The apartment was silent. A lone girl lay on the couch, staring blankly at the television. She had homework to finish, but she couldn't bring herself to do it. She would get it done eventually. Maybe in the morning before class. Now, though, was a time for moping. Each day there was some chance of it being a Moping Day. Every day since March. It was November now.

The girl slowly sat up, groaned, and pulled her schoolwork to her knees. Mechanically, she started her homework. At least, this way, she could forget for a little while the longing with which she had become so familiar. Yet, as she finished the last math problem, she found her thoughts already slithering back to the Boy. She had technically met him sometime around the start of her freshman year, but she had really become friends with him after the first trimester.

It had been a slow process.

A comment here. A small conversation there. Eventually, though, she started staying after club meetings to talk to him. She started to learn his schedule almost better than her own. Not on purpose. It just happened. Their time with each other was limited to, at most, fifteen minutes after club activities, and whatever time they had between classes. She began to savor every moment they were together.

Soon, as with any high school, other students began to talk.

"Is Kyoya gay?"
"He and Haruhi are always together. They're such a cute couple!"
"I bet they'll be official before the week is out!"

On and on the gossip went, trying to push the two together. Haruhi would always ignore it, although, deep down, she wished they were right. She wished that she and Kyoya could be a couple. That maybe he would realize his feelings. Or just give her a chance. Anything. So she waited. For four months she waited. Then, one day, after the club meeting was over, Haruhi decided to make her move.

She walked across the room to Kyoya, her shoes sounding impossibly loud on the hard tile floor. The room became smaller and smaller, and the walk longer and longer, when suddenly she was at Kyoya's desk.

"Hey."

"What's up?" Said the unenthused raven-haired boy, not bothering to look up from his laptop screen.

"I wanted to ask you a question…." The silence before his reply was oppressive

"Go on."

"Well…over the past few months we've become much better friends and I was…I was wondering if you liked me…"
"Of course I like you. You are a good friend to me Haruhi, regardless of your use to me."

"Kyoya, that isn't what I meant and you know it. I mean, do you have feelings for me?"

"I like you as a friend Haruhi."

"Do you maybe want to go on a date with me? Just, maybe to try and see how things might work out? Just a chance maybe?" She began to stall. Language failed her.

"I am certain my father would not approve. I'm sorry Haruhi." His eyes flashed with emotion, but were quickly hidden by the glare on his glasses. He closed his laptop with a snap, gathered his things, and walked out of the room, leaving Haruhi dejected and lost.

Haruhi was very confused after that day. She knew she had felt some sort of chemical connection with Kyoya. Even if he wouldn't admit it, it was still there. The day after Haruhi found Kyoya at his locker.

"I just wanted to let you know that I really want to still be friends and forget yesterday. I'm over you, I think. I can move past this if you can."

"Sounds like a plan."

Things continued as normal. Everything was pretty much the same. Haruhi tried to not make her yearning as painfully obvious as before. She could never be sure whether Kyoya noticed or not. By June, the two were still inseparable. They had secret jokes and fun conversations. The only problem was the mixed signals he gave. Once, they were out with the Host Club, and Brown Eyed Girl by Van Morrison came on.

"I wish I were someone's Brown Eyed Girl" She said playfully to Kyoya.

"I'll be your Brown Eyed Girl if you like." He replied.

Haruhi was taken aback by the comment, but decided not to ask. More and more, Kyoya would say these sorts of comments. They were all jokes, but Haruhi wondered about the truth in them. Even her father had come to talk to her about Kyoya just in the last week.

"Haruhi, do you like Kyoya?" The okama asked. He had noticed much earlier, but he couldn't bring himself to ask Kyoya the same question; it would be far too rude.

"Why do you ask that?" Haruhi nervously replied. Her heart started to pound.

"I've noticed that you two have been chatting quite a lot recently. Kyoya has certainly been calling the house more recently as well! I'm just looking out for my little Haruhi!"

"Kyoya is just my friend dad. Nothing more. Okay?"

She lay back down on her couch. She had no motivation to do anything. She knew she should study to get ahead in her class, but she couldn't bring herself to do it. Kyoya would not leave her head. All of the memories of him kept flowing back into her head. She felt obsessed. She felt stupid. She felt ridiculous. But mostly she felt depressed. Depressed that, no matter how many signals he gave that he really did like her more than just a friend, he seemed to just want to be platonic. Depressed that she had to always be the one to make a move. Depressed that he wouldn't start talking to her when they were in the same room together, unless she started talking to him. Depressed that his father didn't approve of her just for what she was, regardless of how hard she tried to win his praises. Her world was closing in. She wanted to stop thinking about The Boy, but she couldn't. She couldn't bring herself to stop trying. To stop meeting him between classes. To stop staying after club meetings, just to talk. To stop talking to him before he started the conversation. He was too fun, too addictive, and too brilliant to stay away. And yet, he caused her so much pain, indecision, and worry. Something had to be done.