Title: This Just Isn't My Day/Chapter Ten

By: Ice-Eagle Y'Siri

Disclaimer: Don't own Naruto or the Akatuski or anything associated with Naruto. Or the song that I borrowed four lines from, "Free to Be Me" by Francesca Battistelli.

Summary: Normally, I'm a very calm person. So just imagine me coming home with my friends and the Akatsuki in my living room. And all I wanted was a simple vacation annoying the heck out of the preps next door. Great. Just. Great.

I'm so sorry for not updating! I know I suck.

God, writing a billion stories at once is hard.

But that's no excuse. I promise I will write more. PROMISE!!

And update in real-time, not Ice-time.

And the play is going to take place in Gainesville, since I don't want to write about every time they drove three hours to Tally (that's where the school is; I'll think of some reason why it has to be in Gatorville, don't worry) and back. Or something.

Note: This chapter is more serious towards the end--this story isn't going to be all comedy, y'all. Otherwise, there wouldn't be enough of a backstory. Or plot.

And this is probably the most random chapter I've ever written. I have no clue what I was planning to go with this one.

And now I'm shutting up. :P

Enjoy!

As the day of Cat's musical came closer and closer and she spent more and more time at various rehearsals, Rian and I enjoyed the ninja's company. Of course, one ninja (usually Konan or Pein; we wouldn't want Deidara anywhere near the wood props) would go with Cat to make sure that she would stay out of trouble. Not that we weren't reliable, because we were, but for the simple fact that we were all occasionally clumsy. And that, in an extremely fire-prone environment, was dangerous. Paper and wood props and backdrops were everywhere in our old-fashioned theater.

Let's not even get started on the Über-flammable costumes.

However, some of us were more clumsy than others *cough* Cat *cough*.

But I didn't just say that.

Moving on. . .

Cat had dragged Rian and I to rehearsal today (we got here at around five o' clock in the evening); we were currently chilling outside the entrance of the theater with Konan and Sasori. Sasori was here because the rest of us (note: rest of us, not Sasori himself) figured he was going to snap if he stayed in the house any longer, unlike Itachi, who was already what us common people would label "Insane".

"Cause I've got a couple of dents in my fender, got a couple of rips in my jeans," I sang maniacally in Rian's ear, laughing, "Try to fit the pieces together, but perfection is my enemy--ow! What was that for? That song is badass!"

I rubbed my head crankily and glared at Rian, who snickered and put her flip flop back on her foot, "It is a good song, sweetie, but not when you're purposely butchering it."

"Uh, sorry that you can't appreciate my squeaky creaky singing prowess."

"I guess," Rian said dryly, "I'll just have to be deprived of such understanding until you feel like singing like a human instead of breaking the sound barrier."

I grinned and chuckled, glancing at Sasori out of the corner of my eye, "If I didn't know better, I could've sworn that you were taking lessons in sarcasm from one of our shinobi friends."

"Why would I need to take lessons? I'm American, remember?"

"Point."

"Aya-san, when will Cat be finished with this," Sasori's voice was monotone from his perch on the ceiling, "rehearsal?"

I shrugged at him and lay down on one of the benches near the doorway and looked up at him, "God, I don't know. Didn't we just get here like an hour ago? It'll be a while. And," I said pointedly, "It's not you're expected to stay here. We couldn't care less if you wandered around the city and came back in a few hours. Just be civvie-like. Right, Konan?"

"She has a point," the paper ninja said slowly from her position against one of the pillars, "If you're too bored, Sasori, feel free to go and scout."

"Which gives me an idea," Rian pulled me up from my admittedly uncomfortable bench, "Let's go explore the school, starting with the theater. And before you object, mother," I closed my mouth with a frown, "We both have our cell-phones. Cat can call us if something comes up. Pein is with her and Konan is with us, so it's not like we're gonna die if some gang jumps us when we're exploring a closet."

I tilted my head as we entered the theater building, Konan a silent shadow behind me, Rian in the lead, "Why would we be exploring a closet?"

"We're in a school. What else would we look at besides the classrooms?," I exchanged a wordless look with Konan, who shrugged, ". . .oohh--kay?"

"Besides, classrooms are boring. Let's go."

"Not to like, burst your bubble, Rian dear, but a school is made up classrooms, or did summer break make you forget?"

Rian huffed as we moved around a corner, "Oh, shut up."

"I'd rather not. You'd miss my chatter to distract us from the absolute creepiness of this hallway," I eyed the shadows warily. The corridor that we were in was completely dark; the lights were off and the blinds were down on all the windows, only leaving a thin line of light shining directly opposite them on the top of the other wall.

And it was quiet as stone.

"Like a tomb," Rian whispered and I brightened and said cheerfully as we opened a classroom door, "Can't you see some crazy axe murderer coming after us and jumping us or something?"

My best friend groaned, "Thanks for the image, Aya. Seriously. Now I'm really glad Konan's with us."

"You can say that again," we moved out of the classroom and back into the hallway and my phone vibrated. Frowning thoughtfully as I stepped out of the doorway for Konan to get out of the room, I opened my phone to see a text from a number I didn't recognize:

Hi, prey.

I raised an eyebrow and showed the text to Rian, who shrugged, and Konan just sighed, "There's no one here. I scanned the area and there is no one living here besides us."

Shrugging, I texted back: Do I know you?

Yes, you do.

As we turned left down a hallway (Konan was keeping track of the turns), I replied: Okay, then. Are you a sociopathic murderer who's lurking in a dark hallway with an axe?

No.

Another text from the number popped up before I could reply to the first one:

But I am going to kill you.

I rolled my eyes, "Rian, we've got a psychopathic murderer somewhere who wants to kill us. Shall we run?"

My friend looked nonplussed, "Why don't you just call him?"

"Why are you assuming it's a he? It could be a she, you sexist pig."

"I am not a pig."

"Are too."

"Quit stalling and hurry up and call the twit already before I do."

I thrust the phone at her, "Then go ahead."

Rian batted the phone away and just gave me the Stare. Rolling my eyes again, I sighed and dialed the number and waited impatiently for the whoever it was to pick it up on the other end. In the meanwhile, Rian had opened doors to other classrooms, shut them, and was banging on the floor-to-ceiling lockers, blithely ignoring my and Konan's "shush"es and "shut up"s. Finally, someone at the other end answered.

"Hello, Aya," I brightened at the voice, "Derrick! Hi! What's up?"

"I'm going to kill you," my eyebrows took a nosedive and I put changed the setting to speaker, ". . .why are you going to kill me?"

"Because," Derrick's voice echoed eerily down the hallway, "Taylor's hair isn't growing back. And it's your fault."

I just gaped at the phone.

What the hell?

Rian burst out laughing and Konan unbent enough to chuckle, "How is it my fault? Didn't we agree that she deserved it?"

"So much for your psychotic murderer idea," Rian chortled and I waved a hand impatiently at her as Derrick answered me, "Yes. But it's been over two weeks and Taylor's hair isn't growing back at all and she's having a nervous breakdown and no she doesn't know it's ya'll I'm talking out of earshot--"

I frowned and interrupted, "Wait. I thought only the edges of her hair were burned."

There was silence on the other line.

I said warningly, "Derrick--"

"Fine, fine. For some reason Karie's hairspray didn't wash out in the water and somehow bonded with the chlorine, I guess, and became super-flammable," Derrick paused, then went on, "And then someone waved a lighter near her hair again as a joke and a few strands got too close so . . ." his voice trailed off.

I exchanged looks with my companions, "Oh, my."

"Indeed. And," Derrick said with a relish, "This was after Karie had trimmed her hair the first time."

Ooops.

"Jesus. Is she okay? She's not burned, is she?"

"No, just more, ah, bald than before," Derrick laughed, "I do suggest not coming back here for a while until things settle down some."

"We're so sorry."

"I gathered from the audible guilt," Derrick sighed and I asked amusedly, "So are you still going to kill me?"

"I suppose not."

I breathed a very loud sigh of relief as we went up a staircase at the end of the hallway, "I love you, Derrick. In a platonic way. So does Rian. And Cat, when I tell her."

"Can I ask you something before we hang up?"

We moved along the second-floor hallway which, was, thankfully, lit because of the open blinds. In unspoken assent we moved back in the direction of the auditorium. Konan took the lead this time; Rian having dropped back to better hear our conversation.

"Sure."

Derrick sounded slightly startled, "Hi, Rian. Am I on speaker?"

"Hi David. Yes you are. And what's your question?"

"Well," Derrick sounded slightly reluctant, "Why did you ask if I was a sociopathic murderer lurking in a dark hallway with an axe?"

This time it was my turn to laugh. Rian just shook her head, took the phone from me, and began to explain.

Three hours later, backstage, Cat's POV

"DUDE! CAT! YOU WILL NOT BELIEVE WHAT HAPPENED WHILE YOU WERE REHEARSING!!"

I winced and glared at my (at the moment) incredibly loud and obnoxious best friend, "Do you have to be so loud? I already have Jessie shrieking in my ear during the "Defying Gravity" scene and your dulcet tones aren't much better."

Aya's mouth opened in shock and she beamed at Rian, "Dulcet! She called my voice dulcet! Didja hear that?"

Rian rolled her eyes as she waved at Pein, who was lurking in a corner, "Yeah. And you sound like Rudolph."

"The stop-animation one?"

"Yeah. Now go bother Pein for a while. Fill him in."

Aya whined and I pinched the bridge of my nose, "But I don't wanna--OW! God, what is it with you and flip flops today, woman?"

"You sound like Hidan," Rian grinned evilly.

That shut her up until we got back out to the car. Rian told Sasori and Pein what had happened, while she began to fall asleep in the backseat. I was sitting shotgun, Rian was driving, and Konan and Pein were in the middle seats, while Sasori had sat in the back with Aya.

We stopped at a gas station nearby the house, and I gently shook Aya awake, saying, "Come on. We're stopping at a gas station. Get yourself something to eat; we're gonna watch a movie when we get home."

She straightened up so fast she nearly got vertigo, "Which one? Which one?"

"Guess."

"The Chipmunks?"

I looked horrified, "God, no. Think again."

"Some horrible sex chick movie that you wanna see?"

I just stared, "What happened to your mind? No. Be serious this time."

"Avatar?"

I shook my head, "9. You haven't seen it ye--Ooomph!" Aya had glomphed me enthusiastically, "Nine! Yes! I mean, Avatar was amazing, don't get me wrong, but NINE!!! I wanna see it! Wheee! I'll be right back I'm getting a snack!"

"Oh. . .kay. . ." I exchanged a look with Pein, who shrugged and exited the car. Getting out myself, I heard a crash as I entered the store and saw Rian and Aya trying to put a milkshake machine back on the counter where it was placed. I studiously ignored them and moved towards the candy section, humming quietly to myself as I went along. Hmmm. . .Twix or Dove today?

"Sssst. Cat. Help here!"

Lalalalalala. I'm not listening. Lalalala. . .

"CAT!"

Making my purchases, I smirked at my best friends, took a picture with my phone of them and the retarded machine, and headed back to the car.

Five minutes later, Cat's POV

"This is all your fault."

"My fault?" Aya's voice was incredulous and I smiled into my book, Looking for Alaska, "How is it my fault? I can't help it if you don't know how to work a milkshake machine. Hey, I made an alliteration."

"I think it's supposed to be made up of more than two words, hon. And yeah, it's your fault. You're the one that put the mixer on the highest setting when the warning that the staff put up expressly said not to," Rian began to back up the car and I buckled my seatbelt in as she continued, "But then, 'Oh, no, it's not going to be nearly as good if you just stick it on regular, Rian, it'll be all syrupy--"

"Well," Aya returned grumpily, "It would've been. Have you ever used that thing before? No. And I wasn't the one who jumped and shrieked when the thing nearly sent ice cream everywhere and nearly knocked everything over anyway. Get off the curb, Rian."

"Quit backseat driving," Rian smirked into the rearview mirror and Aya laughed, "I'm not the one on that's driving on the curb. And there's a speed trap ahead. Pay attention."

"It's your curse," our driver said darkly, "Whenever anyone talks to you when driving, something happens. Or we break a driving law. It's all your fault."

"What do you think, Catherine-san?"

I shot an alarmed look towards the back in general, "Sasori, why are you asking me? Do you see me trying to avoid this conflict taking place right in front of me? I like living. It's a comfortable--"

"--state of being," Aya reached forward tapped my nose, "You stole my line. Not fair."

I wrinkled my nose at her, "Who said you came up with that line? Do you have a patent on it? Hush."

Aya just retorted with a yawn and reclined back against the headrest, "Good idea. I think I'll sleep now."

I cocked my head to the side, "You are scatterbrained."

"I'm easily distracted. Now let me sleep."

"I would," Rian said gleefully and I glanced at her out of the corner of my eye, "But it would be kind of pointless, since we're home. Get out, slug."

"Just for that, Rian, I'm going to butcher another song--"

The victim looked horrified as we exited the vehicle, with good reason. Aya chose, "Called, 'Party in the US of A' by that horrendous child--even though she's our age--Miley Cyrus. I put my hands up they're playing my song, the butterflys fly awaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyy--OW! Cut it OUT! What have I said about the damn flip flops?!"

"You have deserved it each and every time I've done it to you."

"Why don't you use your real voice, Aya?"

Aya just gaped at me, shocked, as I pulled her unresisting towards the house, "C'mon, you have a real sweet voice."

"No. Way."

"Why not?" I gave her my best innocent expression and she snorted, "You and Rian are you. They're them. I'd rather drop dead. Maybe Konan. Or Tobi. But that's it. Ever. And I'm not anywhere near as good as you are."

I shrugged, "You also haven't been singing for over ten years, silly. I'm holding you to that. C'mon, let's get the movie rea--what did they do?"

My eyes widened as I stared in shock at the house's interior.

Everything was. . .

was. . .

Different.

Seriously. Different colors, different furniture, different--

And then it changed again back to normal and Deidara popped out from behind one of the chairs, saying cheerfully, "Sorry, ladies. I was working on a genjutsu in case we ever got bored with the house."

I just blinked at him. Aya beamed, "Thanks! But," she asked hesitantly, "You can change it back to normal if you use the genjutsu again, right? I don't want to have to explain to the owners just why--"

Tobi waved his hands frantically from behind the TV, "No, no, we can change it back. Aya-chan and Rian-chan and Cat-chan don't need to worry!"

I sighed with relief as the the other shinobi appeared in the room, "Thank God. Well, we're watching a movie tonight; you guys are welcome to watch. We picked 9. Did you guys eat?"

"Yeah."

"Duh."

"Of course, Catherine-chan!"

"No shit, sherlock."

"Yes, Catherine-san."

"I want to eat someone."

"No you don't. Stop it."

"The reason why she's asking, smart ones," Rian's voice was ever-so-slightly cutting, "Was because we ate on the way home. Well, come on, Aya, let's get the movie started."

Getting the popcorn bag out of the pantry, I opened it from its packaging and stuck it in the microwave and motioned Aya to come in the kitchen. Once she complied, I turned the oven fan on and explained to Aya, "I don't want the ninjas to eavesdrop."

Aya looked quizzically at me, "What's up? Is there something I need to know about? Are you pregnant? Did you kill someone?"

"Yes, I need to ask you a question. No, there isn't anything to know about. Yes, the child is yours. And no, I haven't killed anyone."

Rian choked from where she stood in the doorway, "God forbid you two have children. Alright, what're you putting Aya on the hot seat for?"

I laughed, "Don't worry, it's not really bad. Aya, do you--" I mouthed the rest of the sentence 'like Hidan?' silently.

Both my best friends raised their eyebrows and Aya replied carefully, "Are you sure this is the time to talk about it?"

"If you want to get through the movie with us running interference, yes."

She rubbed her eyebrows and nodded her head, "Sorta. Like, you guys know I meant what I said earlier," We nodded understanding to her reference of his being pretty, "But dude. He's such a pain in the ass sometimes. No joke. And I don't know him. And he's a ninja. And he's a masoschist. I don't want to wake up one morning and realize I'm part of one of his rituals. And what would happen if I pissed him off enough and he forgot that I wasn't a ninja? Not to mention," she sighed and her shoulders drooped slightly, although she hid her feelings from her face, "I doubt he's like that with me anyway. I mean, I'm not a ninja. I'm not a whore. I'm not anywhere near skilled enough in anything for him to take interest in. Further, he's going to go home; there's no guarantee that he'd be able to come back, much less want to. In fact, he and the others probably won't once they realize how soft they've gotten here."

The microwave beeped and I jumped, swearing. Rian moved farther inside the kitchen and gingerly pulled out the bag. Setting it aside, she grabbed a bowl from one of the cabinets and carefully opened the bag over the bowl, dumping the contents inside.

I leaned back against the counter, replying aloud thoughtfully, "You have a bunch of good points. You've been thinking about this for a while, haven't you? You've been more quiet than usual, for you."

"Gee, thanks," Aya returned wryly, "Yes, I have. I mean, when you look at the fanfics that other authors have written about this happening, and we're right in the middle of it-" she sighed wearily, "-I don't even know what to do. Things like this aren't even supposed to be real."

"I know," Rian said quietly, "And it's a pain. But shouldn't we enjoy it while they're here? As long as we keep the thought of their inevitable going home in mind, that should help us with how attached we are to them, right?"

"God," I said just as quietly, "What're we gonna do when they're gone?"

"Live like we used to, te'sorthene," Aya's use of 'spirit-friend' seemed appropriate here, "And move on. And yeah, I'll miss them. But enough of that," Aya perked herself back up and said cheerfully, "We'd better go make sure they didn't blow up anything so we'll be able to watch the movie I haven't seen before."

She exited the room, whistling horribly, with Rian behind her holding the bowl of popcorn, and me behind them.

But while everyone else was watching the movie, our recent conversation kept me thoughtful until I fell asleep in my room.

I hope you guys enjoyed the chapter!

I thought that some character information was due. Cat's and Rian's will be coming soon, too. Please review!

And the term 'te'sorthene' does actually mean 'heart friend' or 'spirit friend'. It's Shin'a'in. Anyone who's read any Mercedes Lackey book besides the Arrows Trilogy in the Valdemar world knows what I'm talking about. For the deprived, Shin'a'in is a country and language in that world by the above author.

Again, constructive criticism please, and thanks for reading!

Regards,

Ice