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 This chapter will likely be a bit weird seeing as I've not been writing it for nearly a year, but at least I am writing it again I guess. Enjoy and review!
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.
Its lunchtime and I'm sitting on a bench at the meeting spot where we all gather on our breaks. People around me are chatting away as they eat but I don't feel very hungry, so I just sit here, hoping that my girlfriend turns up. On that subject, I'm starting to give up on my search for Sakura. She's literally nowhere in the park and I'm getting worried if I'm honest with myself, though of course I won't make it obvious.
"Hey Sasuke what's wrong? You look worried," Temari suddenly asks.
Well I tried to make my worry unobvious.
"Oh, it's nothing really, I'm not worried or anything, just... wondering," I answer coolly as possible. (Which is getting hard as of late; I think being in love is slowly make me less and less cool, which should be impossible for an Uchiha)
"Wondering about what exactly? Whatever it is you still look bothered," she presses.
"Just about Sakura," I say, staring at nothingness in the distance in an attempt to make her leave me alone.
"Oh," She hesitates, "Right, yeah... Well it's obvious you're bothered about something but, well, I'm not very good at advice,"
Suddenly her eyes light up and a grin emerges on her features, "Kankuro will help you!"
Kankuro, who is sipping on a straw punctured into a carton of juice, looks up at the sound of his name, "huh?"
"I was saying that you were gonna give Sasuke some help cuz he's in a little bit of a bad mood right now," Temari explains to her sibling, and then with a smile quickly tucks into her sandwich like some wild dog (she must hungry.)
Kankuro, not quite getting what's going on, looks at me. I stare blankly back.
"You're in a bad mood or something?" He starts.
"No,"
"Oh," he shrugs then sips on his juice, clearly content with the fact that he tried and failed. Which is good, because I don't want to be cheered up, I just want to know where Sakura is and why she's been avoiding me (which I have only assumed she is doing.)
Temari kicks Kankuro and tells him to, "Ask about Sakura,"
He sighs and turns back to me; now trying a different route, "So, how's Sakura?"
I'm about to just shrug, but just hearing her name defeats me; I can't go on acting like nothing's bothering me. God it's annoying how crazy she drives me.
"I... I dunno... I haven't seen her all day," I sigh.
Kankuro pushes out his lips and shrugs, "So, erm... you worried about her or something?"
"Hn," I nod.
By now others seem to think that they're in the conversation too and Kiba, who is feeding Akamaru parts of his lunch, jolts up.
"Aw don't worry Sasuke, you don't have to worry about her, she could just be in a bad mood right now," he barks out.
"I did tell you Sasuke," Ino puts in, "I told you that she was upset about Kabuto being about but you and Kiba just laughed it off,"
Me and Kiba make eye contact and try to hide our smirks.
"Okay then, but surely she's not mad at you... what do you have to worry about?" Neji says.
"Good point," Kiba nods then turns to Ino knowingly.
"Sasuke should be worrying because Sakura's his girlfriend and she's upset, that's why," Ino retorts, more to Kiba than to Neji.
"Yeah but... it seems like she's avoiding me," I say, eyes glued to the floor.
"She probably is then," Tenten nods, "If this Kabuto fella is her ex then she's probably not in the mood for boyfriends at all right now,"
"What are you trying to say," I glare.
"Oh, well nothing," She falters and pulls a face at Neji who smiles.
They all chip in to try and calm me down for the next couple of minutes, though their condolences don't work. The only way I can stop worrying is if I actually catch up with Sakura and demand to know what's going on.
Thinking this, I stand to continue my search, just in time to bump into Kabuto who has appeared on the scene.
He smiles at us all. Nobody smiles back.
"I thought I'd find you all here," he grins, "I was just coming to tell you that as of tomorrow you'll be on different weekly shifts,"
"What do you mean different shifts?" Neji questions.
"I mean I've edited your schedules. Everyone's actually, the old timetable was a bit disorganised you see," He explains.
"Wait, so we have to learn our new shift timetable all over again?" Tenten shouts out.
"I'm afraid so," Kabuto nods, "But don't worry, it's for your benefit; you'll now all be more efficient workers for Orochimaru,"
"Whoopee," Kiba drawls sarcastically.
Kabuto stares at him, "Indeed,"
"Hey hold up, does Pein know you're doing this? He created the old timetable after all and spent a lot of time on it!" Temari demands.
"Pein's time will be made up because of how hard you work due to this new timetable," Kabuto replies, almost mockingly it seems.
"Hey hold on," Kiba says as he snatches a chart out of Kabuto's hand.
"Give that back!" Kabuto growls.
"Is this the new timetable? You've got us working longer hours and shorter breaks! What's up with that then eh?" Kiba growls back as he studies the chart with cynical eyes.
"Yes, that's your new timetable," Kabuto sniffs pompously as he takes it back quickly, "And the longer hours and shorter breaks will benefit you,"
"Not really, it'll just make us more tired at work," Neji says icily.
Kabuto stares at us all with obvious distaste in his eyes, but quickly composes himself and smiles again, "Well you'll just have to work with it. This isn't school this is work, and it's not always fun, so please stop complaining,"
He turns to leave but pauses to look at me "Are you okay Sasuke, you look pale. You're not ill are you?"
Even though he's being perfectly nice I just can't help but think he's mocking me or something. It's just something about him which makes me feel this strange overwhelming hate. (Though, let's be honest, I do hate a lot of things.)
"I'm fine," I reply slowly.
"Good, wouldn't want you to have caught anything... like Sakura," he smiles.
I pause; "Sakura?" is all I can say.
"Yes, she went home ill at the start of lunch... you should probably check on her, she did seem awfully bothered by something,"
Yeah, you ya' ugly creep.
I nod and sit down, glaring at his back as he leaves.
"Well there's your answer, she's ill is all!" Kiba says loudly once he's gone, "See Ino, Sasuke has nothing to worry about, I was right you were wrong,"
"No Kiba you idiot, Sakura's not actually ill, she's never ill, she just said she was so she could go home early... probably to get away from him," Ino explains, nodding into the direction Kabuto left.
"Oh my God, what is the big deal about that guy?" I burst out, genuinely annoyed that he's managed to bother Sakura this much that she went home 'ill', "I know he's her ex but still! He's just some loser bounce-back like you said Ino, why is he bothering her this much?"
"Well I can understand why, I'd hate to be reminded that I even touched a weirdo like him," Temari says absentmindedly before taking another large bite out of her sandwich.
I slam my head down onto the table. God this is frustrating, he's such not a big deal for me yet he seems to be bothering Sakura so much and I just don't know why. Of course you don't want to be working with your ex I get that, but surely she should just be happy with me instead of worrying about it all.
"Listen Sasuke," Ino taps my back gently, "Just go speak to her after work, I'm sure she needs someone to speak to right now as well as you,"
I nod and with a sniff, get up to leave.
I knock on the door loudly once more, I know Sakura's in there, the lights are all on, but she's certainly taking her time!
I sigh as I stare up to the clouded sky. Rain droplets begin to fall. Great.
"Dammit," I curse as I rap on her house door once more.
Just when I'm about to give up and go, Sakura opens the door. She stares at me blankly and gives me a loose hug as I come into the doorway.
I hear something like a "Come in," as she allows me inside and gestures for me to sit on the sofa nearby. I do so, all in silence, which is making the whole scene seem so surreal.
She seems to dither at the door, but finally she comes to sit down next to me and gives me a broken, disjointed smile when I turn to her.
"So, Sakura," I finally break the silence, "I didn't see you today, Ino said you were, erm, bothered... by something,"
"Yeah, I was," she nods, breaking eye contact and turning to play with the tassels on her dressing gown which she is wearing.
I nod slowly, "You were ill today then?"
This conversation is much too awkward for two people who are meant to be boyfriend and girlfriend.
"Yeah I just... yeah,"
I sigh, thinking of a way to somehow bring up Kabuto subtly as I am sure once mentioned I'll get a reaction.
"Well when you had gone we got told we're going to have new shifts from now on," I say. Gulping, I go for it, "Kabuto gave them to us,"
At his name her eyebrows furrow and for a second I think she's about to shout or something, but she soon relaxes and lets loose a long sigh.
"Okay Sasuke... I get the hint, you know that he's the person bothering me... let's not act anymore," she says.
Good, finally I can find out why this guy is bothering her so much.
"Okay then, I came to ask you why you're so bothered by him," I begin, perhaps a little too enthusiastically, making it sound a tad aggressive.
"It's nothing honestky... just, forget it Sasuke it's not that a big deal. I'll be my normal self tomorrow I promise,"
But that's not good enough for me. I'm not just going to leave this. I want to know why she's so bothered by all this.
"But Sakura, I know this guy is your ex and all, but why is he bothering you so much? Can't you just be happy with me and not worry about him?"
She sighs again and draws her eyes slowly upon me, "Sasuke, do you remember way back, before we were going out, why I originally didn't want to be your girlfriend?"
That question catches me out. Of course I don't remember the reason, why would I want to after all?
"No," I shrug honestly.
"Well, it was because I've had a lot of... bad boyfriends in the past, and at the time I didn't know you so well and you seemed like that you could easily become one," She starts.
That's probably my fault, looking back. But that's only because I'm always cold towards strangers! I'm just naturally a bit of diva, everybody knows a person like me!
"And it's just that," she frowns, "I'm nineteen now and if I'm going to have a boyfriend I want it to be one I can be settled with. That's where I saw myself right now,"
"Sakura, what are you saying? We are settled! We've been dating for a month and everything is fine!" I interrupt.
"We were, but Kabuto has totally unsettled me. Dating you Sasuke for this past month has been like a dream, and when Kabuto appeared out of nowhere it just reminded me of bad memories... and it reminded me of where I wanted to be at this age all those years ago,"
I'm getting annoyed now. She's acting like I'm gonna go and do something wrong! I'm not the one freaking out right now. That's her.
"Sakura, you're only nineteen, I know you've had bad experiences with boys in the past but... well I'm sorry but it couldn't have been that big a deal! You're still young those boyfriends aren't the end of your life!"
"I'm not saying they are Sasuke it's just that... I don't know, I don't know how I feel right now. I just feel weird,"
I glare at her (Not really something I should be doing at my upset girlfriend) and then sigh as I realise what this is probably about.
"A while ago, Ino told me that Kabuto was a bounce-back," I say, "Is this about that perfect-but-too-old Kak-face guy,"
"Kakashi," She corrects, "And I don't know... sorta. I just..."
She turns to me, "Sasuke you've been perfect for me and this is going so well I just..."
"Sakura I'm not gonna dump you like this Kakashi, stop being so stupid," I scold.
I don't know why I'm talking to her like this. It's just because she's being so ridiculous I think.
Sakura doesn't answer this time and I get the feeling that the conversation may be over. I kiss her on the cheek, which she doesn't react to, and then get up to leave. At the door, her voice stops me from going.
"It's not odd,"
I turn, raising an eyebrow as I do so, "What's not odd?"
"To want to be in love," She answers, "It's not strange to expect to have found someone to love by nineteen,"
I stare at her and manage to squeak out, "No,"
"Good," She nods and smiles at me.
I go to say more, I need to say more! This is it isn't it? I've been moaning about it for so long now and this is my chance! This is my chance to tell her I love her. But, I can't, my lips are sealed shut. Our eyes are locked and all I can do is smile and leave.
As I close the door behind me I feel worse than I should. I lost my chance. I lost my chance.
I lost my chance.
Those words stick with me all through the long, rainy drive home.
I push open my bedroom door with a sigh, now placed into an even greater bad mood than before, to find Naruto examining himself in my standing mirror.
I raise an eyebrow, "Is there a reason you're checking yourself out in the mirror?"
Naruto jumps and turns, "Shit Sasuke you scared me," He composes himself for a second and then grins, "And yes, we're going to the bar remember, I was just in here borrowing one of your jackets,"
"I don't remember, I'm not going anyway and take off my jacket," I order simply as I trudge over to my bed and fall onto it.
"Sasuke you said you would, it's for Pein and Konan remember? We're going out to celebrate their wedding, just a casual get together before the stag and hen nights,"
I sigh, I suppose if it's for Pein and Konan I better go, I am invited to Pein's stag night after all.
"Okay sure, I'll go," I say as I stand, "But you can't wear my jack-"
"AWWWWWWWW!"
"Fine, you can," I quickly say, as to stop his whinging, "Though now I think about it I doubt you were invited to this, Pein and Konan hate you; and you're not a worker at the park. It'll just be my brothers friends and maybe some original workers at the park, like Karin or Juugo,"
"Hey woah back up! they like me really; they just don't want to admit it," Naruto beams.
"Sure,"
After a quick change on my part, me and the dobe hop in his car and are soon on the road.
As he drives, Naruto spares a sidelong glance at me, and then pouts, "So, Sasuke, what's wrong?"
"Nothing's wrong," I mutter, "Why would you ask that? Everything's fine, stop bothering me,"
My attempt is fruitless. I probably tried a bit too hard to make him leave me alone on that one.
"Come on BF, cough it up, I can tell when you're upset," he continues.
I sigh and pull my eyes to look out at the darkness outside the car, "Well...I had my chance, Naruto... but I missed it,"
Naruto cottons on to what I'm talking about, "With Sakura you mean?"
I nod.
There's silence in the car, but I feel the need to explain a little further the situation, "And meanwhile she's going all psycho about Kabuto, which is frustrating,"
Naruto keeps his eyes on the road, clearly thinking of something to say, but he eventually just shrugs and turns his head to me, "Well then, it's a good thing we're going to a bar!"
"How'd you mean?"
"Well you can just go there and blow off some steam,"
"We're too young to drink if that's what you mean, the drinking age is twenty one out here dobe,"
"Ah, buy an orange juice for all I care, all I meant was that it's a time to relax and socialise," He shrugs.
Well that's too bad, because I really don't feel like socialising.
Finally we arrive at the bar, some little place nestled into a busy night's street. Most people are already there, drinking and laughing.
Straight away Sasori and Deidara start questioning Naruto if he was even invited, which is sort of funny. But I'm not in the mood for funny, so after saying a quick hello to Pein and Konan, I slot into a booth next to Kakuzu and just sit there.
Kakuzu doesn't seem to notice me as he is shouting at Hidan across the bar, so I decide to simply wallow in my self-pity in silence.
More and more people start to fill the bar up and judging from how drunk a few of my brothers friends are, I'd say I've been sitting here for about an hour now; doing absolutely nothing.
Another hour passes, in which I spent telling people that I'm fine and no I don't want to come and talk with you guys.
Just when I think I may be actually about to fall asleep, I feel a weight sit down next to me.
Orochimaru smiles at me as I look up.
Oh great, just who I wanted to speak to when in a bad mood; my overly nice boss.
"Sasuke, I see you're not socialising, something the matter? Hmm?"
I move up slightly and shake my head, "Err no boss, I'm alright,"
He nods but still doesn't leave.
He seems to be thinking of something to say and finally then turns to me, "Sasuke, perhaps instead of sitting here and being grumpy, you should just go home,"
Now that's an idea, I sorta forgot I was allowed to leave.
"You've made your appearance, and I always say the cure for a bad mood is a good sleep. Let's you think with a fresh mind," He goes on.
I nod and stand to leave, "Yeah, thanks Orochimaru,"
"Oh it's no bother, you can drive can you?"
"Yeah,"
"Good, tell me, you wouldn't mind bringing young Karin home would you?"
Oh God. I flick my eyes up to see Karin wobbling around from boy to boy, trying to come onto them I guess. Wait, how did she get drink?
"She's been getting various men around the place to buy her drinks," Orochimaru says, as if he just read my mind.
I sigh then nod tiresomely, "Okay, right, I'll get her home,"
Orochimaru smiles once more and lets me pass.
After a quick search, I find Naruto bothering Konan and Pein (Apparently trying to get a wedding invitation) and take his car keys off him.
I'm not sure how he'll get home exactly; I'm not coming to pick him up. He probably thinks Pein and Konan will give him a ride. He's so clueless.
Karin spots me before I can speak as I approach, and quickly latches onto me, "Sasuke! Baby Sasuke! I haven't seen you all day!"
"Karin, come on you're going home," I say as I begin to half-drag her to the door.
"Wha? Why? Am I going with you?"
"Yes... technically," I sigh as I make it to the door with her screaming in my ear.
She blabbers on about how great I am (Like I need to be told) as we go down the street, until I finally get to Naruto's car.
Deliberately and hardly, I shove her in the front passenger seat, cutting her off mid-sentence, and then get in myself.
As I start the car, she continues to blabber.
She talks to me for five minutes, and seeing as she's pissed out of her head I generally ignore her or tell her to shut up.
After a strange half a minute silence (I thought she couldn't shut up) she begins to speak again, "Sasuke, I've been chasing you for quite a while now haven't I?"
I nod, more concentrated on the road, "Yes you have, now shush,"
"And you're nothing but mean to me,"
"That's right, now shut up," I tell her as I try to remember if I take a right or left turn next. (Her drunken directions to her house were pretty hard to understand.)
"I guess you really must like this Sakura if you can ignore me so well,"
The mention of Sakura freezes me.
I turn to look at Karin, who is entertaining herself in the front mirror by examining her teeth and gums; apparently not as affected by the conversation as me. She doesn't know what she's saying though, that's why.
"Well, yeah... yeah I do," I admit.
"Do you like, love her or something. That would be weird, she doesn't seem too special, I mean I have bigger boobs than her don't I?" she continues to slur.
"Yes. Yes I do love her,"
I don't know why I keep answering Karin. She's drunk though and won't remember this, so there's no harm.
"Does she know that? That's romantic that is, like a movie," Karin goes on.
I lick my lips and sigh, "I, don't know. I don't think she does,"
We drive on in silence for a moment longer, and only after a minute or two do I notice Karin staring to the left of my head (Though to her it probably is my head since she's so pissed.)
"What?" I demand.
"I'm thinking," She begins, "That maybe... you should man up,"
I turn to her slowly. Oh hell no! She did not just say that!
"Man up?" I sneer.
"Uhuh, stop being a baby, and just tell her you love her and stuff," She pauses then smiles, "Oh we're here,"
I pull the car to a stop and peer up at what must be her house. It's pretty big, a replica of all the others on the suburban street. Perhaps she lives with her parents, or with some other roommates, but no way does that belong to her.
She opens the car door and stumbles out of it. She then turns round and gives me a crooked smile instead of closing the car door, "Would you like to come in?"
I just stare at her, "...After that whole talk about me loving Sakura, you still ask that?"
She blinks, "Talk about who?"
Bloody hell!
I just drive off.
I arrive home and after switching on all the lights and making myself a drink, I get to thinking. Perhaps, I have been a little too harsh on Sakura. I think I'm just going to wait it out, let her get it out of her system and stuff. Besides, as the annoying, drunk version of Karin said, it's time I man up and tell her how I feel.
Tomorrow. I'll do it tomorrow.
Well maybe the day after, let her get this whole Kabuto thing out of her system.
No, tomorrow!
Hmm... manning-up is hard.
Yep, there's a very poor chapter for you. I haven't been on fanfiction for a long time, so this is kind of just a come-back chapter for me. It's probably pretty poor but hey. Thanks for reading!