Chapter Seven

~ Avoiding You ~

"I said I'd never let you go, and I never did~ I said I'd never let you fall, and I always meant it~ If you didn't have a chance then I never did~ You will always find me right there~"

A Day To Remember ~ Have Faith In Me

A whole week had passed by, a whole week of school she had failed to attend. It was one thing to actually face your fears, it took guts. When you ran from those fears, it just makes you a better runner. Shika swept her feet across the pine bark under the swing she was currently occupying, skipping yet another day of school. She was too afraid to go back to school, what if she ran into Haru? She forced the bitter mood that threatened to take over back, it was her fault, she just left. Just ran on home. She pushed the memories back along with the mood, the way her heart had flutter when he had touched her lips. The way she reacted back, a power need had crawled into her system, overwhelming her. They didn't even really know each other, did they?

Shika gasped slightly as a car blew their horn going past and cursed at herself, taking deep breaths to calm the sudden spike in her heartbeat.

"Calm down" she said quietly, swinging her feet to gain momentum in the swing. She had a few hours to kill before she could go home, her mother didn't know about the habit she had developed over the last week. Shika sighed, she knew education was important, but self-preservation was primal instinct. She could only imagine what she would do to embarrass herself in front of him, what if he hated her now. After all no one likes rejection…rejection? Did I reject him, Shika thought with panic.

A voice shocked her from her thoughts. "So that's where you are" Kyo stated taking the swing beside her and started to move his feet a little to gain some movement.

"Here I am" she replied, unable to say anything and unable to look him in the eye. Kyo had become her friend; she didn't exactly know when it happened. It was sort of a mutual understanding, and they really didn't have to say much to each other, they knew. It was a weird feeling. Trust. She knew she could trust Kyo with anything and he would always be willing to listen.

"You haven't been at school much" he said, another statement. "Well, you could say I'm so smart I don't I need school anymore" she retorted, she had a feeling he knew what she was feeling.

"Haru really likes you, you know" he said, kicking pine bark, "and he was really upset when you left, but that moody pricks been at everyone all week, stupid cow" Kyo kicked at the pine bark a little harder, remembering the fist that had landed squarely on his jaw, now that had hurt like a bitch.

"Moody…?" Shika had never seen the black side of Haru, Kyo thought, and she probably never will, maybe.

"Yeah, the jerk's been pmsing all week, what did you do to him to make him like that?" Kyo said, hoping to get a reaction.

"Oh no, he really does hate me, doesn't he?" panic exploded through her chest, "I have to apologise, don't I?" Shika paled at the prospect of dealing with an angry individual. She was hopeless socially, but what was she going to do in that sort of situation.

"Stop freaking out, stupid!" Kyo bonked a hand on her shoulder and pushed her off the swing, she landed somewhat ungracefully on her feet.

"Just apologise" he smiled, a rare genuine smile that had her almost touched enough to cry. "Okay" she replied, running her hand through her short locks and bracing herself. She was going to apologise for…"Ne, Kyo?" "Hmm?" "Do I have to?" "Get movin' already" "Ouch!" Shika bit out, rubbing her leg where she had just been kicked, so much for that nice affectionate moment.

Shika stood outside the Sohma estate, nervously wringing her hands as she wondered how she even got inside. What did she feel about Haru? Suddenly sick with the nerves she turned to leave and collide with –POOF- a Sohma. She blinked as the smoked irritated her eyes, peering at the large head of a cow, she bit back a gasp. She had ran into Haru, the person she had been avoiding, the person she was going to apologise to, the person she had started to fall in love with…love? Tremors tumbled down her spine, was it terror she was feeling?

"Shika" he asked surprised, Shika felt the tears prick her eyes and start to fall, staining her cheek. She does love him, but she was too scared to admit it to herself and him.

"I'm sorry, Haru, I didn't mean- I thought that maybe- and you've always been so nice-I thought that maybe you wouldn't want me and I-" the words just fell off her tongue as wiped furiously at the onslaught of tear streaming down her face.

"I only want you" Haru said, in his normal form, taking her hands away from her face and wiping gently at the tears that had slowed with shock. "Just you and only you" he said placing his forehead to hers.

"I-" love you, she had wanted to say but opted for the more casual "Me too."

"It's going to rain soon" Haru said, wishing he could hold her close to him and not just hold her hand.

"Shika" "Hmm" "May I kiss you again?" "Yes" she whispered, and sighed gently into the kiss, enjoying the warm, careless feeling of love well in her chest, as the explosion of butterflies erupted through her body.

"I only want you, just you, Shika" he whispered in her ear, laying his head on her shoulder. It felt good to be here with her, just to smell her rose perfume, to taste her, to feel her sigh against him. There would be no one but her.

Hey peeps! Thanks to everyone who favorited this story, and all those who alerted. At least I know people are reading, I was thinking ten chapters but I think I could make it longer, what do you guys think? Leave your comments in the review area…maybe that's not subtle enough, or maybe I just to be blunt? Well here goes, REVIEW! I love them, and I'm pretty sure I need them. I need to know what you guys are thinking, if you like, if you hate, so please review! Anyway, thanks for reading

Me~

Ps. I know it's short, but midyear exams are coming up so, study, study, study~ :}