A/n: REVISED. The revision of this story started with the rewrite of this chapter—I just didn't like the moment between Hani and Haruhi, it felt too rushed and dishonest. I replaced it with something that I feel makes the boys less perfect and a little more relatable because the truth is, its not realistic for people to handle every situation flawlessly. I hope you like it and I apologize for any grammatical errors.

Chapter 13

Haruhi sat on the stairs in front of the fountain, her Physics book laid out on her lap. She had decided she would study during her free period, but she could hardly focus. There was something going on with the boys; as the day progressed the tension built to suffocating heights. She didn't know what was going on, but she had to escape the uncomfortable feeling of somehow being stuck in the middle of an unreasonable game of tug-of-war. As she attempted once again to focus, she heard someone say her name.

"Haruhi?"

Haruhi turned towards her friend, trying to calm the beat of her heart. She knew that she was in a safe place, but sometimes she couldn't help the fear when someone interrupted her time alone. It was like they were invading a sacred space of her own creation—hurdling over the walls that she dared to let down for a few seconds. As she stared at Renge Houshankuji she reminded herself that the eccentric girl would never hurt her, nor belittle or judge her. It was a bit startling though, for Renge to approach her while she was alone. Haruhi had noticed the difference in the way others treated her; as if she was a piece of glass ready to shatter at a moment's notice. Renge, who was so abrupt and outspoken was no different—she hadn't spoken to her once without at least one of the boys with her. It made Haruhi quite curious as to what could be on the girl's mind to want to speak to her now—alone.

Haruhi made an attempt to make her voice as welcoming as possible, but she wasn't quite sure she was successful.

"Hi Renge. What's up?"

Renge sat down beside her, arranging her yellow dress over her knees and crossing her ankles before turning towards Haruhi. Her brown eyes held questions that Haruhi was not ready to answer and it seemed that the girl could see the hesitation in Haruhi's own eyes.

With a small smile and a soothing tone Renge posed her question. "Haruhi, I was wondering…well…"

It was quiet while Haruhi waited patiently for the other girl to gather the courage needed to ask her whatever she wanted to ask her. She held back a chuckle when she heard the girl whisper, "Oh, screw it."

Renge's eyes flashed with determination before she blurted out a question that Haruhi had not expected. "I just wanted to know if you needed someone to talk to…about…well, to be perfectly honest about boys. More specifically, about Hani sempai."

Haruhi's face went up in flames as her lips parted and a dull, "Uhhh….", spilled forth.

The look on her face must have been a sight because Renge stared at her wide eyed before bursting into hysterical laughter. The ladylike position that the high-bred girl had perfected upon sitting down went up in smoke as she fell back with her arms around her midriff. As little snorts and wheezes passed through Renge's mouth and nose Haruhi couldn't help the slight lifting of her lips. Though the situation wasn't nearly as hilarious to Haruhi as it was to Renge, Haruhi found she could not help but to join in. For the first time in months, Haruhi laughed.

It bubbled up from her stomach and escaped without thought or permission. It was like taking a deep breath after being held underwater, but instead of her lungs screaming in relief it felt as if her heart was bursting. The girls' laughter rang out and echoed joyfully throughout the area, but eventually the laughter quieted to chuckles.

As they lay on their back side by side in silence, Haruhi could feel something else build up inside of her. It was something she feared for another to see, but it rose despite her desperate need to keep it locked away. A sob threatened to choke her until she allowed it to be heard and as they tended to do, the tears followed. Haruhi could do little but cover her face as she broke down in front of someone who certainly would not understand.

She sensed the other girl's tentative movement next to her and waited to be left alone. She was okay with being left alone, a big part of her preferred it. She always felt so weak as it was, the last thing she could possibly want was for Renge to further witness her crumble beneath the constant weight on her chest.

She listened for the sound of shoes against the pavement; a signal of Renge's departure. Instead Haruhi was shocked when strong, but feminine arms wrapped around her and held her close. She wanted to push the other girl away, to make her leave her be—but another part of her, a part that she had tried to ignore wanted the comfort. It wanted the comfort of someone who knew her, yet did not…it wanted some assurance, a kind of assurance that the boys nor Kaede could offer her.

Renge laid her cheek atop Haruhi's head and simply rocked her back and forth. She wasn't sure if Haruhi preferred silence, but Renge's forte was speaking her mind. The blonde decided that the best way to help Haruhi was to simply be herself...if it had been her in Haruhi's position she would resent those who pretended; those who were fake.

"I couldn't even begin to understand Haruhi, honestly I would never want to. I know I haven't been here for you like the boys—I suppose I was afraid to hurt you. My words…I don't know how to use them sometimes. I would never intentionally hurt you so I distanced myself for your sake. I see now it was a mistake and I am so sorry. I want you to know though Haruhi, that it's okay to cry. My shoulder won't get tired…I promise." It was quiet for a bit before Renge continued, "My dad told me once that God had designed us perfectly, so perfectly in fact that he had instilled in us a way to heal our own souls. I asked him what he meant—he said that when he had finally allowed himself to cry over my mother's death he felt lighter. I think maybe…maybe if you just let yourself cry no matter how much you might hate it…I think it might be a good thing. I always felt as if tears were a sign of strength and to let them fall is bravery. I know for a fact Haruhi that you are both strong and brave…I have always admired you Haruhi. I still do—even if you cry an ocean."

And Haruhi cried. It was different crying in the arms of someone who was not one of her boys or her father. It was as if she hadn't ever really cried at all. In the tears she shed she released so much—anger, bitterness, fear, loneliness, but most of all there was relief. She had allowed herself to fall apart; she had lowered her walls enough for someone to climb over. She not only was comforted by her ability to do so, but by the fact that Renge had taken the time to climb the wall at all.

What she was most thankful for aside from Renge herself, was that she had not lost her ability to laugh. She had not done so often before Kimura had taken her, but she loved laughing. Renge was right though…she had to let herself cry. She tried to constantly hold back the tears and she now realized that by doing so she was only hindering her progress.

By the time Haruhi's tears had slowed and her sobs had quieted down, she was a mess. Of course, Renge was always prepared as she pulled a handkerchief seemingly out of thin air and proceeded to clean her up. "Do you know Haruhi, that you are a pretty crier? I always end up looking like an extra from the 'Night of the Living Dead' after a good cry. It's quite unfair."

Haruhi couldn't help the unladylike snort that had Renge giggling in delight as she continued to make Haruhi presentable.

"Thank you Renge."

Renge paused and smiled beautifully, "Of course Haruhi. You are my friend…and I am not the only one who cares about you here."

Haruhi smiled back at her, not as big but it was a start. She looked down and thought about the question that had precipitated the laughter and the tears that followed. She peeked back up at Renge and whispered, "I love him."

Renge's eyes widened, "Pardon?"

"Hani. I love him."

Haruhi watched as the girl's face brightened and her eyes twinkled with pleasure, "I knew you loved him Haruhi, even more obvious is that Hani loves you. Have you told him how you feel?"

Haruhi blushed and looked down before shaking her head, "No, but I think he knows."

"I'm sure he does, but I think he might like to hear you say it anyway. If you aren't ready that's perfectly fine, but one shouldn't ever assume that another knows how they feel. That is how misunderstandings happen and how hearts are broken."

"Hani knows me better than I know myself sometimes, I don't think it's possible for him to misunderstand me."

Renge smiled, "You would be surprised Haruhi."

~oOo~

There was a growing hostility in the air that had Haruhi looking around uncomfortably. It was upsetting to say the least, even more so because it seemed everyone's ire was directed at Hani. The tension in the room grew to the point where the guests began to take notice and started to sneak out of the room—and still the other's continued to send death glares in Hani's direction. She could barely focus on what she was supposed to be doing and in her distraction, the hot tea she was pouring for her customer spilled over into her lap.

Haruhi cried out in pain and jumped to her feet just as Rika, her customer, gasped, "Oh no! Haruhi, are you okay?"

Rika was barely able to get the words out before Haruhi felt a hand around her waist. She looked up with a grimace at Hani whose face was etched with worry, his eyes racing over her to make sure she wasn't hurt. He cupped her cheek, the calloused tips of his fingers sliding along her jaw, but a dark rumble from her other side gave them both pause, the anger in her friend's voice shocking them into stillness.

"Get your hands off of her."

She turned to Kyoya with wide confused eyes before looking up at Hani; the tenderness on the older boy's face had faded away into rage. The pain from the tea was forgotten when she felt Hani let her go and whisper for her to go to Mori—she knew then, that the tension between the boys had finally reached its pinnacle. She turned when the twins started ushering the customers out the door before returning her attention where it was needed.

She ignored Hani's request and turned back to Kyoya, "I want to know what's going on."

Kyoya's jaw clenched, the reflection of his glasses hiding the look in his eyes when he looked down at her, "Nothing. Absolutely nothing."

Hani sneered, "You've created quite the scene Kyoya. I think Haruhi deserves an explanation."

Kyoya's head shot up as he took a threatening step towards Hani and gritted out, "I don't give a damn what you think."

Haruhi reached out and placed her hand firmly against Kyoya's chest and gently pushed him back, "Stop it. You aren't a child, so stop acting like one. If your issue with Hani has something to do with me, then tell me."

Kyoya said nothing, his anger so great he didn't trust himself to speak. His blond best friend didn't have the same problem; Tamaki took a step towards the trio and cleared his throat, "This morning…when we saw Hani at your apartment, it didn't sit right with either of us. We feel…we think that he should maybe take a step back."

Haruhi was stunned and slowly looked up at Hani in disbelief, "Is this some kind of joke?"

Hani glanced down at her for a moment, shaking his head before looking angrily up at Tamaki, "If you want to tell her who the hell she can spend her time with, then at least be fucking honest with her. Tell her the real reason you have a problem with me or I will."

Tamaki's face flushed and he looked away in both embarrassment and a little bit of fear. When he said nothing, Hani turned his fury back to Kyoya, "And you? Are you going to be man enough to tell her how you feel or is all of this just for show?"

Before Haruhi could register Kyoya's aggressive movements forward, Hani wrapped her protectively in his arms and turned his back on Kyoya's attack. She heard the older boy grunt and jerk forward and she struggled in his arms, tears rushing to her eyes when she realized that Kyoya had hit Hani.

When Hani let her go she cupped his face between her small hands, "Are you okay? Are you hurt?"

"I'm fine, I barely felt anything."

She had heard his grunt though, whether or not Kyoya had actually caused damage, in that moment he had felt pain. He had allowed Kyoya to hit him to keep her safe and suddenly, she was so furious that she was no longer in control of her actions. Her hands dropped down to her side as she moved around Hani to glare at the bespectacled boy who seemed just as shocked by his actions as the others in the room.

She whispered, "Have you lost your damn mind?"

It felt as if she were in a daze when she shoved him and screamed, "Have you lost your mind!"

He grimaced and glanced over at Hani before looking down at her; she was finally able to see his dark eyes behind his glasses. She could see something she had felt only once before, when a girl with big blue eyes and a pretty smile had run her fingers through Hani's hair. She took a step back and shook her head, "I'm sorry."

When she felt Hani's hand on her shoulder she reached up for it and leaned back into him. The part of her heart where Kyoya lived broke a little when he took a shaky breath and nodded in resignation. As he walked away, a tear slid down her cheek as she whispered once more to his back, "I'm sorry."

A/n: The original was much too cookie cutter, there was two paragraphs of confrontation and then acceptance and as a reader I prefer realism. For instance, how the boys handle their jealousy and how Haruhi reacts when she realizes they are jealous. It's a struggle sometimes to figure out what kind of writing is best for a certain situation like, do I make it all about the dialogue? Is it better to use body language? Or would it make a bigger impact if its about what the character sees and feels in that moment? So, I am sorry for those of you who prefer the older version, but I couldn't keep it. I hope you liked it and please review.

Thank you.

~Inari