Hello people! Welcome to chapter eight! I hope that you're enjoying the story so far, I just wanted to say thank you if you are reading it and enjoying it! Even if you aren't enjoying it, just reading it really does help me. That being said, if you have any problems please feel free to let me know! Try to be constructive with your criticism though. Anyway, enjoy the chapter!

"Anya…I could get it for you." Addie says as I drag a chair up to the counter. "Come on…."

"No! I'll get it myself!" I snap as I kick off my heels stand up on the chair. "I don't know why they would put things this high. It's not like they don't know I'm short." I say as I step up onto the counter.

"Miss Anya, please let one of us help you…" One of the male guests say, sounding very concerned.

"I've got it!" I say pleasantly with a wave over my shoulder. I reach and grab the spice I need. "See? Whoa!" I exclaim as I slip. I brace myself for impact, but it doesn't come. "Thanks Takashi." I say brightly as he gently sets me down.

"Don't do that. You could get hurt." He says before going back over to his table. I put my shoes back on and get back to work baking.

"Miss Anya…you know, I think it's really cute how you dance around when you bake." Another boy says shyly, I think he's a first year student.

"Thanks." I smile brightly. "Ever since I was a little girl I'd always help the chef and we always listened to music together."

"We can play music for you Miss Anya!" A group of them exclaims and I laugh lightly. Addie just shakes her head as she stirs a mixture.

"It's fine, boys, I don't want to disrupt everyone else." I say as I pour my carrot cake batter into muffin cups. A timer goes off and I go over and remove the muffin pan from the oven. "Oh, these turned out really well." I say as I put it onto the cooling unit. I hum, placing the carrot cake ones into the oven and set the timer again.

"Miss Anya…could we help you decorate?" A couple of girls ask shyly as they walk up. I smile brightly.

"I don't need any help today, but tomorrow Kyoya's asked me to make some extra things, so I would really appreciate it then." I say and they smile.

"Alright! We'll help tomorrow!" They exclaim and then run off to tell their friends. I hear Addie call out a heads up and I duck as she pitches something into the trash can. I walk over and check the list.

"We did it, Addie!" I say happily and she nods. She's been sort of out of it today. I've done most of the baking myself.

"Momma! Isn't Annie the cutest?!" Tamaki exclaims as he runs over. He picks me up and swings me around in a big hug. "Don't think we didn't notice you climbing around on the cabinets, you little dare devil."

"You guys didn't have to put stuff all the way on the top shelf." I say dryly and the group of guys laugh…maybe a little too much. I'm pretty funny…but not that funny. I still smile at them brightly.

"You requested that we keep your kitchen well stocked, Anya, so we did. I suspected that you would ask for help." Kyoya says and I sigh as I go over to my strawberry cupcakes and see how cool they are.

"Ah, but when do I ever do as I'm expected?" I say lightly and bring the cupcakes over to the island to begin icing them.

"Alright, gentlemen, I think it's time we allow Miss Anya and Miss Adelaide take a break." Tamaki says as he leads the boys away. Kyoya walks over and grabs my right hand to stop me from icing. I hit the bottom of my right hand, knocking the icing spatula into the air and catch it in my left hand, like you see in action movies when the guy is in a knife fight and the person he's fighting catches his arm or something.

"That was impressive." Addie says as she grabs a bottle of water from the fridge. "I'll be over there…I've got to make a call." She says and she walks away.

"You've been working since you got here. You're overdoing it." Kyoya says gently. "And climbing on the counters? If not for Mori you would have been seriously injured."

"And you would have patched me up." I say with a sweet smile at him. "Because that's what you do."

"I would rather not have to patch you up." He says dryly. I finish the icing and stick them on the cart for Haruhi to deliver to everyone. "Take a break." The timer goes off and I check the carrot cake cupcakes. They're done, so I take them out and set them to cool.

"I don't want to." I say, looking up at him. "If I do take a break, that means that I have to think and thinking isn't what I want to do right now. If I'm baking, I'm concentrating on my hands so that I don't get hurt."

"What are you thinking about?" He asks and I shrug, looking away. I go over and start washing the bowls that I need. My nose itches, so I rub it with my arm. "Annie…you've got…here." He takes a dish towel and gently wipes my nose.

"Flour?" I ask and he nods. I laugh. "I'm a mess." I look down at my apron, thankful that I'm wearing it. "Did I get anything on my dress?"

"Not as far as I can tell." He says, waiting. I set the dishes in the drainer and he opens a drawer and grabs a clean dish towel and begins drying. I blush as images of us as a 'normal' married couple doing dishes together creep into my mind.

"Look! Kyoya is helping! It's so cute!" A few girls squeal as they catch the sight. Kyoya looks over and gives them a fake serene smile. I roll my eyes to myself and wring the rag out and drape it over the middle partition of the different sides of the sink.

"You're good at that." I say softly and he stops for a moment before he continues on. I pull my phone out from the pocket in my dress (I was really excited about them) and begin looking for a recipe.

"What? Drying dishes? Just because I am of a higher social standing than some people, that doesn't mean I don't know how to dry a bowl." He says and I raise my eyebrow at him. "Would you mind showing me how to make something?"

"Okay…we'll do something easy. We can do sugar cookies and then I can have some of the girls help us decorate them with icing." I say with a smile. I grab an apron for him and he puts it on."First, I'll see if you actually know your way around in here." I say as I jot down the list, putting the measurements beside them. "Er...can you read my handwriting?"

"Yes." He says, smirking a little. He picks up the paper and starts collecting the ingredients. I set two bowls on the island, a small one and the one that goes with the standing mixer. I then go over and turn the temperature on the oven down to the appropriate setting. "Now what?" He asks when he's gathered all of the things.

"First put the flour, baking soda, and baking powder in this bowl and whisk them together." I instruct and then stand back to let him do it. He does it carefully and I smile. The girls are starting to notice what's going on. A small audience has formed.

"Is this good?" He asks and I look into the bowl and nod. "Now what do I need to do?" He's noticed too, because he's started speaking Japanese again.

"Alright. Now put the sugar and the butter into in bowl and cream them together." I say and he does that before looking at me, a little uncertain. "Don't show your fear, be one with the mixer." I say and the girls giggle. I smile as I put the bowl in place and lock it in. "This is the on switch." I can't help but be a smart ass.

"Thank you, Anya." He says dryly and I chuckle as I go over and grab a cookie sheet and some cookie cutters. He settles on a safe middle speed. I grab the things I need to make the icing. "Anya?"

"Hmm?" I ask walking over and checking it. "Okay, now put in the egg and the vanilla." I say and he does so. "Once that's good and mixed up, you'll want to put in the dry ingredients. Very carefully, though, unless you want flour all over your face. I usually do it in thirds." I say and leave him to do it.

"Do I leave the mixer running?" He asks and I nod, biting my lip to keep from laughing at how uncertain he looks. "Am I holding it right?"

"Should I do it? It's kind of difficult for lefties." I say in French and he looks a little defeated. "Okay, how are you with your right hand?"

"I'll try it." He says, getting situated. He successfully adds the first third. I don't really pay attention for the last two, because I'm cleaning off part of the counter to roll it out on. "I think it's ready." I walk over and check.

"Very good." I shut off the mixer and raise the arm. "Now, we're going to roll it out." I say as I carry the bowl over to the area I prepared. "Now, it's really sticky. Of course, so what you do is you sprinkle flour over the surface." I say as I do just that. "Then you can put some on your hands…" I work as I speak and grab the dough out of the bowl. "Now, more flour goes onto the rolling pin." I say as I dust it. "You roll it." I say and he rolls up his sleeves to his elbows.

"Here goes nothing." He mutters and he begins rolling out the dough. I stop him when it's nice and rolled out.

"Now we cut out the shapes." I say with a smile. He and I work to cut out the hearts and stars and flowers. "When you run out of space, you just pick it up and roll it out again until you can't get good cookies out of it." I say, doing it myself this time. "If it gets too sticky, you just add more flour. It won't hurt anything." We cut out more shapes and arrange them on the cookie sheet. "Now pop those in the oven for ten minutes." I say and the girls clap as Kyoya does so.

"You're so talented, Anya-senpai! Teaching Kyoya-senpai how to bake like that!" A first year says, blushing so badly I think she might pass out.

"Oh, it's nothing really." I say holding out my hands to sort of push away the compliment. "This is what my chef, Gaston, first taught me to make. He always said, Ma Cher Fille, if you do not know how to make sugar cookies, then you have failed as a pastry chef!" I say dramatically like he always did. "I was always dear girl to him." I explain before going on. "So I guess…I just believe that you should always know how to make a simple sugar cookie, even if you don't make shapes with it."

"Would you say they're your specialty?" A girl asks, genuinely curious. "Have you always wanted to bake?"

"They're not my specialty, I don't really have one." I say and then think. "Have I always wanted to bake? I'm not sure…I always enjoyed watching. I would hide in the kitchen and watch Gaston work and since I was the only foreseeable child for my family for a long time, I was pushed into making decisions. I think I just decided to want to start a bakery because it seemed like the most shocking thing to them."

"Always going for being difficult." Kyoya says and the girls giggle. I turn to him and wipe my hands on his apron.

"You're so useful, Kyoya, thank you." I say shaking my head. "Anyway, it wasn't shocking to my father. He's very supportive and respectful of my choices."

"I think it's so cool….I mean you're sort of like a son." Another girl says shyly and I shrug. "Things must be very different in France."

"Society is society." I say, trying to keep the contempt off of my tone. "However; my parents didn't think that they would be able to have any more children, so my father worked hard to make sure that I would be able to make my way in the world. So I don't think it's France so much as it is Henri. He made the most of having a strong willed daughter." I say as the timer goes off. I go over and pull the cookies out and put them on the cooling unit. "He sees himself in me, even though I'm the spitting image of my mother."

"Your mother must be very beautiful." The first-year girl says and I smile. "I only mean…because you're very pretty Anya-senpai."

"Thank you." I blush a little. "And she is…I don't know how she does it, but her hair is always perfect. It's exasperating."

"My mother is the same way." Another girl says and we laugh together. "It seems like you have a wonderful relationship with your parents."

"Oh yes…and my baby brother. I would do anything for them." I say and they all gush at how sweet or cool that I am, but they don't realize that I mean literally anything. Kyoya looks down at me and I smile, but I know it doesn't reach my eyes.


"Annie…can I speak with you for a moment?" Tamaki asks, the guests have long since left and I've been hauled up on a couch resting my feet.

"If you come over here to speak with me." I say lazily and he laughs and walks over. "What can I help you with?"

"The guests really seemed to like how you were teaching Kyoya to make those cookies." He says, getting the look on his face like he's going to ask me for a huge favor. "Will you please do a cooking show!" He rushes as I give him a look.

"No." I say flatly and he cries, clinging onto me. "You're hurting me!" I exclaim and he jumps away.

"Hey….no I wasn't!" He exclaims as the realization hits. I know that the strategy won't work again. "Please do a cooking show!"

"No. I don't exactly like being watched when I bake. I wish that the kitchen were closed off, so that people didn't stare." I say, standing up and putting my shoes back on.

"Okay…now I need to talk to you about something else!" He exclaims as he drags me into the other room and closes the door behind him. "Alright, Kyoya is distracted by the budget because I threw him for a loop. We've only got a little while." He barricades the door anyhow. "Okay, so Anya and I have hatched a plan. She is going to tell Kyoya at the end of THIS year." He whispers and we're on the complete other end from the door. "Here's how we'll do it! It will be an event and you men will each propose to Anya however you please and she will 'choose' Kyoya! Of course we'll have to explain her situation, but by that point it will be alright because she will officially be completely under the protection of the Ohtori group."

"I love this idea already." Addie says and I smile. "I knew you wouldn't last…you're too soft. His puppy eyes drew you in."

"Oh can it, Hollywood." I say and we laugh. "So this will take place in the spring…right before graduation, so that Takashi and Honey-senpai can be there." I explain and everyone nods. "Sorry Haruhi…but since it's a club thing, you've got to propose to me too. I'm tempted…" I say and she rolls her eyes.

"I've got to get going. Oliver wants to go on a date." Addie says and she sounds a little irritated. "Sorry guys…Thing 1, Thing 2, unblock the door." She orders and the twins shake their heads as they do as their told. "Good talk, guys." She says and then leaves. We all file out of the room and I fall into the spot where I usually sit.

"Hey." I say to Kyoya and he doesn't even glance at me. His hands are flying across the keyboard at an inhuman rate. "Is everything okay?"

"That idiot almost made us go bankrupt." He grounds out and then sighs as his hands stop. "Lucky for him I fixed it."

"Yeah…I'd hate to see what you'd do to him…" I shudder. "You're really scary. I don't know if I could live the rest of my life with someone so intimidating."

"Annie, you're barely five feet tall. Amusement park ride height measuring boards are intimidating to you." He says and I raise my eyebrow.

"Fuck you, buddy." I say standing up and going across the room. "He pisses me off." I say to the twins and they frown. "Can I have a ride home?"

"Of course, we were getting ready to leave." Hikaru says as he picks up his bag. "If you're ready we can go."

"Oh shit, my bag's over there." I say, daring a glance over. Kyoya is typing again. "Kaoru…"

"I'm on it." He says as he walks over and picks up my school bag. He offers a wave to Kyoya before Hikaru and I meet him at the door and head out. My cell phone rings before we're down the hall.

"Stalker." I mutter as I dig my phone out of my pocket. My assumptions are concerned. "Hikaru and Kaoru are giving me a ride home. You sit there and be a douche bag for a little while longer so I don't have to beat you upside the head with my math book later." I say before I hang up.

"I don't know what you said…but it sounded very grumpy." Kaoru says and I shrug. "What on Earth did he say to you?"

"That amusement park height measuring boards intimidated me." I mutter and they laugh. "It's not funny!" I exclaim, slapping the nearest twin on the arm. "I'm not that short!" I stomp down the stairs with my arms folded across my chest.

"Oh come on, Annie! That was funny!" Hikaru quips as he and his brother run to catch up with me. They each put an arm around me and we walk out to their family's car and get in. "I'll admit though…it's a little harsh considering you weren't mean at all today."

"The only thing I can think of is when I fell…but he did say that Tamaki almost screwed up the club's funds." I note and they shake their heads.

"Well, he distracted him alright." Kaoru says, putting his arm along the back of the seat. "You should silent treat him."

"I was already considering it." I say, chewing on my lower lip. "He really pissed me off. I'm not that short." I mutter and they chuckle. We arrive at the Ohtori mansion and Kaoru gets out to let me out. "Thanks, you guys. I really appreciate it. See you tomorrow." I say with a smile before I head inside.

"Where's my brother?" Akito asks, happening upon the entry way just as I enter. I smile at him.

"Oh, he had some things to finish up at school." I say politely. "How are your classes going?" I ask, isn't that a normal question?

"They're fine, thanks." He says and then he goes to walk off and stops, something catching his eye. "Where did you get those bruises on your arm?"

" These?" I question, gesturing to my forearm and he nods. "I'm not too sure, it's really hard telling with me."

"Okay…" He says and then he walks away. I sigh, that boy is never going to like me. I head up the stairs and go into my room. I immediately change into some of my more comfy jeans and a sweater that hangs off of my shoulders. I go to the bathroom and wash my makeup off, without a glance in the mirror except to get the little bit of eye makeup I'm wearing. I grab my laptop off of my desk and climb into bed to work on my homework.


The sound of a door slamming jars me from my sleep. My math book falls off of my chest and I blink a few times. My contacts are really uncomfortable…I get up and go to the bathroom to take them off. I put my glasses on and look at myself in the mirror. Even though I've got glasses on that cover them pretty well, I see dark circles. I probably should try to sleep more…I'm starting to look terrible.

"Miss?" Hana asks as she enters my room. I go to the door, looking at her in question. "Mr. Ohtori has asked that you come to his office."

"Thank you, Hana." I say with a smile towards the girl. She bows with a smile before she leaves. I sigh and slide on some black flats before I make my way in that direction. This feels like the one time in school where I thought I was in trouble with the headmaster…When I reach the door I raise my fist and knock a couple of times.

"Enter." Mr. Ohtori's stern voice calls and I open the door and walk in. I see Dr. Honda immediately. "Ah, Anya. Akito was expressing some concern for you, so I have asked Dr. Honda to run some tests on your blood."

"Oh, okay." I say, a little shocked. Dr. Honda gestures to a chair for me to sit on and I do so.

"Please roll up your sleeve." She says, sounding more professional than she normally does. It's probably Mr. Ohtori. I obey and she clean the crease of my elbow with an alcohol bad before she brandishes a needle. I look away from my arm, screwing my eyes shut. "Just relax, I am good at what I do." She says and I offer a terse smile. She feels around and finds a good vein and then she sticks me. I feel the slight pull as she draws the blood and it makes me sick at my stomach. She gets all the blood she needs and then she wraps a bandage around my arm. "There, all finished."

"You're an excellent patient, Anya." Mr. Ohtori says and I smile at his compliment. "You may leave."

"Thank you, sir." I say, bowing respectfully. "And thank you, Dr. Honda." I say before I exit the office. Akito is walking towards where I assume his bedroom is with a snack. "Hey Akito." I say in greeting, maybe he likes me after all and Ohtori men just have a strange way of showing it. Instead of going back to my room, I go to the music room nearby and sit down at the piano. I play around with the keys before I start playing Misguided Ghosts by Paramore…as 'emo' as it sounds of me their songs have always been able to console me. Ironically enough, I've never played this song on the piano. As I sing, I think it sounds pretty good. When I finish I smile to myself. I'm startled as someone claps. I look up and see Mr. Ohtori.

"A long time ago an acquaintance of mine told me that if you ever wanted to truly know a person, you should observe them in the middle of doing something that they are truly passionate about." He says as he walks further into the room. I stand up, nervous. "Were you trained classically?"

"Yes sir, my grandmother insisted upon it." I say politely. "I stray off the path when I'm not playing for her."

"I can see that." He says and I feel embarrassed. "You are very talented…have you ever considered the idea of trying to become famous?"

"No sir." I say, laughing a little. "A friend of mine once told me that you are your own worst critic and well…that is especially true in my case. I don't think that I have that much talent and the public can be very cruel on top of that. Also...it has become somewhat of an emotional release for me."

"You certainly have quite a lot on your plate right now." He says and I try not to look too sad. "Your strength in the face of danger impresses me, Miss Masson, and I would be honored if you were to choose my son."

"Your son is becoming a fantastic man." I say, not wanting to let him know because if he did, it'd be all over the world by the time I finished the sentence. "I am considering both options with the utmost diligence and I will attempt to come to a decision as soon as I can." Be respectful, Anya. "I want to thank you for all the kindness that you have shown me. Not many men would take it upon themselves to shelter another man's daughter from some crazy person." He actually laughs.

"It has been a unique experience." He admits. "Please do not take what I said as impatience. My wife tells me that he has developed strong feelings for you."

"I know…" I say, blushing a little bit. "I am considering every aspect of the choices at hand."

"You're a bright girl, and either way you decide, I am certain you will make the correct choice." He says. "Good night, Anya."

"Mr. Ohtori." I say bowing again before he walks out. I sigh as I sit back down on the piano bench. "I need another nap." I mutter to myself before I stand again and head back towards my room. I stop as I see Kyoya standing at my door.

"Annie…please…" He says in French, leaning his head against the door. I tiptoe over. "I didn't mean what I said…I was tired and Tamaki…and please…open the door."

"Okay." I say, reaching around him and twisting the nob. He stumbles forward and then looks at me, embarrassed. I smile and laugh. "Holy shit." I say with an awkward laugh dragging him into the room. "Your dad just heard me play the piano and he said that I was good."

"Well you are…wait, what did you do to your arm?" He asks, brushing his fingers over the bandage.

"Dr. Honda drew some blood. It's fine…oh, I'm still mad at you." I say, a pout forming on my lips.

"I know." He sighs. "How long were you stalking behind me?" He asks and I put my hands on my hips. "Oh come on, that was seriously worse than anything I've ever done."

"Except you know…this is my room and I was coming back here to take a nap. You had no reason to be here." I say, the sass coming out.

"Yes I did, I was trying to apologize." He challenges and I go over to my bed, rolling my eyes as I lean over it and pull my guitar out from underneath. "Are you going to play?"

"Yes, to reduce my stress." I say as I flip open the case on my bed. "You're going to have to do quite a bit to apologize. You really pissed me off."

"I know. You've never left before…and you've also never called me a douche bag." He says and my lip quivers with the laugh I want to let out. "I was mad too."

"What reason do you possibly have to be mad?" I ask, raising my eyebrow. I look down and begin tuning my guitar.

"That's why I wanted to apologize…and don't get used to this, because well…you were irrational too." He says and I glare at him. "I may have been out of line, but you also overreacted a bit. What I said wasn't too bad."

"Hikaru laughed at me." I say, finishing up tuning. I strum a couple of times. "Hmm…I know what your punishment is." I say and then I begin playing Gold on the Ceiling by The Black Keys, I don't sing though. I finish and he looks confused. "I'm not going to sing for you until I have forgiven you."

"Vengeful little thing, aren't you." He says dryly. "What makes you think that is a punishment?"

"The way your pupils dilated and how disappointed you looked when I was playing." I say simply. "This will be fun. I should start bringing my guitar to school. Then again, I never have any free time. What's with that list by the way?"

"I'm trying to make you quit the club." He says honestly. "Give you an out so that I can stop watching those pathetic boys throw themselves at you."

"Says the man dripping with girls chasing after you." I say, raising my eyebrows. "You've got to stop being so jealous. Apparently, I'm an attractive girl…and apparently I'm a flirt. Who knew? Certainly not me."

"You're jealous too." He says and I shrug. "Anya…how do you feel about me?" He asks and I start playing again, this time it's something that I wrote, but again I don't sing.

"I'm not jealous." I say when I finish. "It's just annoying and detrimental to my health. What if I were to choose you? They'll lynch me."

"Of course they wouldn't." He says and I look at him dubiously. "I thought that you said that it was better."

"And I thought that you said you wouldn't take your eyes off of me." I counter and then put my guitar away. "Let's face it…as long as I am close with you boys, those girls will think that I am taking you guys away from them. I'm an easy target because I'm so small and Addie is famous…I'm just…me."

"You couldn't be more wrong." He says, shaking his head. "Adelaide may be famous, but there are many of the ladies who visit the club who are very fond of you. To some of the younger girls, you're somewhat of a role model. Almost all of the boys drop to your feet as you walk down the hallway."

"Seriously? I can't imagine why." I say as I latch the case and put it back under my bed. "I guess that's kind of nice, though."

"You really don't see yourself very clearly, do you?" He says and I shrug. "Come here for a moment." He says, holding his hand out to me. I take it and he drags me over to the full length mirror. "Tell me what you don't like about yourself."

"Seriously?" I look at him in the mirror. He nods. "This is crazy…" I sigh and he smiles a little. "Obviously, I hate my height. It makes me look like I'm a little girl." I say, scrunching my eyebrows at my reflection. "My hair…it's unruly." I touch the soft tresses. "The bags and dark circles under my eyes could do to leave and I hate that I have to wear glasses sometimes." I turn to the side, like I normally do, trying to get a three-hundred and sixty degree view of my body. "My body itself is fine enough…I guess. I've never had any problems with it."

"You're working ahead." He chuckles. "Tell me what you like about what you see and why you like it." He says, turning me to face front.

"My cheekbones…they're very high which kind of makes me look womanly." I say, touching my face.

"What else?" He urges and I look in the mirror again…at the two of us. He's standing behind me, but of course I can see him. I turn around.

"Kyoya…this is stupid." I say, not really wanting to talk about my body. "Can't we have an intellectual conversation? I'd be much more comfortable." He turns me around by my shoulders.

"You say it all the time, we could end up married, and so we must be comfortable with one another." He says and I sigh.

"My legs, because they're strong…and the twins always tell me that if I were taller, my legs would be perfect for modeling." I say and he shakes his head a little, amused but not laughing. "My hips…and I'm embarrassed by the reason I like them so moving on…" I say but he gestures for me to hold on.

"Tell me why you like your hips." He says, sounding odd. I hide my face and he takes my hands. "Annie."

"Because, old ladies always tell me they're good childbearing hips." I say in a rush. He looks confused.

"What was the part before hips?" He asks, and I try to cover my face again. "Annie…trust me."

"Babies." I say and his eyes widen briefly. "Old ladies tell me that they are good for having babies. I want to be a mother…like my mother…and so I like my hips because people have told me that it's something I'll be good at. Also, they make me more womanly."

"That makes sense." He says with a nod. "Is that all?" He asks and I look at my reflection again.

"My neck." I say and then blush. "I never noticed it until Hikaru said something…but it makes me look dainty in a sophisticated kind of way." I reach over to the table by the mirror and grab the hair tie I keep there and pull my hair into a bun. "I think I'm obsessed with the idea of looking like a woman because I was treated like a son until my brother was born."

"It doesn't matter why." He says and I look up at him. "What you dislike about yourself and what you like about yourself doesn't make a difference to me."

"Kyo…" I say and he holds up his hand to stop me. I don't think I can handle all of this…

"Annie…it doesn't matter to me that you think your hair is unruly or you have dark circles under your eyes or even that you're almost a foot shorter than me. You challenge me in ways that I didn't think were possibly…you…make things better." He says and I flush. "I can't help but think that if you choose me…I'll be the luckiest man alive." A tear sneaks its way past my eye. "I'm sorry…I shouldn't push you like that." He looks away. I turn around and hug him, burying my face in his chest, ignoring the fact that my glasses will probably be smudged to hell.

"I want you to push me…" I say and he brings his arms around me slowly. "I want you to challenge me. I want you to help me grow." His arms rest comfortably around me. How am I supposed to wait for Spring?

"Okay..." He says softly and I smile. "Annie?" He asks and I hum. "Am I forgiven?" I take a step back and tap my chin in thought as I look up at him.

"I'm gonna say no." I say with a smirk before I walk over and open the door. "Good night, Kyoya. Go to sleep." I order and he sulks out of my room. That's more like it...