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Will it be a Very Merry Christmas after all?

An original story by: .Rinjii

Chapter 1: Oh, Joy. A Surprise.

"Oh, how I hate Christmas. Everyone's so happy. What's there to be happy about? It's freaking freezing!" I mumbled to myself as I walked down the snow covered street. I glanced around me. Everyone's laughing and smiling and just plain enjoying themselves. Why couldn't I have had friends, or at least a family that cared enough for me not to abandon me? Oh, well.

I rubbed my hands together and blew against them to try and warm them up. I arrived at the Sand Café where I had a part time job. I walked inside and the bells on the door ring as I opened the door. I smiled; the smell of coffee and the quietness of the café always comforted me. I walked behind the sales counter and opened the door to the employees' lounge and set my thick winter coat and scarf on a hook. I noticed three other coats were already there. Well, Kankuro (my boss) is here. I bet the other coats are his brother and sister's. I hope he won't make me talk to them, or try to be their friend. I just want to be left in peace in the one place I can call my safe haven.

"Teiraa! Come to the upstairs lounge! I have some people to introduce you to!" Kankuro yelled to me.

I sighed and grabbed my Sand Café apron. There goes that idea. Maybe I can just say my name, shake their hand and leave to go work.

I heard laughing as I entered the upstairs lounge. I heard a girly voice say, "So this is the girl you've spoken so highly of? She's just a little kid! She's shorter than Gaara!"

Okay, who does this chick think she is? I'm no little kid! I'm a teenager, 16 to be exact!

"Lay off, Temari. She's just short. She's actually a lot more like an adult than you." Kankuro said.

"I was just kidding, Kankuro." The girl pouted.

Okay, now that I can see her, she doesn't look as girly as her voice sounds. She looks older than Kankuro by at least a year. I glanced around the room to see if there were any more surprises in stock for me. And then I saw him. The guy with the bright red hair and mysterious sea foam colored eyes surrounded by a thick line of black. I couldn't stop myself from staring. Temari and Kankuro seemed like they weren't interested in me anymore anyways, but this guy looked like this was the last place he wanted to be. He was glaring at his siblings and had his arms crossed in front of his chest while leaning his back against the wall.

Temari and Kankuro's pointless chatter stopped for a second before she said, "So, you're checking out our younger brother? Do you like what you see?"

My face turned bright red as I yelled, "I'm not checking anyone out!"

"Whoa, feisty! I like this girl, Kankuro! Can I please, please, please have her?"

Have me? What is this psychotic chick thinking of?

"Um, eh, excuse my older sister. She's always wanted a sister, but she got stuck with us, so, uh, yeah." Kankuro explained.

I gave an exasperated sigh before asking, "Well, am I going to get introduced so I can go open up shop or are we just going to party up here until it's too late to open?"

Temari snickered, "I so like this girl. She's as sarcastic as you tell us. By the way, I'm Temari."

The guy with red hair and sea foam eyes didn't even glance at me as he quietly said, "Gaara."

"What? I can't hear you."

He looked up at me. His eyes opened wider when he actually saw me. Well, I didn't think I looked that hideous! He stood there and stared, well, more like glared at me. Yeah, yeah. I know. My short, dark brown, unruly hair and ice blue eyes totally don't match me, but I didn't think I looked too ugly either.

"I said my name was Gaara." He finally said a bit louder.

Wow, his voice is deeper than I would have expected. And the whole punk rocker aura he gives off is totally cool. I mentally slapped myself for thinking stupid things.

"I guess you know my name because of Kankuro. I'll say my name anyways. Teiraa. It was nice meeting you all, but I better go open the shop. Customers will arrive any minute, especially since it's a Friday."

"Good idea. Gaara, why don't you go help her?"Temari suggested.

I could see the evil smile on her face. She's definitely planning something. Kankuro didn't argue, so I guess he doesn't mind.

I walked down the stairs before turning around to see that Gaara wasn't following. I went back up a few stairs but I could hear Gaara arguing with his siblings so I went into the kitchen to start brewing the coffee and hot chocolate and placing the pastries into the heated display shelves.

I heard soft steps coming and turned around to see Gaara standing right behind me. "Need help?" he mumbled.

"Not anymore." I replied, annoyed. Who wouldn't be? A person is told to help you but doesn't even come to help until you're finished? He starts to shuffle away and I add, "Well, I mean, I guess you could help me take all the chairs off the tables." His only sign of hearing me was a slight nod before starting to take chairs off the tables. "Um, so Gaara? Do you come here often?" He continued working. I repeated myself, "Gaara? Do you-"

He glared at me (I'm starting to think it's not a glare, but just the way he is normally) and said, "I heard you the first time."

"So why didn't you answer."

"What do you think? My brother owns this café. And you don't have to try and make a conversation with me. I don't enjoy talking too much."

"Sorry, I didn't know." I grabbed a clean rag and started dusting off the counters to occupy myself. "Hey, can you go turn on the 'Open' sign?" I asked. He walked over to the sign silently and flipped the switch. He's taller than me. I have to stand on my tiptoes to reach that and he just reached up and flipped the switch.

Gaara sat down at one of the tables and looked out the front window while I stood behind the counter. It's going to be a long night. I hope some customers come soon or I will be stuck with the silent guy over there until closing.

I heard some whispers and shuffling on the stairs, but I didn't see anyone. Are they eaves dropping on us? Have they been there the entire time? I heard Temari whisper very loudly, "They aren't saying anything! They are so boring! Kankuro, did you know you hired a very boring person?"

Hah, that's weird; she was just telling how interesting I was upstairs.

*A few hours later at closing time*

I sighed, "Finally! The last customer of the day left!" I walked over and switched off the 'Open' sign.

"That's a relief." I heard Gaara mumble as he sat on one of the mismatched couches.

"Are you two done cleaning up yet!" Kankuro yelled at us from the employee's office.

"Uh, almost!" I yelled back as I ran and picked up some random trash on the ground. Gaara didn't budge from his spot. "Are you going to help me or keep sitting there on your butt?"

"I don't care. He won't do anything to me so it doesn't matter."

"It matters to me! I could get fired or my pay could get lowered! I need all the money I can get just to live!"

He stood up and sighed, "Geez, chill. I'll help you." I started wiping off the tables to get all the spilt coffee and crumbs off them. Gaara picked up the chairs and put them on the tables I had wiped off.

I heard loud voices coming from outside the café, but when I looked all I saw was a bunch of carolers. I gave an exasperated sigh.

"What? You don't like carolers?" I jumped from surprise when I heard Temari.

I replied, "Not particularly. They're kind of annoying. Plus, who really wants to walk around in the freezing cold, singing until their throat is raw for a bunch of strangers that don't even care?"

She gave me a confused look before shrugging it off and turning to Gaara. "Hey, get your coat; we're leaving." Gaara nodded and walked into the employees' lounge to get his coat. Temari stayed behind. What does she want now? "Hey, Tenma."

"It's Teiraa."

"Yeah, Teiraa, I'm going to be honest with you. It won't be easy. And you've got some competition."

Is she going crazy?

"What do you mean?"

"Well, right now, Gaara can't love anyone or thing but himself, and Matsuri likes him too."

"Uh, pardon?"

I'm trying to be polite, but she sounds insane.

"Even if you can somehow show him that other people really do care about him, you can't be sure he will love you back."

"Are you going crazy?"Okay, I kinda lost it. But what is she even talking about?

"What do you mean?"

"I don't love your brother, Gaara! How could I? I just met him!"

"Well, I was just guessing because you're not afraid of him."

"Why would I be afraid of him? He's unsocial and all, but he's not even close to as insane as you are so there isn't anything to be afraid of, right?"

"Uh, right." I felt like she was hiding something from me, but I didn't ask.

"I'm ready." I heard a deep voice behind me say. Oh, it's just Gaara. I really need to get used to his voice already!

"Okay, Teiraa, we're going to leave. When you're done will you lock up?" Kankuro asked.

"Uh, sure. But what do you want me to do with the leftover pastries?"

"Throw them away or take them home with you. I don't really care."

The three headed towards the door as I said, "You don't want any?"

Kankuro shook his head. "No, we don't like sweets that much. Have a nice night." He walked outside and Temari winked at me.

I sighed. She doesn't give up, does she?

"It was nice meeting you two!" I shouted as the front door slammed shut with the bells hanging from it ringing. I heard the faint sound of the carolers singing Silver Bells as I finished sweeping the store. I went into the employees' lounge to grab my coat and scarf, I put them on slowly because I hate the cold. I looked around the store one more time to make sure I was finished, then grabbed the pastries and shoved them in a box.

I stepped outside the front door and a person was standing there. "Who's there?" I timidly asked. The person looked at me. "Oh, it's just you Gaara. I couldn't tell it was you under your hat and coat and scarf!" I laughed. "But anyways, why are you still here? I thought you left a long time ago with Kankuro and Temari to go home."

He glared at me, so I glared right back at him. "They're making me walk you home." He finally mumbled.

I turned the lock on the door and pulled on it to make sure it was locked. It wouldn't open so I was satisfied. "I'm sorry. I didn't know your siblings were so mean." I started walking towards my apartment and Gaara followed me.

"I think they're planning something."

I sighed, "Probably Temari's idea."

"What? Do you know something I don't?" he looked at me but I looked away and blushed.

I can't tell him what Temari said, it's too embarrassing!

"Uh, no. Not really." We walked along silently as we passed some shops and kiosks with Christmas decorations. "So, Gaara, do you want anything for Christmas?"

"No. I thought I already told you that you don't have to force yourself to make a conversation with me."

Okay, what's his problem? "Who says I'm forcing myself? Am I not allowed to talk with you or something? I was just being curious!"He looked at the ground. Did I offend him? I hope not. We continued along silently.

"Friends." Gaara broke the silence.

"Friends what?" I asked.

"That's what I want for Christmas."

"Oh, really? I think you just asked the right person to get you that as a Christmas present." I smiled. He gave me such an innocent answer. "Oh, uh, this is my apartment building. Thanks for walking me here!"

Gaara's eyes widened in shock. "You live in this place?" he asked pointing at the shabby looking building.

I sighed, "Yes. I can't really afford anything else."

"You're paying the rent? What about your parents?" He looked really confused.

I laughed, "My parents couldn't care less! The abandoned me when I was young and I wasn't going to stay in a stupid orphanage!"

"Oh, okay. Good night." He turned around to leave.

I grabbed his jacket unintentionally. Crap! Why'd I do that?

"What do you want…?" He asked.

"Uh, good night?"

"Okay."

"Will you come back to the café tomorrow?"

"Yes. I make the pastries. I usually leave before you get there."

"Are you going to stay?"

"Maybe."

I smiled. That's all I need. Maybe if I hurry to work tomorrow he'll still be there.

I walked up the stair to my apartment. I unlocked my door and wiped off my feet before stepping inside. I shivered as I walked inside. I wish I could have my heater on all the time, but I can't afford the electricity bill! I guess piling more blankets and layering up my clothes will have to do. I got ready for bed and got out my winter blankets. I set the pastries on my kitchen counter before I jumped into bed and piled all the blankets on top of myself. I can't wait for tomorrow. Maybe this Christmas will be different. I might actually have some people to spend it with. I smiled to myselfthen I fell into a deep sleep.