okay this chapter was a lot better, but my stupid computer did an unexpected shut down, and deleted everything. so i had to rewrite it all...needless to say, i was very very angry. but it's here and though i'm not as happy with it as i was the other one, it fits. enjoy, and sorry if updates slow, just a forewarning. i'm dead on my feet right now...

Chapter 14

No logical thought whatsoever passed through my clouded mind as I walked toward him. All I knew, was that it took long enough. I had wanted this for so long. Maybe not particurely this, but I wasn't complaining. Not in the least. How could any sane female complain when the source of every woman's wet dream was standing in front of me, the flashing lights illuminating his assets. How could we object when he stood there, leaning against the wall, with a gaze that drew you in like a moth to a flame. And just like the moth and flame, if you got to close, you would get burned.

Which I did. Everytime he touched my skin, his touch sent fire shooting throughout my body.

I stepped beside him, and leaned on the wall next to him. Enjoying the scent - that even in a crowded club - was still emitting from his form. I wondered if that was just natural for him, that scent. If it was a part of his skin, and not just the type of soap he used - though that probably had a bit to do with it.

I spoke quietly, but loud enough for him to hear me. "Hey. What are doing over here by yourself?"

He didn't move, only rolled one of his pale jade eyes to gaze at me from under his crimson locks. His intense gaze raptured me, like it always did. And I felt vunerable before him now, without the usual covering of my male facade. Exposed. Mentally I kicked myself. This is what I wanted. I wanted him to look at me and see the Matsuri that was always hiding in the depths of my mind, not the Mat I pretended to be.

"I could ask you the same thing." he replied in his husky voice.

"Ah, but I'm not alone. I'm standing here with you." I teased with a grin.

He smirked. And faced the room again.

"So you are."

I took a moment to stare at him. How his red locks seemed to dance slightly in the small breeze that blew through the crowded room, how his jade eyes had a calm glow about them, making them even more alluring. His chiseled chest showing through his shirt. Every bulge of muscle spotted easily through the fabric he wore. He was beautiful. There was no other way to describe him.

A small smile grazed my lips as I spoke again. "You never answered my question."

He turned his head in my direction, once again trapping me in his gaze. "What question?"

"Why are you here by yourself?" I asked again.

He seemed to think for a moment. "I'm here with friends." he replied.

"But your not standing with them." I pointed out.

"And?"

"Well shouldn't you be? If your here with them that is."

"I'd rather stand alone."

"Why?" I asked as I tilted my head to the side.

"Why should I tell you? I don't even know you." he stated calmly with a smirk.

"Matsuri."

Though his stoic appearance didn't change, his eyes showed his confusion.

"My name is Matsuri." I said with a grin.

He rolled his eyes and faced the crowd in front of us with a blank face. I waited a few more seconds before I called his attention again.

"You know, this is the part where you tell me your name. Common courtsey." I smirked as he faced me again with a lazy glare.

"Well?" I asked when he didn't answer.

A beat of silence ensued before he replied, "Gaara."

I smirked. "Well Gaara. Why are you standing here and not dancing?"

"I'm not going out there." he snorted.

"Why not?"

"Your full of questions."

"Maybe so. But that's not really a bad thing. So why aren't you dancing?" I asked again.

"I don't want to." he replied.

"Do you know how?" I asked innocently.

"Yes. But that doesn't mean I want to." he growled.

I laughed. "Chicken."

He glared at me, and then turned his body all the way around to face me full on, his arms still crossed over his chest. "What do you want?" he asked irratated.

"One dance. Then i'll leave you alone."

"No." he replied, aggitation in his voice. I smirked.

"Afraid I'll show you up?"

"Hardly." he said as he glanced at the crowded dance floor.

I knew it wouldn't be easy to get him out there. But I wanted him to. I wanted to dance with him, and even if he didn't dance while we were out there, I just wanted him close. Was that a bad thing? Was I so addicted?...Yes. I am, and though I shouldn't be so proud of that fact, I was.

"Please? Just one dance and...and I'll do whatever you want. That includes leaving you alone for the rest of the night." I bargained.

I didn't care if, considering he did dance,he wanted me to leave afterwards. I would still have the satisfaction of knowing that I did something that my body was practically crying for. Being close to him.

"No." he said firmly.

His voice left no room for argument, but that didn't stop me. I smirked as I tried to find a solution. I knew he wouldn't go for the whole 'pitiful me puppy eyes' theme. Bribing was working pretty well in my favor so far. Then again, I could always jump him, seduce him, then drag him onto the dance floor...Nah, I don't think that would go over very well. Though it did sound tempting.

"Yes." I said.

"No."

"Yes."

"No."

"Yes."

"No!" he yelled. I smirked, and gave a small laugh

"Yes. Your going to dance, right...Now!" I laughed again happily as I grabbed his wrist, and with a quick jerk, led him into the sea of moving bodies. I beamed at him as I looked over my shoulder and found him looking very angry. I couldn't help but think it made him look even more attractive. Cute even. He looked just like a reprimended child, to adorable to ignore.

Once inside the crowd, I turned to him, a small smile on my face.

"One dance, then I'll leave you alone if you want!" I yelled over the music.

"Fine! After this, don't bother me!" he growled back.

"Agreed!"

Then...I danced. I don't know what he did. I was just content to have him close. Just like I did before, I let go of everything, and let the beat sway me. I was only aware of me and the music. And dimly of the red head standing close by.

My mind fogged over, and I just moved. Swaying and stepping to the beat of the thrumming I could hear. It was all I could hear. I didn't notice everyone around me. That's all there was. Me. Only me.

I wasn't aware of how his jade orbs followed me. I wasn't aware of how he relaxed slightly. I wasn't aware of how a small smile grazed his lips. I wasn't aware when he stepped closer. I wasn't aware of how his face softened. It was like I wasn't there at all. But then he did do something that made me aware. Something that made me tremble.

His touch brought me out of my daze abrubtly. Hands rested gently but firmly low on my hips, and drew me closer to him. Fire scorched my body. I wanted to scream. It burned and flames spread at lightning speed through me. I wanted to scream, thrash, and yell because... because I didn't want him to let me go.

All thought ceased. I was immobile, though my legs continued to move, following his lead. His body pressed against mine. It was driving me insane! We were pressed so close together, not even air could get through. I was positive that if he let me go, I would crumble to the ground in a pitiful heap. At this point in time, he was the only thing holding me together.

How could he not know what he did to me? How could he not know of the fire he set upon my body? How his touch caused me to plunge into a ring of fire. Why? Why did he cause this? Why did this happen to me?

Questions. Repeating over and over in my head, muddled and confusing. I didn't understand. And I'm sure if I had an answer, I wouldn't understand that either. Because that's what he did to me. Made me a confused, burning shell. And I didn't care. Because he was there. And he was the one that caused this welcomed hell. I was sure that I would walk right off a cliff for him and not even think about hitting the ground because it was for him. I was a sad case.

He was so close I could feel his hot breath wash over my cheek, causing a tremor to wrack my frame, knocking me against him. He smirked, and I felt the rumble in his chest from his almost silent chuckle. And then...oh Kami then, as if he wasn't putting me through enough wanted torture.

He slowly trailed his nose against my jawline, leaving a burning trail in his wake. I shuddered as a shock of pleasure ran down my spine. My knees shook, and I leaned heavily on him. He chuckeled softly again, probably delighted that he could have this big of an affect on me.

We danced like that for the rest of the song. Me almost going insane, him throughly enjoying the torture he could cause with simple touches and my reactions.

The song ended and blended easily into another, and I thought that we were going to dance again, but he stopped and stood still.

"That was one dance." he breathed out in deep voice that vibrated through me.

"O-okay." I stuttered as I took as shaky step back.

He put a stop to my retreat by slipping his hand behind me and resting it on the small of my back, leading me out of the crowd. It burned where he touched the exposed skin on my back, and I almost smiled. We had danced for I don't know how long, and he still could set me on fire. That would never go away, I was sure.

"Whatever you w-want. I can leave you now." I said once we broke past the dancers.

"I want to sit down." he said in my ear with an amused expression.

He picked a booth in the corner, away from the volume of the club and off to its' self. I slipped into the seat and stared at my trembling hands that rested on the tabletop. He sat next to me, and I could feel his gaze boring into me.

"You seem shocked." he mused in a quiet voice.

"I am." I replied.

"What about?"

I thought for a moment. Could I tell him? Could I tell him what he caused? The burning? The feelings? The addiction? The want to be near him? Feel him? What would he think? How could I tell him about my lies? So many questions and no answers. I went with the truth. Just not the entire thing.

"You..." I trailed.

"Me?" he urged in his deep voice.

"You...the feelings."

He chuckled quietly. "What feelings?"

"I..." I couldn't do it. I wasn't ready to tell him everything. Because I was afraid. I was afraid of what he would think of me. Could I survive if he hated me? Maybe. But I wasn't so sure. "...I don't know. It's there."

"Do I still get to tell you what I want you to do?" he asked in an amused voice.

I was suddenly frightened. What if he asked me to leave him alone and never speak to him. Sure it was easy to agree to that before, but now...Now I couldn't. I was to attached.

"Yes." I said in a quiet voice.

"I want you to look at me." his voice serious.

I gulped, and then rose my ebony eyes to meet his jade ones. They were soft and warming, and I suddenly found myself slightly calmer. A small smile grazed my lips, and his did also in response.

We stayed like that for a long while, doing nothing but staring. In that silent moment we found out more about each other than we could ever have done with talking. We searched each other's souls through the orbs of the other, finding all and everything there was to know. The eyes were the window into someone's soul, and we had found the front door.

He seemed so relaxed and content, and it radiated off of him like his scent. Making me fall deeper and deeper into an abyss of pure pleasure. He was there. I was happy, and I felt like there were no lies. Nothing wrong with me or the life I led so far. No web of tangled lies, further trapping the people who got to close or had anything to do with me.

It was only me and Gaara.

"Gaara!"

Well, it was until then. With an agitated growl, Gaara turned around and faced none other than Kiba. Oh happy days. I wanted to kill him.

"There you are, come on we're leaving!" he yelled as he approached us. Kiba glanced at me with an expression that clearly read 'Get the hell out of here and go change!'

Gaara nodded at Kiba, and then turned to me.

"Guess this is goodbye." I mused.

He nodded to me with some type of emotion in his eyes I couldn't really place. "Yeah."

"Goodbye Gaara."

"Goodbye Matsuri."

At that moment I felt like my heart was breaking, and the sinking feeling of hoplessness. I hated it. I didn't want to feel this way.

As I stood from my place next him and walked by, my hand brushed against his in a sign of farewell. And I hated how it felt so final.

Walking out of the club and toward Kiba's car, I came to a conclusion. There was no way I could make it the rest of the year knowing that I would never tell them the truth. I couldn't go through it like that. I wouldn't be able to live through it. The lies would catch up with me eventually, why not beat them to the punch?

I would tell them. Graduation. Only two weeks away...What would I do if they found out before that though? Gaara inparticular? How would any of them handle it? How would I deal with it?

I honestly didn't know.

so there you go. please review it helps with updating. and don't forget to check out my other stories, I want to know what you think. please.