This is dedicated to XxMeWxX4444 because she was the first person to request on my poll thingy! :3

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"Naruto..." I sniffed, looking up at him, my eyes filled with tears. "Thanks."

He just grinned at me and hugged me a little tighter, "No problem, Charlie! That's what friends are for, 'ttebayo!"

I bit my lip, sitting up properly, then suddenly launched myself at him, wrapping my arms around his neck and hiding my face against his warm skin. I didn't notice the fact that I had knocked us both over until I noticed how red Naruto's face was. And yet he didn't push me off, just kept hugging me, despite how clearly uncomfortable he was.

I knew that I was on top of him, and in an indecent position, but at that moment I didn't really care. I just held onto Naruto like he was my lifeline.

After about ten minutes, I leaned back and wiped my eyes, still sitting on Naruto. I then smiled wryly at him, and leaned back down to kiss his cheek. "I mean it, thanks."

Then I left, leaving behind a bright red blonde.

---

"I'm bored..." I sighed to Jack as we sat at the kitchen table the next morning. We had just eaten breakfast, and I reeeeeally wanted to go outside. I wanted to test my theory of whether potatoes can glow in the sunlight if you grow them in carrot juice. It doesn't make much sense, I know, but it does to me! My three year old cousin rose an interesting point!

Anyway, I desperately needed to get out of the house. But Jack was refusing to come with me, since he was being a little geek and 'studying' for a test that we wouldn't even take if we didn't get back home. Stupid pointless child.

Huffing, I grabbed my jacket and left the house. "Fine! I'll go and see someone else then!"

As I wandered the streets, I found myself gravitating towards the training ground where squad seven usually met. I was surprised to find that Squad seven actually were there, though, I didn't expect them to be.

"Charlie! Oh my god, I haven't seen you in ages!" I was frozen as Sakura hugged me. Sakura. Hugged. Me. Sakura!

"Who the heck are you and what have you done with Sakura?!" I demanded from the pinkette, and she just scowled.

"What? Am I not allowed to miss the only other girl on my team?" she said, seeming slightly embarassed, and all the wind seemed to be knocked out of me.

"Even you missed me..?" I asked slowly. I felt as though I was going to cry. Sakura looked alarmed.

"Charlie?! Don't cry! What the-?!" I sniffed, wiping my eyes, while Sakura panicked, and Naruto and Sasuke appeared, while Kakashi watched from the background.

"Charlie? What's the matter?!" Uchiha asked.

"Don't cry, Charlie, 'ttebayo!" Naruto exclaimed.

The worry on their faces just made me want to cry more, and I didn't know why. Stupid frustrating emotions!!

"Sakura you idiot, you made her cry!" Sasuke accused, and the poor girl looked stricken. Naruto just shook me, not really helping in any way whatsoever, but I was touched that he was trying.

"Sasuke, it's not her fault. I'm just feeling really emotional lately for some reason..." I mumbled, gazing at him sadly. He seemed to understand. Part of it was homesickness... the relief of finally being back home, before having it cruelly ripped away.... it was too much. I wonder if he knew about Zoey? I doubted it. He didn't really know her that well, anyway.

I wiped my eyes, and stood. I let out a shaky laugh, "I just wanted to come and see how you guys were... plus, I was really bored at home, Jack's studying like the little nerd he is." I folded my arms and pouted, while all four of them stared at me blankly.

"Who's Jack?" Sakura asked, and I grinned.

"He's my brother." I gave Naruto and Sasuke a look- seeing as they already knew Jack, they'd know he wasn't my brother, but they would have to just go along with it.

"You have a brother? I always assumed that you didn't have any family, seeing as you arrived as the only one of your clan..." Sakura said, "Can we meet him?"

I bit my lip, "Er, not today. Some other time, maybe?" I laughed uneasily; would they see him and tell instantly that we weren't related? Or would Sasuke and Naruto blow my cover?

"Oh, all right." I'm such a worrier kid now. I used to be so carefree... I guess hating your life does that.

Ohmygod. I'm becoming such an emo!! I think Sasuke must have infected me with his emo disease. Probably when he kissed me. If he even did kiss me. Did he kiss me? I can't remember. Maybe I should ask him.

"Sasuke, the other day, when I was going to sleep, did you ki-?!" I cut off by a pale hand being pressed over my mouth, stopping me from speaking.

"Ahahaha, funny girl, funny girl." Sasuke's face was bright red, and he wore a nervous smile (which, I might add, was extremely out of character for him), as the three others just stared at us in confusion. Sasuke leaned closer and hissed in my ear, "Shut up, Charlie!"

I frowned, and stuck my tongue out to get him to let go of me. He quickly removed his hand, cringing, and wiping my saliva off on his shirt. Honestly. Such a weirdo. He's had blood on him before, and he's unfased by that, but when it comes to saliva...

"What? All I was asking is if you kissed me the other day."

"WHAT?!" Both Naruto and Sakura bellowed, and Sasuke facepalmed. Sakura burst into tears, and Naruto was fuming. "YOU KISSED CHARLIE?!"

Sasuke glared at me for the trouble I had caused him, and I just shrugged. I didn't see what the problem is, it was only a kiss. Why were they all so het up about it? I kiss people all the time- Zoey, Tommy, Jack, my Mom and Dad... Sasuke and I are friends, and I kiss my friends all the time! Maybe only on the cheek, but still. And I kissed Haku-kun... well, he kissed me... but I suppose that was kind of... different... seeing as that wasn't exactly in a friend-type way... though it was very sweet.

I quickly shoved the thoughts of Haku away as the depression started to creep over me once more, and focused on the situation at hand.

"Sasuke-kun... you don't love her, do you?" Sakura wailed, tears streaming down her cheeks, "I thought you loved me!!"

"TEME!!" Naruto seemed really pissed, "WE HAD A DEAL!!"

"Dobe, this doesn't breach it!" Sasuke retorted. I just stared at them blankly. Deal?

"I THINK IT DOES!! YOU KISSED HER, NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND!!" Naruto roared.

"But she didn't resist!!" Sasuke was getting pissed now, too.

"I'LL KILL YOU!!" Naruto launched himself at Sasuke, only to be caught by the collar by Kakashi, who had finally decided to intervene. I was so confused. Just what was going on?

"Okay, that's enough. Look, you're upsetting the girls." Kakashi said, sending a meaningful look to both of the boys. I was kind of upset; I didn't like seeing them fight, they were both my friends. Sakura was crying, but for the same reason from a few minutes ago.

Naruto and Sasuke's heads whipped to me, and saw the distraught and frightened (yet confused) expression that was on my face. I realised, and scowled, not liking how weak I was putting myself across. Even so, the anger faded in their expressions.

Naruto pulled himself from Kakashi's grip, standing with his arms crossed, and a glare, aimed at the Uchiha, on his face.

I just didn't understand it. Why the sudden anger? I thought that they were getting better, after living together in my world. Obviously not. In fact, I think they've gotten worse!

"I think I need to have a little talk with the two of you..." Kakashi said to them, folding his arms, and they both scowled at him. I frowned, feeling very confused, but then remembered the reason I came here in the first place- well, my visit to see team seven wasn't pre-empted, but I did have something to tell them.

The only issue was; how do I breach the subject? The atmosphere was thick with tension, and everything was silent, bar the odd sniffle from Sakura... hopeless fangirly person.

"I'm a ninja again!" I blurted suddenly, seeing no point in dithering about with it, making them all look to me. They all seemed reasonably happy about it, until I said the next part; "But I'm not coming back to this squad."

"What?! Why not?!" Naruto demanded. Kakashi didn't seem surprised, so I assumed that he had been told already by the Hokage.

"There has recently been another Genin become available for a squad." I said, and it was obvious that Naruto was going to flip out "So Jack and I are forming a squad with them- but I don't know who our new sensei is."

Kakashi had a strange look on his face, and I narrowed my eyes at him, ignoring the now-spazzing Naruto.

"You know who it is, though, don't you Kakashi-sensei?" I said slowly, and Kakashi eyed me a second, before nodding.

"I do. But I suppose I should fill you in." Kakashi said, and I frowned. This sounded as though it would be complicated. "Basically, your squad- squad 13- will be having a stand-in of several different jounin as your sensei until your real sensei is available. I myself am one of the stand-ins. Your real sensei is busy at the moment, doing things that I cannot reveal to you. I also cannot tell you who your sensei is."

I just blinked; it was confusingly worded, but I think I got the gist of it. There was a long pause. "So my new squad will occasionally train with you anyway, Kakashi-sensei?"

"Yes, although I believe Asuma will be testing you." the jounin put his hand to his chin thoughtfully, and I pursed my lips. So in other words, we would have to be tested to see if we could be a squad. By Asuma. I wonder what kind of test he'll give us?

"Oh. Well, okay, I'll see you all later then. I gots me some stuff to do!" I didn't really. I just kind of wanted to escape the tense atmosphere. I just had a feeling that if I went back to the others, I would become a rope for a game of tug of war between Sasuke and Naruto. I seriously don't get what is with them lately. Stupid mentally problematic boys.

I let out a heavy sigh as I got out of the training grounds and back onto the road; I could noticably feel the difference in tension now.

I paced slowly down the road, unsure of where it led, but following it anyway. We were now supposed to meet our new teammate tomorrow, so until then, I had nothing to do. I suppose I could train, but training isn't so fun on your own.

My breath caught as I noticed a splash of red on a roof up ahead.

Was it really who I thought it was?!

Okay Charlie, calm down, it might not even be him-

Okay, I just saw the gourd, GAARA'S HERE!!!

Calm, calm. I'll freak him out if I scream. He'll probably try to squish me with his sand. Like a bug. And I hate bugs, so I do not wish to be alike to one.

Quietly, I scaled the building, and stood at the edge of the roof, staring at the back of his head. I wonder how long it will be before he notices me-

"Who are you and what do you want?" I suppressed a squeal at his voice, noticing the sand crumbling off of his gourd to pool on the floor beside him.

"I don't want anything. I'm just going to sit down here like a happy person on happy pills." I sat down beside him, but a little ways to the left. He didn't look at me. "My name's Charlie, what's yours?"

"What business do you have here?"

A slight pout came onto my face; he might be THE Gaara, but boy, was he rude! "I'm only talking to you."

"Leave." Charming!

The pout was a scowl now. "What if I don't wanna?"

That was most likely a poor move on my part, but eh, it's not like I've got much to live for anyways. And we all die some day anyway, so what's the difference?

Sand started to creep up towards me.

"Then you lose your life." the sand fired at me, only to go straight through me, while I flinched. Wha-?

"Well now, how's that happening?" I mused, as the sand went for me again, only for the same thing to happen. After a minute, Gaara gave up trying to kill me (the fact that I'm saying that proves how messed up my life is), and stared at me in disbelief.

"How are you doing that?"

I pulled my knees to my chest, "I have no idea. I would tell you if I knew."

There was a long moment of silence. It soon became clear just how socially awkward Gaara really was- he just stared at me the whole time; didn't he know that it's rude to stare? But then, I suppose no one ever taught him those things...

Poor guy, the only person he ever trusted... that bastard Yashamaru...

I don't know why I did it. I couldn't stop myself. I hugged Gaara.

But then again, I don't know why I do half of the stuff that I do.

He just remained frozen, obviously not knowing how to react. When I let him go, I grinned. "Let's start this again, shall we? I'm Charlie, nice to meet you."

I put my hand out for him to shake, and he just stared at it. I let it drop, feeling awkward. But then, he looked up at me, and said, "Gaara."

In response to that, a large grin found it's way to my face. He had willingly told me his name! It may have been extremely small, and he may still gladly kill me, but it was a start.

"So, Gaara, you're from Suna..." I trailed off as I saw Naruto, Konohamaru, and Sakura run underneath us, the female chasing the two others in apparent anger. Realisation struck me. I knew what happened next.

"I g-" I cut off as I saw that he was already gone. Sighhh... he REAAALLLY needs to work on his people skills.

Grumbling to myself, I leapt from roof to roof until I found the small gathering. I stopped, watching, as Sasuke threw a pebble at Kankuro's hand, and I frowned. What the H, man?

Hey, let's throw a pebble at this guy's hand, cuz we're cool. Never mind the fact that I have a pouch with kunai and shuriken on my leg, oh no. Pebbles are much more dangerous! I sighed, then shrugged.

I grinned menacingly, and angled my jump juuust right...

"Oof!" that was the noise that Kankuro let out when I landed on top of him- luckily, Konohamaru was back with Naruto.

Speaking of, "Charlie!"

I looked up to the surprised blonde, and grinned, remaining sitting on Kankuro's chest. "Yo, Naruto-kun." I then frowned down at the shocked Kankuro. "You shouldn't pick on people smaller than yourselves." I scolded, and then noticed another shocked person in the tree. I went over and swung up to his branch.

"Y'know Gaara, it's very rude to leave when someone is talking to you." I scolded him as well. He just looked at me with a blank expression. I sighed, "And God damnit boy, smile, would ya?! And same goes for you too, Wifey!"

I leaned around the trunk of the tree as I said it, and Sasuke scowled at me. I tsked, then jumped down from the tree. I was immediately grabbed by Kankuro, and he took advantage of the difference in height and lifting me off the ground. He leaned in close, a furious glare on his face.

"You aren't gonna get away with that." he hissed, and I glared defiantly back at him, oblivious to Naruto's shouts. I then smirked, bringing my leg back, and... kicked him full-force in the crotch. And I have a strong kick- did I never mention? I used to play football (soccer if you're american) quite a lot. He doubled over, dropping me, and I landed neatly on my feet.

"Oops, I'm sorry," I said innocently, but I couldn't push the smirk off of my face, "Are you a little tender there?"

I was then grabbed by the arm and pulled behind the two boys that somehow appeared by me. Both were sending steely glares at Kankuro. I blinked in confusion, then sighed.

"Well, see ya everyone." I said, then laced my fingers together behind my head, whistling as I walked away.

I wonder... does whistling count as an instrument? Because if I could hurt someone just by whistling, that would be awesome.

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Chapter fourteen finished! It's kinda halting- it doesn't flow very well, but that's because I didn't have a hella clue where I was going with this chappy. But yeah. Extremely sorry for the late update ^^ I'm getting baaaaad writer's block with this.

But yeah, you should all thank XxMeWxX444 (is that right? ^^) for this chapter, because she requested it. That's why it's dedicated to her.

And YAY!! GAARA'S HERE!! This was originally a Gaara love story, dunno about that now thoufh. I just find it funny that I rewrote it, and it turned out with Gaara not appearing till over ten chapters in! xD

So ANYWAYS!! Fan, vote, and comment! :3