Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Year of Change ❯ Settling In ( Chapter 2 )

Disclaimer: I had a wonderful dream last night! I dreamed that I owned Naruto! It was wonderful! And you were there, and you, and so were you!! …and then I woke up and realized that I really didn't own Naruto… or the cast… but at least the story is mine!!

 

Chapter 2: Settling In.

 

Gaara knew that this moment would come. He hadn't really been putting it off… just not looking forward to it. He never liked coming to places like this and having his brain examined. A week into school and he had to go. He knew he had to go… he just didn't like having to get to know a whole new therapist.

 

This waiting room was like the others that he had sat in the past. The lighting here was kinder though. Mood lighting his brother had called it. He liked it. It was better then the nice looking facilities with the bright florescent lighting that made you feel like you were being interrogated. Like there was no where to hide and that you were exposed. With this lighting he felt safer… more relaxed…

 

A man with white messy hair that stuck out to one side walked into the room holding a clip board. Gaara was a little surprise my his appearance. Despite his white hair, he was actually very young looking, tall and lean. His most striking feature, other then his hair, was one of his eyes. The one on the right was closed with a scar starting above the eyebrow and ended mid-cheek.

 

The man looked over the clip board with his good eye before looking up at the room. “Mr. Sabaku?” He wasn't able to move his mount the word very well, so it came out sounding like `Sab-koo.'

 

“I'll wait for you down here.” His brother said, getting comfortable in his chair and giving him the thumbs up. Gaara nodded at him before getting up and walking over to the white haired man. The latter held out his hand to Gaara.

 

“My Name is Dr. Hatake. I'll be your therapist.”

Gaara stared at his hand for a moment before taking it and giving a small shake. Dr. Hatake smiled at him and lead up out of the room and up the stairs by the waiting room.

 

“You were going to have a different therapist, but because of the nature of your case, you'll be with me.” He opened the door to his office and waited for Gaara to go inside first. “I hope that doesn't bother you.”

 

“You're the first male therapist I've had.” Gaara said while looking around the room. The white haired man pointed to the chair that he was supposed to sit in. Looking around, the room was very… round…

 

“Manager's idea. He thinks that straight lines and corners should be avoided.” Dr. Hatake said, noticing his inspection of the room. “He also thinks that we should personalize out rooms, but isn't very found of my way.” By that, he was indicating the wide poster above his desk that said “I am not bound to please thee with my answers.”

 

“Shakespeare…” Gaara said softly after reading it and taking his seat.

 

“Good eye. Are you a fan?” The therapist said taking his own seat and picking up a large yellow pad of paper. He set it on his lap and pulled the pen out of his shirt pocket.

 

“My sister is. A “Court of Justice” is her favorite. I haven't read anything else of his besides `Macbeth' and `Romo and Juilet.'”

 

“I'm not a fan either; I just like this particular quote of his.” He readjusted himself in his seat before moving onto business. “I already looked at your file, so I don't think we need to busy ourselves too much about why you are here, unless you want too.” He looked at Gaara, who didn't say anything, and went on. “So we'll just move forward then. So, Let's get started… How are you feeling?”

 

Gaara hated that question.

 

“Ok… I suppose.”

 

“'Suppose?'” The white haired man rested his elbow on the armrest.

 

“It's new here. I kind of like it. I don't have to deal with the looks and whispers. At the same time though… I am still…” Gaara stopped, not sure what word he should be using.

 

“Lonely?”

 

“A little I suppose.”

 

“You're in your last year of high school. It'll be lonely since you don't know anyone. Have you met anyone yet?”

 

“Kind of… People here are different.”

 

“How so?” He took his pen and started to write on his pad of paper.

 

“Well… Friendlier I suppose. The people down stairs gave us some food the day we moved in. And then there was another kid at the bus stop who apologized to me for giving me some funning looks at the bus stop that morning. After that… he eat with me at lunch…”

 

“Do you still talk to him?”

 

“No… I eat outside now… on the school roof.”

 

Dr. Hatake raised an eyebrow. “Why is that?”

 

“I'm not use to it… I still see him in the morning, but… he unnerves me. He's kind of hard to ignore. I notice that he kind of makes it a point to come and find me and talk to me for a while… I saw him jump from some stairs to ask me how my day was once.”

 

“Sounds charming.”

 

“It's annoying.”

 

The other man chuckled. “It sounds like he wants to be you're friend.”

 

“There are hundred of other kids at the school he can be friends with.” Gaara said simply.

 

“There are some traits,” The doctor popped the knuckles one hand and then the other, “in people that we look for without knowing it. It might be possible that the harder you try not to be his friend, the harder he'll try to do just that.”

 

“So… you're saying I should…”

 

“What I am saying,” The doctor cut in, “is that it would be better for you to have some kind of social interaction with someone besides your family. You can't avoid people forever, and it would be best for you to try and learn how to deal with them now, rather then later. Besides,” He leaned back in his chair. “You can always tell him to fuck off if he bother's you that much. But… It's a safe bet to say that you haven't done so yet though, right?”

 

“…no.”

 

“Then it wouldn't hurt to give is try.”

 

“… I suppose...”

 

“You might even like it. Anyone else bothering you?”

 

“Not really. There is this one girl that I have class with… I stand with her at the bus stop as well.”

 

“Is she cute?”

 

Gaara was caught off guard by the question so much that he blinked hard at the man. He opened and closed his mouth twice before finally saying, “Does it matter?”

 

“I was just curious.” He grinned at Gaara

 

“I suppose she is… pleasant looking.”

 

Hatake jotted something down, “So how does she `bother' you?”

 

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

 

“I think he'll warm up to us!” Naruto said the next morning after slurping down his morning cup of ramen.

 

“I don't know…” Sakura said, readjusting the strap on her backpack. “You can't teach a dog new tricks.”

 

“He's a person, Sakura, not a dog.”

 

“You know what I meant.” She retorted, poking him in the ribs. She turned to look over her shoulder to see him rounding the corner. She had spent the last week trying to figure out what was so interesting about him, but hadn't been able to come up with anything… or maybe the list was just too long…

 

He was munching on his morning bagel, blue berry by the looks of it, and she noticed that he was frowning. When he finally made it over to them, he stared at them hard. Since both of them where used to him standing a ways off and doing his own thing, this was new… very new….

 

“Good morning.”

 

There was a slight pause before Naruto piped in.

 

“Morning! How was your weekend?”

 

“Quiet.”

 

He turned to stand next to them while they waited for the bus. He finished eating his food while looking at the watch on his arm. Sakura turned to look at Naruto who mouthed “I told you so”, resulting in her poking him again.

 

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

 

“So,” Ino asked as she caught up with Sakura in the hallway. “Who are you taking?”

 

“Hun?”

 

“The Home Coming. Who are you taking?”

 

“Oh…” They reached her locker and Sakura fiddled with the lock while she thought. “I don't know… I was thinking I might just stay home that night.”

 

“Don't be such a prune!” Ino leaned on the locker next to hers and looked at her closely. “You're not thinking of asking Sasuke, are you?”

 

“No, I learned my lesson last time. Besides, I would need an army of barbarians to get though the swarm of girls around him.” She said in good humor.

 

“Well, don't put it off too long. You know how hard it is to get a date when the clock is ticking.”

 

“You and I can always go together if it comes down to it.” Sakura said, pulling out the book she needed.

 

“I would, but I already have a date.”

 

Sakura blinked and stared at her friend. “Who?”

 

The warning bell for next period went off. “I'll tell ya later.” Ino said before she rushed off for the stairs. Sakura quickly made her way down the hall for her own class, jumping in her seat just in time. Still panting slightly, she set her text and note book on the desk.

 

It didn't matter how hard she tried to pay attention though. Her mind kept drifting off.

 

`Home Coming… I hadn't even thought about. I only went last time because Ino dragged me with her. I don't even know who I would ask… I could ask Naruto…' As soon as that thought popped in her head, she dismissed it. `He's nice, but he's more like my brother… and I won't ask Sasuke again…'

 

Something popped red in the corner of her eye and she turned her head. Gaara was sitting by the window, taking notes while looking up at the white board.

 

“What do you think, Ms Haruno?” The teacher's voice was suddenly in front of her. She tensed and looked to see that he was indeed right in front of her… and not amused.

 

“Excuse me?” She asked in a small voice.

 

“I was asking what first line in the book I assigned you meant, but seeing how you are paying more attention to the boys in my class then my actual teachings, I'll ask someone else.”

 

Sakura could have put a fire hydrant to shame with the color of red her face turned. She suddenly felt like hiding her face in her book and shank in her desk as some of the giggle floated around class.

 

“Try to may more attention.”

 

“Yes, sir.” Was her muffled reply from behind her book, resulting in more giggles. As the teacher resumed his lesson, Sakura put her book down and did nothing but take notes for the remainder of the period. If she'd hadn't been, then she might have noticed the curious look she was getting from Gaara before he too returned to his note taking.

 

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

 

“Who asked you?!” Sakura asked, amazed.

 

Naruto scratched the back of his head while looking at her sheepishly. “Yeah, I didn't believe it at first. I couldn't hear her at first and she I asked her to speak up she almost yelled “Go to the Home Coming with me.” I couldn't really say no while everyone in the hall was staring at her.”

 

Sakura had an idea that Hinata Hyuga had a crush on Naruto, but she never thought that the girl would ever be able to muster up the courage to actually ask him out.

 

“So you're really going to go with her?” Sakura asked

 

“Well… yeah… I can't really say no… not after everyone laughed at her…”

 

“Can I sit here?” A soft voice said.

 

Both Naruto and Sakura looked up to see Gaara holding his tray of food and looking at them. Naruto gave Sakura another grin before taking a chair from another table and sliding it over between them.

 

“Help yourself.” He grinned up at Gaara.

 

NA:

I made another update… I worked on this a little bit at work and some at home. I have this new toy that reads what I type. Rather useful for proof reading. I like it a lot.

 

More to come soon ^_^