Chapter 2

Neji and Gaara

"Nothing. I've been chasing the same person for three years, from my senior year to now." Neji's voice had suddenly taken on the coolness of an ice cube. "I'm finished."

I flinched at the sound of those harsh words, my hand gripping my bottle tighter and my eyes flashing with shock and pain. As if to add salt to an open wound, Neji was sitting beside Kankuro and being all flirty. Kankuro left soon, thank god, with Kiba.

Neji and I said nothing, just sitting and drinking our beer. Neji was finished chasing, after three years? He and I had been in the same graduating class, and since we had hit senior year he had taken a liking to me.

To say that, is actually an understatement. He had followed me around, appearing at the most random of times. He flirted with me, joked with me, annoyed me from that year on. I wasn't safe at my art school, at my house, or in another country. Where ever I was, that infuriating brunette made sure to be there too.

Now, after three years he was suddenly giving up? Sure, he had been irritating as hell at first, but I guess you could say that I enjoyed it sometimes. Not that I'd admit it to him.

I enjoyed the small presents, the love of my art work, and the support when I was down he had given me. No one had ever cared that much, no one cared if I was happy of not. Only Neji did. But, I didn't like him, I'm not gay, but why does it hurt so bad to hear him say those words? It shouldn't matter, I didn't want anything more then maybe friendship with him, right?

"Gaara? Are you alright?" I looked up, meeting lavender pools. I nodded curtly, then continued to stare into my drink and figure things out in my head.

Neji stood, once again knocking my train of thought off course. I looked up at him as he slapped some bills on the counter before turning to me.

"Good bye Gaara, I guess I'll see you around." He held out his hand politely for me to shake. That was new. Normally he'd grab my ass or lick my ear, or do something perverted as a good bye. I slowly took his hand a shook it. He turned and left.

I sat there for a long time, waiting for Kankuro to come back. When he finally did Neji had been gone over an hour, and I was pissed off at waiting that long.

"Took you long enough!" I growled, standing up and stalking to the door, ignoring the frightened look on Kankuro's face and the mutt now hiding behind him.

"Things didn't go well with Neji, huh?" Kankuro asked after he had regained his composure. I slid into the backseat, ignoring him. "Blew it, huh?"

"Shut up and drive!" I snapped, my temper peaking. "Get me home. Now."

Kiba slid in the passenger seat next to Kankuro as he turned the ignition and we pulled away from the curb. The ride was silent for a while, the two guys in front happy and me brooding in back. What Neji said had continued to ring through my head, and Kiba reaching over and taking Kankuro's hand in his only made it worst. I watched as Kankuro griped Kiba's hand, smiling softly at him before he turned back to face the road.

'Love and relationships are for idiots any way!' I thought, glaring out the window once more. We dropped Kiba off before making our way home.

I jumped out of the car before it had stopped completely, storming into the house and kicking off my shoes. Ignoring a worried Temari, I went up the stairs and proceeded to slam my door shut. I flopped out onto my bed, staring up at my ceiling in the darkened room.

'I don't care if he doesn't want me anymore. I don't care, I don't care, I don't care.' Tears pricked my eyes to my irritation. Frustrated I wiped them away, getting up to go wash the eye makeup I had on off in the bathroom. Returning to my room, I pulled of my pants and t-shirt, and got in bed. Lying there, I ignored the tears pouring down my face, for reasons I didn't understand, and fell into a restless sleep.

The dream I had opened my eyes.

* * *

I walked through the meadow, trying to find something. I didn't know what I was looking for, I just knew it was very important for me to find it. I came to a pond, where a boy with long chocolate hair sat. He looked up, smiling and motioning for me to sit next to him. He held out a hand for me to take and I smiled widely, taking it and sitting beside him.

"Hello Gaara." His voice was like melted caramel, sweet like chocolate. His smile showing his porcelain teeth.

"Neji." I breathed, smiling softly at him and leaning in, letting him wrap his arms around my waist. We were close together, our lips barely an inch apart before another voice boomed out.

"No, I won't do anything! I don't need you anymore!" The Neji who was holding onto me yanked away, joining the Neji standing in front of me.

"Neji?!" I cried, standing up.

"You're not worth it!" A voice behind me said. I turned and there was a third Neji.

"But-!"

"Why wouldn't you admit you liked me? Because you're a selfish little boy!" Another Neji taunted. I spun in a circle, facing all the Neji's as they said in unison.

"You're not worth it! You won't even admit you're gay! Well I'm finished! DONE!" They shouted the last word.

"NOOO!!!!!" I screamed.

* * *

I screamed, sitting up in bed, sweat pouring down my body. Temari and Kankuro rushed in.

"Gaara, are you okay?!" Temari asked, running over and placing a hand on my forehead.

"What's wrong?" Kankuro asked, rubbing my bare and sweat slicked back. I panted, staring around with wild eyes.

"Neji!" I whispered. "I need to see Neji!" I jumped out of bed and pulled on a shirt and some pants, grabbing my keys to my car and running out of the room.

"Gaara, its three in the morning!" Temari cried as my siblings rushed after me. "He's going to be asleep! Why don't you wait till tomorrow? What's going on?"

I ignored her and opened the garage on the way to my car. Pulling open the door I slid in, cranking up the engine.

"Gaara, C'mon dude, relax a second!" Was the last thing I heard my brother say before I pulled out and shot down the street.

I drove crazily, finally getting to Neji's apartment building. I ran through the doors, ignoring the man behind a desk calling for me. I took the elevator up and hit Neji's floor number and waited, listening to the infuriatingly catchy music play. When the doors opened finally, I rushed out, running down the hall to Neji's apartment, where I proceeded to bang my fists against the door hard.

The door opened and there Neji stood, looking irritable but beautiful. The moon behind him made his skin glow brightly, his hair shine darkly, and his eyes lighter than normal.

He rubbed his eyes tiredly, then looked up at me with a glare. "Are you aware of the time Gaara?" I ignored his statement, pushing past him and entering the apartment. "Alright, come on in." He said sarcastically.

I walked over and paced in front of the windows, unable to sit still as the brunette sat calmly on his couch. All was silent for a while.

"Gaara, to what do I owe this rude visit?" Neji asked, crossing his arms. "I would like to go to bed, so if we can make this quick. I have a date later, and I want to feel refreshed for it."

I spun on my heel and glared at him. "A date?"

"Yes. Dating is not a crime." His eyes gave away nothing, similar to mine.

"Then tell me this, you infuriating brunette, did you dream tonight? 'cause I sure as hell did!" I continued to pace, running my hands through my hair in agitation. "I dreamt I was in a meadow beside a pond with you. We just about kissed when you said you didn't want me and stood by another you! I turned and there was another you rejecting. Then another! You all said I was selfish for not admitting I was gay! That I should have admitted I like you, they taunted!"

I turned to face Neji, my chest heaving with the effort not to throw myself at him. My dream seemed stupid now that I thought about it. Neji's eyebrow was quirked as he looked at me impassively.

"Well, here it is! I'm GAY! And I'm gay for YOU!" I shouted throwing my head back as I did so. I looked at Neji after my declaration, daring him to insult me.

Neji stood calmly and came over to me. My breath hitched as he reached a hand out, only to place it on my forehead. "Are you feeling alright?"

I slapped his hand away. "I'm fine! So now what?"

"What do you mean?" Neji countered. I fisted my hair in frustration.

"What do we do from here?!" I cried out, throwing my hands up.

"Nothing. I told you I was through, didn't I?" Neji was serious as he turned away from me and headed to his kitchen. I stood there, hands hanging limply at my side, my face shadowed.

"You were serious?" I asked quietly, focusing on not letting my voice break.

"Very." Neji replied, returning with a cup of coffee.

"I just. . . admitted everything. . . and told you I liked you. . . for no reason then?" My arms came up to wrap around my front, holding the pieces that were me together. Neji said nothing. "Well. . . I'm sorry to have bothered you." Tears began to run down my face. "Good bye. . . Neji. . ." I turned to leave.

"Why Gaara?! Why now do you have to realize you liked me?!" Neji suddenly shout, I flinched turning to face an enraged Neji. "God, you were so dense! And the rejection I felt is what you're feeling now! Why would I want that back?! Huh?! Enlighten me!"

That was when he got a good look at my face. His look was one of pure astonishment. "Gaara?" He took a step near me. I sobbed, my shoulder shaking as my knees gave out on me and I was on the ground, sitting on them. "Gaara?" He took another step near me.

I cried harder, knowing I had lost the only thing that had mattered to me all these years. Why was I so stupid?! So blind?! I ruined everything!

"Gaara, please don't cry!" Neji was kneeling beside me now. "why are you crying?" I slapped his hands away, moving backwards to sit with my legs against my knees, my arms wrapped around them.

"Why are you doing this to me Gaara?" Neji's voice was desperate, as he lifted my chin. His eyes softened more as he looked into my tear stained face. "I don't want to hurt you, I just thought you didn't care after all!"

I shook more as more sobs wracked my body. "Gaara, I only wanted to stop feeling rejected. I'm sorry Gaara!" He pulled me up so I was standing and yanked me over to the couch, pulling me onto his lap. "Shh. . . Gaara, please stop crying." He kissed my sweaty hair, rubbing my back soothingly.

I wrapped my arms around his neck, crying into his shoulder, bound and determined not to let go of the boy in front of me ever again. I hiccupped through the tears, leaning heavily against his chest.

"Gaara, I'm such a lying bastard. I do still want you, I need you! You have got to understand I'd never leave you, I was lying to take pressure off you!" Neji sounded scared, probably afraid I was going to have a seizure. We sat like that for a long time, until my tears had subsided.

Neji turned me to face him ,looking deep into my eyes. "Gaara, I love you." He kissed my forehead. "And I'm sorry I hurt you."

"I just want to be with you Neji!" I whimpered, moving closer.

"And I, you." Leaning forward he kissed me, and I kissed him back. Smiling Neji pulled away. We sat on the couch, watching the sun rise, falling asleep in each other's arms.