My Metaphorical and literal rollercoaster life
Written by Ghostsammeo
Disclaimer: I do not own anything to do with Naruto (Or Universal Studios on that matter) and make no money from this story.
A/N I'm writing this rather long chapter late at night so please excuse my poor proof-reading of this chapter. *yawn*
Summary: 'The Jurassic Park ride isn't the most romantic place to fall in love, but at least it will make a funny story' – Sasuke's life turns into some romantic comedy fanfiction when he gets a job at Universal Studios.
It's Friday and the newbies have been working here at Universal Studios for two weeks and I can still count my interactions with Sakura on one hand. For the weak minded, that is one through to five.
I push my bag into my locker and glance around. Most the lockers are empty, which is no surprise as a bunch of my brother's friends aren't coming into work today. I don't know why they've got a day off. I tried to ask but Deidara was rowing with them all because he still had work, so I didn't get a chance. Either way in the car today was only me, Itachi, Deidara and Kakuzu; Pein and Konan of course in another car.
Another crash of thunder makes me jump. It's severely raining, and while in the car the thunderstorm started. I reckon that's why a bunch of us are off work today, no need for too many workers where they'll be hardly any tourists... Well I'm sure Naruto will appear today so that's one paying customer.
As I go to exit into the rain and rush to my assigned post today, my phone buzzes in my pocket. I flip it open and Suigetsu speaks, "Dude, are you in today?"
"Yeah," I mumble... He's going to laugh isn't he?
"Ahahaha ... oh man, sorry Sasuke; good look operating anything in the storm!"
"Hn,"
"Anyway Sasuke, who's in do you know?" Suigetsu asks.
I lean against the lockers and sigh, "I dunno; Pein, Konan, Itachi, Deidara, Kakuzu... I haven't seen any of the newbies yet,"
"Oh okay, hey tell me if Ino's in will you?"
Ino.
Suigetsu has been dropping hints about this blonde since he first saw her. Wonder if he's made as much progress with her as I have with Sakura.
I'm Ino's friend... Kinda. Well she likes me more than she likes Suigetsu anyway, so slowly I've fell into the role of match-maker between them... so far I have failed... epically.
"I'll text you if she's here," I smirk.
"Text who?"
I look up at Temari as Suigetsu natters on about some 'incredible' story about him and Jugo.
I mutter goodbyes to Suigetsu and slip my phone back into my pocket.
"No-one," I lie to Temari.
"So you'll text nobody to whoever that person was... if 'she's' here," Temari frowns sarcastically, "And I'm guessing 'she' is... Konan?"
Me and Temari are acquaintances, however that doesn't mean our personalities don't clash. She is of course at the moment talking about the rumour spread around days ago that I fancy Konan... Yeah, that's not true.
"Your Hilarious, I'm surprised nobody has ever told you that," I snap back.
She smiles as she places some stuff in her locker.
"So you're one of the chosen ones huh?" She turns to me, "Know anybody else here?"
Another crash of thunder.
"Me, Itachi, Deidara, Kakuzu, Pein and Konan," I repeat what I told Suigetsu.
"Hm, well me and my brothers are here, and I saw Kiba and Akamaru earlier," She puts her work waistcoat on and smiles, "Anyway gotta rush, gotta keep my hair out the rain," She walks out into the rain leaving me wondering who Akamaru is and wondering why she isn't 'rushing' like she said she would... well I guess Temari is amazingly hard; Chuck Norris has nothing on her. (No he does actually)
Shrugging I leave to my post on the Jurassic park ride.
Since the Jurassic park ride is a kinda water-ride Pein said it'll probably work... not that anybody is here to go on it. Luckily I'm not being the tour guide on it anyway. I'm monitoring so that means I'm waiting for someone else. Hopefully it's someone of un-importance to me so I can make them go round and round on the ride in the rain without letting them off for my own amusement... yes I am slightly bad.
I take shelter under the roof of the control station and take a seat.
"Whoah, that's a little forward,"
...I'm sitting on someone.
I stand up to see... Oh God, Sakura Haruno.
This is the worst thing ever. The last thing I said to her was yesterday and it was "thanks," ... She leant me a coin you see for a chocolate-bar so thanks was needed.
The last conversation we had though, well that's a different story. It was outside the toilets and I was trying to hint I liked her, somehow I got across I liked Konan... I know what the hell?
"Sorry... Sakura," I apologise.
We look at each other for awhile, and not in the romantic 'take me now' way, it's in the 'sooooooo... you like... cats?" awkward way.
"Your being the tour guide today," I murmur.
"Yeah but I think the park-goers can wait," Sakura smiles and nods at the empty boat on which the ride takes place.
Moodily I lean to the side and shake water out my hair. I glance at her. She's dry.
"How are you dry?"
She taps the umbrella by her chair with her foot.
"Hn,"
We both sit there (Well me leaning) rain patting against the roof, for another two minutes, but it seems longer. Finally Sakura says, "Sasuke, do you like me?"
Oh. Not the question I want to be answering. I can't say I love you, way too forward. I can't hint I like her as last time it became a big pile of fail. So, just do the simple thing.
"Yes,"
"Oh," She pauses, "It's just that you don't seem to like me much, you talk to Ino and Kiba and stuff but... you don't talk to me much,"
I turn my body to her, "Well... let's talk,"
"Now?" She questions.
"I don't see why not," I shrug.
"Well sure," She smiles, "What do you want to talk about?"
Hurray! We've broken through the awkward barriers and I can finally activate my Uchiha charm!
"About you of course," I say.
"Well what do you wanna know?"
"How about why you started working here?" I begin.
She puts a finger to her chin and taps, "Hmm, I dunno, money? I need a side job while I study, plus all my friends were gonna,"
Studying huh? So she's smart like I thought.
"You go Uni?" I ask.
"What? Gosh no, how would I go to University if I'm working here all day? I'm training for another job which-"
"Hey-buddies-mind-if-I-share-this-shelter-with-you-thanks,"
It's so quick I don't know what's happened. But now, Kiba is sitting next to me on his big-ass dog.
"Hey Kiba," Me and Sakura say. Hers' with friendliness, mine with disdain.
I like Kiba, but this ridiculous, me and Sakura were just getting on there.
"Man its wet out there!" Kiba laughs and shakes his hair, the water hitting my cheek. His dog (Oh that's Akamaru!) watches him and copies, leaving all of us drenched in water with Kiba laughing and me and Sakura frowning.
I might as well go on talking to Sakura, albeit on a less personal level.
"So Sakura; who's here at the park do you know?" I ask.
"I dunno, I came to work by myself without Ino like I usually do," (Mental note to text Suigetsu), "I've seen Hinata but that's it," She shrugs.
"Hinata huh? She has a crush on your friend Naruto you know," Kiba suddenly says.
Both of them look at me.
"Sure does," I nod.
One thing about Kiba; he's a loyal friend, a bit like a dog. (Not that that's a bad thing, it's a very admiral trait) He's good friends with Hinata so if Naruto's no good for her (Which he won't be) Kiba will do... something.
"I don't know how many times I've caught that guy in places he doesn't belong; in the park after hours, in the park before hours, using the staff toilet, using the disabled toilet..." Kiba goes on and eventually so does the day.
Me and Sakura get to talking once Kiba leaves; nothing personal, just the little things. When Itachi takes me away for another shift, me and Sakura are definitely friends.
The thunderstorm is absolutely raging and I find myself in the staff room opposite the locker room for lunch with everyone else.
I now know the complete list of people in today: Me, Itachi, Deidara, Kakuzu, Pein, Konan, Sakura, Kiba, Temari, Gaara, Kankuro and Hinata. And don't forget Orochimaru whose came to join us!
I'm wedged between Itachi and Deidara, eating my lunch watching Sakura on the other side of the table... God this girl's making me seem like a scary-stalker guy.
Deidara keeps moving annoyingly because he's telling a story to Kankuro on another table and he's trying to keep eye-contact.
"Yeah, I was not letting that slide, so I said, look Sasori my man, you're only getting off work because you're a useless ginger who has no idea what art is and you're going to taint the park with your shitty view that art lasts forever un! Man he got mad after that yeah," Deidara tells Kankuro.
Orochimaru chuckles, "I certainly hope Sasori isn't a useless ginger, that's not what I'm paying him for, hehehehehe,"
"He isn't sir," Itachi puts in as he bites into his sandwich.
By Mid-afternoon Orochimaru is thinking about shutting the park. There are no tourists here anyway and lightning hit the ground earlier, there was no damage really but it was still dangerous.
"Sasuke," comes a small voice as I laze about stall-vending.
I turn and meet Hinata. She blushes. What's she blushing at?
"Yeah?"
"Pein says the park is closing," She explains.
"Really? So we've got the rest of the day off?" I grin... which is weird cause I literally do not grin ever... I'm more of a smirker.
"Yes," She nods and then speeds off.
Shrugging I close down the stall and trudge through the rain towards the staff lockers. There I encounter Sakura.
She smiles at me as I enter. You know, fuck it, let's go for broke.
"Sakura,"
She looks back at me, "Sasuke?"
"Erm... listen, could I get your number?"
She stares at me and I begin to blubber out an explanation, "You know, just because I've got all your friends numbers like Ino and Gaara and stuff so I just wanted to have you as a contact. I mean what if there was ever a fire and-"
"Sasuke," She cuts me off, but it's too late; I've gone and acted like a prick, "Of course you can have my number,"
After she leaves and I've punched in her number I-
"You sly dog,"
"Wah!" I jump back and look at Naruto smiling knowingly at me, "Naruto... stop that,"
"You got her number... Sakura, the fit girl on the Jurassic park ride... you got her number," he giggles, "So when do you want me out the flat?"
"Shut up," I roll my eyes and take my bag out my locker.
"Congratulations Sasuke," Temari teases as she walks past.
"Shut up," I hiss at her.
Since when did she know I like Sakura... well it is Temari, she knows all.
"Naruto why did you bother coming here? You know you can't have a lift home, the car's full," I say to my friend as I make my way to Itachi's car where I see him waiting inside.
"I didn't know you were having a day off did I? I was coming to give you company in the storm!" Naruto bellows.
"Thanks pal," I say as I open the door and sit in the backseat next to Kakuzu.
"Don't men-" I shut the door and his voice is drowned out.
The car pulls away and I last see Naruto staring sadly at me.
He comes home in the evening, soaking wet. The storm hasn't ceased and though he is pretending to be angry at me, the guy can't hold a grudge for long.
Apparently he managed to get a lift home from Pein and Konan. An amazing feat seeing as they both hate his guts.
"I heard them in the car talking about the park being shut tomorrow," He says as he falls down on the sofa.
"Really that's great maybe I can-"
"Ask Sakura out on a date," he says quickly.
Yes, "No,"
"Are you gonna pass up the chance to go on a date with Sakura – the girl you like by the way – because you don't want me to know you like her even though I obviously already know you do... And so does Temari, but I don't know how she knows,"
He's right, I'm about to apologise and ring Sakura when I glance out the window. There's a bloody storm on!
"I can't go out in a storm Naruto even for... her,"
Naruto cocks his head, "Well sure you can. A storm can be a very romantic scene BF, especially when you're inside sipping some coffee,"
"I told you not to call me BF," I remind as I march into the kitchen, "And I suppose you'd know a lot about romantic scenes?"
"I've seen the movies Sasuke... and I have had some romantic experiences, yes," Naruto shouts back.
I roll my eyes and come back into the main room to see my phone buzz on the sofa armrest.
It's a text, a text from Sakura agreeing on having coffee tomorrow if work's off.
I glare at Naruto. He stares back innocently.
"You bastard," I hiss and scroll through my text history to find a text from 'me' to Sakura, asking her out for coffee.
"I thought you needed a little nudge," he explains with puppy-dog eyes.
Maybe this is a good thing. Well of course it's a good thing, it's a date with Sakura but still...
"Okay I'll go on a date with Sakura... good," I shrug to let him know I'm still cool old Sasuke Uchiha.
"Ah, ah, ah, not a date... coffee," Naruto wags his finger.
"What do you mean?" I ask with arched eyebrows.
"I mean she didn't agree to a date. She agreed to coffee... coffee could mean as a friend,"
I blink, "Well that's not what I wanted,"
Naruto laughs, "Sasuke your the romantic one who gets all the girls out of us two, why is it with this girl I'm giving you advice?"
He's studying my face. He's serious for once. And that's when I tell him.
"I love her,"
His face is wearing an unreadable mask. His eyes are squinted then his blue eyes meet mine.
"But Sasuke... I love you,"
Hold up.
"Say what Naruto?" I demand, recoiling backwards.
He bursts into hysterical laughter, hugging his stomach as he rolls about on the sofa, "Dude! I'm kidding Sasuke!"
"Hn,"
What a jerk.
He wipes a tear from his eye, "But Sasuke, you don't know you love Sakura, you don't know you love her,"
"Shut up! You don't know how I feel about her," I snap angrily, "You loser," I add to ease the tension.
"But Sasuke," Naruto finishes his laughs, "As far as I know you've never been in love, how would you know?"
"As far as you know," I point out.
"Okay then. Does that mean you have been in love then?"
"No," I admit.
"Exactly! You don't know you love the girl; you've only known her, what? Two weeks. Come on dude!" Naruto throws his hands in the air.
"You're not very supportive for a friend," I say moodily, resting my chin in my hands.
"Best friend Sasuke we're BF's," Naruto corrects matter-of-factly, "And maybe I'm not being very supportive, but I'm being honest,"
I don't answer.
"Unless,"
I look up, he's smiling ever so but I know he's got something in mind.
"Unless you can look me in the eye and explain why you love her,"
"I don't need to do that for you," I grumble. What's happening? Why am I proving my love for Sakura to Naruto?
"Dude, come on. This is a big deal, just tell me! Do you love her... and why?"
I look at Naruto straight in the eye, eager now to make him eat his words about me not loving Sakura.
When I speak I speak confidently yet aggressively, "I've never felt like this about a girl before. When I first saw her I froze all over, my hands went sweaty and I could hardly talk... I'm normally so confident around girls but Sakura... she's got me fumbling around like... like... like you! At even just the sound of her name. And something's I just know Naruto, and this is one of those things I just know. I couldn't give you an explanation as to why I love her other than any simple generic description of how beautiful she is or how great her personality is, so I won't. Whatever you want to think about it Naruto, I love Sakura Haruno,"
Naruto nods as if he's pleased with me then pats my shoulder, "Well you love her, make me proud tomorrow,"
My head's racing. Naruto makes off into the kitchen and starts making some food as if nothing happened. I just made a massive speech about a girl I love and he's acting like nothing happened... I better remember that speech; it could come in handy some day.
The next day I'm woken up by a phone call. Its Itachi explaining work is off due to the storm. So that's it then, I have a date... sorry, I have coffee, with Sakura today.
After breakfast I get another call, this time from Suigetsu.
"Sasuke, you were meant to tell me if Ino was in work yesterday!" He barks down the line.
"I'm sorry, my mind was elsewhere," I say with a mouthful of cereal.
"Well you made me look like a pervert!" He says.
"What are you on about?"
"I went to her house to see if she was in and ask her out on a date or something, but seeing as you didn't tell me anything I wasn't sure if she was at work or not. Turned out she was at the shops and came back to find me peering through her window!"
I swallow my food, "Why were you peering through her window?" Naruto looks up from eating his breakfast to give me an alarmed look which I ignore.
"I was trying to see if she was in!" Suigetsu shouts.
"So, what happened?"
"I came up with some excuse that I saw a man in her house. She was scared at the thought so made me come in with her, obviously there was no-one in her house so I supposed I saw a ghost. She looked at me funny then I left- the end. Happy she thinks I'm a douche-bag perv now?"
I laugh lightly, "Man I'm sorry Suigetsu, tell you what I'll try ten percent harder to get her to notice you from now on,"
"So that makes you what? Trying at an overall eleven percent now?" I can just imagine his face.
The storm hasn't stopped, rain has continued to be severe and I'm wondering if I should still be going to meet Sakura.
"And what time am I meeting her?" I ask Naruto later on in the day.
"Three o'clock. Don't worry, I'll be out the flat if you wanna bring her back," Naruto replies.
"Yeah, thanks," I like Naruto now, contrary to yesterday.
"Just don't have sex in my room," He jokes.
"Shut up!" I don't like him anymore.
At half two, I'm standing in my room, dressed and ready to go when Naruto barges in.
"You're not going in that are you?" He remarks, sneering at my clothing.
I'm wearing a simple top and jeans.
"Its fine," I say and push past him out the room.
"Dude, I'm just trying to make sure you look good for your love," Naruto follows after me.
He's been like this ever since he believed me that I love Sakura. He keeps going on about impressions and my future marriage life or something.
Soon enough I'm opening the front door and being blasted by torrential rain.
Naruto follows me out to his car. Yes Naruto has a car and I don't... well how else would he get to Universal Studios so quick?
As he hands me his keys I hear an odd screeching, like a massive, mutant bat... evidently it's Karin running down the street shouting my name.
"Man, what's she doing here?" I mutter.
"Go, I'll hold her off," Naruto pushes me into the car.
"Sasuke we've got the day off so I thought I'd spend it with you!" She says as I start the car and pull off onto the road.
I think I accidently splashed them both with a puddle as I left... sorry Naruto.
I end up at the arranged coffee shop and see Sakura inside sipping a drink. Ah, fashionably early is she?
I enter the joint with a little ring of a bell. She smiles at me as I sit down.
"This was lucky, no work," I say as I sit.
"I got you as coffee... cappuccino if that's alright?" She nods at a plastic cup in-front of me.
I hate cappuccino; I sip it, "Oh... yum,"
"I passed up an opportunity to go shopping with Ino for this," She begins.
"I don't blame you; I'd rather be sipping a hot drink inside than be running around in the rain from shop to shop,"
"No, it's more that I'd rather be with you,"
I gulp, "Thanks,"
She smiles, "You know, cause I wanna get to know you Sasuke... we only spoke properly for the first time yesterday,"
Damn. So Naruto was right. This isn't a date, this is 'coffee' ... urgh... coffee.
We have further light-hearted conversation. We're getting along just like yesterday in the control station.
Soon the conversation comes to our interaction outside the toilets. She apologises for thinking I liked Konan, and then I'm put on the spot.
"So, who were you talking about?" She asks.
I freeze and begin to mutter, "Erm... erm... erm..." continuously.
Okay, think back! What did I say? I wanted a smart, sophisticated woman, but I didn't actually say I liked someone... well I did but I can pull it off as I meant that's my type of woman. RIGHT!
"I wasn't talking about anyone I was just-" I stop mid-sentence. What am I doing? Here's my chance! "I meant... you,"
She blushes lightly and her eyes drop to the table, "Wow Sasuke... thanks,"
I check the time, half past four. We've been here awhile.
"Sakura," I say, she looks up, "How did you get here?"
"Ino dropped me off. She's meant to pick me up but I have no doubt she's off kissing some boy so she'll forget," She explains.
At that moment my phone buzzes. It's a text from Suigetsu in capital letters saying that he kissed Ino or something.
"Yeah... I think she is," I look up from my phone and smirk at the coincident, "So... why don't you come back to mine for awhile,"
She nods, "Sure Sasuke,"
We rush through the rain and into my... ahem... Naruto's car.
The drive back is short and sweet, and on arrival both Naruto and Karin are gone.
We walk to the door and hang about under the porch awhile.
Water is dripping down her face, she looks up at me. her green, beautiful eyes meet mine. And we kiss.
Amazing, her lips are so soft.
We walk into the flat, still kissing. I kick open my door and fall on top of her on the sofa. Her hands caress my chest and... huh?
I suddenly fall flat on the sofa. Sakura's at the door. How she get there?
"It's a bit early is all Sasuke," She shrugs honestly at my confused expression.
I shrug too. I was just acting on the testosterone, I'm so pumped I still don't know what's going on.
"Okay," I nod.
"I gotta go, we should see more of each other outside work... cya," she waves then leaves.
Okaaaay.
The next day the park is open finally. The rain has finally stopped and the sun is out to evaporate the giant puddles all around the place.
I'm with Suigetsu and Naruto, and hearing Suigetsu's story about Ino (apparently he went shopping with her and ended up at her house snogging) I tell mine.
"So... that means you're going out with Sakura!" Naruto concludes after the story.
"Me and Sasuke? We're not going out,"
We all turn in time to see Sakura give me a wink then walk off.
WHAT? WHAT? I was on like third base or something with her. WHAT THE HELL?
Naruto and Suigetsu are quiet as I watch her go open-mouthed... they're really gonna doubt the validity of my story now. Suddenly in unison they burst out laughing.
Okay. This sucks.