There would have to be something short of a miracle - or close to that point - to get four boys around the age of twenty out of bed on their own power before the sun rose. And actually AWAKE.
Especially on a Sunday.
"Yahoo! 'Alternative Blowout' here we come."
"Come on God, make that sun rise and speed along the morning!"
"Yea, it's only dusk and I can barely see the ramp."
"Watch this you loudmouths, triple spin without falling!"
"You wish...you can't even do a double without having trouble!"
"It's all in how you catch air." Pushing off the ground and quickly balancing on the board, he pressed back at the last second on the small ramp and spun the board. As said, a triple spin with a sure landing.
Stopping mere feet away from the wooden ramp, eyes blinked in shock. 'Yatta...'
"Wow dude, I didn't think you'd actually MAKE it."
"Way to go Inaki!"
A boasting smirk appeared at the stun in his friends' voices. Pushing the brake with a foot, he twirled around to face the three. "Oh ye of little faith." He called, giving a thumb's up. A car stopped on the main street and slowly took a turn to the road leading to the hotel. "Heads up guys - car!" A foot harshly landed down on the back end and his skateboard jumped to the air. He caught it with a deft hand and gripped it to his side and ran to the ramp...trying to pull it out of the middle of the parking lot.
The other three quickly copied his technique with ease and jogged to parked cars out of the way. It was dark enough to require headlights on the cars and none wanted to get hit. They had plenty of experience playing with their ramp in the streets and keeping a keen ear out for cars in their own city. It was only a precaution. They didn't expect the car to turn into the lot, as the road off the highway led to another road.
Precautions proved fruitful when the car slowed even more to take the small incline into the lot.
The four watched as it parked and shut off seconds later, waiting to get back to it. Each was so filled with energy with the thought of going to get tickets - as soon as the sun rose. At the first light of dawn, they checked out and hauled it to the ticket office.
"What do we have here?"
Dark brown blinked and squinted as two people exited the car. That voice sounded rather familiar. A hand tried to get the hair sticking out of his backwards cap out of his eyes enough to see who it was.
"You four realize this is loitering and illegal. I have enough mind to call the cops on you."
He blinked again as the shorter of the two stopped next to Chass. His brows furrowed in confusion, though a small smile started appearing. What was going on?? "Oi ojou-san! No harm no foul okay? We didn't figure it was that big a deal..." He dropped the board and rolled over to where they were, using the break as he reached them. His eyes widened a little when he spied two extremely familiar forms. Brown locked with the taller. "Kimi wa..."
"You!" She gasped, a hand going to her mouth. This was just great!
"Hey Inaki...talk English for those who aren't used to your slip-ups will ya?" Kelar called, smirking.
Dark brown shot over, narrowing playfully. A finger rose and scratched his scalp in a subtle, crude gesture, one Kelar mimicked. "Baka uresai." He muttered, purposely slipping tongues.
She stood and dumbly blinked green, not knowing the language. She knew he was orient, but it all sounded the same to her. "Ex - excuse me...but you do realize you can't skateboard on public property. Guests or no..." She muttered, looking him in the eye.
Samantha blinked and took a step to him, looking up to meet his eyes. "You...you're hotel guests??" She breathed, looking in shock.
Her head shook with amusement. Samantha was a good person...a little thick though.
Realizing she could be reported for threatening what kept her an employee, Samantha mildly panicked. "Ah! Sorry, sorry! I didn't know...please oh PLEASE don't report me to Barbara!"
He smiled at how upset the poor girl was. She was nearly begging him to keep this a secret. He snorted and laid a hand on her shoulder. "It's fine. You didn't know who we were." Dark brown shot to the sky. "No one would. We didn't even know if you would see us so we moved out of the way."
"THOUGHT I saw something when we entered."
He smiled and stepped back, kicking the board into the air. "And we certainly don't want to go to jail on the most important day of our lives..." He winked, getting a sheepish smile in return.
"Eh...sorry about that. I wouldn't REALLY report paying customers..." A hand scratched light blond.
"ANYWAY...we've got to get going Sam. It's nearly seven and we have to get punched in and get breakfast set up." She reminded, latching a hand onto her friend's arm.
"Did I hear the magic word??"
Green spun around at seeing someone leaning on a skateboard with a grin. She blinked. How many of them WERE there out here?
"Hey Inaki, think we have enough time for a bite before we head out?"
Dark brown speared green. "You've a watch?"
She nodded, taking a deep breath. Those eyes were...rather nice to look into...
She mentally slapped herself.
A charming grin appeared. "Care to inform us of the time and we'll let you get to it?"
Pressing her lips together to fight a girlish smile, she lifted a wrist and pressed the light dial. "Five to seven."
"AH! We're going to be late!"
"Calm down Sammy, we're right in front of the - ACK!"
A wide grin appeared as Samantha nearly dragged her to the doors. It was quite amusing to see the thinner girl try to stay on her feet. Shaking his head, he chuckled as the other three rode up and stopped before him.
"Come on man, let's get the stuff put away and go get ready."
"We ARE ready you moron...the bags are in the car." A hand whipped out and gave Robert a shove to the back.
"Ah! Knock it off! You want some? Don't make me use my board like WWF."
Snickering, he silently headed to their ramp and let the two go at it. It never lasted long and the rest of the group could break it up for him. If that didn't work, he could always mention they weren't going to get much time to eat...
"Hey dude...where'd you go?"
"I'm at the car you bakaro!" He called, rolling his eyes. He hoisted the ramp to the trunk as the others rolled up.
"Name calling is not nice dude." Chass jovially muttered, grabbing the other end. Together the two situated it and all four set their boards in.
"Even though we're packed, we should make a final sweep of the room to be sure we didn't forget anything." Kelar said.
"Ah, point taken. Also kills time so we don't have to wait in the nook for the food right?" Chass added, nudging Kelar with an elbow.
A hand quickly shot out and smacked Chass in the back of the head.
~*~*~
"So what do you suppose those four were talking about?"
"How do I know? I don't bother to make it my point to know other's business."
"You're such a spoilsport..."
She grunted and juggled the plastic cereal crates that needed to be set out. There were only three, and she was resolved to get them in one trip.
"You want any help?" Samantha tentatively queried, a brow lowering.
"Nope. I got it." She shortly answered, craning her head over the blurry plastic. Being clear didn't help at all.
One would think Samantha would know to stop asking if she wanted help by now. She didn't like accepting help from others that much. Oh the pains of being independent...
Halfway down the hall, she thought she saw something over the tip of the back end.
"Careful."
Unknowing if it was being said to whom, she halted anyway and looked around. A body came into her field of vision and her head whipped to the right, blinking in shock at seeing the same boy from outside.
A small smile appeared on his face as he leaned down a little to meet her eyes. His head tilted a tad. "Those look heavy. Are you a damsel in distress?"
She only blinked and felt her cheeks heat a little. "I -" Before she could answer, hands briefly touched hers and her heart fluttered...right before indignation flared at feeling a lighter load. He took one of the cereal crates! "You - you really don't have to help me! I had it..." She stuttered, trying to pick her mind up.
His eyes met hers and her lips pressed together. A small grin lit his face.
"Sure you did." He muttered, walking away.
She jogged as best she could after his long legs to catch up. "H - hey! I meant it..."
He set the plastic contraption on the counter and waited until she managed to get both on as well.
Teeth momentarily bit her lip as she fixed the cereal, unable to look at him. Having to thank people for doing something SHE was supposed to do was never easy at times. Especially since it was a resident!
So what if he was being nice to her and chivalrous? She - she didn't expect any help from anyone! Having taught her that a long time ago, it was probably part of the reason why she was having a hard time getting words of gratitude past her lips. With a small sigh, she turned and gave a tiny smile. "Th - thank you for...for-"
"Inaki."
Both pairs of eyes whipped to the three jogging over. They stopped at the entranceway and leaned against the archway. She fought a blush and gave a brief glance into dark brown, finding them on her, before quickly looking away and heading to the blocked doors.
The three stood around as if not wanting to let her pass. "Excuse me." She muttered. To her relief, one stepped out of the way with a smile and let her pass. She nodded and walked away, trying to keep her pace even. For some reason, she felt a little uneasy from those three there. Like they disapproved of her or something.
"What do you think you're doing you moron? You know better than to flirt with her."
She paused as if running into a wall and quickly looked over her shoulder. After a confused blink, she flatted against the corner and spied. Green narrowed. So what was so wrong with Inaki flirting with HER?
"Yea Yamoi...you're lucky we keep our mouth shut to Cam when she's not around."
Yamoi? Cam? Was Yamoi part of Inaki's name? And was that his first or last? Who was Cam?
"Dude...if she were here she'd probably be bitching you out right about now!"
She caught a sigh and her shoulders drooped a little. That sigh was pure exasperation...as if having to put up with that same instance more than once.
"How many times have I TOLD you this? She doesn't like alternative concerts. If she came with, YOU would be miserable because she would be complaining the whole time."
"I thought you told us it's because you didn't want to worry about Cam throwing a fit if you ended up looking."
"Oh shut up Rob."
Green sullenly looked to the carpet, but her jaw set as she deeply inhaled and turned to the front desk. She knew it...he had a girlfriend. It never failed...just when she found him attractive and was even CONSIDERING Sam's suggestion too.
Indignation and frustration - maybe a little anger - flared. Why would he flirt with her if he had a girlfriend? Even if this Cam didn't sound like a very tolerant person to his interests, he should STILL be faithful! That's just what SHE wanted - her emotions played with for some stupid fancy he had!
Her shoulders squared as she stalked to the front door. MEN! Why had they have to be such dicks?!
~*~*~
After everything was set up and he watched the three attack the breakfast bar, he sat back and enjoyed a quick one as well. As he downed his orange juice, dark brown spied a clock on the far wall.
"Shimatta! We've got about five minutes to get to the car or we're not going to make the planned time!" He cried, jumping from the chair. He swiped residue off with the back of his hand and started gathering everything for the trash.
"GAH! Inaki's right - let's haul guys."
"Here dude...we'll take care of the trash, you turn the keys in and book us a room for the appointed time next month."
"Can do Kelar...just make sure you throw everything away!" He was probably the cleanest of the group, for a guy...
Jogging up to the counter found K typing into the computer. He reached in and accidentally slapped the keys down a little too hard in his hurry and grimaced when she jumped and met his eyes. "Ah...sorry about that. Just thought I'd return our passes." He smiled and pushed the keys over.
She simply stared as if he was a two-year old asking for something.
He blinked and a brow minutely arched at the near blank look in her eyes...like she didn't know him or something. Mentally shaking himself, he let go and clasped hands together on the counter. "I also want to book the same room for me and the other three musketeers in a month."
She looked to the computer and started typing again.
His head jerked, taken aback at this new behavior. Was it something he SAID? She was just talking and smiling at him not even half an hour ago!
"For what day sir?"
"It's Inaki." He answered, putting on a charming smile. That always worked before. "I told you to call me that last time you called me sir."
She looked up and they locked eyes. It seemed minutes passed before her eyes almost softened and a small smile appeared.
Finally! For some reason, seeing her act indifferent rubbed him the wrong way. Probably because he already saw how friendly she was before.
"What day sir?"
Sigh...
"Ano...July twelve and thirteen."
She was silent as typing filled the air. He resisted the urge to fidget and tap a finger on the marble. She normally made conversation at least.
"Alright...you and your four friends are booked sir. See you in a month and a half." She looked up with a friendly smile, but it didn't reach her eyes.
"Come on Inaki! We're a minute and a half behind schedule!"
Whipping around found Chass waving an arm in his direction. Heaving a sigh, trying not to be embarrassed at the youngest of the group, he cast another smile across the desk. "See ya then K."
She gave a small nod and he pivoted.
"Hope you get good tickets for your concert sir."
He nearly fell to the ground. Catching himself in mid step, he paused and looked over his shoulder, but she was already doing something he couldn't see behind the counter. He turned in bemusement, head tilting. What?? "How did you know about -"
"INAKI!"
His head whipped behind again. Chass was waving both arms now and he felt the urge to sweatdrop like in his manga collection.
The phone rang and he looked forward, mouth open. "Good morning, thank you for calling the Miami Hyatt. How may I help you?"
He sighed as she sat at the computer and practically forgot he was mere feet in front of the desk.
If she seemed intent on ignoring him for some reason...not even knowing what he did WRONG...then she could go ahead and BE a bitch. 'What I get for being FRIENDLY...'
Feeling his pride take a beating in embarrassment, he whipped around and jogged past Chass...trying not to slam the glass door against the panes next to it.
~*~*~
A happy sigh rent the air as tears fell. "Call me a sap, but I have a thing for a guy who can read women's minds and end up losing that power but get the girl in the end."
She looked over with a smile and wiped her cheeks. "That's not being a sap, that's being a dork." She teased, reaching for a Kleenex to blow her nose.
"Yea, yea..." Getting off the couch, Samantha slinked to the tv and popped a cd from the player to put it back in its case. "Sheesh...these things keep getting smaller and smaller." She complained, wrinkling her nose.
She smiled and put the Kleenex with the piles on the coffee table. "What do you expect? Largest size I ever saw was the size of my palm."
Samantha looked back with a smile before holding two movie cases in the air. "What do you think? 'What Women Want' got me in the mood for another sappy romance." Light blue looked to the choices. "Well? 'Pretty Woman' or the classic 'Titanic'? Personally I'm leaning toward the first..."
She gave a small smile, already coming down the high of getting caught up in someone else's life. Leaving her with her own life again. "How about 'Titanic'? A change of pace."
An ash brow rose. "Are you SURE?" 'Pretty Woman' waggled invitingly. "I mean...the famous Julia Roberts and the handsome Richard Gere. Both deceased now, but great actors and this movie is CLASSIC...even a hundred years ago."
Green looked to the empty ice cream bowl in her hands. "I'm sure. I'm in the mood for a sour ending tonight." She stood and grabbed her friend's bowl. "You want another round? I'm getting one."
"Sure..." Blue narrowed skeptically. Samantha briefly leaned back on her elbows on the thick carpet, watching her leave through a side archway. "What's WITH you tonight? You were practically livid all day at work and then you went to your room and buried yourself in homework after classes until movie time."
She grimaced and dug the cartons out of the fridge. What was she recently saying about her best friend being dense?? With a sigh, she went for the ice cream scoop. "I - I just had a bad day is all. Don't YOU ever have bad days at work?" She loudly asked, making sure her voice heard into the living room.
Ash furrowed. K was acting rather strangely for movie time. "I'm not saying that... It's just...you seemed in such a pleasant mood when you started out." Samantha sat up and went for 'Titanic' as she heard footsteps. "Did something happen that changed it?"
"I'll tell you later."
Blue momentarily widened on the smaller-than-palm-sized movie cd and inserted it into the tray. Later always meant SOMETHING was going on. Grabbing the controllers she brought with, Samantha quickly scuttled back to her position on the other side of the couch and dimmed the floor lamp. "You wanna talk about it before I press play?" A finger hovered over the button, comically circling.
She nearly scowled, but tried to keep an even face. She was NOT about to go over the embarrassment and anger she felt over realizing she was being played by another jerk. A CUTE jerk, but still a jerk.
She mentally sighed. No matter where she went - no matter which city she lived in - men were still dicks.
"Pretty sure. Now press play and get on with it." Green looked to the clock on the radio. "We can fit about one more in before we both need to turn in."
"Okay...I pick 'My Best Friend's Wedding' next."
Green looked over with an odd look. "Whatever happened to 'Pretty Woman'?"
She received a smile and the start of movie previews. "Changed my mind. I've seen that about a dozen times anyway."
Her head slowly shook. Her best friend...what a piece of work...
The area darkened as the show started. "You are weird...has anyone ever told you that?"
"You keep saying that about once a day, now SHUSH."
**I am a BEGINNER Japanese learner...so if these are not 100% correct...please let me know if you care to do so. I only have a web page to learn from, a dictionary, and a few months experience to work with.**
Translations: Kimi wa-You (are) Baka uresai-Shut up idiot Ano-Um Bakaro-Dumbass