Chapter 12
Nat King Cole's Smile played on the recorder in Gaara's apartment, the melody bringing a smile to Hinata's face.
"Care for a dance?" Gaara placed a hand on her knee, which she hugged so close to her heart. Ace curled comfortably behind her, now a big fan of the red head. Hinata shook her head, the melancholy of the day still present in her aching heart.
Sighing, Gaara took his place beside her, leaning into the couch, arms crossed as he stared at the ceiling, "My mother loved this song."
He let a small smile play on his lips when she peeked up attentively, "she died when I turned ten, heart failure."
"I'm sorry." Hinata whispered before turning alert at the cool feel of his thumb across her under eyes.
"I got bullied a lot as a kid, and she'd always play this when I came home. I used to hate it." he let out a painful chuckle, fingers still playing along the softness of her pale porcelain skin. His heart thumping at the brutal honesty, unsure why he felt the need to tell her this. Standing, he pried her fingers gently apart as he tugged her up, despite the hesitation, she obliged. Feeling overall accomplished he twirled her slightly, a shocked mixture of laughter and fear bubbling into the atmosphere.
"She'd dance like this with me." he proceeded his tale, unable to stop the words that spilt from his heart. Twirling her once more, he caught her in his arms, placing a comfortable distance between them, his hands prudently placed on her waist as he turned around the room with her. The sound of music, Ace's accomaniable bark and her laughter filled the apartment, and at that moment he realized, perhaps, sweetened coffee was not too bad.
Once the song had ended, they sat back on the couch, the air much lighter, the memory of the night, forgotten - at least for now. They made casual conversation, the schools they attended, their hometowns,
"I'm very thankful for you, Gaara." Hinata mumbled through Ace's fur, a slight blush on her cheeks as she nuzzled into her shepherd. "I would've been alone through this. You're a really good person." she smiled his way, his heart thumping uncomfortably, a feeling he hadn't experienced in minute
Standing abruptly, he made his way to the kitchen, not a response or sense of acknowledgement to her words. Confused, "I'm sorry, was that out of line?" she tilted her head his way, tendrils falling to frame her face, letting her pupiless eyes shine even more, his heart thumped again.
"I doubt you'd feel the same if you could see." he spoke under his breath, back turned away as he poured coffee into his mug, gulping down the dark liquid as though to reset his malfunctioning brain.
"Why do you say that?"
She was closer - much closer. And her hearing, impressive, but he figured it came with the territory. Sighing, he downed another gulp of the now luke warm liquid before pouring it down the drain and re-brewing. "I mean, if you were not blind, you wouldn't even look my way. Or label me a nice guy." he sneered the last two words with such disgust she felt distraught.
"I'm not sure I-" her words cut short by the ring of his phone on the counter,
Excusing himself he picked it up, "Sakura?" his voice confused, and she could feel the tinge of hurt that rang through, flashbacking to the night he had passed out on her couch. The cell rang some more as he contemplated picking it up before finally answering. He said nothing, no greetings, no response, the room was just...silent.
Then the call ended, and he seemed to have forgotten she was there, slamming the phone into the wooden table, the loud noise alerting Hinata and Ace. She backed away slightly, unused to the sudden change of atmosphere and how to deal with it, Ace was behind her in a second, wrapped on her side protectively. A dark, deep chuckle filled the room, terrifying her soul to pieces, the cool feel of the door knob pressing her back the only alert that she had been backing up.
"Please leave." he whispered, voice slightly croaking
"Gaara-san." she stiffened at the door, concerned and horror-stricken.
"I have no control of my emotions, when I'm like this. So please leave." he almost seemed to plead. Nodding, she turned the knob before stepping out with Ace. The click of the door closing, the only signal of her departure, then the loud noise of a slam, and wood splinters exploding everywhere. Afraid to hear anymore, she ushered Ace into her apartment, shutting the door before sliding down it. Had he just transformed into a totally different person.
"If they looked anything like me, they wouldn't be in here."
"I doubt you'd feel the same if you could see."
Who was he? And why did she feel intrigued to know?
~.~.~
"The Hyuga ball? What about it?"
"Do you think I should come? I doubt I'd fit in. I don't own anything ball-like, nor do I intend to." Tenten lay on her boyfriend's couch, throwing a tennis ball and catching it, a repeated motion
"You don't have to own it. We could return it, sell it or give it away. None of which matters." Neji replied, fumbling through the stack of documents on his home desk. Mind divided in his search for whatever he deemed important.
"Neji," she sighed, sitting up. When he didn't acknowledge her, she threw the ball lightly, chuckling as it bounced off his butt cheek. "Thick as always." she snickered
"Very funny." he mocked, returning to his search
"Neji!" she now stood in front of him, hands on top of the sheets. "I think I want to break up." she whispered the words ever slow, heart cracking as they slipped her lips
"What? Because of the ball?" his attention was now focused on her
"Not just the ball but everything. I'm not calibered for the life you live. I'm not wired for high teas with the wives, an endless parade of paparazzis and all the stress of being on the public eye." she threw her hands up, distraught.
"I see," he folded his hands, head bowing in thought, before looking her way. "Then don't."
"What?" her brows frowned in confusion
"Don't have teas with the wives, have a drink with the guys. Dont pose for the paparazzis, flip them off. And don't be in the public eye, just mine." he let a teasing smile form on his lips. "I didn't choose you because you did any of the things the women in my family's circle do. If for that, I would've chosen them." he drew closer, arms wrapping around her waist
Bending to whisper in her ears, "but I chose you. For you."
He engulfed her in a hug, his head on her hair. Touched and slightly uncomfortable, she wiggled out of his arms, crossing her arms and pouting, a small blush of embarrassment showering her cheeks, "Fine. I'll do the ball."
"Thank you." he laughed at her uncomfortable acceptance to emotions, kissing her on the cheek before returning to his stack, in search of the business card of the ring jeweler he had to contact.
AN: I don't know what to call this chapter lol so ideas are welcome. Also have a big test coming in april so i might be a bit slower to update.