"What do you mean the dojo will be closed?!" Lee cried and Guy sighed and sent a side-look to Kakashi.
"I know you're upset, Lee. We are too. But there's really no money coming in right now. We have to focus on our full time jobs." Lee gave them a thoughtful look.
"What if I get a job too? Then I can help!" He said excitedly and Guy laughed.
"Lee, you're only 17 years old. You don't need to be worrying about paying our bills. Enjoy school." Lee frowned at him.
"But dad, I am at the dojo all the time anyway. It is not like I do much besides that. I can take that time and apply it to a job. Please, let me." Guy and Kakashi sighed deeply.
"Fine. Lee I know you're one to not give up, but I would rather you do well in school than make money right now. If you find yourself too distracted to keep up your grades, you're going to stop working." Guy said sternly and Lee's face broke out into a grin.
"I will not let you down, dad! Thank you so much!" Lee hugged Guy and Kakashi together and ran out of the room happily.
"What do you suppose his job will be? He has no experience." Kakashi asked and Guy sighed and shrugged.
"Hell if I know. That'll keep him busy for a while anyway." Kakashi agreed.
"Hey Bushy-brow, what's up?" Lee turned to face Naruto and gave him a simple nod.
"Hello Naruto. How have you been?"
"Well, I can't really complain, other than Sasuke being a total dick." Lee smiled at that. Him and Naruto were always arguing about something, it was hard to believe they were still friends.
"When is he not?" Lee countered and Naruto grinned at him for agreeing.
"Hey, what's all that?" Naruto asked and picked up the papers without permission. Lee didn't even try to grab them back. It wouldn't do him any good, anyway.
"I am applying for a job." Lee said proudly.
"Why?" Oh. Naruto must not know yet.
"Guy and Kakashi's dojo is being shut down at the end of the month. There's no money for it right now. Rent is too high. Not enough students." Naruto cried out in anguish.
"What?! No! Not the dojo! What am I going to do now? How do I kick Sasuke's ass for absolutely no reason now!?" Naruto cried.
"Well you didn't before so..." Naruto whirled around and frowned at Sasuke's comment.
"Oh ha-ha." He crossed his arms grumpily.
"What are you two talking about kicking my ass for, anyway?" Sasuke asked and opened his locker. It was only 5 away from Lee.
"The dojo is being shut down! How have you not heard!?" Naruto yelled with authority, like he hadn't found out about it literally 30 seconds prior.
"What?" Sasuke looked surprised and then kind of sad. "How the hell am I going to kick Naruto's ass for no reason now?"
"Exactly. Which is why I'm finding a job!" Lee said importantly and Sasuke looked down at the papers Naruto was still holding.
"You applied for Babies-R-Us?" Lee's face colored and he snatched the papers away.
"Anything will work." Sasuke smirked.
"Hey I have an idea! We could help raise money too! It could be like a fundraiser or something! There are a lot of people that count on that dojo! We could raise the money!" Naruto said excitedly and Sasuke perked his brow.
"Speak for yourself, nerd." Naruto ignored him easily and Lee's eyes filled with tears. Oh the joys of youthful friendship!
"Naruto! That is so kind of you to offer!" He hugged Naruto and Naruto tried vehemently to shove him off but he wasn't getting out of that cuddle fest. Sasuke smirked at them and Naruto glowered at Sasuke.
"Don't even. I'll have him hug you too." Naruto threatened and Sasuke rolled his eyes and pulled out his books.
"Whatever losers. I'll see you later." Sasuke slammed his locker shut and walked down the hallway.
Lee laughed and closed his own locker.
"I will see you second period, Naruto." He waved and Naruto waved back going the opposite direction. Lee started to speed up before turning back around and slammed into someone else, their books scattering across the hallway. "Oh my goodness! I am terribly sorry!" Lee cried out embarrassed.
It was the red-headed kid. He transferred last month and Lee never really talked to him. He was a grade below Lee. He stared up at Lee with his piercing aquamarine eyes and it send shivers down Lee's spine.
"Hello. My name is Rock Lee. I am so sorry about that." Lee quickly gathered the other boy's things before his own and handed them to him. "I was not looking and I should have been. I hope you can forgive me." He nodded. "I do not believe we have ever met. What is your name?"
"...Gaara." Gaara said quietly and a grin broke out on Lee's face. He was very happy at the introduction.
"Gaara. I have never heard that name before. It is lovely." Lee blushed at the weird statement. He hoped he didn't weird the boy out too much.
"...Thank you." Gaara perked his brow and Lee was completely flustered. There was something about this Gaara guy that just made him nervous.
"I really hope I get to talk to you again! I must go to class now. Goodbye Gaara!" Lee gathered his own things and with a smile, went on his way.
After a week of skimming through job applications and sending them in, Lee wasn't feeling very hopeful. No one called back yet and he was progressively getting more depressed. His dad and Kakashi would have to work even harder to reopen the dojo if he couldn't get a job! This was so frustrating!
At dinner, Guy noticed the look of despair on his son's face and couldn't help but chuckle.
"What's so funny?" Kakashi asked and Guy shook his head.
"Just the fact that Lee is so hell bent on finding a job. Son, if you can't find one, it's okay. These are some tough times. As I'm sure you've noticed." Lee frowned and continued to poke his food around.
"What about that new café that opened?" Kakashi offered and Lee glanced up curiously. "The one across the street from the school? Just Deserts I think it's called." Lee's eyes lit up. That would be perfect! He wouldn't have to walk far to get to school either.
Lee hopped up from his seat and ran upstairs, leaving most of his food still on the plate. Guy looked at Kakashi and shook his head. Kakashi couldn't help the smirk on his face.
"You couldn't wait until after dinner?" Kakashi chuckled.
"Wasn't like he was eating anything anyway." Guy frowned but internally agreed.
Lee was disheartened when he went online and saw that the bakery was closed but he didn't let that bring him down. He would go in right before school started and apply! Hopefully they would see that as dedication and not desperation... Well if they hired on desperation then maybe he would fare better that way.
Lee shuffled through his clothes for a while trying to find a nice outfit for school the next day. One that he could proudly apply for a job in. And hopefully get said job. He really hoped it would work. Once he picked out the perfect outfit, he smiled proudly and started to get ready for bed. He was so excited for the next day that he could barely fall asleep.
The next morning, Lee woke up a half an hour earlier than normal and rushed to get ready. He showerd, shaved, brushed his teeth, got dressed, all in record time.
Guy was the only one downstairs and he had coffee ready. Lee didn't particularly like coffee but he felt that today was as good of day as any to drink some.
It was terrible.
"Would you like me to drive you in? Wouldn't want to ruin your clothes." Guy winked and Lee smiled happily. He was glad that his clothes looked well enough that his dad knew he was dressing up. He only wore black jeans and a green polo, but still, it was nicer than the usual workout clothes he wore all the time. The only reason he did that though was because he was always running to and from school and during his study hall he was in the weight room working out. Not today.
"That would be so nice of you. Thank you, dad." Guy nodded and grabbed the keys and they headed out.
The drive wasn't very long, it was only two miles away from their house, still, Lee's nerves were on edge. He knew that the café opened at 5am so they were already opened and he didn't have to worry about that. But what if it was a bad time and they got so mad at him they didn't give him the job?
Lee knew he was working himself up but the only job he ever had was at the dojo and he didn't even get paid for that one. He did it because he loved it. He learned from his father and Kakashi, for free, so he taught the younger kids for them. He was grateful for that job. He was certain whatever the job he had at Just Deserts wouldn't be nearly as enjoyable as the dojo.
Guy pulled into the parking lot and it was pretty empty since it was only 5:45am. Lee was thankful for that at least. He hoped that whomever was in charge of hiring was there right now or this would all be for naught. Lee swallowed hard and took himself into the café.
It was actually a really cozy place. The walls were wood paneling and the floor was glazed wood and had a few tactful throw rugs. There were some small tables strewn throughout the layout and couches and recliners were nestled in the corners. The bar (why was there a bar anyway?) was long and wooden and it had a large shiny stainless steel espresso machine. There was a specials board of different drinks and all on the counters on the opposite side of the bar had different breakfast pastries. The bar had seating and behind the bar had different coffee, tea blends, and flavored syrup displayed out for the customers to see. There were two TVs, each on opposite ends of the bar.
Lee read the specials board and understood why the café which had a whole coffee sections was called Just Deserts. All of the drinks names were angry sounding and had vague mentioning of revenge movies. Like:
The Punisher: Cup of coffee with 2 shots of espresso. You'll probably regret this later
Mad Max: Americano with 3 shots of espresso and some of our special sweetened condensed milk concentration. If the caffeine wont wake you, the sugar sure will #WATER
Desperado: 4 shots of espresso. Are you studying for finals?
Lee grinned at the humor of the huge list of drinks and a second later, an older girl (probably in her early 20's) met him at the bar.
"What can I get for you?" She asked and Lee stuttered. He was so nervous.
"Yes. I. Um, hi. I was wondering if you were hiring? Perhaps? Maybe?" Lee's hands were fidgeting together and the woman raised her eyebrow.
"What is your name?" She asked and Lee's face reddened.
"Oh gosh I am so sorry. I forgot to introduce myself. Hello, my name is Rock Lee. I go to school across the street and I was trying to find a job. I was hoping you were hiring. What is your name?" The woman smirked at him. He was so funny being so nervous.
"My name is Temari. What is your work history?"
"My work history? Well, I worked in my father's dojo. I trained the younger classes." Temari gave him a curt nod.
"Is that it? Nothing in foodservice? No ServSafe certification?" She was mainly asking to break his balls, she wasn't even sure her brother had a ServSafe certification and he worked in the back.
"O-oh. No. I am afraid I do not even know what that is. I am sorry. I am not very qualified for this job, but I am a very fast learner. I will not do anything less than perfect. I promise you that." Temari crossed her arms.
"You said you go to school?" Lee was confused by the topic change but nodded. "What grade?"
"I am a Junior." Temari looked thoughtful for a moment then smirked.
"Okay. I'm going to ask my brother to be a character witness for you." She said simply and walked in the back.
What? Someone who went to his school worked here? Lee was suddenly more nervous than before. What if it was someone who didn't like him and then he wouldn't get the job? Lee scratched the back of his neck nervously and had to talk himself into calming down.
Temari emerged from the back (presumably the kitchen) with a familiar set of aquamarine eyes and red hair. Lee's eyes widened.
"Gaara?"
