VI. Love Interests
High school was almost over. Only a couple months left. Harley was hanging out in her room with her best friend Jane, doing homework and catching up on life.
Jane was now dating her first boyfriend and was filling Harley in on all the details.
"You guys are adorable," Harley said. "And you look happy."
"I really am…" she said, her face all red and her expressions giddy.
"What about you?" Jane suddenly asked.
"Hm? What about me?"
"Any love interests in your life?"
"Whoa, way to change the subject. How about we just focus on you, okay?"
"Come on, Harley… I know what happened with Shawn was… well, you know. But that was over two years ago. Haven't you at least considered the idea of dating again?"
"It's not that I haven't considered it, it's just…"
Her eyes were now averted and looked a little sad.
"It's just what? Who is it?"
"It's just that it wouldn't work out. It would be too crazy."
"Well who's this mystery man? Someone I know?"
"You technically don't know him, but... you know about my friend Gaara over in Japan, right?"
"Oh my gosh!" Her friend's eyes lit up. "You're in love with the Kazekage!"
"He's not just the Kazekage; he's Gaara. He's my friend."
"I thought you were just pals, I didn't know you had a thing for him! So, what's the problem? Does he know?"
"No, he doesn't. And I don't want him to ever know, unless he says something first or the situation absolutely calls for me to tell him. I just… don't want to make things weird or risk ruining our friendship. I couldn't…"
"Do you think he feels the same way?"
"I don't know. Honestly I don't think romance has ever been on his radar."
"Well, what do you love about him?"
"Gosh, so many things… I mean, you've seen pictures. He's beautiful, he has a bigger heart than anyone I know, and he's so smart; smarter than me, I swear… and, I don't know, just the history we have and all we've been through… I just… I can't help it, I'm in love with him."
"I think you should tell him. You should do it over the summer when you go visit him!"
"Hey, how about we go back to talking about you and Daniel now, okay?"