"Remind me again why I have to do this?" Temari rolled her eyes and sighed. I can't believe he's managed to complain for the entire ride.
"Trust me, Gaara, this will be a fun experience for you." Gaara scoffed.
"You have a twisted definition of what "fun" is." Deciding to ignore that last statement the blonde haired girl looked into the rearview mirror and studied her youngest brother carefully.
"God, would it have killed you to run a comb through your hair? How many times do I have to tell you that first impressions are important?" The addressed boy reached up self-consciously and placed a hand on his messy red spikes.
"Lay off, Temari, he's having a hard enough time dealing with this whole summer camp thing as it is. He certainly doesn't need you nitpicking at him." Gaara shot a grateful look towards his older brother, which was acknowledged with a slight nod.
"Shove it, Kankuro. I know what's best for him."
"Oh, really?"
"Yes, really. This isn't just an ordinary summer camp. It's an interactive learning experience being held at the highly esteemed Konoha University. It'll be a great chance for Gaara to not only meet the smart kids who will be going to his new school but to learn something new and interesting. Maybe he'll even overcome that shyness issue." Kankuro flared up a little at that.
"Shyness issue?! Just cause the kid doesn't throw himself at every person he meets doesn't mean he has an issue.
"Kankuro, when was the last time you saw him talk to anyone but us?"
Ugh, please make it stop. Gaara sat in the backseat listening to the all too familiar sounds of his sibling bickering. They both keep making the same points over and over again… I get it already. Temari thinks I'm anti social and Kankuro wants to coddle me for the rest of my life. It's true that I don't really talk to anyone other then them but I don't see what's wrong with that. People are just so…scary.
Suddenly the car came to a screeching halt.
"Alright, we're here." Temari snapped, shooting one last glare towards Kankuro before exiting the car. Kankuro merely rolled his eyes and followed his fuming sister. The two elder siblings walked over to the trunk and began pulling out Gaara's luggage, a large brown suitcase and a red backpack. Once they were set Temari tapped vigorously on Gaara's window and motioned for him to follow them. Gaara chewed on his lower lip before reluctantly undoing his seatbelt and stepping out of the car. I don't want to be doing this.
Before him loomed the entrance to the camp building. It was a tall brick building with large windows running across it and ivy creeping up the sides. The design was simple yet somehow still managed to give off an air of sophistication. The wide double doors had a banner hanging over them with the words "Welcome Campers" written sloppily in red paint.
"At least we know we're in the right place." Kankuro chuckled with his usual lopsided grin. The weak attempt to lighten the mood did little to calm Gaara's raging nerves.
"Come on you two." Temari was already marching through the doors and her brothers had to scramble to keep up. The trio found themselves walking up a seemingly endless flight of stairs as the followed various red arrows pointing them to their destination. After a long trek they finally arrived. The room they walked into was brightly lit with tons of campers and counselors milling about. Gaara gulped uneasily when he took in all the people. Temari noticed his obvious discomfort and turned to face him with an over zealous smile.
"Kankuro and I are going to go sign you in at the desk, why don't you go make some friends?"
"But-" Temari's statement was apparently not up for debate because before Gaara had a chance to say anything she was rushing away, tugging a sympathetic looking Kankuro along with her.
Gaara stood awkwardly in the center of the room, very unsure of himself. He was contemplating hiding in the bathroom for the rest of the summer when a bright ball of orange came barreling towards him.
"Hi I'm Uzumaki Naruto and this is my idiot boyfriend, Uchiha Sasuke! I've never seen you around here before! What's your name?"
"Uh…" Gaara blinked at the cheerful blonde who had seemingly materialized out of thin air. Standing behind him was a rather bored looking boy. Never before in Gaara's life had he met someone so quick to admit his own homosexuality. Gaara was gay, he had known for quite some time he was gay, but he had learned through past experiences that it was something that was best kept a secret.
Sasuke's eyes narrowed at the redhead's lack of response.
"You're not some homophobe are you?" Gaara's eyes widened in horror at the accusation.
"N-no! I'm…well, I'm..." Naruto cut him off before he had a chance to finish.
"Oh, don't worry about it. Sasuke-teme can be a real jerk sometimes. I knew you were gay the second you walked in this room." Gaara blushed a deep shade of red. How could he tell?
"The eyeliner was a tip off." Sasuke stated dryly, almost as if reading his mind.
"Oh…" Naruto beamed at him.
"No worries though! So you new around here?"
"Yeah, my siblings and I just moved here from Suna."
"Suna? Isn't that like some hick town in the middle of nowhere?" Sasuke promptly smacked his boyfriend on the side of the head.
"Dobe! What the fuck is wrong with you? Were you raised by monkeys or something?"
Naruto looked sheepish.
"Sorry…that didn't sound quite so rude when I said it in my head." Sasuke sighed.
"You're so uncultured."
"Oh well excuuuuuuuuuse me, Mr. Richy-Pants we can't all have a well-to-do daddy!"
"You're rich?" Gaara had never met someone even remotely wealthy before. What Naruto had just said about Suna being some hick town was pretty much accurate.
"This jerk is loaded!" Naruto answered on Sasuke's behalf. "But you could never tell by looking at him. Now his brother on the other hand…he knows how to flaunt the wealth."
"Naruto." The raven-haired boy looked angry for the first time, causing his blonde companion to grow defensive.
"I know you don't like him, but damn look at him!" Naruto turned and pointed across the room. Gaara's eyes widened slightly as he took in a tall, dark haired man dressed up in counselor gear. He had all his hair pulled back in a long sleek ponytail that fell down his back, and the most piercing pair of eyes Gaara had ever seen. He felt a blush rising to his cheeks.
"I'll admit he's something to look at but you should avoid him," Sasuke said in a low warning tone. "Itachi is bad news." Gaara nodded absently, forcing his gaze away from Itachi and back to the couple.
On the other side of the room Temari slammed down the pen she had been using to record Gaara's medical information. The whole time she had been trying to focus on the paperwork Kankuro had been twittering annoyingly in her ear.
"I just don't think this is a good idea, Temari. The only person who wants this to be happening is you, since when did you get so much power?"
"I'm his big sister, I've had this power since the day he was born."
"But what if something bad happens here? What if the other kids find out he's gay?" The second the words left his lips Temari slapped a hand over his mouth.
"BE QUIET! If he wants anyone to know about that he'll tell them himself. Now shut your big mouth!" Before Temari had a chance to punch her brother in the face for his ignorance a voice interrupted her from behind.
"Don't worry, we take good care of our kids here." Startled, she whirled around to face the man who had spoken. He was tall and muscular, with icy blue eyes and long golden-brown hair.
"I'm Neji, I work here." The sheer amount of pretty that this man exuded was overwhelming and all Temari could do was stand there and stare, besieged by hormones. Kankuro chuckled at his sister's obvious infatuation before deciding he'd better take over. He scanned the room quickly for Gaara and his eyes widened in shock as he spotted him actually socializing with two other boys. Two other boys who happened to be holding hands with one another. He recovered from his surprise in record time and addressed Neji as calmly as possible.
"The redheaded one is our little brother, Gaara. He's new to Konoha." The consoler followed Kankuro's finger across the room, once he'd located said little brother a smile tugged at his lips. This is too perfect; he's cute, gay, and new here. That means no boyfriend yet.
"Ah, he appears to be hitting it off with a few of our returning campers." Neji studied the clipboard in his hands hurriedly. A satisfied grin spreading across his face." And it looks like Gaara will be in my group as well as his new friends, how fortunate. I guess that I should go introduce myself now." Temari nodded dumbly and the small group headed over to the chatting boys. This is going to be a good summer. Neji considered gleefully. He was only a couple of feet away from his objective when the worst thing he could imagine happening happened. Itachi came swooping out of nowhere.
"Hello." Itachi greeted, giving Gaara his most charming smile. "Is this your first year?" The green-eyed boy looked up at him shyly before nodding. Itachi turned and shot the Hyuga a knowing smirk. Neji bristled. That asshole! He's always trying to hone in on my territory.
"I don't mean to interrupt, but I was just talking to your siblings Gaara and I feel the need to introduce myself. I'm Hyuga Neji, your counselor and this here is Uchiha Itachi, the second in command." Nobody present failed to miss the stress on the word "second." Gaara chose to ignore the jab as he stared at the new visitor in surprise. Holy crap this place is crawling with man candy.
Neji POVStupid Tsunade, I told her it would be a bad idea to let Itachi be a counselor. This imbecile couldn't take care of a goldfish let alone a bunch of kids. And now look at him, drooling all over that new kid. He's only doing this because he must have seen me looking at him. Well I'll be damned if I let him molest this camper
" Gaara, Sasuke, Naruto, you'll all be rooming in dorm number 4."
"Alright! We're roomies!" I smile at the over enthusiastic blonde as he starts jumping up and down, raving about pillow fights and scary stories.
" Uzumaki, why don't you show Gaara to the room." He grinned and nodded animatedly. I watch as the boy's siblings each give him a quick hug before turning and exiting. I can't help but notice that he looks slightly traumatized so as Naruto tugs him past me I reach out to pat his shoulder. He glances over at me with pretty wide eyes and I use the opportunity to wink at him. If there's one thing Hyuga Neji can do, it's flirt. A pink tinge rushes to his cheeks and he looks away smiling bashfully. Itachi is glaring daggers at me but I simply smirk. Neji: 1 Itachi: O
"Here let me help you with that." Itachi takes the suitcase from Gaara and ushers him out of the room, into the stairwell. Bastard.
End POVSo far this has been a lot better then I thought it was going to be. Gaara thought happily. My roommates seem really nice and my counselors are SMOKIN'. At the exact moment that thought passed through his mind Itachi placed a hand on his shoulder. Sasuke shot his brother an evil glare.
"We're here." Itachi declared, opening a door and lightly pushing Gaara through. Sasuke and Naruto followed closely behind. The room was small, with one bunk bed on the left and a single bed on the right. In between there was a large desk flanked on either side by mahogany dressers. The beds were adorned with simple blue sheets, and matching blue curtains fell over the windows. Immediately Naruto flung his bag up on the top bunk.
"This one is mine!" He shouted. Sasuke lay claims on the bottom bunk by sitting down and crossing his legs. Once he was comfortable he resumed glaring at his brother.
"Guess you get the single bed by default." Itachi smiled, pointedly ignoring the nasty looks he was getting. He walked over and placed the suitcase on the bed, Gaara trailing behind him the whole time. Itachi flashed a sexy smirk, and then glanced down at his watch.
"I have to get back out there to meet and greet. I'll see you around." With that Itachi turned and left the room, leaving a love sick Gaara, an amused Naruto, and a rather peeved Sasuke in his wake.
"Geez, Gaara you move fast." Naruto laughed. "You've been in Konoha ten minutes and you've already got Itachi and Neji after you!" Gaara flushed.
"You really think they like me?"
"Hell yeah!" Sasuke glowered at the sunny blonde.
" For gods sake, Naruto stop encouraging him." The raven-haired teen turned to look Gaara in the eyes. "If I were you I'd seriously stay away from Itachi. That ass will screw anything that's pretty. Neji is much more…respectable."
Gaara nodded noncommittally and then pretended like the zipper on his suitcase was stuck so he wouldn't have to look Sasuke in the eye.
Itachi strutted back into the main room, enjoying the admiring glances he got from parents and campers alike. He walked right up to Neji and grinned.
"Cute little thing isn't he?" Neji's eyes narrowed to slits.
"Yeah, he is. And he'd never want anything to do with scum like you." Itachi quirked an eyebrow.
"Oh really? Care to put your money where your mouth is?"
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"It means I have a little proposition for you, whoever gets Gaara to kiss them first gets $100 dollars." Neji scowled.
"Our campers are not to be used to make money." Itachi laughed.
"Whatever, I'll get him to kiss me either way I just thought it'd be more fun to humiliate you in the process."
" Pssh, I give it two days, then he'll realize what an ass you are and trade up for something better."
"Is that "something" supposed to be you, Hyuga?"
"Of course."
"Sounds like a challenge, are you accepting my bet?" Neji examined his enemy intensely, god he hated that Uchiha so much it hurt. I know I shouldn't do this, I know this will end in disaster, I don't want to use the kid but…DAMMIT!
"I accept under one condition. He has to give the kiss willingly. " He emphasized the word while shooting his opponents an accusatory glare. Itachi grinned.
"Agreed. May the best man win."
With that he turned and strode off to do god knows what. Neji shot a fierce look at his retreating back, all the while trying to push away the feeling that he'd made a terrible mistake.
I know I should be updating Save Me instead of starting a new fic but I can't help it! PLOT LINES KEEP ATTACKING ME! …Anywayz, I really like were this fic is going. And yes, another evil Itachi, I can't explain it he just makes such a sexy jerk. Plz review.
3 Evie