A/N - Hey well I know you guys are probably tired of the whole, girl likes guy, guy likes girl but they just won't tell each other thing. Well I know I'm tired of reading those types of stories also but I hope mine has a new twist on it. See those stories, or the ones that I've read…usually have it so that all their friends know or have hint of their feelings and inevitably try to help them get the boy/girl by playing match maker or in some other fashion.

But what if the person doesn't have that kind of help or support? What if they were in it all by themselves, pride too high to let themselves receive help. Or…they were just too shy to admit that they like someone. So any ways that's the basis for my fic. I hope it's strong enough to let this turn out alright.

Be prepared though, characters are somewhat out of character though I'll try not to stray too far…

Summary - Communication amongst teens is already particularly difficult within the fickle unspoken rules dictated by teen society. So how is one such as Hitomi Kanzaki ever going to stand a chance at achieving her goal of dating her long time crush when missing the most basic tool for communication, speech?

Watch as she and her equally inhibited target, Van Fanel, try to master the art of silent warfare, expressing feelings, questions and needs not by speech but through our most powerful tool of interaction, the eyes. The messages they send may seem clear to themselves, but will either truly grasp the other's meaning? And if by chance the correct messages are received, who will be the one to make the first move? Players ready. Rules set. Situation understood...

Let the battle begin.

Disclaimer - Obviously I own nothing pertaining to Escaflowne; all I own is this idea.

Eye Contact

Chapter: 1

So It Begins

Here I am feeling endlessly, hopelessly, agonizingly in…like. Woops that forbidden "L" word almost managed to slip in there just now. Oh hey, my name is Hitomi Kanzaki or Kanzaki Hitomi if you want it in the normal Japanese sense of naming. Right now I find my self in school (which I find useless by the way) body aching…longing for something, or rather someone.

It wouldn't take a genius to figure out what a 15 year old girl would be aching over anyway. Well incase the slower of you still haven't figured it out I guess I'll just take to the direct approach. I'm thinking about a boy.

Well thinking…? Yes, I am thinking of him, but I guess I failed to mention the stare part of my action, though that isn't really important. And so I continue to stare at the useless piece of mass sitting across class from me, going by the name of Van Fanel (Fanel Van…or whatever). Unruly, un-tamable mass of raven hair, semi-short and cascading over his face enough to cover his eyes, beautiful brown eyes, medium build, rock hard body, lazed attitude, yet cheerful, rock hard body, friendly, a real people person, the kind of guy you'd like to get to know…and did I mention rock hard body? He isn't the most attractive of types and isn't the smartest of the lot but for some reason his very being just captivates me.

Now while my little analyzing session was going on I was still (seemingly) engaged in a very exciting conversation with my friends. I always wondered how I could talk about one thing while thinking on a whole other subject at the same time (I think it's a gift). Well any way, I'm still chatting it up with my friends when…you know what? I just figured out something. I don't have to tell the story; I'll let the author do that. Okay, so take it away, R.S!

R.S - Um…thanks...

And back to the story….

So within the confines of the class room Hitomi sits contemplating the fascinating piece of male art, who at this moment was absorbed in conversation with some other male students.

Hitomi, who is also seemingly engrossed in her own conversation, begins to ponder now on the complexities of life. Why? Why are there feelings of love and interest anyway? And why don't we have any control over who we are attracted to. To just randomly fall in……like, with someone and then have those feelings go un-noticed or even worse unreturned. The pain that rejection can bring, the absolute pain, the feeling of not being needed, not having your love returned is unbearable at least. So really, is love all that great? Her mind continued to wonder even as the bell had rung signaling the end of home room.

"Tomi."

"…"

"Tomi?"

"…"

"Hitomi!"

"Huh?"

"Girl…you were spaced right out. You Ok?" asked a concerned friend, a girl who's shoulder length hair shown maroon when hit by sunlight.

It would seem that at some point near the conversation's end, Hitomi was unable to stay in the limbo between her mind's thoughts and her conscious speech. And so, she had become totally unaware, exiting out of the conversation (without much notice by her friends) to mull over her thoughts without distraction. To say the least she had become dead to the world.

"The bell rang, come on, it's time to go to class." Hitomi blushed, embarrassed at her carelessness. And so she decided to do what she does best…play dumb.

"Oh?" she asked innocently, grabbing her bag from its resting place onside her. As they followed the throng of students leaving the class Hitomi jokingly added, "They really should make that bell a little louder; I mean…I didn't hear it at all." She then feigned a face of deep dissatisfaction for added theatrics. Rolling her eyes Yukari responded lamely at her friend.

"Any louder and it'll be a fire alarm, besides you were just too spaced to hear it. You really should stop falling asleep with your eyes open." Hitomi blushed lightly again, less from the statement its self, but more from the truth held within it. "Anyway it's the start of a new school year and luckily we have Mandatories and homeroom together."

"Yea, but Celena and Millerna don't have any classes with us both together and they don't have home room with us. We're totally isolated!" Hitomi said exasperatedly, glad for the subject change. They take a turn down the hall, heading to first period.

"I know, but at least we get to see them at lunch. Oh! And Amano-kun is in our Mandatories also! So it's not like we're totally alone." Being the first to step into the class Yukari began the search for seats, unconsciously wearing that oh so familiar smile of a love struck teen, and as Hitomi followed her friend in she couldn't help but notice this and slowly a smirk began to play on her lips as she slipped into the seat next to the one Yukari had found.

"Oh yea, it wouldn't be a year if Amano-kun wasn't here, you two being such good friends and all." Hitomi notices Yukari's lingering stare at the door and smirks again. She leans to the ear of her distracted friend and whispers "Are you looking for your friend? Wouldn't want a good friend like Amano to sit anywhere else but next to you…us, now would you?"

Startled, Yukari's hair almost slapped Hitomi in the face with the force that she whipped her head around to stare dumb founded at Hitomi's glowing face. Yukari's face, in turn, promptly tinted a cute shade of pink.

"What are you trying to say?" she sputtered out. Hitomi was about to answer when something caught her eye. Nice timing. She thought.

"Hey Yukari, isn't that Amano-kun right there at the door." She said in an overly dramatic voice. Yukari's blush lessened as she folded her arms and refused to look.

"Like I'm gonna fall for that Tomi."

"No really he's right there, he's coming over." she said with even more feigned theatrics. Yukari turned to the front with her hands still crossed and eyes closed.

"Oh please, if you're gonna do something, try and make it original. I mean who would actually fall for that old trick."

"Ok, but watch what you say, cause he's right behind you." Finally tired of Hitomi's games Yukari whipped her self around to the general direction of the door ready to show Hitomi up on her bluff…

"Look. He's not…ooof!" was the sound that a startled maroon hinted brunette let out as her face came into contact with the starched straight white shirt of a standing, obviously male, figure. She didn't dare open her eyes; she could already tell who it was by listening to the muffled sniggering of her ex-best friend behind her.

"Hey Yukari-chan." the male greeted, his voice came to Yukari's ears and face in rippled waves of masculinity. The sound, with help from the odd placed contact she now had with the boy, like lightening traveled the length of her and back. Oh no She thought as she felt that-oh-so familiar heat rise from her heart to her face.

Slowly, if not reluctantly, she removed her face from the person's abdomen then forced her face upward in a show of causality; smiling sheepishly she tried to fight away her blush and her embarrassment enough to speak.

"H-hey! A…Amano-kun." She managed to shake out, unable to control her stuttered speech.

Finally unable to take it Hitomi burst out into a fit of laughter, throwing herself onto her desk banging her fists against it, earning a few skeptical looks from the few people already in class. Yukari whipped around and shot Hitomi a look of inevitable death, which promptly shut the giggling school girl up; remnants of her laugh shown with little squeaks of laughter escaping at different intervals. Pleased with the result and also now having gotten over the embarrassment of the odd encounter, Yukari turned and with that so did her expression as she perked up to speak with the male standing confused, staring at the now sniggering Hitomi.

"Sit Amano-kun. I, I mean, we saved you a seat."

"Yea, get comfy Amano-kun we got a long year ahead of us." The now composed mischief maker said genuinely. Taking one last glance between the odd pair of girls he decidedly shrugged off his confusion and curiosity. Taking the seat in front of Yukari he started up a conversation and the three continued on chatting comfortably until that damned bell decided to start the class.

………………………………

The bell had just finished its wail to signal it time to leave home room and as the occupants of the class complied with its cues a dirty blonde haired girl exited amongst them; her face cutely tinted a glowing pink from an unknown emotion caused by an unknown catalyst. And as she left a dark haired boy sat and watched intently as her figure disappeared into the halls. The aforementioned Van Fanel (rock hard body…remember?) has now seemed to have switched positions with our green eyed maiden to become the one observing instead of the one observed, watching with interest the friendly exchange between his crush and her friend.

"Van?"

"…"

"Van."

"…"

Tired of being ignored, the agitated male decided for a more hands on plan of action.

……

"Ow! What the hell…?!" Van looked back glaringly, rubbing gently the sore spot now at the back of his head, "Allen, what do you think you're doing?"

"I think I was waking up my dazed friend."

"What ever… let's go, we've got class." He said this with a slight glare placed in his friend's direction.

Like the girl he had previously been scrutinizing Van and his very blond friend followed the last string of students out of the room and in a contented silence the two walked down the corridor. Upon reaching the end they turned and continued in their walk. A time had passed and soon their steps slowed as a thought hit them.

"Van…"

"Allen…"

"What class do we have?" they asked in unison. The throng of students whose destinations were known walked around the now still standing teens as if they were mere pebbles in their path. Few though, raised questioning brows as they passed upon noticing the sheepish looks upon their obstacles' faces.

…………

Now a few moments later we find our two heroes rushing in the correct direction to their first period class; though out of breath from running to the office and back they still seemed to have enough breath to waste on insulting each other, aw…the beauty of friendship.

"Dumb ass." the dark haired teen managed to let out between breaths.

"Who's the dumb ass? I told you this morning we had to pick up our schedules." replied the tall blond equally short of breath. The two hurrying teens ran in long strides down the corridor, their athleticism aiding them in their haste.

"So what? If you hadn't decided to get re-acquainted with every girl you fricken know, then maybe we wouldn't have forgotten to go this morning."

"Don't blame this on me. You could have dragged me away, like you always do, but you were too busy gazing at what ever the hell you gaze at and thinking about what ever the hell you think about, to remind me." Allen snapped back.

Making a sharp turn, the two picked up their pace nearing their class.

"Man, whatever, we both messed up ok. Let's just forget about it." And with that the two fell into a not so friendly silence. Soon though, Van decided to add,"…and could some one please tell me why these hallways are so God damned long!" Allen couldn't help but to chuckle at this. If there was one thing he could say about the bushy haired boy onside him, is that he knew how to dispel a bad mood.

Now two doors a head of them the class room door shone like a beacon in the hall way, sighing while slowing to a trot they attempted to fix themselves up a bit, sniffing their armpits for any foul odors to watch out for and tucking in anything that had come loose in their sprint. Seeing that everything was in the clear they proceeded to stand in front of the closed English room door. Can you believe they went through all that and still ended up in time for class?

So there they stood, and stood…and stood. I guess right about now you'd probably be asking the reason as to why the two still stood at the door. Well, because of their special predicament they had received a late slip from their principal and well…why get a late slip if you're not going to be late? And since the two hardly ever receive a slip for any of the offences they commit, they wanted to savor this moment of actually having something to show for their tardiness.

As one picked his nail and the other fixed his long hair the late bell rang, but only when it had ceased in its wailing did the two then decided it time to finally make their entrance. Now eager to silence any questions with a flash of their slip they coolly waltzed into the room.

…………………………………

In the mean time in the class room a girl sat impatiently, eyes shooting every so often to the door, mimicking the earlier actions of her red headed friend.

Through the whole summer and straight up to this moment Hitomi has prayed for Van to be in her class, and as she feigns interest in the introduction to English class B the teacher is giving she repeats her prayer over and over in her head, hoping to see if one of those empty seats belonged to that of her crush.

"Please Dear God; I come to you today with the same prayer I've prayed for half a year. Please God, let him be in my Mandatories. For if he isn't I won't see him at all for the rest of my school life and I doubt I'll be able to survive school if I don't get a chance to stare at him at least once a day. I know you wouldn't want to see one of your faithful children die just because of eye candy with drawl…so God please answer my prayer. I don't have any Electives with him, so if he's not in my Mandatories I might never ever, ever get to see if he actually likes me too. Please God, I've even stopped cursing…as much, and I'm steadily improving. Please, if you can't do anything else for me, do this God. Please. Please. Please. All I want is Van…please…"

Her prayer went on pretty much in that same manner. But sadly and to her horror the bell rang, signaling it time for classes to begin for real (the teacher began early because he assumed everyone was already in class) Disappointment was evident on her face as she gave a longing look to the closed door.

Please…

"Ok, so I guess that's all of you. Now just say…" but the portly man was cut off as his class room door swung open to reveal two handsome teen males.

Hitomi looked up at the new comer, (she could only see one of them from the angle she was sitting) her heart now completely broke. The guy that just came in was Allen 'S'…something, she never did get the pronunciation right and in all honesty she didn't feel the need to. Sure he was handsome and would definitely make for good eye candy but he still was no Van. Her mom always said, why use a substitute when the real thing was so much better? She sighed heavily on the inside. Even God didn't think she deserved a break, didn't think she deserved a chance. Life sucks.

She looked down, starting the process of preparing her mind for a Van-less school career when just as she was about to go into point number 2 as to why her life didn't totally suck she was shocked out of her grief by one line spoken in a heart achingly familiar voice…

"Sorry we're late." The voice said, and Hitomi's heart skipped a beat.

She kept calm on the outside but on the inside her minds' cheeks were burning with the sheer width that her smile had taken across her mental face. Ok sure, it's not like he told her he liked her or anything but situations like this really only happened in movies and soap operas. Seriously…how well timed was that?

So hopping she was looking naturally curious as to what was going on in front of class, Hitomi brought her eyes up, half lidded, in a forced casual fashion. Her cool demeanor was soon broken though as Green clashed with Brown. She swore that her heart had fallen into the depths of her bowels as she stared into the eyes of her long time crush.

Why the hell is he looking at me? She thought as he continued to hold her gaze. She soon though, fought down the initial shock of meeting his eyes and now challenged him silently, refusing to look away first; her competitive nature taking control. Their connection inevitably was broken by Van but Hitomi stared on still, confused but also triumphant.

Oh well…She thought, dismissing her confusion. I have a full three years of Van Fanel; no one can tell me there isn't a God. And with that thought in her head Hitomi continued to stare as Van and Allen took the only remaining seats up at the front of the class. With one last thank you to God, she finally felt at peace enough to actually pay attention to the teacher, though she did so with an unconscious smile gracing her lips.

A/N - Ok so I had this story on my mind for a while and I finally made time to finish this chapter. I know it's starting off slow right now, but I have a good feeling about this. This is one of those stories that wasn't planned. I can see the ending, but I just don't know how I'll get there, so I'll be just as surprised as you are as this goes along...if it goes along, 'cause I'm really writing for feed back, so tell me your thoughts please. And thanks for reading anyway if you made it this far but don't plan to continue. Even if you are one of those people could you still leave a review and tell me what you think I should do to improve. All thoughts welcomed.

Ok, so I finally got around to reviewing this, and I trully think it's a whole lot better, I'm gonna be doing this one by one with each chapter so I can get back in the grove and finally update this thing...but still school is dreadfully overloading me with work, but I shall trully try! Hope any new readers out there enjoyed this.

Ja minna!