I started this Gaara high school AU back in 2008 when Quizilla was pretty popular and I was a little punk in high school myself, and I've been writing new chapters for My Life ~ A Gaara High School Story up until a month or so ago when this semester became a bit hectic for me and Quizilla decided to shut its doors. Stupid me, I never imported this story to any other site.
It's been six years since the first chapter, which is a pretty long time for a fanfic – at least I'd like to think so. What I have decided to do is post this story here and Archive of Our Own just like my other fics, BUT I will be editing each chapter. Six years is a big period to improve writing, and I'm not that same girl I was back in 10th grade. It will be the same story, the same big points, but with better writing, a new style, new characters.
The thing about fanfiction is that you can only edit so much before you have to post, so this is my chance to edit again and fix some things. I said I want smoother writing because that old stuff is terrible haha So I'm stoked for that.
This story is my baby. It's been with me for so long, and Gaara is my absolute favorite. I have missed writing it because this semester has been crazy and issues with Quizilla made it difficult. So here it is, the first two chapters! The second one should be up in a few minutes! Stay tuned for updates on the Facebook page, and my Tumblr is Melkor-16.
He yawned softly, Icha Icha Violence in hand, neglecting the students scattered throughout the classroom. Kakashi's study hall was where some were trapped. Neji did his homework. Shikamaru snoozed off in the corner. Kiba teased Naruto who then retaliated by launching crumpled balls of notebook paper that he soon realized had actual notes scribbled – Orochimaru's chemistry class to be exact. Sakura flipped through a book, chatting with Ino whenever she grew bored, and a certain red head sat in the back, elbow on the desk, chin in hand, quietly sketching random figures, though he soon stood up and left for the bathroom.
Kakashi loved his study hall. He let them chat and listen to music, and so they behaved in most cases; a nice deal between Sensei and students. They did as they pleased to a certain extent while he lost himself in those books of his, so much so he didn't even notice the girl slip into the classroom three minutes after the final bell sounded. She shuffled to the last row and quietly slid into a desk, praying no one would say anything, and for a while that was the case. She sighed, tiredly rubbing her face.
"Naruto, if you don't stop," Sasuke said, pulling out his headphones, "I'll kill you."
"How about you mind your business, Sasuke."
"It was good while it lasted," Kakashi said, setting down his book. "Don't start. We all know you love each other. Save it."
"Hey!"
"Yeah right."
"Sorry." The sensei smiled with a shake of his head before spotting the guest who desperately wished for invisibility powers. "Oh?" He stood up, tapping his chin before his eyes widened.
"You ok, Sensei?" Naruto asked.
"Most of you are in my Honors English class next period, so even though this is Study Hall, I suppose I can still introduce our new student," he said. The girl stiffened, fists tight. "Why don't you stand up and introduce yourself?"
"Eh…" It took a moment before she moved, and when she did, it was the farthest thing from graceful. She stood up, almost tripping over her feet, nervously rubbing her left arm.
"Don't be shy. We don't bite," Kakashi said. "Your name?"
"Nakamura Katsuko."
"Would you like to share something about yourself?"
"Share?" She scanned the room, all eyes on her, some kind, others already judging the faded black hoodie hugging her shoulders, the purple sneakers with laces that needed to be thrown in the washer, and her vibrant orange hair that shielded eyes just as intense. "I'm a sophomore, and I like to write."
"Anything else? Something interesting?" He smiled warmly. Gaara stepped into the room, back from his bathroom break, and trekked to his seat, eyeing the stranger who sat just one desk away. He sat down quietly, both intrigued and irked. Just who was this girl with tangerine hair, and why the hell had she joined his row? She shook her head, as terrified as a deer in headlights.
"Well, Katsuko, I don't know when you walked in, but because it's your first day, I won't mark you down as late. I take this study hall very seriously." Kakashi held a finger up as he spoke. Naruto snickered in the background, mumbling something along the lines of yeah right.
"H-hai." She lowered into her seat, hitting her knee in the process. She bent over with a muffled cry, noticing Gaara looking her way. She managed weak smile at the boy who sat there with a furrowed brow. She was a mess, and it was too hard to ignore. Katsuko finally settled and soon found herself scribbling in a composition book.
Gaara lost his desire to draw for the rest of Study Hall. The restrooms were already so gross that early in the morning, and now someone had invaded his row, sitting just one seat down at that! Though he shouldn't complain. It could have been Naruto sitting there, leaning over every thirty seconds to crack a joke or tell him to smile because he always looked so scary. Katsuko seemed all right for the time being. He would keep watch, make sure she didn't try anything funny or disrupt his routine. The last thing he needed was trouble and headache.
The bell rang. Students filed out, dreading second period.
"I swear I'll kill you," Sasuke said, and walked past Naruto.
"You say that all the time, and I'm still kickin'!"
"Naruto…" They followed each other out, Katsuko watching the scene unfold, and to be honest she wasn't sure what to think. With a shake of her head, she returned to packing her things but froze at the figure looming over her. She stood up, facing the girl with perfectly parted pink hair.
"I'm Sakura," she said. "You're Katsuko, right?"
"Yes."
"You don't have to be so nervous. It's like Kakashi-sensei said, we don't bite…much at least." She laughed into her palm. Katsuko stared on, not quite sure what to say or do. "So where'd you move from? Is it your first time switching schools?"
"Eh –" She drifted from a small town just east of there, and she had moved from school to school a few times over the years, but she didn't tell Sakura any of that because for one, it was none of her business, and two, she felt strange around her. There was something about her eyes, about that smile she wore that left Katsuko feeling uneasy.
"How about you join me and Ino at lunch after third period? We can chat then."
"Oh – it's no worries. You don't have to invite me –"
"Come on. It's you're first day. Sit with us. I'll introduce you to everyone," Sakura said, determined.
"But –"
"See you then." With that she turned on her heels and skipped off. Gaara, who took his time in packing his things, eyed Katsuko, a bit confused by what he just witnessed. Slinging his bag over his shoulder, he quietly exited the room, wondering if the girl would simply stand there or follow, and sure enough, he heard her soft footsteps.
She stepped into the cafeteria, paper bagged lunch in hand, scanning the rows of tables, some round, others long and rectangular. The lunchroom sat like the many lunchrooms on television; the classes, the social levels, the caste system of high school where the pretty girls in pretty clothes huddled around one table, and the male athletes swarmed another; where band members somehow packed their instruments beneath the table and the nerds, loners, and kids deemed too weird came together.
Katsuko sighed deeply, painfully so. What was she to do? As if the universe enjoyed toying with her, Sakura arrived on cue, placing a hand on the small of her back.
"There you are. We're sitting over there," she said, pointing to the large table back beside the window. Katsuko swallowed hard. Kiba wasn't exactly the most welcoming guy she'd seen. Hinata seemed too occupied by her phone. Ino laughed loudly, partly because her laugh was naturally high in volume and partly because she always sought attention. And Sasuke quietly ate his turkey sandwich, dark eyes shifting towards Katsuko.
"Come on," Sakura said, starting off. Katsuko didn't move. "What is it?"
"Nothing. I just…"
"Why are you being so weird? Ever since first period. I just asked you to sit with us since it's your first day and all."
"I know, I know but –"
"But what? Did I say or do something?"
"No, it's not that –"
"Because now that I think about it, you've been kind of short with me, someone who's just trying to be nice since you're new and look terrified." She placed her hands on her hips with a huff. Katsuko gripped her paper bag tightly, holding it against her chest.
"I didn't mean anything wrong. Besides, I never asked you to do this," she finally said.
"Never asked me to? What's that supposed to mean? I can't be nice?"
"Do you think I'm stupid?" Katsuko loosened the hold on her lunch. "I saw how you looked at me when I first walked in. You and the blonde girl. Someone as popular as you who seems to know everything and everyone, why would you be nice to me? In all the schools I've been to, I'm the weirdo. Do you think I'd just believe you? It's a trick. It has to be."
"I didn't call you weird or a freak, but you're crazy for thinking that. I was just trying to be nice. Sue me."
"Well stop trying."
"Gladly!" Sakura pushed her hair behind her ears. "My fault for giving you a chance. Next time I'll keep my mouth shut since I'm such a terrible person," she said. Katsuko said nothing, only watched her carefully. Sakura shook her head with a roll of her eyes.
"Whatever. I'm around if you decide to drop the paranoia." And she strolled back to her table, without Katsuko, without looking back, without a care. Katsuko on the other hand felt herself unravel, hands shaky, breath even more so. Apparently their little spat attracted more attention that she originally thought, and people stared so long as she stood there. Bowing her head, she dashed out of the lunchroom and straight into the bathroom, locking herself in the large, wheelchair accessible stall, falling against the door with a frustrated cry. As much as she was hurting and as desperate as she was to burst into tears, she couldn't, wouldn't. Not yet at least. Not there in the bathroom where strangers could walk in on her sob fest. She'd wait until she got home, and so she pulled out the peanut butter and jelly sandwich from that crumpled paper bag and proceeded to eat her lunch alone in the girl's bathroom with only the sound of shifting pipes and the haunting vent for company.
Sucking in a deep breath, she dove into the crowded hallways, struggling, wondering where in the hell the art room was. The first bell sounded; the warning bell that signaled class would start in two minutes. She cursed again, and again, and again, and as she was half way through another expletive, fuc, she spotted a familiar head of red; the boy who probably thought her insane after her wild introduction in Study Hall; the boy who just about saved her ass when she noticed him holding an art supply box. Stealing another breath, she raced through the crowd, following him down a long hallway. He entered the room, the last door on the left. Katsuko finally stepped in, almost excited to make some art, but what small smile she wore faded when the girl with pretty pink hair came into view.
The tables were full, all but the one Sakura sat at, her chair turned just enough towards the other table in order to chat with Hinata. Surprisingly enough, Gaara sat at the same table, just the two of them . Katsuko figured the teacher must have assigned seats or moved Sakura because she couldn't keep her mouth shut. She always seemed to be talking now that she thought about it – despite it being only Katsuko's first day there. And as intimidated as she was of approaching the girl, she was still quite thankful for the quiet red head hunched over and doodling in his notebook, his black, buckled boots clinking against the metal legs of the chair.
Katsuko quietly stepped over, slipping into the seat beside Gaara, never looking up until Sakura dropped a comment.
"Now you sit with me?" She turned in her seat to face her. Katsuko opened her mouth to speak, but found herself at a loss for words. What could she say to the suspiciously kind girl who embarrassed her in front of the entire lunchroom for turning her down? What could she say to the girl with pretty, pink hair and narrowed jade eyes, with thin glossed lips twisted in annoyance? Nothing. Katsuko said nothing and only tugged at her sleeves.
"I don't get why you're being so weird about it, Katsuko. It's not like I did anything to you."
"I – I know. I'm just…"
"And you keep coming up with these excuses."
"It's nothing. Just forget it. I don't need you to be nice –"
"Heh, don't make enemies with the wrong crowd. You wouldn't want to deal with that."
"Enemies?" Katsuko sat up, bewildered. "I didn't say anything to make you think that. It's my first day. I'm just trying to survive." One last attempt to get Sakura off her back.
"If you were smart you would have taken the opportunity I gave you. You really don't know how things work around here, do you?"
"Despite it being fourth period, it's still too damn early for this. Shut. Up," Gaara warned, voice sharp, eyes never leaving his paper.
"Oh, it speaks," Sakura said, turning her face with a pout. Katsuko sunk in her chair, a bit embarrassed, but once again thankful for that brooding red head despite him not saying a single word to her.
