Chapter 2: After School
Payton walked out of the office, and smirked. Pein looked at her questioningly. "She said that while I do have to listen to you, you can't put me on probation without her consent, which she didn't give." Pein frowned and walked into the office to straighten it out. Payton headed for the front doors but was stopped by Pein. "She does want you to come with me to meet us after school today."He stated a triumphant smirk on his smug face. Payton sighed but resigned to her fate. She followed him outside and to a car.
Payton stopped, staring at the fancy-looking car in front of her. She looked around and saw that most of the cars were like that. It made her feel really small and insignificant. She then said, "I was taught to never get in cars with strangers." "I'm not a stranger." "To me you are. I don't know you at all, aside from your name and grade." Pein looked at her then stated, "You don't have a choice." He picked her up and put her in the car, buckled her seat belt and did the same for himself before driving off. "Can you drive yet," he questioned as a starting point as he pulled onto a semi-busy road. Payton didn't answer him though, as he had hoped she would since she was alone now.
Pein sighed. "You are going to have to open up sometime so..." "There's nothing to open," Payton interrupted. Pein frowned, slowing the car until they stopped. Payton looked at him confused. "We aren't heading there until you answer some questions." Payton rolled her eyes. She unbuckled her seat belt and attempted to get out of the car, but the child lock was on. Pein put a hand on her shoulder and said, "Don't think this is some special punishment but we do this with all new students...well not the probation part but the questioning part." "I don't care. I have no answers."
Pein frowned but started the car and drove again, his mind turning with the questions as to why she was so reluctant to them. They arrived at a two story house about twenty minutes later. Pein got out and walked around, letting Payton out as well. They walked up the steps and Pein opened the door. Payton was met with a hug by Sakura. Pein frowned. "What are you doing here?" Sakura kept an arm around Payton's shoulder and stated, "I'm here to make sure you don't harass her too much." Pein rolled his eyes and the three of them walked into the living room.
Payton and Sakura sat in the loveseat at the edge of the couch. Payton looked around to see that everyone was there, including the ones that she hadn't met yet. Pein sat down and started, "So since we are all here, Payton welcome to our school." Payton only glared at him making Sakura giggle. "You have refused to answer questions and have tried to avoid us all day. You have to explain why." "No I don't," Payton said as matter of factly.
Sakura giggled again and this time Pein glared. This caused most of the Akatsuki to chuckle. No one made Pein glare without a consequence. When it died down, Pein continued. "Don't make this harder for yourself, Payton." Payton shrugged. "I didn't know this was hard to begin with. You technically kidnapped me and are holding me hostage." When Pein didn't say anything Payton smirked. Sakura laughed. "Man she got you good!" There were murmurs of agreement. Pein sighed in frustration and ran a hand through his hair in the same manner. "Give her a break, Pein. This is probably too much for her first day here," Konan stated.
"I agree with Konan! I think Payton needs to warm up to us before she talks," Sakura said chipper from her seat beside Payton. Payton looked at Sakura confused as to why she was sticking up for her. "Fine. If that's the case then Payton, as your probation, you must spend time with each of us every day after school. We will think of things to do. At the end of the month, you will either talk or it will continue. That's it. I'm done," Pein stated as he got up and left the room. "YAY," Sakura yelled hugging Payton again, Payton glaring up at her since she was the one who had sealed her fate.
"Great...," Payton said, defeated. "Oh come one, we aren't that bad, un," Deidara said from across the room. Payton only rolled her eyes. "Can I go now," she asked. "Sure, I'll take you home," Konan moved to get up but Payton was already out of the house. Sakura frowned. "She should be in track...," she stated as she got up and looked out the window. Payton was already down the street.
"Did anyone see her leave," Sasori asked, still shocked. "No I don't think so," Kakuzu responded. "So why do you think she won't answer any questions," Kisame asked. When no one answered, he sighed. "Figured." Sakura returned and poked Itachi. "Can we go now?" Itachi nodded and stood up, walking out of the door with Sakura, the only reason she was there was because Itachi had to return a favor to her.
Payton ran until she was at the old abandoned house she had found about a mile from the school. She went in and lit the candles that she had in there. She put her bag on the ground and opened it. She took out the big bag of chips she had bought and began eating them. She walked to the small bedroom and lay on the small mattress in the corner that had been left here. She had cleaned it two days before so it was clean. She felt the wind come through the window and she shivered, knowing it was going to be a cold night. She went back to her bag and got out the one blanket she was able to take with her. It wasn't too thick but she knew she would deal, liking the cold anyways.
She laid down under the blanket and her jacket as well as other things that she had picked up on her way there. She had put up the bag of chips for breakfast even though her stomach still growled. She felt a headache coming on. She would need the sustenance in the morning to function though. The first thing she would have to do, with or without those Akatsuki weirdos following her around, was get a job. Whether it was temporary or not didn't matter. She would need money for the pending doctor visit she knew wasn't too far around the corner.