Chapter Three
The next morning Sakura woke up all the girls bright and early.
"As this is Ino's birthday, I gave another surprise in store for you girls, but first we are all going to go and have a big brunch at the mall to wake us up properly." Sakura said with a big grin on her face.
When the girls left, the boys stayed at the house and started to set up for the party, at 12:30 the band would be arriving, so they only had three hours to get the house ready. Boys being boys, they decided to call in reinforcement, half an hour later a few more guys showed up, they were Kankuro, Shino and along with them Kiba's dog, Akamaru.
Back at the mall the girls had finished their brunch and were deciding what to do for the rest of the morning.
"Ok girls, we have had a mega brunch, now it is time to go have some fun. So I have organised a morning at the arcades, private as in no one else will be there. Also after we have finished at the arcades then I have a little surprise in store for all of you, including me." Sakura explain with a smile.
The girls spent 2 hours at the arcades, playing DDR, racing cars, air hockey and plenty more. When they were finished, Sakura stood up on a chair at the restaurant where they were have afternoon tea, and started to speak.
"Ok, girls we have spent all day, so far, at the arcades and I think its time for the surprise I was telling you about. It's time for our SHOPPING SPREE!" Sakura squealed
"YAY! YESS! WOOHOO!" all the girls screamed in Sakura's ear and caused her to fall off the chair in surprise.
"Geez guys thanks for that." Sakura hesitated before she stood up again. This time on the ground.
The girls went shopping for about an hour, then decided to head back to Sakura's house for the pool party.
Back at the house the boys were having trouble cooperating and decided to have a break, but before they had a chance to sit down the doorbell rang, and Gaara answered it.
"Ah, hi. Is this Tara Haruno's house?" Joel spoke to Gaara
"Oh yeah, you must be the band she ordered, yeh come in, you will be playing over there" Gaara pointed to a small stage in the corner of the living room.
"Cool place you've got here, are you Tara's son?" Joel asked with enthusiasm.
"Ha ha no, I'm Gaara the birthday girl's boyfriend," Gaara said with a smirk on his face.
"Hey, can I just ask one question?" Benji asked the group of boys who were wrestling each other.
"Yeah shoot" Gaara smiled
"Is that the birthday girl?" Benji said pointing to a picture of Ino on the wall.
"Yep!" Said the boys laughing.
"Wow! She is one little hottie." Benji said with a cheeky smile.
"Oi! She's mine so back off!" Gaara warned while pushing Sasuke out of his face.
"Ha, I was only saying she's hot, its ok I already have a girlfriend." Benji said with amusement in his voice.
"Oh, ah yeah duh, I knew that, I was only kidding you know, to ah, set the mood." Gaara explained with a worried look.
"Ok, uh I won't ask anymore, this is getting awkward." Benji mumbled under his breath, and then walked over to where the rest of the band was standing.
Before the other boys had the chance to find out what was going on, they heard the girls jeeps pull up in the drive way.
"Oh crap! Um, Gaara you go out there and distract Ino, we're not ready yet!" Sasuke said pushing Gaara to front door.
"What am I supposed to say or do? I'm not that smart, remember." Gaara replied with a dumb look.
"Don't worry, you'll think of something" Sasuke said with a cheeky smile.
Gaara burst out the front door and ran down the path to the drive way where the girls were standing.
"Ah, hey! Um can I borrow Ino for minute?" Gaara shouted over the laughing girls in a nervous voice.
"Yeh sure take her." Sakura smiled
"Ooh, Ino and Gaara sitting in tree k-i-s-s…" the girls were interrupted by a huge gush huge of sand that knocked them off their feet and into the car behind them.
Gaara and Ino walked off down the street, he was taking her to the small park down the road.
"Well I think that I should start acting like your boyfriend, rather your best friend." Gaara said to Ino, having trouble looking into her eyes.
Ino was speechless and decided that a hug would have to do. She stopped in the middle of the path and turned to face Gaara, slung her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly. Gaara replied by moving his arms to the nape of her back, and slowly moved his lips to hers; they engaged in their first proper kiss, it lasted for at least a minute. After the kiss they began to walk towards the park again, this time holding hands.