Gaara's POV

I had decided to watch the stars and moon once Temari and Kankuro were asleep. I was enjoying myself until I felt someone staring at me. Using my third eye with my sand, I found a girl watching me from behind part of a chimney. I thought of using my sand coffin at first, but my siblings wouldn't want me to draw attention to us. "It's not polite to stare," I finally said. "What do you want?"

"I'm sorry," she said, while backing away from her hiding spot. "I didn't mean to stare, it's just that well…no one else ever comes to this spot." She seemed afraid of me and kept backing up until there wasn't any roof left. I could care less if she fell; she was just staring at me, thinking what a monster I must be. Then again, I couldn't just let her fall now could I? In the middle of my debate, sand shot from my gourd and went towards her. "Why did it do that," I whispered. "It's only ever protected me…just who is she?" I watched as the sand brought her close to me and set her down. "Thank you," the girl said. "Sorry about staring at you like that. I come here almost every night so it was a surprise to see someone else here."

"Hm," was all I said to her. I tried to look back at the stars, but something about her made me keep staring. Her eyes were a golden brown, sort of like honey, and her midnight black hair glistened in the moonlight. "Oh, my name is Suki," the girl said looking at me with a smile. "Suki Nara. What's yours?"

"It doesn't matter," I said. It's not like she would care anyway. "I guess I'll have to call you Mr. Sandman then," she said. I glared at her for the nickname. "Are you making fun of me?"

"No," she answered with a smile. "It's just that I met you at night and you use sand with your jutsu's."

"So?"

"Haven't you ever heard of the Sandman? He sails around the night sky sprinkling magic sand in people's eyes to help them fall asleep and have good dreams."

"Where did you hear that sort of nonsense," I asked, looking at her like she was crazy. She looked away and smiled. "My dad used to tell it to my brother and me before we fell asleep when we were kids. I know it's a stupid story, but your sand made me think of it."

"How do you know that this isn't a nightmare," I asked, looking at the still present smile on her face.

"I would have hit the ground if this were a nightmare," she simply said. "Instead you used your sand to lift me back up to the roof. There for, it's a good dream." This girl…Suki…she was acting so differently around me. She didn't seem to shudder when I looked at her and she didn't go out of her way to avoid me. Why was she so different than the other people I knew? Maybe it's because she didn't know the real me. She thinks I'm a good dream on the outside, and yet I know that I'm a nightmare on the inside. "Gaara," I whispered, not knowing what I was saying.

"What?"

"My name is Gaara."

"That wasn't so hard was it Gaara," she said, that honest small smile still spread across her pretty face. "That's a nice name."

"Not really," I said.

"It's better than Suki," she joked. I couldn't help but smile. Suki seemed really nice and for some reason, I didn't feel so lonely with her around. It was like she accepted me. "It's also better than what she calls me," a new voice said. Suki and I turned to see an annoyed boy. "What are you doing here," Suki shouted.

"What am I doing here? It got cold in our room because you left the window open! Choji and I have been looking everywhere for you," the boy yelled back. "It's such a drag cause mom found out and she's yelling at dad to find you."

"Mom found out," Suki said. "Man, I'm as good as dead. Why did you tell her Shikamaru?"

"I didn't," Shikamaru said. "She came into our room to tuck you in and screamed once she saw you were gone. I was knocked out of bed and Choji nearly got trampled. She's still screaming at dad."

"Stupid Pineapple Head," Suki muttered. I tried to hold back a laugh. "Troublesome twin," Shikamaru said. "Let's go Suki." I watched as she got up and my sand acted on its own again, gently wrapping around her wrist. "Come on Suki," Shikamaru said in an annoyed tone. "Get going." Suki looked down at me and gave me a small smile. "Sorry Gaara, I have to go," she said. "I guess I'll see you around."

"If mom let's you live that long," Shikamaru muttered.

"Ignore my twin please," Suki said after hitting her brother over the head. "Thanks again for catching me." I nodded as she did the most unexpected thing. Suki wrapped her arms around me and pulled me close to her. Was she…hugging me? "Sorry to caused you all this trouble," Shikamaru said as he pulled his twin sister away from me. I just grunted. "Forget it," I mumbled as I watched them walk away. I highly doubted I would ever see that girl and boy again, yet…I still felt strange. I shrugged the feeling away and climbed back into the room my siblings and I were staying.

"Gaara," someone said. "Was that girl…really hugging you?"

"You saw her Temari," I asked without turning around and looking at my older sister.

"Usually your sand pushes people away…it even does that to me."

"Like you'd ever want to hug me," I said, turning so I could glare at her. "Everyone thinks I'm a monster, even you're afraid of me!" Temari looked at me with fear in her eyes, even though I was her youngest brother. I saw the way she was around Kankuro. She treated him like a real brother. They did things together like siblings do and even though they fought with one another; they still cared about one another. But with me…with me I was some sort of circus freak side show that she wanted nothing to do with. I was just a thing and not a person. To her, I wasn't a brother…I was just a monster. My glare at her intensified, while she just backed away and went back to her room.

I finally lay down on my bed and closed my eyes. The first thing I saw was the smiling face of that girl Suki. Just who was she anyway? Where had she come from? Was she some sort of leaf village spy? Damn it…what in the world caused her to affect me so? Why did my sand help her even though I never told it to? How come I couldn't get her out of my head? And why was my heart pounding like a drum?

The next day…Suki's POV

"This is so not good," I mumbled as I entered the room filled with other Genin ninja's. Kiba just smirked and Hinata took hold of my hand. "I-It's okay S-Suki," she said. "You'll be fine."

"Yeah right," I said. "I don't like crowded rooms Hinata."

"Come on Suki," Kiba said while putting an arm around me. "Look, there's Choji and Shikamaru, let's go see them." Hinata and I followed Kiba towards Shikamaru and the others. "Shika," I muttered. "I don't feel so good…"

"What a drag," Shikamaru said, while leaning against the wall. "You can take mom's harsh words last night and you're afraid of a crowded room." I glared at him for bringing up last night. Mom had reamed me one for going out my window in the middle of the night. She threatened to tell my Sensei that I wasn't going to go to the Chunin exams and that I would never be a ninja until Dad stepped in. He had somehow convinced Mom to let me go today and I got away with a small punishment. I just sighed and placed my head on Choji's shoulder. "You'll be fine Suki," he said. I smiled at him and watched his face turn beet red. "You don't need to be embarrassed Choji," I said.

"Especially not after last night," Shikamaru mumbled. Kiba's eyes widened and Hinata gasped. "What happened last night," Kiba shouted.

"Oh not much," I said with a blush as Choji looked away. "Just a little of this and a little of that."

"Then why is Choji as red as a tomato," Kiba asked.

"It's nothing," Choji said, his blush worsening. "Shikamaru was just joking."

"It doesn't look like nothing," Kiba said with a smirk. "Come on, tell us."

"It was nothing," I said. "Choji just…" Choji faced me and shook his head. He obviously didn't want anyone to know. I smiled understandingly and gave him a hug. "I want to know," Kiba growled as he folded his arms. Choji just held me in his arms and smiled. Something inside made me want to kiss him again…as if he read my thoughts, Choji leaned forward and planted a small sweet kiss on my lips. I smiled as his blush became known again and Kiba's mouth fell open. Hinata looked like she was about to faint while Ino, who just so happened to be standing by, looked shocked. "Dude," Kiba cried. "Way to go man! I never thought you had it in you!"

"You don't need to make a big deal about it," Choji whispered, rubbing the back of his head. Shikamaru and I sighed in unison, as Kiba continued to praise Choji for being so brave. I was starting to get a little bored, until I felt something wrap around my waist and pull me away from the group. I looked down at the stuff that was pulling me and smiled, now that I knew where I was going. "Hi Gaara," I said to the red head as his sand retreated back into his gourd. He looked at me and seemed a little surprised to see me standing there. "Suki," he said. "What are you doing here?"

"Same thing as you I guess," I said. "Chunin exams."

"Hm," Gaara responded.

"I'm glad you're here though," I said with a small blush. "It's good to see another friendly face amidst this crowd of people. I don't really like being in a crowded room…"

"It's not something I'm genuinely fond of either."

"Gaara, I need to…oh hi," a girl with blond hair said as she approached Gaara and me. She had a huge fan on her back, and her hair was in small pigtails. "Hello," I said to her as she gave me a wary smile.

"What do you want Temari," Gaara snapped.

"I was just wondering if you had seen Kankuro," the girl answered, turning her attention back to Gaara.

"No," Gaara said.

"Great…knowing him he's getting himself into trouble."

"Suki, where are you," I heard Shika call.

"Fabulous," I said with a sigh. "I have to go Gaara, I'll see you later."

"Hm," Gaara said.

"One more thing though…Um…I was wondering if you'd like to maybe get something to eat after the exams? I know a good place for ramen and I thought maybe you'd like to go," I said. I didn't really know why I was asking, but for some reason I wanted to get to know Gaara. I liked being around him even though he wasn't very talkative. I felt that I could tell him anything…"Paging the most beautiful girl in the room," Kiba shouted. "Suki Nara, please return to your friends before your brother has a serious conniption." I was so embarrassed at this point. Stupid Kiba had to go and shout that…why didn't he just use his damn nose to find me? Then again, the room was pretty crowded and that made it harder for him to sniff someone specific out.

"I have…" Gaara began.

"He'll go with you. When and where," the girl answered.

"Temari…" Gaara said angrily.

"I'll see you at Ichiraku Ramen, around seven," I said before rushing off to the others. I could tell Gaara was glaring at the girl named Temari as I walked off. She seemed like a nice person, and I wondered who this Kankuro person was she was looking for. "There you are," Shino said walking over to me. "Your brother is having a fit."

"So I gathered," I said in a low voice. "I don't think he's really happy about what Kiba said either."

"Of course he isn't. Kiba should have more manners than that," Shino said.

"Kiba," Shikamaru said as Shino and I neared the group. "What the hell is wrong with you?"

"Well you wanted to find her didn't you?"

"Yeah he did but did you have to say it like that," I said as I came closer.

"Suki," Shikamaru said. "Where in the world did you go?"

"I saw Gaara and wanted to say hello to him."

"You could have at least told me."

"Sorry," I said. "You're right, I should have told you Shika."

"Alright, why are you agreeing with me," Shikamaru said. "You never agree with me unless you want something."

"Well," I started. "It's nothing really. I was planning on having dinner with a friend later on at seven."

"What is it that you need me to do," Shika groaned. I shook my head and rolled my eyes. "I don't need you to do anything Shika," I said. "Can't I just agree with you because I'm in a good mood and not because I want something from you?"

"No," Shikamaru stated. "It's very unlikely that would happen too."

"Well it's one of those unlikely times my idiotic twin brother," I said with a sigh. Shika smirked and shook his head. We did fight a lot, but we always ended it in a good way. Shika could care less if I called him idiotic, and I could care less if he called me troublesome. We knew how to get on each others nerves sure, but it never escalated beyond words. "Alright," said a voice that quieted down the whole group of Genin. "Once you all have taken a number, I need every one of you to sit down on the chair with that number. No switching or trading of any kind and the numbers are all randomized. I'll call your names and each one of you will take that number and sit down in the next room. Understand?" I waited impatiently with Shikamaru, Hinata, Choji, and Shino. One by one each of us were selected at random and I got R 4 S 26. I was guessing it meant row four, seat twenty six. I sat down in the next room and realized Shikamaru was sitting in front of me. I smiled and kicked the back of his chair. "Hey, pineapple head," I said as he turned to face me. "Better not cheat off of my paper cause I'll tell on you!"

"Why would I cheat off a lame brain like you," Shika said with a knowing smile.

"Oh it's on big brother," I said. "I hope you don't fall asleep and smear your answers with drool!"

"You're the one that'll fall asleep," Shikamaru retorted. "I wasn't the one that stayed up late last night looking at the moon with their boyfriend!" That remark made me glare daggers at my brother. I didn't mind the playful banter, we did that before every test we had, but bringing a friend in on it was a low blow; especially for Shika. "At least I don't have a crush on Hinata," I muttered. Shikamaru didn't have a crush on Hinata at all, but this was my way of letting him know he went too far. "I don't cry out for Sasuke in my sleep like you do," Shikamaru said with a glare. I was about to tackle him for that, when to my surprise, Sasuke sat down on my left. "As long as it's not any of the other girls in here," Sasuke muttered. I wanted to choke my brother to death as he stared at me apologetically. He knew I didn't like Sasuke; in fact I thought the guy was obsessed with himself. I mean I can understand being all depressed and emo because your own brother killed your family, but come on! Make some friends and move on with your life. Sure Sasuke was nice at times, but was I going to grovel all over him just because every other girl in class did? No way; I've got better things to do with my life.

"Is this the fourth row," a familiar voice asked. I looked to my right and there stood Gaara. I smiled and nodded. "Sure is," I said. "Looks like we get to sit next to each other."

"Hm," was all Gaara said as he sat next to me and looked at the piece of paper in front of him. I kept looking at him and when he glanced at me, I looked away with a blush. "What," Gaara asked tersely.

"Nothing," I said slowly. "How did you sleep last night?"

"Fine," he said. "Why?"

"No reason," I answered, rolling my pencil back and forth on my desk. "Just wondered is all." I hadn't really noticed it before, but Gaara was really cute. I felt my face grow even flusher as he rolled his eyes and looked away. Great, I thought. Why is it I like guys that ignore me and show no interest in me? Maybe it was the eyes…

"Gaara," said a new voice that was sitting behind me. "Who's your cute new friend?" I looked next to Gaara to see who he was talking about, but I didn't see anyone there. "None of your business Kankuro," Gaara answered, glaring at the boy behind me. "It's not like I know her anyway."

"Yeah you do," Kankuro said. "I saw you talking to her earlier with Temari. Did you make sure you could sit next to her?" I felt the hairs on the back of my neck stand up as my blush grew even more prominent, and I attempted to slip underneath the table. "No need to be so shy sweetie pie," Kankuro said. I could tell he was looking right at me. "My name's Kankuro. What's yours?"

"Suki," Sasuke whispered as he looked at me. "Are you alright?" I stood up quickly, making my chair clatter to the floor, and looked at Sasuke. "Fine," I said in a high voice. "I just need to use the restroom! Not feeling so well!" Shikamaru looked at me and shook his head; knowing I was in an embarrassing situation. I backed away from Sasuke, tripped over one of the legs of my fallen chair and landed in Gaara's lap, making him crash to the floor on top of me. "S-sorry," I stuttered. I was now red as a ripe tomato while Gaara just stared me in the eye with a dazed sort of look. Sand slowly began to lift my head and brought our lips closer together. Gaara's lips were parted slightly, as if he wanted to kiss me in a rough, yet sweet way.

"You're in my way," said a low, emotionless voice. Gaara's sand dropped my head quickly as if realizing what he was about to do. The two of us glanced at a very unhappy Neji, who looked as if he just really wanted to get by. Gaara got up quickly and sat back down again. I got up just as fast, and rushed off to the bathroom so I could cool down my burning face.