Chapter Three

The Celebrity Life

-&-

"And THEN," Naruto said, "Instead of simply handing me my diploma, he growls at me 'Have a nice life, kid' and then ignores me the whole walk down the stage. I mean, the principal isn't really that mean, but was I really that bad in high school?"

"Yes," everyone said, simultaneously and monotonously.

Rilo smiled. They had all managed to fit in the dorm room, clutching cups of Instant Ramen and plastic forks.

"So," Sukaino gushed, "tell me what it's like on broadway."

"Y-You're on BROADWAY?!" Kiba choked.

Rilo grew red. "Um…yeah, kind of."

"I KNEW I saw your ad on that shuttle bus," Sukaino said triumphantly. "Your face is everywhere!"

"Well…I'm not really that famous…I mean, well…"

Everyone stared at the T.V. as a commercial with her face faded out.

"Okay…" she started again, "maybe?"

"When's your next show?!" Sukaino said, clasping a hand to her heart.

"Um…I don't know yet. I just got offered the lead role, and um…well, Ino, my manager, she's going to do casting calls in a few months. I think it's supposed to be all-new stars…so I'm guessing, college freshman."

Everyone's jaws dropped.

"On broadway," Naruto stated.

"Uh…I think so."

"All around the world?!"

"M-Maybe just in New York."

"Oh, MAN!"

Rilo exchanged looks with Sasuke, who was currently stirring the noodles he was holding without half a mind to eat them.

"So," she said, hugging her knees. "Um…what have you guys been up to…you know, since I uh…left."

"Naruto got taller."

"What? Really? So have I!"

Rilo immediately stood up with Naruto, back to back to measure.

"…Rilo's still short."

"Yeah."

Both Kiba and Shikamaru now each had a black eye.

Sasuke hadn't spoken nearly the whole time, and Sukaino definitely noticed.

"Are you okay?" she whispered.

"Yeah."

"Why don't you ask her a few questions?"

"There's nothing I really wanna know."

"I know there's one you're dying to ask," Sukaino said, slyly. Sasuke was about to strangle her, but she was too fast.

"SO! Rilo- you had any boyfriends?"

There were four loud and dramatic gasps at this question and Sasuke grew 6 shades of pure pink.

Rilo blushed.

"Um…what?"

"Boyfriends," Sukaino said, eager to know the answer. "Don't try to avoid the question!"

Rilo looked into the cup of her ramen and muttered, "One."

"What?"

Rilo blushed even more. "Um…just one."

Sukaino shrieked, and the four boys shoved each other to grab Rilo by the shoulders.

"WHO?!"

"WHAT?!

"WHEN?!"

"WHY?!"

"SCHOOL."

"PHONE NUMBER. NOW."

"NAME AND SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER."

"WHERE'S HE LIVE?"

Rilo sweatdropped. She knew their reactions would have been like this.

And Sasuke remained on the couch, feeling his heart rip in two.

Okay, not really.

But there was one thing he felt.

And it definitely wasn't love.

"What?" Sasuke demanded, sharply.

Everyone turned to look at him. It was the first time he had spoken all night.

"Huh?"

"I-I had one boyfriend," Rilo said, uncomfortably. She didn't like to discuss the topic, nonetheless with Sasuke of all people. "If you could call it that."

"HAD? HE BROKE UP WITH YOU?!"

"Why did he break up with you?"

"Umm…he proposed."

Sukaino's jaw dropped.

"WHAT?! HE ASKED YOU TO MARRY HIM?!"

Rilo bit her lip as blue, black, white, brown, another brown, and another black pair of eyes stared at her in deep interest and furiousness.

"He asked me on our first date," she said, exasperatedly. "Of course, I said no, and then I broke up with him because he was being ridiculous."

Those six pairs of eyes were still blinking rapidly at her.

Rilo sweatdropped.

"Um…so what about you? Anything new?"

No one answered her. Sasuke was currently crushing the ramen cup in his hand.

"Sasuke! You're spilling the soup!"

Everyone jumped up to get napkins as Rilo stole another glance.

Sasuke was glaring at the ground, and she knew perfectly why.

"Sasuke," she said and he looked up, surprised to be shaken out of his stupor.

"Would you like to come with me tomorrow?"

Sasuke looked at her.

"For what?"

Rilo sat down next to him.

"Well, school doesn't start until next week. I have to go to a press meeting, and it's fancy and stuff."

No answer.

"Um…it's a dinner…with other guests and um…"

Sasuke didn't say anything.

"Well, I only thought, because I haven't seen you in like, three years, and I just thought it'd be a nice way to catch up o—"

"He'll go."

Rilo looked up, startled. Sukaino had Sasuke by the arm in a firm grip.

"You'll go," she said. "RIGHT, SASUKE?"

The boy sweatdropped. "…Uh…yeah."

Rilo smiled, getting up.

"I'll see you in the hall at 7:00 in the evening, then!"

"W-Wait…am I allowed to even come? I'm not a famous person!"

But Rilo had already left.

Sukaino sighed.

"HOW do you expect to marry her if you can't even engage in a proper conversation?"

"W-WHO SAID ANYTHING ABOUT MARRIAGE?! WE'RE ONLY SEVENTEEN!"

"Eighteen," came a monotonous voice from the kitchen.

"Shut up, Neji."

-&-

And this was the reason Sasuke wound up in a nice shirt and pants, looking like a bachelor from a reality show.

He was leaning against the wall, trying to catch the few minutes he had left of his sanity.

"Sasuke?"

Damn.

Rilo emerged quietly from the entrance door, a large trench coat wrapped around her tightly, with a pair of sunglasses in her hands.

Sasuke looked at her.

"Fame problems?"

"You have no idea," Rilo groaned as she shifted uncomfortably in the coat.

"Why're you wearing that?" Sasuke said, gesturing to it.

Rilo grew red.

"Uh…I'm kind of wearing a dress."

"…so?"

"It's really poofy."

"I can see that," Sasuke said.

"And…it's pink."

Sasuke cracked a smile. Rilo hated pink.

"Why are you wearing it?"

"Because," Rilo said, putting on the glasses, "the press meeting is in a ballroom. We're supposed to dance."

Sasuke stopped, and stared at what he was wearing. They were nice clothes, but not ballroom worthy.

"Am I supposed to dance with you?" He said, trying not to mutter.

Rilo grinned sheepishly at him.

"If you want to. Otherwise, then it's really okay."

Sasuke turned on his heel and sharply made his way back to his dorm.

"Sasuke!" Rilo laughed, "Come on…it, well, I hope it'll be fun."

Sasuke kept on walking.

"There's free food."

Sasuke kept on walking.

"Other celebrities…"

Sasuke kept on walking.

"You'll make the front page of the papers…"

Sasuke kept on walking.

"Creepy stalkers."

Sasuke stopped. Rilo inwardly winced. It was horrible to use Sasuke like that.

"Just kidding," she said quickly when he glared down at her.

Sasuke sighed.

"I'll go put on a tux," he said, disappearing behind his door.

Rilo felt a smile pull at her lips, and she didn't try to hide it.

Sasuke was Sasuke was Sasuke…and he'd always be.

-&-

"Your coat, Miss Miyaki," said an usher, offering his arm. Rilo thanked him and shed the large trench. Sasuke gave a small nod of thanks as they passed.

The ballroom was huge. There was no other word for it.

Except for fancy, no luxurious.

Really, really, really, really bright. Like, 10,000 watts. No joke.

And everything that covered every square inch of the place looked breakable and expensive…not to mention extensive…and expansive.

There were paintings with gold frames and crystal statues and marble floors with fancy carpeting. The dinner tables were decorated to the limit. They even had silk coasters and gold napkin rings. And the namecards were made out of leather.

Leather namecards.

LEATHER.

Sasuke's eyes were popping out. He had never been surrounded by riches and he now officially felt out of place. He probably was the only one in the room who didn't own a fancy car.

"Dude, it's okay."

Sasuke looked beside him, and Rilo was slightly smirking.

But Sasuke wasn't looking at her smirk.

He was looking at her.

Rilo had taken of the coat, but he hadn't noticed until now. Her dress was an extremely light shade of pink, strapless and it seemed to cast glitter everywhere she walked. It wasn't as bad as he thought it was when she had described it. The fabric hugged her torso like a corset and spread out beneath her in Cinderella shape.

On the contrary, she looked…pretty.

Sasuke found his words.

"Y-You look nice."

Rilo slipped on a pair of white ball gloves that reached her elbows.

"And uncomfortable," she joked. "Thanks. You don't look half bad yourself."

Sasuke pulled at his collar, loosening it and taking off the bowtie.

"You're used to this rich stuff?"

Rilo smiled.

"No. And I probably never will be."

Sasuke glanced at the floor. Whoa…that looked expensive too.

"AAAAAAAH!"

Rilo whipped around, alarmed as a lady who looked like she had used an entire bottle of hairspray, came up to her.

"Miyaki Rilo! I had no idea you were here!"

"Madame Richfort! I-I just got here," Rilo said, laughing uneasily. Sasuke smirked and Rilo subtly ground her heel into his foot. Sasuke breathed in sharply.

"Ow…"

"SO!" Madame Richfort said, glancing at Sasuke. "Who's the beau?!"

"Oh, he's not—"

"I'm not—"

"We're not…um…beau and…uh…" Rilo ended lamely. Sasuke just nodded along.

That was awkward.

Unfortunately, it didn't stop all night.

When they were seated at their dinner table, not only did the people at their table wink at Rilo and Sasuke as a couple, the people around grinned at them and whispered how great of a catch Rilo had.

Sasuke was blushing like mad…and Rilo wasn't far behind.

The first time Sasuke actually came to her aid was when the smug looking son of Madame Richfort came up to Rilo, asking her to dance.

There was no one on the dance floor. NO one.

"Come on, Rilo. I'm good looking enough for the both of us for the photos in tomorrow's paper," the boy said, holding out his hand. He wiggled his eyebrows at Rilo, who recoiled as politely as she could.

All this boy wanted was publicity and a moment to brag he was Rilo's dance partner.

Sasuke quickly stood up.

"Actually, I was going to," he said, shortly.

The table quieted and looked at him. Rilo blinked, inwardly thanking the heavens, yet still confused.

"Come on, Rilo," Sasuke hissed as he grabbed her hand. He awkwardly led her down the aisle of staring dinner parties.

"Um…uh, do you remember how to…dance?" Rilo whispered as they emerged on the dance floor.

There was still no one joining them; only watching in awe.

Sasuke swallowed and stared at her.

"Not really," he whispered back. "The last time I did was at that Romeo and Juliet play."

"We'll go slow," Rilo said, placing a gloved hand on his shoulder. She took his other hand and placed it on her hip.

A slow violin and cello duet came out of the band who had suddenly started to play.

"Mommy, they look like Beauty and the Beast. She's pretty and he looks mean!" said a voice.

Sasuke glared daggers at the crowd. Who said that?!

Rilo was staring at Sasuke.

"What?"

"You suck at dancing," Rilo grinned. Sasuke sweatdropped.

"I told you."

"I'm just kidding," Rilo whispered. "You got better."

The cameras went off like poppers. There were more photographers than Sasuke realized from before. Flashes went off in every direction until Sasuke carefully let go of Rilo's gloved hands.

"They're staring," he explained shortly. Rilo suppressed a smile.

"You can go. I have to stay here until midnight."

Sasuke looked at her as if she was crazy.

"You have to?"

"It's a press thing," she said, trying not to sound disappointed. But Sasuke wasn't fooled.

"You don't have to stay," he said.

"I do."

"No, you don't."

Rilo gave him a significant look.

"I'll meet you around the corner at 9:30. From there, I'll take you home," Sasuke said.

Rilo bit her lip. It was hard to resist.

"Deal," she whispered.

"MISS MIYAKI! HOW LOVELY TO SEE YOU…cameras! Cameras, please!"

"Photo alert," she muttered, being led away by some stocky man with a mustache.

Sasuke slipped through the crowd quite easily. No one noticed him until—

"You!"

Panicking, Sasuke walked a little faster until he felt someone pull the collar of his shirt.

"Urk—"

It was Madame Richfort. She was holding a glass of champagne and slightly teetering on her gold high heels.

Sasuke blinked.

"Um…hello," he said, trying to be polite and quick.

"You're Rilo's beau?" she hiccupped. Sasuke gulped.

"Um, no, I'm just a fr—"

"No, no, no, don't be silly," Madame Richfort said in slightly slurred voice, "You've got the looks, that's for sure. But unless you really like her, I'd suggest you become a celebrity as fast as you can."

Sasuke was already half-listening to her.

"Why?"

"Psh. These days," Madame Richfort leaned close and cupped her manicured hand around her mouth like a secretive child, "The press managers hate commoners with the stars. It's like putting cheap string cheese on an expensive cracker. It looks ugly and everyone hates it."

Slinging her fur coat around her shoulders, Madame Richfort wobbled away.

Sasuke took the opportunity to bolt fast. Grabbing his coat from the usher, he ran down the outside steps and down the dark sidewalk.

"I am not string cheese," he muttered to himself.

"Duh. You're a boy."

"What?"

Sasuke was met with an arm around his neck, nearly pulling him to the ground.

"OW! LET GO!"

"Sorry."

Sasuke looked up. "WHAT are you doing here, Sukaino?!"

She looked dressed for a ball.

"Sneaking in," she said casually. "You know, I used to be a lot nicer in highschool, but ever since I started hanging out with you guys, I've been a little more daring."

"Congratulations," Sasuke muttered sarcastically, straightening out his jacket. "Where's everyone else? Already inside?"

Sukaino smiled. "Hilarious. Actually, I came alone. Oh, and that dance with Rilo was rather funny."

"Y-You saw that?!"

"Who didn't see that?" Sukaino said, holding up her camera. "Say cheese, Sasuke!"

The flash popped off right in his face.

"Frickin' string," Sasuke muttered. "I hate cheese."

Sukaino stared at him. "Are you okay?"

"Yes," Sasuke said in an un-okay tone.

"Well, I'll leave you be. I need to get back to the dorm," Sukaino checked her watch. "I have some video-editing to do."

"You—edit WHAT?"

But Sukaino had already slammed a taxi door, and drove off.

Sasuke sighed, and leaned against the lightpost. It was 9:00.

-&-

"HE'S NOT MY BOYFRIEND!" Rilo screamed…as politely as she could…which was not very polite at all.

The crowd beneath her podium with cameras and flashes sweatdropped.

"Um…then who is he?" A daring reporter asked. Rilo were they again?

"A friend," she stated. "A friend."

-&-

An hour later, slipping under a huge coat she had swiped from the back of someone's chair, Rilo snuck under the tables and quickly dashed out the front door, after grabbing her trench coat from the usher who was staring at her, sparkles in his eyes.

"I LOVE YOU, RILO MIYAKI!" he yelled after her.

Rilo slipped off her heels and ran barefoot down the steps as fast as she could. She was late. She was so, so, so, late.

"Sasuke?" she whispered in the dark.

A soft snore met her ears and she walked a little further to a bench where Sasuke had fallen asleep, sitting up, his chin touching his chest.

Rilo smiled softly and sat down next to him.

Wrapping her coat around her tighter, she twisted around to toss the high heels in the nearby trash can. With a clang, it hit the empty bottom and Sasuke jolted up.

"What? Wha—"

Rilo smiled pleasantly at him.

"Have a nice nap?" she said brightly. Sasuke glared.

"What'd you throw away?"

"Shoes," she said, casually.

Sasuke's eyes popped out.

"SHOES?"

"Shoes."

"But…"

"I hate high heels," Rilo explained as she leaned back, smoothing out her poofy dress.

"Who throws away brand new shoes?!" Sasuke hissed.

Rilo raised an eyebrow.

"I'm not trying to act all rich- but I throw away every pair my manager buys for me. I insist on those cheap ones from Payless, but if she doesn't…"

She made a small clucking sound with her tongue. Sasuke glanced at the trashcan.

"Why not give them to someone?"

"I'm not allowed to," she replied, "someone could sell them for money in my name- which is illegal, and then they'd claim it was my fault in the first place."

"No- I meant, give them to Sukaino."

Rilo looked at him.

"She wears heels?"

"I think every girl besides you wears heels."

"Deal."

Rilo stuck her arm down the trashcan and quickly pulled them back out again.

"That's gross."

"So are you."

"You're late."

"You still owe me for those 42 hours three years ago," Rilo answered, swiftly.

Sasuke was taken aback. They both started walking down the dark streets back home.

"You remember that?"

"Who doesn't?"

"…"

Sasuke laughed shortly.

"Shut up, Rilo."

"Ladies first."

-&-

Whoa! That was really long…well, not really. But still, I went overboard. FOURTEEN pages for one chapter…hehehehehe…

I'm starting to lag on and on with updates…ugh, I'm sorry.