Tenten glanced at her watch. Then back at the door. Then at the watch again. The hands read 5.57. Was it considered weird to come three minutes early to the dinner you'll die of embarrassment at?

She had hoped to get there fashionably late (not that she had any idea what that actually meant – ten minutes? An hour? Three seconds?!) but had arrived three minutes early instead. Maybe she should just go in? But…then again…Gaara might get angry at people who came too early. Tenten knew she hated it when people arrived before they said they would. If she waited though, he could get even angrier that she had come late.

She sighed. He'd kill her either way.

Tenten tugged nervously on her top and glanced at her outfit. She had no idea how formal she was supposed to come. After three hours (the longest she had spent on clothes ever) she decided that her jeans and summer training top were the best option, since they were the only things with no holes that were clean. Unfortunately, she hadn't worn either in about a year and hadn't realised how much she had grown. Her jeans were practically a second skin and as for her top…well…it past for tasteful.

Just.

Tenten sighed, 'I guess the pervert will like it…'

She stared at her watch again. 5.58. There was still time to leave if she wanted to, two minutes was long enough to get out of there. In fact, it was probably a good idea! It would save them setting a seat, and they didn't really like her that much anyway! She'd just apologise and send a letter or something, yeah, yeah, that'd work…

Tenten turned her back, about to run to freedom, when she felt a firm hand on her shoulder and heard the creak of an opening door.

"Where do you think you're going?"

Tenten turned around and looked sheepishly at Temari, who raised a threatening eyebrow, "Were you going to leave me here all alone with my brothers and the cry-baby?"

"N-no!"

"Then why were you leaving?"

"I…I…um…" Tenten searched her mind frantically for an excuse, "I realised I was a little early and decided to go and…see if I could…find any presents to bring…"

Temari glanced at the clock that was behind her, "It's six o'clock."

"Five fifty-nine…" Tenten corrected nervously, pasting on a cheesy smile.

Temari raised an eyebrow but didn't continue the argument, "Whatever. Anyway, come inside so we can start, Kankurou has a tendency to get snappy if I don't feed him at the usual times."

Tenten nodded and walked in. Temari closed the door and walked ahead of her towards the kitchen. Tenten kept her head down and prayed that the morning occurrence had been forgotten by all and that they could have a nice normal dinner with no awkwardness.

"HEY TEMARI. HURRY UP SO WE CAN EAT!" yelled the ever too familiar voice of Kankurou. Tenten made a face. Her feelings towards him weren't exactly pleasant. Temari glanced at her and gave her a wink, "You grow to love him," she mouthed.

Tenten somehow doubted it.

"I'm here, I'm here, keep your freaking pants on." The two girls walked into the room. Gaara, Kankurou and Shikamaru were sitting at the table, which was set with something that looked like a roast. Tenten inwardly licked her lips – it'd been ages since she last ate meat that wasn't pre-cooked in a burger. She was going to eat well tonight!

"It's about ti…me…" Kankurou stared Tenten, mouth open. He looked her up and down and Tenten felt the urge to turn around and run out of the house as fast as her legs could carry her. Gaara met her eye and she gulped.

Death glare. She wasn't going anywhere.

Kankurou continued to look at her, then turned to Temari, face indignant, "Why didn't you tell me that she was coming to dinner?!"

Tenten pondered feeling offended.

"I did tell you, you just didn't listen, take a seat next to Gaara, Tenten," Temari guestured to the more murderous of her brothers.

"But I would have worn something more…nice…" He guestures to his tracksuit.

"Nothing you have is nice, Kankurou, pass the roast please Gaara," Temari took a seat by Shikamaru (who looked a little freaked out, Tenten noticed.)

"But…"

"Drop it."

"But-"

"Drop it." she sent him a glare and Kankurou shut his mouth. The plate travelled around the table and when it got to her, Tenten shovelled as much meat onto it as she could.

"You know, Tenten-san, we…have more if you want it, you don't need to take it all now…" Tenten looked up at the group of people staring at her and blushed, putting the plate on the table, "Sorry."

Temari smiled at her, "Gaara was worried you were a vegetarian."

Tenten snorted loudly. The thought of her being a vegetarian was, to be frank, laughable. She realised that everyone was staring at her and bit her lip. She forgot snorting wasn't exactly normal for other people's tables. She made a mental note to stop eating with Gai and Lee as often as she did.

Everyone started to eat their meal. Tenten tried to go at the same pace as everyone else, and sighed as the tension in her shoulders slowly lifted. The meal was actually quite pleasant. If the meal continued in this blissful, unembarassing silence, maybe she could stand a week caring for Gaara and his (slightly dysfunctional) family.

"What are we doing tomorrow?" Said Gaara, and thus ruined her lovely relaxed mood.

Tenten thought fast – how could she cover for the fact she had not planned anything for the next week?

"I thought the first day we could do things you wanted to do!" She replied, at the same time commending herself for her brilliance. She saw Shikamaru smirk into his food. Stupid genius being able to read minds, he probably knew she made that up on the spot. Oh well, so long as no one else did, she didn't mind.

"I heard the hot springs were nice." Gaara replied, shifting his chair so he could look at her easier, "However I would also like to see the main street, as I have been unable to look there due to my duties."

"Oh, yes, that sounds good…" Tenten said, still happy she was in the clear for at least twenty-four hours to think of something else to do. She reached for her glass and took a sip.

"What about Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday?" He asked.

She chocked on her water but expertly managed to disguise it as a cough. Crap. Crapcrapcrapcrapcrap. He wanted the plans for all the days now?! She hadn't even thought about it! She had been too busy deciding on what to wear.

Not for the first time, Tenten cursed the fact she tended to prioritise poorly.

"There's a carnival on Thursday," Shikamaru said airily, reaching for some potatoes. She looked at him and mouthed a small 'thankyou' when no one else was looking. He replied with a shrug.

Lazy bum.

"That sounds enjoyable," Gaara agreed. He looked at her with his freaky blue eyes and Tenten realised that he was waiting for her to continue their plans. The eyes of Temari and Kankurou were on her. Temari mouthed, 'Go on!' to her, looking slightly worried. Tenten glanced back at Gaara and noticed he had become much tenser. He glowered at her under his blood-red bangs.

Her heart began to beat faster. She hated when he looked at her like that. She stopped being able to think. His eyes were eating her brain and turning it too mush with the fear. She had to think of something fast, or she'd be as dead as her dinner.

"The other days I thought should be a surprise!" Tenten perked with more cheeriness then necessary. She heard Kankurou snort but decided to ignore him, continuing to smile. Gaara stared at her.

"A surprise?"

"Y-Yes!"

"I hate surprises."

"O-oh…" Tenten licked her lips nervously, "Well then, maybe you should try it out, you might like these one!"

She blinked.

No way.

She did not just say that.

One second passed. Then two. Then three. By five, Tenten was feeling a little nervous. Temari and Kankurou exchanged looks and Shikamaru sat up straighter. Tenten began to fiddle with her fingers.

She was so dead.

"That sounds interesting," he said finally turning to his meal and continuing to eat. Tenten (and, for that matter, everyone else) leaned back – yes, she wasn't going to die!

She turned back to her delicious roast. Now she could dig in in peace! She sawed off a huge piece of meat and stuck it into her mouth. She could feel her tastebuds dancing. Meat that wasn't caked in grease…she'd forgotten it existed! "Thish ish weally good!" she said through a mouthful.

Gaara shrugged, "It is nothing special."

Tenten swallowed, "It's brilliant."

"See Gaara, I told you you were a good cook!" Kankurou said, leaning over and giving his brother a pat on the back. Gaara mumbled something and took a drink. Tenten looked from him to the other three.

Gaara cooked this!? She thought it was Temari!

Tenten looked at him in surprise. Well, she guessed it was true what they said. Murderers really did do things normal people did. Probably to throw people off the scent of their murderous murders though. Tenten took another bite of meat.

Damn. It was good stuff.

Shikamaru and Gaara began to talk about politics, with Temari occasionally adding in her own opinion on matters. Kankurou and Tenten looked at each other from across the table. Tenten bit her lip.

Awkwaaarrdd…

Kankurou glanced at her, "So, Tenten-san, I hope your parents didn't mind you leaving and eating dinner with us."

Her knife slid off her plate with a loud scratching sound. Her parents. God almighty.

She gulped painfully and clutched her cutlery hard. She couldn't hear anything. She looked up and saw Shikamaru looking at her with what looked like concern, Temari with confusion. Gaara shifted to her left. They'd stopped talking.

Crap. She'd made a scene. Again.

"They won't mind," she said in a hoarse voice, swallowing painfully and looking down at her food again. Suddenly, she wasn't that hungry.

She hated talking about her parents.

She could sense the motions of Temari looking over at Kankurou and Shikamaru leaning towards him to whisper something. She blushed deeper as she felt eyes on her. Goddamnit, she hated it when people did the pitying thing. True, it was her fault for acting that way, but…

The whispering stopped and awkward silence ensued.

Okay. Time to change subject.

"Um, could you pass the water?" she asked, making a mental note to take conversation classes when the timeslot opened up.

"Sure!" Said Kakurou, "Of course! Anything! You name it! Water it is!", standing up to get it. He leaned across Temari and Shikamaru, as he did so getting his leg stuck in his chair. He cursed, "Sorry," he put the jug down and attempted to shake his leg out. Unfortunately, he knocked the table as well.

The meat carving knife slid down towards her leg. Tenten yelped and attempted to move, jumping out of her seat, causing her to knock heads with Kankurou who had leaned over to prevent the whole table set from being tipped on her.

She swore and fell backwards, clutching her head, landing on the floor. Gaara blinked down at her and looked as he was about to say something to her when the carrots spilled onto his lap. Temari clenched her fists, knuckles cracking "Kankurou…"

"Oh god, I'm sorry-" Kankurou leant over further, knocking the table again. Tenten stared at the edge in horror as a mixture of gravy and water came streaming towards her, landing on her shirt and pants and head.

"Oh God, oh God, sorry sorry sorry sorry!" He walked around the table, "really, I am, really, really, really sorr-"

"No! It's fine!" She raised her hands, "Please, just…just stay there!"

Kankurou stopped mid-step. The room went silent. Tenten became more and more aware of the fact that the gravy water was making her already too tight shirt shrink. She felt the cut on her head burn slightly from the liquids that had poured on it.

She looked, she realised, like an idiot.

"Tenten-san…are…you okay?" Temari asked. She was shaking and biting her lip hard. Tenten realised she was trying hard not to laugh at her. Shikamaru wasn't having as much luck as she was at covering his laughter. He snorted loudly. Tenten gave him a glare.

This was the most embarrassing day of her life. She was so leaving.

"I'm fine, really, but I think I may…um…go now."

She carefully got to her feet, trying desperately not to slip over in the muck that lay underneath her shoes. If she slipped, she would never live it down. She wobbled perilously and grabbed the table for support. Kankurou came towards her with an arm outstretched, "Here, let me help-"

"No! Stay there! I'm fine!"

"But-"

"Really! I'm fine!"

"But-"

"Kankurou. Sit down." Gaara's cool voice broke the small argument. His brother looked at him then meekly obeyed. Gaara stood up, "The food is destroyed." Tenten looked around and realised he was right. It was either on her or Gaara or on the floor. She felt a wail reach her throat – the meat!

She turned back to Gaara and flinched. He looked…murderous. Tenten gulped. She was getting out of there before the boy decided to kill everyone with his sand of murder for pouring carrots onto his top.

Tenten stared at him.

Carrots. Top. Red hair.

She snorted loudly and clasped her hand over her mouth. Gaara's slit eyes turned to her, "What are you laughing about?"

"N-nothing!" She said through her fingers.

"Tell me." His voice grew deeper. Tenten noticed Shikamaru and Temari grow tenser behind her.

"It's not that funny really-"

"Tell me."

Tenten bit her lip, "Carrot…top…"

Gaara's face lost all emotion, "What?"

She pointed to his shirt and then his red hair, "Carrot top…it's…sort of like…a pun, I guess…a play on words…" She felt everyone's eyes on her, "You have red hair and carrots on your top and…so…it's literal as well as…um…" She finished lamely.

There was an awkward pause.

"BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAA! THAT IS THE LAMEST THING I'VE EVER HEARD!" Kankurou started making hyena sounds. Temari threw her head back and gave a deep warm laugh, Shikamaru chuckled. Tenten felt herself break into a smile and looked around at Gaara. Gaara glared at her. Tenten gulped.

She had just made fun of the Kazekage.

She had to get out of there before she was murdered.

Gaara's eyes looked at her and he opened his mouth to say something. Tenten gave a mental 'eep!' Whatever he was going to say, it wasn't good.

"Thanks for having me!" She chirped, "But I think I'll be going now!"

Temari paused mid laugh, face agast, "But you're covered in gravy!"

"I'll be fine! I'll just avoid walking near Kiba's house, that's all."

She gave an okay sign and grinned widely. She realised she looked exactly like Lee. Everyone was staring at her again and she felt herself grow nervous. Why did everyone look at her all the time in this house!? She hated being the centre of attention. That was the reason she put up with Lee's green jumpsuit – less people looked at her then!

"I will see you tomorrow." Gaara muttered.

"Oh…Oh…g-good!" Tenten said, trying to mask the horror in her voice. If it wasn't today she would die, it would certainly be tomorrow. There was no way Gaara would forgive her.

"Bye then!" She waved and began to walk backwards. Shikamaru waved his hand at her, Temari grinned and Kankurou winked. She deadpanned. That guy was so…ugh.

She walked to the hall and reached for the door handle. She turned it and felt breathing on her neck. She gave a small scream but a hand covered her mouth. She turned slowly and saw Gaara staring at her, face expressionless.

"Goodbye…meatball head." He said.

She blinked.

What?!

"Goodbye meatball head," Gaara said again, emphasising the…was it an insult? Tenten stared at him blankly. Gaara pulled his face into a frown, "Why aren't you laughing?"

"W…what?"

"It was a joke."

"O…oh…"

"Like your carrot top."

Tenten blinked again. What the hell was going on!? This situation was beyond confusing. She just wanted to get out of there. The boy was obviously psychotic. She moved her head so she was released from the hold on her mouth and she could speak. She had to feign laughter to escape from here, it seemed.

"Um...haha…ha! That's…that's a good j-joke Kazekage-sa-"

"Don't laugh if you don't mean it." he removed his hand from her face and took several steps back, giving Tenten breathing space again. He looked at her coolly, "Goodbye." He turned. Tenten stared at his back then at the floor, "…Goodbye…"

She grabbed the door handle, practically ripping it open. She slammed it behind her and leant against the door. Meatball head?! She self conciously touched her gravy-covered buns.

That.

Was so weird.

AN: Why yes, I am alive. Here's an update for you! I hope you like it. I think it's a bit better than the last chapter, I was more in the flow of the story so the characters have more...character. I attempted to put in jokes, but (as you know) my jokes are PREEEETTTYYY bad, so...I appologise now for the carrot top xD that just popped in and I had to write it.

I'm so lame.

Anyway - I update around once a month from here on. See my page for details. I'm writing 4 stories at once and I need to schedule it so they all get attention. I hope you all understand. Enjoy and I'll see you in another three weeks!

Chickenwire