A/N: The promised second update! Also, I wanted to remind you all this story is probably gonna wrap up soon unless people say they want more (via review or PM) cause right now things are planned out.
I stared at Gaara with my slack jaw and managed to ask, "Are you fucking mental?" He simply smiled at my foul language and shruged provoking me to continue. "You want me to get up on in stage, in front of a crowd of drunken assholes, and sing? Are. You. Fucking. Mental?"
He shook his head and chuckles. "I was mental for letting you into my house, but I am not being mental right now."
I leaned back in my chair and put my feet up against the legs of the table pushing myself back away from it. "I can't sing. No, let me rephrase that. I have an alright voice from when I used to do beauty pageants and that was always my talent bu-"
"You did pageants? Did you woo the judges with your charming language and lovely glare?"
"Hey pal, you're the first person to give me the guts to curse and glare. Before you I was terrified to speak, so you can thank yourself for my ladylike behavior."
"Touché. Anyways, pick a song and sing it. Just come up on stage with me and sing a song or two and then go back to waitressing. Guys want a hot chick up on stage."
"And my main goal is to turn on horny drunk guys while slinking around a stage like a pro hooker since when?"
"I never said you had to turn on anyone. But if you're offering..." This was the Gaara that made me laugh. The Gaara that I could mouth off to and let out steam on without getting hit for it or being hated. Certainly none of my friends, or at least the drinking ones, had appreciated my sharp tongue.
"Only in your dreams. I doubt even there though because when I'm imaginary, I'll still turn you down." Gaara smirked at me and I couldn't help but return the gesture. He continued to stare at me with that devilish smirk and I had to give in while throwing my hands up in surrender. "Fine! Fine! I'll have Temari doll me up and then I'll do a set or two and be on my way. Happy?" The widening of his smirk told me yes.
When I got downstairs and made my way up onto the stage, I could feel Gaara's eyes on me and looked up to see him smirking. I blushed a deep red, something I hadn't done since high school, and shooed him with her right hand to tell him to get back to work setting up and tuning his guitar. When the time came for her to make her way to the mic she took a deep breath before stepping up and smiling.
"Hello. I'm Sakura and I'll be doing some singing tonight. If you know the words to this next song, please sing along."
'I wanted you to know I love the way you laugh
I wanna hold you high and steal your pain away
I keep your photograph, I know it serves me well
I wanna hold you high and steal your pain'
She had to turn to smile at Gaara through her words, knowing he understood the look she gave him. This song was for that red haired idiot. Gaara stood back watching his favorite pink haired girl sing her heart out. While her voice wasn't perfect, especially on some of the lower notes because of her naturally high voice, she had a strong voice that reminded him of a cross between Christina Aguilara and Kelly Clarkson. Strong and able to hit insane notes, but also able to soften and bring in the deep emotion of a song.
' 'Cause I'm broken when I'm lonesome
And I don't feel right when you're gone away
You're gone away
The worst is over now and we can breathe again
I wanna hold you high, you steal my pain away
There's so much left to learn, and no one left to fight
I wanna hold you high and steal your pain
'Cause I'm broken when I'm open
And I don't feel like I am strong enough
'Cause I'm broken when I'm lonesome
And I don't feel right when you're gone away
'Cause I'm broken when I'm open
And I don't feel like I am strong enough
'Cause I'm broken when I'm lonesome
And I don't feel right when you're gone away
You're gone away
You don't feel me here anymore'
"Thank You all for having me tonight!" She was about to step off stage when she heard cheers on encore but they only really caught her attention when Gaara joined in. She stared dumbly at the red head for several moments; shocked he wanted her to continue since her singing voice had been something she'd always been teased for. Eventually she took the challenge returned to the mic and began singing one of her other favorites, Family Portrait by P!nk.
'Mama please stop crying
I can't stand the sound...'