"What a blank society." A red head mumbled to himself as he reached into his pocket and pulled out his cellphone. It was one in the morning, raining, and quite frankly cold as hell. He was walking home as usual, from the hangout him and his friends go to every night. Sasuke had to drive a very drunk Naruto home, along with Neji who he didn't really like all that much.

Sigh. What kind of idiot friends did he hang out with anyway? Sasuke is the dark, emo guy that every girl throw themselves to. Naruto was a knucklehead, who never gave up no matter what anyone said or did. Neji was just a destiny obsessed asshole who couldn't keep rude comments to himself.

Then that left Gaara. Where did he stand in with the group? He was an insomniac who loved bloodshed. Half the school was scared shitless of him, which he loved to enjoy. But he sure as hell was lonely. Sasuke had once asked, no begged, him to take one of his fangirls off of his hands. Like that Ino Yamanaka girl or Sakura Haruno. Gaara was not going to deal with that!

So that meant he would rather be the loner he was. Even though he did have a damn stalker, her name being Matsuri. She wasn't bad, but she would not leave him alone and it got on his last nerves. Gaara was once even thinking of killing the girl. But Temari said no, damn her...

Gaara had called up his sister, hoping she would answer and pick him up. His house was thirty miles north and there was no way in hell he could make it before school. Voicemail. The red head growled and almost lost his balance on the sidewalk as he glared at his phone. "Dammit Temari! I am on the street near the Ramen stand, it's cold and raining. I will not make it so it's your fault." He slammed the phone shut and started to walk once more.

Like he even gave a damn about school. All the teachers were lazy, boring and downright stupid! All he wanted to do was get the hell out of Konoha and go to Suna! Gaara liked the sand, so that would be the perfect place to live. His lips actually curved up into a smile as he lazily dreamed about it. Until the cold, sharp rain started to fall down onto him harder.

He mumbled a 'shit' before grabbing his coat and using it as a shield. Soon enough a bus bench came into view and would be the perfect spot to sit before he got soaked worse. Gaara started to run to get there in time and so he did. Sitting down, his feet never felt better. For the first time he had actually began to relax. He was always so tense.

That is, until a crying girl sat down beside him. He suddenly felt awkward and uncomfortable while he heard the girl cry. AND CRY. Damn, it took thirty minutes to pass before he looked at her but was shocked with the sight. It was Sakura. What the hell was she doing out there at this hour? In a dress none the less?

Her red dress clung to her tightly since she was soaked and all. She looked cold, tired and very depressed. Gaara didn't know what to do, not even when his own sister came home crying. He tapped her shoulder and she snapped her eyes up. They are all puffy and red, meanwhile her mascara was running down her pale cheeks. She would have looked pretty if she wasn't crying...

Gaara took off his leather jacket and did the unthinkable, he laid it upon her shoulders. Sakura had stopped crying and her eyes widened, since she was surprised at what he did. Gaara wasn't nice, he wasn't sympathetic... maybe he felt her pain. Or loneliness at that moment. A small smile appeared on her face as she wiped her tears away.

"Why are you out here crying?" Gaara asked, folding his arms across his chest. The cherry girl, he liked to call her, just stared at him like he didn't say anything. Suddenly, she looked away and began to speak. "I was with Ino... she said she set me up with Sasuke.. I think.. and when I went it was all a lie.. My best friend tricked me..." A small scowl escaped his throat. He hated people like that, always wanting something for themselves.

Sakura just took off his jacket and handed it back to the red head. "I'm going to call.. Lee.. no wait.. I mean.." She trailed off, does she even know what she was saying? Gaara sighed and put the coat back onto her shoulders, growling when she tried to take it off again.

Bringing out his cell, Gaara was going to try and call Temari again. Hopefully she'll answer and give them both a ride. But at the same time, he was trying to figure out why the hell he was being so nice. Yes, she finally answered! "You are an idiot! Why didn't you just drive?" Temari yelled in his ear, which made Gaara hold the phone away.

"Temari listen. I am at the bus bench now.. and well Sakura is with me. We need you to pick us up." Hearing a growl, she had went silent for a couple of minutes. "Fine fine." With that, she hung up. He rolled his eyes and looked over to Sakura who was once crying again. What the hell was with this girl anyway? Did something else happen? "What else happened?"

She shook her head and started trembling which made him even more suspicious. But what did he care? She was just a fangirl who got picked on, why was he giving a damn? Gaara groaned and rubbed his temples. What a frustrating night, he already has a headache! What ever happened to a Gaara who didn't care for girls who cried their heart out?

"They.. said they were going to post an embarrassing photo of me... so Sasuke-kun would never like me.. and I can't remember.. what else..." That's when Gaara lost his temper. He has had it with every girl obsessing over Sasuke like he was a piece of damn meat! Even his sister at one point fell for the bullshit, until she said 'fuck you' and went after Shikamaru Nara.

With a heavy sigh, he looked at Sakura and pulled her for a hug. It was awkward, since it was his first one. Just to get her to shut up! Cherry didn't even have a time to give it back before he pulled away. A weak smile appeared upon her face, when he turned all the way around until Temari came. He sat quiet the whole ride, stealing a few glances at Sakura.

Once they reached her home, Sakura hurried out and waved goodbye. Not even giving Gaara the chance to get his coat back. Temari just smirked and drove away.

O O O

The next day in school, everyone was giving him hell once Sakura returned his leather coat. It was clean and smelled just like her. He heard a few remarks from Ami, Ino, and Karin which also pissed him off. "Sakura has a new boyfriend.. isn't he the killer guy? We should get Sasuke-kun to kick his ass. Since it is her fault for being such a big baby!" Gaara could have strangled them all.

Sasuke chuckled and looked back at him, his supposed friend even made fun of him. "Sabaku has grown soft." Gaara had lost it right then and there, grabbing him by the throat. Good thing no teachers or anything were standing by. If he got suspended again...

"I am not her boyfriend. I am not your friend and I have not grown soft." Trailing off, the very pissed off 'killer' looked toward the three girls who were staring in shock. "If anyone says anything else to me or Sakura of the matter, I WILL RIP OUT YOUR HEART AND MAKE YOUR FRIENDS EAT IT!" With that, he let the Uchiha go, who had gasped for air, and stormed out of the classroom.

No one had said another word except for Naruto who just whistled and clapped at the show. "HELL YES SOMEONE TOLD YOU OFF TEME!" Sasuke just rolled his eyes and turned away from the crowd who just stood in awe at what happened. Sakura has never felt so scared in her life. Did anyone else notice the sudden change in his eye color?

Once Gaara had calmed down and returned to class, everyone kept their distance. Even Sakura, who wanted to thank him for standing up for her. Well he didn't technically stand up for her, but that's how she felt. Now everyone left her alone too.

Kakashi had gone lecturing the class about some book called, "Romeo and Juliet." Something half the class was not interested in. When he was done, he shook them off and went to reading his Icha Icha Paradise crap. To Gaara, it was really a load of shit in pages. What him and Jiraiya saw in that, he did not know. Or maybe he didn't really want to.

"Thank you." He turned his head and saw Sakura, while her emerald eyes sparkling. They had a sense of happiness, excitement, and sadness in them. With a nod, he turned away once again until he had felt her hand on his shoulder. It sent a shock through him. What the hell was that? He shook his head and pried her hands off of him. Why did she touch Gaara to begin with?

Sakura had left his side and rejoined her friends. Hinata and Tenten, who seemed to have a good time. He never really talked to them much, since he found the Hyuga annoying. Tenten was just too much of a tomboy, although she did like weapons.

Looking up, Gaara had saw the three of his friends staring at him. Well at least two anyway, Sasuke was no longer one he could call a friend. Neji was smirking, Naruto was smiling like an idiot, and well Sasuke was just plain glaring. "Hey Gaara. Neji and I have a date with those two fine girls over there." He said, pointing toward Hyuga and Tenten.

Did she even have a last name? Gaara doesn't recall on ever hearing it.. He shrugged. Why would he care? "We also set you up with Sakura. She doesn't know she's going out yet." A low growl came from the sand user. "I don't think so." With that, he turned away and wasn't going to press on the matter. But Naruto had other plans. He kept whining and whining. "DAMN FINE!"

The bubbly blond smiled in victory, meanwhile Neji just nodded gracefully at Gaara. He had a feeling it was going to be a bad night.