Chapter 2 New kids change everything

Sakura stopped a house away from her house. She peered over a tall hedge, cautiously. Yep that's my mom, who else would were a silly red and purple sundress like that? Sakura then focused herself on the 2 strangers that her mom was talking to. One was a man. He had the biggest thickest, hairiest eyebrows she had ever seen. He also wore a strange green outfit. Sakura almost fainted. Right beside him was a teenage boy, around her age. He also had huge hairy, bushy eyebrows. And he was also wearing a ridiculous green suit thing. They must be related or something. Sakura blinked, her mom was laughing? Usually she only laughed if she was entertaining company, or she was… Oh no! Sakura's eyes widened. Was she dating him? Sakura suddenly stiffened. The weird kid, he had seen her. Sakura ducked down behind the hedge. Eyes wide, heart beating fast. Her mom's voice floated over the hedge, her barrier "Sakura! Sakura are you there? Come over here right now." Sakura closed her eyes and counted to ten. She didn't want to meet the weird people. "Hi!" a voice suddenly called out. Sakura opened her eyes and screamed.

The weirdo, Hairy Eyebrow Kid, He'd found her. Staring at her. Sakura jumped up. Quickly brushing away small bits of leaves from the hedge she blushed. Stupid, he's probably new around here, stop acting like a jerk! Bad Inner Sakura had other things to say. That Jerk! How dare he scare me like that! I otta! Sakura shook her head. "Hi" she mumbled. She glanced over at her mom, begging for help. Her mom waved at her to come over. Sakura gratefully obliged. She heard the boy following her. She clenched her fists. She walked onto the porch and to her mom's side, glaring at the newcomers. "Hello Sakura, It's nice to see you. This is Guy; he's my new boss at work. He just moved here. Unfortunately his house caught fire right before he came here, so now it's under construction. I was wondering, could his son, Rock Lee stay with you for a few weeks?"

Sakura nodded. "Sure" she said glumly. Mom needs money so I have to help her, even if it means letting fuzzy bows over there stay at my house she thought sourly. If she had been younger and her mind still had been on that stage where it thinks all guys could be perverts she would have yelled at her mom. Sakura glanced at the boy. He grinned back. He stuck out his arm and gave her the thumbs up. "My name is Rock Lee. You can call me Lee. I hope we get to be great friends". Sakura stood there gaping at him. "You're weird" she finally managed to say. Sakura's mom tapped her on the head. "Don't be rude" Sakura glared at her mom. Inner Sakura: How dare he talk to me! Doesn't he know that the host introduces themselves first! That little freak! Sakura managed a half assed smile in his direction. It was returned by a smile as bright as the sun. Don't get any ideas mister…

"This is your bedroom" Sakura said. She stepped out of the way so Lee could get in. She sighed. When Sakura's mom had finally stopped talking to Guy, she suggested that she bring Lee over to her house and let him settle in. She had just finished giving Lee the tour of her house. So far Lee seemed fairly ok. He was funny and sweet, polite and happy. Maybe they would be friends. They liked the same stuff. Sakura missed having boys that were only friends. She hardly ever saw Naruto and Sasuke anymore. Hinata and Ino were ok, but they weren't as fun boys. Hanging with the dudes always ended up with fun. They were always thinking up exciting things to do. She sometimes saw Kiba, but he was mostly chasing after Hinata. They were secretly going out. Sakura had come across them kissing in an alley once. Hinata, always being shy, didn't want anyone to know, so Sakura promised she wouldn't tell. Most of the other male ninjas were off on dangerous missions. She herself had gone on many missions, but then decided she would like to be a nurse instead.

Sakura leaned against the door frame and watched as Lee looked around. The room had a mattress in the corner, 2 windows, and a small dresser. Sakura knew all Lee saw was a plain old room. But it wasn't just any plain old room. It was the room that Gaara slept in when he visited. Sakura scratched at the door frame with her finger. She was able to find small bits of sand. She smiled. It may have just been her, but she thought the room still smelled slightly like Gaara. She glanced at Lee; he was looking curiously at her. "Sorry, what?" she asked. Lee smiled. "I said, does anyone else live here besides you?" Sakura blushed and looked away. "I have a special guest sometimes" she said. Lee nodded. Sakura smiled dreamily, remembering Gaara. "I'll leave you now, so you can settle into your room" she said dreamily. She walked out of the room and into her own room. She walked out and leaned out the window. "Gaara, where are you? I miss you so much." She asked, gazing out into the forest where she first found him. "Who's Gaara?" a voice suddenly asked.

Sakura whirled around, hand reaching for a small dagger she kept at her side. Another hand reached out swiftly and stopped her. Lee stood there, one hand around her wrist. Sakura glared at him, but he smiled back. "Sorry" he said. "I didn't mean to scare you, I was just wondering if you wanted to show me around the town?" Sakura blushed and looked away. Why am I so jumpy? I've never been this jump, or shy. I usually let my Bad inner self go wild, but now I'm not. Why am I keeping her locked up? I shouldn't be worried about embarrassing myself in front Lee. "Sakura?" lee asked. Sakura blinked. "Sorry and um... Sure, I'll show you around the town, Lee" she smiled at him. At least he's polite. Lee grinned back. Sakura shyly looked away. Geeze, I'm acting like a little wimp. What the hell is wrong with me? Another little voice crept into her head. Maybe you think he's cute. Maybe you like him…. Sakura shook her head. No! I have Gaara! I only need Gaara! "No!" she accidentally yelled out the last word. Lee raised one of his bushy eyebrows in confusion. "What? You won't show me around town?" Sakura shook her head again. "Sorry Lee, Of course I'll show you around town. I just had a small headache, but it's gone now" She turned and headed toward the door, but a hand on her shoulder stopped her. "Sakura…." Sakura turned around, about to yell at Lee for grabbing her, but stopped. Lee's eyes were filled with concern. "If you're not feeling well then its ok, you don't have to show me. I can wait. You don't have to over exert yourself for my sake." Sakura shook her head. "I'm fine" she said. "Come on, lets go" she hurried toward the front door, and waited for lee. While waiting she went into deep thought. What's wrong with me? I'm acting like a shy embarrassed love struck kid. All Lee can become is a friend, nothing more. The now much hated sly voice crept into her head. You saw how Lee acted when you said you had a headache. You miss that concern. You lust for it. Gaara has never shown it like that. You're torn between becoming more and friends with Lee, and Gaara. Maybe you and Gaara are just too different to be together. Maybe….

"Stop!" Sakura grabbed her head and slid to the ground. Shaking. That's not my inner voice. My inner voice would be yelling and screaming. What's wrong with me? Sakura suddenly felt arms wrap around her shoulders. Lee…. "What's wrong?" Lee asked. Sakura felt greatly comforted by Lee's small gesture. She leaned against him. "Nothing, just thinking about painful confusing stuff, it's not your problem." She had felt Lee stiffen when she leaned on him, now he was more relaxed. "Are you sure you're ok?" he asked again. Sakura nodded. "Yeah" she said. "Thanks Lee". Somehow she knew Lee was smiling. "No Problem, that's what friends are for. You need a shoulder to cry on, or lean on, you got both of mine" he replied. Sakura smiled. She stood up. "Come on, lets go to town" she said. Lee smiled and nodded. "K". Sakura bounded down the front steps. "Come on Lee, race you there" she yelled then took off toward the village. She heard Lee's footsteps behind her, she laughed. Guess what creepy little evil voice. I don't need another lover, I just needed another friend! A sudden thought clouded her joy. Friendship is what you want, but it may not be what you get….

Sakura smiled. Lee laughed. Sakura grinned. She stood beside Lee watching a man try to get his cat to jump rope. The man stood in front of the cat, a small jump rope in his hands. The brown tabby cat sat on the ground, staring at the man. Finally it got up and started to jump around. The man let out a joyless yell and started to swing the rope. The cat jumped over the rope. The crowd cheered. The man bowed. In front of him was a black hat. Sakura walked over and dropped some coins in. Lee did the same. Sakura and Lee walked away. Still smiling. Sakura blinked. So far the trip to town had been hecka fun. They had stopped and bought Ramen for lunch then had wandered around in the park until they came to the jump roping cat. Sakura had introduced Lee to all her old friends. Some of them gave her sly looks, but most of them were curious. Ino even had the nerve to come right out and ask if they were going out. Sakura had blushed and said no. Lee had only smiled and said "I wish", under his breath. Sakura had been sure no one else had heard it. Did Lee want to become more then good friends? The thought was quickly pushed away by the jump roping cat. Sakura led Lee over to an Ice cream shop were they both bought ice cream cones. Sakura sat next to Lee, contently licking her Ice cream when a prickle ran up her spine. She dropped her cone. It fell to the ground, spattering onto her shoes. She didn't notice. "Gaara?" she whispered. She whirled around. It was starting to get dark, so visibility was limited. But there was no Gaara in sight, which didn't necessarily mean he wasn't there. "Sakura. What's wrong?" Lee asked. "You dropped your cone" Sakura glanced at Lee then continued to look around. "Sakura? Who are you looking for? Is someone bothering you? Tell me who it is, and I'll…" Sakura sat back down beside Lee. He's so sweet he's even kind of cute when he looks concerned. "Nothings wrong Lee, I thought someone was here, who isn't here, another good friend" she said wearily, still glancing around. It wasn't until Lee bent down and touched her feet, did she stop looking for Gaara. "What...?" She looked down. Lee was rubbing the ice cream off her shoes with a napkin. "Thanks Lee" she said. "No problem Sakura" Lee answered. He grinned up at her. Sakura blushed. I told you. You both want each other as more then friends. Lee can give you something Gaara has never shown you. That's open love. He's openly showing you through small gestures, that he cares greatly for you. Sakura winced. Annoying voice is back. Lee sat back up. Sakura smiled at him. "Come on, let's go home. It's getting dark, and the breeze is picking up." Lee nodded. They walked back toward her house, she shivered slightly. She suddenly felt Lee move closer to her. Something soft was touching her neck. She looked over. Lee had draped his green jacket around her. Sakura smiled at him. He grinned back. "Thanks" she said quietly. Lee nodded. The evil voices words came back to her. "Friendship is what you want, but it may not be what you get." Maybe she did want something more then friendship with Lee. But what about Gaara? "Gaara is just too different from you. It could never last" Sakura shut her eyes. "Love is something that happens no matter what" that's what her mom said. Could she really love Lee? And if she did, how would it affect everything. The evil voice crept into her head. Love changes everything….