Chapter 6: Crush
Rin
"Oh my goodness that was amazing!" Rin squeals, collapsing onto the Havana sofa.
Hinata chuckles lightly.
Rin sits up. "You guys wanna do something?"
"Um, sorry…Can't…Hinata and I have business to take care of," Naruto says, wrapping his arm tightly around his girlfriend's waist and drawing her closer.
Hinata's entire face flushes. "Naruto!"
Naruto bursts into laughter and picks up a struggling Hinata. "Catch you for dinner okay Rin?"
Rin smiles weakly. "Yeah, sure thing."
Naruto turns and walks down the hall, Hinata in his arms.
Sighing, Rin draws her legs up on the sofa. After a minute or two, she feels a pair of eyes on her and looks up.
"Oh," she says, surprised, "Gaara…I didn't notice you there…..Ummmm, do you want to sit?" She asks awkwardly.
Gaara hesitates before sitting on the opposite edge of the sofa.
Rin turns and smiles at him. "So, what kind of art did you say you did?"
"Anything," he says simply.
Rin hears herself laugh. Gaara's eyes narrow.
"I'm sorry…didn't mean to be rude…Just I've never had anyone say that to me before. So like, do you do, paintings, photography, sculptures, calligraphy…?"
"Yes….All of those."
"You any good or is it something you just do for fun."
"I enjoy art."
"But are you good at it?"
"You'll have to be the judge of that."
Rin bursts out laughing. "I like you."
"Thanks," Gaara mumbles, standing up.
"Ummm…you're leaving?"
He turns to her, a strange look on his face. "You wanted to see the art right?"
…
Rin waits silently outside his door. How long does it take to change?
The door opens.
"Sorry, had to clean up," Gaara mumbles, letting her into his room.
The subtle scent of pomegranates drifts into her nostrils. His bed, like all the other beds in the apartment, sits low on the floor. His sheets look fresh, as if it had never been touched. Arranged neatly throughout his room are boxes and boxes of what Rin assumes are paintings. Charcoal sketches and sheets of calligraphy decorate the walls. Atop the drawers are what appear to be miniature gourds made out of clay.
"Whoa! Did you make these?" She asks, picking up a gourd.
"Please don't-"
Crash!
"….Touch."
"I-I am so sorry…I can pay for it I swear," she says nervously.
"It's fine," he says coolly.
Rin nervously runs her hands through her hair. "I think I should leave…You can show me some other time….Now's not the best time."
She starts towards the door but feels him grab her hand. Rin freezes as a weird sensation washes over her. She turns to face him and their eyes meet. His eyes are so beautiful.
Gaara's eyes widen. He abruptly drops her hand, his cheeks growing red.
He opens his mouth but before he can say anything Rin quickly bolts for the door. She opens the door and runs into something solid.
…
Gaara
Why is she running? Did I scare her off? He walks to the door and quickly pulls it open. Gaara freezes in the doorway. A weird feeling washes over him as he watches Rin and Yoruichi hug. He draws near, going in for a kiss and Gaara instinctively clears his throat.
Startled, Rin jumps and pulls away from Yoruichi, clearly embarrassed.
An annoyed look briefly passes over Yoruichi's face before being replaced by a bright smile.
"I'll see you at the studio on Monday, right?"
Gaara nods slowly, his eyes still fixed on Yoruichi.
"Yo, Yoru…What you doing here man?" Comes Naruto's voice from down the hall.
Gaara's gaze still does not waver. For a split second he catches something like a smirk on Yoruichi's face.
"Why's everyone just standing around?" A shirtless Naruto asks, stopping besides Yoruichi.
"I just came to deliver some news," Yoruichi says, gently grasping's Rin's hand. "If you'll excuse us for just one moment."
Gaara watches as the pair walks off towards her room.
"Dude…what's been up with you all day?"
"What do you mean?"
Naruto sighs, "Let's go in your room."
…
"What's up?" Gaara says, plopping down on the bed besides Naruto.
"You've been acting strange all day Gaara."
"Strange how?"
"….Like…not yourself."
Gaara closes his eyes. "In what way, Naruto?"
"Dude…I don't know how to explain it…Just whenever Rin is around, you get this weird look on your face and I don't think you realise it but your cheeks get rosy."
Gaara bolts up. "What?"
"Yeah man…I think you may have a crush on her," Naruto says, giggling.
Gaara scoffs. "Don't be ridiculous. You know I'm not the type to have crushes. Besides, I barely know her."
"Exactly why it's a crush….I didn't say you were like madly in love with her or anything."
"You're imagining things."
"I hope so…Trust me, you do not want to mess with that one. She's Yoru's girl. They've been together like forever," he laughs, "They're practically married. So unless you want a whole load of trouble, I suggest staying away."
Gaara rolls his eyes. "Trouble…Pretty boy like him," he mumbles.
Naruto bursts into laughter. "Oh my goodness you do! And just so you know…you are also a pretty boy Gaara"
…
Naruto was being silly. He didn't have crushes ever. Gaara silently sits at the round table across from Rin. I don't date. If I want sex, I can get it easily. Why waste time dating? His eyes are fixed on her as she stands up and walks to the fridge, pulling out a bottle of wine. She's not even my type.
"Wine Gaara?" She asks, standing behind him.
He nods silently. The subtle aroma of vanilla drifts from her hair into his nostrils as she leans over him to pour some wine in his glass. I don't even have a type. Their eyes lock as she sits back down across from him. She's attractive, I'll give her that much.
"Is something the matter?" Yoruichi's voice draws him back to reality.
Gaara clears his throat and look down at his plate. Caprese grilled filet mignon.
"Are you going to try it?" Rin asks eagerly.
Gaara hesitates.
"It's really good, Rin made it," Yoruichi says.
Gaara slices off a small bit and places it in his mouth. The filet is tender, melting with the crisp flavor of the roma tomato and the creamy mozzarella. The basil and balsamic vinegar add a bit of a kick that takes him by surprise. His eyes widen.
Rin giggles and claps delightedly.
Her smile lights up her entire face. Gaara feels his entire body growing warm.
I don't have a type….Do I?
…
"I'll catch you guys for dinner," Naruto calls out as he bolts out the door.
"Bye Naruto!" Rin calls out, running into the kitchen just as the blond leaves the apartment.
Gaara looks up from his glass of pomegranate juice.
"Can't believe it's Monday already," Rin says, stretching. She walks over to the table and takes the seat beside him.
Gaara glances at her through the corners of his eyes. Her curls are pulled back from her face in a tight ponytail. She has on a baggy shirt that is at least 3 sizes too large on her and a pair of shorts underneath.
She quickly turns in her seat, startling him. He spills some pomegranate juice on the countertop and on the front of his grey shirt.
"Oh….Sorry, I'll clean it," she says, quickly getting up from her seat and heading to the sink. She places a moist cloth on the spill on the counter. Without skipping a beat, she takes another moist cloth and begins to wipe his shirt.
Gaara gently grabs her wrist. They begin to shake. He looks up at her. She has a bright smile on her face but Gaara notices something else in her eyes. Fear?
"It's fine…I can clean it myself," Gaara says, staring into her cool grey eyes.
She smiles weakly. "Oh right…silly me."
"You're fine," he says, their gazes still locked.
He feels his heart begin to beat faster. His entire body grows warm.
Rin slowly pulls back. She quietly walks to the sink and rinses out the cloths.
"Do you want to head to the studio together?" she calls from the sink.
"Hmm?"
"I…I figured since you have to be there today and since I'll be there…we might as well go together."
"…Sure thing."
…
Rin
She lets out a deep breath. Why am I so nervous? She'd danced in front of Yoruichi and the guys several times before and never felt as nervous as she did now. Gaara. Her heart skips a beat. Get a grip girl. They don't even care about the dancing. They just needed me for art ideas. Yoruichi had taken some really amazing shots of her last week.
Yoruichi. My rock. My love. My everything. We've been through hell and back but you never once left my side. The man I'll marry someday.
"All set?" Sai calls out.
Rin smiles and gives him a thumbs up. She closes her eyes and takes a deep breath.
She quietly begins to hum Monteverdi's Lamento della ninfa to herself as she gets en pointe.
She feels herself let go as her mouth opens and the first words come out, "Amor,"
…
Gaara
Gaara feels chills on his skin. Her voice fills the entire room. He watches, transfixed, as she effortlessly glides across the floor, all the while singing. He had never experienced anything like it before. He looks at the other guys to see if they were experiencing what he was but only sees them taking pictures as if it was nothing. Even Yoruichi was too preoccupied with getting shots to actually watch her. She's amazing.
…
Rin
Her cheeks feel flushed. Feels like I'm flying… She briefly opens her eyes and makes eye contact with Gaara. What she sees in his eyes floors her. No one had ever looked at her like that. She feels a weird sensation in her. Her heart begins to race. Her legs turn to jello and she feels herself fall.
…
Gaara
"Rin!"
He hears a voice…his voice…call out. Before he knows what's happening. Gaara is rushing to her side to help her up.
An awkward silence feels the room as Yoruichi walks close to them.
"You have two seconds to let her go Sabaku," he hisses.
"I'm helping her up," Gaara says simply.
He helps Rin to her feet. She smiles weakly at him and mumbles a shy thank you.
He turns and is face to face with Yoruichi. Both men stand at the same height and are built the same. Gaara's sea foam green eyes lock with Yoruichi's electric blue eyes.
"Don't ever touch her again," he spits.
Gaara stares back at him, a bored expression on his face.
"Or what?"
Gaara's eyes widen. Yoruichi's fist makes contact with his cheek. A metallic taste fills his mouth. I'm bleeding.
"What the fuck Yoruichi!" Rin yells.
"You think I don't see the way you look at her? Let me explain something to you scum... She's out of your league. Girl like her doesn't want someone from an upstart family like yours. Stay the hell away if you know what's good for you."
Gaara hears the other guys burst into laughter.
Gaara smiles. Blood oozes out of his mouth. He opens his mouth and spits the blood on Yoruichi's face before landing a punch that knocks the dark haired man out.
The room falls silent. Not looking back at Rin, Gaara quietly walks out of the studio.
...
"Fuck!" He screams, throwing everything off his desk.
"Fuck!" He bangs his firsts on the table so hard, he draws blood.
What was she doing to him?!
Hands shaking, he opens the drawer on his desk. He pulls out the pouch that Sasori gave him a couple of days ago.
He reaches further into his desk and pulls out a tablespoon, a pack of syringes, a lighter, rubbing alcohol, a band aid, and some cotton balls.
Gaara walks to the bathroom and washes his hands and forearm. He splashes water on his face. He briefly catches his reflection in the bathroom mirror.
He walks back into his room, removing his shirt. Reaching the table, he quickly pours some alcohol on a cotton ball and wipes down his table.
Gaara slowly opens the pouch and pulls out a plastic bag containing white powder.
This is really fine and smooth. Sasori always did have an excellent selection.
When the spoon is almost full, Gaara stops pouring and closes the plastic bag.
Opening another drawer, he pulls out an unopened bottle of water. Gaara opens it and sets it aside before opening a packaged syringe.
Drawing back the plunger, he places the needle into the water, filling the syringe halfway. He places the needle on the spoon, allowing the water to mix with the powder.
He picks up the spoon and lighter. Gaara lights it underneath the spoon, gently moving it from side to side to make sure the heat distributes evenly.
When the powder begins to bubble a bit, Gaara turns off the lighter and places the spoon on the table.
Taking a cotton ball, he tears off a small bit and drops it into the cooling liquid. He pours rubbing alcohol on the leftover piece and rubs it on the inside of his left elbow.
Picking up the syringe, he sticks the needle tip about halfway inside the piece of cotton on the spoon.
Gaara draws the plunger back slowly. Rotating the cotton ball, he watches as the syringe fills up. When the cotton is completely dry, Gaara holds up the syringe to the light. He pushes down on the plunger until a small bit of fluid comes out from the tip of the needle.
He begins to slap and rub his vein gently with his index and middle fingers until it grows and is fairly visible through his pale skin.
He takes the syringe and sticks it into the vein. Gaara allows it to fall slightly so the needle sinks further into his vein. Using his left hand, he holds it securely in his vein while pulling the plunger back with his right one. Some blood rushes into the plunger. Gaara pushes it inward, emptying the contents into his vein.
He slowly removes the needle from his vein and picks up a cotton ball. He places pressure on it and then puts a bandaid over it.
Gaara lets out a sigh. He walks to his bed. Lowering himself onto the sheets, he closes his eyes
I don't have a type.