"Don't forget, guys, you all have to start studying for finals! The school year's already almost halfway over, so you're all gonna' have to keep me company after you leave," Mr. Hatake says to us as the bell rings and students begins to leave.

I walk slower than usual today, speaking with Shikamaru of his plans for his life- he didn't want anything fancy, just a good job, nice place, and a pretty lady to come home to.

"So, what are you gonna' do when you get out of here, huh?"

Before I can answer, I am being pulled back by my collar. I turn to see who is doing it and see none other than Mr. Hatake, he scarf covering his mouth, but a smile obviously on his face. "May I speak with you alone for a moment, Gaara?"

I look to Shikamaru, who nods understandingly then waves and leaves the room.

"What is it, Mr. Hatake?" I ask. What could he possibly need to talk to me about in private?

The smile never leaves his voice as he speaks. "I've noticed that you and Naruto have become very…close," he began.

I nod slowly. "Yes…"

"And I believe he truly likes you."

"I believe this also."

He put a hand on my shoulder. "Good, that means we're both on the same page here. Now, I just wanted to tell you that if you think that you can toy with him until you get bored, then you're sadly mistaken." His eyes stare at me with such intensity I have to turn away. "That boy has been through so much in his life and the last thing he needs is his heart ripped out again."

"I know," I say quietly.

He raises an eyebrow at me. "You do?"

I don't answer, as I do when I must repeat myself. "I won't hurt Naruto, Mr. Hatake. I know what he's been through and I know the pain of losing someone you love. Believe me, I will never harm him."

Mr. Hatake is silent for a moment, and then his smile sounds again. "I do believe you, Gaara. I was kinda just testing you, trying to see how you would react. And I have to say, I'm pretty impressed." He pushes me towards the door. "You can go now, Gaara. I have to hurry home now!"

I look at him for a moment before turning and leaving. I see a bundle of blonde spikes peeking around a corner. I immediately recognize it as Naruto and head down the hall towards him.

I am slightly anxious to see the blonde- I got an idea from Shikamaru for our first "date" that I want him to hear. Shikamaru told me in class that we should go place both of us are comfortable. I didn't want to be surrounded by people and it had to be some place Naruto would enjoy, something that held great interest to him. Shikamaru asked me what Naruto liked and I told him that he had told me that he did enjoy history, so maybe a museum would be a good place, early evening.

I like it, so I think Naruto will also, but I need to know if he will or not, I think approaching him.

But I hear someone else's voice with his. I slow, though I don't completely stop. Instead I listen.

"-what your friends did to me?"

"I apologized and they were severely punished for that. I'm so sorry they hurt you, Naruto," the other person says passionately.

I hear something hit and someone suck in air in pain. I know it wasn't Naruto because immediately after he speaks. "What do you think you're doing?" I could hear the anger in his voice. "You think after all this time you can just come back here and put the moves on me? Don't touch me!"

Clothing fabric shifts. "But, Naruto…I thought you…liked me?"

"Yeah, three years ago, before you left me out in the rain to die!" Another set of steps.

"I was stupid for that-," the person admits.

"You're stupid for thinking I would just let you have me," Naruto says over him.

"-but I realized something when I left…I liked you too. And I never stopped, even after all this time." Naruto mumbles something in response that I don't quite catch. "So...is there…someone else…you like now?"

I strain to hear his answer. There is the distant sound of students going to clubs or leaving late for home drowning the sound.

"No…no, there isn't anyone I like."

My heart sinks to the lowest pit of my stomach and then rips at his words. I feel dizzy, like I wasn't in my body, just watching through its eyes. The whole school is a blur to me and I sway in the middle of the hall, trying not to fall.

I wobbled to the bathroom in time to nearly knock my head on the sinks. I groan lowly, glaring at myself in the mirror.

My eyes were red, tears threatening to roll down my cheeks. I feel angry…angry and betrayed.

I knew this would happen.

I knew that if I grew close enough to him, it would only lead to more pain.

My anger grows more and more until it's all I can think about.

I stare at myself, see the anger in my face as clearly as the sky. My fist flexes on the sink and I stick my nails in the soft skin of my palm. But that's not enough to calm me down.

My hand pulls back and thrust forward quickly, so quickly I barely have to recognize the dull throbbing of my knuckles and the blood running down both the mirror and my flesh.

There was a spider web of cracks in the mirror, making way for the blood to flow.

I stare at my blood. It drips into the sink rhythmically, creating puddles in the drain. As the flow slows, I realize something.

Only I can love myself. I love myself enough to stop this bleeding, to watch myself carefully in the mirror. I don't need to be loved by anyone else, as long as I'm still alive, that should be enough for me.

Because, if I was dead, I wouldn't be able to enact my revenge.

I have a lot to say today, just little knit-picky things

-How can Gaara even hear the sound of fabric when he can barely hear Naruto's whisper?

-I feel like I've been using a lot of time skips. Have I? Is it bothering anyone?

-And for the pervs out there, should I have another mature scene? I feel like I should…I dunno.

(so how have you all been ^.^?)