Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Year of Change ❯ Chapter 1, Part 4 ( Chapter 4 )

Chapter 1, Part four : Stuck
       
“You know… correct me if I am wrong.. but don't you normally ask the person you want to go out with before you tell everyone else?” Naruto asked while resting his head on the seat in front of Sakura.

 

All three of them were at the back of the bus. Gaara hadn't said anything since Sakura had pronounce that she was going with him… and Sakura had been a bright shade of pink since she sat down. The first thing she had done was apologize, but Gaara was out in his own little world and didn't respond to her.

 

“I know that!” She snapped at him. “I was just… just…”

 

“Na, relax Sakura. I don't think it's that big of a deal, right Gaara?” Naruto turned to look at the red head, but he was still staring out the window. Not for the first time did Sakura wish that he was capable of showing some kind of expression on his face other then frowning and his current blank look. The rest of the ride was quiet. Naruto had turned around in his seat to try and cram what school work he could while he was still on the bus. The bus itself was mostly empty, since not many people stuck around for clubs. It was almost like having their own privet limo… except it was bright yellow with uncomfortable seats.

 

Even when they were off the bus and walking back to their own apartment building, no one said anything. Naruto waved at them and then jogged down the street, chanting a song about ramen as he went. Sakura thought about trying to start up some conversation with Gaara on they way back, but couldn't think of anything that would have sounded like she was trying to make up for the stunt she had done at school. It wasn't till she was at her door and he was about to go up his extra flight of stairs that she finally said something.

 

“Look, I'm sorry. I know that it was wrong, and I shouldn't have used you to try and get out of something.” She wasn't sure if she way happy or worried when he stopped to look at her. “It was just… I panicked. I'm really sorry.”

 

He stared at her for a moment before turning to face her fully. She wasn't sure if she liked that either. “Well, you're stuck now.”

 

She blinked. “Stuck?”

 

“Let me know what you're going to wear so I can get the corsage.” Without another word he turned and went up the stairs. It wasn't till after she heard his front door open and close that she realized what happened.

 

She was going to the Home Coming with Gaara.

 

0o0o0o0o0o0o0

 

The secret to having a therapist was that you couldn't lie to them. Well… you could, but then there was nothing they could do to help you. In short… you had to tell them everything and be honest will all the questions they gave you.  You had to be ready and willing to tell them things that you didn't want to tell someone else. Even your family. Almost like a diary, but you didn't have to worry about if someone found it. And it would give you medication if you said you felt like killing yourself.

 

When Gaara went in for his next monthly appointment with Dr. Hatake and he asked him how he had been since they last saw each other… the crazy day just came tumbling out. The therapist ended up getting him a bottle of water to drink because he had talked himself dry.

 

“Sounds like it was a very big day for you.”

 

“It was a crazy day. Is everyday outside of school like that?” He took a small sip from the bottle.

 

“Only when the planets align the right way.” Kakashi joked. “Yes and no really. You can go for weeks on end with nothing happening at all, and then have one of those crazy days. It happens. And it's normal. It sounds like you dealt with it very well. What did you do when you got home?”

 

“I just… laid down face first in the bed for awhile. Let my brain try to process it.”

 

“Have you had any other encounter with the one boy?”

 

“No, I've made it a point to stay away from him.”

 

“That's probably for the best really.” The white haired man jotted something down on his notepad before intertwining his fingers in his lap.  “While some people are like water, refreshing and energizing, there are some that are like poison for our bodies. This role is normally filled by a female figure; women who were treated badly by their own mothers, but once in awhile you'll get the one man.”

 

“So what should I do?”

 

“What you're doing now. Avoid him and stay with your current friends. Some will tell you that you need to confront him, and while that might be honorable, poising people aren't honorable. I suspect that he also has an alpha male complex.”

 

“What's an alpha male complex?”

 

Dr. Hatake waved one of his hands in front of him, as if trying to fan the words he needed to himself. “It's where has a dominating male presents. In the family, it's the father or a brother. There was one case where it was a grandfather. I am sure you have seen enough TV shows where the younger brother feels pressured because his older brother does so well. That's an Alpha male complex. People with these types of figures feel that they have to fill their shoes, or surpass them even if there isn't a need for it. I had an alpha male complex when I was growing up. It's how I got this.” He pointed to the scar over his eye.

 

“Sounds fun.”

 

“It's not. Anyhow, moving on to something else. What kind of corsage are you going to get?”

 

0o0o0o0o0o0

 

“How about this one?” Hinata asked.

 

She was holding up yet another dress to Sakura. The two of them along with Ino were out at the mall. They had planned a trip to the mall with the goal of finding suitable dresses to wear for the upcoming dance. Ino and Hinata had already found their dresses, but Sakura was the tricky one.

 

“I don't think brown is really a good color…” Sakura said. “It wouldn't clash well with my hair…”

 

All the dresses Hinata had brought were either the wrong cut or color, while Ino had a habit of suggesting the shortest dresses she could find. And while they were all nice… she just couldn't see herself in them.

 

“You have legs, Sakura. You should show them to make up for your lack of other areas.” Ino said after Sakura had turned down yet another one of her suggestions. She's patted her own chest to make her point. Sakura snorted at her, mentally screaming cursed at Ino, and turned to look at another dress rack. So what that her chest wasn't like Hinata's… she wasn't flat chested like some other people.

 

“This would have been easier if the school had decided to not make it formal wear.” She muttered while looking at another dress on the rack. “I have plenty of casual clothes.”

 

“Awww… come on now. This is our chance to dress up like pretty princesses and go to the ball.” Ino said., walking over to her and resting her chin and Sakura's shoulder. “Take advantage of it. Enjoy your decent down the ballroom stairs.”

 

“By ball room, I hope you mean the school gym.” Sakura grumbled.

 

“Spoil sport.” Ino retorted and walked off. “We'll be in the food court when you are done.”

 

“Having a little trouble ma'am?” One of the cashiers has walked over to her.

 

“Well… I am looking for something for the home coming this week, but I can't really find anything that I like too much. It's formal, but I really don't want anything too flashy… or dull…”

 

The woman thought for a moment and looked Sakura over a bit. “Well, what kind of look are you going for? Elegant? Showstopper? Or something that you'll be able to dance in?”

 

Sakura thought for a moment. She couldn't really picture Gaara doing any type of active dancing; other then the slow dances… if that.

 

“I guess… something elegant and simple?”

 

“Any color in mind?”

 

“Red.” The word popped before she could even think about it.

 

The older woman tilted her head to the side. She was silent for a moment while she thought, and then a slow grin crept onto her face and she looked back that Sakura.

 

“We got this new order yesterday. I think there is a dress in there that you might like.” She motioned Sakura to follow her and lead her to the back of the store by the staff door. “Just wait here. I'll go get it. We haven't even opened all the boxes yet, so this may take me a moment.”

 

Sakura nodded and watched as the other woman went into the door. When it closed, she noticed some shawls on display and walked over to look at them. She was inspecting a black one with little red bamboo leaves on it when the door opened again.

 

“Here, try this on. I think this one is your size.” The woman said, handing the bundle to Sakura.

 

The dress was still wrapped in paper, but it was thin enough that she could see that it was red. Going over to one of the dressing rooms, Sakrua went inside. Unwrapping the paper covering it, she held up the dress for inspection.

 

It was simple…

 

It was red…

 

…and that bust-line was kind of low…

 

`Well… it can't hurt to try it on…' She thought. Once she had the dress on, she turned this way and that while looking in the mirror. The cashier has a good eye. The dress fit her perfectly. While the bust-line on the halter top part of the dress was short, it did a very nice job of defining what she had. The dress hugged her waist and then flared out at her hips, but dragged a little on the ground.

 

`I'll have to wear heels.' She mused. She turned back and forth a few more times, did a little walk, and made up her mind. When she had changed back into her clothes, she walked over to the cashier.

 

“I'll take it.”

 

`I wonder if it's this hard for guys to get nice clothes…' Sakura thought while handing over the money. She took her bag and went to meet Ino and Hinata.

 

0o0o0o0o0o0o0

“Do I really have to do this?” Gaara asked his brother. He was looking at the store in front of him and was wishing that he was back home already.

 

“Do you have a spare tux lying around?”

 

“…no.”

 

“Then we have to do it. It's not that bad. These kind of things are pretty quick. At least last I went. Come on.” Gaara sighed and followed his brother inside the store.

 

Gaara still remembered the stunned look on his brother and sister's face when he had sat down at the table that morning and announced that he would be going to the dance and was in need of something to wear. Most of Gaara's clothes were… well, he had nothing formal. Or even formal casual.

 

“Tuxes cost money you know…” Temari had said.

 

“Not as much if we rent it. Besides… I think an occasion like this calls that we dip a little bit into the trust fund. ” Kankuro had said around a mouth full of food. “I think that there is a place down town that we can go to. We can head out there after breakfast if you want. I'm sure they'll be open by then.”

 

Course when he was went in, Gaara didn't have an idea that there were so many different types of suits. It seems that different suits were used for different occasions. You had the wedding suit, the prom suit, the business suit… and then there was the domestic partnership suit. Those had a wider selection of colors.

 

Kankuro set his brother the task of finding a waist coat he liked. “Even though you are going in a tux,” He said, “almost 90 percent of the time you end up taking off the jacket because it's too hot to walk around in. The vest keeps people from seeing you sweat most of the time.”

 

`They need to teach this stuff in school…' Gaara thought as he held up two different tux vests. He ended up picking the dark red one. Afterwards he tried on two pairs of shoes and then the full suit before they walked out of the store. Gaara ended up switching the white shirt for a black one, causing his brother to say that he looked like someone from a gangster movie.

 

“Well, that's it.” Kankuro said when they left the store. Gaara held his shoes in one hand, while carrying the suit in it's garment bag in the other. “Wasn't so bad, was it?”

 

“I'll order it online next time…”

 

0o0o0o0o0

 

Gaara surprised Sakura again the following Monday when she sat down next to her in their English class and dropped one of the homecoming tickets on her desk.

 

“I hope you don't mind…” He said after a moment. “But I really don't want to go to the game. Not really a sports fan.”

 

“Ah, no. It's ok. I don't really like watching them myself either. Not as much fun. I like to play, not watch.” She gave him a small smile. He only nodded and took out his notebook. She narrowed her eyes at him for a moment, and leaned in. He froze when her hand reached out and brushed his bangs from his forehead.

 

“Is that… a tattoo?” She asked, looking at the mark on his forehead. She couldn't believe that she hadn't noticed it till now. All those mornings he stood next to her, days when he sat next to her in class and she had never seen it.

 

His face blushed slightly and he gently moved her hand away so he could straighten out his bangs. “Yeah. I got it a long time ago.” He turned away form her and busied himself with looking for something in his bag till the teacher came in and class started.

 

`I shouldn't have touched him… I don't think he likes it…' Sakura thought while the teacher lectured on. `He tensed up when I touched his arm last week too.'

 

`… due to domestic issues…'

 

She took a peak at him from the corner of her eye. He had the frown on his forehead again. She noticed that whenever he was thinking about something, he was normally frowning.

 

What was he thinking about? Was he thinking about how she had just abruptly touched him without asking? Or maybe he was regretting this whole going to the dance thing. He certainly didn't seem very pleased about it… actually… he didn't seemed like anything. It was starting to frustrate her to no end. She wanted to rip his mask off and have him show expression like the rest of the world. She wanted some kind of hint as to what was going on in his head.

 

I think he'll warm up to us!

 

That's what Naruto had said. Sakura took a deep breath. Maybe Gaara was just shy like Hinata, but where she would blush and turn her head away, Gaara must have… closed himself off. He also didn't seem very used to people…

 

`I'll wait then… I'll wait till he warms up to us… and maybe then he won't seem like such an enigma to me. I'll wait because… I want to be his friend too.'

 

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

 

He had been staring at the back of her head while the class was waiting for the teacher to arrive.  He had done so in the last class as well, although unlike her, he hadn't been caught and made fun of by the teacher. Why was he looking at her? He wasn't really sure. The one question that Dr. Haratu has asked kept flittering about his mind.

 

“So how does she `bother' you?”

 

Well… that was the thing. She didn't. Not in the way that Naruto did. Naruto `bothered' him because he was always reaching out to him. Always talking to him. Always trying… to be his friend. Sakura `bothered' him because, unknowing to her, she was making him want to reach out to her. While they shared so many classes together, the two of them never really talked. The most that they had ever said to each other was on that one night when she had apologized for using him to get Lee to leave her alone. Not that he minded though.

 

No, he didn't mind at all.

 

He remembered the small shiver that had gone up his back when she had touched him and said what she had. Or earlier that day when she had moved her desk closer to his so she could share her book… and that she was close enough that he'd been able to smell her perfume. When she touched his forehead earlier, he enjoyed the feel of her warm fingers.

 

At the same time though… it was happening too fast. He wasn't ready for this. Not mentally or physically. A part of him wanted to go home and lock the door and stay there till he was able to fingered out his thoughts and feelings.

 

Besides… She didn't really seem all that keen on him.

 

 

 0o0o0o0o0o0

 

 

NA:

 

Sorry that this is a little short… tis my birthday and I didn't get as much time as I thought I would on this today. I don't know if I will be able to past Part 5 tomorrow, but I will work on it and post in Saturday for sure.

 

Anyhow, Enjoy.