Episode 40--> Waist Deep In The Fast Food Madness
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[START]

My straw made loud slurping sounds, to fill the silence, as we walked to our crowded table. Only two vacant seats left, right between my auburn haired cousin, Naomi and the ocean eyed sandboy, Gaara.

I focused my attention on Gaara, trying to ignore the fact that the dark eyed genius would be right next to me too.

"Do you like what you got, Gaara?" I smiled at him as I took a seat beside him, striking up some small talk.

Gaara jumped when I spoke, "You... surprised me..." That never happens is probably what he wanted to say but he didn't. I understood though. He doesn't know how to handle me sneaking up all the time.

"No chakra. So you better get used to being scared messy because it's going to happen often." Effortlessly one upping trained ninjas is my current guilty pleasure. ☻ I hope my goofy behind never scares them to the point of accidental friendly fire though...!

Gaara seemed to eye me more critically now.

I squirmed around as if his gaze made me antsy, "Ai~ Kazekage-sama... how sinful of you." I also cupped my cheeks like I was hiding a fake blush and continued, "Please do not undress me with your eyes in such a public place."

He stared as if paralyzed and I bat my eyelashes 'bashfully'. His eyes slowly drifted away from me then, briskly, Gaara swung his head the way his eyes went. He turned his head away but his ears were so red.

"Pft-" I placed my fingers over my mouth to stop my snicker. What a cute reaction! I was just being a clown. I did NOT expect Gaara to be soo cute!!

I snapped a picture of the adorable redhead and sent it to Ashley, he's her husbando afterall.

When I got a reply, she wrote, "WOW! So cute omfgqgwheuhd! 🤩🤩😍😍 Nice editing girl! Gaara looks so freaking fine♡! He looks so realistic!"

Frowning, I grumbled, dissatisfied, "😒 Ugh, this gal still thinks I'm playing games? This is the real dude not no stinkin' edit!"

I wrote back, "But it is the real him! 😓"

And her reply, "🙄 Yeah, yeah, sure. Send me some more.🙃"

Unbelievable!

I keep telling my friends, who are big anime/Naruto fans, that Narrie and the gang keep showing up. But do you think they believed me? Nah!

They shoulda been on the first flight back to The Bahamas! But nooo they just keep missing out! They will not believe me no matter what. 😩

Despite all the candid photos and secret spy videos of the ninjas that I've sent to Ashley and Alexis, with me in some too mind you, I still can't convince those two! I even text them all the time about every new ninja shenanigan too.

Are they applauding my editing skills with their stubborn disbelief?

I wonder if there is a way to ship Gaara to the states? That'd convince em!

I giggled as I placed my cellphone down, "Pfft, Ash would just die~!"

As I'm about to peel the foil from my burger, my cellphone rang. A video call was coming through. Speak of the devils... I turned my attention back to the phone. 🤳

Of course it was my friends, Ashley and Alexis.

One word to describe Ashley's appearance was honey. Honey brown eyes, honey colored hair and honey brown skin. She is the tallest amoung us by the way. She's also got great leadership skills so she comes off as bossy sometimes.

And one word to describe Alexis' appearance was pale. Pale blue eyes, pale white skin, and pale blonde hair. She is a bit of a pretty girl tomboy. And she's the type to wear a straight face all the time so not many realise how sarcastic she is until its too late.

They are both sixteen and I am the baby of us three at fifteen.

From the looks of it, the two girls were chilling together at the hotel suite.

Ashley waved at the camera, smiling, "Hey Nat, whatcha up to?" Alexis also waved from behind her, leaning her full weight over my friend's shoulder.

"Hi. Well, I am at Wendy's right now, too bad you're missing out!"

Her blonde brow shot upward, "Missing out? You're at bootleg Wendy's and we have the authentic one right next to the hotel... so..." Al said delivering a clean, monotonuous, snarky comment.

"Pft, food tastes better in The Bahamas gal, call it bootleg Wendy's if you want." I countered, laughing.

"You're out pretty late on your own. Are you finally on a date?" Teenage girls ate romance as a staple, I swear. They were staring at me with excitement, waiting on my response.

"Noo..." I answered slowly trying not to look at my anime crush who is right beside me, " I'm not on a date but I'm not alone. Naomi is here too." I turned the camera her way making sure to avoid capturing Shikamaru because my friends might say something I'd regret.

"Hey, Nae." Alexis, Ashley and Naomi exchanged greetings.

Naomi gave them a greasy smile, "Hi Allie, hi Ash."

As Naomi focused back on her meal, Ash focused back on me, "Cool. Since you're home alone I was going to ask if you would come to us like we originally planned. I figured you were feeling lonely, but if Naomi is there then..."

With my family being gone for three weeks now, the loneliness would have killed me. I've never travelled to another country alone before but I would have done it for sure. If it wasn't for my ninja crew, I would have gotten on the next flight over there.

"Yeah, I miss you guys but I have been just fine. I had Hinata and the guys with me too."

Apparently, Ashley took what I said to mean I wasn't lonely because I had anime, "Oh, then you started rewatching Naruto? Finally!"

Alexis gasped in mock betrayal, "Without me??"

"No. I mean, I should rewatch it properly to be honest, but that's not what I meant. I'm literally with them." I pointed the phone's camera at Hinata, who is beside Naomi. Then I swung around and pointed it at Choji, Naruto, Kiba, Akamaru(in human), and Shino, who are on the other side of the table.

"And.... look who else is here?!" 🤩 I yanked Gaara into the spotlight, to his discomfort.

"Hugh-sama....!" Across the table from me, Shino was eyeing me and displaying his smoldering disapproval.

"Wait, Shino, man! Give me a minute! 😩" I waved the bug boy's warning away.

Okay, okay, I know I'm bothering Gaara but the cause, take one for the cause man. The cause!

"It's totally a green screen, bet she's not even at Wendy's. Girl, that's a really cool Gaara filter tho." Ashley had the nerve to deny the truth whilst fangirling.

Alexis also chimed in, with the disrespect, "It's like omegle, haha, if she wasn't replying to our questions I would think it's all a prerecorded edit, haha."

😑 Are my friends serious right now? This was a battle I have been waging and losing since these guys showed up at my house. There was no point getting disheartened I guess. One day. One day they'll believe. I wished one day was today.

Pouting deeply, I curtly released Gaara and sat back down, whining, "It's really, really, really, reeeaally him, they're all here, we're all here together." I was about to start huffing and puffing. I felt like the LMN wife trying to convince her husband that she's not crazy! Fed up, I brought out the big guns for this negotiation, "Naomi, tell 'em that the ninjas are real!"

Naomi, with her squirrelly cheeks filled of burger, obediently complied with my demand, "Oh yah, they real. And not cartoons, they are anime." Chomp, chomp, she was really enjoying these pickles with her burger.

"See, Naomi tells you so." I smirked smugly at the surprise in their eyes. They knew, like I knew, Naomi was not one to lie for lying sake. Twist the truth to riddle you but never lie.

"Ok, I'll humor you, because Naomi is a credible, non-corruptible source... But if you're going to try selling me such an unbelievable claim, imma need you to prove it..." Ashley gave me her cold business stare, meaning she was finally taking me seriously.... if just a tad bit.

I felt pressured not relieved by her words, "Haven't I been 'proving it' so many times already? What more could I do to convince you?!"

"Hmm-mmm/Dunno" The rascals both shrugged innocently.

😭 For heaven's sake, you guys... "Ashley...! While you sit goofing around in Al's papa's hotel someone might steal Gaara from you, ya know. There were girls earlier eyeing the boys. And, and..." 🥺

Ash rolled her brown eyes at my dire warning, unbothered.

Heathens! Okay then. I will prove it. 😈 It had to be done. Filled with one of my crazy ideas, I quickly justify it in my mind, deeming it the last logically resort to getting my friends to believe the unbelieveable.

Gaara was innocently munching on fries when I ripped open his clothing. I exposed him shamelessly for the camera. Heh, he had nipples, usually don't see those on anime men... Gaara was speechless, frozen in shock. Fries slipped from his fingers to the dutty floor.

"See, the fact that I can do even this proves it is real life!" Repeatedly flashing his chest, I showed off my ability to do so.

Ashley blushed, secretly enjoying the unexpected striptease.

Alexis whistled in appreciation, "😏 That's hot--"

Before the words all left Al's mouth, Ash had smacked the blondie, nearly bending my friend's neck 180°.

"Hey, eyes off of my man!" Ashley growled from gritted teeth.

Al nursed her whiplash, unapologetic, "Well... If she'd send Sasuke candids I wouldn't have to-- Hey, Nat, if you got any raven haired avengers laying around you know who to call.🤙Send him on my way." Alexis smirked.

I finally made some progress, 🤩 "So then you believe--"

"Hugh-saaaamaaa..." Grave was his voice as he called out my name. I flinched as he took hold of me. 😳 Oh crap! My fingers slipped away from Gaara's now disheveled attire. I drifted through the air. My butt was firmly planted into the lap of Shino Aburame. He dropped my video call. I felt apprehensive of things to come.

I smacked him in the face as I tried pushing his away from mine. He restrained my hand. We were face to face and his gaze was stern, his eyebrows severely furrowed. 😨

"I'm being bullied by Shino! I'm being bullied!" I squealed flailing.

He scowled at me and reprimanding me, he said, "You have been harrassing Gaara for some time now. And you're being rude. You should not expose anyone, let alone a diplomat, like this."

Who is he talking to like so? Can't be me aye?

"Did your mother not teach you the etiquettes of a proper young woman? Obviously she has failed. Women should not be so openly perverse. And you should have some type of awareness that your actions are giving Gaara a hard time."

Fully scolded by Shino, I could do nothing, say nothing. It was like he suddenly forgot what I'm capable of. He's lecturing me and it is terrifying!

"Naomi..." I called, precautious about Shino, reaching in the dark for a rescuer. Naomi had been chatting away with a 'getting annoyed by all the words' Shikamaru. Poor guy was going screensaver on her. She shuts up and turned to gaze at our end of the table when I called.

"Yea?" She answered above the noise of the bustling fast-food eatery.

I pointed at Shino, "He's scolding me." 😭

"I have no idea what to do about that. Quite frankly, I think you did something to deserve this treatment, am I right?" She responded in a sort of sing-song way.

"But he's being... intense! I don't like it..." I whined not willing to suffer the consequences of my actions. It wasn't what was being said- which was utter cow pie- he was just... just... he was so god-condemned intense about it! He looked really mad... 🥺

"Nat, boo, never thought I'd say this, but man up, girl!" She responded dryly.

No one's gonna save me. "Okay, I get it, I've learned my lesson, no more exposing Gaara in public!" I pitched out of Shino's grip like grease from a hot pot.

"Natalya, you need to calm down, why, if you don't you will-" Shino tried to warn me. But fate didn't even allow him to finish. I crashed backwards into the young sand wielder so hard it sent us down.

Shino sighed, (Must she be so problematic...)

"Girl, get off that boy so he can get off that dirty floor!" Now I had Naomi raving at me, great...

"Ow, okay, okay."

Gaara sat up suddenly springing before my face. Surprised, I blinked rapidly. Now that we were face to face I couldn't help focusing on that certain something.

"Gaara... I've known about you for a few years and it took me so long to realize you don't have any eyebrows!" I exclaimed, poking him in the head.

Slushie shot out of Naomi's nose. She looked at the boy to make sure and behold, naked brows. "You een lie muddoe! Hahahahaha! I didn't notice! You just expected them to be there... but they're not!" My cousin was so shook, she was laughing.

"Gee, if you laugh that hard you're going to make him feel self-conscious about his bald brows." Kiba said to us but yet you can hear him stifling a laugh.

So was Naruto, "It makes him look badass though."

"Forgive us, Gaara!" I ruffled his hair not holding back my laughter at all. I felt a sudden chill. It was Shino. 😃😀 Wordlessly, I took a seat, not touching Gaara for the remainder of the outing. Since I had abused my privileges Shino graciously swapped seats with the abused redhead as a further precaution.

Finally behaving myself, I happily ate my food. 😗🍔 A beach day and a good burger go hand in hand for sure. The meal went down nicely.

"Ah, my little stomy is good and full!" I exclaimed because I'm so random, unexpectedly earning a chuckle.

"Stomy? Cute way to call it." Somehow I managed to earn Mr ponytail's attention.

"Eh, you call it cute, but its abbreviated 'cuz I'm a lazy fart." I laughed trying not to be tense with my reply.

"Hm... that so?" His eyes were on me but I pretended not to notice, cleaning my mouth was an excuse not to talk further. I put the extra napkins Shika got to good use. 🤧

While he was casually gazing at me, he notices that I had carried the beach home, "You have some sand," He reached over and his fingertips, slightly chilled, brushed the shell of my ears then. He gingerly removed the sand that was still stuck to me despite my bath. My mind drew blanks. I bit my lip too startled to react any other way. It was ticklish and I felt embarrassment. Lost, I locked eyes with Naomi, to see what she'd put him up to this time. But she had the same surprised expression I did. 🥤😳

"I..." Sharply, I stood up, overwhelmed, "...gotta go." It took every ounce of willpower in my body to resist cupping my ear, that seemed to heat up from his careless touch. I tried not to run. Calm, composed, casual... With impossible poise, I vanished from their line of sight.

Naomi sipped on her half melted strawberry slush, trying to cool off that second hand embarrassment. (Hoo, hoo, hoo, wow.... The boy is a natural, dang...) Naomi kept her laughter to herself.

Little did I know, or even had the liberty to think about, Shikamaru's thoughts were going in a different direction. (That was strange. Maybe I made her uncomfortable?)🤔 He was confused.

"Did I do something strange?" He asked, directing the question at Naomi.

She immediately shook her head, "Naw, you didn't. She's just being weird." Naomi stood up and started clearing her trash, demanding the ninjas to do so as well.

Shikamaru also took his garbage and walked with her to the trashcan, trying to gain some clarity.

"If you keep interacting with her earnestly I'm sure she'll come around." Naomi placed a reassuring hand on the kid's shoulder and walked out the door.

Her words turned over in his head. He thought back to all of our interaction thus far and thought to himself, "Is the truth maybe... am I being hated?"

Unaware of the consequences of my actions or how he perceived my reactions, I paced in front of the women's restroom mirror. My hand ghosted my ear. Flustered, my face instantly caught fire. Stiffling my fangirlish screech with my palms, I hopped around the small space.

"Ohmahgawhdohmahgahwd~!!"

How am I going to hide these feelings? This is hopeless!

🇧🇸To be continued....