Notes from the Authoress: Whoo-hoo! Christmas-ness, one of three.
Disclaimer: Roses are red, violets are blue. I don't own Naruto, and neither do you.
Chapter Five: The Invitation
The best way to talk to Temari, in Shikamaru's view, was to give her a phone call. She was pleased that he took the time to talk to her, but he could also put the phone down while she talked and pick it up once it was quiet. Then all he had to do was say "uh-huh," "whatever," and "troublesome," although he was almost sure she knew he did it, because he often received a bad mark on a paper the day after he called…
Unfortunately, there were times when he had to call her and actually talk. He was staring at the kitchen phone as if it was evil. This was one of those times. It was Christmas, and his mother insisted that he make one of his friends come over for dinner. There was Chouji and Ino, but Chouji went on vacation with his family and Ino wasn't allowed to leave her house on Christmas day. Then there were other people like Naruto or Kiba, but they would all tell his parents embarrassing stories, be loud, wreak havoc, and overall destroy Shikamaru's peaceful Christmas.
So he told his parents he didn't have any friends besides Chouji and Ino, and when his mother glared at him, he quickly said he could ask a teacher to come over so she wouldn't try to hit him with a broom.
Better get it over with, He thought sadly while picking up the phone and dialing in the number he'd already memorized. He told Temari he kept it written on the bottom of his shoe. The phone rang two or three times before there was a beep and Temari's voice came over the line: "Hello, baka, what's up?" She had a cell phone with caller ID.
"Do you…want to come over…my house…for dinner tonight…with my family?" It was very painful for him to ask, and there was silence on the line for a couple of seconds.
"I thought you weren't going to ask! Your parents still think I'm just your teacher, though, don't they? Oh, that's not a bother, it's not hard to act. I'll have to bring my brothers, though, is that okay?"
"The more people here, the happier my mom will be," Shikamaru said glumly. He didn't like Temari's brothers. They always gave him death glares. His quiet, peaceful Christmas would be ruined after all.
Notes from the Authoress: I was not going to write anything about what happens there, but that's sort of what the next chapter is about. Some things just write themselves...oh well. Review! -Clings to people's legs and sobs on their shoes.- Review, please, I'm not opposed to begging!
In the Next Chapter: When Shikamaru's mother answered the door and saw Temari and her brothers, she was ecstatic. Throwing away the bitchy attitude she always saved for Shikamaru, she invited them in with a cheerful smile and a greeting of happy holidays. Shikamaru was rather happy to see that, while Temari and his mother seemed to be hitting it off, which was bad, Kankurou and Gaara stayed far away from her. Shikamaru's mother just gave off vibes that boys could read so very well. I knew it wasn't in my head, Shikamaru thought proudly.