Iron in my Mouth (Gaara love Story)

Chapter 4- Truth or Dare~ Pshaw, the real name should be Trick or Death!

(RECAP)

(Gaara's POV)

Curling my fist, I slammed it into a tree, only to have my sand protect me. I growled, pinching the bridge of nose.

She was right though; why did I care?

Sure, she had been the only other child not to see me as a monster, but that didn't mean anything.

She was just ignorant.

That's all.

And why, when I slapped her, did she act as if she had never felt pain?

When I slapped her.

Oh no.

What have I done?

(END)

~•~

"Hey Akira, are you listening?"

Guilty, I turned to my best friend.

Ino cocked an eyebrow; I scratched the back of my head, avoiding eye contact. "Of- Of course I was Ino- don't be silly!" Crossing her arms, she seemed to be suppressing a smirk, "Oh really? Then what did I just say?" I groaned inwardly;

Damn you Ino.

"Er... Something about.... Something?" I grinned sheepishly, shrugging my shoulders.

Ino glared at me- if looks could kill... "I'm sorry! I just... I've been thinking a lot." Ino frowned, reaching toward me, then pulling back, " It really wasn't necessary to slap you. I mean, you were just supporting me." 'Don't tell him that,' I thought bitterly, 'If he slapped me, then he'd deck you into the Land of Waves.'

I was snapped out of my thoughts by a knock on my hospital door.

"Come in," I said, curious.

The door opened, and there stood Choji and Shikamaru, holding take out bags from the BBQ restaurant. I squealed in delight, reaching my hands out, "Gimme!"

"Not even a hello," Shikamaru said, smiling anyway.

Shikamaru set the bag near me, so that my wall of water wouldn't soak the bag, and, God forbid, the contents. Choji handed Ino her bag, which she refused, saying she was still on a diet. "C'mon Ino, eat something. Besides, it's just a salad."

~Ino's POV~

Choji looked at me with pleading eyes, taking the bag and thrusting it towards me.

Hesitantly, I grabbed the paper bag, shivering as our hands brushed together. I averted my gaze, hiding my blush, "Th- thanks," I said.

I spotted Akira devouring the meat, and thought back to something I'd heard Shikamaru say to Choji, after they thought I left; but no, I stood, right around the corner, and listened to what Shikamaru said:

"Hn. She has no clue. Despite what most women seem to believe, men don't always go for the skinny girls. Most guys I know, they like girls with a little meat on their bones. It just looks healthier. Oh yeah, and the reverse is true too, you know. I'd bet anything she'd be twice as popular if she put on a few pounds instead of starving herself. She should eat."

I wasn't sure why I stayed around to listen in. At the time I'd thought, 'I'll show you Shikamaru. I'll be just as popular while being skinny.' But, now that I think about it, I'm not very popular at all. I'm just... a wannabe.

And so, as I watched Choji laugh with Akira as she ate, I did something I never thought I do.

I asked for more food.