A/N: Hey everyone! Thanks for sticking with me thus far. Sorry it took longer to update, some things came up and I have become unexpectedly busy. Well without further ado, here's the next chapter. Thank you!!
As soon as Gaara stepped into the gym twenty three pairs of eyes immediately turned to him and he instinctively stepped back, wishing he had taken less time in the locker room. If it hadn't been for that damned attack... and that boy had witnessed it, that Shikamaru. Obviously he thought Gaara was some kind of freak. Oh well, he was only one of many.
Soft mutterings broke out amongst the students as they eyed him for the first time, clearly not quite sure what to think of the new kid who had just stumbled in late to class.
"That's the new boy isn't it?"
"What was his name? Gaara?"
"That's kinda a weird name..."
"He's kinda cute."
"What do you mean kinda, he's freaking hot!"
Gaara ignored the comments and stares and went to sit down in the back of the group of students, keeping his eyes lowered and his fists clenched. He had gone about three paces when a loud voice stopped him in his tracks.
"Just a minute young man!" Gaara winced and turned slowly, knowing it was unlikely this newcomer was speaking to anyone but him. A tall man was staring at the boy, his fists planted firmly on his hips, his mutant caterpillar eyebrows furrowed, and a blinding grin on his face. "You must be the new student from Suna I've heard so much about!" Gaara stared at him, not quite sure how to respond to this new teacher's blatant display of energy. The man marched right up to him and placed a firm hand on his shoulder, causing Gaara to flinch and take a step back.
"Welcome to Konoha, kid!" His smile only brightened as he waited for the young man to respond in some way, yet he was sorely disappointed. The red head merely blinked and stepped out of his reach, fixing him with a cold glare and a scowl. The man's smile faltered for a moment before he shook his head and stepped back, folding his arms across his chest. "Well I'm Gai Sensei, you've probably heard about me..." he once again waited for a response and once again he received none. Clearing his throat his smile faded entirely and Gaara hoped this was a sign that he had finally decided to shut up. Unfortunately luck was not on his side as two seconds later Gai's grin was back and larger than ever.
"Well we will work on that un-youthful attitude of yours! Go sit down with the other students and listen to my masterful instructions...uh, what was your name again?" he asked sheepishly.
"Gaara," the young man responded shortly. Gai nodded.
"Of course, Gaara. I knew that, just checking to make sure you could talk after all! Hahaha...right." The red head turned away and sat down about a foot from the rest of the class, looking anywhere but at his crazy sensei's face. Glancing to the left he happened to catch the eye of a boy who was the spitting image of the loud mouthed man before them. He had the same horrendous eyebrows, the same bowl hair cut, and the same cheesy grin that he was now flashing Gaara's way.
As soon as he realized he'd caught Gaara's eye, this new boy waved ecstatically in his direction, his grin growing broader than before. Gaara frowned and dropped his gaze, pretending to be incredibly amused by something on the floor. If this crazy kid wanted him to wave back he was going to be in for a long wait.
"Today's activity is...DODGEBALL!" Gai announced, peering at his students faces and hoping for a good reaction. Fortunately for him he got one as several cheers and cat calls followed this sentence. "Since it is the beginning of the school year and we have not yet started our curriculum, I believe dodge ball is the best route to go. It will test the power of your youth by seeing just how strong, just how fast, just how precise your aim is! Only the ones most determined to win will come out on top in this grueling game! Now please, go to the team I, your sensei, assign for you!"
Gai made his way through the students counting them off as ones and twos. Gaara was a two and headed to the right side of the gym where his teammates waited. He ignored their stares and whispers, preferring instead to stand near the back wall and cross his arms across his chest.
"I hate games like this..." The muttered complaint came from the boy next to him that Gaara immediately recognized as Shikamaru, the kid whose gym clothes he was currently wearing. "This whole thing is going to be such a drag, way to much work if you ask me." he continued, talking to no one in particular. Gaara chose to ignore him, at a loss of what to say anyway.
Gai sensei walked to the middle of the floor and dumped out a bag of rubber balls that the students would use to try and take the opposing team down. Gaara noted that the strange looking kid who had waved at him earlier was on the other team and staring at the red balls eagerly. Gai stepped to the side and out of harms way before blowing the whistle around his neck. Pandemonium ensued as students from both teams ran towards the missiles sitting in the middle of the floor.
Gaara heard Shikamaru yawn and glanced over at him, watching the boy blink his eyes drowsily.
"Maybe I'll get out early on purpose..." he heard him mutter. At that moment a ball whistled past Gaara's ear and smacked against the wall behind him, bouncing on the ground and rolling to a halt at his feet. He stared at it a moment before picking it up and tossing it idly up and down, wondering if he would try hitting someone after all… Then again if he did that he would immediately be marked as a target in the eyes of every single remaining member of the opposing team, already hoping to single him out by the fact that he was new in the area.
"Come on Shikamaru, at least try to do something!" one of their teammates, a girl with long blonde hair complained while dodging a speeding ball as it flew towards her. This in turn left it racing towards Gaara, the only thing between them the red ball he still held in his hands. Almost lazily he dropped it and instead reached out and caught the ball hurtling towards him, catching it as soon as it hit his hand.
"Hah, you're out Inuzuka! The new kid caught your toss!" someone shouted. Gaara glanced up to see the same obnoxious kid that had been in his English class seething as he glared in the red head's direction.
"Yeah whatever, I know," he snapped, sitting down where he stood. Shikamaru let out a low whistle and Gaara glanced his way, eyes narrowing in confusion.
"Nice catch," he said with a sly grin. "I wonder if you're a little more into this than you let on." Gaara scowled and tossed the ball down.
"That was a reflex," he muttered. Shikamaru shrugged.
"Friendly aren't you?" he asked sarcastically and Gaara chose not to respond. This Shikamaru would leave him alone soon enough; they all did in the end. And he would be sure to bring his own gym clothes tomorrow. Shikamaru's eyes suddenly widened as his eyes flickered to something Gaara couldn't see.
"Hey watch out!" he exclaimed. Gaara turned in time to see a flash of red flying at his face and ducked out of the way just in time, the ball slamming into the wall with a loud smack. "That thing nearly took you out…" Shikamaru muttered before turning to the culprit. "You trying to kill him Lee?" he called. The boy, Lee, sheepishly shook his head.
"No! I am sorry, I did not mean for that to be so close," he responded. Scowling Gaara turned his cold eyes to the other boy and glared at him, his fingers twitching. Something about this kid… something just annoyed him. From his ridiculous hair cut to his bushy eyebrows, to the obnoxious smile on his face, everything about him made Gaara want to hit something. Why was it that this crazy looking freak, this loser, had friends and Gaara didn't? Why was he able to connect with people in a way that Gaara could never hope to? What was it?
Clenching his fists Gaara leaned down and picked up the red ball at his feet, his fingers digging into it as he glared at the boy now talking to one of his teammates, completely unaware of the danger about to descend on him like a tidal wave. Shikamaru glanced up and saw the death glare in Gaara's eyes, saw the target, and quickly put two and two together.
"Hold on a minute man. Don't do anything you might-…"
"Shut up," Gaara hissed, barely hearing Shikamaru's words. "This guy's dead." With that he drew back and launched the ball forwards, his aim dead on, the missile speeding forward at rocket pace. Lee turned in time to get nailed in the face, the ball hitting flesh with an unpleasant smack. Students gasped as he flew backward, the momentum sending his body sliding across the floor and coming to a halt near the wall. Gaara however, merely looked on in satisfaction.
"Lee!"
"Oh my god, are you okay?" Everyone from his team ran over to him, including those that were out, as well as some from the opposing side. Gaara watched them, his eyes narrowing, his hands clenching and unclenching. Gai hustled forward from his place by the wall, making a path through the students in order to reach the bowl haired boy.
"You really nailed him…" Shikamaru murmured, coming up to stand beside Gaara. He shrugged and was relieved as the bell chose that moment to ring, saving him from this awkward conversation. Hurrying back into the locker Gaara slid the clothes off and left them in a crumpled heap on the bench before donning his own and heading out the door without a backward glance.
Pulling his schedule out he saw that he had an hour for lunch now, a much needed break from his day so far. He hadn't packed any food as neither he, Temari, nor Kankuro had had time to go shopping and he had no money for school food which was bound to be nasty anyway. Even so he had to find himself a part time job soon so he could help his siblings out.
Walking out of the building he looked around for any quiet place where he could spend the hour away from the loud hallways and smell of bleach. He passed flocks of students sitting in the shade of the large oak trees planted in the front, talking and laughing together about the events of the day thus far. Gaara walked past them without a second glance and moved to the side of the school. Here he found the place he was looking for.
A tree secluded from the others was planted a couple feet away from the school, its branches hanging low to the ground and casting shadows that zigzagged across one another on the green grass. But best of all it was completely deserted with no crazy loudmouthed students in sight. Making his way over to it he sat down and rested his back against the tree's smooth trunk, letting his head lean against the bark, not caring whether or not he got twigs in his hair.
He missed Suna's dry air, warm climate, and harsh nature. Konoha was too soft and everything here was way too green. He was happy to get away from the memories and the fear of his father but aside from that things in Suna had been much better than they were here. Sighing he shut his eyes, the breeze feeling good against his face. He knew he wasn't doing the place justice as he had only been here about a day. Even so if he was going to end up adjusting eventually, there was no reason he had to go about doing so willingly.
The young man stayed like that for the remainder of the lunch period, looking asleep to anyone who happened to pass by. Gaara however, was not that fortunate. Sleep avoided him at every turn and for that he was glad. He didn't want nightmares again on top of everything else. Shortly after, the bell sounded the end of the lunch period and Gaara lazily got up, wondering briefly what had happened to that Lee kid before dismissing the thought. Dodge ball was a dangerous game, he had nothing to apologize for, nothing to feel bad about. Lee would have done the same thing to him had he let the ball hit him in the face.
Despite this fact he still couldn't resist peeking into the gym when he walked past only to see that it was deserted. Shrugging he continued on his way. He had math next with a man named Ibiki. Math had always been his strong point though he never flaunted his talents. It was something that required thought and logic, always a definite answer for whatever was thrown at you…unlike real life. Shaking his head of those thoughts he paused to get his bearings before making his way down the hallway he hoped would take him in the right direction.
……..
Alright there you are. Sorry it took so long to update, with school starting again it's really hard to get anything else done. Thank you for reading, please review!!
Sevgi