A/N - Ok brace yourself, cuz this is going to be hefty.

DISCLAIMER - I do not own Naruto

Song used for this chapter - Johnny Ripper - Julia (Catacombkid Edit)

"Hey... you alright?"

I was in the middle of despairing, coming to terms with my idiotic bad luck and my absolute nonexistent memory when I heard the voice from behind me. My heart nearly lept to my throat as my silence was invaded, caught completely off guard. How was it possible that anyone was still here? The campus closed down classes early for holidays hours ago, everyone should have been home already, all except for little ol' forgetful me. Yet there it was, another lone voice in this deserted vacant lot.

I glanced behind my shoulder, peaking at whoever stranger was talking to me. The girl stood there, watching me with a face I couldn't quite describe, mostly because it was blank and indifferent... or maybe bored? Her tattered navy blue hoodie that looked oddly vintage, matching beanie, skinny jeans , lip piercing, and tattoos screamed skater; and if I couldn't guess from those obvious hints, there was a skateboard snug tight on the bookbag she had slung on one arm.

If I wasn't 100% sure that I was alone, I could have sworn she wasn't talking to me at all. And for a moment, I wondered if I was mistaken. But seconds later, she spoke again.

"Uh..." She began with a small frown, the first sign of any facial expression I managed to catch in the whole two minutes of watching her, "Can you hear me or...?"

I blinked at the awkward question, but realized that I had my headphones in. Taking an earbud out, I gave a nervous snort, "Oh, shit sorry. Yeah I can hear you."

"Right..." she replied, giving me a strange look before pressing on, "I was asking if you were alright?"

"Um, yeah I'm fine," I answer slowly, giving her a strange look at aswell, "Uh... how are you?"

The second emotion I managed to catch was a hint of a smile tugging at her lips. Amused, but only slightly, she replied, "I'm doing fantastic. Anyway, listen, are you sure you're good?"

I frowned, not understanding why she was pressing the strange question, "Yeah, I'm pretty sure..." I fell silent, not knowing what else to say.

Tugging at her beanie for a moment, she simply watched me with a small frown playing at her lips again. Then just as I was starting to feel uncomfortable, she turned slightly and pointed at a building that was behind us, "I've been in that building for 2 hours, retaking a midterm exam I did about a week ago because of some stupid freak accident of the machine eating my answers that were on the scan-tron-sheet whatever." Turning back to me, she went on as I quirked an eyebrow, "And the whole time I was in that death trap, you've been sitting out here... in the cold."

Oh... I see where this is going.

Blush spreading my cheeks, I tried not to die in utter embarrassment as I explained, "Oh, well yeah I'm ok I was just sitting here... waiting..."

"On... a ride?" She asked and I felt her eyes still on me as I carefully avoided hers.

"Yes, no, not really," I replied, all three answers coming out rapid.

"Uh..." she started, completely confused, "So, you are?"

"Not really," I answered again with an exhausted sigh, bringing my hands to my face as I attempted to gain some strength about the situation. Just realizing all over again what my predicament was made me utterly exhausted.

"Did your ride ditch you?" She asked a bit too insensitive for my case.

"It wasn't his fault, he got called into work way earlier than planned," I muttered miserably, "And when he told me I said it was fine I could just take the bus, but I forgot my wallet at home..."

"So now you're stuck," she finished the story as I stared at the ground, "No money and no ride. Well, that would be the case if I hadn't wandered by. Come on, grab your things."

"No!" I said a bit too quickly and loud. Biting my lip, I squeezed the edges of the park table I was sitting on as I admitted, "I was just sitting here attempting to get the motivation to walk home. It really isn't that far, it's just that I'm lazy and walking isn't really my thing..."

Her frown pulled as she watched me, "If you haven't gained the motivation in two hours..." We were silent as the statement soaked in. Just when I was unable to take it any longer, she continued, "Which leaves us with the perfect solution of me having a car. I mean my place isn't far either, and usually I board there, but that doesn't stop me from driving here from time to time."

"It's ok, really," I insisted, already feeling guilt churn through me at the thought of accepting the ride.

"Seriously?" She sighed out with exasperation and a roll of her eyes, "Come on, it's the holidays, everyone's at their crib drinking eggnog and eating stupid Christmas tree shaped cookies even though its like mid November and you're really thinking about spending an extra hour just walking when you could just hitch a ride with me?"

"Thinking about it, yeah," I answered without a beat.

"Well listen here blondie, because I'm about to burst your bubble," she replied while strolling towards me, snatching my bag that sat next to me before I could react, "Out of the goodness of my own heart, because let's be real you're looking pretty pathetic and I can always use more Santa points, you're going to do me a favor and let me give you a ride."

My eyes grew wide before my face twisted into a frown, glaring at her as she continued to walk towards the student parking lot, "Um, no! I did not agree to this!"

"Did you hear anything that came out of my mouth?" She drawled with a glance back at me, back to looking indifferent, "This is against your will. You're just going to have to suck it up."

"This is called kid napping, do you realize that?" I practically shouted while stomping behind her, "I could call the cops!"

"Right, arrest me for doing the right thing during the season of giving, sure," she replied with a roll of her eyes, "In the meantime, hurry the hell up. I've got plans for this weekend, and none of it entails spending it in this damn death trap of a college."

I was fumming as I followed her, unable to believe I was being held hostage in such a generous manner. My emotions weren't too sure how to handle it either; part of me was furious for being forced, but part of me was relieved I wouldn't have to make the journey on foot. Either way, I refused to speak as we finally neared her car, which was unbelievably- but also slightly predictably- an old school hippy van that was a solid dusty blue with a white stripe down the side and a shinny Volts Wagon emblem on the front. I noted the vintage white and black tires on the side and took in the equally back in the day interior as we climbed inside. Just how I imagined it would be, there was enormous amount of space in the back and layers upon layers of blankets that could have been taken for a mischief bed.

Before the girl, whoever she was seeing as I hadn't grabbed her name, put the key in the ignition, she began cleaning up a bit. She tossed and stuffed random things in random areas, and was just about to finish when something caught my eye. It was a small plastic bag, clumped with something green inside, and it took me a moment to realize what it was. I glanced at the girl the very moment she glanced at me before she smoothly looking away, snatching the evidence, and tucking it into the folds of her beanie.

We both didn't bother saying anything about it.

Soon enough she was revving the engine, and I was slightly surprised the van started up as easily as it did. Pulling the lever in reverse, the girl finally spoke, "So, what type of music do you like listening to?"

"Anything, really," I replied with a curious eye towards her.

As she pulled off and finally faced forward again, she nodded and leaned forward "That's what I like to hear."

With a push of a button, what seemed like surround sound of music filled my ears. Pausing, I took in the slow rhythm, slightly caught off guard. From her outward appearance, I figured there would be heavy metal pounding me into a headache the whole ride, but this song sounded surprisingly mellow and... inviting. My eyes wandered to the girl again, and for a moment I watched as she slowly nodded her head to the song, thumbs tapping in slow beat while her eyes scanned the road.

Who was she anyway... I had never seen her before.

My eyes wandered further down her body, outlining her neck and the tattoo of a heatbeat she had slicing the side. A little further and I witnessed butterflies that were black fluttering at her chest, dripping wings with dotted lines behind them. Though she wore a worn hoodie, her sleeves that were pushed up gave me room to see part of her tattoo on her left forearm while her other arm laid bare. That tattoo in particular caught my attention, because it was a breath taking detail of deep black pine trees that climbed her arm, black colored in crows flying above and a moon that morphed into a compass that rounded her elbow.

I stared, enchanted by the details. It was such a creative piece of art, and it must have taken hours to get done. Whoever had taken the time must have truly loved their work.

"Do I have something on my face?" The girl asked, though her voice was soft and flat, she startled me.

Blinking rapidly, I brought my eyes back to hers, which were glancing at me in mild curiosity. Smiling slightly in embarrassment, I admit, "No."

"Because I just scarffed a sandwich like thirty minutes ago," she went on while flickering her eyes back to the road, "And I was afraid there were crumbs on my face."

I laughed lightly before replying, "No, there isn't any. I was just... admiring your tattoos. The one on your left arm is... absolutely breathtaking."

She blinked, whether in surprise or simply processing what I was saying I don't know, but it took her a moment to respond. Glancing down at her arm, she muttered almost distractedly, "Hm... you're the first to appreciate it that much."

"It's honestly the most eye catching piece of art I've seen," I enforced, my eyes wandering back to sketch out the outline as I spoke, "When did you get it?"

"A few years back," she answered while turning back to the road, "Right after high school. It was my first tattoo, and as you can see more soon followed."

We fell silent again as she continued to drive, and the music never stopped its smooth rhythm and flowing beat. As we rode I watched out the window, but occasionally sneaked peaks at the girl next to me. She played with her lip piercing from time to time, concentrating on turns and signals. At times she would go back to nodding her head, thumb tapping and mind seeming to float far far away from here.

It was the first time I felt a spark within me. Felt a yearning feeling.

As I traced her tattoos and blank staring eyes, I wondered...

Who...was she really...

"I have to make a quick stop, grab some more food for later. After that I can drop you off," she informed in a relaxed tone, very similar to the music playing. Grabbing her phone that was in the middle of us, she unlocked it and handed it to me, "Mind typing out your address so I can go ahead and put it in the navigation?"

Nodding, I grabbed it and managed to place in the street name fairly quickly. Handing the phone back to her, I watched as she gave it a short scan before she blinked pulled a small smile. Glancing at me, she smirked, "Well what do you know, small world."

"What do you mean?" I asked, watching her curiously.

She turned back and faced the road, red bang dipping lower down her forehead as she replied with a speck of humor, "I live in the same apartment complex."

Three more coming just for you!