Here's a little 'Happy New Year' gift for all of you: another chapter! (^_^) School doesn't get back in until next week, so I'll hopefully have another chapter out before then. Hope you all have a Happy New Year!

-MJS

Talking to Honey the following Monday came and went quickly; I managed to pull him away from Mori before their first class, and Honey was glad to help me out.

"I've noticed Takashi's change in behavior too, but I didn't think that you had done anything wrong," he told me. "I'll talk to Takashi as soon as I can, okay?"

"That's fine," I nodded, smiling. "Thanks so much, Honey."

"You're welcome!" He smiled, and quickly turned when Mori called his name. "Bye!" With a cheery wave and gleeful grin, Honey ran off to rejoin Mori while I headed with Shina towards our first classes.

Throughout the whole day, I sat through my classes only half-paying attention. My mind was wrapped around the whole Mori thing again, but this time with a positive light. Honey was going to talk to him; definite score for my team. But, what would Mori's response be? Would he be willing to open up to Honey? Or would there still be no clear answer? I shook my head slightly several times, determined to focus on classes on not on him. I didn't succeed.

Twice I was asked a question - embarrassingly enough, in the same class period - and didn't answer correctly, and after class the teacher even pulled me aside to ask if I was feeling alright. I reassured him quickly, and I made a conscious effort not to have the same thing repeat in my other classes. Not two classes later, however, I had to sit through my English class bound and determined not to pay attention to Mori at all. I actually almost spoke to Honey briefly before class, but the bell rang before that, and he sat down in his seat and I in mine, both with looks of disappointment, I was sure.

My teacher and I quickly went through my exam reviews and she left me with a practice test to complete. The class around me was also taking some form of test, but I had the strangest feeling as I did my own work that someone was watching me. I glanced up quickly from my paper, scanning the room from right to left, hoping to avoid Mori's gaze. It wasn't until I reached Mori, however, that I saw him looking at me.

I looked back at him, not sure of what to do. His eyes seemed . . . confused. Also saddened and longing. I smiled at him slightly, the small flicker of hope in my chest burning slightly brighter. He blinked at me, and then turned back to his work without any response. I swallowed down the grief that built up in my throat as I too turned back to my paper. I don't need him, I reminded myself, but that same feeling of sorrow still remained. I managed to look up when Jinga was glancing back at me, and she mouthed to me, What's wrong? I simply shook my head at her and turned back to my work again.

After I left that class, I thought I heard my name in the hall. I turned, expecting to see either Honey or one of the girls. No one was there, so I went to my next classes with that same disappointed feeling sitting in my chest. The image of Mori just staring at me still lingering in my head, taunting me. Why had he looked at me if all he was going to do was look away again? What was the point in any of it? Why was I still so upset that he was doing this?

I eventually managed to focus around the memory and make it to class. I sat through it, just barely keeping my composure at a normal level so that people wouldn't pester me with questions. I sighed in relief when the final bell rang and the school day finally came to an end. I hurried from my last class to meet up with my friends in our usually meeting place. I was there early, of course, and I got teased for it when Shina and Aiko appeared first.

"Well, someone's a little anxious for the Host Club, huh?" Aiko giggled, and I shot them a sarcastic look.

"Shut up," I playfully stuck my tongue out, and a voice behind them made us all laugh.

"Very excitable and immature," Jinga appeared behind them, grinning. "Is there anyone else we know who has such a unique combination of traits?"

"Ha ha, very funny," I stuck my tongue out at her too, and received the same gesture back from her. "Let's just go, okay? I swear I'm going crazy; I can't stand it any longer."

"Everything will work out; you'll see." Shina smiled reassuringly, and Aiko and Jinga nodded in agreement.

"Well, let's get a move on, then." We headed off in our group for the third Music Room. My heart rate increased with anticipation, and I had to remind myself that I wasn't supposed to sit with Honey and Mori; I was to request Haruhi today so as to 'not draw suspicion', as Aiko had put it at lunch. We entered the room and I requested Haruhi as planned, but what threw me off was that neither Honey nor Mori were in the room. That's strange, I noted, but turned my attention back to Haruhi, sitting down at the table with four other girls.

"So, how are you today, Talia?" Haruhi asked, smiling sweetly at me.

"I'm doing better," I answered honestly. "I've been having kind of a hard time lately, but today I think things are going to turn around."

"That's great! I hope things work out for you," Haruhi – being as perceptive as I am – smiled genuinely, as in like a girl would to her best friend. "Are we allowed to know what's going on?"

"No," I smiled sadly at Haruhi and then to the other girls. "I'm afraid it's kind of a personal matter, but hopefully it'll be resolved soon."

"That's great," Haruhi nodded, and then turned her attention to another guest. From the sounds in the room, I couldn't decipher whether Mori and Honey had entered; why did I have to sit in the chair facing away from where they usually sat?

It seemed like a good idea when I got here, I argued with myself – I really hate it when I do that – but soon Honey's chirping laughter sounded through the room, and I unexpectedly calmed some. I was able to focus on Haruhi better for some reason now that I knew that they were here.

The conversation at our table eventually included everyone; we all talked about our favorite school subjects for some reason, and then the subject suddenly switched to our favorite extra-curricular activities were. As I imagined, two of the girls said that visiting the Host Club was there favorite. The girl to my right said that she enjoyed playing her violin very much, and the one to my left said she enjoyed to garden.

"What about you, Talia?" Haruhi asked. "What do you enjoy doing after school's done for the day?"

"Well," I pondered it for a moment. "I do many things during the day that really aren't considered 'fun'; homework and such for the most part. But, I do really enjoy drawing and reading. I even have a piano back home that I took lessons for, but it was too big to take all the way to Japan, and we don't have any room for it in our little house." I thought about it some more, and I finally made up my mind. "My favorite thing to do, however, is to simply go outside and walk." I had all their attentions now as I continued, "It gives me time to think about different things; things that have been on my mind or just about life itself. I see so many incredible things when I go walking; it's like taking an adventure without really having to leave where you live."

"I've never though about it that way," the girl to my right commented. "I usually just go everywhere in my limousine when it suits me."

"But that takes the fun out of it," I pointed out. "Whether you're in a car or on some sort of vehicle, you have to simply watch everything go by. If you go out and enjoy it yourself, you experience so many different things that you would have never noticed if you were moving in a car going 60."

"That's a very interesting viewpoint," the girls to the left of me all smiled; the one closest to me had spoken. "Thanks for that, Talia. I don't think any of us would ever had thought of that."

"You're welcome," I smiled shyly. "It's just something I like to do for fun." The conversation at the table continued on without me, but I didn't mind. I simply sat, listening to the others tell stories and enjoying the simple feeling of being apart of the group.

It didn't seem long, however, that I had to leave for the day. With a round of good-byes to the people at the table, I headed for the door. I was sent off by Kyoya and Tamaki with courteous smiles, and as I returned them I reminded myself to not look back at Mori. I would wait until I could talk to Honey or until Mori came to me and talked; trying to talk to him proved to be useless, and I wasn't going to force myself upon either of them.

I had made it down to the first level when I heard quick footsteps behind me. I didn't register that they were heading for me until a rough hand seized my shoulder sent me spinning around. I came face to face with a large-muscled boy with a cruel face and shaggy hair; he was more than likely a senior.

"Hey there, beautiful," he almost growled. My mind went blank; I didn't recognize the face, but soon the voice of the boy registered and I instantly froze. The boy standing in front of me was now all too familiar. He was the same boy from the cliff a month ago; judging by the red scar on his forehead, he was the one I had hit with the rock. Which meant he was the one who had thrown me off the cliff. My body couldn't decide what to do, but my brain finally recovered and decided to kick in.

"I'm sorry?" I answered, immediately attempting to wriggle free of his grasp.

"What's the rush?" he asked, his eyes cruel and his grip tightening. "I'm sure you have some time on your hands for me, don't you?"

"Let me go!" I wrenched my shoulder out of his grasp, screaming. "I don't know you! Leave me alone!" I attempted to run away and managed to head back some ways to the stairs, but he grabbed me by the arm again and threw me up against the nearby wall, shoving his gruesome face into mine.

"You listen here," he growled, his tight grip growing tighter as he spoke. "I'm not quite happy with that stunt you pulled at that party." I exclaimed in pain as the blood flow in my arm was slowly cut off. "I'm gonna make you pay for that; you see this?" He gestured vaguely to the mark on his forehead with a sharp nod of his head. "I'm gonna do the same twice over to you, and maybe even a little extra . . ." He squeezed my arm, and I screamed. Before I knew what had happened next, my leg shot upward, and the boy collapsed. Thankful that I had hit my mark, I ran as quickly as my legs would carry me back up the stairs; someone had to be up there. I could find help there.

It wasn't long after I made it to the top of the stairs that I heard his pursuing footsteps. "I'm going to get you for that!" He hollered, and I continued running, not caring where I was headed.

"Leave me alone!" I screamed between breathes of air. I soon found a doorway and ran into it, slamming the door behind me and attempted to block it with some nearby desks. He pounded on the door, yelling various curses at me through the door. I discovered a second doorway farther down the room and attempted to run out there. I ran to it only to find him standing there, his face red with rage.

"Now you're gonna get it!" He grabbed onto my arm - the same stupid arm - pulling me back out into the hall. I screamed and screamed, desperately wishing that someone would hear me. And then, in an instant, his grip was gone and I had crumpled to the floor. I looked up to see the boy up in the air, held up by none other than Mori.

"What do you think you're doing?" Mori asked him, his voice low and menacing.

"Hey! Let go of me, you . . ." The boy was unable to finish as Mori threw him against a wall, knocking him unconscious. Mori looming above me, glaring down at the boy, his breath heavy; he must have run all the way here . . . wherever here was.

"Mori . . ." I whispered, and his head snapped instantly in my direction. He rushed over, helping me up by my good arm. I looked up to him, trying not to cry in front of him. "Thank God you were here," I whispered. "I don't know what would have . . ."

"Talia!" Honey's worried voice sounded down the hall, and I looked quickly to see him running towards me.

"Mitsukuni," Mori warned gently, "her arm is sore. Be careful." His voice sounded strained, but Honey didn't notice it.

"Are you going to be okay?" Honey asked, his eyes wide and fearful.

"I'm going to be okay, I promise," I smiled at him, hoping the fear that had frozen me moments ago wasn't showing now. "Does anyone else know what happened?"

"We heard screaming in the hall; there aren't very many guests left, so I was sent to investigate," Mori informed me, his tone not changing.

"Why don't you go let everyone know that I'm alright?" I suggested to Honey. "Tell them that I'm not in trouble anymore and that I'll be fine; can you do that for me?" Honey reluctantly nodded, and I held out my good arm to him. "Come here, Honey." He rushed to me, and I ignored the stinging in my bad arm as he hugged me tightly. "Everything's going to be alright," I promised him. "Please don't worry about me."

"Okay," Honey's voice was soft as he drew away and then sprinted down the hall - with Usa-chan in tow - back to wherever the Host Club was.

"You didn't call," Mori spoke, his voice a low, urgent whisper once Honey had disappeared from sight. He searched my face with his eyes frantically. "Why didn't you call for me?"

I turned to him, confused. "What do you . . ."

"On the cliff, you called for me. When he grabbed you then, you screamed my name. You didn't call for me this time." Mori's eyes were confused, worried, angered, and sorrowed all at the same time as they scanned my face. "Why, Talia?"

"Why?" I echoed, my voice hollow. "What do you mean . . .?" I then looked at him, my eyes narrowing. "Why didn't I call?" I retorted, my voice low, scathing. "You've been ignoring me for the past month!" Mori winced as I continued. "I've been calling, Mori. I've called for you every day since that night. I wanted to make sure that you were still listening. You said you'd come anytime I called." My voice grew steadily weaker as I told him off. "Well, I've been trying to call to you for the past few weeks and have gotten no response." I inhaled deeply, but my exhale was very shaky. "It's like . . . I feel like I don't even exist to you anymore." I shook my head slowly, and his eyes widened in realization. "Yeah, Mori; every time I tried talking to you, every time I said 'hi' and you didn't respond, that was me calling and you not answering."

"I . . . didn't . . ." He looked around desperately for an answer to appear before him, but nothing came. "But . . ."

"You're so bound and determined to 'keep me safe', when all I really want is . . ." I trailed off, realizing what I was about to say. I wasn't sure if he knew what I had almost said as well. "I don't want to pester you, Mori. I don't want to follow you around like a love-sick puppy, or be another one of those adoring fan-girls who doesn't have a chance." I looked to him, my voice growing slightly steadier. "If there's any slight possibility that I have a chance, you need to tell me instead of . . . totally making me feel like I don't exist to you." I paused, taking some recovery breaths. The next sentence out of my mouth jumped out before I could stop it. "Back at the party, when you were about to kiss me . . . why did you stop?" His eyes widened. "Did you really want to kiss me?"

Mori's eyes were soon filled with that longing I saw back in English class. He hesitated before answering, "Yes."

"Then what stopped you?" My voice cracked, now my eyes searching his face for an answer.

"I . . ." Mori's head shook back and forth. "I didn't want to . . . I don't . . . I don't know." I exhaled, my head shaking back and forth as he continued, "Talia, I'm so sorry. I . . ."

"It's alright if you don't know," I cut him off. "I just need to know . . . is there any chance at all?" I looked to him desperately. "Is there anything left of what you felt back at the party?"

Mori froze, caught up in his own thoughts. His eyes finally registered me, and he slowly spoke, "I think you're incredible, Talia. I've never met anyone like you before. But . . ."

I looked to him, trying to piece together what he was attempting to tell me before answering, "But you're still not certain." He looked down at me, his expression helpless. I inhaled again, saying, "I understand." I turned away from him slightly, saying, "When you have an answer, let me know. Until then . . . all I can do is keep calling." I turned back and closed the distance between us and quickly hugged him, despite the throb in my arm. He was taken aback by it, I know he was, but I didn't care. "Thank you for saving me," I told him, and then let go. I wasn't surprised or upset when he didn't hug back; that would simply be asking too much. "I'll see you tomorrow, alright?"

"Alright." Mori nodded. "I'll see you tomorrow." He walked with me back to the stairs in silence; he now knew what I was feeling, and all I could do was let him work it out himself. I wasn't going to try and convince him one way or the other; that was all up to him.

I made my way back down the stairs with a final wave to Mori, the dull throb in my arm signaling I was going to have a bruise on that arm for awhile. As I called my driver and went home, I thought about Mori's face, the way he had acted; he did like me. He said so himself. My heart flickered at this, but I shoved it back down. All I can do now is wait. I decided, taking a deep breath. I don't need to worry about it anymore. He'll let me know when he's certain.