Anika woke up, her black hair falling over her eyes. She moaned as she turned off her alarm clock and stretched as best as she could before combing through her hair and dressing into a tight black shirt and baggy black jeans. She pulled on her shoes and headed out the door, thinking about Gaara as she walked towards the bridge where she met Sasuke, Sakura, Naruto, and Kakashi everyday. She reached it, Sasuke being the only one there. Soon Naruto and Sakura arrived tiredly. They instantly knew they'd be waiting a while.

About two hours later, Kakashi appeared and smiled.

"Good morning my students! Sorry I'm late. I had to help an old lady acorss the street and she turned out to be my grandmother. So we had to catch up..."

"LIAR!!!" Sakura and Naruto screamed. Sasuke and Anika rolled their eyes.

"Alright. Let's get going. We have to clean the mountains of the Hokages' faces from Naruto's last rebelion..." Kakashi said sharply, the four teenagers following behind, groaning and mummbling.

From the corner of Anika's eye, she could see Gaara on the other side of the street. She gasped and looked away as fast as possible, telling herself she didn't like him. I don't like him... It's just a feeling... Quit troubling yourself, Anika. He's only a boy and he's just as human as you are... Anika kept telling herself this. She saw a hurt expression on his face as she walked ahead of the others now, her red eyes staring at the cement below her.

LATER

Anika scrubbed at the stone, the paint rubbing onto the scrubbing brush she was using.

"Damn it, Naruto! Why are you such a pain!?! CHA!" Sakura screeched at him. Naruto looked small and defensless as he ignored the pink-haired, billboard faced, girly girl. He rubbed the back of his neck for a moment then contined to scrub at the swirly marks of paint.

Anika spotted Gaara on the mountain top. He looked hurt and lonely. Heart rendingly hurt and sorrowfully lonely... She knew she had hurt him by not waving or giving him a slight greeting. She searched to see if anyone was paying attention and teleported up, poofing next to him.

"Hey." Anika said with a smile. He looked away.

"Why did you not say anything? Do you not like me anymore?" Gaara questioned, looking at Anika's ruby eyes. Anika smiled.

"I'm sorry about that. I was tired, confused, and happy all at once. I was thinking of you though." She smiled again. This made Gaara smile. Anika hugged him again, resting her head on his shoulder. The girl brought her lips close to his but stopped herself. He took note of this and lowered his head, kissing her on the lips, softly then growing it into more passion. She kissed back, happy that this was actually happening to her. She moved her arms around his neck, knowing this was the highlight of her day.

A FEW MINUTES LATER

"I should go back and help now. I'm free in about two hours. Meet me at nine at this spot?" Anika asked, a cute pout on her face. He kissed her cheek and nodded, teleporting to an area on the mountain with tall grass to hide him. Anika teleported back and got back to work, Sasuke smirking and knowing exactly where she went...

(( Sorry. I'm getting tired right now. I'll make the third chapter tomorrow. Sleepiness getting to me... Yawn ))

Gaara: So what is happening next?

BeautifulDarkness: You'll see soon enough, my Gaara-Panda!! Huggles him tightly

Gaara & BD: REVIEWS PLEASE!!!!!!!!