..Chapter Eleven..

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"What?"

Temari smiled warmly at her brother. Ok, his heated gaze didn't look the least bit welcoming. Honestly she should be a little more fearful. But, in truth, she just couldn't help but smile. She'd caught her brother making out. With Hinata Hyuuga. She'd been right. He did like her. A hell of a lot more than she'd first anticipated. Thankfully, for him, she wasn't going to bring it much attention.

She looked over at Hinata as the girl slowly, painfully from the looks of it, pulled herself away from Gaara. "Have you asked him yet, Hina?"

"Huh..?" The lavender eyed girl blinked at her. Ask? Ask about what? She was still in a daze, her fingers touching her lips. She could still taste Gaara there.

Temari's lips twitched as she crossed her arms over her chest. "About tonight."

"Oh..." she murmured softly, still not really recalling what the blond upper classman was talking about. She looked down at the floor, thinking. What was she asking her about? Tonight... "Oh!" Hinata exclaimed suddenly and looked over at Temari. "The sleep over, right?"

Temari nodded, hiding her grin.

Hinata looked over at Gaara. "Um... some friends wanted to know if we'd mind they hanging out at our place for the night. I said I didn't mind but I wanted to know how you felt?" She was really nervous about asking him. Her voice had shook slightly, but, she did manage to keep it from stuttering.

Gaara's lips twitched and he glanced over at Temari a moment. He reached down and grabbed his fallen drumsticks. As he was standing he reached for Hinata's cello case. He offered it to her. When she took it he just nodded, waited, and offered his hand. He restrained himself from blushing as she took his hand with a brilliant smile.

"Bye, Temari!" Hinata called as she walked off with him.

All the tall blond could do was smirk their retreating figures. She still had a lot to do then. And it was just past eight o'clock. If the group wanted to have any amount of fun she'd have to hurry; that and avoid the boys. Yeah right.

As she turned and headed out to find the girls the thought of avoiding Naruto, Sasuke and possibly Sai seemed all too impossible...

ooo

"Dumbass, give me the controller."

"Hn..." Sasuke dodged his lunge for the black corded video game controller. "Fuck you, it's my turn, dropout."

Naruto growled with a smirk and pounced on him.

For a moment Sasuke's eyes widened as he tried avoid the collision a little too late. Naruto hit his chest and grabbed onto him like a life grip. He grunted and hit the floor up against the side of the bed in their room with an 'oof'. "Get off of me, asshat!" He was pushing on him, pulling on his shirt in any attempt to just get him off of him.

"Not until you give me the controller!"

"Dude, you're messing up my hair!"

Naruto snickered. "Oh? Reeeeaaaaallllyyy?" And then he reached up, trying to mess it up more.

Sasuke tried to smack his hands away. "I swear, man, if even one strand is out of pla...ce." He blinked up at the hallway leading to their bedroom door.

Sakura blinked back and then looked at the position they were in.

Sasuke looked down and realized Naruto was between his legs, one hand tangled in his hair and the other around his waist... halfway up the back of his shirt. Oh, hell. If it weren't embarrassing enough... He put on his best irritated look and hazarded a gaze up at her.

She smirked, arms crossed over her chest as she leaned her frame against the end of short hallway leading into their room. Her head rested at a slant on the same wall. She arched a brow at them.

"Eh..." Sasuke began..."I ah... This is so not what it looks like.." He growled and hit Naruto on the head as he tried to make it worse by snuggling into him.

"Aww..." Naruto pouted, trying to make it a lot worse. "...I thought you loved me."

"Like a brother!" He was pushing again.

Naruto snickered. Really, he was just trying to get on his nerves. However, few things prepared him for the sentence he heard come out of Sakura's mouth next.

"You know," she drawled with a slight smirk, "I've always wanted to have a threesome."

And then the room went dead silent....

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Sakura just chuckled and turned around, walking out. "See you at the sleepover tonight...boys. Hinata's place."

There was still silence in the room. A moment or two passed by. A faucet dripped from in the bathroom. A clock ticked on the wall. Even a beep of an alarm was heard on a watch in the far corner.

"Dude..." Naruto began.

Sasuke was silent.

"Sakura is..."

"Hn..?" He managed to get out.

"Kinda kinky..."

Sasuke took this opportunity of stunned silence to shove his best friend off of him. "Yeah, well, I'm not boning you."

Naruto frowned and then glared. "Oh yeah? Well I wasn't going to ask anyway!"

"Good," he snorted.

Silence.

"Hey... Sasuke..."

"...What?"

"You're thinking about it aren't you?"

The distinct sound of a controller hitting a wall was heard from the outside. Followed by... "Ha! Ha! Pervert!"

ooo

Temari, Ino and Sakura rounded the hallway, all talking and laughing as they neared the elevator. Several bags were in their arms and a box or two. All three were dressed in simply pj's. Well, Ino and Temari were. Sakura was never simple in her night wear. Tight little boy shorts hugged her butt and thighs as it rode low on her waist. The top matched the colors of pink and black. It was spaghetti strapped with the words 'force of nature' blazed on the front in pink.

"Oh, by the way, I invited the boys," Sakura winked.

Temari's lips twitched. "Which ones?"

Ino laughed. "Who do you think? Sasuke, Naruto and most likely Sai."

Sakura's brows arched slightly.

Ino grinned with surprise. "You invited someone else?" Sakura tried to look innocent. "You did! Who? How many?"

Temari frowned. Sakura was, at times, known for being a bit of a fire starter. She never really intended to... but... Temari did not want a large party going on in her brother's room. He was nice enough to have agree to it in the first place. Taking advantage of that, even by accident, would not be cool.

"Oh, only one other guy."

"Who?" Ino asked again. She could be so impatient.

"Shikamaru Nara."

Temari glared at her. "You didn't!" She did not get along with Nara at all. He was a pain in the ass and a chauvinist. Ok, maybe she was being a little too hard. He wasn't really a chauvinist. Most times he just tried to be annoyingly chivalrous. She just didn't get along with him at all! Temari was very much her own woman. And she didn't need some guy opening doors for her or fighting her battles. Anytime she got in an argument with a guy over something he was just... there... annoying the shit out of her like he was her bloody protector.

Sakura smirked. "I did."

Ino was smiling as she tried to adjust the packages in her arms. "Oh, he's not that bad, 'Mari. He's decently handsome and smart."

"He's lazy, he complains a lot and he's always butting his nose in my business." She frowned and pushed the button for the elevator. "I don't need some bonehead to protect me. I'm more than capable of taking care of myself. Whether its with words or not."

Sakura sighed as they stepped into the cramped space. She leaned into the wall after pushing the button to got up.

"Well," Ino began, "this deserves a change in subject. One of us got liquor right?"

Sakura nodded with a cute smile. "I got the hard stuff. Sasuke and Naruto are getting the beer."

Ino nodded. "I got some vodka and things to mix in with the drinks. You get some shot glasses, Temari?"

"Yeah," she smiled slightly, trying to get the image of Nara out of her head. "And..." She smirked. "I've got a fun game for tonight."

"Devious," both Sakura and Ino said at once.. earning themselves a bout of laughter in the elevator.

"What's the game?" Ino asked, peering into one of the bags Temari had. She laughed as the older woman shooed her away. "Don't be all sneaky on us now. Spill."

Temari shrugged. "Nothing too abnormal. I was thinking some spin the bottle and truth or dare."

Sakura wrinkled her nose. "That won't be any fun." She shuffled her bags in her arms as they walked out of the elevator.

"Sure it will," Temari smirked as she picked up her things and followed after the two girls. "Because, we're going to play it totally wasted."

"Man, if you keep this up, 'Mari I won't be able to go to classes tomorrow." Ino mock pouted.

Temari snorted. "We don't have to be in class until noon. If you can't get your premadonna ass outah bed before then you've got serious issues."

Sakura laughed in front of them.

Ino stuck her tongue out at Temari. "Yeah, well, what about Hina? I don't think she'll want to participate... " Her brow furrowed as they got closer to the short set of stairs.

"Don't worry about her. She'll have fun. No one's going to make her do anything she doesn't want to. Especially with my brother around." Temari stopped behind Sakura as she knocked on the door at the top of the stairs.

Ino arched a brow. "Gaara?"

She nodded.

"Have they been getting closer?" It's not like Ino hadn't noticed. Everyone who was anyone knew by now that Gaara had carried Hinata out of Hidan's room. And everyone knew it had been Gaara who'd smashed the guy's face in for hurting Hinata. Ino didn't blame him. If she'd had half a chance at the guy she'd of done more than mess his face up.

"Seems that way." Temari smiled. "I'm happy for him."

"Hm..."

"Ino?" Temari asked.

Ino shrugged. "No offense.. I mean I know he's your brother and everything. But.. Gaara? It's hard to imagine him being... cuddly with anyone."

The blond woman's lips turned into a knowing smirk. "Yeah, well," she whispered low, "you missed them making out in the hallways earlier tonight."

"No way!"

Temari nodded. "Mhm..." However, despite how she had seen her brother treat the ebony haired woman... she was still worried. Her brother had a lot of preconceived ideas about himself. And she was worried.. that even if Hinata managed to breech his cold exterior... he'd still withdraw from her at some point. And she was waiting for it. She was afraid for not only him... but for Hinata. His own fear of the beast within... well, it might not be enough for Hinata to overcome..

Ino arched a brow. "What?" Temari looked worried.

She faked a smile. "Nothing. I'm good." Just then the door opened to reveal a smiling Hinata and all three women walked in with their arms full of goodies.

ooo

Sakura went about setting everything up and turning on the music. Ino organized the drinks when the guys came in. Temari roped Shikamaru into popping the tops on a few bottles. Overall everyone was having a good time it seemed. Well, everyone accept for Gaara.

The red head just sorta stood in a corner or the room with a bottle in his hand, trying hard not the shatter the container under the pressure of his fingers. It's not even that he really hated everyone being in here. He'd told Hinata it was fine. What was driving him insane was the fact there were people here at all. Gaara hated crowds. He hated too many voices talking at once. All he wanted to do was go into his room and go to bed with a set of ear plugs or buds.

He inhaled deeply and tried counting down from ten.

The room wasn't too small and there really weren't too many people. He just felt like his senses were on fire and didn't have a clue as to what to do about it. In high school and even in college he'd tolerated the crowds with music. He just shut them out by concentrating on the sound coming from his headphones. His teachers never said too much about it because they knew how he could be. He'd at least taken the time to explain it to them for his own personal grip on sanity... however loose it was.

Here in school he just took routes that were... longer... but allowed for him to avoid too many people. And the party he tried to attend with Hinata? He supposed he'd been too concerned for her to worry about his own instabilities. He sighed an closed his eyes. He felt a hand on his wrist and they flashed open immediately.

Hinata...

She smiled at him, rubbing his arm gently. "Are you alright?"

He didn't want to speak. His cool aqua hues just stared at her as he tried to calm the rapid beating of his own heart.

She frowned and leaned in close to him. "It's ok, Gaara..." She was whispering.

For a moment he felt soothed. The raging torment inside of him began to slow down... He closed his eyes and exhaled.

"Do you want some fresh air?"

He nodded and let her lead him towards the sliding glass doors. It wasn't an quieter out here... but all the chaos was a safe distance below them, at the bottom of the seven story drop. The buzz of the sirens and hustle of the crowds hazed to a dull mixed hum of serene insanity.

"It's nice..." Hinata mused as she looked down at the people and cars milling about.

"It is," he agreed because he didn't know what else to say. He was once more reminded of just how comforted and off kilter at the same time he was by her presence. She was lovely, she was quiet, she had eyes that reminded him of an angel in waiting. He instantly regretted not getting the chance to dance with her at the party.

And yet... at the same time he knew she was far too good for him. She deserved someone who would shower her with soft smiled and kind words. Someone who would treat her like the treasure she was. Someone... who would never risk loosing themselves in a bout of violence and hurting her because of some... bloody mess of emotions threatening to burst at the seam at a moment's notice.

He glanced over at her out of the corner of his eyes, noticing the way the moonlight glowed a halo of white around her head. Her hair seemed to shine in the reflection. He found himself wanted to reach out and touch it. He found himself wanting her like the fish wants to fly. Like the grass pleads for the rain in a drought. Like the moon wanted the sun, simpering in it's mere reflection of glorious light. He didn't fancy himself a poet... but for Hinata he felt like a playright.

"Do you ever miss your family?" She asked softly, still looking out over the city.

"Not really," he replied evenly. "My siblings are here and my father is more concerned with his business than us."

"Ah.." she nodded.

He couldn't help but ask, "And you? Do you miss your family?"

She smiled sadly and looked downward, idly picking at the sleeve of her shirt. "I do..."

He nodded, assuming she didn't want to talk about it. He could respect that. There were many parts, sides of himself he didn't want to share with others.

"Have you ever lost anyone?"

He blinked a moment and then looked over at her, a soft breeze tussling his erratic strands. Lost someone? Hm.. The only person he'd ever lost was his mother. He'd never know her. "My mother."

"How old were you?"

He smirked slightly as she held his eyes with her own. Did she have any idea the affect she had on him? The way she held him in her soft grasp? She could most likely ask him for the world and he'd do the best he could to accommodate her. "I never knew her well... It happened when I was born." He turned to look back at the nightlife. "Sometimes I think my father blames me for her death."

Hinata looked horrified. "That's terrible..."

He shrugged and took a sip of his beer. "I've never known anything different."

"Still..."

He sighed, not really wanting to get into it. He didn't want anyone's pity, least of all hers. "Have you ever lost anyone?"

Her lips pursed a bit and she kept her gaze downward. He figured she didn't want to speak on it.

"You don't have to--"

"No," she smiled, "it's alright. I think I'm ready to now. I need to."

He nodded, not sure what to say. He didn't mind being burdened with her heartache.

She sighed as another brush of wind teased her black strands. "I had a brother. He was a few years older than me. And he was going to leave for college. We did everything together." She smiled. "He was always telling me to be less conservative and have more fun. To not worry about what anyone thought and just be myself."

Gaara found himself smiling slightly at her story. He could see himself telling her much the same thing.

"The day before he left for college my dad and him got into an argument over me."

He arched a questioning brow and took another sip of the beer. She seemed to catch this and explained.

"I wanted to go to school here. In LA... but my father was against it because the city can be pretty dangerous. It was my dream... it still is. And Vaughn wanted to see that happen. My father..." she sighed, "he can be very protective of me."

He just let her go on, listening as he told the story.

"Well... that night I had tickets to see Flogging Molly, my brother's favorite band. It took me weeks to get those tickets." She grinned. "I wasn't going to let them go to waste. So, I got him to sneak out with me and go to the concert." She was chuckling now. "We even pushed the car out of the driveway and halfway down the block so it wouldn't wake up our parents."

No matter how amusing it looked in his mind Gaara just couldn't seem to picture little Hinata pushing a beater down the road to avoid waking up her parents. He found his lips twitching upward.

And then her face turned sad. Gaara found this disheartening, but still didn't comment.

"On the way home..." she whispered, "we were singing and laughing in the car." Hinata felt everything around her become harsher. She could hear the screech of wheels in her mind. She could see the headlights again. She choked down a sob and forced herself to go on. "I... I told him to take a short cut. We barely had time to see the headlights from the other driver. He rode right through the stop sign." She felt a tear start to fall, but, persevered. "He was drunk and never hit the breaks when he slammed into my brother's side of the car." She placed a hand over her mouth and shut her eyes and the wetness trailed down her cheeks.

"When I woke up at the hospital..." She felt herself trail off and muscular arms wrapped about her, holding her in a tender embrace. She found her face in his chest and his large hand soothingly running down her head. His other clung to her. He didn't say anything and he didn't need to to. So, she just stood there, comforted by his embrace and cried.

"It was my fault," She choked out against his chest. "I shouldn't have..." She sobbed. "I shouldn't have made him go out. He went out for me."

He held her tighter, resting his chin on top of her head and she closed his eyes. "It's not." He stated.

"But..."

"You weren't the drunk driver. It's not your fault."

"Gaara.."

"Quit blaming yourself. He'd hate to see you like this."....a pause. "...I do."

She let out a long sigh and nodded. She wasn't quite sure if she agreed with him completely... but for now the sensation of being held in his arms, him telling her she was alright and not in the wrong... it was enough for her senses to feel at ease...

And she had to ask herself...

...Am I in love?