I... I'm In Love...? [Gaalee College AU!]

Chapter 4 - Sabaku No Gaara

R-o-c-k -- L-e-e -- P.O.V

       As Gaara was examining and checking the lotus for any signs of more damage than wilt, Lee stared at him. Lee stared at Gaara the whole time. He couldn't take his eyes off Gaara, since he was moving to gracefully when quickly walking to shelves after shelves, looking for a book about lotuses that Lee presumed Gaara owned. Lee was quite distracted by this beautiful lotus, that he didn't notice two other people had walked into the small shop, walking up behind Lee to the long counter. 

       "Heyyy! Gaaaaara!" One of them said obnoxiously. Gaara looked up at the man, then rolled his eyes to look back down at the plant and a book.

       "Hello, Kankuro... Temari.... How have you two been?" Gaara asks, sounding quite annoyed with the two standing beside Lee. He wondered how Gaara had known them. 

       "Well, other than having to actually live with Kankuro, it's been fine. What about you? I see this flower shop is well. You've been taking good care of it since father actually complied with your wish." The one presumably named Temari states, smirking and leaning against the counter. 

       "Yes, I mean, it IS one of my specialties... You know... Planting and gardening..." Gaara mumbled, mainly focused on the book he was reading about lotuses. Lee awkwardly stood to the side, listening to the conversation, but not looking like he was. Maybe these two were related to Gaara?

       "Yeah but you didn't start gardening until you were twelve. I always wondered where you got it from." The one named Kankuro says, once again sounding obnoxious. 

       "Well you started liking puppets when you were thirteen so I don't know what you are talking about." Gaara says, shoving this rude remark towards Kankuro. Lee almost laughed at this, but he didn't. 

       "AWE SHUDDUP! TEMARI STILL ENJOYS FANS- OH! And what about that Shikamaru, Hah? Has he gotten... close... to you yet? I'm gonna kill him if he has." Kankuro says, staring at Temari intensely. Temari shakes her head and rolls her eyes.

       "Shut up you gay wad, has Kiba gotten close to you?" Temari asks sarcastically, rolling her eyes again.

       "HEY SHUT UP! I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO'S GAY IN THIS HOUSEHOLD YOU BITCH! WHY DIDN'T YOU BRING GAARA INTO THIS CONVERSATION!!!" Kankuro exclaims, causing Gaara to look up at Kankuro, then at Lee, then to Temari. 

       "Because Gaara owns a shop, and he's helping someone right now, if you didn't notice the man standing behind you, Asshole." Temari says, looking at Lee. Kankuro also turns to look at Lee. 

       "Oooooo- Gaara is that your boyfrieeeend~?" Kankuro says, looking at Gaara and leaning over the counter very far to get in his personal space. Gaara shakes his head and looks back down at the book.

       "No. He's not my boyfriend. He's merely a customer." Gaara says, setting the book down and going to a back room to get something for the plant. Both Temari and Kankuro look at Lee as if to say 'If you ever do get with him, and you break his heart, we'll break your bones'. Lee gulps. He was planning on asking Gaara out but now... Not so much... Gaara's siblings--He presumed-- were scary. A few seconds later Gaara walks out of the room and back to the counter holding a small bottle.

       "Temari, Kankuro, might I ask you two to leave? I don't need my siblings interfering with my work." Gaara says, setting the bottle down next to the lotus. Lee shivered as the siblings glared at him, then left. Gaara sighed then continued working towards his goal of helping the plant back to health.

       "S... Siblings of yours?" Lee manages to mumble, though barely raising his voice above a whisper. Gaara nodded.

       "As annoying as they are, I'm stuck with them for the rest of my days. Frightening since Kankuro asks me about relationships every time we see each other. 'Gaara do you have this', 'Gaara do you have that'. It gets quite annoying, really." Gaara says, spilling out his thoughts about his brother as if he's done it before--which he probably has.

       "If you don't mind my asking... Have you ever been in a relationship?" Lee asks, once again in a slight whisper in case Gaara got mad. Gaara looks up at Lee almost in confusion. 

       "..Yes I have been in a relationship... It didn't really work out, and I was the one to end it. The man I was dating was pushy and arrogant, which I don't like, and so I broke it off." Gaara mumbles, going back to fixing the plant up. So he doesn't like arrogance or pushiness...? Lee thought to himself. Lee must have had some kind of face, for next, Gaara asked him "Is something the matter?"

       "Ah! No! It is just... I was thinking of how someone like you doesn't deserve that! You are really nice!" Lee says, kind of loudly. 

       "Someone like me? And that means what exactly?" Gaara asks, turning his body to where it was facing Lee. 

       "It is just, well.. You are very handsome, nice, caring, and helpful! I could not imagine someone treating you like that! It is very unyouthful!" Lee shouts, realizing he had blurted out how he thought Gaara was very handsome. Gaara tilts his head and smiles.

       "You think I'm handsome?" Gaara asks curiously. 

       "I- Well- I mean-" Lee stutters out.

       "Well, Thank you. You're very handsome as well." Gaara says, still smiling, as he turns back to the plant to keep working on it. Lee felt his face start to heat up. G-Gaara thinks I am handsome?? Lee thought. 

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       After Gaara had done what he needed to the plant, he handed it to Lee. Their fingers brushed against each other as they exchanged the plant between themselves. Lee bowed his head and smiled his youthful smile.

       "Thank you for helping me, Gaara-Kun!" Lee says, wanting to lean over the counter to hug Gaara, but stopping himself. Gaara nodded.

       "You are very welcome, Lee. Make sure to say 'hi' if you see me on campus. I'm sure it won't be long before our paths cross once again." Gaara mumbled, waving to Lee as he steps out of the door and gets into his car. "I do have that two o'clock class with you......" 

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       When Lee got back to his dorm, he set the lotus in the window, but then noticed a small piece of paper sticking out of the soil for the plant. He picked it up and unfolded it. On it, it read a phone number with cursive hand writing below it that said 'Sabaku No Gaara'. Lee squealed. 

       "GAARA-KUN GAVE ME HIS PHONE NUMBER!!!!!!" Lee shouts, jumping up into the air, not wanting to let go of the small piece of paper, beholding such nice handwriting. 

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