Chapter 2

Naruto's POV

I'm sitting in my study hall, well if you wanna call it that. It's more of a class where you get tutored. It's like a program just recently added to the school, it's peer tutoring. It's my second to last class I have to take for the day. Neji is my tutor, and he helps me in math. Though I don't know why he even signed up for this program, he doesn't seem much of a people person. And I would have never have thought he'd have the patience or will to want to help people. Sasuke's in this class as well, also a tutor, he tutors for science though. Usually it's two students per student tutor. Neji has me and Shikamaru. Though Shikamaru doesn't really need this class, he was forced to enter because of his bad grades. He just doesn't like to work and even in this class he just sleeps. Neji as learned to ignore it and just focus on me. Seeing as I'm a very, very slow learner, at least that's what he tells me.

We have a teacher for this class, but she's just here to supervise and give grades. Everyone is graded on the progress they or their student they are tutoring is making in the class they need help in. I have a C in this class along with Shikamaru and Neji. Though Neji doesn't like that fact too much.

"Mrs. Tsunade, Mr. Kakshi wants to know if you can spare any students, for portrait?"

"Yeah, whatever," our teacher says, flipping a page in her novel. Oh along with this class, Mrs. Tsunade is also the schools councilor. The boy who came in from the art room goes to each table and asks if they would like to come get their portraits painted. I was up for it and talked Shikamaru in coming too, Sasuke was begged to come and seeing as his students were leaving, Neji came too.

"Thanks, Mrs. Tsunade." The boy says leading us to the art room. When we entered there weren't that many students in the art room. I found out that this is the advanced art class, and not many boys have made it in. There were only nine students!

"Thanks you Erik for getting us some students. Al managed to get some from the PE class, so we have enough for everyone to paint someone else. I'll assign you your person." Mr. Kakashi explains to his class.

"This is such a drag, why did I even let you talk me into this?" Shikamaru asks me.

"It's better then listening to Neji shove math problems down our throat."

"Naruto," I look at Mr. Kakshi, I knew him from last year when I took his art class just for fun. Of course I found out I have no artistic talent whatsoever. "Go and sit on the stool in front of Gaara. Gaara, raise your hand so he knows who you are."

The red head raised his hand and I saw him all the way in the corner. I was kinda surprised at this and I walked over to him taking a seat. The red head doesn't pay me any attention, but there was this need to talk to him in me. I felt kinda like when I first talked to Sasuke. I was a little afraid, but that wasn't going to stop me from saying something!

I hadn't noticed that he had already started on his painting, too busy trying to come up with something to say.

"So…you must be a really good artist to be in Mr. Kakashi's advanced class." It was the first thing that came to mind and I got no response from the red head. He only looks at me and then moves his brush.

"You're in my language arts class aren't you?" I ask just really wishing he'd respond. When he doesn't I let out a little sigh. Feeling a little uncomfortable because of the silence I start to move a little.

"Stay still," he commands me, in a low voice. I obey and it seems like forever until finally he speaks. It wasn't directed at me, he raised his hand and called Mr. Kakashi over. He was done with the painting and I wanted to see it, but for some reason I still didn't dare to move. Mr. Kakshi looked at the painting and his eyes grew a little wider.

"You always have to put your own touch on it, can't just simply copy the image in front of you. But it's one of your best, good job." That sentence made me want to see the painting even more. The teacher walks away and Gaara made eye contact with me. My heart almost jumped right out of my chest. His eye were so…really, really scary. I try not to shudder as he continues to look at me and then turns the stand around so I could see the portrait of myself. It was disturbingly beautiful. It was a gorgeous me, sitting on the stool like I am still. But a hole with blood pouring out was in the middle of my head, along with my arms being shown as skeleton bones. There was no background, but I'm sure he'll add some tomorrow, after all the class time was almost up. The red head put away the painting and the brushes and paint. Other students were still struggling to get the main portrait of the person in front of them done. Gaara was quick and his work still came out perfect. Or at least to me, of course I don't know how to draw worth shit. I offer to help clean brushes with the red head. He says nothing, but doesn't protest when I help.

"Could I see the complete product once you're done?" I ask Gaara. Though I didn't know if I would get an answer or not, I was hoping I would.

"If you like," came the mumbled response. The bell rings and all the people who weren't' done with their paintings, scrambled to clean up. While the people used for the portraits just left to go to their next class. Gaara picks up a small bag and slings it around his shoulder. It kinda look like a purse, but I didn't say anything. After all it hung way lower then any purse and reassembled more of a small school bag.

I walk with Gaara, right by his side. After all the next class we have together. The outcast didn't seem to happy about me at his side. He stares at me and I couldn't tell if he was staring out of confusion about my presence or annoyance.

"What?" I ask blankly.

"Is there a reason why you must walk so close to me?" He asks, voice emotionless.

"Well we have the next class together, so why not walk together?" Gaara only looks at me like I just said the stupidest thing in the world. "Oh lighten up man! It's not like I'm going to kill you. Why don't you talk to anyone anyway? People start saying stuff about you 'cause of it. I mean you can't seriously want to be left alone twenty-four seven!"

"Can you not speak so much and so loudly," it wasn't a question; more of an insult, but that wasn't gonna stop me. Hell, I've been through worse trying to get Sasuke to talk to me back in seventh grade! We enter the classroom and Gaara takes a seat in the back like he always does, I follow him.

"Just don't forget to show me the painting once it's done," with that said I head back to the front to sit in my seat next to Kiba.

"You spoke to spook. Are you high or something?" Kiba asks me.

"No, I was just in his art class."

"And you talked to him?"

"Well he didn't talk back."

"Why even give that freak the light of day? I mean he's weirder then Shino and Sasuke put together." I didn't say anything more after that, mainly because Mr. Orochimaru was glaring at us. But, also I didn't know what I would say to Kiba. He wouldn't understand, actually I don't understand the need to talk to Gaara either. I just feel drawn to the boy.

Gaara's POV

I had never noticed that the blonde boy named Naruto was in my class. I think back to the showers, I had seen him there yesterday. He obviously knows me, at least like everyone else in this school knows about the stupid tales spun by idiotic people. Though he didn't seem to be phased by those rumors, seeing as he insisted to talk to me. It was annoying and most of the time people just leave me alone after awhile. But from the moment he tried to make conversation in the art room, he didn't give up. Sure he was quiet during most of my panting but afterward he just insisted on speaking even more. Though I hardly gave him any kind of response, he kept going. It was really aggravating.

Soon enough class is over and I make my way to the courtyard. I don't like being around people too much, which includes my brother. I like to have peace and quiet and that's why I always sit out here. It's calming and no one (except for the occasionally idiot) bothers me when I'm setting out here.

I go back inside once the sun goes down. I enter my room, where Kankuro was listening to his iPod. Sometimes I think it would be better if we had a TV in the room. But seeing how old and stupidly built this school is, we don't have a TV hook up. I get out a small sketchbook and draw to pass the time. Tomorrow will be Friday, which means Kankuro will most likely leave campus to have some fun. Which leaves me all alone to myself, which I don't mind at all. Most of the boys on the weekend go out, after all why stay at the school? Some, but only a very few, go to their near by homes, or their parents pick them up. So it's pleasantly deserted, though some times it gets loud at night when most of them come back.

The next day seems to fly by. Like most Friday's for me do. In art class, some people had to ask their models to come back so they could finish their painting. I was only doing the background and adding shadow and such, to bring the 2-D figure to life.

I couldn't help but think of the boy who had modeled for me. I groan at the thought of going to my next period, after all I'll see him there. And he may talk to me inquiring about the painting. I work up all the way to the bell and take my time putting away my paints. So by the time I entered my next class the tardy bell had just went off. I go to the back to take my seat, happy that the timing worked out so well. At the end of the school day I could see the boys blue eyes on me, but he was promptly pulled away by a friend of his.

I walk to the courtyard, to sit in peace. I watch as a few boys pass by with bags, heading to the front gate. To go on home and see their family for the weekend. An ill feeling comes over me, one of hate, but I soon push it to the far part of my brain. There's no reason for me to get angry, it's something I can't change. The reason for my being in this god forsaken boarding school.

"Gaara, did you finish it?" I look up in surprise though I don't show any emotion on my face. I don't answer the blonde in front of me, but can't help my staring at him. He lifts an eyebrow at me and then another voice came.

"Naruto, what are you doing, bothering people you shouldn't?" Asks a boy with black hair approaching us. When the black headed boy is in reach he takes Naruto's arm and tugs. "Come on," he requests softly the same time menacingly; all the while glaring daggers at me.

"I ain't bothering no one! Just asked a simple question is all," the blonde explains. I get up and for reasons unknown to me speak to the boy in a kind manner.

"Come, I'll show you the painting, if you so desire." Naruto looked at me dumbly, but soon enough slipped his arm out of his friends grip to follow me to the art room. I could still feel his friends eyes on me as we walked into the building.

The art room was still unlocked and I entered. Picking my painting out from the drying rack I show it to the boy. His blue eyes grew a little wider and his mouth hung open just a bit.

"I make one hot model don't I? Even with the hole in my head and skeleton arms," he laughs smiling wide so his blue eyes are nothing but slits. I ignore the comment and put the painting back to continue it's drying. I walk past the boy and to the door. The boy follows close behind, for awhile silent though it didn't last.

"You're really good. You must like drawing a lot to get so good. Do you practice or does it just come naturally?" he asks but I don't answer. He keeps talking, sometimes answering his own questions, most likely because I wouldn't. We enter the courtyard again, his friend was still there; waiting. Once he spots us, he walks towards us, the blonde stops his talking. His friend passes me to get to Naruto and I don't miss the intense stare he gives me.

"Hey, let's get back to our room, ok? Kiba and Shino are probably waiting for us to show up," he tells Naruto in a calm voice. The blonde nods and follows the boy with the dark hair. He passes me, when I had just sat down in my usual place. He looks over his shoulder and waves goodbye.

A/N: Ain't got muchto say, please review. And see ya next chapter!