object. Both girls drooled as they took out plates and utensils enthusiastically.
"So, who are you inviting over for pizza besides me?" asked Popuri, setting down a plate at the table.
"Um...Shellie and Elli. Mary and Ann were both no-shows," Sakura told her, arranging a napkin fancifully. Popuri's jaw dropped in unison with the spoon she was holding.
"You invited ELLI? Are you INSANE?! She's your RIVAL!" Popuri exclaimed. Sakura rolled her eyes.
"You can be such a drama queen sometimes," she commented, walking over to her and picking up the wounded piece of silverware.
"But...but...you both like the same guy!" Popuri stammered, confused.
"I know, but still, I'd like it if we could at least be friends. And who knows, maybe she really likes someone else instead?" Sakura shrugged.
"Wishful thinking," her friend sung sarcastically, dodging a spoon thrown at her in response. After arranging the plates and silverware the girls only had to wait a few more minutes before the guests arrived. Knock! Knock! Both hostesses rose at the knocking of the doors. Sakura left the kitchen and walked down the hallway, reaching the door and opening it. Both Shellie and Elli stood there excitedly, chatting among themselves.
"Hi guys! Welcome, welcome!" Sakura greeted, opening the door and motioning for them both to come in.
"Yeah, welcome is right! We've had to stand out here forever!" Shellie joked heartily. Elli blushed and smiled sweetly.
"You guys live in such a cute house. I never knew the Twin Lilies was so big in the back," she commented good naturedly, entering behind Shellie.
"We have some yummy Inn pizza and a six pack of soda," Sakura told the hungry guests as she led them down the hallway and into the kitchen. Popuri was standing at the oak table. She smiled nervously, waiting for Sakura and Elli to rip each other apart. Actually, she was surprised they were both still perfectly intact.
"O-Oh! W-Welcome Shellie, Elli," Popuri smiled, nodding to both of them in order.
"That rhymes," Elli commented, laughing. All the other girls giggled at her silly joke as they all sat down at the table. Sakura and Elli sat at the head (their gazes connected quite uncomfortably), and Popuri and Shellie each sat at their sides.
"Yum!" exclaimed Shellie as she took a bit of the soft cheese pizza.
"This stuff is great! I've always admired Doug's cooking skills," Elli confessed as she washed down a huge bit of pizza with gulps of Coke. Sakura and Popuri both glanced at each other and exchanged giggles. "W- What's so funny?" asked Elli nervously.
"Should we tell them?" asked Popuri.
"Yeah, it's too funny for just the two of us," Sakura said with a little 'tee hee.'
"Okay, I will," Popuri nodded in agreement. She sighed, took a sip of Coke, and began telling the guests about their journey of getting the pizza, Karen, and the barf that covered the Inn's floor. When she was done both guests burst out laughing.
"Ewww!!" squealed Elli.
"Nasty!" laughed Shellie.
"I know! I'm glad you didn't invite Karen, Sakura. She would have started gulping down one of your parent's Chardonnay and end up dying of alcohol poisoning," Popuri confessed, rolling her eyes. They all agreed as they continued the dinner happily, chatting on about the Goddess Festival, the Mayor/Demon Hat's freakishly small stature, and relationship gossip. They even laughed when someone else laughed, and after dinner everyone were in very good-natured moods.
"Oh...that was just too funny..." Elli commented on a previous joke, her face hurting from smiling so much. Sakura looked across the table at Elli. She was happy to have spent some time with her, and not just have blown her off as Popuri had suggested.
"She really is sweet..." Sakura smiled softly to herself. It was a bittersweet smile, however, because she knew that it would be difficult for them to become truly good friends, what with both vying for Tim's affections. Popuri noticed Sakura's brief moment of apathy while Shellie and Elli joked quietly. She tried to smile at her stressed friend, but in the end her smile appeared as a distorted half smile-half frown.
"O-Oh...I feel like I'm pregnant..." Elli rubbed her tummy, which seemed a bit bigger. Shellie grinned, rubbing her's.
"Cliff'll make fun of me now that I gained some weight," Shellie grinned pleasantly. After a bit more chatting the now-huge Elli and Shellie smiled and decided to leave. Sakura and Popuri both saw them off at the door, then returned to the kitchen. The clock read 11:45.
"Wow...they were here for almost five hours," Popuri said with a little amazement. Sakura beamed at Popuri mischievously, her hands on her hips.
"Now WHO said that we all couldn't have fun, Popuri?" she interrogated, her long blond hair dangling against her behind. Popuri's brow lowered.
"You were right..." she pouted childishly. Sakura smiled, pleased with herself. Once they had cleaned up the dinner mess, Popuri thanked Sakura and said goodbye before leaving for back home. Now alone, Sakura turned off the kitchen light and went into the hallway, walked up the wood stairs, and entered her room. The lone hostess fell onto her bed, exhausted yet content.
"I got to see Tim today, I had pizza with my friends, I made neutral ground with Elli..." Sakura sighed to herself, looking up to the ceiling. "...and I have an herb-picking date with Tim tomorrow..." she yawned softly before dozing into a deep and peaceful sleep.
Chapter 5 Sakura's First Pizza Party
The reddish backdoor opened as Sakura entered her house happily after she had ran into Tim in the Square. The house was part of the Twin Lilies shop. The front door led customers into the shop itself, and the backdoor in their backyard was what Sakura, Haruna, and Ryo entered to get inside their house. A middle door on the inside connected the two, and this is where the family would enter through to greet eager customers. As Sakura entered she immediately noticed that the house was silent. No squeals or exclamations from her goofy parents filled the comfy residence as she slipped off her shoes and padded along the wood floor into the kitchen.
"Neither is here? That's odd..." the lone girl thought. Suddenly, she noticed a pink sticky note stuck to the refrigerator. Sakura walked over to it and read the fancy handwriting of her mother:
Sakura – Your father and I were invited to an adults-only dinner party with the Mayor and his wife. We will probably be back around midnight, so order a pizza for yourself. All my love, Mom.
"So they just leave me here? Loving parents..." Sakura rolled her eyes, taking the twenty dollar bill for the pizza which was attached to the note. She sat down at a stool and propped her arms up on the kitchen counter, looking out the window at the huge surrounding Green Mountain range. "I think the Ann's Inn makes pizzas...I'll have to stop by there," Sakura thought blankly. "Gee...eating a pizza by myself. That sounds lonely. Oh, maybe I could invite Popuri and some of the other girls over?" she said aloud, a excited smile coming over her face. She looked up at the clock, which read 5:02. "Okay, I have enough time to have a little pizza party/get- together before mom and dad get home. Hm...lets see...Popuri, Elli, Ann, Mary, and Shellie. Not Karen, of course," Sakura decided, thinking back a few days when she saw Karen throwing up on her boyfriend Rick after drinking seven glasses of rum. She jumped off the stool and ran to the cordless phone. Her first call was the Inn.
"Hi...Inn...here. What...get...you...?" gurgled a slurred, drunken voice.
"Er...is this Ann?" Sakura asked confused.
"Karen! What are you doing! Get off the line!" screamed another voice on the other line which sounded like Ann's.
"Gugghh...la...la...uuhhh...PLOUGHhhh..." the drunken voice groaned.
"EEEEEW! GROSS!" shrieked the voice that sounded like Ann's. A few minutes of silence followed, and then the voice that sounded like Ann's came on. She sounded very stressed and a bit shaken.
"Hello, this is the Inn. What can I do for you?"
"Ann? Is this you?"
"O-Oh! Sakura! Karen was as drunk as a doornail and was the one who picked up the phone."
"Oh, okay. But why were you screaming?" Sakura asked. There was an awkward pause before Ann answered.
"When I screamed at Karen and told her to get off the line, she fell off her chair and started throwing up all over the floor," Ann muttered, still grossed out.
"Ew! That's disgusting!" Sakura gasped, grossed out and glad she decided not to have invited Karen over.
"Yeah, I know. Anyway, what can I get you?" sighed the waitress.
"Oh, yeah. I'd like to order one cheese pizza for pickup, please. Also, I was wondering if you'd life to come over to my house tonight. I was thinking of inviting Popuri, Elli, Mary, Shellie, and you," explained Sakura.
"Oh, sorry, but I don't think Dad'll let me off early tonight. With both of us doing it, it'll still take a few hours getting the smell of vomit out of the floorboards. And OK, your pizza will be ready in a half hour," Ann told her, sounding quite disappointed. After hanging up with Ann Sakura called Popuri, Elli, Mary and Shellie. Mary had to go to a special church sermon that she was scheduled to provide music for, being a trained organist, but the others all agreed to coming. Before she picked up the pizza Sakura stopped by Popuri's house. Together, the two best friends headed for the Inn. Screams and shouts could be heard from outside as they walked up the friendly cobblestone pathway.
"Huh? I wonder what all the uproar is about?" Popuri asked, not expecting any answer. Sakura shuddered, having a vague idea of who everyone was yelling at. She soon found out she was right as the two entered. The first thing they saw was the immediate sight of drunken Karen. She was lying on the floor amidst a clump of tables, throwing up continuously. The smell of vomit had filled the room as the two girls watched horrified. Rick was kneeling down next to her, obviously grossed out at the throw up that covered her face. Other bar-goers were yelling angrily at how stupid she was to drink so much. Ann hastily rushed over to them and quickly gave them Sakura's pizza, took the twenty dollar bill, and ran off, quickly muttering "Have a good day," with the little breathe that she had left. Sakura and Popuri exchanged worried glances before leaving. Back outside, cool night air rushed to greet them as a cricket chirped happily. Sakura looked down at the pizza box, which radiated warmly. From the streetlights light outside the Inn she could see the box read "Inn Pizza! For a good meal and clean atmosphere." Sakura couldn't help from laughing at the box's claim.
"What's so funny?" Popuri asked, clutching her stomach and feeling as if she herself might barf. Sakura looked over at her and smiled, pointing to the false claim of the box.
"Well, it says 'For a good meal and clean atmosphere' on the box, but I didn't think the atmosphere was that clean, personally," Sakura grinned slyly. Popuri giggled at her sarcastic comment.
"I can't quite put my finger on it, but something was a bit...unclean," backed up Popuri as they both laughed at the "clean" pool of vomit on the floor and in the cracks of the wooden paneling. After returning home the two girls placed the pizza on the counter and opened the cardboard box. Immediately following the revealing of its contents, warmth wafted from the delicious object. Both girls drooled as they took out plates and utensils enthusiastically.
"So, who are you inviting over for pizza besides me?" asked Popuri, setting down a plate at the table.
"Um...Shellie and Elli. Mary and Ann were both no-shows," Sakura told her, arranging a napkin fancifully. Popuri's jaw dropped in unison with the spoon she was holding.
"You invited ELLI? Are you INSANE?! She's your RIVAL!" Popuri exclaimed. Sakura rolled her eyes.
"You can be such a drama queen sometimes," she commented, walking over to her and picking up the wounded piece of silverware.
"But...but...you both like the same guy!" Popuri stammered, confused.
"I know, but still, I'd like it if we could at least be friends. And who knows, maybe she really likes someone else instead?" Sakura shrugged.
"Wishful thinking," her friend sung sarcastically, dodging a spoon thrown at her in response. After arranging the plates and silverware the girls only had to wait a few more minutes before the guests arrived. Knock! Knock! Both hostesses rose at the knocking of the doors. Sakura left the kitchen and walked down the hallway, reaching the door and opening it. Both Shellie and Elli stood there excitedly, chatting among themselves.
"Hi guys! Welcome, welcome!" Sakura greeted, opening the door and motioning for them both to come in.
"Yeah, welcome is right! We've had to stand out here forever!" Shellie joked heartily. Elli blushed and smiled sweetly.
"You guys live in such a cute house. I never knew the Twin Lilies was so big in the back," she commented good naturedly, entering behind Shellie.
"We have some yummy Inn pizza and a six pack of soda," Sakura told the hungry guests as she led them down the hallway and into the kitchen. Popuri was standing at the oak table. She smiled nervously, waiting for Sakura and Elli to rip each other apart. Actually, she was surprised they were both still perfectly intact.
"O-Oh! W-Welcome Shellie, Elli," Popuri smiled, nodding to both of them in order.
"That rhymes," Elli commented, laughing. All the other girls giggled at her silly joke as they all sat down at the table. Sakura and Elli sat at the head (their gazes connected quite uncomfortably), and Popuri and Shellie each sat at their sides.
"Yum!" exclaimed Shellie as she took a bit of the soft cheese pizza.
"This stuff is great! I've always admired Doug's cooking skills," Elli confessed as she washed down a huge bit of pizza with gulps of Coke. Sakura and Popuri both glanced at each other and exchanged giggles. "W- What's so funny?" asked Elli nervously.
"Should we tell them?" asked Popuri.
"Yeah, it's too funny for just the two of us," Sakura said with a little 'tee hee.'
"Okay, I will," Popuri nodded in agreement. She sighed, took a sip of Coke, and began telling the guests about their journey of getting the pizza, Karen, and the barf that covered the Inn's floor. When she was done both guests burst out laughing.
"Ewww!!" squealed Elli.
"Nasty!" laughed Shellie.
"I know! I'm glad you didn't invite Karen, Sakura. She would have started gulping down one of your parent's Chardonnay and end up dying of alcohol poisoning," Popuri confessed, rolling her eyes. They all agreed as they continued the dinner happily, chatting on about the Goddess Festival, the Mayor/Demon Hat's freakishly small stature, and relationship gossip. They even laughed when someone else laughed, and after dinner everyone were in very good-natured moods.
"Oh...that was just too funny..." Elli commented on a previous joke, her face hurting from smiling so much. Sakura looked across the table at Elli. She was happy to have spent some time with her, and not just have blown her off as Popuri had suggested.
"She really is sweet..." Sakura smiled softly to herself. It was a bittersweet smile, however, because she knew that it would be difficult for them to become truly good friends, what with both vying for Tim's affections. Popuri noticed Sakura's brief moment of apathy while Shellie and Elli joked quietly. She tried to smile at her stressed friend, but in the end her smile appeared as a distorted half smile-half frown.
"O-Oh...I feel like I'm pregnant..." Elli rubbed her tummy, which seemed a bit bigger. Shellie grinned, rubbing her's.
"Cliff'll make fun of me now that I gained some weight," Shellie grinned pleasantly. After a bit more chatting the now-huge Elli and Shellie smiled and decided to leave. Sakura and Popuri both saw them off at the door, then returned to the kitchen. The clock read 11:45.
"Wow...they were here for almost five hours," Popuri said with a little amazement. Sakura beamed at Popuri mischievously, her hands on her hips.
"Now WHO said that we all couldn't have fun, Popuri?" she interrogated, her long blond hair dangling against her behind. Popuri's brow lowered.
"You were right..." she pouted childishly. Sakura smiled, pleased with herself. Once they had cleaned up the dinner mess, Popuri thanked Sakura and said goodbye before leaving for back home. Now alone, Sakura turned off the kitchen light and went into the hallway, walked up the wood stairs, and entered her room. The lone hostess fell onto her bed, exhausted yet content.
"I got to see Tim today, I had pizza with my friends, I made neutral ground with Elli..." Sakura sighed to herself, looking up to the ceiling. "...and I have an herb-picking date with Tim tomorrow..." she yawned softly before dozing into a deep and peaceful sleep.