"That's them huh?"

"…still can't believe it…"

"They could do so much better"

"I hate them."

"Fags…"

Comments like these had followed Gaara and Naruto since first period that morning. Some hadn't cared, but those who did, made sure their feelings were heard by all. They could practically feel the stares boring into them as they sat down for lunch.

"You know, I think I preferred invisibility, " Naruto said with a grumble. Gaara nodded in agreement. Then they sat in silence, both deep in thought.

Their quiet meditations were interrupted by the arrival of Sasuke and Neji.

"So how has you guys day been?"

"Usual idiots and such, you?"

"Not much worse for wear."

"Good."

"Do you guys not eat?" Sasuke asked, noting the lack of food in front of both Naruto and Gaara.

"No money."

"Like my dad would feed me," Gaara said with a harsh laugh.

"Well, you have to eat something," Neji said. Sasuke nodded in agreement, and they both began to divide their food.

"No, really…"

"We'll be fine."

"Just eat it."

"…but…" Gaara was bent on protesting.

"Come on. Do it. For me." Neji begged.

Gaara grabbed a piece of food and began to eat. Sasuke may have imagined it, but he was quite sure he heard Gaara mumble out, "Cheater."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Draw something important to you," Kakashi their art teacher instructed before quickly sitting down and reburying his face in his little book.

Well that's a broad topic. Gaara thought for a little while longer, then grabbed a stick of charcoal and began to draw.

30MINUTESLATER

Naruto sat there biting the end of his pencil. Something still wasn't right, and besides, no one could ever see this drawing anyways. He began to rip the page out of his sketchbook. Time to start over. A hand stopped him from completing the rip.

"You know dobe, I'm not quite what to think of you trying to rip me up."

Naruto froze. Damn!

He blushed crimson red when Sasuke leaned over his shoulder to get a better look.

"Pretty good dobe, but something's missing…"

Sasuke put his other arm around Naruto and took his pencil out of his hand. Naruto blushed deeper as Sasuke got closer.

Sasuke whispered quietly into Naruto's ear. "Now, close your eyes." Naruto complied, and for the next twenty minutes he sat there with his eyes shut lost in the scratching of pencil on paper and the rhythm of Sasuke's breath.

Naruto was rather disappointed when Sasuke pulled back slightly to whisper in his ear. "You can open them now dobe."

Naruto opened his eyes, and his breath caught in his throat.

There was Sasuke. Naruto had drawn him with his usual annoyed expression, but it was the addition that took his breath away. Now, Naruto was there too. Arms thrown around Sasuke from behind with a huge smile on his face. Across the top the words The most Important Thing were scrawled in neat cursive.

Finally Naruto regained his voice, "Thank you…"

"Your welcome dobe," Sasuke replied as he linked his arms back around Naruto. Naruto leaned into the embrace and felt the light brush of lips on his neck.

So this is what love feels like.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

10 minutes later, Kakashi was walking around to check that they had actually spent their hour creating something. A smile graced his face when he saw the boys' picture.

"Good job guys."

The next one he stopped at was Gaara. All that was in front of him was a blank page of a sketchbook.

"You didn't draw anything?" Kakashi said in slight disbelief.

Gaara nodded.

He let out a sigh. "Gaara, you haven't drawn anything the past couple of weeks. You do realize that you are in an art class, right?"

Gaara nodded.

"Do you also realize that in order to pass you must draw something?"

Gaara did not respond.

Kakashi shook his head," Just see me after class."

Kakashi waked on, stopping next in front of Neji, who also had only a blank page in front of him. "Hyuga, don't tell me you're taking after your boyfriend and didn't draw anything also?"

Neji blushed and shook his head. He flipped back a page in his sketchbook. On it was an elaborately drawn kanji symbol for love, dripping…blood?

"Eh…heh…well done'" Kakashi finally replied, obviously slightly uncomfortable by the rather disturbing image. He walked away rather quickly.

Neji laughed as he closed the book and got up to leave.

"You didn't need to scare him you know."

"But it was fun," Neji countered. "I'll see you outside, alright?"

"Later." Gaara turned towards the front desk. "You wanted to see me?"

"Not you really, just that sketchbook."

"Why?" Gaara clutched said book closer to him. He had no intention of ever letting anyone see this book.

"Because Gaara, you draw in it every day, then turn around and say you have nothing to show me."

"So?" Gaara asked defensively.

"So, unless you want to fail this class, you'll show it to me."

"…but…" Damn I can't fail a class. The last time I got a B was bad enough. Gaara shuddered at the memory. "There's no way out of this is there?"

"No."

Gaara handed over the book.

Kakashi began to quickly flip through the pages of the book. He paused to appreciate a few, but Gaara could not tell which one's they were. When he was finished, he smiled slightly and handed the book back to Gaara.

"So, do I fail?"

"No, those are quite good, in fact, I think they might be good enough to win at the Expo. If you are willing to enter them."

"No way." There's no way anyone is ever going to see these. I'm burning them when I get home.

"Just think on it okay, and whatever you do, don't burn those up, they're beautiful." Kakashi paused for a moment. "You know, if you won the Expo, you'd be set for college next year."

That made Gaara's fast moving mind falter in its process of figuring out how to destroy every picture. "College?"

"Yeah, they're sponsoring the winner to go to a college of their choice."

"Really?"

"Uh-huh."

I'd have a way to escape. Perfect! "You know Kakashi, I might take you up on that offer."

Gaara walked out, thoughts running through his head. If I did win, it would mean I could go as far from my dad as I wanted, but it would also mean showing people my pictures. "Do I really want everyone to see them?"

"See what?" Neji asked, interested in the red head's brooding expression. Gaara eyes widened in surprise, he hadn't realized Neji had waited for him in the hall. He was vaguely aware of Neji taking the sketchbook out of his hands, but the fact of it didn't really register in his shocked mind until Neji had opened it and started looking at the pages.

"Give that back!" He tried to grab the book away, but Neji easily dodged the attempt and continued to flip through the book. Gaara made a couple more attempts before giving up and watching helplessly as Neji flipped through the book.

I don't get it. What's up with him. These aren't half-bad; in fact they're quite good. Neji glanced at a sketch of Naruto and Sasuke together, Sasuke drawing over Naruto's shoulder. I don't get what he was so worried about.

"You know, I don't see why you're so defensive, these aren't that ba…" His voice trailed off, and Gaara realized he must have reached that page.

He turned and ran.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

I'm in an evil mood today, so I'll leave it there. What is that picture? (Cackles evilly) You will never know.

Kidding, kidding, you'll now when I update again. Whenever that is.

Millions of thanks to all of those who have reviewed. I never thought I'd get over 50. Thank you so very much.