"I really think I like this girl, Jack." Haruka said with a sigh.
It'd been a couple weeks since the race. Although Haruka and Michiru were talking more now, Haruka still hadn't invited her out anywhere. She worried how Michiru would take this. If she saw it as a friendly meeting then Haruka would have to steel herself and pretend she felt nothing. If it was a date then Haruka felt obligated to be honest about just how much she like Michiru. But either way, she felt, didn't look good.
"So," Said Jack pausing meditatively while chewing on a hamburger, "Ask her out."
"I don't even know if she goes for girls. What if it scares her out of the friendship we have?"
"Well, look at it this way, ask her out to do something friendly with me and Hatsiko. If that goes well then just ask at the end of the night if she'd like to hang out or something. What happened to suave F1 champion racer Haruka? I know you've got it in you."
"I'm afraid the only thing I've got in me when I'm around her is a heartbeat, and that's going faster than I do on the course."
Jack laughed and grinned, "I'll tell Hatsiko about our outing tomorrow, okay? Movies sound alright?"
Haruka nodded, "Just make sure she doesn't think I want to go with her. You know I think she has a crush on me…"
Jack almost choked on his burger as he burst out laughing, "Oh God did you just notice?"
Haruka furrowed her brow, "I guess I wasn't paying much attention."
Jack shook his head, still chuckling, "You're priceless you know that?"
When Hatsiko told Michiru the two of them had been invited out by Haruka (well Jack delivered the message she hastily added) Michiru felt a pit of nervousness form in her stomach. Hatsiko was beside herself with enthusiasm and Michiru was as confused as ever.
She and the mysterious blonde had been getting along well ever since Haruka gave her a ride home from the race. But Haruka still hadn't invited her over, or sat with her a lunch, or made any concrete gestures of interest. Was Haruka just trying to get to Hatsiko? Why did she care what Haruka was doing? It wasn't her business if Haruka and Hatsiko became a couple so why did the thought bother her so much?
Now Michiru had never considered herself in the slightest bit gay. She hadn't ever really thought much of boys, but she didn't take that as a bad sign. She was just interested in her music and her swimming and painting – she'd never really had time for romantic thoughts. So why was it now that she was falling for another girl when she had time to fall for a boy and had so many suitors to choose from?
Michiru's impulse was to get as far away from circumstances that would prove her suspicions right. She knew this would be patently unfair to Haruka, who had done nothing to deserve being avoided. Hell, Haruka usually wasn't around to avoid so why was this such an issue suddenly?
Hatsiko had been too absorbed in her own joy and planning to even notice how lost in thought Michiru had become until Michiru broke through Hatsiko's chatter, "Do you have a crush on Haruka?" Hatsiko's head flew around, her mouth agape, her eyes wide, blinking at the point blank question. "What?" She said disbelieving.
"Bad news Haruka," Jack said into his cell phone, "Michiru cancelled on us." Jack was at the metro and leaned back to check out a girl walking by.
Haruka closed her eyes trying to keep in a very large sigh, "Why?"
"Huh? Oh, uh, Hatsiko didn't say, but she still wants to go."
"I need to find out what happened with Michiru."
Jack smirked, "Go get her, tiger. I'll keep Hatsiko distracted tonight."
Haruka let out an amused snort, "I owe you one."
Haruka hopped into her car. She wanted to know what was going on and she wanted to know now. She sped up a wooded hill pass to Michiru's home – a large white house that was just a few size short of a mansion – and marched up to her door. She was so angry at her plans being ruined that she forgot the effect Michiru had on her.
As soon as Michiru opened the door, Haruka was speechless. Michiru blinked several times as if she thought she'd seen a mirage, tipped her head inquisitively to the left, and narrow her eyes slightly in quizzically. "Didn't Hatsiko tell you I wasn't coming tonight? Haruka?"
Haruka turned purple, "Uh, well, yeah but see I wanted to know why and she didn't tell us and… Well if you were sick or something I would feel guilty not having checked up on you or whatever and…" Haruka's shoes suddenly became very interesting to her as she leaned with her hand on the doorframe. "Oh," Michiru said quietly, cutting Haruka off, "Well I'm not sick…"
Haruka wasn't really thinking about what she was saying at this point, "So why aren't you coming? Did I do something wrong?" Haruka fidgeted.
Michiru felt horrible. She'd only put down the invitation so Haruka and Hatsiko could have some time together. This is what Hatsiko had wanted and what Michiru felt she needed to get Haruka out of her head. But now Haruka was here in front of her looking very nervous and much more concerned about her than Hatsiko. She didn't want to hurt her friend but she didn't want to lie. She felt like she was going to cry and suddenly it all came out in one big rush.
"I- I thought it was best because… because Hatsiko likes you and I thought you liked her and that it'd be nicer if it were just the two of you without Jack and I making things awkward… And I don't know why you're here because you're supposed to be with Hatsiko and now she'll be so hurt and think I've betrayed her and—"
"I don't like Hatsiko." Haruka said evenly.
"Oh." Michiru replied almost inaudibly. Before Haruka could say anymore Michiru gently closed the door with a small slam. Haruka let out a long sigh and put her forehead against the door. On the other side of the door Michiru was leaning against it her head down trying to fight off a new rise of emotion.
Haruka had no idea how to recover the already fragile friendship and for a couple weeks they were as indifferent towards each other as strangers. Hatsiko had tried to ignore the obvious tension between Haruka and Michiru, continuing to pursue Haruka as doggedly as ever.
It was getting towards Halloween now and Hatsiko was going to ask Haruka to the school's costume ball. Hatsiko decided to make Jack do it. She told Jack to tell Haruka to dress as the prince of Arabia and that she would dress as a genie – but not to tell Haruka that she'd thought of the costumes, she wanted it to be a surprise when they matched.
However, Jack had his own ideas about the whole situation. He decided since Haruka was too much of a bonehead to pursue Michiru that he'd have to step in and give it a little help. He asked Michiru to the costume ball, and although she really didn't want to go, he eventually cajoled her into it. He told her he'd be dressed as a knight so to come as a damsel or something. She sounded dubious about the idea, but eventually accepted.
Then Jack put his plan into full swing: he called Haruka and told her he'd be coming as the prince of Arabia and that he wanted her to come as a knight so they could fight a scene like the crusades. Haruka thought this was ridiculous, but it sounded like something Jack would think up – dangerous, stupid, and generally hilarious – but Jack was her friend so she said she'd get a suit of armor to wear. He also conveniently left out that Hatsiko was expecting Haruka as her date. "Oh my me," he thought to himself playfully, "I really do have such a rotten memory for these things."
"I had no idea this junk was so heavy," a knight in shining armor said to an Arabian prince. The prince grinned behind his veil as they entered the dance. Hatsiko, dressed as promised, came strolling jovially up to the prince. He graciously extended his arm to her and they marched off happily into throngs of dancers.
Haruka suddenly noticed Michiru approaching her. She was suddenly glad she had a thick heavy helmet on. Michiru gave her an expectant look and extended her hand, "Wow Jack you really went all out for this knight thing, huh?" Haruka blinked in shock. "She thinks I'm Jack?" Before she could respond Michiru smiled and pulled her into the dance. "Is it hard to speak through that thing?" Haruka hoped the armor would muffle her voice enough for it to sound a bit like Jack's. "Yeah, sorry."
Since the armor was so hard to move they simply sat at one of the tables in the gym watching everyone and talking. Haruka felt guilty for taking over Jack's date but started to wonder if Jack had planned this. Michiru was suspicious something was wrong from the start, Jack usually talks endlessly but this knight was being uncharacteristically quiet – maybe something was wrong?
"Jack," Michiru said suddenly, "Do you want to go outside and talk?" The knight nodded gently and they walked out into the school's courtyard. "You can take off your helmet now you know." Michiru said with a little laugh. Haruka sighed as she started to walk out of the courtyard to the parking lot, "I'm really sorry Michiru."
Michiru put her hand on Haruka's shoulder, "Where are you going?"
"Don't give up on Haruka." Haruka said cryptically and walked off into the darkness.
"How did it go with Hatsiko?" Haruka said to Jack the next day in English class.
"Let's just say she's not so hung over on you anymore." He said with a little smirk.
"You've got to be kidding me."
"Nope, she enjoyed her time with me so much that we're going out tonight, too."
"She is aware who she's going out with, isn't she?"
Jack nodded happily. "And how'd it go with Michiru?"
"I don't know," Haruka started, "I mean it was nice but I didn't have the courage to tell her who I really am."
"Oh man, I went through all that trouble and you still blew it?"
Haruka sighed, "Gee, thanks for the encouragement."
It was hard for Haruka to not feel awkward around Michiru that day. At first Michiru seemed distant as usual but at the end of the day as she was walking to her car she heard someone shout, "Haruka!" She turned around to see the gorgeous aqua-haired girl jogging up to meet her.
Michiru looked a little nervous, "Uhm, I'm sorry but could you give me a ride today?" Haruka's eyes brightened, "Sure…" She smiled and opened the door for Michiru.
"So how was the dance?"
Michiru sighed a little, "I don't know. Jack was upset about something."
"Oh."
"Why didn't you come?"
"Uh, well, I didn't have a date."
"What about all those girls who are constantly following you around?"
Haruka's face went a little red and Michiru couldn't suppress her giggle.
Much to their mutual disappointment they were quickly at Michiru's house. Michiru looked over to Haruka and they both hesitated for a moment,
"Thanks for the lift."
Haruka inwardly shook herself out of her trance, "Yeah no problem."
"Hey Haruka?"
"Yeah Michiru?"
"Do you want me to get out of the car?"
"Not really." Haruka said fiddling with a button on her jacket.
"Maybe we could go to a café?"
Haruka smiled a little. "Yeah."
Over the past few weeks Michiru and Haruka had been becoming closer and closer. They now talked in most classes, Haruka attended all of Michiru's swim meets and recitals and in return Michiru went to all of Haruka's races. Haruka had gotten over most of her initial nervousness but there were still a few kinks to work out, for instance, wasn't Michiru straight?
Haruka couldn't remember ever seeing her with a boy, or flirting with one, or talking about them, or anything even remotely related but she hadn't seen Michiru doing any of these things with a girl either. For all she knew Michiru was dying inside for a man to sweep her off her feet but was simply reserved with her emotions.
However, the closer they got the harder Haruka found it to be around Michiru in some ways. If Michiru would playfully hit her or let a smile linger for a millisecond Haruka would feel her heart skip a beat. Haruka found herself dissecting everything Michiru said looking for the littlest evidence of affection, of passion.
For her part, Michiru was trying her best to figure out what Haruka was feeling. There were moments they were together that were filled with such tension that she thought at any moment Haruka would just tackle her with lust – not only did she think this, she had to admit to herself, she rather wished it would happen.
She'd been working up some courage to ask Haruka to pose for her for a drawing. It was December now and she was also trying to figure out what to get Haruka for Christmas. She was usually good at choosing gifts but oddly whatever she saw – no matter how well it would've been a gift – didn't seem worthy of Haruka. Little did Michiru know that Haruka was having just as much trouble picking out a gift for her.
"Jack, I'm clueless. Help me here."
Jack scratched his chin, "Okay. I'm trying to think of a gift that says, 'I'm secretly in love with you and I hope you want to do me'."
Haruka lifted up a fist in threat but Jack put up his hands as a truce and started laughing, "I'm kidding, kidding! Just think of all the activities she loves and then find a gift to supplement one of them."
Haruka nodded. "I'd been considering getting her a new violin."
"Oh yeah, a violin communicates wanting hot wild lesbian sex, totally."
Haruka went red. "If you weren't going out with her best friend I'd kill you."
Jack grinned from ear to ear, "You know you love me baby."
Haruka groaned.
Haruka was in the process of wrapping the new violin (which she'd put in a box so the shape wouldn't give it away) when the phone rang. She grunted and took the masking tape from her mouth, put it down with the scissors and picked up her phone.
"Hello?"
"Hey."
Haruka smiled. "What's up Michiru?"
"You know you can call me Michi."
"I know. I like Michiru though."
Michiru laughed nervously. "Uh are you free today?"
Haruka blinked, why did Michiru sound nervous? "Yeah, why?"
"Well I was feeling really artistic today…"
"Ahuh."
Michiru rushed the next part, "So I waswonderingifyou'dliketoposeforme…"
"What?"
Michiru took a deep breath, "I was wondering if you'd like to pose for me."
"Pose?"
"Yeah, you know, so I could do a sketch of you…"
Haruka froze for a minute. Did this involve her getting naked?
"I guess so… When do you want me?" Haruka flinched she didn't meant to put it quite like that.
Michiru blushed a little, "Anytime today is fine… I'm just kind of bored I mean my family is away and it's kind of secluded out here you know?"
"Yeah, I understand. Look, I know it's early but I've got your Christmas present here, too. Mind if I bring it along?"
Michiru frowned slightly, "Yeah that'd be great except I don't have yours yet."
Haruka chuckled, "Well it is two weeks early. Don't worry about it, okay?"
Michiru's frown faded into a smile again, "Okay, see you soon?"
"Yeah, be there soon."
Haruka paused as she put down the phone. "Her parents aren't home and this might involve me getting naked. Two plus two equals… No! Don't think like that." She chastised herself. "Michiru's an artist, you've known that for months. Don't cream your panties just because she's bored and wants you over…" Haruka smirked a little though, "But just in case let's wear the nice boxers for this visit…"
Once the gift was wrapped and Haruka was all ready she put the pedal to the metal and was quickly at Michiru's house. Right as her hand hovered over the door to knock it came up and Michiru was right in front of her. "Hey." She said with a mysterious smile.
Haruka came inside and they walked into the living room where they sat down on the couch. Haruka got an awkward smile on her face as she shyly offered over her gift to Michiru. Michiru carefully, slowly unwrapped it. She pulled the lid off the box revealing a stunningly beautiful violin inside. She gasped and unthinkingly grabbed Haruka in her excitement and hugged her tightly.
"It's beautiful!" She exclaimed.
"Then it suits you." Haruka said quietly.
Michiru pulled back from the embrace, turning very red, she hadn't realized how close they were now. She hadn't removed her arms from around Haruka's neck yet and she was becoming painfully self-conscious.
Haruka's eyes looked full of intense longing but suddenly she turned away, standing up. She forced a smile.
"So… How about that sketch?"
Michiru blinked. Right. The sketch. "Uhm… yeah."
The tension in the air was thick when Haruka quietly said, "Do you want me naked for this?"
Michiru blushed attractively, "That might not be such a good idea."
Haruka's heart stopped. "Oh?" She croaked. "Uh why's that?"
Michiru looked down at her lap, "I might find it sort of…"
Haruka held her breath.
"…distracting."
Haruka eyed Michiru, opening and closing her mouth several times before she found the words, "Why would it be distracting?"
Michiru blushed again, "God I'm doing that a lot." She thought to herself with frustration.
Haruka crossed the room and sat in front of Michiru on the coffee table beside the violin. Tentatively she reached her hand out to cup the side of Michiru's face. Michiru's eyes slowly crept up to Haruka's and they shared a gaze for a moment.
"Michiru," Haruka started slowly, "Are you… are you attracted to me? I would understand if you were I mean I look so much like a guy and all…"
Michiru put her hand over Haruka's, there was no point in denying it anymore, "Haruka, I'm a lot more than attracted to you."
Haruka's eyebrows rose.
"I'm in love with you," She said with a faint smile. She leaned up and taking her cue Haruka leaned down capturing Michiru's lips in a gentle kiss. As they fell back into the couch, kissing more passionately, Haruka mumbled into Michiru's ear, "I love you, too."