A.N.- Hey there everybody! Here's the third chapter! I hope everyone is enjoying the summer! Thank you to every single wonderful beautiful soul who has reviewed this story. You guys are the greatest, your words always make my day. I celebrate every time I get a review. So thank you all very very much for the encouragement and the reassurance that my story is going well. Please enjoy this new chapter!

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.

Naruto chuckled as he handed Gaara another CD, making sure to not make eye contact.

"And what do you think about these guys?" he asked around his mirth.

Gaara studied the cover a moment, flipped the case over to inspect the back and then huffed handing it back to the blonde.

"Shit licking pussies. His voice is like a baby playing with a fan and the guitarist needs to have his hands cut off, he might play better then. They say they are hardcore and rockers and shit but really what they are is a group of whiney whimpy mama boys begging for mommy to fuck them harder."

Naruto's laughter doubled and he clutched his sides. Gaara's mini rants were hilarious!

"Oh my god you are amazing." Naruto gasped out.

Gaara went rigid and stared at the boy, eyes wide. He quickly composed himself so that when Naruto looked to him again his face was already back to normal. Which, normal for Gaara was devoid of any emotion.

Naruto grinned at Gaara, "Let's go find something else to do."

Casting a glance at the small plastic bag Naruto already held Gaara wondered why they were going to another store when Naruto already had the movie he'd come for.

However, he was not in any hurry to go home and he was also curious as to why he found it easy to enjoy his time with Naruto.

There were so many questions brought on by this single being…it was odd. Gaara wanted to know why this boy, why Naruto?

Naruto grabbed Gaara's hand and dashed out of the store.

Gaara stared at their hands touching. He didn't feel the need to break Naruto's arm, he didn't want to stab him, and he didn't even want to hit him in the face. This was the first person alive to touch him without provoking a violent reaction from him.

Something heavenly caught Naruto's eye as he was running and he skidded to a stop.

The hard marble wall that was Gaara struck him in the back.

Stumbling forward from the impact Naruto glanced at Gaara, "Brake check." He chuckled and straightened himself back up. "You ok?"

Gaara said nothing.

Oh yeah. He won't talk if there's eye contact.

Naruto turned to look at the food shop in front of them.

"This place has the best desserts! We have to get something!" Naruto turned back to smile at Gaara as way of encouragement before hurrying to the line. Sighing softly the red head followed behind at a slower pace.

He acted like a child…how could such small simple things amuse him and enthuse him so greatly? Such simple things should not induce this amount of pleasure…

Deciding that he may never understand the enigma that Naruto presented Gaara stood beside him, stoic and expressionless.

"Do you like ice cream?" Naruto asked.

Gaara shrugged, "Never had any."

Naruto gasped dramatically and clutched his heart as if he were suffering a violent heart attack.

Worrying for his mental health instead of his physical, Gaara stared at Naruto wondering if he had missed his medication due to sleeping through half of the day.

Catching sight of Gaara's expression Naruto laughed, "Sorry, I take it you aren't really used to someone being as energetic as me huh?"

Gaara shook his head.

Calming his mood down, Naruto asked, "Then how do the people you normally hang out with act?"

Gaara's eyes narrowed and Naruto realized his mistake instantly. Gaara didn't hang out with other people, other people avoided this boy like he had the plague.

"Sorry…I um," Naruto scrambled to find something to say.

Gaara saved him the work by cutting him off, "It's fine." Gaara snapped turning his head away to stare opposite from Naruto and the dessert shop. "Most people would be able answer that." He mumbled as afterthought.

Standing awkwardly beside each other Naruto and Gaara passed many minutes waiting in line silently.

Finally Naruto couldn't take it anymore and he turned back to Gaara, "Why do you keep away from people?"

"People keep away from me." Gaara answered keeping his gaze focused straight ahead of him.

Naruto thought about that answer and just how sad it sounded to him.

"Mostly because you never try to make them stay." He offered as kindly as he could.

Gaara shrugged, "Why would I?"

"Duh. To have friends?"

"I don't need friends."

"Wha-what am I then?" Naruto asked trying to not get angry. He knew Gaara didn't truly know what he was saying was hurtful.

"Naruto."

"Yes?"

"No."

Naruto tilted his head, confused. "Huh?"

"You are Naruto."

"Yeah…"

"Idiot. I'm answering your question." Gaara snapped quietly as he folded his arms over his chest.

Naruto stared at his feet. I'm…Naruto? That's his answer?

"So I'm not a friend?"

Gaara shrugged.

Sighing, Naruto reigned in his impatience. It would take time to make Gaara like him or trust him.

"Well, as of today you are mine, whether I'm yours or not." Naruto declared to the red head.

Gaara snapped his gaze to the blonde, though Naruto was now studying the menu board to pick out his order.

Unsure of what to say in this matter, Gaara remained silent. That tended to work best in these situations.

"I'll have a cherry orange slushie and a super chocolate sundae for my friend." He ordered and paid.

He knew he was short on cash but this was his way of thanking Gaara, introducing him to God's gift to people; ice cream.

The walked over to a bench close to a wall and sat down.

Naruto slurped his slushie and watched Gaara stare at his ice cream waiting to see what would happen.

Naruto motioned for him to taste it. Deciding the blonde hadn't really steered him wrong yet.

Risking a test lick Gaara swiftly darted his tongue out and tasted some whipped cream on top of the sundae.

Naruto grinned and said, "The ice cream tastes even better."

Gaara cast a glance at the blonde then stared back at his…treat. He was still deciding if the white topping was any good; he most certainly wasn't ready to try something newer and "better" yet.

He tested the cream again.

Four tiny licks later he decided it was decent enough and used his spoon to push it off to one side, he'd eat more of it later.

Now for the fudge sauce.

Naruto watched slightly amused as Gaara tested every ingredient of the sundae.

Grinning kindly he told Gaara, "You know, it all tastes a lot better mixed together, that's why they put it in a bowl in the first place. So you can have all the flavors in one bite."

Gaara licked the ice cream again and then stared at the now melting sundae. Try it altogether huh?

Well, Naruto seemed to be the expert on this frozen treat stuff so he'd take his word and try it.

Doing just that the red headed boy dug a full spoonful of everything out and slipped it into his mouth.

Naruto gasped and so did Gaara.

With wide blue eyes Naruto waited to see if Gaara would be ok; that had been a really huge bite of ice cream… Naruto was worried Gaara would get a brain freeze.

His worries were well founded. Gaara clenched his eyes shut and grabbed at his head.

"What the fuck!" he growled.

Naruto reached to help and Gaara glared at him.

"Why did you do this?" he snapped.

Naruto smiled kindly, "This is normal. It happens if you eat too much at once. I should've warned you."

Gaara listened to the low easy tone of Naruto's voice and let the sound relax him a bit. His head felt like a spike had gone through it.

Cautiously Naruto placed his hand on Gaara's head and began massaging it.

"Now you take your thumb and apply a little pressure to the roof of your mouth ok? It's silly but it helps I promise." Naruto soothed.

Dumbstruck from the physical contact Gaara silently obeyed the gentle command.

Slowly the pain went away and Gaara relaxed a bit more.

When it was clear Gaara was ok Naruto took his hands away and sat back.

"You ok? I'm sorry. I thought for sure even if you'd never had ice cream you knew it caused brain freezes…" Naruto lamely apologized.

Gaara shook his head, still a little dumbfounded.

"Are there any other things you don't know about?" Naruto asked, curiosity getting the better of his manners he sometimes used.

Gaara unaware such a question could be taken as rude simply shook his head and mumbled, "I…don't go out much…"

Naruto smiled and patted Gaara's shoulder, "That's ok. I'll show you everything you've been missing out on. Not all today but eventually, how's that sound?"

"Suspicious." Gaara answered, staring at the floor; still not entirely able to talk to Naruto when looking him in the eye.

"Why suspicious?"

Gaara shrugged and then stood, shoving his ice cream slop at the blonde.

"Are you done? You don't want anymore?" Naruto asked shocked.

The goth didn't answer he just kept walking.

Naruto knew this trick. Sasuke did it a lot. When someone walks away without a word they want you to follow they just won't say it.

Giving one last sad look at the melted ice cream goo Naruto sighed at the waste of money and threw it away before jogging after Gaara.

"Where are we going now?" Naruto asked.

Gaara shook his head, "I'm leaving."

"But…I thought we were gonna have more fun…"

"This isn't fun." Gaara muttered.

Naruto frowned. "Ok. Sorry…"

Gaara glanced at Naruto. Was he apologizing because he wasn't having fun? Unsure of what to say he just nodded and gave a slight grunt.

Naruto smiled, "What next then?"

Gaara turned his head to stare at Naruto. He still wanted to hang out?

Here Gaara had been feeling embarrassed for not knowing anything about fucking ice cream or the mall and Naruto was just fine and dandy? He still wanted to shop with him.

Naruto slung an arm around Gaara and felt the red head tighten up like a coil.

"Come on, please? Oh I know! Let's head to my place and watch this! I have popcorn." Naruto displayed his tiny plastic bag containing the movie proudly.

Gaara was secretly pleased Naruto enjoyed his company and he relished this new strange feeling in his chest from Naruto being so close. He suddenly didn't feel like doing anything other than what Naruto wanted.

He allowed the ball of energy to guide him out to the parking lot. Gaara got on his bike and waited for Naruto. Before he started the engine he got the basic directions to Naruto's house and once he had them they were off in a blur.