Taiga sat up in her bed and massaged her forehead. She couldn't sleep. As heavy sigh burst from her lips she pondered what to do. Attempting to sleep was futile, after all, it's not like she hadn't been trying for the past hour and a half. She considered preparing snacks and food for the next day at school, since Ryuuji had been through a lot recently and it would be nice to make his workload as the cook of the group a little lighter.

Not that she cared or anything.

Ryuuji was the main problem in her eyes. That dumb mutt couldn't work up the courage to ask Minori out like a man, instead choosing to awkwardly dance around her like a spider; like a dumb dancing spider. And, as a result, Taiga was stressed out and couldn't sleep.

Taiga got up and soberly walked to her living room. The wooden floor felt cold as she approached the only chair in the room and sat down. The room was big, way too big for one person to inhabit, no matter how much furniture they filled it with. And, though it was tastefully furnished and well looked after (which Taiga only did because Ryuuji kept screaming at her to clean up after herself) it felt intimidating and lonely.

Ryuuji had Minori, Minori had Ryuuji, Kitamura had that smartass student council president, it felt like everyone had someone.

But who did Taiga have?

She sighed again and pulled her knees up to her chest so she could rap her arms around them. Looking out the window, she marvelled the night sky. Taiga had always loved looking up at the stars, they fascinated her; the deep sea of blues and purples creating a contrast against brilliant, glowing lights, it was hard to not fall in love with the tranquillity and beauty of it all. Another reason she enjoyed looking at the night sky, albeit a reason she had discovered recently, was that it reminded her of someone special to her. Someone with gorgeous blue hair, and eyes that also shone like stars.

Her friend, Ami Kawashima.

Taiga had always known that she had liked both girls and guys, ever since she developed a small crush on Minori when they were younger. And obviously, her large crush on Kitamura. However, she never expected Ami to capture her heart so suddenly and so fiercely.

It happened during their performance during the Christmas Eve festival. When Ami and Taiga performed together in front of all their classmates, the realised how she felt. Ami was hot, which was obvious, since she was a model. With her pastel white skin that made her pink lips stand out. Violet eyes, hair the colour of the night sky or a deep ocean, a sexy strut that said to the world "I'm beautiful!".

How could Taiga approach her? How could she tell Ami how she felt without humiliating herself in front of everyone? Taiga didn't even know if Ami liked girls, what if she told her and Ami took offence?

Taiga snapped back to reality and looked at the clock. The time shone out in piercing red digits: 11:54. She pressed her lips together, forming a thin line with her mouth. She might as well try to get some sleep, she decided as she trudged back to her bedroom. Besides, she would never grow taller if she didn't get a decent amount of sleep every night.

The fresh, new-day sun pierced through Taiga's curtains and seeped into the room, bringing some small element of warmth and comfort to the cold winter morning. Groaning loudly, she shifted in her bed, slowly retracting into her bed sheets like a turtle. It was still winter and the fact that it was 8am made it even colder, it should be illegal to have to get out of bed and lumber to school in these conditions. It was Monday, the first and easily the worst day of the week simply because the sudden shock of school was a harsh contrast to the stress-free, care-free weekend. At least Taiga would get to see her friends again, since they were all busy over the weekend and she didn't talk to any of them.

Ryuuji, Minori, Kitamura….

Ami.

Heat rushed into Taiga's face as she remembered last night's musings and how she had been distracted from the shining galaxies by thinking about something, or someone, even more exquisite.

Quickly deciding that she could cut her lie in short (just this once) the Palm Top Taiga sprung around her apartment completing her morning routine: brushing teeth, eating breakfast, finding the least dirty shirt, skirt and blazer from her floor and putting that on, etc. Today would be the day, she decided as she slipped her shoes on her feet and closed the front door shut behind her with a satisfying 'click' noise; today would be the day, she told Ami how she truly felt.

The harsh winter air stung and knifed Taiga's skin as she stood waiting for Ryuuji to hurry up and leave his house in their usual meetup spot. Stupid boy, making her cold and making her wait; weren't dogs supposed to be eager to run to their masters!

After what felt like an eternity (though in actuality, it was just a few minutes later) Ryuuji gingerly emerged from his kennel, his hands holding two Tupperware containers with lunch inside.

"Took you long enough!" Taiga shivered, snatching one of the two Tupperware containers from Ryuuji and shoving it carelessly into her blue school bag.

Ryuuji scolded her as they began to walk in the direction of the school, "Careful. You'll mush up all the food inside if you're rough with the container."

The walk to school was quiet, with both parties making little effort to fill the silence with anything meaningful. Pulling her hands up to her mouth and exhaling deeply on them in a feeble attempt to ward off frostbite, Taiga thought of ways to break the awkward atmosphere. Luckily for her, however, Ryuuji did it first.

"Hey Taiga, now that Kitamura is dating the student council president, what happens to the plan? Are you sure you want to pursue someone who is in a long distance relationship?"

Taiga spluttered. She didn't exactly flaunt her sexuality and, as a result, few people knew. How would Ryuuji react?

"Actually Ryuuji, I'm giving up on Kitamura. There is someone else."

"Oh really?" Ryuuji exclaimed, curiosity written legibly on his face "Who?"

Taiga swallowed. "Uhhhhhhh...It's a… girl..."

Ryuuji leaned into her slightly, "Sorry, I didn't hear you properly, you got real quiet towards the end of your sentence. Can you repeat please?"

"I said it's a girl." Taiga muttered, slightly louder this time so that Ryuuji could hear her.

Ryuuji recoiled slightly as he walked, obviously taken back in surprise. Taiga started to nervously fiddle with the strap on her bag.

"A girl!" Ryuuji choked, however after receiving an embarrassed look from Taiga, he composed himself. "Oh… a girl! That's fantastic news!" he assured her.

Taiga didn't look amused. "Is that ok with you Ryuuji?" she mocked sarcastically.

"No! I didn't mean it like that, I swear!" Ryuuji shrieked, hiding his tomato-skinned face into his hands, "I just meant… I didn't know you liked girls that way? So what about Kitamura? You said you liked him!"

"For your information," Taiga sneered, re-gaining some semblance of her usual cool "I go both ways."

It appeared that Ryuuji couldn't comprehend the sudden information bomb that had just detonated, as after Taiga had said this, the awkward silence returned just as thick and painful as before. This prolonged all the rest of the way to the school, where Ryuuji finally spoke up.

"Sorry I went all quiet back there, this is the first time anybody has ever told me something like this," he admitted "I'm glad that you could find someone to love."

If that wasn't the cheesiest, dumbest thing ever said by anyone ever, it may have been a touching gesture.

Taiga sighed, "Thank you."

The silence returned.

"So..." Ryuuji started.

"What?"

"Who is it? Your crush?"

Taiga absentmindedly toyed with the ends of her hair as she answered.

"It's… It's Ami."

Ryuuji screamed.

When morning break arrived after what felt like an eternity, Taiga and Ryuuji found themselves sitting alone at their lunch table because Minori and Kitamura both had some baseball related business to attend to. Nevertheless, despite the personal exchange this morning, Taiga and Ryuuji still shared banter like old friends; one would tease the other, the other would tease back, both would laugh, and so on. Though the winter was cold and the cafeteria was barely heated, their laughter brought a comfortable warmth to both of them. In fact, Taiga was enjoying herself so much that she completely forgot about...

Her.

Ami gracefully glided into the cafeteria, tailed by her two other friends like moths drawn to a beautiful fire. Think of a divine figure, like a goddess or an angel, that has blessed humanity with their presence. Or think of a sunset, radiant and comfortable. Give those things a shining smile, a soft, cute face and legs that went on forever and you have Ami Kawashima.

Taiga couldn't help but stare. She hoped she wasn't drooling.

The sounds of a disappointed "Tut Tut" noise brought Taiga back down to Earth. Her head whipped around as she saw Ryuuji looking mockingly at her, "You've got it bad."

"Sh-Shut up!"

"Y'know if you like her that much, you should just ask her out."

"Are you insane?" Taiga yelled.

"What?" Ryuuji smirked, apparently amused at her discomfort "I think you have a real chance. Why not go for it?"

"Because she could not be into girls and then she would think I'm weird and then she'd hate me and then she'd avoid me and then I'd never see her again and then…"

Taiga's panicked dialogue was cut short by the person in question approaching their table, alone, and sitting down opposite them.

"Hey guys!" Ami said cheerfully, unwrapping a chocolate bar whilst she spoke. Ryuuji sighed, she wasn't eating healthy food again.

"Hey Ami." Ryuuji replied, cool as a cucumber. Taiga, in comparison, only managed to mutter a response, blush and then took an interest with something that was on the floor. Whatever it was, Taiga was staring pretty hard at it.

"Taiga, whats up? You look hot." Ami commented.

Taiga's head shot up from the floor, eyes full of hope. "Really!"

"Yeah your face is all red and you're really sweaty. Is everything ok?"

Taiga slouched in her chain. Ryuuji laughed.

"I'm fine." Taiga mumbled, her face still bright like a fireworks display.

Ami casually slung her ocean hair over one shoulder, "Good to hear. Anyway, I just wanted to see how you two were doing. Where's Minori and Kitamura?"

Ryuuji and Ami conversed easily for the rest of morning break, with Taiga staying quiet, bar the occasional squeak or mutter when asked a question. She knew that now would be the ideal opportunity to make an impression on Ami, possibly even ask her out, but she just couldn't work up the courage; something about Ami's soft voice or the smell of her perfume robbed Taiga of coherent thought.

"Taiga!"

Taiga snapped up, like a deer in headlights, at the sound of her voice being called by Ryuuji.

"Taiga, wasn't there something you wanted to say to Ami? something important?"

Her brain shut down as her whole body lit on fire, Ryuuji wanted her to do this now? Here? Taiga glanced at Ami who sat, relaxed, face resting on hand; her amethyst eyes full of and intrigue and innocent curiosity. Swallowing the lump in her throat, Taiga opened her mouth, ready to confess her love to the girl sitting across from her.

Bing! bing! bing! bing!

Of course it couldn't be that simple. As if some cruel, divine power had willed it, the bell rang; it was time to go back to class.

Ami excused herself and sauntered away from the duo. Taiga sighed heavily, planting her hands on her face as she did so. There went a fantastic, golden opportunity to tell Ami.

Still, at least Ryuuji found it funny.

Annoyance haunted Taiga's mind, like a ghoul, for the rest of the school day. But, in the turbulent depths of her mind, swam a great whale of determination. The day wan't over yet! She could still do this! Every Monday, as soon as class was dismissed, Ami would walk down to the baseball field to watch the first few minutes of Kitamura playing; if Taiga could intercept her before she reached the field, it would be the perfect opportunity to reveal her undying admiration and endless love. And so, after sending Ryuuji home without her, Taiga ran gaily (pun intended) to intercept Ami.

The noise from short legs echoed down the barren corridors as Taiga ran. She hadn't seen Ami yet, but she couldn't be far off. I mean, they had come from the same classroom and her talk with Ryuuji had been brief. Curse her long, glamorous legs!

After turning a corner and going down a set of stairs, Taiga found Ami.

"Taiga?" Ami observed, her face a little red, Taiga assumed it was because of the cold weather. "What are you doing here? I thought you went home with Ryuuji?"

"I didn't go home," the brunette said in between attempts to catch her breath "I needed to talk to you."

Ami got redder, "W-what is it?"

Taiga took a final deep breath and faced Ami, amber eyes meeting lilac. The fire truck, winter sun pierced through the windows, bathing the corridor in a warm orange. Taiga thought back to all the moments Ami and her had shared: meeting Ami at the restaurant, fighting her stalker and the Christmas Eve song that the shared. Taiga knew she wanted, she knew it was now or never.

"I-I love you! Please date me!"

A moment of silence passed before Ami let out a happy chuckle.

"Of course I will, I love you too!"