Gaara sat on the couch at Just Desserts and stared at a wall. It was already two hours passed their closing time and he just sat and stared. He insisted that Temari go home. It must have been uncomfortable to sleep on this couch last night. He didn't need her worrying more than necessary.
He heard a tap on the door and his heart jumped into his throat. When he turned, he got a strange feeling of déjà vu. He got up, let Kakashi in and closed the door behind him. Gaara didn't bother with pleasantries. Him and Kakashi never were one for those anyway. Kakashi followed him to the couch and Gaara sat back down and stared at the wall again.
"Lee wasn't with you last night, was he?" There was a tone of defeat. Gaara gave a curt nod and Kakashi sighed. "I'm so sorry Gaara." Gaara nodded again and Kakashi sat slightly closer to him. "Boys are stupid. Especially ones with Guy's DNA. Trust me, I'd know." Gaara felt a slight crack in his resolve and looked at Kakashi for a second. "Having a crush on someone sucks, I know. It sucks even more when you're a teenager and the guy you like is dating a girl. It's just confusing. I promise you that Lee cares about you though. Don't take that as putting him before yourself. If you need time away from him, you do that, ok?" Gaara nodded again. "I mean it. Don't put his needs over your own. Lee didn't mean to hurt you, he still did though and your feelings are still valid." Gaara rest his head on Kakashi's shoulder and Kakashi took a deep breath.
"Thanks Kakashi." Gaara said quietly and Kakashi nudged him with his elbow.
"Anytime kid. Now why don't you find the remote for these TV's and we can stare at something entertaining."
"Where is Kakashi?" Lee asked when he saw Guy sitting at the kitchen table alone. Guy gave him a look that said Lee was in trouble and Lee tentatively walked into the room and sat down. "What?"
"You didn't tell me where you went last night." Guy said with a frown. "I thought I taught you better than that." Lee had the graciousness to look ashamed.
"I know, dad. It was completely my fault. What happened was this, and I am not standing up for my atrocious behavior, I am just telling you what happened. When we all got to the party, Naruto snuck off and Sasuke followed him and it was just Sakura and I. Well, I got really nervous because... you saw how silly my costume was. And Sakura looked very pretty and I do not know how to talk to her half the time. Anyway, I offered to get her something to drink and that is when I fell into Naruto's prank. I was so nervous I had forgotten that Naruto was going to spike the punch bowl and I had so much to drink because I was sweating and the next thing I know I woke up in Sakura's house in the guest room. She said she did not want to bring me home because she was not sure how you and Kakashi would react to me being so drunk. After that I was just throwing up most of the day. I feel terrible. I did not even spend time with Sakura or Naruto or Sasuke. They came over to her house to make fun of me though so I saw them briefly but then I got sick again and they left and called me gross... Anyway, that is what happened and I am sorry, dad." Lee was staring at the table, away from his father's eyes. He didn't want to see the disappointment.
"Where was Gaara?" Was the only question Guy had.
"What?" The question surprised Lee. Honestly, he hadn't even thought of where Gaara had been all that time.
"He didn't come home last night. We assumed you two were together." Lee looked horrified.
"Oh. I-Is he home now?" Lee stood up and Guy shook his head. "W-where is he?"
"Kakashi went to go look for him." Lee's eyes filled with tears.
"I am a terrible friend." He realized and sat back down. Guy didn't respond so Lee could only assume he agreed.
"Just... remember. No relationship is worth your friends. You've been distant from us and him ever since you and Sakura got together. I bet Gaara doesn't even know why." Lee looked down at the floor. "Have you even told him?"
"...No."
"Why not?"
"... I... I do not know." Lee hugged his knees to his chest.
When Kakashi and Gaara got home two hours later, Lee jumped out of his bed and was standing at the top of the stairs. He saw Gaara's bright red hair and so many feelings washed over him, he didn't know which one to portray.
Lee didn't like seeing Gaara when he was with Sakura. When Lee and Sakura decided to date, it was uncomfortable. Lee felt like he didn't have much of a say in it and he was too polite to speak up. He convinced himself he should be thrilled, this is what he wanted since he first saw her. She was a wonderful girlfriend, very doting. She wasn't mean to him or call him names. She visited him at work a lot, even before they got together. When Lee saw Gaara... That's when Lee felt things. Felt things people in relationships should feel for each other. He got the erratic heartbeat, the sweaty palms, the nervous laugh, getting flustered over nothing and the all around feeling of comfort and warmth. Being with Sakura was nice, but it felt forced. Like a close friends thing as opposed to a relationship. Lee felt like a terrible boyfriend. Every time Sakura would surprise him at home, he wished Gaara was back from work. When Sakura kissed his cheek, he wondered how Gaara's lips would feel there instead. Lee didn't know how long he could stay in the relationship with Sakura but he really didn't want to hurt her feelings. She was a very nice girl.
All thoughts of Sakura dissipated when Gaara placed his hand on the wooden banister and looked up the steps, ready to walk up them. His aquamarine eyes locked with Lee's and they stared at each other for a moment. Lee couldn't place all his emotions but the one thing he knew was looking at Gaara he felt so much for him he wanted to burst.
Lee opened his mouth to say something-anything. He couldn't. Gaara's eyes narrowed at him.
When Lee first met Gaara he thought Gaara had the most doe-eyed face because the dark rings around his eyes and they beautiful color with curve of his cute button nose and those beautiful lips. He looked like a raccoon. The cutest raccoon Lee ever saw. He couldn't imagine an instance where those eyes would look anything other than innocent.
Until right then.
That's when Lee noticed how dangerously spiky Gaara's hair was, untamed and wild. Such a deep red that matched his kanji tattoo that seemed to represent anything but love. Lee saw the slits those big eyes could become and how they appeared darker than Lee'd ever seen. Above Gaara's nose and inbetween his eyes creased when he was angry. Lee never thought he would see that, but there he was. His cute nose was scrunched in a way that said he was displeased and the curl of his lip added to the affect. Gaara didn't look cute. Gaara looked dangerous.
Lee remembered all of the shy smiles Gaara sent his way. He remembered the softness of his eyes when he taught Lee how to roll out pie dough and how he didn't get mad at him for over rolling it or tearing it. Gaara was so patient with him. This was a new look and Lee knew instantly it was him that Gaara was angry at. Gaara found out he was with Sakura. Gaara finally had enough of being ignored. Gaara was angry at Lee for not even seeing him yesterday when Lee told him he didn't want to go to the dance if Gaara wasn't there and then went anyway to appease a girl that just. Wasn't. Gaara.
It felt like this moment took forever whereas it took place over the span of several seconds. Gaara ascended the stairs and gave Lee such a look that Lee didn't stop to ask any question, he let him go. And Gaara did. He walked right to his room, closed the door, and Lee didn't say a single word to him.
Temari stared at the paper in front of her and couldn't stop blinking. She was confused.
"You're... quitting?" She asked and looked up at Lee from his two week notice. Lee gave an awkward smile.
"Yes. I am sorry. I did not expect to leave so soon, but it appears luck is on our side. I came here to raise money for my father's dojo. While I have not raised the money myself, we were told today that someone anonymously donated four-thousand dollars to the dojo! It is a miracle. I have to go back to the dojo, I am an instructor there. I hope you do not mind, I am sorry for not giving more notice than this." Temari stared at it and pursed her lips. Four thousand dollars, huh? Only one person she knew with ties to the family that just came in with that kind of money.
"No, Lee. This is legally the amount of time you have to give, that's fine with me. My thoughts are, don't even work the two weeks. The dojo is your family business and you should really put all of your effort in that. Don't worry about us, we have enough people and even some resumes. You're fine. Thank you for your hard work and if you ever need a job or a letter of recommendation, I will gladly give you both." Lee smiled at Temari even though that wasn't what he wanted to hear. He wanted two more weeks working with Gaara. "Good luck with your dojo, Lee."
"Gaara?" Temari walked into the kitchen and watched Gaara put the finishing touches on the rainbow cookies.
"Yes?" He seemed to be deep in thought.
"Lee just quit." Gaara stopped what he was doing and slowly put both arms to rest on his workbench. His lips pursed and he looked at the half done rainbow cookies. "He said he was here to raise money for the dojo but some kind anonymous person donated four-thousand dollars. You wouldn't happen to know anything about that, would you?" Gaara laughed and shook his head. It was a dry, desperate laugh that seemed foreign to Temari's ears.
"Naturally." Gaara bit his lip and shook his head, trying to brush it off and went back to layering the chocolate on top of the cookies.
"...are you okay?" Temari asked slowly and Gaara slammed the bowl of chocolate and the offset spatula onto the workbench.
"Yes I'm fine! Why wouldn't I be? I give literally EVERYTHING I have to him and still-NOTHING." Gaara's shoulders tensed up and he glared at the cookies.
"Honey why don't you go home or something to relax. Ino will be here soon." Gaara almost forgot about their second baker. It's been so long since he's seen her. He was pretty sure they went to school together but he never really saw her. Or he never tried to pay attention.
"I don't care. I'm finishing my list." Gaara insisted and quickly worked with the chocolate before it solidified on top. "These are really fucking ugly." Gaara said with an angry pout and Temari giggled at him. Gaara trimmed the cookies and Temari reached in and grabbed some scraps and he glared at her as she ate them. "Do you mind?"
"I love rainbow cookies. Even the really fucking ugly ones. I hear they're especially good."
"Oh wow! I finally see Gaara! This is new." Gaara looked up and Ino was walking to the bathroom. Temari glanced up at Gaara to gauge his mood. He didn't seem to be bothered.
"Are you going to be okay?" He rolled his eyes at her.
"Are you kidding? I'm working with fucking Ino today. So she's going to take my space up to make croissants. My fucking favorite thing." Temari smirked at him.
"You seem to like cursing lately." She noted and ate more scraps.
"Just in that kind of mood, I guess." He mumbled and got out the pastry cutter and evenly scored lines on the tops of the cookies.
"To be fair we have two work benches." Temari bargained and Gaara ignored her and cut his cookies with precision. "Beautiful."
"Hey Gaara!" Kankuro burst through the doors, startling everyone and almost making Gaara cut off his finger. "I've been thinking, are you going to cook thanksgiving this year?" Gaara looked up with a perked brow.
"Why would I made such an Americanized meal?" Kankuro sat on the workbench parallel to Gaara and Gaara scowled at the contact with Kankuro's butt and a place he worked.
"Because you did last year and it was awesome. Come on, let's do it. We're in America anyway. It's a few weeks away. We can eat here! You can invite your other friends too." Gaara stared at Kankuro blankly.
"You want me to cook an entire thanksgiving meal, then tell me I can invite whom I want like I wouldn't do that anyway?" Kankuro nodded and Gaara rolled his eyes. "Go play with your puppets and leave me alone."
"No! Seriously! We should do it! I'll help! I'll... I'll buy everything!" Gaara looked up again.
"You want thanksgiving that badly?" Kankuro grinned.
"Hell yeah I do. I really want stuffing." Ino walked out from the bathroom.
"Stuffing? That isn't the best part. It's the cranberry sauce." She said simply and everyone stared at her. "What?"
"I'm going to pretend you didn't say that." Gaara mumbled and grabbed a plate to put the cookies on. "No one likes cranberry sauce."
"I do!" Ino argued with a smile. "It's my favorite! Why are we talking about thanksgiving dinner anyway?"
"Oh, Gaara is going to make it." Kankuro said simply and Temari snorted when Gaara stopped what he was doing and looked up at Kankuro with a look to kill.
"When did I say yes?" Kankuro swatted his hand.
"It's fine. You were bound to. Anyway, are you going to make us some croissants for our thanksgiving dinner, Ino?" Kankuro asked and Ino grinned.
"Only if I'm invited!" Gaara groaned loudly.
"I told you that you should've went home before..." Temari mumbled and Gaara glared at her. "Just sayin..."
"Thank you for your help and words of encouragement, Temari." Gaara said flatly. "What ever would I have done without you?"
"Who knows? Maybe if I wasn't here you would've decided to go home on your own and then wouldn't have to deal with this anyway. We'll never know. But now you're stuck making Thanksgiving dinner."