Author's Ramblings

Lately, I've had a couple of random ideas floating around my head, and they're all too short to make into a decent sized ficcy. So I decided to make a series of one shots, focusing on the Luffy/Nami pairing. Some will be 100 words drabbles, some longer.

Most of them will take place in an AU. In this AU, Nami and Luffy have been neighbors for years, and currently attend the same high school. They're in the same grade too, just to make it convenient. I might throw other random pairings in, depending on what the plot bunnies decide to run through my brain.

I own nothing, except possibly my plots. Though, someone probably came up with stuff like this before I did. If this is similar to any other fanfiction you've read, please tell me. I don't want someone to come hunt me down because of "plagiarism." And the rating is for profanity, and possible topics in the future that deal with more mature subject matter.

Enjoy!

P.S. Constructive criticism is much appreciated, I'd love to improve my writing, or fix mistakes. But flames will be used to make s'mores for Luffy. :D

End Author Ramblings

"God! Where is the damn bus?"

Nami glared at her watch and tapped her foot faster. To her intense joy, rain had greeted her upon her leaving work, and now the bus was taking its sweet time. Not to mention that this flimsy bus shelter was getting on her last nerve. She glared at an offending puddle that was slowly inching its way across the bench towards her.

A few more minutes passed, when the screech of tires garnered her attention, and a bright red car slid to a halt in front of her. She stared as the front passenger window rolled down, and grinning back at her was her hyperactive neighbor.

"C'mon Nami, hop in! Quick!"

Wasting no time, the orange hair teen snatched up her purse and sprinted to the car. Yanking open the back passenger door, she saw a blond teen moving over to make room for her. She dove for cover as the rain poured even harder, and almost before the door shut behind her, the car took off. She flew into the blond boy, who smelled faintly of cigarettes. He caught her by her shoulders and held her in place as the car swung a sharp left turn.

"Hey, watch it lettuce head! You're going to kill us all!"

"Shut up dartboard. You're too damn stubborn to die that easily."

As the insults continued to fly, Nami snapped her seatbelt on and leaned against the leather headrest. Luffy turned in his seat, grin still plastered to his face.

"Hey, Nami! I want you to meet my friends, Zoro and Sanji!"

He pointed first to the green haired driver, who nodded his response, and then to the blond, who gave a two-fingered salute and grinned.

"It's so nice to finally meet you, Miss... Nami, was it? Luffy's mentioned you before, but I wasn't aware that you were such a lovely lady."

Nami blinked and smiled hesitantly.

"Oi, love-cook, quit flirting."

"What did you call me, you directionally challenged vegetable?!"

The verbal abuse started again, and Nami just smiled.

"Nice weather we're having, right Luffy?"

He made a face, and shook his head.

Nami just laughed and held on for dear life, as the bright red car sped around yet another curve, and hurtled towards its destination.